Military Division of the Mississippi
After Action Report
Resaca, Georgia May 2002
To: General W.T. Sherman
Commanding, Military Division of the Mississippi
From: Col. John Graybill
Commanding, 1st Battalion, 1stst Brigade,
XIV Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland
Sir,
I must apologize for the tardiness of my report. However, actions of the recent campaign in Georgia have kept me busy as you well know. My Battalion went into the lines near Resaca, Ga. this past May. After marching through the Gap we rested on arms during the night of the 17th. At dawn on the 18th I was notified by courier that my brigade commander, Col. David Thomas, had ordered me to take my battalion and reconnoiter the enemy position. The battalion was formed and moved out with all haste. I deployed the 1st Company as skirmishers and advanced. After a while the 1st company encountered resistance from rebel skirmishers. Our skirmishers drove them back until they encountered a sizable force of the enemy. At this time I ordered the 1st company to withdraw slowly enticing the rebels to follow them. Capt. Jewell and his men performed this task with great skill. The rebel force was drawn into my waiting battalion where they were set upon by the 1st Battalion with great vigor. The rebels were driven from the field in great confusion.At this time my battalion reformed and joined with the rest of the brigade on the left flank of the Army.
The rest of the rebel army, if you want to call it that, formed up in our front to give battle. During the engagement the battalion performed its assigned task magnificently. Twice repelling a flank attack by a pitiful force of rebel cavalry. When a larger rebel force appeared on our flank, my battalion was heavily engaged to it’s front. We were unable to withdraw so another battalion drove them off. At this time Col. Thomas ordered my battalion forward to take an exposed rebel battery. Once again the men of the battalion advanced to the attack. The rebel battery was captured with minimal loss to our boys and a pitiful force of rebel infantry was also captured. This occurred much to the chagrin of their commander, a surly Captain by the name of Brinson. Capt. Brinson expressed his displeasure at being treated so roughly by our men. Capt. Scott Dunn of the 2nd company responded in a most gallant fashion by stating,"If you can’t dance then you shouldn’t come to the ball!" This concluded the action by the battalion on the 18th. The men were rested that evening and were in excellent spirits.
On the Morning of the 19th the battalion was again notified to be ready for action. After forming the men the brigade was placed at rest in some woods while a detachment of cavalry was sent ahead to scout. They soon encountered resistance and the 1st Battalion was called to action once again. I deployed the battalion in such a way as to fall upon the flank of the enemy force and the men drove them back in a most splendid fashion. The enemy was soon reinforced and a large battle ensued. We were exposed to a galling fire when the battalion on our right gave way in a most cowardly fashion. Many good men were lost but the battalion refused the line and the rebels were driven back. At this point the men were ordered to charge the rebel works. The brigade went forward as one but was stopped by Col. Thomas to deliver a volley into the rebel works. This did not have much effect so the men were ordered to fix bayonets and to take the works. This was done successfully and in grand fashion despite the battalion suffering severe losses in men. Once the works were carried the enemy fell back in great disorder. As the men were exhausted by the fight we let them leave.
At this point I would like to register my great displeasure at the conduct of the battalion supporting our right flank during this charge. Much to the chagrin of my battalion, we witnessed the capture of our sister battalions colors during our assault. It is beyond my comprehension as to how they could lose their colors during a successful charge. I recommend that an investigation be conducted into their cowardly conduct.
In conclusion, I would like to express my praise and admiration for the way the officers and men of the 1st battalion conducted themselves during this action. Never once did they falter in their duty.
Your Humble Servant,
John Graybill, Colonel
Commanding 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade
Army of the Cumberland