Battle of Kolb's Farm, June 22, 1864
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"Best regiment in the Twenty-Third Army Corps…"
Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman
"I could take 100 such regiments as the 14th Kentucky, led by such men as Colonel Gallup, and capture Richmond or Washington City."
General Joseph Hooker
"This gallant regiment detained the enemy an hour and a half, and only retired to the main line when ordered to do so, contesting stubbornly every foot of ground."
Maj. Gen. John M. Schofield
"I had ordered Colonel Gallup to retire to the main line with his regiment if he was hard pressed, but he remained in position, until finding the attack a determined one, I ordered him peremtorily to fall back to the main line. The regiment came back slowly and in good order."
Brig. Gen. Milo S. Hascall
"Col. George W. Gallup, Lieutenant Colonel Brown, and Major Thomas, of this regiment, deserve special mention in this place for their coolness, courage, and good management in fighting their commands and bringing them back to main line in good order."
Col. Silas A. Strickland
These were some of the comments from the superiors of the 14th Kentucky regarding their actions at Kolb's Farm . It earned them a Special Order by Brig. Gen. Hascall, commending the 14th Kentucky for their gallant performance.
Crossing Noyes' Creek early in the morning on June 22, Hascall's division slowly advanced on Sandtown road in direction of Marietta, the 14th Kentucky covering the reconnaissance. It was soon discovered that the enemy was advancing in heavy force, preparing to attack. The troops were ordered to entrench near Kolb's farmhouse as rapidly as possible, while the 14th Kentucky was ordered to hold the enemy in check to gain time for the troops to prepare for defense. Facing them were Stevenson's division, of General Hood's corps.
Colonel George W. Gallup later gave the following report: "About 12 o'clock on the 22d instant, the brigade having taken its position in the front, I was ordered by Col. S.A. Strickland to take my regiment and advance in line of battle to the front, my left resting on the Marietta road, and ascertain if the enemy were in force in our front, and if so, to develop their lines, go as far as I could consistently, and when obliged to stop and assume the defensive, to hold my position as long as possible. Companies A and G were deployed as skirmishers. Advancing an open field some 300 yards, we received the fire of a strong line of the enemy's skirmishers, who had the woods.
Lieut. W.H.C. Brown, with Company A of the skirmish line, charged the woods with fixed bayonets, and captured six groups of five each of the enemy's skirmishers (all who were in front). Steadily advancing, I passed the first skirt of woods, crossed a field, and to the edge of the next woods, where the skirmishers reported a heavy force of the enemy in line of battle in my immediate front, some 800 yards distant. Reporting this force to General Hascall, commanding this division I received orders to construct a barricade and hold my position, if possible.
The One hundred and twenty-third New York held the line on my left, while one half of my regiment was constructing barricades. The enemy advanced three lines deep. Hastily forming, we awaited the approach of the enemy. At this point the One hundred and twenty-third New York was forced to give way to the right, and a portion ran over the Fourteenth Kentucky, who were lying on the ground. The enemy approached reluctantly and in much disorder, resembling a mob more than they did soldierly.
The first line came within thirty feet before we fired. At the first volley deliberately delivered, the enemy was thrown into confusion and gave way, firing a heavy volley, not a shot of which took effect. We then advanced to the works we had partially constructed, and were in readiness to receive the enemy's second advance. We held our position and the enemy in our front until they had possession of our left flank and were firing an enfilading fire into the regiment. I immediately, on seeing this, ordered the regiment to break from the left by companies, changing front to the left and fight in retreat. We were pressed back to the next skirt of woods, and there reformed, and then gave way, as we were obliged to.
When driven from this second position, I ordered the left to retire on the brigade in our rear, and with four companies of the right wing took position under the crest of a ridge, which I held until ordered to retire by the general commanding the division.
My loss was 1 lieutenant and 7 privates killed, 52 wounded (4 mortally), among them 1 captain and 1 lieutenant. The enemy's loss was 69 found dead on the field,1 wounded( brought off), and 36 prisoners, besides the wounded. The officers and men behaved most gallantly, only retiring as they were ordered to do so."
Kolb's Farmhouse
Contemporary drawing by Meredith Rambo
A special project is under way to commemorate the 14th Kentucky's valiant actions at Kolb's Farm - the newly formed 14th Kentucky Heritage Society has plans to place a monument in the regiment's honor at Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield Park, near Marietta, Georgia. For more information, Contact Marlitta H. Perkins Please help us to keep the memory of these brave men alive!
