USA > Illinois > History of the 112th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry, in the great war of the rebellion, 1862-1865 > Part 10
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When the command fell back through Athens, Capt. Sroufe was sick, at the house of the Union lady at whose request he had obtained the National Flag, upon his first visit there ; but he proceeded back with the troops, although hardly able to ride in an ambulance.
When the rebels occupied the town, Forrest, himself, who had been informed of the incident, went to the house and informed the lady that he wanted that "d-d Yankee cap- tain" she had concealed in her house. She assured him that the captain was not there, that he had gone back with the Union troops, and gave permission to search her house. For- rest said the captain had insulted a Confederate lady by com- pelling her to surrender the Yankee flag, and he was determin- ed to make the "d-d Yankee officer" suffer for his impudence. The house was searched, but, fortunately for Capt. Sroufe, he was not there to be found.
The flag was found, however, and torn to shreds and trampl- ed in the dust by the enraged rebel officers.
Rosecrans expected Burnside's support in his encounter with the Confederate army, and on the 18th of September sent the following cypher dispatch by courier to Col. Byrd, with the re- quest that it be forwarded to Gen. Burnside, whom Rosecrans supposed was then moving south to his support. The dispatch was received by Byrd on the Hiawassee River, and was for- warded to Gen. Burnside at Knoxville, by telegraph :
"Enemy Chicamauga you again since you left cavalry that ' hundred since good the from it has as should that on on val- ' ley rich spring dispatched Jasper twice important our our ' hard one men troops commencement sickness has been soon ' close it the my September guns Crawfish. I at and very on ' possible so twenty dismounted horse of and decreased worked ' as in was thirteenth arrival eighteenth enemy should once ' danger to the close the in and and woods Rome covering large ' enemy down remainder Tyners there if come hills Byrd at
-8
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HISTORY OF THE 112TH ILLINOIS.
' any down left should possible front valley Dalton mountains ' Headquarters the force are as of station he lie down rocks ' campaign Cleveland in came our force as our Pea Vine to ' valleys at roads occupying in soon your on can is to Stanton ' General me we have large La Fayette rebels a and we to ' from wicked here concentrate century force will-false Queenly . Yankee need oppose you true Major can from his Quadrant ' well is portion all them signed badly Benjamin let arrived of · will-everything.
'J. P DROUILLAND Capt. and A. D. C."
On the 3d of October, -- the next day after the return of the regiment to Athens,-Capt. Dunn, with his own com- pany (D) in command of Lieut. Griffin, and one company of the 1st Kentucky cavalry, was directed by Col. Wolford to proceed toward Calhoun in search of the enemy He was in- structed not to enter the town, but to approach as near as he could without too great danger. Capt. Dunn proceeded on one road with the cavalry company, and Lieut. Griffin, with Co. D, on another-both roads uniting near town.
Capt. Dunn exceeded his orders by taking his command in- to the town, and down near the river; and finding that the rebels were on the opposite side of the Hiawassee, in Charles- ton, he could not resist the temptation to give their pickets a few shots "just to let them know he was there." On his re- turn he reported his disobedience of orders; but, instead of censuring him, the colonel seemed gratified that the captain had taken the responsibility of ascertaining for himself that no enemy was on the north side of the river on either of the roads scouted by him.
At noon on Sunday. Oct. 4th, Col. Byrd's brigade received orders to saddle up and prepare to move at once. At 4 o'clock the brigade started, -marched seven miles toward Sweetwater, and camped for the night.
Oct. 5th. Broke camp at 7 o'clock, and marched to Sweet- water.
Oct. 6th. Moved at 7 o'clock,-marched to Loudon, crossed to the north side of the Tennessee River, halted three hours
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GENERAL ORDERS NO. 9.
waiting for the train, and then marched until 9 o'clock on the road towards Kingston. Very dark and rainy.
Oct. 7th. Marched at 7 o'clock and arrived at Kingston at noon. The 112th Illinois here took the advance-forded the Clinch River, and marched five miles west, toward Post Oak Springs.
Oct. 8th. Marched to Post Oak Springs and went into camp -just a month and a day from the time the brigade left this point for Athens. During that time the 112thi had been con- stantly at the front, almost every day in the saddle, and fre- quently engaged in severe skirmishing with the enemy. One company (B) had opened the campaign at Cleveland, and an- other company (D) had been the last to locate the rebel forces south of the Hiawassee. The regiment had lost one captain killed, six men wounded, and one captain, three sergeants, nine corporals and forty-five privates captured.
