USA > Illinois > Henderson County > History of Mercer County : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc., gathered from mattter furnished by the Mercer County Historical Society, interviews with old settlers, county, township and other records, and extracts from files of papers, pamphlets, and such other sources as have been available : containing also a short history of Henderson County > Part 36
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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
but onward those invincible divisions went like a billow of the ocean. With frantic exertions officers tried to restore order and establish new lines, but as 'often as that was done the torrent of union victory swept them away like driftwood. Thomas' battalions stopped only when satisfied with having driven the exultant and confident foe nearly a mile over the ground they had lost, and taken cannons, caissons, and everything else that the enemy in his flight had left. The account of a rebel writer says this "fight was one of great desperation," that the rebels "experienced fearful sacrifices," and that the union soldiers "pushed close upon the battery of the gallant Capt. Carnes and slew most of its horses and men," and the pieces "were therefore aban- doned to the enemy." Opportunely for the rebels, Cleburn dashed up to the rescue of their endangered right and engaged Palmer's division with his usual impetuosity. Now the tumult drifts along the quaking earth. Heavy flanking columns crowd the right; Palmer is overlapped, and his line is in danger of being doubled up, when Van Cleve marches in to arrest the peril, but the dense battalions with which he grapples overcome him. Bragg is practicing his favorite plan of attack in commencing on one flank and hurling for- ward his divisions successively in search for a weak point, until the whole line is engaged. The tide of battle rolled heavily to the right, taking in Reynolds, who divided the pressure with Van Cleve, and covered his front with a terrific lead-storm; but his division was shortly sundered in twain as if a hurricane had torn through his ranks. Davis was ordered up at the critical moment; and though his men struggled with raging energy, he could not long withstand the rebel momentum of increasing numbers. He gave back slowly till Wood arrived to swell the furious combat, when the enemy recoiled with heavy loss. At three o'clock Sheridan was ordered to leave Lytle's brigade to hold Gordon's mills, and with the rest of his division to move to the assistance of Wood and Davis. He was on the ground not too soon to save the former from disaster. The heavy sound which moves toward the right, shaking the deep woods, tells that the center has caught the storm. Gen. Negley, who has been lying at Owen's ford all day, is ordered to march down to the Widow Glenn's to be in momentary readiness for action. He reported with his division at half-past four ; and as soon as it became certain that the battle was going against the union arms in that quarter, his fresh veterans rushed upon the foe with ardor and drove him back steadily till dark- ness put an end to the fighting. Brannan had also been sent from the left, and at night took a position to the right of Reynolds.
The results of the day were substantial success. The federal army
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PERRYTON TOWNSHIP'.
had held its ground, and the rebel general was foiled. The union troops, outnumbered, had all been called into action except two brig- ades. The rebel army was reinforced by Buckner, recently from Knoxville; by a detachment from Johnson's army in Mississippi ; and by another from Lee's army in Virginia. The battle-ground was heavy timber, so undergrown as to be an immense coppice. This was of great advantage to the rebels in massing and attacking, and of proportionate disadvantage to the federal side, allowing but small opportunity for the use of artillery. Every inch of ground was con- tested with obstinate valor. As often as one rebel line melted out of sight a fresh one took its place ; but the union soldiers fought without respite, without hope of aid, aware of the momentous character of the struggle, and that if they won the stake it must be with a costly libation of blood. So they received the surge of rebel strength and fury with surly front, and when overwhelmed and forced to give ground did so with dogged reluctance.
