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 38
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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
Gen. Ward counseling harmony and subordination, the demand of the colonel for a vote to ascertain the feeling of the regiment towards him, and we see the large majority step out of ranks, whereupon he announces his intention to resign. Whatever defects he may have had they were those of old age. He had served in the Black Hawk war and was familiar with the obsolete tactics. He did not address himself with the alacrity of a young man to mastering the new, and this may have detracted from his popularity. Perhaps he was regarded as responsible for the hard marching that had been done; if so, it was unjust. He was honest and terribly in earnest. In his care for the men and his intercourse with them he was less remote and more alive to their welfare than any other who ever commanded them. His influ- . ence went far in raising the regiment, and to this length, if no further, he served his country well. Sickness obliged him to go to the hospital, and from there he repaired to his home. The regiment saw no more of him except when he paid it a brief visit at Gallatin in February.
On the 26th of October the brigade broke camp and began the march to Bowling Green. The distance of 150 miles' was accomplished in ten days. Toward the last the dust was very troublesome again, scarcely less so than on the first march, and when the soldiers camped at night they were unrecognizable. At Bacon Creek numbers were sent back to Louisville sick, while others were left to come on by rail.
While at Bowling Green Lieut .- Col. Smith was elected by the officers to the coloneley, and Major Mannon rose to the next grade.
Gen. Rosecrans reviewed our division there, and on the 11th of November the brigade left its camp at Lost river, and on the second day arrived at Scottsville, county seat of Allen county. Continuing southward on the 25th the division marched in the direction of Gallatin, Tennessee, and camped that night at the Rock House. Arriving there the next evening a camp was laid out for the 102d west of the town. On the 12th of December the regiment moved into winter quarters at Fort Thomas, which was situated close to the depot, and which the brigade, working in reliefs by regiments, had been throwing up since its arrival. On the 13th companies I, K and G were detailed for patrol and provost duty in the town, and the next day were cantoned in brick buildings on the public square. Company C was put on duty at Station creek, three miles below Gallatin, where they spent the winter guarding the railroad bridge. On the 11th of February com. panies D and F and a part of A were ordered into the town to increase the provost force. About New Year a mounted squad, composed of a detail of two men from each company, was organized, and placed under the command of Sergeant Edward Courtney, of company I,
CAPT. DAN, W. SEDWICK .
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ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND REGIMENT.
making twenty-one altogether. This was kept scouting until spring, and did much hard, efficient service. On the 14th of March the several companies were relieved by a detail from the 105th Illinois, and were reunited in the old camp to finish and garrison Fort Thomas. The rainy, gloomy winter was over, the darkest period of the war passed. With the fresh breath of spring came new life and gladness. Drilling was resumed with great energy, and most encouraging im- provements were made in the health, and spirits, and skill, and tactical knowledge of the men.
April 27 a detachment of 150 from the regiment was embarked on board the regular morning express train for Louisville, under the chief command of Col. B. J. Sweet, seconded by Col. Smith. Rebels were hovering near Franklin, twenty-seven miles above, and when that place was reached fifty soldiers were put off there in the belief that a skir- mish would ensue. The train proceeded three or four miles farther, when it was stopped by a breach in the track, and a volley was received from a lot of rebel horsemen. The fire was instantly returned with deadly effect, and then the men sprang from the cars in pursuit, but the assailants disappeared in hot haste. Their loss was five killed and six wounded. Five of the 102d were wounded, two mortally. A little drummer boy on the train was wounded in the leg, which had to be amputated. This was the first baptism of fire.
