Status - John Baer - 40th Indiana Regiment - Howard's Corps - Newton's Division - Wagner's Brigade
Atlanta Campaign
On the 22nd, a large battle (later known as the Battle of Atlanta), is fought on the Union left. McPherson's forces are attacked and are nearly flanked on their left. The position is held, and the Confederates suffer disproportionately again in this battle. General McPherson, riding along the battle line, stumbles into a Confederate skirmish line; refusing to surrender, he attempts to ride away and is shot dead.
After the battle, General Howard is appointed to the command of General McPherson's army.General Stanley is appointed in Howard's place. Both armies then settle into trenches around Atlanta.
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John Baer Diary Entries - text in white, comments in blue. Entries for July 22nd, 23rd, 24th and 25th.
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DIARY ENTRY - Friday, July 22nd, 1864
Dispatches void of interest. Grapevine not in good working order. All begin in reality to feel the necessity of having something done and it seems they are sitting down in earnest.
Among the various organizations existing in the camp there is one among them not the least in magnitude but the greatest in importance. It is one that concerns our spiritual welfare and is calculated to benefit out temporal circumstances if practiced as well as preached. It is a religious organization and is doing a great deal of good. About dusk, all over the camp, you can hear hundreds of voices raised in songs of praise to the Almighty Ruler of the Universe, and until 10 o’clock prayers may be heard to ascend, and judging from the interest manifested they are earnest and heartfelt. The prayers of the righteous availeth much and we trust in God for deliverance from our captivity, but sin reigns supreme - and on the Sabbath day, as well as every day, the band of extortion are seen and heard on the street crying out their wares for sale.
The transgressions of Israel were small when compared with the wickedness of the prison camp - and it is not all external, but deep rooted in the heart - and with all the Christianity and morality that exists, there is a deep rooted feeling of hatred and desire for revenge which time will scarcely eradicate.
I have been in the service over three years and in a number of instances have met the rebels, but never felt the least degree of enmity for them - but I must confess that since I have been a prisoner, there has been a complete revolution taken place in my feelings, and I believe I would be doing God’s service to go for them wherever I see them.
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There are a number of recorded incidents at Andersonville that report the cruelty of the guards, particularly with shooting men who cross, or even lean over, the dead line that surrounds the encampment. Then there is also the cruelty and suffering in the camp itself, and the dozens of men who die each day. As in the last paragraph, this has hardened the soldiers who suffer as prisoners here.
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DIARY ENTRY - Saturday, July 23rd, 1864
Grapevine news of the day preceding confirmed with some additions. Weather very cool with wind.
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DIARY ENTRY - Sunday, July 24th, 1864
“A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.” The tongue deviseth mischief - like a sharp razor working deceitfully. How often is the truth of these last words realized in Camp Sumpter - four times since we have been here it has been circulated that we were to be paroled or exchanged, three times the set period has passed and still no exchange or parole - believing that they were started in camp, I concluded to try the experiment, and getting an assistant in the shape of a friend “Buck”, I made the proposition, the terms were agreed upon, and the next morning the report was started.
By evening it had gained enough that some man had heard the rebel commissary say so, the next day the doctor has said so, and on the third day someone had heard it read in the Macon papers. The commissioners had met and agreed on terms, and the exchange was to take place on the 6th of August - it assumed such a feasible shape that I could scarcely keep our mess from believing there was something to it. The reason of that was that all had such an ardent desire that it might be so, that they could scarcely let it pass as mere rumor. This reminds me of the story of the “three black crows”, and by that I have learned to criticize and investigate such reports pretty closely, especially if I am interested in them, before believing them. News from Sherman very encouraging although from rebel sources.
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It seems that the results of the Battle of Atlanta have reached the camp at least in rumor form as referred to in the last sentence.
John's story is of what in modern times we refer to as the telephone game. It seems to have always been this way. The story of the "three black crows" that he mentions is likely this poem by John Byrom - The Three Black Crows.
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DIARY ENTRY - Monday, July 25th, 1864
About day light this morning an engine with nothing but the tender ran through town, bringing papers from Macon bearing intelligence that Sherman was badly whipped. I presume the rebels have given him the flogging that is to cause the Moscow retreat in an hour. No intelligence from Atlanta for several days and we presume Sherman has been retreating on that place.
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A bit of sarcasm here as John would not likely believe wild reports about such a large Union army being totally defeated. In reality, as we mentioned, the Confederates had taken the worst of the two recent battles, and had moved back into Atlanta's fortifications.
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More Information:
- Link: War Operations, see Volume XXXVIII, Chapter L, Part V, Correspondence, pp. 222-259.
- The Civil War Day by Day, John S. Bowman, Ed. p. 172.
- The Civil War, A Narrative, Vol 1II, Red River to Appomattox, Shelby Foote, pp. 475-486.
- Battles and Leaders of the Civil War, Retreat With Honor, pp. 315-320.
- Decision In The West, The Atlanta Campaign of 1864, Albert Castel, pp, 380-424.
- Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, pp. 600-608.
- Memoirs of General William T. Sherman, pp. 547-561.
- Events: 1864
NEXT POST: JULY 29TH
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