By midnight the plans of the union commander for the morrow had been communicated to his corps commanders in a counsel at the Widow Glenn's house. Thomas was to maintain his present line, assisted by the divisions of Palmer and Johnson, with which he had been reinforced, and to hold Brannan in reserve. McCook, with the two divisions left him, was to close up to Thomas, with his right turned back to a strong position on Missionary ridge; while Crittenden, with his remaining divisions, was to be posted in reserve at the junction of Thomas and McCook. On the rebel side the army was divided into two wings ; the right was given to Gen. Polk and the left to Gen. Longstreet, who had arrived with the rest of his corps at eleven o'clock that night. Polk was ordered to renew the battle at daylight, but owing to a dis- arrangement of his line he was prevented from making the attack until nearly nine o'clock. The morning opened sultry and oppressive. The fiery sky, as if it might reflect the bloody field below, was seen through a hazy, sulphurous canopy of battle-smoke, which enveloped hill, forest and glen, and the giants of war that lay among them. The union troops reposed on their arms, waiting for the first rude sound of con- flict to disturb the glory of the Sabbath day. Between sun and sun what onsets shall rock the earth! what valor amaze the world and mark the bounds of human courage and endurance! Every man in those worn and battle-begrimed legions says mutely with his chieftain, this "day must be for the safety of the army and the possession of Chattanooga." The first move of the enemy was to turn the left flank to secure Rosecrans' line of retreat. Palmer was in the front, near the center, and Grose's brigade was ordered to the left to meet the enemy,
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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
who was crawling around on the flank. The S4th retired from their barricade of logs and rails with a feeling of reluctance. Col. Waters had been the first to recommend the building of such a protection, and this regiment the first to begin the parapet. In moving to its new position it was first apprized of the presence of the enemy by a sharp volley from an ambuscade, which killed and wounded several. This was followed by rapid discharges, but in spite of the severe fire the brigade formed in line. But being at once charged upon by a greatly superior force, it was driven in such confusion that detachments were separated and did not find their proper places during the day. Soon a deafening shout rises along the rebel front, and the line dashes forward in a thundering charge that envelopes Thomas' position. The con- tending sides grapple in the herculean energies of despairing battle. An aid leaves Thomas' side and hurries off to Gen. Rosecrans, to ask that Neglay may be sent speedily. Thomas had been promised the return of this division early in the morning, and the order had been given for its transfer, but from some cause had but just started to move when the staff officer galloped up. "There it goes." said Rosecrans, as at that instant it was seen in motion. In a few minutes another aid came flying from the left, saying that Gen. Thomas was hotly pressed and needed Brannan. "Tell Gen. Thomas our line is closing toward him, and to hold his ground at all hazards, and I will reinforce him, if necessary, with the entire army. Tell Gen. Brannan to obey Gen. Thomas' orders." Gen. Van Cleve, who has been lying behind Wood, is despatched in the same direction. The battle is increasing in fury. Negley, with his veterans at a swinging pace, is hurrying to the relief of the suffering left. Van Cleve follows rapidly. A cloud of smoke
and perpetual fire roll from Thomas' solid front. Roaring batteries, double-shotted, pour the desolating iron into the frenzied foe, who is constantly replacing his dissolving ranks with fresh troops. Closer and more stubbornly they press, and deadlier grows the union fire. The line of conflict extends to the center. It is now eleven o'clock, and Longstreet assails the right fiercely. The rebels on Thomas' front, exhausted by their own tremendous exertions and frightful losses, fall back, at length, demoralized, out of the reach of the field guns. Smart- ing under this bloody and signal repulse, they close up their bleeding, ghastly ranks, revise their lines, strengthen them with reinforcements, and then the massive column is launched once more against the weakened line. In the meantime Gen. Thomas has ridden along the ranks, so that if it were necessary his presence should infuse new con- fidence, and his troops catch some of his own steadiness of character and lofty heroism. Maddened by the memory of their defeat, and
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THOMAS CANDOR. ( DECEASED)
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EIGHTY-FOURTH REGIMENT.