June 1 the brigade left its encampment at Gallatin and was trans- ported on the cars to Lavergne, fifteen miles south of Nashville ; and next day the 102d marched to Stewart's creek, six miles farther south, and nine miles north of Murfreesboro. Companies E, K, and G were posted on the creek at the railroad crossing; company H was stationed at Overall's creek, adjacent to the Stone river battlefield ; and company B at Smyrna. The right wing was encamped at a small earthwork surmounting an eminence on Stewart's creek and overlook- ing the crossing of the Nashville and Murfreesboro turnpike. When Gen. Rosecrans organized the Tullahoma campaign the dispersed forces at Nashville and elsewhere in the rear were formed into the reserve corps, under the command of Gen. Gordon Granger, who, at an early day, entrusted the protection of the railroad between Nash- ville and Murfresboro exclusively to the 102d. Col. Smith was ordered to Lavergne with four companies, and, on August 19, companies C, E, G, and I marched to that place, while the other six were stationed at stockades along the railroad. Thus disposed the regiment was required to do much hard duty, and it could not have been more satisfactorily performed. In addition to furnishing patrols, and men for a great variety of service besides, the companies at Lavergne began in October
23
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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
to press horses from the disloyal for the purpose of mounting them- selves. Companies G and E were first mounted and equipped, next I, and then C; all of which was accomplished by the first week in November. A great deal of scouting was done in adjoining counties, and the service was fraught with just enough risk to make it fasci- nating. Exploits of these commands when hunting and chasing gue- rillas increased the zest and excitement, and furnished not a little material for anecdote, and not a few thrilling personal adventures. By Christmas company B was mounted ; and another was partly so, when removal of the regiment stopped the impressment of horses. Skillful management on the part of Col. Smith procured 225 of the breech- loading Spencer repeating rifles for these companies, and each man was provided besides with a Colt's navy revolver.
The inclement winter of 1863-4 was hardly passed when final orders came to march to the front. February 26 the 102d left its can- tonements and fell in with the rest of the brigade which had moved out from Nashville on the 24th. The weather was warm and balmny until the evening of the third day, when it began to rain ; through the fourth day it rained moderately, and was cold, and that night our camp was established on the naked creek bottom at Tullahoma. The tem- perature lowered, the stream rose and overspread a part of the ground ; blankets and equipments were submerged; and the men were driven out of their tents. About one o'clock in the morning the writer started a fire, using a cracker box, and by the light was enabled to pick up the tiniest parts of tree tops. Piling on these twigs the flames leaped up and danced a cheering and grateful invitation to the men who flocked from all parts of the brigade. It poured down the next forenoon, and 3,000 soldiers, wet, cold and hungry, stood shivering in the rainy camp. In the afternoon removal to high ground and timber was taken, and by night, with the aid of huge fires, reasonable comfort and good feeling were restored. Trees groaned beneath the weight of ice and the ground froze hard. Long will the first brigade remember its sojourn at Tullahoma. On the eighth day the column crossed the Raccoon mountains, a spur of the Cumberland range, from Cowan, over the rockiest and roughest road in America, and camped on the other side at a place on the Nashville & Chattanooga railroad called Tantelon. The wagon train lay on the mountain all night and did not finish the passage till noon the next day. Stevenson was passed and Bridgeport reached March 7; the 8th we rested; the 9th we moved again ; and the 10th, being the fourteenth day from Lavergne, the command reached the Wanhatchie valley, at the foot of the frowning western encampment of Lookout mountain.
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ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND REGIMENT.
Here was made the most pleasant and beautiful camp the regiment ever had. Snugly concealed by an environment of towering eminences, and washed in rear by Lookout creek, it lacked nothing in natural scenery and surroundings to give it an air of the most quiet pictur- esqueness. Its elaborate and tasteful decoration was due mainly to the efforts of Lient. A. II. Trego and Adjutant J. H. Snyder, gentlemen of the highest æsthetic endowment and culture. Space does not admit a description of the tall arches, elegant devices, military legends, the ornamented speaker's stand, and the chapel for religious worship. Camp life was not more agreeable anywhere than at this place ; but the stay of the regiment was one of hardening activity and preparation for the rigors of the approaching campaign : reviews, inspections, company and battalion drills, and evolutions by brigade and division.
