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The 7th Pa Cavalry Enters Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
September 4, 1864
Dear Father,
I
suppose you have heard that we have possession of Atlanta. I came here soon
after our forces entered the city with about one hundred men of our regiment. We
are doing patrol and scouting duty. I do not expect to be detached from the
regiment longer than two or three days. We entered the city about 1 PM. There
was a few rebel cavalry in the streets but they offered but little resistance.
They destroyed all rations, arms and ammunition that they could not take away.
They left a large number of siege guns but they are all spiked. Nearly all of
the citizens have left, however, there is quite a number of poor people that are
here, as they could not get away. The city has suffered very much from our
shells. Nearly all of the buildings on one street have been destroyed. The
citizens made caves in the ground in which they stayed when we were firing
shells into the city. Our shells killed about one hundred and fifty citizens
since we have been bombarding the town. We had gay times the first night after
we were here. The poor citizens joined the soldiers in plundering and I assure
you they carried on a lively business until our General, by the help of a
regiment, put a stop to it. The city is very quiet today and general good order
prevails. I think the rebel army is thoroughly whipped this time. We have about
two thousand rebel prisoners now in the city that General Sherman sent in today
and there are many more that have not go in yet. Many are coming in and
surrendering. I suppose we will rest now. The campaign is ended for a while. The
army needs rest but our men are all in fine spirits and will in a short time re
suit up again and be ready for more work. This move will put a dampener on the
new party at the north. I have just learned that McClellan has been nominated. I
am glad of it. I want to hear the last of little Mack and I assure you he will
look very small and feel so next November. I feel very much encouraged the war
will end soon and with no disgraceful compromise.
I have just
received the box of clothing you sent. It came through all safe and I am very
well pleased with all you sent me. The coat is rather large but is a tolerable
good fit. I was obliged to go about fifty miles on the cars for the box but I
got a free pass and it was not any trouble to me. Amos is back in camp. He was
well three days ago when I left. His horse has failed and he has not much duty
to do. I saw Garrison and Andrew Haines the other night. They have gone home.
Their term of service having expired. Garrison has met with a serious
misfortune. He was wounded in both legs on the 3rd of August and was
obliged to have his right leg amputated above the knee. He was reduced to a mere
skeleton and I am afraid he will hardly reach home. He is a fine looking man and
his officers speak in the highest terms of his good conduct as a soldier. You
would hardly know him. He looks much better than he did when he went west.
Andrew is a good looking fellow and his officers say he is a brave soldier but
rather wild and generally run things about as he pleased. I also saw Easter
Haines husband. Garrison says his father is doing very well. He is married
again. The boys say they like the west much better than the east. More rebel
prisoners are coming in. We now have about three thousand in the city. I have no
more time to write. My supper is ready. Write soon. Direct as before.
C.L. Greeno
This is rebel paper. Small but neat.
The Atlanta Campaign
On the 30th of April 1864, the 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry under
Colonel Sipes, broke camp and joined Garrard's Division. They set out with
General Sherman toward Atlanta.
By the 15th of May 1864 it was again in action at Rome,
Georgia, and on the 27th at Dallas and Villa Rica Road. At Villa Rica Road it
became involved in a sharp skirmish losing three killed, six wounded and one
taken prisoner. June 9 found them at Big Shanty, on the 11th at McAfee's
Crossroads and by the 20th of June were at Noonday Creek. During the period June
9 thru June 20 the regiment lost 7 killed, 22 wounded and 9 taken prisoner. They
took part in the battle of Kennesaw Mountain on the 27th of June.
In their fight at Kennesaw Mountain and at McAfee's Crossroads
the 7th depended entirely upon their sabre's with the Fourth Michigan and Fourth
United States Cavalry backing them. Raids on the Augusta and Atlanta Railroad
near Decatur destroyed the railroad as far as Stone Mountain.
Sometime in this period the Seventh accepted a challenge from
the First Georgia Cavalry to a sabre fight. The Georgia Cavalry came out of a
wooded area and lined up. As soon as the Seventh Cavalry was formed in
their front, they began their charge. The Seventh met them at a trot. The
Georgia Cavalry was no match for the Pennsylvania Sabre Regiment and in less
than five minutes they were cut to pieces. The Georgia unit retreated and formed
a second time, retreated again and tried a third time. This time the Seventh
counter charged and the Georgia Cavalry retreated to the shelter of their
artillery.
