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A militiaman’s perspective
The gallant men of the Georgia Militia set out on Friday evening and, after a march of about 2 miles, set up bivouac on a ridge near Reese’s battery of Wheeler’s cavalry. The ridge was fairly barren, and the night cold, with a persistent wind that made the evening uncomfortable for the men. We awoke before sunrise, preparing rations, breaking camp, and marching out. At the nearby crossroads, Company A and B moved off to the right fork, meeting several good citizens of Georgia who generously donated a ham to the cause. The ham was much appreciated, and admired, by the company, and jealously guarded on the march.
The company proceeded through another civilian homestead and continued for a distance of over a mile or more, until reaching the militia’s headquarters encampment, where we were obliged to turn the ham over to the commissary. The company promptly set about clearing a road up the adjacent hill, and entrenching and laying out defensive positions around the entire crest. The company dug in and waited. The hill was interlaced with much deadwood, with little respite from the sun. It resembled greatly the images of the landscape of Resaca made after that savage battle.
The wait, as it turned out, was long indeed. The status of the ham was much discussed, and several inquiries made with the commissary during the course of the day. The hours wiled away, until sporadic firing was heard from the direction of the hill behind the crossroads. Wheeler’s cavalry and elements of Company B of the 11th Georgia Militia engaged and captured upwards of 13 members of a Yankee foraging party in the midst of their nefarious mischief on our civilians and their private property. Some fancy sky blue trim on their jackets did not hide the Devil in that clothing. It should be said that Wheeler’s cavalry was ever-diligent during the day, conducting many reconnaissance missions, engaging the blue-coats through the day, and capturing many of their number. During this time a patrol from Company A found and escorted into our lines a party of refugees from Louisiana, in search of family members in the area.
Company A had moved to the left of the defensive line held by the militia, and about an hour after the prisoners were brought in, engaged and defeated a Federal unit that tried to force its way across the crossroads. Despite the disproportionate numbers, they being in far greater volume than we, the Federals fell back after but a few shots, and declined to press their advantage for the remainder of the day. It was rumoured that we were outnumbered by over four to one, but the enemy did not seize upon this disparity in launching an assault. To the contrary, we staged one of our own on their position on the wooded ridge across the valley and crossroads from our barren hill, less than two hours before sundown. After a fight of a half-hour, their number began to tell and the militia fell back to our entrenchments.
It was likewise rumoured amongst the militia, perhaps gleaned from the prisoners, that a vast number of the Federals in the area were interminably lost, and thus not able to bring the full weight of their numbers to bear. In any case, the valiant defenders of Georgia were prepared to meet them under any circumstance.
Our good citizens provided a veritable feast of fare for us on Saturday evening, of which included our beloved ham, along with his friend black-eyed peas and roasted corn. Most bedded down after supper, after a few amusing tales and songs of humour, trying as best to sleep through another cold night, with the prospect of a Federal advance always present, and readying for the day ahead.
On Sunday, the long awaited Yankee advance came. After a hasty breakfast, Company A deployed in a supporting position of Company D who faced the initial Yankee attack. They came in large numbers, overlapping the flanks of the forward company in both the valley to our left and coming over the hill to our right (positions we had formally occupied just an hour before) and forcing them back through our line. Our company provided support as a defensive line was established in front of the militia headquarters and our civilian’s homestead.
The Yankees pressed forward, their lost units obviously having come into line, as their numbers were far in excess of what we could have brought to bear. Many of them also carried the infernal brass repeaters, that could fire many multiple before reloading. It is a cruel state of war to try to fight such men with our poor weapons. More distasteful was their use of our captured men as shields on the road – but we gave them a surprise when we surged forward on their flanks from either side of the road and gave our men a chance to escape back into our lines. Before this, though, they had forced us back from the line about the cabin, and we were forced to leave a poor woman in the throws of childbirth to those infernal Devils, lest we all become victims to the barbarians. It was a heartbreaking thing to leave those poor souls to such a people as these we fight against.
The battalion, supported by a small mountain rifle, gallantly manned and hauled by its brave crew, was gradually forced back down the road, with several defensive stands made by the men of our ranks. However, the impetus of their advance was too much for our numbers, and the battalion was put into line and retreated towards Covington. The Federals ceased pursuit after our withdrawal.
Casualties were not especially heavy, many of those being captured, and we having relieved many of those during our surprise counter-attack on Sunday morning. Unfortunately, many of the Federal prisoners taken on Saturday made good their escape during the fight and confusion around the cabin. I do feel that we gave them a ‘sting’, though, and they will think twice if they decide to try to keep into Georgia.
