William Scaife's maps

[Barnesville Blues]

I wanted to ask this of those who are more familiar with William Scaife the man and his work that I am. IN "The Campaign for Atlanta' he sources his writings quit well but I see no mention of where he got his information for troop placements in the various maps. The Battle of Utoy Creek, as I have stated numerous times, has become one of my great interests and i have been comparing my own research to the map of Utoy Creek in Scaife's book. Scafe's map of the Battle of Utoy Creek is the only one that i have ever seen done for this battle... My interest is of course in Tyler's Brigade of Bate's Division and most of my research has centered around their roll in this Battle. S. D. Lee cited Tyler's Brigade for gallantry at Utoy Creek. Scaife's map appears to show Tyler's Brigade going head to head with Byrd's Brigade of Cox's Division, Schofield's Corps. I have little doubt that Scaife has the Corps and Division correct but I have found fairly strong evidence that he might have the Brigade wrong. I have in my possetion a diary of a man who was in Bate's 2nd Tennessee Infantry, later renamed the 2nd Confederate Infantry I believe? They were transferred to Tyler's Brigade, Bate's Division, in the trenches of Atlanta and thus were with Tyler's Brigade at Utoy Creek. This soldier described the action at Utoy Creek as follows:

"Bate's Division was massed in the skirmish pits on the extreme left and met Schofield who expected to run over a mere skirmish line. Gen. Bate thus ambushed Schofield's Corps and inflicted on them a heavy loss. I find no history giving Genl. Bate's proper credit for this. My Regiment there faced the 8th Tennessee Federal Infantry and permit me to say here, we met gallant foemen. They stood with no protection save the few forest trees, like Tennesseeans, in the face of withering fire until they realized that to stay longer meant annihilation. Then they sullenly fell back firing on us as they retreated."

According to records I found in the official records, the 8th Tennessee Federal Infantry was in Reilly's Brigade. According to the map drawn by Scaife, Reilly's Brigade advanced right in the center of Cox's line and would have come head to head with Lewis' Kentucky Orphan Brigade. I remember reading an account by one of the orphans which stated that they were going up against fellow Kentuckians. I do not remember which Federal Kentucky Regiment they claimed to have faced. According to the official records, there was only four Federal Kentucky Regiments that participated in the Battle of Utoy Creek. the 16th Kentucky was in Reilly's Brigade, the 24th Kentucky was in Casement's Brigade and according to Scaife's map, lined up directly behind Reilly's Brigade and advanced over the same ground. The 11th and 12th Kentucky Infantries were both in Byrd's Brigade which as stated, Scaife shows advancing and hitting Tyler's Brigade.

But if this Tennessee Soldier is correct in his writings, Tyler's Brigade at least fought elements of Reilly's Brigade at Utoy Creek. The map in Scaife book just doesn't make this look likely as the path he has Reilly's Brigade advancing looks like they would hit the Kentucky Orphan Brigade right of their center and if they managed to get pass them would actually come in slightly on the left flank of Tyler's Brigade. Mr. Scaife spent many more years researching than me and I hate to even point out something like this because of that but he was also looking at the battle and campaign more as a whole while I am looking at it on a brigade level and smaller...I just don't think my evidence is matching with his map.

 

[gunny]

I think you are correct. When we look at the micro level at nearly any engagement, we can easily find discrepancies. Mr. Scaife did a magnificent job, but so much more information is available now. I noted some discrepancies in his Tennessee Campaign book as well. Go with your gut and see where it takes you. As long as you continue to research at the level of organization that you are - you will find more eye opening information that will reshape the field there. It doesn't change what happened, but helps us to more clearly understand the event itself and how it shaped the outcome.

Good Job!

 

[Barnesville Blues]

Thanks Gunny, I have found references to Tyler's Brigade capturing several Battle Flags at Utoy Creek but can never find out which Regiments they belonged to...that would help solve a lot of this.