Men and horses had suffered with hunger-many days at a time having had but one meal a day, and some not any, and all the time on short rations-and the command was now sta- tioned at Post Oak Springs to watch the enemy in that direc- tion and to rest and recuperate, and prepare for future action.
On the 10th of October Col. Byrd issued the following order commendatory of the 112th :
"H'DQ RS 1ST BRIG., 4TH DIV., 23D A. C., POST OAK SPRINGS, Oct, 10th, 1863. "GENERAL ORDERS No. 9.
"To the Officers and Soldiers of the 112thı Illinois Volunteer Infantry :
"The Colonel commanding takes great pleasure in announe- ing to you with what feelings of gratification and pride lie wit- nessed your noble and gallant conduct when attacked by the enemy at Calhoun on the 26th of September last.
"The enemy threw himself upon you with a force of at least six to one, yet you quailed not, nor deserted your post, al- though you were overpowered and nearly surrounded by an overwhelming force. Too much cannot be said in praise of your noble conduct on that occasion ; and when compelled to
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HISTORY OF THE 112TH ILLINOIS.
fall back from that place to Loudon, you behaved with great gallantry and bravery.
"Your country will remember you in the future, when the glorious flag of our country again floats over every State and Territory of this great Republic, planted by the hands of her brave defenders who have nobly fought in her cause. Some of your number have been grievously wounded, some are now languishing in southern prisons ; but although many vacan- cies occur in your ranks, you are ready and anxious again to meet the enemies of your country wherever they may appear.
"Toilsome marches over rugged mountains have not dis- couraged you. You have borne the heat and storms of a southern climate without murmuring. You have often march- ed days and nights without food or rest, and have never failed when duty called you. You have fought and bled in your country's cause ; and for all this you will have your reward in the future grandeur and glory of a united and happy Republic.
"Go on, brave soldiers, and continue to persevere in the cause in which you have enlisted, and which, thus far, you have so nobly sustained, and a grateful country will yet crown you victors in a glorious cause.
"By command of COL. ROBERT K. BYRD. "JAMES MCCARTNEY, Capt, and A. A. A. G."
CHAPTER XI.
LONGSTREET'S INVASION OF EAST TENNESSEE. MARCHES AND COUNTERMARCHES. CHARGE AT PHILADELPHIA. ACROSS THE TENNESSEE-RETREAT TO CAMPBELL'S STATION.
Soon after the arrival of the brigade at Post Oak Springs, Col. Byrd returned to his home at Kingston, and Col. Hender- son and Lieut. H. W Wells, Adjutant of the regiment, visited Knoxville on business connected with the service. Lieut. Col. E. S. Bond, of the 112th Illinois, assumed command of the brigade, and Major Dow of the regiment ; and Lieut. A. P. Petrie, of Co. C, was detailed as acting adjutant.
On the 14th of October, Lieut. Thompson, with twenty-five men of Co. B, was ordered to go to Washington, thirty-two miles south, on the Tennessee River, where a detachment of the Army of the Cumberland was stationed, with dispatches for Gen. Rosecrans. They arrived at Washington late in the night, after a hard ride over rough roads, in a heavy rain- storm, and found shelter from the storm in an old stable- having had no dinner or supper. They returned to Sulphur Springs, once a favorite resort, twelve miles from Washington, the next day, the rain still pouring in torrents, and took pos- session of a "cottage" at the Springs. Here the boys killed and dressed a hog, cut it up, obtained a large kettle, and cook- ed the whole lot at one time. They procured some meal, hir- ed some negro women to make some bread, and had a supper fit for a king-if a hungry king-with enough left for break-
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HISTORY OF THE 112TH ILLINOIS,
tast, and some left for the negroes. The detachment returned to camp on the sixteenth.
On the 16th Major Dow received orders from the headquar- ters of the army at Knoxville to have the 112th Illinois fitted up tor active and rapid movement ; to have the horses well- shod-and he was authorized to draw upon other regiments for shoes, or obtain them in the country -- and have everything in readiness for active and severe duty. From the nature of the order it was inferred the regiment was to be detached from the brigade and sent on some distant and perilous expedition -perhaps to Western Virginia, or into Northern Georgia, or over the mountains into Kentucky-but if such was the inten- tion it was abandoned.
On the 18th, Lieut. Thompson, with twenty-five men of Co. B, was ordered to proceed to Sulphur Springs, and scout the country thoroughly in search of a courier, on the line between Kingston and Washington, who was missing with an important dispatch. He was instructed to divide his company at Sul- phur Springs, and send part to Washington, and destroy all boats on the river between Washington and Kingston ; and, if possible, to capture an old rebel named Brown, who resided on an island in the river, with one or two sons, and who were suspected of having waylaid the missing courier. The detach- ment was absent four days, and destroyed eleven boats, but failed to find the missing courier. Brown's island was desert- ed ; he was with the rebel army, east of the river, but his cab- in and other buildings were destroyed and the place rendered uninhabitable.