thirsting to avenge it, they advance with remorseless vigor under cover of a terrific cannonade from their batteries. They meet again the same stern resistance and devouring fire which before .strewed the ground with their dead. Right up they come till foeman looks foeman in eye, and the stormy lines interlock and and writhe in mortal embrace. The union troops, according to rebel authority, "withstood as long as human powers of endurance could bear up against such a pressure, then yielded and fell back." But not till two hours of raging slaughter told the story of their heroism. Retiring a little way a stand would be made till the courageous foe came and received full in his face that relentless fire which shriveled his wasting ranks. The batteries, changing from place to place, were served with great animation and accuracy. The enemy paused finally, and Gen. Thomas rested his right on Missionary ridge, covering the gap, his left on the Lafayette road, his center advanced, the line describing an arc of a circle. While this had been occurring, terrible work had been done on the right. The commanding general had guarded carefully against a gap in his front, but was notified that Brannan was out of line, leaving Reynolds' right exposed. The situation was not comprehended by Gen. Thomas' aid who brought the information. Brannan was in echelon, that is, in rear, with his right extending beyond Reynolds' right. Gen. Rose- crans promptly sent an order to Wood to close up on Reynolds. As Wood's left connected with Brannan he understood the order was for him to support Reynolds by withdrawing from the line and marching by the flank to his rear. Acting on this fatal mistake, without report- ing to the commanding general for further instructions, he moved to the left, and so opened a wide breach. He was savagely attacked while executing this disastrous change, and his right brigade was severely handled. It is like a break in a levee. There is a wild rush of rebels into this gap. Then twelve cannon enter. Brannan's right is hurled back. Van Cleve, at this juncture, marching to the left, is struck full and fair in flank ; two batteries at the same time moving the same way are driven through two of his brigades. Half of the division instantly crumbles to atoms and goes like chaff to Rossville. On the right of the gap are Davis and Sheridan. The division of the former, taken in front, flank and rear, completely disintegrates. The latter is overlapped on the right by Longstreet's mammoth line, now sweeping forward in a grand onslaught. Laibold's brigade is carried away with Davis. Scorning to fly, Sheridan, with his two remaining brigades moving toward Reynolds, hurls a forlorn column with con- vulsive desperation against the massive front of the shouting foe. One trial is enough ; he is caught in flank ; then his troops hurry past
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the Dry valley, and by a circuit arrive at Rossville, from whence, at night, he leads them to the support of Thomas. Between the wreck- ing of Davis' and Sheridan's divisions, Lytle's brigade was shivered ; the brave leader fell dead in the arms of an aid, and his horse dashed away with the straggling, panie-stricken throng. Generals McCook and Crittenden search in vain for the remnants of their commands, which are scattered in twos and threes, scarcely the semblance of a formation anywhere. Guns, caissons, horses, wagons, and a bewil- dered, cursing multitude of fugitives obstruct the pass through Mission- ary ridge. These brave officers sicken at the tumult, but cannot stay the refluent tide, and are borne along by it till they arrive in Chatta- nooga. The commanding general, ignorant of the extent of the dis- aster, issued a few necessary orders, and despatched his chief-of-staff, Gen. Garfield, to Gen. Thomas, to ascertain the situation of his com- mand, and to communicate with him by telegraph at Chattanooga. Garfield performed the perilous journey over hills, through valleys and wild forests, heedless of lurking dangers, reached Thomas, and sent the grateful intelligence to his chief that the left wing was holding its ground, and would do so to the last. Rosecrans in the meantime returned to Chattanooga, "to give orders for the security of the pontoon-brigade at Battle creek and Bridgeport, and to make prelimin- ary dispositions either to forward ammunition and supplies, should we hold our ground, or to withdraw the troops into good position."
Having routed the right of the union army, the eager foe, elated with that success, and confident of dashing the remainder in pieces, about one o'clock fell upon Thomas with remarkable force. The divi- sions of Baird, Johnson, Palmer, Reynolds, Brannan, and Wood, two brigades of Negley's division, and one of Van Cleve's were the troops left to hold the rebel army in check. The devoted union army was now assailed by more than three times its numbers. Kershaw assaulted Missionary Ridge in front and was fearfully repulsed. Finding this part of the line impregnable, heavy columns were projected against the flanks. The fierceness of the onsets, combined with the overwhelming weight of numbers, carried them back. Thomas' lines after that described nearly a complete circle, and Longstreet was in control of the main road to Chattanooga. An immense toil was closing around the stalwart hero. A sheet of deadly flame and fiery sleet encircled this last stronghold, while his own lines blazed with withering volleys that bespoke, under the circumstances, the loftiest moral defiance and grandeur. Undaunted, the union troops received the repeated and staggering assaults of the exasperated foc. It was not dismay that filled their hearts, but calm desperation. They stood with their backs
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EIGHTY-FOURTH REGIMENT.