April 10 the last horses held by the mounted companies were turned over at Chattanooga. The navy revolvers were surrendered, and an order came on the 29th to exchange the Spencer rifles for Springfield rifled muskets. This last order produced a gloomy shadow on the men's faces ; but as the time was short the change was never made. We anticipate a little to say that this arm gave the 102d great reputation in the army. "Give way for the Spencer regiment," "Let these Spencers up," and the like, were expressions often heard when the regiment was going up to relieve some other in a hot place on the front line. The rebels recognized the regiment by its fire, and often asked what kind of arms it had; several times it was jocosely inquired if the boys "wound up their guns on Monday morning and fired all the week." The slow fact never dawned upon the sleepy authorities that this rifle was fit for anything but the mounted service, and the idea pre- vailed that soldiers armed with it would become addicted to laxity of aim and waste ammunition. The 102d demonstrated the senility of these fears.
After the 11th and 12th army corps had been transferred from the east, Ward's brigade was attached to the former and numbered the first brigade of the first division. On the consolidation of those two corps in March, to form the 20th, it became the first brigade of the third division, and ever after retained that designation.
On the 2d of May simultaneous movements of all parts of the army began. Ward's brigade camped that night at Gordon's mills. On the 4th it moved from there to the vicinity of Ringgold, and on the 6th to Leed's farm, near Nickajack Trace. Next day Taylor's ridge was crossed at Gordon's pass; Gordon's Springs was left behind, and the command encamped near Villanow. On the 11th, following up the movement through Snake Creek gap, begun by McPherson on the 9th,
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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
we halted for the night in the narrow defile between two of the immense ridges of the mountains. After cutting a new road through the woods the brigade moved out the next day two miles to Sugar Valley. The advance was resumed early on the morning of the 13th, and the command had gone but a short distance when it found itself in proximity to the enemy. During a brief halt here Gen. Kilpatrick, commanding the cavalry, was brought to the rear wounded. At intervals during the forenoon advances were made, and in the afternoon the brigade was formed in line with a company from each regiment deployed as skirmishers. Then moving forward a short dis- tance the line halted, the skirmishers occupying the crest of a ridge in open timber in full view of the operations beyond, including the charge by the 15th corps and capture of the enemy's rifle pits, a redoubt, and two cannon. Meantime, having moved some distance, about eight in the evening our division took a position on the right of the 14th corps and on the summit of the wooded ridge overlooking Camp creek, on the other side of which about eighty rods was the enemy, working with vigor to strengthen his position.
Company G was ordered out as skirmishers and posted at the base of the hill. Early next morning company E was added, and then a bold advance was made to the stream. An attempt to outflank the line being discovered by Capt. Sedwiek, he returned through great exposure to the reserve, and, advancing to the left, drove the rebels back. In the afternoon, while neighboring troops were engaged, our line was ordered forward to the brow of the hill as a feint. The move- ment unmasked the left of company I and a tremendous volley con- centrated upon it killed one, wounded two severely, and two slightly. The day was very hot. The skirmishers in their advanced position could not move without fatal danger, and their sufferings from heat and thirst were intense. The condition of the wounded, beyond the reach of help until darkness, was more aggravated. The casualties in com- pany G were : killed, John Gibson and Watson W. Hibbs ; wounded, Frederick Friebele, John Burnett (mortally), Lemuel S. Gruffy, William P. Irwin (died in hospital), William S. Pearson, William M. Bunting, John B. Felton, John Dunn, and William T. Todd (died in hospital). In company E the wounded were: Michael Oswalt (died in hospital), Jonathan P. Morrison, and Gilbert Zend.
On the morning of Sunday, the 15th, the division was relieved and marched four miles to the left to join the rest of the corps, which had been ordered round the day before. A fortified hill on the Dalton road, north of Resacca, was selected for attack in the hope of piercing the line at that point. The enemy's breastworks, nearly 500 yards
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ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND REGIMENT.
