USA > Illinois > History of the 112th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry, in the great war of the rebellion, 1862-1865 > Part 14
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"In advancing to the assault upon the Union pickets, Humphrey's skirmish line became entangled in an abattis, which fact McLaws at once reported to the commanding gen- eral, who replied curtly, through his adjutant general, that ' the feant of an attack is not the time to make discouraging reports.'
"About four o'clock a. m., General McLaws, accompanied by his staff, rode out to give personal supervision to the execu- tion of his orders for the assault upon the fort. He says : 'It was evident to me that the enemy were aware that one was in- tended, and I think it probable that they knew where it was to be made, for while I was talking with Colonel Ruff (command- ing Wofford's brigade) on the railroad, the enemy threw a shell which bursted over the woods, just in rear of us, through which his brigade was passing, assembling by regiments for the as- sault.'
"General Jenkins was ordered to advance a brigade a little
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HISTORY OF THE 112TH ILLINOIS.
later than the assaulting columns and to pass the enemy's lines north of the fort, and to continue the attack along the enemy's rear and flank. Two brigades of General Johnson's division, having arrived the day before, were ordered to move in the rear of General MeLaws, and at a convenient distance, to be thrown in as circumstances might require.
"The ground to the right of Fort Saunders descended irreg- ularly to the valley of Second Creek. A parapet of three or four feet in height ran from Fort Saunders to Temperance Hill, the most easterly portion of which, nearest Temperance Hill, was further protected by the high water of the creek.
"An open space of sufficient width for an assault existed be- tween Fort Saunders and the dam, over which troops could move at least as rapidly as over the ground in front of Fort Saunders. This was the point designated in instructions to General Jenkins for him to make his assault,. timing his movements by those of General MeLaws. Two of Jenkins' brigades, however, were still south of the Holston, where, in a fruitless assault upon Cameron's brigade on the 25th, they had lost over one hundred men.
"The garrison of Fort Saunders consisted of Lieutenant Benjamin s battery E, Second United States Artillery, with four twenty-pounder Parrot guns, and Capt. Buckley's battery D, First Rhode Island Artillery, four twelve-pounder Napole- ons, and two three-inc'i steel guns, part of the Seventy-ninth New York and part of the Second Michigan Infantry, making an aggregate of about two hundred and twenty men, all under command of First Lieutenant Samuel N. Benjamin, Second United States Artillery, Chief of Artillery Ninth Army Corps. Such were the men who were called upon to repulse one of the most desperate charges recorded in history "
General Poe gives the following description of Fort Saun- ders: "It is a bastioned earthwork built upon an irregular quadrilateral, the sides of which are respectively one hundred and twenty-five yards southern front, ninety-five yards western front, one hundred and twenty-five yards northern front, and eighty-five yards eastern front. The eastern front was entire- ly open and is to be closed with a stockade. The southern front was about half done; the western front finished with
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FORT SAUNDERS.
the exception of cutting the embrasures, and the northern front nearly finished. Each bastion was intended to have a pan coupe In front of the fort was a ditch twelve feet wide, and in many places as much as eight feet in depth. The ir- regularity of the site was such that the bastion angles were very heavy, the relief of the lightest one being twelve feet. The one attacked was thirteen feet, which, together with the depth of the ditch, say seven feet, made a height of twenty feet from the bottom of the ditch to the interior crest."
Fort Saunders was the salient of the line of works, and the bastion where the assault was made was the salient of the fort.
Wires were stretched from stump to stump, and around the outer edge of the deep ditch encircling the fort, to trip the reb- el soldiers as they approached our lines.
The 112th and other troops on the south side were aroused by the fierce cannonading and severe skirmishing along the lines on the north side, on the night of the 28th, and all sprang to their places in the line of earthworks ready for action; but no serious demonstration was made by the enemy south of the river. All night the Union troops stood guard, listening to the rebel artillery as it threw shot and shell against the lines of defense, and waiting anxiously for the morning, when they well knew the final struggle for the possession of Knoxville would commence.
