HEADQUARTERS DEP’T AND ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE East Point, Ga., Sept. 9th 1864. GENERAL FIELD ORDERS, N0. 16. It is with pride, gratification, and a sense of divine favor that I congratulate this noble army upon the successful termination of the campaign. Your officers claim for you a wonderful record—for example, a march of four hundred (400) miles, thirteen (13) distinct engagements, four thousand (4,000) prisoners, and twenty (20) stands of colors captured, and three thousand (3,000) of the enemy’s dead buried in your front.
Oliver, John M. – September 9, 1864
Hd Qrs 1st Brigd 4th Div. 15th A.C. East Point, Ga. Sept 9th 1864 Capt Ira J. Bloomfield AAAGenl 4th Div 15th A.C. Sir. I have the honor to submit the following report of the 1st Brigade, since August 4th 1864 when the Division was reorganized together with the reports of the Regimental Commanders. And a copy of the report of the operations of the 3rd Brigd which was under my command during the campaign until it was discontinued in the reorganization.
Oliver, John M. – August 4, 1864
Hd Qrs 3rd Brig 4th Division 15th A.C. Before Atlanta Ga August 4th 1864 Capt Geo J. Wilkinson A.A.A.Genl 4th Div 15th A.C. I have the honor to submit the following hastily drawn report of the part taken by the 3rd Brigade, of the 4th Division, 15th A.C. in the campaign, commencing May 6th 1864, and ending August 3rd 1864 when this Brigade was discontinued. In the midst of the work necessarily devolving upon us all, this report cannot be made as full or as perfect as it ought to be.
Oliver, John M. – August 4, 1864
Hd Qrs 3rd Brigd 4th Div 15th A.C. Before Atlanta Ga Aug 4th 1864 Capt Geo I. Wilkinson A.A.A.G. 4th Div 15th A.C. Sir I have the honor to submit the following hastily drawn report of the part taken by the 3rd Brigade of the 4th Div. 15th A.C. in this campaign commencing May 6th 1864 and ending August 4th When this Brigade was discontinued. In the midst of the work necessarily devolving upon us all the report cannot be made as full or as perfect as it right to be.
Oliver, John M. – July 23, 1864
Near Atalanta July 23 1864 Dr wife I write you a [ ? ] to let you know that I am un hurt. we had a severe battle yesterday one of the severist I ever knew. The 15 Mich did first rate they captured as many prisoners nearly as they had men & two battle flags. loss was slight 3 killed & 5 wounded. I lost about a hundred & twenty killed & wounded.
Oliver, John M. – January 30, 1864
Head Quarters Cavalry Corps Brandy Station Va Jan 30/64 Dear Colonel I find that I have greatly misunderstood you or that you are entirely wrong with regard to the paper you desire. You directed me to procure for you the Washington Army and Navy Journal. After the necessary enquiring I discover that no such paper is printed in the district. Now is it possibly that you coned have meant the N.Y. Army & Navy Journal the only sheet of the kind printed in the United States
Oliver, John M. – January 4, 1864
Office Military Prison Fort Pickering Tenn/ January 4th 1864 Colonel Oliver Dear Sir On receipt of this I wish you would be so kind as to get the sum of Twenty five from Maurice Royer which I gave him to give to my friends in Detroit and which he appropriated to his own use
Oliver, John M. – November 15, 1863
Head Quarters Right Wing, Army of the Tenn. 15th Nov 1863 To His Excellency The Govenor of Michigan Sir. Though personally unacquainted with you I take the liberty of addressing you on behalf of Col John M Oliver 15th Regiment Mich Infty. Commdg 2d Brigade 6th Division.
Oliver, John M. – August 2, 1863
Head-Quarters 4 Division 13 Army Corps August 2 1863 Sir. I take great pleasure in recommending Col John M. Oliver of the 15th Michigan Vols for appointment to Brigadier General. I have served in the field with Col Oliver since the battle of Shiloh & had ample opportunity to observe his deportment as an officer in camp and in the field of battle.
Oliver, John M. – April 27, 1863
Head Quarters District of Cairo, Cairo, Ill., April 27th 1863. Mrs Col Oliver has permission to pass from Cairo to Memphis on her way to Grand Junction.
Oliver, John M. – March 20, 1863
Grd Junction Tenn March 20 1863 Dear Joe One of my lines to day discharged soldier I have just fired was going north & mail there photographs & papers to you by him I have no time to write to you only to say that I love you all so much
Oliver, John M. – December 9, 1862
Col Advance to the open fields over looking the Chewalla bottom I am here. and will send my cavalry down to Chewalla. Keep the same order of advance keeping flankers out picking up stragglers thru Brigades encamped here and left at 10 O. C. A.M.