distant from where our troops could be massed for assault without dis- covery, stretched away in the form of an arc upon the crest of a long, high hill covered with forest trees, hiding the position from view. A spur, lower than the main ridge, jutted out in front, and on this a lunette had been constructed in which were planted four twelve-pound brass cannon. The brigade was marched up under cover of the heavy and tangled woods to the crown of the lofty ridge confronting this formidable position, and there organized for the assault, with the 70th Indiana in frout, the 102d next in order, followed by the 79th Ohio,. and the 105th and 129th Illinois, closed en masse. At noon a low command was given and the column moved down the hill without a word, concealed by the timber and the heavy undergrowth, down trees helping to obstruct the ground, and pushed its way through with fixed bayonets. Debouching suddenly upon the open, plain, Gen. Ward gave the short, shrill command, "double quick," and with a bound and a prolonged yell the brigade sprang to the assault. At the same instant heavy skirmishing along the whole front and a brisk cannonade were begun to confuse the enemy and cover the charge. The rebels were taken by complete surprise, but responded at once with a terrible fire from the battery and the infantry posted behind. The smoke from the rebel position wrapped the hill in a lurid mantle, and the refrain from the artillery on both sides thun- dered above ns. Men were dropping on every hand, but on and on with a continuous shout, like a thunderbolt of war, went the brigade. It seems but a minute and the broad valley is passed ; breath is short- ened and speed slackened, but the column presses up the hillside. Some stoop beneath while others push aside the boughs. The cheer has died out and the men, unable to see the foe, clench their teeth for deadly work. A moment more and the rebel guns, shotted with grape and canister, vomit their red flame into the faces of the advancing column. At the last discharge the men are so close that the hot breath of the angry cannon sways the line for an instant. Then, on our side is the first musket fired. A tremendous roar convulses the earth. A few of the rebel gunners flee, but the rest remain, like the heroes that they are, at their pieces, and with the obstinacy of despair vainly endeavor to beat back our men with their sponge-staffs! But all save five are slaughtered ; these are taken prisoners by members of companies E and I. Many impelled by the boldness of ardor dash still deeper into the woods that cover the rebel intrenchments, and a few go quite up to them.
At this juncture an unfortunate circumstance deprived us of a com- plete triumph to this magnificent charge. Gen. Ward being wounded
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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
almost at the beginning of the action the command devolved upon Col. Harrison of the 70th Indiana. He lost his coolness and ordered a retreat. Through misunderstanding the second brigade, brought up for support, fired into us from the rear. These evil occurrences caused confusion, and some fell back while others remained. The rebels had retired from their works, but rallied and returned. Had the situation of the breastworks been known to the men, or could they have been seen by most of them, the line would have been taken. But when the lunette was captured, no other works being in sight, it was supposed by the men generally that they were in possession of all the enemy had, and that the rebel infantry had ingloriously fled. This was their first battle, too, and they had no fixed and common idea as to what might be found on the field, or what should be expected. With their experience a month later they would have carried the entire parapet in handsome style and completely broken through the enemy's line.
The rebels having come back, they opened with sharp volleys, and our men, lying down behind logs and trees and under the redoubt, grimly resolved to hold all they had gained. The lines were but a few rods apart, and a galling fire was kept up by both sides during the day and a part of the night ; but the foe was well protected, while our men were greatly exposed to raking shots from the right and the left, as well as from the front.
When at the early stage the disorder was created, a part of the regiment was collected at the foot of the hill and marched to the left, where they took a share in a fierce engagement with Hood's corps, which charged our line and was disastrously repulsed.
At ten o'clock that night we were relieved and fell back a short distance to the rear for rest. The casualties in the 102d were 18 killed, 76 wounded, and 1 missing. Six of the wounded soon after died. In this action the gallantry of bothi officers and men received flattering notice next day in orders from Gen. Butterfield, and later, complimentary credit from the general of the army. Acts of indi- vidual heroism were numerous. Orderly sergeant John Morrison, of company A, who had been commissioned lieutenant but not mustered, and was wounded and afterward died, was much applauded for con- spicuous bravery. Color-sergeant R. L. Carver displayed most cour- ageous bearing and was seriously wounded. The banner-bearer, Corporal P. F. Dillon, fell an instant later, pierced through the breast. Adjutant J. H. Snyder caught up the banner and bore it with impetu- ous gallantry into the earthwork and subsequently planted it on the parapet. Fifty bulllets riddled its folds and two struck the staff. The colors of the 102d were the first raised over the works. Persistent
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ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND REGIMENT.
valor shed luster on our flag. The desperate courage which held the position from noon until ten o'clock at night was not surpassed by the heroism which covered our arms with glory at Buena Vista or Cerro Gordo.
