June 29th.—To-day the Fourteenth corps obtained a temporary truce under flag, during which they interred their dead. An assault is made on this corps during the early part of the night, but is repulsed, and we were not again disturbed.
June 30th.—During this afternoon the Twenty-ninth regiment received orders to move. About 10 o’clock at night our corps (the Twentieth) was relieved by the Fourteenth. We at once marched several miles to the right in relief of the Twenty-third corps.
On July 1st our regiment was again engaged. The fighting ceased only with daylight. Sharp skirmishing and severe cannonading continued during the entire day of the 2d, and at night the Twenty-ninth regiment occupied its customary position—on the skirmish line. This time, however, it was accompanied by the Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania. Just before daylight on the morning of July 3d, the enemy were found to be retreating, and we at once moved forward to find the works deserted, the troops having evacuated. The position, as supposed, was almost impregnable to direct assault, being constructed to enfilade an attack of infantry.
The army now push forward in pursuit of the retreating rebels, the Twenty-ninth Ohio and Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania taking the advance in the order of heavy skirmishers. We soon came upon Wheeler’s rebel cavalry, and engaged his dismounted men so promptly that they fell precipitately back to where their horses were picketed. The Twenty-ninth succeeded in capturing nearly one hundred of them in their hurried efforts to remount. The Second division during the pursuit captured nearly nine hundred prisoners. The rebels were steadily falling back on the Chattahoochie river. It was late when we halted for the night. How sweet the wooing of the drowsy god after such long continued fatigue, only those who have been there can imagine, the soft side of a rail on such occasions being more luxurious than any patent spring contrivance of to-day.
July 4th. On this day, made glorious to all this goodly land by the forefathers of both the blue and gray, was celebrated by the issue of full rations of hard-tack, s——, bacon, and coffee, and wonderful feats of gormandizing ensued. To make the day something of a reminder of the Northern anniversary, with its tearing headache of the 5th, General “Joe” ordered an issue of liquor to the men, the first of the campaign. About 4 o’clock P. M. we broke camp and marched towards the left, but soon came to a halt for the night.
At dawn on the following day we pushed forward and took possession of a line of works the rebels had only evacuated on our approach. They are now crossing Chattahoochie river. The advance is continued until within about one and one-half miles of the river, where we encounter a second line of rebel works, occupied by the enemy to cover the retreat across the river.
July 6th we occupy the position of yesterday. During the forenoon our regiment was support of Bundy’s New York battery, engaged in shelling the rebels from a fort. About 2 P. M. we returned with the battery to the main line, and one hour later moved with our division to the left and formed line of battle, in which position we passed the night. On the day following we marched to the left and assumed position in line between the Fourteenth and Fifteenth corps. Sharp skirmishing was kept up nearly all night. This position is maintained by our regiment, with daily skirmishing, until the early dawn of July 10th, when the Twenty-ninth Ohio is pushed forward on a reconnoissance. We discover that the enemy have retreated across the Chattahoochie. On reaching the river we deploy as skirmishers along the north bank, the enemy being posted along the opposite side. Atlanta lies only nine miles to the south of us. The rebel army of General Joe E. Johnston is said to be strongly intrenched some four miles south of our position. A small number only of rebels remain on the opposite bank of the Chattahoochie. The Union and rebel pickets are on good terms, often meeting in the middle of the river, where they exchange coffee for tobacco, which, by the way, was a very scarce article with us. The Twenty-ninth Ohio regiment now musters only one hundred and fifty men for duty. The mustering officer tells us that we have lost more men killed and wounded in proportion to the number present at the beginning of this campaign than any regiment in the Western army.
July 6, we were in support of a battery during the forenoon. During the afternoon we moved to the left, camping in a beautiful grove of pines.
7th. Moved forward some three miles, to a ridge commanding a fine view of the country.
11th. The rebels have crossed Chattahoochie river. Our pickets are posted on its north bank.