"...our corps piled them up in heaps."

From two miles southwest of the "Hell Hole" at Dallas, Georgia on May 29th of 1864, Captain Speer left yet another record of his Company B, 31st Iowa's actions during the campaign; this time of its involvement in the "First Epoch" of the operations against Atlanta.

 

FROM THE THRITY-FIRST IOWA,

Casualties in Company B.

Correspondence of the Gazette,

Two Miles S.W. of Dallas, Georgia, May 29^th, 1864.

Editors of Gazette: – I wrote a short letter for the Gazette yesterday but am afraid you will not receive it and will now write again. We marched from Woodville, Ala., on the 1^st day of May, and arrived at Snake Creek Gap, three miles above Resaca, on May 9^th, where we build rifle pits to protect the mouth of the Gap. On the 13^th we gave battle to the enemy at Resaca. During the afternoon Sergt. Nelson N. Blakeslee was mortally wounded and H.T. Cooper received a severe flesh wound in the right arm, and James W. Burke a severe wound in the left foot. We left John Tyrrell at Snake Gap, sick with congestion of the lungs, and were notified on the 18^th that he died on the 12^th, after being sick only three days. On the morning of the 18^th James Morrison was unwell and we also left him at Snake Gap. – I have since learned that he died in four or five days afterwards of hiccoughs. At Chattanooga J.O. Mills and W.M. Prouty were unable to march farther and were left to guard baggage which the boys of Company B could not carry on the march. During the 14^th and 15^th we were under fire near Resaca but sustained no further loss. On the night of the 15^th the rebels retreated from Resaca. On the 26^th Geo. Bawn died of sunstroke or congestion of the lungs, after being sick only forty-eight hours. On the same day we skirmished with the enemy without loss and took possession of the town of Dallas. Same evening we took position in front of the enemy, and about one mile south of Dallas. At dawn of day on the 26^th Co. B relieved our pickets for the purpose of skirmishing with the enemy. In less than fifteen minutes afterwards Frederick Jacob was severely wounded in lower jaw and neck by a musket ball. Immediately afterwards an entire rebel regiment came over a ridge and drove in the skirmishers on our left. It then changed direction and marched on our left flank, the boys all discharged their pieces into their ranks at short-range as fast as they could load them. When the rebels came within 100 to 125 yards from us John Clough was dangerously wounded through both jaws and tongue by a musket ball. We were then obliged ot fall back on our regiment, and in doing so Harlow Perry, James Watson, and John Rarick were taken prisoners. As underbrush was thick on the ground I cannot say whether they were wounded or not. In about an hour after our skirmish line was driven in John Parmenter received a slight but painful wound in the neck by a musket ball. At 10 o'clock A.M. we were relieved by other troops, and acted as a reserve until 4 o'clock P.M. of the 28^th, when the rebels were discovered advancing to charge the 2d Division of the 15^th Corps. We immediately moved on double quick for about a mile and a half to support the 2d Division. – When we took our position every man in our regiment was found in his proper place although all were greatly heated and almost out of breath. By the time we arrived the rebels had commenced the assault and in a few minutes Hardee's Corps and one Division of Polk's Corps had assaulted the entire line of the 15^th Corps. They advanced with from two to four lines of their best troops. parts of our line they charged twice and other parts three times, and each time our corps piled them in heaps. During the fight bullets, shells, canister, and grape flew around us thick and fast, but fortunately, this time none of Co. B were hurt. The loss of our Corps on this occasion was trifling. I think we did not lose more than 800 in killed and wounded and no prisoners. General Logan says he feels confident the enemy's loss was not less than 3,000. This time we had the advantage of them. They met us at our own rifle pits. The 4^th and 31^st Regiments Iowa Volunteers are now on the extreme right of the 15^th Army Corps. Last night we worked hard on rifle pits and have now a strong position. Last night about 9 o'clock the enemy assaulted Hooker on our left and were repulsed with heavy loss. I cannot say positively, but from all I can learn, I judge we have Johnson's army nearly surrounded. Many officers who rank high are of the opinion that he has not more than 60,000 troops. I believe we have 120,000 men. They still manifest great stubbornness but their stubbornness only makes the campaign interesting for such men as Sherman and Logan. – In battle we never saw a man appear so well as Logan. Yesterday he was half Peacock and half Tiger. All the boys of Co. B, present, except Windsor Clayton are well, and he is not seriously ill. The ranks of our Company have been greatly thinned within the last seventeen days; and each of the surviving members of the Co. tenders to the relatives of our fallen comrades a soldier's sympathy.

During the present campaign we will not be able to mail letters regularly.

• R. P. Speer.

[Note. – it is more than probable that the Captain is incorrect when he states that James Morrison is dead. Mr. Arthur Morrison of this place, the father of James Morrison [said] he received a letter form him the same evening that we received the Captain's, and that his son wrote that though he had been very near death's door, he was then recovering and considered out of danger. We most sincerely hope that this be true. – Eds. Gaz.]

Source: Cedar Falls Gazette, 10 June 1864