SOLD Atlanta Campaign Battle Report From the First Regiment to Raise the American Flag Over Atlanta

The 111th Pennsylvania Regiment was with Sherman’s Army of the Cumberland through the entire Atlanta campaign, taking part in many battles and skirmishes, including Resaca, New Hope Church, Dallas, Peachtree Creek and Atlanta. It is considered one of the war’s "300 fighting regiments," and was led through this campaign by Lt. Col. Thomas M. Walker. We offer Walker’s battle report, addressed to Adjutant Capt. John P. Green, entitled “

Report of the part taken by the 111th regiment Pennsylvania Vet. Vols. in the spring and summer campaign 1864 in Dept. of the Cumberland.” It is all in his hand, is 6 pages, and because of the presence of corrections is likely his first draft. It lays out the crucial campaign virtually day by day, and culminates with the 111th raising the first American flag over Atlanta’s City Hall on September 2, 1864.

Though undated, battle and campaign reports were usually written within ten days of the end of the period they cover. “I have the honor to report the part taken by the 111th PVV in the campaign just ended. The regiment marched with the division leaving Bridgeport Ala. between 8 and 9 o’clock of May 3, camping for the night at Shell Mound. From there we proceeded…on the 4th via Whiteside and Wauhatchee to the suburbs of Chattanooga on the east of Lookout Mountain…until arrived at the foot of the range of Chattanooga Hills when we moved to the right up Pea Vine Creek camping for the night at a point 5 miles southwest of Ringgold. May 6th we marched…camping about 10 P.M. near Gordon’s Springs, having crossed both the Chicamauga & Taylor’s Ridge range of hills. The morning of the 8th we moved as support to General Kilpatrick’s cavalry division…where we remained until the arrival of General McPherson’s column…the 12th we moved to the right going through Snickers Gap and camped in Sugar Valley within six miles of Resaca…but moved on the afternoon of the 14th to the left of the armory getting into position about 11 o’clock P.M. and built rifle pits. At 10 1/2 o’clock on the 15th we moved to the right to where the corps was massing to charge the hills held by the enemy. Then regiment moved against the four gun battery and together with other troops drove out the enemy and held the position that completely commanded the battery and its approaches. We remained here until after dark…The loss in this engagement one officer and three men killed, one officer and 23 men wounded and 2 men missing. The enemy having retreated we moved in pursuit…On the 19th we moved with skirmishers out through the woods and camped at night within 3/4 of a mile of Cassville, Ga., where we remained until May 23rd…We moved again…on the 24th passing up Resaca Creek and crossing at Allatoona Mountain. Camped at Burnt Hickory from which place we again moved…on the 25th.

"Crossed to Pumpkin Vine at 11 1/2 A.M., our division having encountered the advance of the enemy we were halted and my regiment went to the right to open communication with General Williams’ division…Just at dark we advanced against the enemy who had taken position near New Hope Church. In the engagement that followed we lost one officer and one enlisted man killed, one officer and 30 enlisted men wounded and 3 men missing – total 43. On the morning of the 25th we moved to the right, being the right regiment of the corps and threw up a strong line of breastworks. The 27th we relieved the 102nd Illinois on the Dallas Road, and had severe skirmishing, losing two men killed and 5 men wounded.

"After dark on the 28th we changed position, moving to the right where we remained until June 1st, having lost since the 27th 4 men killed and 2 wounded. The division being relieved on the 1st, we moved to the left and bivouwacked in the rear of the left of the 4th corps on the road to Acworth…the 3rd the regiment moved with the brigade to which it is attached to build the bridge across the Allatuna Creek at Acworth, where we remained till the 5th when we…joined the division at the roads leading to Big Shanty, where we built a strong line of breastworks and remained until the afternoon of the 13th, when we…formed about 2 1/2 miles to Pine Mountain where we bivouwacked and built a line of works.

"We moved on the 15th, the rebels having evacuated the mountain. The regiment was thrown forward as skirmishers, casualties were one killed, twelve wounded. On the 17th we occupied the works of the enemy in our front, moving again to the right we formed a line in advance, losing three men killed and six wounded. After dark we advanced again and threw up breastworks. We again moved forward on the 19th and at night again erected breastworks…On the 21st the regiment was thrown forward as skirmishers together with 103 New York and captured the hill on Greer’s Plantation, losing one man killed, one officer and seven men wounded. On the 22nd the hill was fully occupied with our troops and breastworks were thrown up. We remained here until the morning of the 27th when we advanced with the division and enveloped the woods on the right of the position taken by the 14th Corps to protect their flank during the attack. Loss one enlisted man killed. We threw up a strong line of rifle pits…

"We remained in position here until the morning of July 3rd when the rebels having evacuated, we pursued for some miles and were halted in front of a new line of works, where we remained until the morning of the 5th…July 7th we moved to the front and went into position on the east flank of Mickajack Creek where we remained until 3 P.M. on the 17th…The 18th we moved to Buck Head and went into position, throwing up a line of works. We moved out about 8 o’clock the 19th and halted on the bank of Peach Tree Creek, which we crossed just before night, driving the enemy’s skirmishers from their pits on the opposite bluffs. We threw up a line of works. About noon of the 20th we moved to the front and the brigade massed…in the rear of the 1st and 2nd brigades. The enemy attacking about 3:00 we were thrown to the front, advanced across the ravine and up the opposite slope, and arriving at the top the right of the regiment was immediately enveloped, front flank and rear by the line of the enemy who were advancing from our right.

"The regiment fought this unequal fight without support for some time, but was compelled to retire, having lost our Colonel and 10 enlisted men killed, five officers and 27 men were wounded, three officers and 29 men missing. The regiment retired to the rifle pits, formed and was at once moved to the front, where it took position in line again. Threw up breast works and remained until the morning of the 22nd when we moved to the front, passing through the enemy’s works, going into position and building works about 2 mi. from Atlanta. We continued to work until the night of the 26 when we moved to the left and occupied the works built by the 3rd div. 20th Corps…The 111th occupying the left front line built a formidable redout for infantry beside a line of rifle pits. We remained here until the morning of September 2nd when we formed a portion of the reconnoitering party sent toward Atlanta, where we arrived soon after 10:00, and a little later the column was moved into the city, the 111th leading. We halted and camped at its City Hall from which the colors of the 111th P.V. and 60 th N.Y. were simultaneously displayed as the first flags over the city.”

An extremely interesting report by the man who led the Union Army into Atlanta. Although the report itself is not signed by Walker, a portion of its envelope remains and indicates that it contained details of the killed, wounded and prisoners of war of the 111th Pa. This is certified at the end with Walker’s signature (the last letter of which is worn away). The report itself has fold separations but is otherwise in very good condition.