CAMPAIGN REPORT FROM SAVANNAH TO BENTONVILLE.
Headquarters 125th Illinois Volunteer Infantry,
Goldsboro. N. C, March 28th, 1865.
Captain: I have the honor to submit herewith a report of the operations of my command from the day on which it left Savannah, Georgia, until I assumed command of the brigade on 19th day of the present month:
January 20th, 1865. My command left camp at 7 o'clock a. m. and marched 8 miles on the Louisville road, and went into camp where we remained four days. On the 24th of January regiment was ordered on fatigue duty, cut poles and built 350 yards corduroy road.
January 25. Left camp at 7 a. m. and marched 18 miles.
January 26. Left camp at 7 a. m. and marched over very bad roads for 8 miles. Encamped for the night one mile north of Springfield, Ga.
January 27. Left camp at 7 a. m. This and the 22nd regiment Indiana volunteers were detailed as train guards, both under my command. Guards and trains were delayed nearly all day at the confluence of several small streams called the "Runs." The command reached camp at 10 p. m., having marched but five miles.
January 28. Left camp at 8 a. m. and marched to within one mile of Sister's Ferry on the Savannah river, where we went into camp and remained until February 5th at 6 p. m., when the command crossed the river and encamped on the South Carolina side, where it remained until February 8th, when we marched at 7 a. m. and camped at night at Brighton, having travelled only 7 miles, but over very bad roads.
February 9. Left camp at 7 a. m. and marched rapidly all day over good roads. Made 20 miles and went into camp at 5 p. m.
February 10. Left camp at 6:30 a. m., marched 20 miles over good roads and went into camp.
February 11. Left camp at 6:30 a. m. This and 22nd regiment Indiana volunteers were detailed as train guards under my command. Marched through Barnwell and reached camp late, having made about 12 miles.
February 12. Left camp at 6:30 a. m.; passed through Williston, on the Augusta and Charleston railroad, about noon. Marched 18 miles and encamped at night on the Edisto river.
February 13. Crossed the Edisto at 6:30 a. m, and worked on the north side three hours building corduroy roads. Went into camp two miles beyond the river at 10 a. m., and marched again at 1 p. m., moved five miles and went into camp for night.
February 14. Left camp at 6:30 a. m. and marched 20 miles, crossing north Edisto in the route.
February 15. Left camp at 7:30 a. m., marched 20 miles and encamped at night two miles from Lexington.
February 16. Left camp at 6 a. m.; marched to near Columbia, S. C. On the afternoon of this day the command made a retrograde movement five miles and encamped at night on the south side of Saluda river.
February 17. Left camp at 6 a. m., crossed the Saluda, marched 20 miles and encamped for the night on Broad river.
February 18. The command crossed Broad river at 9 a. m. and went into position on the north side to the left and front of the 2nd brigade At 3 p. m. I was ordered with my regiment to make a reconnoisance towards the Winnsboro road. Went about four miles, crossed Little river, and with one company pushed skirmishers as far as directed. I then withdrew, recrossed Little river and returned to camp.
February 19. The command tore up and effectually destroyed 475 yards of railroad track and ties and marched four miles.
February 20. Marched at 6 a. m. and encamped on Little river.
February 21st. Left camp at 2 p. m. This and the 52nd Ohio regiment, were detailed as rear guard for the corps train. Reached camp at 11 p. m., having marched 15 miles.
February 22nd. Marched 6 miles and went into camp.
February 23rd. Marched 10 miles and went into camp.
February 24th. Crossed Catawba river. Regiment worked all day assisting wagons out of the mud and corduroying roads.
February 25th. Worked all day on roads.
February 26th. Worked five companies all day on roads.
February 27th. No move. Worked five companies one half day on roads.
February 28th. Left camp at 1 p. m. Assisted part of corps train up the hill on north side of Catawba river, after which the command marched five miles as train guard, and reached camp at 10 p. m.
March 1st. Left camp at 6 a. m., and marched 21 miles.
March 2nd. Left camp at 6 a. m., and marched 13 miles.
March 3rd. Left camp at 6 a. m. This regiment with the 52nd O. V. I., under my command, were detailed as train guards; passed over some very bad roads, and reached camp at 10 p. m., after a march of 23 miles.
March 4th. Left camp at 6 a. m., and encamped on the Great Pedee river at 4 p. m. The regiment worked at corduroying roads until after dark. The command remained in camp until March 7th, at 2 p. m., when it moved down to the pontoon bridge, which it crossed at 4 p. m., after which it marched one and one half miles and went into camp for the night.
March 8th. Left camp at 6 a. m. Marched 25 miles and went into camp at 6 p. m.
March 9th. Left camp at 8 a. m. This regiment, and the 52nd O. V. I., and one section of the 19th Ind. battery, all under my command, marched as rear guard for the corps train. Crossed Downing creek at 3 p. m., and destroyed the bridges. The vanguard of the enemy came up before the destruction was complete, but upon observing us, it retired. My command did not reach camp that night We assisted wagons out of the mud until 3 o'clock of the morning of March 10th when the jaded and exhausted animals gave out, and the guards rested by the road side until day light, when we resumed the labor of assisting wagons over the bad roads. We reached the division camp at 8 a. m., where we rested one hour and then resumed the march in column. Marched 15 miles and went into camp at 4 p. m.
March 11th. Left camp at 9 a. m. Marched to within two miles of Fayetteville, N. C, and went into camp at 2 p. m.
March 12th. Left camp at 6 p. m. Crossed the Cape Fear river at 9 p. m., and went into camp behind rebel fortifications on the north side.
