Episode 30: 2LT Lot D. Young and the 4th Kentucky (Confederate) at the Battle of Dallas

At the Battle of Dallas, 28 May 1864, 2LT Lot D. Young and the 4th Kentucky as part of the Orphan Brigade advanced upon a heavily entrenched Union Army. What was intended to be a three-brigade advance was cancelled by the division commander, but the Orphan Brigade and the Floridians to their south, never received the order.

Sources used for this episode:

Young, Lot D. Reminiscences of a Soldiers of the Orphan Brigade. Paris Kentucky, 1918. https://www.loc.gov/item/42011058/.

Davis, George, B. Perry, Leslie J. and Kirkley, Joseph W. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. ser. 1, vol. 38, pt. 3: Reports. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1891. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924077722993&view=1up&seq=3.

Transcript

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Hello everyone. My name is bill Coughlin. Glyn and welcome to first person civil war podcast, which retells the stories of the soldiers and officers on the ground, in the battles of the civil war. Episode 30 is entitled. Second flute, tenant, lot de young and the fourth Kentucky Confederate at the battle of Dallas. And relies on his book. Reminiscences of a soldier of the orphan brigade, which he published in 1918. Lot Dudley young lived in Paris, Kentucky. Which is Northeast of Lexington in bourbon county before the war began. Kentucky was a slave state before and during the war. But it was also a state with divided loyalties to the United States. And the soon to be Confederate states. Lot de young became a charter member of the Kentucky state guard company. The flat rock graze, which formed in bourbon county in 1860. And mostly aligned with the secessionist Southern states. Not to be confused with the Kentucky home guard. Which aligned with the union. As it became clear that Kentucky leaned more and more toward the union. Most of the flat rock graze with Southern sympathies left the state in August of 1861. But lot de young did not do so until September. He traveled to Montgomery, Tennessee, just across the state line. Where the second and third Kentucky infantry regiments had already formed in July of 1861. Upon his arrival, he enlisted as a private and company H of the fourth, Kentucky infantry. These three regiments became the core of what would be known as the orphan brigade. This formation, primarily consisted of Kentucky regiments. That formed in 1861. And mostly operated outside of their union, aligned home state. Private Yung and the orphan brigade. We're present at such Western battlefields as Shiloh after which he became a second Lieutenant. Stone's river, Chickamauga and Chattanooga. And by the Atlanta campaign. Brigadier general Joseph Horace Lewis was the orphan brigades commander. And they marched in major general William B. Bates division. And Lieutenant general, William J Hardy's core. In the army of Tennessee commanded by general Joseph E. Johnston. In the beginning of may, 1864, major general William Tecumseh, Sherman commander of the military division of the Mississippi. Which consisted of three armies, the Tennessee. The Ohio and the Cumberland. Approximately 110,000 men. Began its advance from Chattanooga, Tennessee upon Atlanta. General Johnston's army of Tennessee of approximately 60,000 men were tasked with opposing this advance. The opening battles of the Atlanta campaign picked up where the Chattanooga campaign ended in the Northwestern corner of Georgia. Both union and Confederate armies relied on the Western and Atlantic railroad, which connected the two cities as a means of resupply. And stops along the line, such as Rasaka also became battlefields. Through a series of battles and several flank marches. Major general Sherman was able to push the Confederates steadily back toward Atlanta. Following the battle of CastleVille on 19 may major general Sherman detached from the railroad and sent his three armies down several roads. And yet another flank March in the direction of Dallas, Georgia. With major general John M Scofield and the army of the Ohio on the left flank. Major general George H Thomas' army of the Cumberland in the center. And major general James B McPherson's army of the Tennessee on the right flank. General Johnston, having incorrectly anticipated another fight along the railroad, redeployed his forces and fought the union left at the battle of pickets mill and the union center at the battle of new hope church. As part of this redeployment of troops. Second Lieutenant young and the fourth Kentucky alongside Bates division of Hardy's Corp was sent to Dallas, Georgia. Where he would face major general McPherson and the army of the Tennessee. On 27 may the army of the Tennessee arrived in positions, east and south of the town of Dallas, which included Brigadier general, Charles R what's