Still in Snake Creek Gap, May 13, 1864.
Moved forward a half mile and our regiment built a strong line of log works. We have had a perfect rush of generals along the line to-day: Hooker, Sickles, McPherson, Thomas, Palmer, Sherman and a dozen of smaller fry. The boys crowded around Sherman and he could not help hearing such expressions as “Where’s Pap?” “Let’s see old Pap,” etc., nor could he help laughing, either. The men think more of Sherman than of any general who ever commanded them, but they did not cheer him. I never heard a general cheered in my life, as he rode the lines. Sherman said in hearing of 50 men of our regiment, “Take it easy to-day, for you will have work enough to-morrow. It will be quick done though.” Now see what that means.
Reveille at 3 a.m. and an order has just come to leave all our knapsacks and move at 7 a.m. Great hospital preparations are going on in our rear. I think we are going to take the railroad and Resaca. Large reinforcements came last night. Could hear the Rebels running trains all night. Ten-thirty a.m.—Have moved forward about four miles. Saw General Kilpatrick laying in an ambulance by the roadside. He was wounded in the leg this morning in a skirmish. Met a number of men—wounded—moving to the rear, and a dozen or so dead horses, all shot this morning. Quite lively skirmishing is going on now about 200 yards in front of us.
One forty-five p.m.—Moved about 200 yards to the front and brought on brisk firing.
Two thirty-five.—While moving by the flank shell commenced raining down on us very rapidly; half a dozen burst within 25 yards of us. The major’s horse was shot and I think he was wounded. In the regiment one gun and one hat was struck in my company. Don’t think the major is wounded very badly.
Three thirty p.m.—Corporal Slater of my company just caught a piece of shell the size of a walnut in his haversack.
Four p.m.—Colonel Dickerman has just rejoined the regiment. We would have given him three cheers if it had not been ordered otherwise.
Five p.m.—Have moved forward about a mile and a real battle is now going on in our front. Most of the artillery is farther to the right, and it fairly makes the ground tremble. Every breath smells very powderish. A battery has just opened close to the right of our regiment. I tell you this is interesting. Our regiment is not engaged yet, but we are in sight of the Rebels and their bullets whistle over our heads. The men are all in good spirits.
Eight p.m.—A few minutes after six I was ordered to deploy my company as skirmishers and relieve the 1st Brigade who were in our front. We shot with the Rebels until dark, and have just been relieved. One company of the 12th Indiana who occupied the ground we have just left, lost their captain and 30 men killed and wounded in sight of us. The Rebels are making the axes fly in our front. The skirmish lines are about 200 yards apart. I have had no men wounded to-day. Dorrance returned to the company this evening.