Dispatch from a Shebang: The 83rd Indiana on the Road to Atlanta

"I am now seated on the lap of mother earth, my left knee serving the purpose of a writing desk under the artistically constructed roof of what is in the army usually denominated a shebang," began one soldier of the 83rd Indiana in describing the night of June 21, 1864.  "I am seated in a shebang where on the whole I am rather comfortable everything considered and quite secure from the rain which at present is falling thick and fast and pattering musically- a regular rub-a-dub-dub on everything around me. And this has been its practice with brief intervals during the present month scarcely a day going by without more or less rain. This under the most favorable circumstances makes soldiering disagreeable and especially so on an active campaign when tents are bygone luxuries and one has to cook, eat, and sleep out of doors." 

    The misery would reach new heights a few days later when the 83rd Indiana took part in the assault on Kennesaw Mountain, a day "day will not be apt to be forgotten by most of the members of the Second Division."

    Both of the following letters, written by members of the 83rd Indiana Infantry, first saw publication in the pages of the Aurora Journal.

A collection of shelter tents and "shebangs" guard the railroad trestle at Whitesides, Tennessee in the summer of 1864. As the war progressed, soldiers became quite adept at "making do" with whatever they could find in the field that could add to their comfort. Studying the picture carefully, one can see old rugs and ragged coats being used as part of the shelters along with spare bits of lumber, boxes, etc. 

In the field near Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia

June 21, 1864

          I am now seated on the lap of mother earth, my left knee serving the purpose of a writing desk under the artistically constructed roof of what is in the army usually denominated a shebang. What this beautiful and to the soldier very expressive word is derived from or where it has any derivation is more than I am able to determine. Certainly, it is a word both known and understood in the army and should any old battle-worn campaigner or young veteran at home see the word in this article, I feel quite certain that he will at once recognize an old friend and understand us without difficulty.

          Well, as I said before, I am seated in a shebang where on the whole I am rather comfortable everything considered and quite secure from the rain which at present is falling thick and fast and pattering musically- a regular rub-a-dub-dub on everything around me. And this has been its practice with brief intervals during the present month scarcely a day going by without more or less rain. This under the most favorable circumstances makes soldiering disagreeable and especially so on an active campaign when tents are bygone luxuries and one has to cook, eat, and sleep out of doors.

          Such has been our fortune or misfortune for the last two months and we have no well-defined idea when it shall be otherwise but we are indulging in hopes that this campaign will terminate in the complete overthrow of the rebellion and the end of our privations and labors.

          When I wrote last, the 83rd Indiana was halted near Acworth, Georgia and pretty well to the front as usual, but since then the front has moved forward several miles and we, faithful to our former practice, moved with it. At the present writing we are resting behind rifle pits which we threw up last evening about 400 yards from the base of Kennesaw Mountain which the Rebels occupy and have well-fortified. The ground which we occupy now was held by the enemy up to Saturday night when, in consequence of a flank movement by Hooker on our right, the enemy was compelled to straighten his line and fall back to the mountain. He was strongly fortified here, so much so that I doubt if we ever could have routed him by assault.

Our work on Sunday was to advance and take possession of the abandoned works, drive back his skirmishers, bring up and plant our battery, etc. While doing this, the enemy shelled us but with little effect. I think there was but one man killed in the division and he belonged to the 55th Illinois.

Yesterday there was heavy fighting on our right. Hooker is pressing the enemy severely. It is generally supposed that Johnston is retreating to the other side of the Chattahoochee River and that the force in our immediate front is nothing more than a strong rear guard covering his retreat. This is not unlikely. We have captured vast numbers of the enemy and many more have voluntarily surrendered. The probabilities are that we will surround the enemy in our front (I mean the whole force on the mountain) and capture the whole thing, both men and guns. What make this probable is while Hooker is pressing their left, General Rousseau is swinging round their right with a large force and between these two, I think the Johnnies stand a good chance of being trapped.

We have had no casualties in the 83rd since my last. The health of the regiment is good. We are drawing full rations, Rebel reports to the contrary notwithstanding. All the boys are in good spirits and full of hope and confidence.

W.F.S.

A week later, the regiment took part in the assault on Kennesaw Mountain as remembered by Hospital Steward Daniel C. Beach who picks up the story from where our previous correspondent left off...

 

The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia, June 27, 1864. 

Near Big Shanty, Georgia

June 29, 1864

          On the night of June 23rd, the enemy retired to the top of the mountain, evidently with the intention of inducing us to follow, but we concluded not to venture and remained within the works. We sent a skirmish line partway up the mountain but finding they could not reach the top, they returned to their position near the base.

          Sunday the 26th was the quietest day we enjoyed during the campaign but the work was soon to begin. After dark, the 15th Army Corps was removed from the front and again taking position about two miles further to the right, quietly awaiting the dawn of the 27th of June. That day will not be apt to be forgotten by most of the members of the Second Division.

At about 8:30 a.m., the order was given to advance and in the face of a withering fire of musketry, they started. They had not proceeded many yards when the enemy’s batteries opened upon them. At very short range and an enfilading hail of shot and shell poured down upon them. But like the undaunted heroes they are, they pressed on driving the enemy from his first ditches in a hand-to-hand encounter, many of them clubbing their muskets and rushing in with a reckless daring.

About 9 o’clock, the generals, finding that it would be impossible for the men to hold their position under such a heavy fire, gave the order to fall back and slowly but steadily the Second Division gave way, retiring about 200 yards. Then they halted and maintained their position the entire day. During the night, the division was relieved by the First Division under General Osterhaus. We retired about a mile and are now resting and recovering from the effects of the charge.

Having been ordered to the rear in charge of a number of sick from the regiment, I was at the divisional hospital when the wounded came in and was busy from 9 o’clock until 11 at night, assisting in dressing their wounds. Upwards of 50 cases were compelled to wait until the next day to get their wounds attended to; among the wounded in the 83rd Indiana is that gallant officer Colonel Ben Spooner. His loss is deeply felt by the regiment, who know him but to esteem and love him. [Colonel Spooner was wounded in the left arm which was amputated.]

To learn more about the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, please check out these posts:

Gentlemen, this is serious business: A 57th Ohio captain recalls Kennesaw 

Billy had No Enemies: The Death of Captain William D. Neal 

The Golden Moment was Gone: The Doomed Assault on the Dead Angle at Kennesaw 

They Paid Dearly for Their Whistle Today: Rebel Views of Kennesaw Mountain

Sources:

Letter from W.F.S., 83rd Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Aurora Journal (Indiana), July 7, 1864, pg. 2

Letter from Hospital Steward Daniel C. Beach, 83rd Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Aurora Journal (Indiana), July 14, 1864, pg. 4


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