On the 21st of July they were in a raid on Covington and caused
more destruction of the railroads at Flat Rock. On the 28th of July, and on the
1st of August they entered the trenches in front of Atlanta. The Seventh moved
with Kilpatrick on his raid on the 17th of August, and on the 19th were in a
skirmish at Fairburn and Jonesboro. They were engaged on the 20th at Lovejoy
Station. Before Atlanta during the period of August 18 to August 24, 1864, the
Fourth Michigan and the Seventh Pennsylvania depended on their skill with the
sabre to cut through infantry lines and even to the guns of the artillery.
The Seventh had suffered severely in men, horses and equipment
and were no longer fit for active field duty. They were ordered to Louisville,
Kentucky for remount and equipment.
The Atlanta Campaign had in May covered 363 miles and nine
fights; in June 103 miles and eight fights; July, 269 miles and nine fights; in
August 160 miles and five fights. They had done duty as infantry in 31 battles
and had ridden day and night for 5 days before Atlanta and had spent 14 days in
the trenches.
During their stay at Louisville a number of officers with 3
years service were mustered out. Promotions included Major Benjamin Dartt to
Lieutenant Colonel.
Robert Bridgens Letter
Sunday, Aug. 14, 1864
Atlanta, Georgia
Mr. John Bridgens,
Dear Sir:
In compliance with Robert’s request I am writing
this evening. It grieves me to
become the bearer of such sad intelligence but it is my duty to comply with his
request & inform you of his lamentable fate yesterday evening.
About dark our batteries opened fire on the Rebel
fort at Atlanta. They replied at
once and failing to get the range of our battery their shot & shells came
directly into our camp, which is in the entrenchment a short distance in rear of
the battery. The evening being
exceptionally warm, Robert with several others, had seated themselves on the
breastwork in order to get the benefit of the air astir & to witness more
fully the duel, which was then going on between the two batteries.
Several shells had exploded in camp but doing no harm, the boys paid but
little attention to it more than to laugh at their seeming harmlessness.
But presently a solid shot came whistling through some of our tents,
passing through several logs on the works and striking Robert’s leg below the
right knee. It carried away most of
the bone between the knee & ankle, leaving his limb in a dreadful mangled
condition. I was in my tent when I
heard him call out, “Chaplain Shaffer, my leg is off.”
I ran to his side and with the help of one of his comrades, who an
instant before had been seated on the same log with him.
We carried him across the breastworks and out of range of the enemies guns.
Our regimental
surgeon was on the ground immediately and ordered an ambulance to carry him to a
place out of range of the guns entirely, that the limb might be amputated as
soon as could be done. They moved
out and as it was Robert’s request, I accompanied them.
Our field hospital is about six miles distance from camp & as our
surgeon thought he would not bear the long trip over the rough roads, we halted
in the woods three miles from camp, finding some boards in an old encampment.
We fixed up a place upon which to lay him while his limb was being
amputated. There were five surgeons
present and to my surprise they all pronounced his case a very doughtful one.
They consulted for some time before coming to any conclusions, all
agreeing that it would end fatal to leave it in that condition, yet fearing that
he would be unable to survive an operation.
He requested them to remove it as soon as possible.
They proceeded & the limb was soon dressed.
He was very much weak but did not complain of much pain from his limb,
saying that he could go to sleep were it not for the severe pain in his bowels. He suffered very much all night and as soon as it was light
enough to drive, we started to go to the hospital with him but he became weaker
& weaker every moment. I had
the ambulance to stop several time to let him rest as the road was very rough.
We were within sight of the hospital when I noticed
by his looks that his time was drawing to a close. I requested the driver to stop, but it was all over.
He had breathed his last. We
then drove to the hospital where I succeeded in getting a coffin made for him
and had a grave dug. And at twelve
o’clock on the Sabbath, the 14th of Aug., we laid him in his grave
beneath the shade of a large hickory tree near General Gannardo Neace (head)
Quarters about seven miles from Atlanta.
W. Hayes
Robert Bridgens enlisted in Company E, 7th
Pennsylvania Cavalry on October 20, 1861.