 

[ProfessorBennett]

I wanted to ask this of those who are more familiar with William Scaife the man and his work that I am. IN "The Campaign for Atlanta' he sources his writings quit well but I see no mention of where he got his information for troop placements in the various maps. The Battle of Utoy Creek, as I have stated numerous times, has become one of my great interests and i have been comparing my own research to the map of Utoy Creek in Scaife's book. Scafe's map of the Battle of Utoy Creek is the only one that i have ever seen done for this battle... My interest is of course in Tyler's Brigade of Bate's Division and most of my research has centered around their roll in this Battle. S. D. Lee cited Tyler's Brigade for gallantry at Utoy Creek. Scaife's map appears to show Tyler's Brigade going head to head with Byrd's Brigade of Cox's Division, Schofield's Corps. I have little doubt that Scaife has the Corps and Division correct but I have found fairly strong evidence that he might have the Brigade wrong. I have in my possetion a diary of a man who was in Bate's 2nd Tennessee Infantry, later renamed the 2nd Confederate Infantry I believe? They were transferred to Tyler's Brigade, Bate's Division, in the trenches of Atlanta and thus were with Tyler's Brigade at Utoy Creek. This soldier described the action at Utoy Creek as follows:

"Bate's Division was massed in the skirmish pits on the extreme left and met Schofield who expected to run over a mere skirmish line. Gen. Bate thus ambushed Schofield's Corps and inflicted on them a heavy loss. I find no history giving Genl. Bate's proper credit for this. My Regiment there faced the 8th Tennessee Federal Infantry and permit me to say here, we met gallant foemen. They stood with no protection save the few forest trees, like Tennesseeans, in the face of withering fire until they realized that to stay longer meant annihilation. Then they sullenly fell back firing on us as they retreated."

According to records I found in the official records, the 8th Tennessee Federal Infantry was in Reilly's Brigade. According to the map drawn by Scaife, Reilly's Brigade advanced right in the center of Cox's line and would have come head to head with Lewis' Kentucky Orphan Brigade. I remember reading an account by one of the orphans which stated that they were going up against fellow Kentuckians. I do not remember which Federal Kentucky Regiment they claimed to have faced. According to the official records, there was only four Federal Kentucky Regiments that participated in the Battle of Utoy Creek. the 16th Kentucky was in Reilly's Brigade, the 24th Kentucky was in Casement's Brigade and according to Scaife's map, lined up directly behind Reilly's Brigade and advanced over the same ground. The 11th and 12th Kentucky Infantries were both in Byrd's Brigade which as stated, Scaife shows advancing and hitting Tyler's Brigade.

But if this Tennessee Soldier is correct in his writings, Tyler's Brigade at least fought elements of Reilly's Brigade at Utoy Creek. The map in Scaife book just doesn't make this look likely as the path he has Reilly's Brigade advancing looks like they would hit the Kentucky Orphan Brigade right of their center and if they managed to get pass them would actually come in slightly on the left flank of Tyler's Brigade. Mr. Scaife spent many more years researching than me and I hate to even point out something like this because of that but he was also looking at the battle and campaign more as a whole while I am looking at it on a brigade level and smaller...I just don't think my evidence is matching with his map.

Sir:

You have an excellent grasp of the events of the main attack of what is now know as the Battle of Utoy Creek, GA on 6 August 1864. Mr. William Scaife along with his co author Mr. William Erquitt prepared the first official map of the site of the main attack. In fact a thoughtfull discussion was made with ground evidence which led the gentlemen to their proposed alignment.

In fact the brigade alignment of Major General William B Bates Division, attached to Lt Gen Steven D. Lees Corps was as follows.

