[122] fodder, sixty-six thousand seven hundred and twenty, (66,720.) Lieutenant Harbort's report shows the following subsistence stores taken from the country: one hundred and fifty head of beef cattle, four hundred and seventy-five sheep, eight thousand pounds of fresh pork, two thousand pounds of bacon, ten thousand pounds of poultry, six thousand six hundred bushels of sweet potatoes, five thousand pounds of honey, thirty-three barrels of sorghum syrup, three thousand pounds of corn-meal, two thousand three hundred pounds of flour.To the constant energy and systematic industry of Lieutenants Wing and Harbort, the brigade is under especial obligations, which I take pleasure in here acknowledging. Lieutenant Harbort so managed his department, that when the supplies of the other brigades of the division were exhausted, he still had on hand two days rations of hard bread, having in the mean time satisfactorily supplied the troops with daily issues of sweet potatoes.
I have to express my gratification with the faithful, efficient, and gentlemanly manner in which I have been assisted by my staff-officers.
For more particular remarks in regard to the execution of the duties of the different staff departments, I desire to refer to the letter of advice by the brigade inspector, a copy of which is herewith transmitted.
In closing this report, I desire to say, that while my position has been somewhat embarrassing by being separated from my regiment and placed in command where I was comparatively a stranger, I am exceedingly well pleased with the brigade, and do not hesitate to pronounce it one of which any brigade commander may well be proud.
The Twenty-second Wisconsin, Nineteenth Michigan, and the Eighty-fifth Indiana must be reckoned among the best troops in the service, for their well-known bravery in face of the enemy. Of the Thirty-third Indiana veteran volunteers, it will always be entitled to honorable mention; for its laxity in discipline, the present officers are by no means wholly responsible; the evil is of long standing, and therefore difficult to eradicate. The men are generally possessed of noble impulses, with pride and ambition to secure a good reputation in all that pertains to the true soldier; but to accomplish this, they stand in great need of the proper direction and control from competent officers. Whether Lieutenant-Colonel Burton will inaugurate and prosecute this work to a successful issue, remains to be seen.
Respectfully your obedient servant,
Daniel Dustin, Colonel Commanding Brigade.
Lieutenant-Colonel Burton's Report.
The regiment was with the brigade in the defences of the city, doing picket and fatigue duty, which was daily occupation until October sixteenth, 1864, when, with the brigade commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Bloodgood, (the expedition commanded by Colonel Robinson,) the regiment went on a foraging expedition, making a march of sixteen miles, camping at Flat Shoals, South-River.
October 17th, 1864.--Moved east five miles; loaded wagons with corn, potatoes, beef, and pork; returned and camped on same ground.
October 18th, moved out south seven miles; loaded forty wagons with the above-named articles; sent one hundred men out under command of Captain Maze, who flanked and routed a squad of the enemy's cavalry; returned to same camp.
October 19th, returned to Atlanta; resumed picket and fatigue until the twenty-sixth October, 1864; went on a foraging expedition with the brigade, commanded by Major Brant, Eighty-fifth Indiana; the expedition commanded by General Geary, marching twenty-four miles.
October 27th. Detailed from brigade with other regiments, to guard and load one hundred wagons, which was done with the best of corn fodder, etc. ; returned to same camp.
October 28th, marched seven miles past Stone Mountain.
October 29th, returned to Atlanta, a distance of fifteen miles; resumed picket-duty until November fifteenth, 1864; moved out four miles on McDonald road; went into camp and put out pickets.
November 6th. Pickets were attacked by rebel cavalry; the enemy was repulsed by a loss on our part of one man, (Hiram Like, private, company B, Thirty-third Indiana, killed ;) returned to camp at Atlanta and resumed our former duties until November fifteenth, 1864; this date, under command of Colonel Dustin, commanding Second brigade, Third division, Twentieth army corps, we struck tents early and prepared for the march, which began at nine o'clock A. M.; we moved out on the Decatur road; the march was very slow, as the movement of the train was not yet regulated ; halted at half-past 3 o'clock P. M. on the right of the road for dinner ; at about five o'clock moved out again, passing through Decatur about dusk; after the corps had passed through, many of the buildings were wrapped in flames.
November 16th. Our march continued all night; went into camp about eight miles east of Stone Mountain; forage was nearly all taken by the forage forces of previous expeditions; company A was detailed as foragers November sixteenth, 1864.
November 17th. There was but little system in the management of the immense wagon-train and troops, as we marched all day without stopping for dinner or supper.