At daybreak on the 29th, amid a terrific fire of artillery, the rebel columns advanced to the charge. From our position on the hills south of the river, we could see the solid gray mass, line after line, as they pressed forward to the assault. As they neared the fort the scene was veiled in a dense cloud of smoke, that no eye could penetrate ; but the sharp quick rattle of mus- ketry, the steady roar of artillery, and the bursting of shells were evidences of the terrible conflict being waged beneath that dark cloud. It was a terrible suspense. ['pon the successful defense of the fort depended the fate of the whole army. That in possession of the enemy. and we were at his mercy. Ere long a victorious cheer from the Union lines greeted our: listen- ing ears. The rebel columns were repulsed, with heavy loss, and sent, reeling, staggering, broken and shattered, back to their lines. The heavy cloud of smoke hfted from the field
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HISTORY OF THE 112TH ILLINOIS.
and revealed to our straining eyes a scene of carnage seldom witnessed even amid the horrors of war.
A captain of the 51st New York Volunteers, a staff officer in the 9th Corps, who was in the fort at the time. thus describes the assault :
"Across the railroad, up the gentle slope, and through the stumps they came, while our guns were making havoe among their ranks. On they came, never faltering, with that well known war yell ; the stumps that the wires were attached to are reached, and down they fall, amid charges of grape and canister, while the steady fire of the infantry from the adjoin- ing rifle-pits, although destructive, did not deter them from rushing forward. They filled the ditch, and every foot of ground showed evidence of their courage. Lighted shells with short fuses and hand grenades were thrown over in the ditch, and in another moment, through the smoke, we discovered an- other brigade, closed en masse, rushing on them with renewed vigor. Yells mingled with groans as they fell, and, unable to stand such a scorching fire, they broke and fled to the rear : the few who returned in safety were truly fortunate. One or two leaped the ditch, climbed the parapet, and planted their colors on the fort, but only for a moment, as they were instant- ly hauled in by our men. Such deeds of heroism are rarely recorded, and we could not help but admire their pluck as they were marched off as prisoners of war.
"Before the smell of powder and smoke had passed away, I, with a few others, passed out of the fort over the ditch on a plank, and looked on that sad scene of slaughter. Such a spectacle I never again want to witness! Men literally torn to pieces lay all around, some in the last throes of death, oth- ers groaning and their faces distorted under the extreme pains from their severe wounds. Arms and limbs, torn from their bodies, lay scattered around, while at every footstep we trod in pools of blood. The ground also was strewn with split guns, bayonets and equipments, not to speak of hats and boots. Over a hundred dead bodles were taken from the ditch alone, while the vast number of the wounded were being carefully carried within our lines, to receive the best care in our hospit- als ; as they passed by us on stretchers their moanings were
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FIVE HOURS TRUCE.
pitiful to hear. Three hundred prisoners fell into our hands, representing eleven regiments, and it was evident to us that the enemy had met with a fearful loss, while ours was com. paratively slight."
Truly, "Nothing except a battle lost can be half so melan- choly as a battle won."
One Confederate officer, Col. MeIlroy, gained the parapet with his flag, but was immediately killed; and a Sergeant Ma- jor managed, in some way, to crawl through an embrasure, and was in the act of spiking a gun when he was arrested. Such bravery is worthy of a better cause than fighting against one's own government ; but, thank God, the brave men of both sides are now united, and ready to peril their lives if necessa- ry, in defense of a common country, under one flag-the glo- rious stars and stripes.
Pollard, the Confederate historian, says Longstreet lost sev- en hundred men, in killed, wounded and prisoners, in compar- atively an instant of time. In fact his loss was about one thou- sand, of whom more than one-half were killed and wounded.
At 12 o'clock the Confederate commander asked, and was granted, a truce of five hours to bury his dead, and for two hours Union and rebel soldiers mingled together upon friendly terms, between the lines; the former assisting in burying those whom but a few hours before, in obedience to the stern demands of duty. they had deliberately slain.
The wounded prisoners on both sides were exchanged ; and among those brought in by the rebels, were Thomas J. Atwa- ter, of Co. C, who returned to our lines minus a leg, and Alex- ander Beath and Eben G. Woodward, of Co. D, of the 112th Illinois, all of whom had been wounded and captured on the 18th of November. We also heard from Lieut. Griffin and other prisoners-learned of their capture-as it had not been known until this time whether they had been captured or kill- ed. They had been reported as "missing in action"-an un- certain fate, of deep suspense and great anxiety to their sur- viving comrades.
