The following manuscript was written by Reuben C. Norton of Co. G, 44th Illinois Infantry. It’s not dated but I think it was probably penned at the end of the Atlanta campaign or in the winter of 1864-65. This manuscript is from the personal collection of Allen Cebula and was made available for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by express consent.

A Partial History of the Part Acted by Co. G in the Campaign commencing May 4th and ending September 8th 1864.

Broke camp at Cleveland, Tennessee and marched a distance of 23 miles and joined the Brigade which had marched the day previous. Laid in this camp until the 7th when we marched about two miles and formed line of battle. Heavy skirmishing in front but no general engagement. Went into camp for the night near Tunnel Hill. 8th, moved to the left and formed line to support 3rd Brigade of our Division who threw out a heavy line of skirmishers and advanced up the slope of Rocky Face Ridge. They met with considerable opposition but gallantly carried the ridge losing 3 men killed and 13 wounded. 9th, 3rd Brigade charged the Rebel works on the ridge. Our regiment was ordered to support the charging party but before the lines could be formed 9owing to the roughness of the ground), the charge was repulsed with heavy loss to our side. The project was then abandoned and we fell back to our old position. Remained in this position until the 11th when the Regiment went on the skirmish line. Considerable firing during the day and a greater portion of the night. 12th, during the night the Rebs evacuated their position on the ridge and fell back into their works at Resaca. 13th, marched through Dalton and took our position before Resaca. Laid on our arms all night.

14th, Ball opened in earnest. Our regiment went in about noon, fired 200 rounds to the man when we were relieved by the 36th Illinois. Fell back under the brow of a hill out of range and again filled our cartridge boxes. At night went on picket line. Some firing but no damage done. Threw up light works. Rebs opened early on the morning of the 15th. Were under fire until 10 o’clock when we were relieved by the 40th Indiana of the 2nd Brigade. Fell back and rested for the night. Rebs evacuated during the night. Fell back across the river. Regiment lost in the engagement 26 men, Co. G lost mortally wounded Thomas Willie, Almond Gifford, and T. F. Collins, slightly wounded. 16th, Rebs in full retreat. Our Division close on their rear. Heavy skirmishing during the day ending in the occupation of Calhoun by our forces.

17th, Our Brigade in advance, skirmishing commenced early and continued light until about noon when the enemy having secured a strong position seemed determined to check our advance. This they succeeded in doing until the 44th Illinois was put forward on the line. The Boys were in good spirits and went forward on the double quick, routing the Johnnies without firing a shot. We continued the pursuit until we were close on the enemy’s train. Here we found Hardee’s whole Corps together with a Division of the Rebel Cavalry formed in three lines of battle. This gave us a momentary check but we soon formed and charged, gaining an advantageous position which we held until support came—a space of three hours. Many of the Boys had expended their last round of ammunition but had too much pride to fall back. This engagement lasted from noon till dark. The Regiment lost 36 in killed and wounded. Co. G lost in killed Corp. Henry Fisher, mortally wounded 1st Sergt. Ezra Sawyer, Private Josepg Cummings. Wounded severely Private Thomas J. Abbott. This affair was called the Battle of Adairville.

We had but little skirmishing until the 26th when we went on the line to relieve the 20th Army Corps before Dallas. The Brigade formed to charge the enemy’s works but for some reason the charge was not made. Formed our lines and threw up works. 27th, at 6 o’clock, went on the skirmish line. About 2 o’clock the Rebs made a charge onour front but were repulsed. Heavy firing was kept up on both sides until dark. Regiment fired 20,000 rounds of ammunition. This engagement lasted until the 5th of June. Regiment lost 47 in killed and wounded. Co. G lost none severely wounded, Homer Dale and William Miner were slightly wounded. On the 22nd of June, the Battle of Gulpe Farm was fought. Our Regiment was in support of the skirmishers. The Rebels were driven 4 miles out of 4 light lines of works and heavy works. Our Regiment lost none in this engagement.

