Dispatch from a Shebang: The 83rd Indiana on the Road to Atlanta

"I am now seated on the lap of mother earth, my left knee serving the purpose of a writing desk under the artistically constructed roof of what is in the army usually denominated a shebang," began one soldier of the 83rd Indiana in describing the night of June 21, 1864.  "I am seated in a shebang where on the whole I am rather comfortable everything considered and quite secure from the rain which at present is falling thick and fast and pattering musically- a regular rub-a-dub-dub on everything around me. And this has been its practice with brief intervals during the present month scarcely a day going by without more or less rain. This under the most favorable circumstances makes soldiering disagreeable and especially so on an active campaign when tents are bygone luxuries and one has to cook, eat, and sleep out of doors." 

    The misery would reach new heights a few days later when the 83rd Indiana took part in the assault on Kennesaw Mountain, a day "day will not be apt to be forgotten by most of the members of the Second Division."

    Both of the following letters, written by members of the 83rd Indiana Infantry, first saw publication in the pages of the Aurora Journal.

A collection of shelter tents and "shebangs" guard the railroad trestle at Whitesides, Tennessee in the summer of 1864. As the war progressed, soldiers became quite adept at "making do" with whatever they could find in the field that could add to their comfort. Studying the picture carefully, one can see old rugs and ragged coats being used as part of the shelters along with spare bits of lumber, boxes, etc. 

In the fieldnear Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia

June 21,1864

          I am now seated on the lap of motherearth, my left knee serving the purpose of a writing desk under the artisticallyconstructed roof of what is in the army usually denominated a shebang. Whatthis beautiful and to the soldier very expressive word is derived from or whereit has any derivation is more than I am able to determine. Certainly, it is aword both known and understood in the army and should any old battle-worncampaigner or young veteran at home see the word in this article, I feel quitecertain that he will at once recognize an old friend and understand us withoutdifficulty.

          Well, as I said before, I am seated ina shebang where on the whole I am rather comfortable everything considered andquite secure from the rain which at present is falling thick and fast andpattering musically- a regular rub-a-dub-dub on everything around me. And thishas been its practice with brief intervals during the present month scarcely aday going by without more or less rain. This under the most favorablecircumstances makes soldiering disagreeable and especially so on an activecampaign when tents are bygone luxuries and one has to cook, eat, and sleep outof doors.

          Such has been our fortune ormisfortune for the last two months and we have no well-defined idea when itshall be otherwise but we are indulging in hopes that this campaign willterminate in the complete overthrow of the rebellion and the end of ourprivations and labors.

          When I wrote last, the 83rdIndiana was halted near Acworth, Georgia and pretty well to the front as usual,but since then the front has moved forward several miles and we, faithful toour former practice, moved with it. At the present writing we are resting behindrifle pits which we threw up last evening about 400 yards from the base ofKennesaw Mountain which the Rebels occupy and have well-fortified. The groundwhich we occupy now was held by the enemy up to Saturday night when, inconsequence of a flank movement by Hooker on our right, the enemy was compelledto straighten his line and fall back to the mountain. He was strongly fortifiedhere, so much so that I doubt if we ever could have routed him by assault.

Our work on Sunday was to advance and take possession of theabandoned works, drive back his skirmishers, bring up and plant our battery,etc. While doing this, the enemy shelled us but with little effect. I thinkthere was but one man killed in the division and he belonged to the 55thIllinois.

Yesterday there was heavy fighting on our right. Hooker ispressing the enemy severely. It is generally supposed that Johnston isretreating to the other side of the Chattahoochee River and that the force inour immediate front is nothing more than a strong rear guard covering hisretreat. This is not unlikely. We have captured vast numbers of the enemy andmany more have voluntarily surrendered. The probabilities are that we willsurround the enemy in our front (I mean the whole force on the mountain) andcapture the whole thing, both men and guns. What make this probable is whileHooker is pressing their left, General Rousseau is swinging round their rightwith a large force and between these two, I think the Johnnies stand a goodchance of being trapped.

We have had no casualties in the 83rd since mylast. The health of the regiment is good. We are drawing full rations, Rebelreports to the contrary notwithstanding. All the boys are in good spirits andfull of hope and confidence.

W.F.S.

A weeklater, the regiment took part in the assault on Kennesaw Mountain as rememberedby Hospital Steward Daniel C. Beach who picks up the story from where our previouscorrespondent left off...

 

The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia, June 27, 1864. 

Near BigShanty, Georgia

June 29,1864

          On the night of June 23rd,the enemy retired to the top of the mountain, evidently with the intention ofinducing us to follow, but we concluded not to venture and remained within theworks. We sent a skirmish line partway up the mountain but finding they couldnot reach the top, they returned to their position near the base.

          Sunday the 26th was thequietest day we enjoyed during the campaign but the work was soon to begin.After dark, the 15th Army Corps was removed from the front and againtaking position about two miles further to the right, quietly awaiting the dawnof the 27th of June. That day will not be apt to be forgotten bymost of the members of the Second Division.

At about 8:30 a.m., the order was given to advance and in theface of a withering fire of musketry, they started. They had not proceeded manyyards when the enemy’s batteries opened upon them. At very short range and anenfilading hail of shot and shell poured down upon them. But like the undauntedheroes they are, they pressed on driving the enemy from his first ditches in a hand-to-handencounter, many of them clubbing their muskets and rushing in with a recklessdaring.

About 9 o’clock, the generals, finding that it would beimpossible for the men to hold their position under such a heavy fire, gave theorder to fall back and slowly but steadily the Second Division gave way,retiring about 200 yards. Then they halted and maintained their position theentire day. During the night, the division was relieved by the First Divisionunder General Osterhaus. We retired about a mile and are now resting andrecovering from the effects of the charge.

Having been ordered to the rear in charge of a number of sickfrom the regiment, I was at the divisional hospital when the wounded came inand was busy from 9 o’clock until 11 at night, assisting in dressing theirwounds. Upwards of 50 cases were compelled to wait until the next day to gettheir wounds attended to; among the wounded in the 83rd Indiana is thatgallant officer Colonel Ben Spooner. His loss is deeply felt by the regiment,who know him but to esteem and love him. [Colonel Spooner was wounded in theleft arm which was amputated.]

To learn more about the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, please check out these posts:

Gentlemen, this is serious business: A 57th Ohio captain recalls Kennesaw 

Billy had No Enemies: The Death of Captain William D. Neal 

The Golden Moment was Gone: The Doomed Assault on the Dead Angle at Kennesaw 

They Paid Dearly for Their Whistle Today: Rebel Views of Kennesaw Mountain

Sources:

Letter fromW.F.S., 83rd Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Aurora Journal(Indiana), July 7, 1864, pg. 2

Letter fromHospital Steward Daniel C. Beach, 83rd Indiana Volunteer Infantry, AuroraJournal (Indiana), July 14, 1864, pg. 4