to the wall, and that wall was "the Rock of Chickamauga." The enemy, determined upon destroying the army, at half-past three found a low gap in the ridge, flanking Thomas' right and directly in his rear. Sanguine of a swift and crushing victory, they hurried into it in great numbers. "The moment was critical," says Rosecrans. Twenty minutes more, and our right would have been turned, our position taken in reverse, and, probably, the army routed. Struggling with grim valor at all points to beat back the rampant foe, Thomas could spare no troops for this new and appalling danger. For the first time in his life his countenance and manner betray emotions of distressing anxiety. Ile knows that Granger is at Rossville, three miles away ; no time to send word; at best, three miles against twenty minutes. Nothing but the providence of God can save the army. Nervously, painfully his eye sweeps the horizon. A cloud of dust is rising. Doubtful whether it can be friend or foe, he exclains to Capt. Johnson, of Negley's staff: "Find out what troops those are, moving upon me." Bringing his glass to his eye, he watches intently the approach- ing column. On that hangs the fate of the army. Who can tell how hope and fear fluctuate in that heart that is almost still? The seconds throb with conscious importance. A small object comes into view. His lips almost break out with thanksgiving; it is the battle-flag of Granger. One more chance for hope. All day long Granger had listened to the thunder on the left, and had marked its ebb and flow as it grew
"Nearer, clearer, deadlier than before";
had paced up and down uneasily, wondering why orders to march did not come, every minute straining his eye for the sight of a staff officer. It was an heroic occasion, and a hero was there. Something said : push for the front. "The God of batttles held that forlorn hope of the union army in his hand." "With the instinct of a true soldier and general," he ordered his trained but mostly new soldiers to move instantly. Two miles down the road he came upon a small body of the enemy, but he "well knew that at that stage of the conflict the battle was not there." Leaving Col. Dan. C. McCook's brigade to take care of any force in that vicinity, he urged forward with pressing earn- estness and reported to Gen. Thomas. "The Rock of Chickamauga" simply pointed out the right. The soldierly eye of Granger took in the perilous and astounding situation at a glance, "and quick as thought he directed his advance brigade upon the enemy." Gen. Steadman, inspired no less than Granger, with an enthusiastic coup d' wil, and worth at that moment a thousand men, 'seized a regimental color. and dashing to the head of the column, shouted the charge.
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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
Language fails to describe the onslaught. As well as the leaders, every man is a giant. "Right on into the desolating fire they pressed, reckless of numbers and of death, with a loud and thrilling shont. Over the batteries, over the astounded battalions of Hindman they went in a wild wave. It was marvelous, the charge of those two immortal brigades," and not less glorious than the charge of the light brigade at Balaklava. The trampled earth is strewed 'with the harvest of war; the enemy is routed with great slaughter, and the stars and stripes are on the ridge. Renowned victory was wrung from the hands of the rebels, and, stung with disappointment, Longstreet's veterans returned in successive charges right up to the six guns planted in the ยท gorge, fighting with the ferocity of despair. This was borne with firm courage by Granger's shouting soldiers, who sent them reeling back each time, torn and bleeding, with a wild slogan that vied with the sanguinary uproar. It was madness to lavish their superb battalions in hopeless frenzy and onset, and in vain the rebel generals broke col- umn after column to pieces on this granite front. As the sun went down the last attempt was made on the invincible band. They had exhausted all their ammunition, even all that could be gathered from their fallen comrades, and it was with much solicitude that the prepara- tions for the last vigorous assault were watched by these fearless men who had stood in the deadly breach for hours. Should the triumphant
reward for all their bloody sacrifice be torn away at the last moment ? They are coming now, and are so near that their muffled tread is plainly heard. The ringing command comes : "Give them the cold steel!" Springing forward with fixed bayonets. and a piercing yell, they rush upon the heels of the foe, who, struck with conster- nation, has broken and is fleeing in the wildest disorder. Weak- ened by their desperate endeavors, the rebels give up this hope- less point after frightful carnage, and thankful relief comes to Granger's men, of whom a thousand, nearly a third of the number that went into the fight, either dead or wounded, lie stretched upon the field. Believing that the left had been weakened to reinforce the right, Bragg sent a column to attack in that quarter. Being informed of its approach, Gen. Thomas ordered Reynolds to move with his division to meet it, and pointing out the rebels, bade him "go in there." Facing about to save time, and moving by the rear rank, the battle-smoked and blood-stained warriors were given the order to charge. With bayonets lowered, they struck the double-quick, while a wild battle- shout sprang from their hoarse throats, and they pushed on over the enemy, taking more than a regiment prisoners. During the progress of all these exciting and decisive struggles a continuous battle had
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EIGIITY-FOURTHI REGIMENT.
raged from flank to flank, the enemy crowding with billowy front against the union line, assailing Wood and . Brennan with scarcely less vehemence than Granger, but remitting his fury somewhat toward the left. The position was girdled by two lines; as often as one delivered its fire it would step back a few paces, lie down and load, then rising, step again to the front and fire. So ended the battle of Chickamauga.