March 13th. Moved two miles for change of camp.
March 14th. Remained in camp all day.
March 15th. Left camp at 9 a. m. Marched 12 miles as rear guard for trains.
March 16th. Left camp at 6 a. m. Marched about 8 miles and met the enemy strongly entrenched near Black river, ready to dispute our further advance. My regiment went into position about 2 p. m. on the right of the second line. At 4 p. m. I moved in reserve of the brigade and at sundown took position on the left of the front line for the purpose of filling a gap then existing between the 1st and 3rd brigades. I established my line within 74 yards of the enemies' line of fortifications, and constructed works. My loss was one man wounded severely. The enemy retreated during the night.
March 17th. Left camp at 8 a. m. Forded Black river and Black Mingo creek, and after a march of 10 miles, went into camp for the night.
March 18th. Left camp at 5:30. Marched 11 miles and encamped at 1 p. m. for the afternoon and night.
March 19th. Left camp at 9 a. m., and marched about four miles down the Goldsboro road, at which point we left the road and turned to the right. Moved about one half mile in this direction and went into position on the right of the second line, in which position we remained about two hours, when we, with the brigade, were ordered out, and directed to push across to the road to our left. In this movement the brigade was in single line with my regiment on the left. After wandering through numerous swamps, over brush, vines and briars, we reached a position and formed line parallel with the road. This advance was disputed all the way by rebel skirmishers, to meet which I ordered out as skirmishers, two companies commanded by Capt. Halloway. Our new formation on the road was scarcely completed, when heavy firing on the right of the brigade, denoted that the contest was to be a severe one. Stepping into the road and casting my eye in the direction of the firing, I observed a strong column of the enemy, four lines deep, moving against the point where I supposed the right of the brigade rested. My suppositions soon proved correct, and after a brief contest, I observed that the right was giving away before the advance of the rebel column. At this instant a line of rebels struck my front and that of the left wing of the 22nd Ind. on my right. This line was met by our troops without yielding an inch, and after a severe fight of five minutes, the rebels fell back and were easily kept at bay, by a strong line of skirmishers. But not so on my right, for by this time the main column of the enemy had advanced to within one hundred yards of the right of my regiment, and the left wing of the 22nd Ind. on my right was beginning to give way. My position was fast becoming untenable, besides I was apprehensive that the confusion incident to a repulse on the right of the brigade, might result to the enemy's advantage, in making many captures, and I determined at once to defeat, as far as possible, this object, and at the same time better my own situation, to do which I immediately executed a change of front to the rear, on left company, and then presented a front direct to that of the enemy. This movement was not executed by the entire regiment at once, nor after the approved system of battalion drill, but by detaching two companies at a time from the right and placing them on the new alignment. In this way I kept most of my line continually firing upon the advancing column. This change, which gave me the advantage of a direct fire, induced the enemy to move by its left flank and deploy his four depth column to a double line formation, which movement again threatened my right. On noticing this I again changed front to the rear as before. Finding myself nearly surrounded and with no prospect of support, I directed my regiment to retire firing, which was bravely done as it had maintained every position in which it had been placed. My left, which had not up to this time moved ten feet from its original position on the Goldsboro road, was the last to withdraw, nor was this done until the first line of the enemy was within fifty yards of my two left companies, when they deployed as skirmishers and fell back firing. I have no wish to make a bright picture for my regiment beyond what the facts will justify. I have commanded it under very critical circumstances on former occasions. I have witnessed the conduct of many regiments in perilous situations, but I never saw a body of troops act with greater coolness, or more heroic daring, than the 125th Ills, manifested on the eventful 19th instant. When the enemy's firing was hottest, my men were most earnest. Not one man left the ground until ordered to do so. Every man seemed to appreciate that the efforts of the regiment were being bent towards the safety of the brigade, and every man was determined to do all in his power for that object. Far be it from me to claim a higher quality of bravery for my men than belongs to other troops of the brigade. If I were even disposed to be jealous of the prowess of my own command, I could say nothing to disparage the claims of other regiments to equal bravery with my own. They were suddenly attacked without warning, and in a position where their flank was too boldly exposed, not to tempt the utmost efforts of the enemy to fall vigorously upon it. Once started they were easily pressed back. Being made aware of the situation on the right, I prepared my command for any emergency. While all the officers and men of my command did nobly, yet I cannot forbear to call special attention to the conspicuous bravery of Captain Geo. W. Cook, acting field officer, and adjutant Wm. Mann, for their eminent services in preserving at all times a good alignment and directing the fire of different parts of the line. I also commend to your notice, W. Blackeney, sergeant major; George W. B. Sadorus, of company E; Barton Snyder, sergeant of company I, and Louis Taft, corporal of company E, whose cool bravery and noble daring, won for them the admiration of all who saw them. When my regiment withdrew as far as the open field to the rear, I observed that Captain Snodgrass, commanding the 22nd Ind., had formed the basis of a new alignment, about three hundred yards to the rear and left of the first position. I determined at once to form my regiment on his left, and directed the colors to be placed on that prolongation, and formed line accordingly. While this was being done, you reported to me that General Fearing was wounded and disabled for further command. I immediately turned the command of my regiment over to Captain Cook, and by virtue of seniority in rank, assumed command of the brigade.
The subsequent operations of the regiment, will be reported by Captain Cook.
I am, Captain, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant.
(Signed) Jas. W. Langley,
Lt Col. 125th Regt. I. V. I.
To Charles Swift, Capt. and A. A. A. G,
3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 14th A. C.