After two day's marching from Atlanta, I found necessity for a party of pioneers to clear out and repair bad places in the road. To meet this end I detailed 30 enlisted men, for whom I could not procure guns, and armed them with spades, picks, and axes. These I put under command of Lt. Groninger, of the 86th Ills., an officer of the proper spirit and energy to make such a party very useful. I required these pioneers to march, each day, at the head of the brigade column, and build rail and pole bridges over small streams, for the safe and speedy passage of troops, and none will fail to appreciate the utility of such a force on all campaigns. When once drilled to labor, they will perform as much work in the same length of time, as three times the number detailed temporarily from the ranks. On the 18th of November, I began to subsist off the country, and to prevent, as far as possible, pillaging and marauding, and all manner of lawlessness, I had details of thirty men, and one commissioned officer, made daily, from each regiment, who reported at an hour stated, at brigade headquarters, where these details were verified. These I put in charge of a field, or acting field officer, whom I made responsible for the conduct of his men on that day. I directed that every thing obtained should be reported to this officer, and by him turned over, if subsistence for the troops, to the brigade commissary, or if mules and horses, to the brigade quartermaster. By so doing my foragers always obtained plenty and the troops shared alike in its distribution through the brigade commissary. From a statement submitted to me by Lt. Batchelder, A. C. S., I find that from Nov. 16th, until Dec. 16th, inclusive, my command drew, per man, of hard bread, 9 rations; peas, 8 rations; coffee, 26 rations; salt, 25 rations; sugar, 15 rations; bacon, 4 rations, and salt pork, 6 rations, beyond which issues the command subsisted from the country, and always had abundance. Besides this tabular statement of issues, I left Atlanta with 150 head of beef cattle very poor in flesh, and already weak from travel. The forage parties supplied the command so bountifully with fresh pork, that but little beef was consumed on the march, and before reaching Savannah, nearly all these cattle had died along the road, or were abandoned on account of being too weak to travel; but still my drove increased daily by acquisitions from the country, and on the 12th of December, when my command reached this position, it numbered about 231 head, large and small, all of which have since been issued to the troops. My forage details were frequently annoyed by the enemy, but, by always keeping well together, they were able to resist or drive away a considerable force. On the 30th November, particularly, the foragers of the brigade, under command of Capt. Powers, of the 22nd Ind., were attacked about nine miles from Louisville, by a party of Wheeler's command, and after a brisk fight, drove the enemy away. Towards night of the same day, as the detail was proceeding to camp at Louisville, with four ox wagon loads of forage, they were suddenly surrounded by three of Wheeler's regiments, and after some very severe fighting, succeeded in getting into camp, with the loss of one man killed and four wounded, and were compelled to abandon their provisions and wagons. On the 29th November, I mounted forty men on captured mules and horses, and placed the party under command of Captain Harbor, of the 125th Ills., a very brave and efficient officer. These labored to find where subsistence could be obtained, and to aid the infantry details in getting it, as well as for the purpose of capturing stock for the use of the army. It is not possible for me to state the exact number of horses and mules captured, as such property was frequently taken from my foragers, while on their way to camp, and informally turned over to Lt. Coe, quartermaster for the division. How many were turned over by orders from these headquarters, together with the number known to have been informally returned to Lt. Coe, were: horses, 104; mules, 160; total, 264. These numbers might have been increased somewhat, had I sent out parties to hunt exclusively for stock, but in nearly every instance such captures were the labors of my subsistence details.
The number of negroes that followed my column was 160. Of these 92 were officers' servants and 68 were refugees. The latter have been sent to division headquarters pursuant to orders. I submit and call your attention to casualty lists of the north Alabama and the Savannah campaigns hereto attached. A few of those marked "missing," deserve the punishment prisoners of war usually get, but it is the misfortune of the service that such men belong to the army and are counted as soldiers. They were doubtless in the act of stealing something when captured. I suppose every command has a few of such men. I know this one has, whom to loose from the army is a gain to the government. Nor can I say much less of some officers in the service, who in spite of their long experience, and in face of positive orders to the contrary, suffer, nay, by their passiveness, encourage their men to throw aside the restrictions of discipline, and become out-laws and brigands. I believe a company commander should be the best disciplinarian in the service, and should feel that his position, so immediately connecting him with the rank and file, makes him the surest conservator of the peace and good order of the army. And an officer who from incompetency or other cause is not well adapted to teach and maintain a good system of discipline in his command, should be summarily dismissed from the service. A few of such in my command I could cheerfully recommend for dismissal, and do honestly believe the service would be promoted thereby. Since the fall of Atlanta the brigade staff has undergone several changes. Most of the old members were absent during the Savannah campaign. Those at present serving on such duty, without specially naming them here, have all well and faithfully discharged every trust confided to them. I am also under special obligations to regimental commanders for their efforts to maintain strict discipline throughout the entire campaign. I commend them all to my superior officers.
RECAPITULATION.
Number of horses captured, 104; mules, 160; total, 264. Number of negroes that followed the command, 160. Rations issued on the Atlanta and Savannah campaigns per man: Hard bread, 9 rations; peas, 8 rations; coffee, 26 rations; salt, 25 rations; sugar, 15 rations; bacon, 4 rations; salt pork, 6 rations. Amount of railroad destroyed, track and ties, 11½ miles; cotton destroyed, 48 bales; cotton gins, one.
I have the honor to be Captain,
Very Respectfully,
Your Obedient Servant
JAS. W. LANGLEY,
Lieut. Col. Comdg. Brigade.
Theo. Wiseman,