55

ATLANTA CAMPAIGN DIARY

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ATLANTA CAMPAIGN DIARY
<b>55. ATLANTA CAMPAIGN DIARY </b>An outstanding diary by Corp. Andrew Trapp, Co. F., 100th Ohio Volunteers, 217pp. 8vo., in period ink, covering the beginning of 1864 until his death at battle at Utoy Creek, Ga. Aug. 6, 1864. The diary covers the Atlanta campaign adding many interesting details concerning the battles during the campaign, in very small part: ".<i>..Jan. 8...A spy hung...he belonged to the Eight Texas cavalry...Feb. 23...started out on a expedition...our object was to surprise a camp of Indians and capture them...we cooked breakfast on their fires...Apr. 25...marched to Lick Creek...tore up the [rail]road...burnt all the ties and part of the irons...twisted them all up...Apr. 26...Yankee knack of building railroad continued...[Opening of Sherman's Atlanta Campaign] May 9...near Buzzard's Roost we went out as skirmishers...commenced fighting. We drove them three miles charging on them yelling at the tip top of our voices...May 10...our whole line five or six columns deep fell back keeping our lines of battle in regular order...[Battle of Resaca] May 14...we drove the Rebels into their breast works...our lines five deep. Followed close with fixed bayonets. We charge[d]...at [the] double quick...they fired their deadly volleys into our ranks killing and wounding many. One continual stream of lead, shell and grape [was] fired upon us all day...May 15...our forces charged on one of their forts, capturing five guns and many prisoners...May 20...the Rebs had two lines of infantry, one of cavalry. We drove them back to the river...[they] burnt the bridge so we was compelled to hold one side and they the other...[Battle of New Hope Church] May 26...commenced marching in line of battle. Found the Rebs...May 29...several charges made along our lines in which the Rebs lost heavy in killed, wounded and prisoners. After dark the ball opened along the whole line, musketry and artillery sung their tedium in a terrific style...May 31...in the morning the Rebs made a charge on our lines with three columns deep...we opened on them a terrific fire with our Enfield rifles...they soon broke in confusion...June 12...Companies G and I had quite a number killed and wounded in a charge they made to burn a building that the Rebs occupied...June 14....heavy cannonading all forenoon to our left [referring to the fire that killed Confederate Leonidas Polk]...June 15...our men moved eight pieces of artillery out between the skirmish line and our breastworks...opened a terrific fire on the Rebs works causing them to flee...[prelude to the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain] June 26...not relieved from skirmish duty...formed, charged them at several places. I tell you they run well, they fired on us pretty lively...found their work [and] their flag waving over their fort...July 14...the rest of the troops lay still [our regiment] took nothing but guns and cartridge boxes, escorted Maj. Gen. Schofield three miles out...the object was to see how the country was beaten so to be prepared for military operations...July 18...found the Rebs in considerable numbers across a large cleared field behind some houses...away we went down the road with a cheer that would almost awake the dead...[Battle of Peach Tree Creek] July 20...skirmishing and fighting for every inch of ground...charge after charge was made by our men...built breastworks which required the whole night...July 21...Batt. D 4th Ohio threw two shots over the famous city, Atlanta...July 27...the Rebs ascended their works two or three times...but the terrific cannonading from us made them hunt their holes...Aug. 4...moved out toward the right, massed our forces with orders to charge...the Rebels opened on us with their artillery...</i>". The diary abruptly ends after August 5 since on the following day Trapp was killed in battle at Utoy Creek. This diary is unique because of his witty commentaries. For example, ironically on June 18 he opened by writing: "<i>Still Alive</i>" and although glad to survive the brutal fighting, he would be dead less than two months later. Also included with the diary is a 1/9th plate ruby-red ambrotype of Trapp as a civilian, protected by a brass mat and frame which is housed in a full leatherette case split at the hinge. Very minor lightness affects some of the text with negligible loosening of the binding and one calendar page detached. Overall very good.<b> $2,000-3,000</b>