Serg. John H. Bunnell, with a squad of men, crossed the river to destroy a boat on the east side. They ascended the bluff, and seeing a farm-house not far away, went to it. Sev- eral rebel soldiers were there eating supper, but did not see Bunnell and his men until the latter were entering the house. The rebels were surprised, and ran out of an opposite door and took to the fields, closely followed by the whole family, leaving their arms and accoutrements standing in a corner. Bunnell and his men coolly finished the rebels' supper, and taking the captured arms and accoutrements, recrossed the river. The detachment returned to Post Oak Springs on the 21st, but
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LEAVES OF ABSENCE.
found the camp abandoned; the command had marched for Kingston, by way of the ford across the Clinch River.
The detachment proceeded by a shorter route to the ferry, but the ferryman refused to take them over. The boat was a side-wheel concern, run by horse-power. After parleying with him to no purpose, Serg. Doyle was directed to take the helm, the men led their horses aboard, and the proprietor became an unwilling passenger on his own boat.
Col. Henderson returned from Knoxville on the 17th. His health had become greatly impaired, and believing the cam- paign had ended for the season, and that the regiment would remain at Post Oak Springs during the winter, he was ordered by Gen. Burnside to proceed north on recruiting service ; and on the 19th started for home, to rest himself and recruit the depleted ranks of the regiment. He was absent until about the middle of the following January-the situation of affairs in East Tennessee being such that he could not rejoin the re- giment before that time.
Capt. Wright obtained leave of absence and also went home, leaving his company, in the meantime, in the command of Lieut. Armstrong.
Adjutant Wells returned to the regiment ; but having been authorized by Gen. Burnside to raise a regiment of artillery in East Tennessee, he returned to Knoxville on the 20th of Oc- tober, and was assigned to duty as Chief of Artillery on the staff of Brig. Gen. Manson.
On the 25th of November following, Lieut. Wells severed his connection with the regiment, and was promoted to Major of artillery. After the siege of Knoxville he served a few weeks on the staff of Brig. Gen. Cox, and was then assigned to duty as Chief of Engineers and Artillery on the staff of Brig. Gen. Tillson. On the 29th of April, 1864, he was assigned to duty as Chief of Artillery on the staff of Gen. Cox, commanding the 3d Division, 23d Army Corps, and served in that capacity un- til the close of the war. He was also Acting Assistant Adju- tant General, and Judge Advocate, of the 3d Division, during part of the Atlanta campaign, in addition to his other regular staff duties. During the succeeding campaigns in Georgia, Middle Tennessee and North Carolina, Major Wells perform-
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ed the duties pertaining to his enlarged sphere of action in a manner highly creditable to himself and to the entire satisfac- tion of his commanding officer. He enlisted as a private in Capt. Dunn's company, was appointed, and musterod into the service, as adjutant of the regiment, and all claim him as a member of our regimental "family."
Lieut. Petrie continued to perform the duties of adjutant until the 24th of November, when he was relieved, at his own request, and Lieut. C. W Brown, of Co. E, was detailed as Acting Adjutant. Lieut. Brown was offered the permanent appointment as adjutant, but declined it. He performed the duties of the office until the return of the regiment to Kentucky in the spring of 1864, and was then relieved at his own re- quest.
On the 20th of October a scouting party of twenty men, of the 112th Illinois, captured six rebel soldiers near Kingston, and it was learned that three brigades of rebel cavalry were moving up the Tennessee Valley, east of the river, toward Kingston. The 1st East Tennessee regiment was immediate- ly ordered to Kingston to guard the ferry ; and later on the same day the rest of the brigade also moved to Kingston.
The Tennessee regiment was here detached from the brigade and ordered to garrison Kingston-Col. Byrd commanding the Post-and remained there the following winter. The regi- ment was dismounted, and, with other regiments, repelled an assault made by a detachment of Longstreet's army, in No- vember, and held the position against every attempt of the en- emy to capture tt.
A few days after, the 6th regiment Indiana cavalry was temporarily added to the brigade, and the number was chang- ed to the 2d Brigade, 4th Cavalry Division, 23d Army Corps. Lieut. Col. Bond, of the 112th Illinois, commanded the brig- ade, with few temporary exceptions, until Col. Henderson's return from the North in the following January. During that time Major Dow commanded the regiment, and Capt. Dunn, the senior captain, acted as field officer of the regiment ; and until the 18th of November Lieut. Griffin commanded Co. D.