his first brigade. Of Brigadier general, Peter J Auster houses, first division. Of major general John, a Logan's 15th core. Pursuant to orders of Brigadier general Auster house. I conducted two of my regiments, the 13th, Iowa, and the 27th Missouri. Through the woods to the left of the via Rica road, about half a mile to the south of Dallas for the purpose of relieving, some regiments of the second brigade who had earlier in the morning, but engaged with the enemy. I posted these regiments well to the front on the westerly slope of a hill. And across a ravine connecting on my right with a regiment of general Smith's brigade. As soon as this disposition was made and the line was covered with skirmishers, I brought up my two other regimens and placed them in a second line, about 75 yards in the rear of the first. During the four noon by my direction. The two front regimens commence to entrench and by night had constructed rifle pits, which formed a good defense. While the Confederates were in a defensive posture at new hope church and Piguet smell. Second Lieutenant young and the fourth Kentucky along with Bates division would attack the 15th Corps in their four to five positions outside of Dallas. Which he would later compare to the charge of the light brigade from the Crimean war. Here as at balaclava. Someone blood dirt. And while we have not had a Tennyson to immortalize the event. It is a more than ordinary interest to Kentucky wins. Especially those who participated in the bloody event. As part of the blunder, Major General Bate expected a weakened Union force to his front, rather than an entrenched foe. This fact would not become apparent until the Confederate attack began. 2nd Lieutenant Young and the 4th Kentucky began their advance over heavily wooded and hilly terrain. The actual time under fire did not in my judgment exceed 30 minutes. They occupied two parallel lines of entrenchments from both of which he delivered simultaneously a destructive and murderous fire that was so fatal that nothing but the protecting hand of an all wise and merciful Providence could save. The first of these lines was a few yards below and in front of the second, which ran along the summit of the Ridge and enabled a second line to fire directly overhead without endangering the first. Major general Bates plan evolved first, sending a dismounted cavalry brigade to attack the union line to the south. If the cavalry saw success, three infantry brigades, including the orphans or the right flank. What advance. Major general Bates did send orders to call off the infantry assault. But only one brigade received the new order. Second Lieutenant young and the fourth Kentucky on the right of the orphan brigade continued their ill-fated advance. Besides this double advantage, they were able to infiltrate our line with artillery from both extremes of their line. Smith's brigade on our left, having received orders to withhold the attack. Enabled the enemy to deliver no bleak fire upon us from his infantry on the left, as well as from his two lines directly in front. At every step, Kentucky was paying double toll with the lives of her noblest and best to push forward meant certain and complete annihilation. To remain where we were some 75 or 80 yards in their front meant the same only a little slower death. The initial cavalry advance saw success in the south and the union army had to shift forces to contain the break in their line. Brigadier general lost her house personally led one of his brigades in this effort. And left Brigadier general woods in command of the division, which were the first and third brigades. In his absence. Very soon afterward. At about 4:00 PM. The enemy advanced in force to attack the front of these two brigades, meaning from his division. And to the right and left. The skirmishers were hurriedly driven in their view of the approaching enemy being much shut out, but the broken nature of the ground in front. As soon as the skirmishers or such as were able, had rejoined the regiments, the enemy appeared in view a general discharge from the rifle pits commenced. The enemies line soon, wavered rallied, wavered, and then disappeared. Leaving there dead and severely wounded behind. In closing out his report. Brigadier general woods noted that the furthest advance of the Confederates was against the third brigade, just to as south. Here, the terrain was flatter and the men could not form a second line of defense. It's Brigadier general woods also stated that his men captured 15 Confederates after the failed assault. All belonged to the orphan brigade. Unable to continue under the heavy fire in their front. The entire orphan brigade and the Florida brigade to their south. Retreated. Having brave the entirety of the fourth Kentucky's advance. Second Lieutenant young assisted the wounded back to their lines. The order to fall back, having been