We were engaged in several skirmishes in quick succession—some of them quite severe but lost no men. On the 27th of June, our Brigade formed a line as support to the 2nd and 3rd Brigades of our Division for the purpose of charging the Rebel works in outr immediate front. The column moved forward at about 8 o’clock in the morning meeting with a warmer reception than was expected. Gen. Wagner who with his Brigade was somewhat in advance of the line ordered a halt of his command. Gen.. Kimball, commanding our Brigade, thinking by a dashing move to carry the works, ordered us to charge over the 2nd Brigade. We went forward on the double quick fixing bayonets as we ran but met with a storm of grape and ball which no body of men could withstand. Consequently we were obliged to fall back. The 44th Was thrown out as skirmishers to cover the retreat of the Brigade which was conducted in splendid style. Scarcely a man straggling. The Regiment remained in front until our wounded were removed inside of our lines. The removal was effected under a flag of truce. A member of Co. G was the bearer of the flag. The Regiment lost in this engagement 43 men in killed and wounded. Co. G lost mortally wounded George Knapp and George Young. James Ownby was badly wounded in the left leg. O. C. Rogers slightly in the abdomen.

The Rebel works at this point were impregnable. Obstructions were thrown out which a person could not surmount in five minutes if there was no force to impede his progress. Numbers were shot down while attempting to remove them. One line was a peculiar form. It consisted of logs with holes bored through the center at right angles. Stakes were driven through the holes and made sharp at the ends so that roll them as you might, they still presented a row of bristling points, very difficult to overcome.

On the 29th, the Regiment went on the picket line when arrangements were made whereby firing on the advance line was stopped unless an advance was made. The practice was looked upon by both parties as little short of murder. Under the new order of things, quite a friendly feeling sprange up between the two armies. Exchange of Yankee coffee and Rebel tobacco became frequent. Exchange of newspapers was also carried on to some extent until it came under the notice of the Commanding Officers when a stop was put to all intercourse whatever.

July 2nd, moved to the left and relieved the 1st Division of our Corps. During the night the enemy evacuated their position and the next morning we occupied the City of Marietta. This is a place of some 10,000 inhabitants regularly laid out and withal a very pretty town. 3rd and 4th, a severe skirmish took place which resulted in a loss to the Johnnies of their rifle pits and first line of works, after losing which they made a hasty retreat across the Chattahoochee river, withdrawing their rear guard and making no show of resistance. From this date to the 20th there was but little skirmishing but more marching and counter marching. On the evening of the 19th of July, our Divsion moved across the Peach Tree Creek and relieved our 3rd Division who had been fighting the Johnnies all day. Here we laid on our arms all night. On the morning of the 20th, after throwing out 8 regiments as skirmishers, our Brigade advanced on the enemy, they falling back rapidly, thereby hoping to draw us in a trap. Well we entered the trap just as was desired of us but we Yanks have a way of springing traps of their construction and turning it to our own advantage which we did in this case as the sequel will show.

We advanced until we had gained a good position, formed our lines and commenced throwing up barricades. Our works were but half completed when the Johnnies came for us (charged) in columns 5 lines deep, but they were met with such stubborn resistance that they were forced back. Seven times did they charge but each time meeting the same bold, undaunted front [and] were driven back the last time in the wildest disorder. Better fighting has not been done on the campaign than was done that day by the old Pea Ridge Brigade. We were laying behind barricades which afforded little or no protection and seven times hurled back the fierce assaults of Hardee’s veteran troops. In this action, Sergt. N. Rundle, Private Arlo Merchant, William Miner, William Hart, and Homer Dale were wounded, none severely. The company together with the regiment participated in the skirmishes before Atlanta. Also in Gen. Sherman’s great raid around Atlanta. — Rube Norton, Co. G, 44th Illinois Vet. Vol. Infantry

List of Battles of the Campaign with the killed and wounded of Co. G [Table]