On the 22d of October the pickets of the 8th Michigan Cav- alry were attacked and an Orderly Sergeant killed and the
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A VARIETY OF MOVEMENTS.
rest of the pickets captured. Capt. Mitchell with Co. C, and part of Co. H in command of Lieut. Newman, proceeded on a scout, by way of Post Oak Springs, as far south as White Creek. No rebel troops were discovered on the west side of the river, but it was learned that a large force of rebels was moving through Athens toward Loudon.
At ten o'clock that night, after all the men, except the pick- ets and guards, had retired to rest, the bugle sounded "boots and saddles," in clear, ringing, emphatic tones, that every man understood to mean "business." The command was or- dered to move as quickly as possible, and in twenty minutes the column was on the road marching toward Loudon. The brigade marched all night, in darkness so dense it could al- most be cut ; and, without halting for breakfast, continued on, in the midst of a pouring rain-storm, until noon, when it ar- rived at Loudon. The rebels were reported in force at Phila- delphia, six miles below Loudon, and threatening the bridge and army stores at the latter place, hence the forced march to reinforce the troops already there.
Rosecrans was safely caged in Chattanooga, with the rebel army looking down from the heights of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, their sides bristling with artillery, threaten- ing destruction to the Union army; and accordingly Bragg had sent Longstreet, with a strong force, to drive Burnside back over the mountains into Kentucky, or compel him to sur- render. We made the acquaintance of Longstreet's advance on the 24th of October, and from that time until the following February, the 112th Illinois kept up an intimate,, if not a cor- dial, acquaintance with his troops.
Early on the morning of the 24th the brigade proceeded tow- ard Philadelphia ; met the rebel advance guard and drove it back upon their main column. Engaged in light skirmishing and reconnoitering all day, and returned to Loudon in the evening.
On Sunday, the 25th, Major Dow was directed to proceed to Philadelphia with the 112th Illinois and feel of the enemy, but not to bring on a general engagement, if possible to prevent it. The regiment drove in the enemy's pickets and skirmished until night and then retired to Loudon.
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HISTORY OF THE 112TH ILLINOIS.
Capt. Sroufe, with his own company, and Co. B, in com- mand of Capt. Gudgel, was directed to move out on the Mad- isonville road and ascertain the position of the enemy in that direction. He encountered the rebel pickets five miles from Philadelphia and attacked and drove them in. After skirm- ishing with the enemy as long as it was sate to do so, Capt. Sroufe withdrew his force and retired slowly to Loudon.
Three brigades of mounted troops, with three pieces of artil- lery, all in command of Gen. Saunders, moved from Loudon. at noon of the 26th, and marched to Philadelphia, for the pur- pose of developing the enemy's position and strength. Co. K, in command of Capt. E. H. Colcord, and Co. G, in command of Lieut. T. E. Milchrist, of the 112th, were thrown forward as skirmishers, and attacked and drove in the enemy's skirmish line. The rebels rallied and endeavored to recover the lost ground, but the K and G boys held the position, and sent them reeling back to their main line. The Union companies had the advantage of the long-range rifles, and while comparative- ly out of danger themselves-the rebel skirmishers being arm- ed with carbines-they poured a hot fire into the ranks of the enemy ; and for this reason they suffered no loss, while the rebels suffered severely.
The 9th Tennessee (rebel) regiment of mounted infantry, numbering four hundred men, occupied an advanced position on a hill, three miles below Philadelphia, on the enemy's right.
They were dismounted, their horses in rear, and were armed with rifles. The 8th Michigan cavalry charged up the hill and attempted to drive the rebels off, but were repulsed, with the loss of several men killed and wounded. Another cavalry reg- iment made the attempt, and that, too, was repulsed, with considerable loss, amid the cheers and jeers of thousands of rebel troops. Major Dow moved the 112th, left in front, around to the foot of the hill, right under fire, dismounted, leaving every fifth man to hold horses, formed in line in front of the horses, fixed bayonets, and the order was given to "Charge !"
Gen. Saunders rode along the line and said "Now, boys, ' show them what Illinoisans can do. I want you to take ' that hill."
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CHARGE AT PHILADELPHIA.