That night Johnson withdrew his army across the Oostanaula, and Sherman followed close behind the next day. Our brigade was left to bury its dead. A long trench, embowered by soughing pines, was dug, and the fifty-one slain of the brigade were given tender sepulture in this common grave. A prayer was said, a few remarks were made by a white-haired chaplain, the grave was filled, and the brigade, as . night was nearing, hastened to overtake the main army.
" We marched on our wearisome way,
And we strewed the wild hills of Resacca - God bless those who fell on that day."
On the morning of the 27th we crossed the Coosawattee river and marched ten miles that day. The 18th was hot and many straggled along the route of fifteen miles. Toward the close of the afternoon the enemy grew stubborn as he was closely pressed. Moving out very early next morning, the 19th, the brigade was shortly thrown into line of battle, with companies B and G from the 102d in front as skir- mishers. The enemy was in plain sight, and after taking a shelling from a single field piece an hour and a half, and losing Samuel Har- vey, of company G, the brigade moved two miles to the right. As soon as this new ground was reached the rebels emerged from a dense woods on the opposite side of an extensive field, and advanced toward our line. With extreme energy a barricade of rails was made, while a battery on our right played upon them so effectively as to send them hurtling back whence they came. At 2 o'clock the order to advance was given, and we debonched into the cleared space and marched in columns by company up the rising ground. Banners were unfurled and fluttered proudly over the heads of the men, as with handsome precision they executed the movement. As far as could be seen in either direction nothing met the eye but this imposing pageant. Gen. Hooker and his staff remained near our brigade during the afternoon, and when the highest ground was reached we were halted in that position for some time, our commander watching from this . favorable point the movements of the enemy. We were close on the foe and there was expectation of a battle. Johnson had resolved to risk a general engagement at Cassville, and had his army strongly posted and intrenched for that purpose, but later developments led him to adopt a different plan. Our skirmishers were thrown forward to a narrow strip of woods below us ; beyond this was another field
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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.
into which the rebels came. A battery in our immediate rear pitched a few shells over the tree tops where our skirmishers were sheltered, and as we had a view of the open ground on the other side, we pres- ently saw the rebels raising the dust in retreat. They were followed by the skirmishers who disappeared in the timber which hid the enemy at the same time. At five o'clock we advanced over the same ground to the edge of Cassville. After a brief halt the command fell back and went into camp near the place from which it last moved up. We slept that night under orders from the commanding general for the whole army to close in upon Cassville at daylight, and "to attack the enemy wherever found." But he was in full retreat before that hour.
Pausing a few days till the railroad was repaired we moved again at four o'clock on the morning of the 23d and crossed the Etowah. On the 24th, continuing in the direction of Dallas, the command camped at Burnt Hickory, and at four o'clock on the afternoon of the 25th was brought up to support Geary's division, which had struck the enemy in force at New Hope Church, and was under fire some hours. At dark the brigade was ordered to march over the four lines of our troops lying in front, and to attack the enemy vigorously. The 102d instantly began the forward movement, which was soon arrested by a member of Gen. Butterfield's staff till the 70th Indiana could make connection with it. When this was done Col. Smith renewed the advance until we came upon the skirmishers belonging to the second brigade (Col. Coburn), where he halted the regiment and ordered the men to lie down while preparations were making for the attack. It was discovered that we were separated from the 70th, and Col. Coburn at the same moment gave information that the enemy was not more than 200 yards in front, strongly posted and six lines deep. One of Gen. Butterfield's staff appeared, and being notified of the situation directed Col. Smith to remain in that position, and, if possible, to find Col. Harrison. The latter was discovered some distance in the rear, and being temporarily in command of the brigade ordered the 102d to return, which it did, getting into position with the rest of the brigade about ten o'clock. It had begun to rain, the night was very dark, and the command was hopelessly mixed up in the forest. The . bursting rebel shells lighted up the woods with a grand and weird appearance. Fatigued and rationless the men sank down upon the wet ground.
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