Oliver, John M. – December 5, 1862
Head Qrs Right Wing 15th Corps Dec 5th/62 Hon E. M Stanton Secretary of War Washington D.C. Sir I have the honor to recommend Col Oliver 15th Mich for promotion my acquaintance with Col Oliver is limited yet I met him upon the Battlefield of Shiloh when he behaved with great gallantry and did good execution under my own supervision He is a gallant Soldier
Oliver, John M. – November 14, 1862
head Quarters McArthurs Division Left Wing, Army of the Tenn, Near Grand Junction Tennessee Nov 14th 1862 To His Excellency, Gov Blair Mich Sir – I take pleasure in calling your attention to the following and respectfully ask your cooper ation in the matter. Col J. M. Oliver 15th Mich Infty has been in command of the 2d Brigade of this Division since the battle of Shiloh until now, much of the time under my command and in positions where I had a good opportunity of judging of his abilities as a Brigade commander.
Oliver, John M. – October 13, 1862
Head Quarters 2nd Brigade 6” Division Camp Near Corinth Miss Oct 13” 1862 Capt I Bates Dickson A A Gen’l 6” Div. Sir. I have the honor to report the part taken by the 2nd Brigade of your division in the series of operations between Chewalla and Corinth. At the Battle of Corinth and the pursuit of the enemy to Ripley. The Division being at first under command of Brig. Gen’l McKean and afterwards under command of Brig Genl. McArthur. I had made a report embracing as concisely as possible the whole of its operations and submit the same report to both of those officers.
Oliver, John M. – October 3, 1862
Head Qrs 6” Division Oct. 3 1862. Col. The General directs that you hold on as long as you can, and dispute the whole grounds, retiring slowly in case you are overwhelmed.
Oliver, John M. – October 3, 1862
Head Qrs. 6” Division Oct 3 1862 Col- If attacked you will retire slowly, and give us timely notice. Give Bouck notice if possible Get arms “Cane Creek” if you can. Keep your pickets well advanced so as to give you ample time.
Oliver, John M. – October 2, 1862
Corinth Oct 2nd Col Oliver Dispatch rcd I presume you have already rcd instructions from Genl McKean which corresponds with your movements.
Oliver, John M. – October 2, 1862
Hd Quarters 6 Division Oct 2d 1862 Sir: I am directed by the Gen’l comd’g to instruct you to retire from Chewalla with your whole force. and take up your position near Alexanders (at the cross Roads) and to send one Regiment to the Bridge over the Tuscumbia. on the Smith Bridge Road. The Bridge is a little that of south from Alexander’s. the widow Woodward being on the right as you pass to the Bridge.
Oliver, John M. – October 2, 1862
Hd Quarters 6“ Division Oct 2d 1862. Col Your two dispatches recd. The Gen’l Comdg directs that you hold your force at Alexanders (near the cross roads) well in hand and to communicate any intelligence of importance at once to those old Infty.
Oliver, John M. – September 22, 1862
Head Quarters 6th Division Army of the Tenn Sept. 22d 1862 Major P. Ord Asst Adjt Gen I have the honor to report the following as the part taken by a portion of the sixth division in the expedition against Iuka
Oliver, John M. – March 19, 1862
Michigan Executive Office Jackson March 19 1862 Col John M. Oliver Dear Sir I have your letter enclosing list for Commissions which I send to the Adjutant General with directions to issue the Commissions as you desire & send them to you. I am well pleased with your management of the 15th Regiment
Oliver, John M. – January 26, 1862
Washington Jan 26 1862 My Dear Colonel Your kind favor of 17th inst was recd last night. Allow me to offer my sincere congratulations upon your promotion & also to wish you & your command that success which, I have no doubt you will attain. I hope it is not necessary for me to say a word in regard to remarks made by Luce, as you Know us both, & think you will give me credit of saying to you frankly at all times whatever I had to say
Oliver, John M. – January 15, 1862
To all who shall see these Presents, Greeting: Know Ye, That, reposing special trust and confidence in the Patriotism, Valor, Ability and Fidelity of John M. Oliver in the name and by the authority of the People of the State of Michigan, I do hereby appoint him Colonel Fifteenth Regiment, Michigan Infantry Brigade,