492 Norto Carorina Troops, 1861-’65.

sharp engagement took place, but the disparity in numbers
was so great the Confederates were forced to retreat, the Six-
tieth falling back to Dalton, Ga., and there taking up winter
quarters. Owing to the great depletion in the ranks of both
the Sixtieth and Fifty-eighth Regiments, the two were con-
solidated while on Missionary Ridge, the field officers of the
Sixtieth kept in command and those of the Fifty-eighth trans-
ferred.

The campaign of 1864 opened with a clash between the
opposing forces in front of Dalton, the Sixtieth and Fifty-
eighth participating in the battle. This resulted in a victory
to the Confederates, the Federals again falling back in the
direction of Chattanooga. The casualties as to the North
Carolinians were slight in this action, save in the killing of
Lieutenant Thomas H. Riddle, of Company C, an efficient
and popular young officer. This battle was known as “Stoney
Ridge.” In the spring and summer of 1864, the Fifty-
eighth and Sixtieth North Carolina belonged to A. W. Rey-
nolds’ Brigade, Stevenson’s Division, Hood’s Corps. In Au-
gust, Colonel Wash. M. Hardy, of the Sixtieth, was in com-
mand, temporarily, of the Brigade.

FROM DALTON TO ATLANTA,

The Sixtieth returned to Dalton and went into their old
quarters. Sergeant-Major Frank Miller was here made Sec-
ond Lieutenant in Company A, Thomas F. Davidson was
made Junior Second Lieutenant to fill the vacancy caused by
the resignation of Lieutenant Reynolds, and Calvin Shack-
elford to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Lieut. Wm.
T. White. Here it remained until the beginning of what is
known in history as the “Johnston-Sherman Atlanta cam-
paign.” This was a succession of battles and retreats upon
the part of Johnston, inflicting heavy losses upon Sherman.
By his peculiar tactics, of selecting his positions and drawing
Sherman back on him, he was seriously crippling him and yet
apparently giving him victories by his retreating and the oth-
er advancing. T'was said in this campaign that from first
to last Johnston disabled and killed of Sherman’s army in
numbers aggregating nearly 50,000, a force almost equal to

 

 

SIxTIETH REGIMENT. 493

that with which he fought him. The Sixtieth was frequently
engaged in this campaign, a dozen or more times, the most
important battles being at Resaca, Cassville, New Hope
Church, Kennesaw Mountain, Jonesboro and Atlanta, and
never to its discredit. Its losses were considerable, particu-
larly in wounded, many of the very best officers and men
being disabled. Specially deserving mention are Captains
Ed. M. Clayton and Jesse R. Gilliland, Lieutenants Frank
M. Miller and Robert Cooper.

CHANGE OF GENERALS.

The War Department at Richmond, under influences, not
creditable to either side, assumed to dictate to Joseph E.
Johnston as to the further conducting of this “Atlanta Cam-
paign,” and this greatest of strategists, declining to be so
handicapped, allowed himself to be superseded and the Con-
federate Government committed the greatest blunder of its
short life in bringing about such a condition of things. Some
of the older generals who were asked to take command, saw
the unwisdom of a change at that particular crisis, and declin-
ing to become a party to it, it was left to the dashing and dar-
ing Texan, General John B. Hood, to take charge of that gal-
lant body of men that almost worshipped their great displaced
leader. A sad day indeed was it, in and around Atlanta,
when the change in commanders was made known. No half
dozen defeats in battle could have had so depressing an effect
upon the troops. In the Federal ranks the contrary feeling
prevailed ; the elation on one side was equal to the depression
on the other. General Sherman said: “Now we’ll have some-
thing to say when and where we fight. Up to this time it
has been when and where Mr. Johnston said.”

Of course General Hood had to carry out the behests of
the war department, with, it was presumed, General Bragg as
adviser, and an entire change in plans was brought about,
he taking the offensive and making desperate onslaughts upon
Sherman’s lines, and while victorious in a way, and fully sus-
taining his well earned reputation as a daring, successful
fighter, they were at such a sacrifice of his men, as to make
suicidal a continuance of it and hence it was determined to