No. 48. report of Capt. Albert M. Tilton, Fifty-first Illinois Infantry.
Left Cleveland, Tenn., May 3, and commenced skirmishing on the 5th at Buzzard Roost, where, on the 9th, part of the regiment participated in an unsuccessful charge on the enemy's works. Had 2 men wounded at this point. The enemy fell back on the night of the 12th, and we passed through Dalton on the 13th in pursuit, and engaged them at Resaca on the 14th, losing Captain Lester, killed, and 20 men wounded. The enemy evacuated his works on the night of the 15th, and we followed, skirmishing continually until the 19th, [363] when we halted, and the whole army rested for three days near Kingston. Resumed the march on the 23d, and found the enemy on the 25th near Dallas. After eleven days skirmishing they retreated, and we rested three days near Acworth. The casualties here (near Dallas) were 1 officer and 11 men wounded. Moved forward on the 9th of June, and on the 15th, being on the skirmish line, lost 1 officer and 12 men killed and wounded. On the 17th the enemy decamped to their intrenchments at Kenesaw, where nothing except changes of line and light skirmishing occurred till the 27th, when we participated in an assault on the enemy's line, losing 4 officers and 39 men. The losses from the 15th to this time were 11 men killed and wounded. The enemy left this line on the night of the 2d of July, and we marched to the Chattahoochee without further hinderance than a show of resistance on the 4th. On the 10th marched to Roswell, eighteen miles up the river, and crossed, returning to our position in the corps on the 13th, and again crossed the river on the 14th, and rested three days. Marched on the 18th in support of the skirmish line. On the 20th supported and reenforced the Eighty-eighth Illinois, First Brigade. Afterward formed line, facing to the rear, and built breast-works. Casualties, 5 wounded. On the 22d confronted the enemy in their fortifications around Atlanta, where we remained until the night of the 25th, when we started on a raid, which resulted in the evacuation of Atlanta, on the night of the 1st of September. In the skirmish near Jonesborough on the 1st lost 2 men wounded, and on the 2d near Lovejoy's, 3 men wounded. Remained at Lovejoy's till the 5th; commenced a retrogade movement in the evening, regiment on picket, and marched in triumph into Atlanta on the 8th.
This is a brief outline of operations, and somewhat imperfect, owing to the fact that I have been in command since June 27 only.
I append a list of casualties during the campaign: Officers killed, 3; wounded, 5; total, 8. Enlisted men killed, 22; wounded, 79; captured, 4; missing, 1; total, 106. Aggregate, 114.
I am, captain, very truly, your obedient servant,
Captain Waterman, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Third Brigade.
