Life in the Hell-Hole
The fighting between the two armies near Dallas, Georgia in the final days of May and early June 1864 was remembered by the veterans of both armies as some of the worst of the Atlanta campaign. In a prelude to the trench warfare that became the hallmark of the First World War, both armies took to ground and blazed away at each other in the thick northern Georgia woods. They later termed this region the “Hell Hole.”
It was a place where death
arrived with the shocking suddenness. One false move brought forth the shrieking
sound of a Minie ricocheting off a tree or the solid thunk as the lead bullet
flattened against a log or pierced through a soldier’s body. One soldier later said,
“I must confess that it is not calculated to make one feel that his life is
very secure unless he is pretty strongly fortified.”
These two accounts, one penned by a soldier in the 65th Ohio of the 4th Army Corps and a second from Surgeon Luther Griswold of the 103rd Ohio of the 23rd Army Corps, give us some insights into life in the “Hell Hole.”
This George Barnard image of the New Hope Church battlefield is a fair representation of the undulating terrain and thick woods that marked the "Hell-Hole." |
The Rebs will
shoot at random as well as our own men and the bullets come whistling over our
heads, striking the trees and sometimes going through someone’s shelter tent
that stands a few feet to the rear of the works. Having acquired a safe
position in the rear of some large stumps which are also in the rear of the
fortifications, sometimes we can afford to amuse ourselves by listening to the
bullets as they come hunting vets, whistling, buzzing, shrieking, and tearing
through the trees.
I must confess
that it is not calculated to make one feel that his life is very secure unless
he is pretty strongly fortified. Yet there are some who seem inclined to make
light of the Rebel messengers, knowing their danger, and as one passed very near
their heads they will cry out, “A little too high,” or “incline to the left,”
or tell the Rebels to take better aim.
This morning
it is very quiet, no bullets flying, and just now a cheer goes along our whole
line and the news flies from one regiment to another that the Rebs have left. Now
we straighten up once more and take a good long breath, then take time enough
to wash our faces and remove a little of the dirt that has been so long
accumulating.
Looking to the rear, we see two or three brigadiers approaching, looking quite unconcernedly about. No one is fortifying trees and we expect very soon to see the doctors going to their regiments to attend sick call. When we see this last indication, we well know of a surety that there are no Rebels in front and we think there are none for some ways. Going out to the Rebel works, we see trees that have hardly any bark left on them for 20 feet from the ground. We are very bold now and go clear into their works.
One of the surgeons who came forward to attend to the men was Luther D. Griswold of the 103rd Ohio who shared his impressions of soldier life during this stage of the Atlanta campaign. Writing from camp near Allatoona on June 6, 1864, the good doctor paints a picture of abject misery.
I am
astonished that I have ensured the campaign so far very well. I have slept on
the ground every night but three or four over the past five weeks. For the last
three days we have had drenching rain. Everything has been saturated with
water- the leaves, the ground, our clothing, our bedding. My feet have been
constantly wet and then to lie down at night on the wet ground and cover
yourself with wet blankets. All of this would seem to be sufficient to break
down any constitution and especially that of a man who is already somewhat
enfeebled by age.
Our campaign
thus far has been successful. We have driven the enemy from every strong
position he has taken and inflicted a loss upon him probably equal to our own.
We have been under fire nearly every day for a month and skirmishing has continued
through the night. I had become so accustomed to the rattle of musketry and the
occasional roar of artillery that on lying down last night, the stillness along
our lines made it seem lonesome.
Our boys
suffered again about three days ago. They made a charge across an open field
exposed to a galling fire of shot and shell. Seven of them were wounded, but
the wounds of all were slight and they will recover. Several brave deeds of
personal daring were performed and among them I mention this one. Corporal
Walkins of Co. F, an Oberlin student, had charged into the woods in advance of
our line when he came suddenly upon a lusty old sharpshooter behind a stump.
Both were engaged in loading their guns but Walkins got his cap on too soon for
the Johnny Reb and told him to lay down his gun or he would make a hole through
him, at the same time drawing a bead on him. After arguing the question for a
moment, the Reb concluded that discretion was the better part of valor and the
Oberlin student, a mere boy, marched him into our line. The Rebel was greatly
disgusted.
I ought to
mention a narrow escape of General Jacob Cox. Three days ago [June 3rd]
he was reconnoitering with his staff in advance of our lines when he suddenly found
himself in the midst of Rebel skirmishers. Some 20 shots were fired at the
party and Captain Saunders, Cox’s adjutant general, was mortally wounded. He
was shot through the chest near the heart and died in about six hours. He was a
very fine officer and gentleman. He was taken back to a log house and I was
present when he died. His mind was clear and no murmur escaped his lips. I
turned him upon his side a few moments before he breathed his last and he spoke
as pleasantly as if he were well.
The weather is intensely warm when the sun shines, but the nights are uniformly cool. I cannot tell how I shall endure the extreme heat but shall endure it as long as I can. It is no time to back out now.
Sources:
“How the Boys of the 65th O.V.I. Amuse Themselves,” Cleveland Morning Leader (Ohio), June 21, 1864, pg. 2
Letter from Surgeon Luther D. Griswold, 103rd Ohio
Volunteer Infantry, Medina County Gazette (Ohio), June 25, 1864, pg. 2
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