Friday, 27th.—About 4 A. M., very heavy cannonading began and continued for some time. Orderly Harmon struck in side with spent ball. P. M., Federals shelled Baker’s Brigade just to our left, very heavily, tearing down their log fortifications and killing good many of their men. 5 P. M., 39th having long-range guns, was ordered to support Baker’s Brigade and sharp-shoot batteries. Very dangerous place; two of regiment killed and several wounded; silenced the batteries in a short time; eulogized by General Reynolds and also by the division commander. During the hottest of the fight, a mere youth, probably not over sixteen or seventeen, was by my side, a handsome boy and brave. He said to me: “Pretty hot place, but we will put our trust in God and do the best we can.” The last words he ever spoke. As he raised to fire over the works, a minnie ball struck him fair in the head, and he fell by my side. What a pang pierced my heart, and how I wished I could tell his mother his last words; but I don’t know who he was. I only know he was with Baker’s Brigade, and suppose he belonged to it. We were relieved after dark and returned to our place in the second line, but were soon ordered to be ready to move at once.
Robert M. Magill—Personal Reminiscences of a Confederate Soldier Boy, 39th Georgia Regiment of Infantry
May 25th.—Started at daylight, marching in direction of Dallas. Marching very hard. Some skirmishing on our right. Formed in line of battle at 2 P. M., near New Hope Church. Our brigade in second line. 6 P. M., Hooker’s Corps made heavy assault just to our left; two regiments of our division engaged. When the Federals began to advance, a whole battalion, sixteen guns, was massed in their front and did terrible execution, causing them to fall back.
Friday, 20th.—After 12 o’clock last night we were ordered into line, and in short time were moving back rapidly; after leaving detail, to keep up hammering, to make Yanks think we were still fortifying. When Hardee’s Corps went to take position assigned it yesterday, found Federals had beaten to it, consequently we are falling back again. Passed Cartersville 8 A. M. Halted for the night two miles beyond the river on the Canton Road. Everything quiet generally.
Thursday, 19th.—Got to sleep all night last night. Formed in line of battle in front of Cassville. General Johnston had circular read that we will now turn and fight. Big rumors from Virginia that thirty-one Yankee general officers had been killed, wounded, and captured. Loss in all, 45,000. (Don’t ask me what battle that was, for I don’t know. We are getting accustomed to such big rumors when they think a fight is coming on here.) Can see the Yanks forming in our front very plainly. 3 P. M., ordered back to Cassville; had gone but a short distance, until we were ordered back to our old line. While we were gone, Federals got a battery in position and shelled us very heavily. Just our brigade here. Out in an old field. Yanks advancing in sight on our front and both flanks. Lieutenant Park’s left hand shot off, and James White’s leg nearly so. I began to think we were about gone, but just as they were coming within rifle range, we were ordered to fall back, and I was “mighty” glad to hear it. We did not wait for a second order. Fell back in rear of Cassville, where our troops are fortifying. 5 P. M., Federals advanced to the other side of town, when an artillery duel was kept up until dark. We afterward learned somebody blundered and gave the wrong order, that sent us back to the old line, and came very near getting us all captured.
Wednesday, 18th.—1 A. M., moved out. Halted near Cassville, where we are still at 3 P. M.
Tuesday, 17th.—Moved off last night about 12 o’clock. Army slowly falling back. Halted at 10 A. M.; some skirmishing on our left. 3 P. M., put under arms at once, and moved back one-half mile and formed in line of battle; heavy firing in our front. We are formed in three lines of battle, across a beautiful valley; we are in third line. Lay down to rest at dark.
Monday, 16th.—Last night after dark everything moved out of ditches. Suppose the Yanks are flanking us again, while waiting “en masse” to get across the river, a minnie ball, nearly spent, came down among us, and struck one of our boys. With a groan, he caught the place, and the boys gathered round to see how badly he was wounded, but did not find any blood. After a time, some one noticed a hole in his havresack. Upon further investigation, the minnie ball was found lodged in a pone of corn-bread, and had never touched the man, but had jarred him considerably. Moved across the river on railroad bridge. 3 P. M., lying resting near Calhoun. Some fighting going on west of Calhoun.
Sunday, 15th.—At 7 A. M., ordered to the new line we left last night, and were fired on very heavy as we were moving in. By 10 A. M., had pretty fair works, by digging with bayonets and throwing out dirt with our hands. Heavy skirmishing all along the lines. Lieutenant Hill, Company C, killed. Shelling and sharp-shooting us heavy. . 3 P. M., assault on the right of our brigade and Brown’s brigade. 3:30 P. M., heavy fighting for some distance along our right front; seems to be a general charge; 5 p. m., Yanks repulsed. Started to charge 39th, but one volley sent them back to their works. Charged Brown’s brigade three times. Corput’s battery of four Napoleon brass guns were ordered forward to support the skirmish line; the Federals drove in the skirmish line and killed so many of the horses that the artillery was abandoned for a few moments, and the Federals took charge of the guns, but before they had time to remove them, Brown’s and Reynolds’ Brigades charged so impetuously on them, that they, in turn, abandoned the guns in double quick time. After a short interval, the Federals advanced again. Brown’s and Reynolds’ Brigades left the artillery and fell back to their main line, and as the Yankees came up to the guns, again poured such a heavy fire into them that they were compelled to retire and leave the guns. Neither party could go to the guns, and no further attempt was made that day to remove them. Loss in 39th heavy to-day. Captain Brady, Company K, killed; also Sergeant Hood of our company. Lieutenant Ruth and two or three others of Company C, mortally wounded. Have been shelled very heavily all day.
Saturday 14th.—Federals advanced; some pretty heavy fighting just to our left. We have very dangerous position, being near a short turn in our works. Minnie balls and shells come very freely on our left flank and rear. Lieutenant J. T. Brown shot through the knee by minnie ball from the rear. 5 P. M., Companies A and F thrown out as skirmishers; ordered forward; just at that moment Brown’s Brigade, just on our right, charged and drove Yanks back some distance, capturing two pieces of artillery, but could not bring them off. Captain Fox seriously wounded in leg. About dark our division (Stevenson’s) being on right wing, moved round and formed new line; began fortifying, but shortly after dark ordered back to our old position. Several of regiment killed and wounded.
Friday, 13th.—Last night, just before dark, had orders to leave camp; built up big fires at dark and moved out; marched all night in direction of Resacca. Everything indicates a retreat. Some skirmishing back about Dalton. 11 A. M., Federals two miles below Dalton. Formed in line of battle at 12 M., but soon moved on; 4 P. M., formed in line of battle two miles from Resacca. Threw up breast works.
