The Battle of Atlanta from the perspective of someone who was there. My great great great grandfather, Capt. Henry Schmidt.

Recently, I've gotten hooked on an app for photos and Facebook called Timehop.  Its a cool app because it can look through your Facebook and your photos and every day, it shows you pictures from that day in the past.  Here's an example from three years ago today.

[caption id="attachment_92" align="alignleft" width="295"] Ben and I Goofing Around[/caption]

I love remembering the past and looking back at things that might otherwise be forgotten.  I've mentioned before that I have over 300 pages of letters that my great-great-great grandfather, Captain Henry Schmidt, wrote during the Civil War.  They are a fascinating look into the day to day life of a real person in the middle of an enormous historical event.  Yesterday, I was flipping though these letters and discovered that today, July 22nd, there was a major battle we now call the Battle of Atlanta.   Captain Henry wrote at some length about the battle that happened today, 151 years ago.  I thought it was worth sharing with you.  Its amazing to read the experience of someone right in the middle of something like this, compared to the "textbook" version that we read from places like Wikipedia (The Battle of Atlanta)

 

Headquarters Co. "C" 37th O.V.V.I.

Near Atlanta, Ga.

July 25th, 1864

 

Dear Wife,

 

July 22nd, during the night, the enemy had left their works and fell back within 1 1/2 miles of Atlanta in their main works which were stationed on a terrible high ridge.  Also, they masked their force in our front and also in front of the 17th Corps, which was unknown to us.  We followed up and took position of their works which they left this night and also the 17th Corps advanced and did the same.  But we had hardly commenced charging the works when the enemy advanced in large force on the left of the 17th Corps and nearly surprised them.  The enemy had got partly in near of the left flank, but our meet soon saw what was up through the heavy force on the flank, but our flank was by that time partly repulsed.  We drove them back with hard fighting and heavy loss on both sides.

 

The enemy came closer and closer towards us, charging along as they came.  Our pickets soon came back, part of which were captured.  We were ready behind the works waiting for them and soon the Roar of the Musketry and Artillery came closer and closer, the enemy moving their columns this way from the left.  It was awful to hear the roar and thunder.  The enemy soon appeared in our front, advancing in column one behind the other.  We soon opened fire on them and they broke and ran, but soon formed again in a hollow and came up, but our we kept firing and steadily kept up.  They broke back and forth three times.  The last time they broke to the left and formed behind a large house and some large buildings in front of us.  

 

By this time the enemy succeeded in breaking our line on the left of the 1st Brigade, and those formed behind the houses and buildings.  They made a rush for our batteries after they had fired off and crossed the works.  There were no men there to prevent them from it and in less than a minute the Rebs were thick.  There was also a whole column of Rebs that moved forward in a large cut on the railroad and got in the rear of us.  There were also those that had broke through on the left of the 1st Brigade.   Those that crossed at the batteries took some of the Battery-Men prisoner, but some succeeded in getting away.  The left of the 27th soon gave away, being compelled to do so.  Also the 54th and then our and then the 30th and 53rd Ohio.  

 

We fell back to the next breast works in our rear, and formed again and advanced, but without success.  By this time the 1st Division saw what was up and, having a splendid position, opened their artillery and fired in the flank of the enemy and soon made them break so they could not form.  Our Brigade then advanced in the flank and drove them back, being assisted by the 16th Corps, which charged along the railroad and took a lot of prisoners.  We, what was left of us, advanced in between both and soon had our works back again. 

 

The loss in our Division this day was over 500 killed, wounded and captured.  Also, Maj. General McPherson was killed, the Commander of our Department.  We and the 17th killed in our front over 600 and captured aver 1600 along with some artillery.  The Rebel Lieutenant General Hardie was wounded and died the next morning, he fell into our hands. Of our regiment was killed Captain P. Witich (sp?), you know him from Loop Creek of Company C.  My 2nd Lt was wounded, C. Schnell is missing supposing to be captured. Also William Ersig, Captain Schultz of Company H was captured and 47 others were killed, wounded or taken prisoner.  I had none killed nor wounded in my company.  Your brother is alright yet, he only had to retreat a little to keep from being captured, the same as the others.  We are now preparing for them again.  They charged on us with two corps, on our Division which was only half present because we were sent to support the 17th.  This time I got through safe, but am sorry of C. Schnell.

 

The 57th lost one flag by this operation and some 80 men.  Still the Johnnies didn't make anything by the operation.  They lost the most, three times as much.  The dead laid thick in our front.  We are now prepared for them, even if they come with 4 Corps. 

 

Give my best respects to all, my love to a glass of beer.  I remain your husband,

H. Schmidt.