The Atlanta (Georgia) Campaign: May 1 - September 8, 1864., Part I: General Report.
Maj. George B. Davis, Mr. Leslie J. Perry, Mr. Joseph W. Kirkley, Ed.

Lieutenant: I have the honor herewith to present a synopsis of the part taken by the Sixth Ohio Independent Light Battery, during the campaign in Georgia, under Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman, commanding Military Division of the Mississippi, commencing on the 3d day of May, 1864, at McDonald's Station, Tenn., and ending on the 5th day of September, 1864, on Macon and Atlanta Railroad, at or near Lovejoy's Station, Ga. I would remark that it is almost impossible to give a minute report. The unusual length of time consumed in making the campaign (a little over four months) precludes the idea. I would also state the battery has been commanded by three different officers during the campaign, viz, first, by First Lieut. O. H. P. Ayres, who commanded until June 1, 1864; second, by First Lieut. L. D. Immell, Buttery G, First Regiment Missouri Volunteer [503] Light Artillery, who commanded until August 1 1864. Up to the 1st day of August, 1864, I was acting chief of artillery, Third Division, Fourth Army Corps.

On or about the last of July the artillery of the Fourth Army Corps was organized into an Artillery Brigade, under command of Capt. Lyman Bridges, Illinois Volunteer Artillery, thus relieving me from the duties of chief of artillery and returning me to the command of my battery. On the 3d day of May, 1864, the battery was under command of First Lieut. O. H. P. Ayres, and consisted of 4 commissioned officers, 153 enlisted men, 6 12-pounder light Napoleon guns, 6 caissons for 12-pounder guns, 128 rounds of ammunition per gun, 1 forge (A), 1 battery wagon (C), 5 baggage wagons, 114 horses, and 32 mules.

Left camp at McDonald's Station, Tenn., at 12 m.; consumed twelve days in marching to or near Resaca, Ga., where we found the enemy in force, and on 15th took up position on main line and expended-shot, 49; shell, 74; spherical case, 65; canister, 10; total, 198 rounds ammunition; Private Simpson slightly wounded by musket-ball; I horse killed. Left camp on the 16th and again came upon the enemy at or near Adairsville, Ga. Took position on main line and expended — shot, 9; shell, 66; spherical case, 61; total, 136 rounds. Left camp on 19th; consumed seven days in marching to Pumpkin Vine Creek, where we again came upon the enemy. Took position on the 26th on main line, expending-shot, 34; shell, 35; spherical case, 21; total, 90 rounds; Corporal Fix severely wounded by musket-ball. 27th, expended 37 shot, 81 shell, 54 case, and 2 canister; total, 174; Corporal Mathews severely wounded. 28th, expended 9 shot, 2 shell, and I canister; total, 12. 29th, expended 11 shot, 6 shell, and 30 case; total, 47; Private Whitney killed. 30th, relieved by Captain McDowell's (Pennsylvania) battery, and took position near headquarters Fourth Army Corps. Left camp June 6; consumed eight days in marching to or near Acworth, Ga., coming upon the enemy on the 14th. Took position on main line, expending — shot, 18; shell, 26; case, 11; total, 55 rounds. 15th and 16th, moved on Marietta road. 17th, came upon the enemy near Pine Hill, Ga.; took position with Third Di-vision, Fourth Army Corps; expended-shot, 27; shell, 17; total, 44 rounds. 18th, pursued the enemy, driving him, and expending-shot, 121; shell, 113; case 90; total, 324 rounds; Private Hersh killed; Privates Craig and Everett wounded severely; one spare wheel destroyed by shell. 19th, moved on Marietta road. 20th, took position on main line near Kenesaw Mountain, and remained until July 2, expending rounds of ammunition as follows: June 20, 457. June 22, 44. June 23, 155. June 27, 5 shot. July 1, 3 shot, 8 shell, 9 case; total, 20. July 2, 11 shot, 20 shell, 27 case; total, 58.

July 3, left camp and pursued the enemy, coming up with him on the 5th near Chattahoochee River; took position on main line; remained until 10th, expending ammunition as follows: 5th, 12 shell, 14 case; total, 26. 6th, 30 shot, 59 shell, 88 case; total, 177; First Lieut. O. H. P. Ayres severely wounded. 7th, 43 shot, 39 shell, 43 case; total, 125. 9th, 25 shot, 18 shell, 17 case; total, 60. 10th, 10 shot, 20 shell, 9 case; total, 39. 11th, left camp; consumed eight days in marching to Buck Head, where we again engaged on the 19th, expending 8 shot, 10 shell, 16 case; total, 34 rounds. Left camp on 20th, and on 22d took position on main line before Atlanta, where we remained until August 25, expending ammunition as follows [504] :¹ August 10, erected temporary furnace for heating shot and threw six shot into the city, also four shell filled with port fire. August 25, left camp at 10 p. m.; consumed two days in marching to Camp Creek, Ga., where we engaged the enemy on the 27th, expending 8 shot, 6 shell, 7 case; total, 21 rounds. Left camp on the 28th at 6.30 a. in.; consumed six days in marching to the Montgomery railroad, where we again engaged the enemy, expending 3 shot. September 3, expended 30 shot, 17 shell, 39 case, 3 canister; total, 89 rounds. September 4, right section moved out on main line near Lovejoy's Station, Ga.; expended 23 shot, 6 shell, 4 case, 28 canister; total, 61 rounds. 5th, expended 5 shell, 3 case; total, 8 rounds. In noting the different times the battery has been engaged or fired no mention is made of the results, simply because it was not known. All the firing done has been at the enemy's batteries or main lines. When at their batteries they have been silenced by a few rounds. During the campaign our firing has been mostly behind works. All firing has been done by order of chief of artillery of the corps or general commanding division or army.

Recapitulation: Killed, enlisted men, 2; horses, 1. Wounded, commissioned officers, 1; enlisted men, 5. Ammunition expended, total number of rounds, 4,412.

I am, lieutenant, very respectfully, your obedient servant,