The gallant men of the Georgia Militia set out on Friday evening and, after a march of about 2 miles, set up bivouac on a ridge near Reese’s battery of Wheeler’s cavalry. The ridge was fairly barren, and the night cold, with a persistent wind that made the evening uncomfortable for the men. We awoke before sunrise, preparing rations, breaking camp, and marching out. At the nearby crossroads, Company A and B moved off to the right fork, meeting several good citizens of Georgia who generously donated a ham to the cause. The ham was much appreciated, and admired, by the company, and jealously guarded on the march.
The company proceeded through another civilian homestead and continued for a distance of over a mile or more, until reaching the militia’s headquarters encampment, where we were obliged to turn the ham over to the commissary. The company promptly set about clearing a road up the adjacent hill, and entrenching and laying out defensive positions around the entire crest. The company dug in and waited. The hill was interlaced with much deadwood, with little respite from the sun. It resembled greatly the images of the landscape of Resaca made after that savage battle.
The wait, as it turned out, was long indeed. The status of the ham was much discussed, and several inquiries made with the commissary during the course of the day. The hours wiled away, until sporadic firing was heard from the direction of the hill behind the crossroads. Wheeler’s cavalry and elements of Company B of the 11th Georgia Militia engaged and captured upwards of 13 members of a Yankee foraging party in the midst of their nefarious mischief on our civilians and their private property. Some fancy sky blue trim on their jackets did not hide the Devil in that clothing. It should be said that Wheeler’s cavalry was ever-diligent during the day, conducting many reconnaissance missions, engaging the blue-coats through the day, and capturing many of their number. During this time a patrol from Company A found and escorted into our lines a party of refugees from Louisiana, in search of family members in the area.
Company A had moved to the left of the defensive line held by the militia, and about an hour after the prisoners were brought in, engaged and defeated a Federal unit that tried to force its way across the crossroads. Despite the disproportionate numbers, they being in far greater volume than we, the Federals fell back after but a few shots, and declined to press their advantage for the remainder of the day. It was rumoured that we were outnumbered by over four to one, but the enemy did not seize upon this disparity in launching an assault. To the contrary, we staged one of our own on their position on the wooded ridge across the valley and crossroads from our barren hill, less than two hours before sundown. After a fight of a half-hour, their number began to tell and the militia fell back to our entrenchments.
It was likewise rumoured amongst the militia, perhaps gleaned from the prisoners, that a vast number of the Federals in the area were interminably lost, and thus not able to bring the full weight of their numbers to bear. In any case, the valiant defenders of Georgia were prepared to meet them under any circumstance.
Our good citizens provided a veritable feast of fare for us on Saturday evening, of which included our beloved ham, along with his friend black-eyed peas and roasted corn. Most bedded down after supper, after a few amusing tales and songs of humour, trying as best to sleep through another cold night, with the prospect of a Federal advance always present, and readying for the day ahead.
On Sunday, the long awaited Yankee advance came. After a hasty breakfast, Company A deployed in a supporting position of Company D who faced the initial Yankee attack. They came in large numbers, overlapping the flanks of the forward company in both the valley to our left and coming over the hill to our right (positions we had formally occupied just an hour before) and forcing them back through our line. Our company provided support as a defensive line was established in front of the militia headquarters and our civilian’s homestead.
The Yankees pressed forward, their lost units obviously having come into line, as their numbers were far in excess of what we could have brought to bear. Many of them also carried the infernal brass repeaters, that could fire many multiple before reloading. It is a cruel state of war to try to fight such men with our poor weapons. More distasteful was their use of our captured men as shields on the road – but we gave them a surprise when we surged forward on their flanks from either side of the road and gave our men a chance to escape back into our lines. Before this, though, they had forced us back from the line about the cabin, and we were forced to leave a poor woman in the throws of childbirth to those infernal Devils, lest we all become victims to the barbarians. It was a heartbreaking thing to leave those poor souls to such a people as these we fight against.
The battalion, supported by a small mountain rifle, gallantly manned and hauled by its brave crew, was gradually forced back down the road, with several defensive stands made by the men of our ranks. However, the impetus of their advance was too much for our numbers, and the battalion was put into line and retreated towards Covington. The Federals ceased pursuit after our withdrawal.
Casualties were not especially heavy, many of those being captured, and we having relieved many of those during our surprise counter-attack on Sunday morning. Unfortunately, many of the Federal prisoners taken on Saturday made good their escape during the fight and confusion around the cabin. I do feel that we gave them a ‘sting’, though, and they will think twice if they decide to try to keep into Georgia.