At five o'clock the signal gun in Fort Saunders gave notice that the truce was ended, and the blue and gray separated, re-
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HISTORY OF THE 112TH ILLINOIS.
turned to their places, and the lines resumed their wonted at- titude of hostility
All was quiet on the 30th. In the afternoon we learned of the glorious victory of Gen Grant ; and every man felt doubly repaid for the hardships and suffering he had endured, as it had contributed to the success of our arms at Chattanooga.
On the first day of December, Gen. Burnside officially an- nounced to the army the result of the battle at Chattanooga, in General Field Orders No. 33; and he congratulated the Ar- my of the Ohio on its successful defense of the city of Knox- ville, and thanked officers and men for their uniform good conduct, patience and endurance.
During the day two deserters from Longstreet's army came into our lines. They reported that the rebel army was pre- paring for some kind of movement, but whether in retreat or attack they did not know.
It was also reported that Longstreet had been reinforced ; but in fact the only forces that had joined him were outlying detachments that had been driven in by the advancing forces of Sherman and Granger, coming from the south, and of Gen. Foster coming from Kentucky, by way of Cumberland Gap, to relieve the garrison.
On the 2nd of December there was but little skirmishing along the lines, and no indications of another attack. During the night there was considerable artillery firing; but the next day all was quiet again.
In the meantime Gen. Sherman, with his own and Grang- er's corps, was hastening to our relief. At Philadelphia, on the night of December 2nd, he directed Col. Long, command- ing a brigade of cavalry, to select the best material of his com- mand, start at once, ford the Little Tennessee, and push into Knoxville at whatever cost of life and horse-flesh. It was all important that Gen. Burnside should have notice of approach- ing succor. The rebels had destroyed all the bridges, and the infantry and artillery necessarily moved slowly. The roads were bad, and the distance to Knoxville was over forty miles. Sherman feared that Burnside would not hold out until the infantry arrived, and pushed Col. Long ahead with notice of his approach.
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RELIEF FROM SHERMAN'S ARMY.
Col. Long marched by way of Marysville, and arrived at Knoxville, on the south side of the oiver, at 2:30 on the morn- ing of December 4th. The author was in command of the picket that night, on the Marysville road. As the guards lay on the ground at the reserve, about two o'clock, they heard the tramp of approaching cavalry at a distance. Were they friends or enemies ? was the question. Hastening to the vedette post, the officer of the guard took one or two men and went down the road to reconnoiter. They soon came in sight of the cav- alry, and by the bright moonlight could distinguish the blue uniform. It was not safe, however, to depend upon the color, for many rebel cavalrymen wore the Union blue. As they ap- proached nearer they were halted. "Who comes there ?" "The advance guard of Col. Long's brigade of cavalry, from Gen. Sherman's army," was the reply. Before the officer in com- mand of the advance guard had spoken three words, we knew they were friends. Rebel soldiers frequently disguised them- selves in Federal uniforms, and at a little distance easily de- ceived Union soldiers. But they could not disguise their speech. One could also distinguish a rebel from a Union sol- dier, in the same uniform, even by the cut of his hair.
Col. Long's cavalry moved inside the Union lines and biv- ouacked on the flats in front of "Bond's Hill."
On the 4th Gen. Burnside informed Gen. Sherman, by mes- senger, of Col. Long's arrival, and there were signs of a speedy departure of the rebel army
During the night of the 4th Longstreet's army folded its tents and retreated on the Rutledge, Rodgersville and Bristol roads, toward Virginia, and Gen. Burnside's cavalry and mounted infantry, among which was the 112th Illinois, were on the rebels' heels. They received orders in the evening of the 4th to prepare to move, and at 8 o'clock on the morning of the 5thi were in pursuit of the retreating Confederate forces. Gen. Granger's corps moved into Knoxville, and Gen. Burn- side's army moved out ; and Gen. Sherman, with his own com- mand, returned soutlı.
The siege was ended. The intelligence of Bragg's defeat, and the arrival of Col. Long as the forerunner of Sherman's troops marching to the relief of the besieged garrison, liad
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HISTORY OF THE 112TH ILLINOIS.
warned Longstreet to move quickly, and he had taken the on- ly line open to him.
The siege of Knoxville commenced on the 19th of Novem- ber, and continued to, and including, the 4th of December-a period of sixteen days, not six weeks as some writers have stated; although sixteen days of sleepless anxiety and sus- pense, on one-fourth rations-our little army of twelve thou- sand men confronted by a force of nearly three times its num- bers-sixteen days under such circumstances was long enough , and it is no wonder that it seems to some of the besieged soldiers to have been six weeks, or even six months.