With cheers, and a shout of defiance at the rebels on the hill, the regiment moved steadily forward, without wavering, and rapidly ascended the hill. The enemy opened a rapid fire ; the air seemed full of whistling, "zipping" bullets, but, as us- ual with men on an elevated position firing down the hill, their balls passed harmlessly over our heads, and the regiment suff- ered but little loss. When the brow of the hill was reached the rebels were given one volley, and the regiment rushed for- ward at "charge bayonets." They could not stand the line of bristling bayonets, but broke and retreated in disorder down the opposite side of the hill. The Union troops, as well as the rebels, had witnessed the discomfiture of the cavalry regi- ments, and as the 112th gained the top of the hill, and the reb- els broke and ran like sheep, the Union soldiers made the wel- kin ring with cheer after cheer, and the 112th regiment was the hero of the day.
The casualties of the regiment were, one man killed-Tiras Starnes of Co. D-and six men wounded-Sergeant Major J. C. Baird, Joseph Dingman of Co. A, Corporal Andrew Harty of Co. F, Henry H. Firkins of Co. C, First Sergeant Henry Graves of Co. E, and Conrad E. Smith of Co. K.
But two hundred men of the regiment were present, and one- fifth of these held the horses, so that only one hundred and sixty men participated in the charge. The regiment lost heavily in horses, many being killed and wounded in line at the foot of the hill.
Eight prisoners, and fifty muskets, thrown away by the re- treating rebels, were captured. The rebels opened fire upon the regiment with artillery, and the 9th Tennessee rallied and attempted to recapture the hill, but they soon learned that the Illinoisans could hold a position as well as take it. Lieut. Griffin asked, and obtained, permission to deploy his company (D) and make a demonstration on the battery, and it being unsupported, he compelled it to limber up and seek a safer position.
The 112th was highly praised for its gallantry and good conduct on this occasion. Gen. Saunders sought Major Dow on the field, and personally thanked him, and complimented the officers and men for their coolness and steady bearing un-
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HISTORY OF THE 112TH ILLINOIS.
der fire ; and Lieut. Col. Wormer-temporarily in command of the brigade during Lieut. Col. Bond's illness-promulgated a congratulatory order, addressed "To the Officers and Soldiers of the 112th Regiment Illinois Mounted Infantry," thanking them for their bravery and brilliant conduct in making the charge. The command returned to Loudon at ten o'clock in the evening, and the 112th, with other regiments, lay all night in line of battle, on a range of hills south of the river.
Sergt. George W Buck of Co. C-on duty in the Quarter- master's Department-crossed the river on the 27th, with a forage train, guarded by Co. G, in command of Lieut. Mil- christ. They had not proceeded far when they were attacked by rebel cavalry. The rebels made several desperate attempts to capture the train, but Lieut. Milchrist and the Co. G boys repulsed every assault, and held them in check until the 45th Ohio came to their assistance, when they turned upon the en- einy and drove them beyond Philadelphia. They then return- ed to the train and brought it safely into camp, well loaded with forage.
The 9th Army Corps, under command of Gen. Potter, was encamped at Lenoir, six miles above Loudon. A division of infantry of the 23d Corps was at Loudon, and the other divis- ions were stationed at different points ; some near the Virginia line, northeast of Knoxville, operating against other portions of the rebel army.
Longstreet was pushing forward his infantry, threatening to cross the river above and below Loudon. His cavalry had ef- fected a crossing of the Little Tennessee east of Loudon, and were moving up the valley on the east side of the Holston. Under these circumstances the position at Loudon became untenable ; consequently the pontoons were removed from tlie river, and on the 28th of October the place was evacuated, and the Union troops retired to Lenoir. Guards were stationed at all the ferries and fords on the Tennessee and Holston rivers, and detachments were constantly engaged in scouting in the country on both sides of the two rivers and watching the move- ments of the enemy.
Capt. S. F Otman, with part of his own company (E), part of Co. H, in command of Lieut. Jesse Newman, and one com-
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TAMING A SUTLER.
pany of the 8th Michigan cavalry, was directed to guard the fords and ferries on the Holston, between Loudon and Louis- ville, a distance of about twenty miles, and to hold them until relieved or driven back by the enemy. In pursuance of the order, lie stationed Sergt. Solomon Dixon with twenty men of Co. E, at Park's Ferry : Sergt. John E. Gharrett with twelve men, at a ford in a bend of the river above ; and the remainder of the Co. E men at Low's Ferry, five miles above, where he made his head-quarters. Lieut. Newman and his company, and part of the 8th Michigan company-under a sergeant, were posted still further up the river, watching the ferries and fords in the vicinity of Louisville. Capt. Otman gave the offi- cer in charge of the several posts the same instructions he had received-to hold the position until relieved or driven back by the enemy.
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