Willich's Brigade

Willich's Brigade of Johnson's Division in McCook's Corps, commanded by Brigadier General August Willich, included the 89th Illinois under Major William D. Williams, 32nd Indiana under Lieutenant Colonel Frank Erdelmeyer, 39th Indiana under Colonel Thomas J. Harrison detached, 15th Ohio under Lieutenant Colonel Frank Askew, 49th Ohio under Major Samuel F. Gray, and 1st Ohio Light Artillery, Battery A, under Captain Wilbur F. Goodspeed. During the afternoon of September 20, 1863, starting from its position as the reserve of Johnson's Division, the brigade moved around the forest skirting Kelly Field and about 4:30 p.m. took position in the woods southwest of the Kelly House, facing the Confederates at Poe's and partially filling the gap in the line between Reynold's right and the troops on Snodgrass Hill. Upon the withdrawal of the Kelly Field line, the brigade moved northwestward through the woods to the high ground west of the Mullis House about sunset, where it formed part of the line posted to cover the withdrawal. Its losses on September 19 and 20 were 63 killed, 355 wounded, and 117 captured and missing, a total of 535.

Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia · United States