CHAPTER XIV
IN PURSUIT OF LONGSTREET. SCOUTING AND SKIRMISHING-THE 112TH DISMOUNTED. MARCH TO MT. STERLING, KY. REORGANIZATION OF THE BRIGADE.
The 112th Illinois and the 8th Michigan cavalry now consti- tuted the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry Corps of the Ar- my of the Ohio.
Major Dow was still in command of the regiment, and Lieut. Col. Bond commanded the brigade, and Col. Wolford the di- vision. The column marched eight miles on the Rutledge road, on the 5th of December, and camped for the night in the woods. A considerable number of prisoners were captured, mostly stragglers, many of whom seemed glad of an opportun- ity to visit Knoxville, even as prisoners of war.
The Union forces on other roads moved slowly, and Col. Wolford was directed to govern the movements of the division accordingly, and not advance beyond them. The command was ready to move at 8 o'clock on the morning of the 6th, but did not move until ten.
The rebels had a strong rear guard, and orders were given not to attack, but to press them slowly and cautiously. March- ed about four miles and captured fifty prisoners. Co. C, of the 112th Illinois, while on picket at night, captured twenty- four prisoners and thirteen horses. On the 7th advanced three miles, and lay in line of battle in the woods until dark, and then moved forward two miles and bivouacked on Flat
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HISTORY OF THE 112TH ILLINOIS.
Creek. Reveille at 4 o'clock on the morning of the 8th, and moved at seven. Marched fifteen miles and camped within one mile of Rutledge -- the county seat of Granger county --- thirty-two miles from Knoxville. This day's march was over a rough, rocky, poor and dilapidated country, along the foot of the Clinch Mountains. There were few men in the country, and the women were intensely rebel, and boastel of their hes- tility to the Union. They were as ignorant as plantation slaves, and so homely that they were actually repulsive. The weather was cold, raw and windy. The country. the people and the weather were alike miserable and disagreeable.
Reveille at 4 o clock on the morning of the 9th, and moved at seven. Pushed the rebels hard, and captured a large num- ber of prisoners. Arrived at Bean's Station-forty-nine miles from Knoxville -- at two o'clock in the afternoon, and the 112th Illinois was imme liately ordered out on a reconnoissance. Proceeded out five miles, captured nine prisoners and returned to Bean's Station in the evening. The main rebel force was reported to be moving on the Morristown road. Forage for horses was plenty, but the men were suffering with hunger. Roads were impassable for wagons, and consequently no sup- plies were received after leaving Knoxville.
Remained in camp and rested on the tenth. Scouts report- ed the enemy in force within eight miles, on the Rodgersville road.
An inspection was had at one o'clock, after which Col. Wol- ford made a speech to the 112th in relation to Gen. Burnside's management of the campaign in East Tennessee-he having announced his intention of retiring from the command of the department as soon as his successor should be appointed. Col. Wolford spoke highly of Gen. Burnside, both as an officer and as a man, and regretted his resignation-sentiments which were heartily approved by the officers and men of the 112th Illinois.
A meeting of all'the officers of the cavalry corps was held at Gen. Shackleford's head quarters in?the evening. and resolu- tions of confidence and respect were unanimously adopted, and several speeches made, higlily eulogistic of Gen. Burnside, which were heartily endorsed by all present.
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IN PURSUIT OF THE REBELS.
Another brigade of cavalry engaged the enemy on the Mor- ristown road, on the 11th, and the 112th Illinois and the 7th Illinois battery were ordered to its support. They reached the river, five miles from Bean's Station, when the order was countermanded and they returned to camp. Lieut. Col. Bond was directed to move out on the Rodgersville road with his brigade on the 12tl, and reconnoiter the enemy's position. He found a force of rebels of one thousand strong, posted sev- en miles from Bean's Station, and attacked and drove in their pickets. He was instructed not to bring on an engagement, and after developing the enemy's strength and position, re- turned to camp at four o'clock.