On the left facing North was Armstrong's Dismounted Cavalry Brigade, Next was Tylers Tennessee Brigade (Commanded by Brig Gen Thomas Benton Smith, promoted on 31 July 1864), next was the Kentucky Orphin Brigade Commanded by Brig Gen Joseph Lewis, Next was the Brig Gen H. R Jacksons Georgia Brigade (From Major Gen W.H.T. Walkers division that was dispersed after the battle of 22 July 1864), next on the right was Finley's Florida Brigade commanded by Brig Gen Finley and connecting with the main line was the Georgia Militia Brigade that reported to Atlanta for service 1 August 1864.

These Southern Troops under Lt Gen Steven D. Lees Corps for this operation faced north parallel generally to the Sandtown (Now Cascade Road) and faced the US XXIII Corps of Major General Schofield, Army of the Ohio and the US XIV Corps under Major General Palmer of the Army of the Cumberland.

Two regiments of the The Kentucky "Orphan" Brigade 2nd and 4th Kentucky Regiments were out front on Skermish in Rifle pits as the Skermish line of Cox's Division advanced, on Dr Gilberts Property, now the Cascade Nature Preserve.

The Confederate 2nd and 4th Kentucky deliberately withdrew down teh Sandtown Road with the skermishers of the 100th Ohio in direct contact and the Union General Cox Deployed his Brigades COL Bird on the Left and Brig Gen Riley in the center followed by COL Casemate on his right. They moved down and up a very steep hill to get at the Defenders who had a reverse L shaped position and this appeared to be the end of the Confederate line defending the railroad. As the 3rd div XXIII Corps deployed against the enemy defending along the military crest of the hill, a temendous fire ensued from three 2 gun battery positions raking their flank from a hill to the right that appeared unoccupied.

It was not so, Tylers Tennessee Brigade (Formerly Bates Brigade) Under Brig Gen Thomas Benton Smith had not prepared significant entrenchments but were behind the crest of the wooded ridge unseen.

Brigadier General Riley sent the 8th Tennessee Infantry USA and the 122nd Illinois to silence the battery raking his division from the rear. The Union troops advanced to an abrupt hill in the front of Tylers Men and a hillside of skermishers in riflepits. Captain Mebanes Tennessee Battery with two 3 inch Ordinance Guns (Captured by Bates Brigade at Chicamauga) were being used effectively against Cox's division. The Federal troops were stuck and cound not move against the Kentuckian troops or against Tylers Brigade. A long day ensued, and the 10th Tennessee Infantry CSA wrote at the end of the day Brigadier General T. B Smith personally led a charge agaisnt the abrupt hill causing the capture of the 8th Tennessee Infantry and 122nd Illinois Infantry and their Colors. These men who were without ammunition surrendered and the COnfederate Provost Marshall and his company escorted them to the East Poitn Road (Now Dodson Drive). Bates headquarters was at an unoccupied home built by Dr Gilbert for his son inlaw and Daughter ion 1860, the Cascade Mansion.

To The Confederate left, The Missippi Dismounted Cavalry of BG Armstrong was assaulted by the Federal Brigades of COL Swaine and Brigadier General Cooper of Major Genral Milo Hascalls 2nd Divison of the XXIII Army Corps US. The lead element the 25th Michigan in the attack was wiped out by a volley from Armstrongd entrenched troopers, fighting as infantry. The US Colors were captured by Armstrongs men and later that evening the Regimental Flag was recovered by PVT Vanraalte who was later nominated for the Medal of Honor.

PVT Samuel Grimshaw of the 104th Ohio was credited with saving the men of his company by picking up a cannon ball that landed amongst his comrads and taking it spewing with smoke to a creek where he threw it and it exploded, saving his follow ohioan of Morgans Division, XIV Corps. he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

I hope this detailed explination will help to clarify.

I am the Divison Historian for the US 4th Infantry Division. I am home on the weekend in Atlanta and I give a tour of the whole battlefield on the weekends with proceeds going to the Utoy Creek Military Battlefield park, fund to erect historical markers.

Please feel free to email me specefic questions at [email protected] post here

 

[Barnesville Blues]

I'll email you Mr. Bennett, thank you.