No forward movement was made from the 7th to the 17th July, the army needing rest and clothing; but on the 17th it again moved forward and crossed the Chattahoochie River. On the 19th the 137th was thrown out as skirmishers, and came upon the enemy's skirmishers at Peach Tree Creek, four miles from Atlanta. The day being excessively warm, and Col. Van Voorhees' duties as commander of the skirmish line very arduous, he was prostrated by the heat and over exertion, acquiring a disability from which he has not yet fully recovered.
Hooker's Corps crossed Peach Tree Creek on the night of the 19th; and on the 20th, while moving forward to take up a position, were unexpectedly and fiercely attacked by the enemy in a thick piece of woods. Col. Van Voorhees was ordered to move his Regiment by the right flank and take up a position on the right of another Regiment, and in doing so came almost directly upon the enemy's line of battle. Not knowing the position of the rest of the Brigade owing to the thick underbrush, and fearing that if he fell back the right flank of the Brigade would be exposed, he caused his men to maintain their position, which they did manfully for near half an hour, when he learnt that the rest of the Brigade had fallen back some fifteen minutes before, and that his Regiment was left alone battling with the enemy; he immediately gave orders to fall back, when the Regiment retreated from its dangerous position. Loss eight killed and nineteen wounded. Col. Van Voorhees was suffering at the time with a very high fever, and could with difficulty sit on his horse. Many officers in his condition would have got excused and went to the rear, but he never wanted his Regiment to go into action without him; he became very much attached to it and wished to share all its dangers. On the 22d, being unable to sit up, he was carried to the field hospital; the Surgeon in charge advised him to make application to be sent to the hospital at Chattanooga; this he refused to do, saying, that after all the hardships and fighting he had gone through with in the campaign, he did not want to be to the rear when Atlanta was taken. He was, however, on the 25th, against his consent, sent to the hospital at Lookout Mountain. He rejoined his Regiment on the 30th August in time to lead it into Atlanta on the 2d September.
After the death of Col. Ireland, which occurred shortly after entering Atlanta, all the officers present with the Regiment signed a petition to Gov. Seymour, which was handsomely endorsed by the Brigade and Division Commanders, requesting that Lt. Col. Van Voorhees be commissioned as Colonel of the Regiment. Owing to an unjust order from the War Department that "all Regiments reduced below the minimum number should be deprived of its Colonel," he was unable to get mustered, though Gen. Geary made a direct and special request of the Secretary of War, which was endorsed by Gen. Slocum, requesting that he might be mustered into the grade of Colonel as a "reward for his efficiency and gallantry as an officer, his coolness and bravery on the battle-field, and for his general good conduct during the whole of his period of service," but the request was not granted.
The 20th Corps remained in Atlanta until the 15th November, when Gen. Sherman commenced his celebrated "March to the Sea." His march being entirely unopposed, nothing worthy of note occurred until their arrival near Savannah, December 11th. The 137th having been sent out to feel the enemy's position, were deployed as skirmishers, and soon came upon the enemy's skirmishers who were protected by the ruins of some buildings and by a rice field embankment. A lively fire was kept up for some time, when it was deemed advisable to drive them from their position so as to uncover their front. Col. Van Voorhees gave the order to move forward; so impetuous was the charge that the enemy was quickly driven into his works, and could have been driven out and beyond them—as they were seen to leave after firing one round—but as there was no support at hand, Col. Van Voorhees did not deem it prudent to assail the fort, which was defended by several heavy guns, and accordingly recalled his men after several had gained the abattis of the fort, and took up a position behind the rice-field embankment formerly held by the rebel skirmishers, within two hundred yards of the rebel fort.
The Regiment remained here until the 21st December, assisting in the construction of works which could only be done under cover of darkness; the rebel batteries were very active, and the men exposed to a constant shelling; three shells passed through the Quarters of Col. Van Voorhees in one forenoon, and having moved his Quarters to another building, a piece of a shell from a gun-boat passed through his room, taking in its way a table at which he had been sitting but a few minutes previous. The Regiment returned from working on a fort about two o'clock of the morning of the 21st, and shortly after signs of the enemy's evacuating the city were observable, when Capt. S. B. Wheelock of the 137th, with ten men, was sent out to reconnoitre the enemy's works. He found the works abandoned with the guns still standing in position. The fact was reported to the Brigade Commander, who immediately ordered the Brigade forward into the enemy's works, and from thence moved directly into the city, arriving there at daybreak, the 137th was the first to enter the city. The Regiment remained in the city doing guard duty until the 27th January, 1865, when it commenced its march through the Carolinas, arriving at Goldsboro, N. C., on the 24th March.
Col. Van Voorhees having been advised by several of the army Surgeons to seek a change of climate for the recovery of his health, which had been much impaired by exposure and the malarial influence of the climate, he left Savannah January 1st, and was not with his Regiment in their march from Savannah to Goldsboro. He left home February 22d to rejoin his Regiment, but did not succeed in reaching it until its arrival at Goldsboro. On the 10th April Sherman again moved forward in the direction of Raleigh, N. C., which place he reached on the 13th April; here the army remained until the 30th April, when it commenced its march for Home, arriving at Alexandria, Va., on the 19th May. The Regiment was mustered out on the 9th June, and ordered to Elmira, N. Y., where it was paid off and discharged on the 18th June, 1865, having been nearly three years in active service.
In giving the military history of Col. Van Voorhees, we have coupled with his also that of the Regiment, as their histories are one. The officers and men of his command have always spoken well of him; they had confidence in him as a commander, and esteemed him highly as a man. He also enjoyed the confidence and respect of his superior officers, especially of Gen. Geary, who placed the utmost confidence in his ability as an officer, usually appointing him officer of the day when more than usual watchfulness was required, saying that he "always felt safe when Col. Van Voorhees was in command of the picket line." This confidence was also shared in by the Regiment, it being generally selected to occupy the most exposed positions, or lead the column when danger was thought to be imminent.
Col. Van Voorhees was several times (on account of the absence of all its field officers) detailed to command the 149th New York, a Syracuse Regiment of which Gen. Barnum, now State Prison Inspector, was Colonel. On one of these occasions, when about to be relieved and returned to his own Regiment, the following paper was put into his hands, signed by all the officers present with the Regiment:
149th Reg't N. Y. Vols.,
Aquia Landing, Va., June 8th, 1863.Col. K. S. Van Voorhees:
We, the undersigned, officers of this command, take this opportunity of expressing the feelings of each and every one of us, as the time approaches which must sever the relations that have existed between us and you as our commander. We desire to assure you of our full appreciation of your services, always characterized by kindness and forbearance, and in which the qualities of the gentleman and soldier have commanded our admiration. We desire to thank you for the earnestness and zeal you have exhibited in your endeavors to instruct and better prepare us for the duties devolving upon us, and to assure you that we shall always remember the past four weeks, in which you have been connected with us, with feelings of satisfaction and pleasure; and taking leave of you, as we are about to do, we earnestly hope that in the future that success may attend you which industry and fidelity always merit.
At the close of the war Lt. Col. Van Voorhees was appointed Colonel by brevet by the President "for gallant and meritorious services in the late campaigns in Georgia and the Carolinas."