given. We were only too glad to attempt our escape from the death trap into which we were ordered. The grounds and the rear of our works presented an appalling site. Which I reached them with my burden on my back. Sergeant w E Knox who had a broken leg. Nothing, but a miracle saved us from the murderous fire of the enemy. The battle of Dallas was a union victory. And despite defeats a picket smell and new hope church. Major general Sherman still enjoyed a numerical superiority against his Confederate pho. And continued pressing general Johnston. Further back toward Atlanta. Three more months of hard fighting we're in store for both armies at places such as Marietta, Kennesaw mountain Peachtree Creek. And Jonesborough. But by early September, 1864, the city of Atlanta was in union hands. Though the battle of Dallas was not even the largest battle of the Atlanta campaign. According to second Lieutenant young, it held a significant place in the history of the orphan brigade as a whole, because of an undelivered order. The official report showed the loss of 51%. Uh, loss considering the time actually engaged. Unparalleled in the history of the war. To my mind. It was the most desperate and disastrous of all the many engagements in which the orphans took part. During their four years of experience. The orphan brigade continued at service until the end of the war. But second Lieutenant young stay in the fourth. Kentucky was much shorter than that. At the battle of Jonesborough, the final battle of the Atlantic campaign. Second Lieutenant young was wounded. He would spend the rest of the war in a hospital. Recovering. Never to rejoin the fourth Kentucky. Lottie Young's motivation to write his book. Reminiscences of a soldier of the orphan brigade in 1918. Was for the men now fighting in the trenches of Europe. At age 76 and decidedly too old to fight in world war one. He wanted to contribute in some way toward the war effort of the United States. It is for the amusement and entertainment of the thousands of Kentucky ans. Now enlisted, beneath the stars and stripes and the world cataclysm of four for the cause of humanity and righteousness that these recollections and reminiscences are published. The author believing they will enable the boys to pass. What might otherwise be at times lonesome and monotonous hours. And he continues. And by reason of his experience as a soldier. He can enter into fully their aspirations and ambitions and share their hopes, rejoice in their victories and their triumphs. He understands the dread suspense of the impending conflict. The thrill and shock of battle. The victorious, shalt the gloom and chagrin of defeat. The pangs of hunger. And suffering from wounds and disease. For, he has seen war in all its horrors. LA de young also clarified that this history was meant for a combined nation. And not only for descendants of Confederate soldiers and took pride in the fact that the accomplishments of Kentucky. One's in the trenches of Europe. Would also be the accomplishments of the entire nation. To complete his book lot. D young towards several battlefields, including Dallas, Georgia, approximately 40 years after the war. And he had no issue identifying where the opposing lines were. This gives an interesting insight on how some of the lesser known battles of the civil war stood the test of time at, around the turn of the century. And showing the scars of war compared to the battles that were adjacent to cities. I have reviewed every foot of this ground. The second time stopping here and there to pick up a mini ball lodged in the enemy, works fired at them by my dear old orphan boys. I had no difficulty, whatever in locating at once the position of both parties and the exact spot on which my regiment and company fought. Most of the Confederate lines have been partly and completely obliterated by the plow. But Hills and hollows are still there. The enemy lines have been little disturbed. And are mostly intact even at this distant day. Thank you for listening to the 30th episode. The link to second Lieutenant Young's book is now available on the podcast website. First person, civil war podcast. Dot com. On Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn. This week, you will find a picture of second Lieutenant young sometime during the civil war. Now next episode, we'll be in the same format that you have come to expect from first person civil war podcast. I will incorporate a new aspect to this episode. Jordan Alyssa Nour from Iowa provided a few recommendations to me concerning Iowa regiments during the civil war. And for this episode, I decided to use one of those sources. In two weeks time. Corporal Henry M Disert of company D third, Iowa cavalry. Provides next episodes, first person account. At the battle. Of pea Ridge. My name is bill Conklin. And thank you for listening to first person civil war podcast.