157                                HISTORY OF THE SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT O.V.V.I.

           General Leggett, I believe, is a citizen of your State, and Ohio may well be proud of him, for a truer, steadier, or a braver man never faced an enemy.

           General M. F. Force, who commanded the First Brigade of Leggett's Division, and greatly distinguished himself in the charge of the 21st, fell severely wounded with a shot through the head, early in the fight of the 22d.

           The rebels got off a large portion of their wounded during the fight. The next day the enemy sent in a flag of truce, desiring to get their dead. A truce of one hour, on General Leggett's front, was granted for that purpose. But the time was insufficient. General Leggett delivered to the enemy and buried one thousand rebel dead. As the whole of General Smith's Division was occupying a new line, the number killed by his Division was not estimated in those counted by General Leggett, as they were in the rebels' hands.

           The battle also raged to considerable extent on the front of the Fifteenth Corps, but the Seventeenth had the brunt of the fight, and covered itself with glory. The Corps fully avenged itself for the killing of its former commander. The old Seventeenth was never whipped. The Third and Fourth Divisions have fully vindicated the fighting reputation of the Corps.

           The Seventy-Eighth Ohio suffered very severely; have twenty-seven killed, one hundred wounded, and twenty taken prisoners. Captains McCarty and Gillespie were taken prisoner.

           See records for the killed and wounded.

           We have obtained permission to publish the following report of General Leggett on the battles of the 21st and 22d of July, before Atlanta:

HEADQUARTERS THIRD DIVISION, SEVENTEENTH A.C. BEFORE ATLANTA, GA., July 25th, 1864. }

COLONEL A. J. ALEXANDER:

           Colonel: — My constant duties on the line, entrenching, fortifying and fighting, has necessitated a delay in making my report of the part taken by my Division in the engagements of the 21st and 22d insts. until the present time

.            In pursuance of orders from Major-General Blair I moved my Division upon the enemy's works on the hill which I now occupy, about sunrise on the 21st inst. The rebels made a stubborn resistance, but my command moved at a quick-step until the enemy opened fire, and then struck a double-quick and took possession of their works and several prisoners. The enemy rallied and made repeated efforts to drive us from the hill, but were unsuccessful. In this fight the First Brigade, commanded by Brigadier-General M. F. Force, was particularly conspicuous, and did great honor to themselves and the cause for which they fought.

           Before 9 o'cleck, A. M., of that day I had a battery in position, and threw shells into Atlanta.            During the day the enemy were discovered moving to the left, and the Fourth Division moved to and took position on my left; and our flanks were as well guarded by

Intro Previous Next ToC Index