Neither men nor horses on the Union side were in condition to fight or march. They had not recovered from their long fast in Knoxville. Our lines of communication had not been reestablished, and the subsistence afforded by the country over which Longstreet's army had passed was small in quantity and poor in quality. Some forage had been found for the horses, but rations for the men were painfully scarce. The prospect of obtaining supplies from over the mountains in mid- winter was not extremely flattering. It would tax the supply trains to their utmost capacity to furnish the whole army with clothing, and the infantry with food. Under these circum- stances it was absolutely necessary that the cavalry should subsist upon the country ; and while men and horses were half- starved, and were engaged in scouring the country for sufficient food to keep themselves alive, it was not deemed safe to bring on a general engagement with the enemy. If the rebel army would move on and permit us to occupy the country, it was all that was asked, but we could not safely make an attack when defeat might result in destruction.
On the 13th the rebels attacked our forage trains and drove them in. Not content with that they attacked the Union pick- ets, and after a severe skirmish drove them in. The com- mand turned out on a double quick and drove the rebel force back five miles, and returned to camp at dark.
Quite a number of the 112th men who had been captured in Kentucky and on the Saunders raid into East Tennessee, the previous summer, having been exchanged, rejoined the reg-
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HISTORY OF THE 112TH ILLINOIS.
iment on the 14th. They came over the mountains from Ken- tucky with a train, and with them came a mail from home- the first we had received for more than a month. All were busily engaged far into the night in reading letters from the loved ones at home -- some with troubled faces as they learned for the first time of sickness or death in the family circle at home, others with gladness as they perused tender missives from wives or sweethearts.
On the morning of the 14th scouts were sent out, and re- ported that no force of the enemy was nearer than Rock Springs. Co. K of the 112th, under command of Capt. Col- cord, was on picket in front of the 2nd Brigade. Everybody was engaged in writing letters, feeling secure from attack, when, about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, a strong rebel force suddenly appeared and made an unexpected and fierce attack upon the pickets. The rebel advance wore blue overcoats, and rode up to the vedettes without exciting suspicion, the guards supposing them to be Union soldiers. On being halted the re- bels opened fire and at once rushed upon the pickets. Capt. Coleord was directed to hold them in check as long as possible, and did so, successfully repulsing every attack, until columns of rebel infantry threatened his Hanks, when he fell back across a creck and burnt the bridge. The rebel cavalry swam the creek, however, and continued to advance. In the meantime the Union forces turned out on double-quick and were rapidly placed in position, the 112th Illinois in front, deployed as skirmishers, dismounted, and Capt. Colcord fell back slowly to its lines. Capt. Colcord received several orders from Gen. Burnside to hold the enemy in check until he could get his forces in position ; and he personally complimented the Cap- ain for the admirable manner in which he had performed the luty
The rebels advanced in heavy force, and the Union line retir- ed slowly, skirmishing all the way, about three miles. It was now dark and the 112th was ordered to hold its position at all hazards until morning. This it did, without being disturbed, until 8 o'clock on the morning of the 15th, when the rebels again advanced to the attack ; but they were held in check un- til the infantry obtained a good position, when the regiment
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HELD IN CHECK.
was relieved and retired within the infantry lines. At seven o'clock in the evening the whole command fell back to Rnt- ledge, where it arrived at one o'clock in the morning of the 16th ; and at seven o clock again tell back, closely pursued by the enemy, and constantly engaged in heavy skirmishing, to Blaine s Cross Roads. Here a halt was called and prepara- tions made to fight, but nothing beyond heavy skirmishing oc- curred. At dark the Union force was again put in motion, and marched four miles toward Strawberry Plains, to Stone's Mills, where it arrived late at night, in a heavy rain storm, cold, wet, weary and hungry-having had but one meal, and that a light one, in forty-eight hours.
A flouring mill full of wheat, on Highland Creek, was taken possession of by the 1st Division, and Serg. C. B. Hunt, with a guard from Co. I, of the 112th, was placed in charge. Berg. Lincoln S. Baugh, of Co. C, was installed as chief miller, and soon the division was supplied with flour. The mill with the wheat in store was considered a great prize. Gen. Spears dis- covered what was going on, and ordered Serg. Hunt to leave the mill at once. Serg. Hunt informed him that he was there by order of Col. Wolford, his division commander, and refused to vacate. Gen. Spears then sent a captain with a company of infantry to take possession of the mill, but the boys locked and barricaded the doors and refused to admit them. The captain then ordered them all under arrest, but, in the meantime, Serg. Hunt had informed Col Wolford of the situation, and he had theni released, and they retained the mill. The rebels al- so discovered the mill and opened fire upon it with a battery and endeavored to shell the boys out, but our Indiana battery wheeled into position and soon silenced their guns.
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