The 20th of September had. given us a Wellington in Gen. Thomas. In gratitude the people with one voice said of the modest warrior : "This is the rock of Chickamauga." Henceforth he ranked among the greatest generals of the war. It had been a day, too, when heroes sprang from the ground. Let it ever be heroes' day. Illus- trious Granger! Gallant Steadman ! Names forever bright on the scroll of their country's history.
The union loss in men was 15,851, one-third of the army ; thirty- six guns, twenty caissons, 8,450 small arms, and 5, 834 infantry accou- terments. The loss in prisoners was about 5,500, of whom nearly one-half were wounded ; against 2,003 captured. There were expended in the battle 2,650,000 rounds of musket cartridges and 7,325 rounds of cannon ammunition, being 12,675 rounds less of artillery, and 650,000 rounds more of musketry than at Stone River. Two divi- sions were routed and left the battlefield ; seven held their ground with the final assistance of Granger.
During the night of the 20th Gen. Thomas having been directed by Gen. Rosecrans to act according to his judgment, withdrew to Rossville, where he offered the enemy battle all the following day, which was declined, and the next night he retired to Chattanooga.
We now allude briefly to the individual part of the S4th in this battle. On Saturday morning Grose's brigade was ordered to make a reconnoissance forward, but being outflanked, escaped capture by the slightest chance. Very soon it went to the left, when Palmer's divi- sion was transferred. There it fought that day, and the next morning built breastworks, as previously mentioned. When the brigade was sent out to reconnoiter on the flank and ran upon the enemy in ambush, the 84th, being driven into a heavy thicket, was separated into three pieces which were lost from one another until night. Capt. Ervin commanded one detachment and succeeded in joining the brigade ; Capt. Higgins had another, and Col. Waters the third. Each bore its full share of the hard fighting. The loss was 11 killed, 77 severely wounded, and 12 missing. About fifty were slightly wounded and remained with the regiment. Company G lost fourteen out of thirty that went to battle.
The 84th continued its career of valiant service till the close of the
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war, but space will not permit more than a cursory relation of its subsequently brilliant record. The reigment was shut up with the rest of the army in Chattanooga during the investment by Bragg. When the army was re-organized there, the third brigade, second division, twenty-first army corps, to which the S4th belonged, became the third brigade, first division, fourth corps, and so con- tinued during the remainder of its active service. Gen. Palmer was soon called to the command of the 14th corps, and was succeeded by Gen. Cruft in command of the division.
On October 25th, just prior to the change of commanders, the division was ordered to cross the Tennessee, and moving over the mountains to Shellmound, re-crossed the river, when the third brigade was sent to Whiteside. On November 24th this division, with Geary's, of the 12th corps, fresh from the Army of the Potomac, and Oster- hous', from the Army of the Tennessee, assaulted Lookout Mountain and drove the enemy in handsome style from that eternal stronghold. The 84th was on the extreme left of the line, and it was due to this fact that its loss was only three wounded, all of whom recovered. When the enemy's main line gave way the regiment swung rapidly forward, and in twenty minutes took more prisoners than there were men in its ranks, and for this success received the thanks of Gen. Hooker on the spot. Next day the stars and stripes floated from the summit of the mountain which had been a blazing citadel for weeks. The same day Hooker pushed across Chattanooga valley and ascended Missionary ridge at Rossville, striking the rebel left and rear, while Sherman was battering their right, and at the same hour that Thomas made the splendid assault on the center, and the entire rebel army was routed with immense loss of men and munitions of war. Having pursued to Ringgold, on the 29th the regiment, on its way back to camp at Whiteside, stopped on the battle-ground of Chickamauga and assisted in the sad but christian work of burrying the remains of the union dead, which the rebels, with characteristic inhumanity, had left in large numbers to decompose above the soil.
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