USA > Illinois > History of the 112th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry, in the great war of the rebellion, 1862-1865 > Part 5
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HISTORY OF THE 112TH ILLINOIS.
clined to take any, but said he would accept a "chaw o'terbac- cah," as he had been without for a long time. He was reward- ed with a large plug, and was happier than a small boy with his first pair of boots. He had never owned a "nigger," and, although a land-owner, was classed among the "poor white trash."
July 8th, the detachment was ordered to join the regiment at Somerset. The troops had all left except the 112th Illinois, and at noon the regiment marched, and on the 10th , oine l the brigide at Stanford.
Jolin Morgan had commenced his famous raid north, had capture 1 Lebanon, after a severe fight, on the 5th, and was now moving rapidly toward the Ohio. Portions of our army were pursuing him closely. and our command was ordered back to guard the blue grass country against other rebel raid-, ing parties seeking to make a diversion in favor of Morgan.
The 32d Ky. regiment had been o dered to guard the wag n train by way of Crib Orchard, on the pike, but instead had turned off the road and passed through Hall's Gap in'o the valley, and gone into camp about six miles below Stanford, leaving the train unprotected ; and the commander of the re- giment reported that bands of rebel cavalry were following him closely and threatening to attack him. Gen. Carter ordered Lieut. Thompson, of the 112th Illinois, to take twenty men and proceed to Hall's Gap and hold it at all hazards, and to inform the commanding officer of the 32d Kentucky that his orders were to protect that regiment against attack. The message was faithfully delivered, but there was a terrific blaze of blue lightning in that vicinity. about that time, that would have been dangerous to Gen. Car'er ha ! he been with in range. Hall's Gap is a narrow pass in the range of hil's bordering the blue grass region, and affords a magnificent view of coui try as far as the eye can extend.
In the night of the 10th the wagon train was attacked near Crab .Orchard, and fifty wagons and their conten s ve e burn- ed-tie work, probably, of Kentucky guerri lis. The 112th Il inois and 45th Ohio were ordered to Crab Orchard, but ar- rived too late to save the train, and returned to Stanford, an l the next day ma ched to Danville.
55
DETACHMENT SERVICE.
The detail at Hall's Gap was joined by a company of the 45th Ohio, the next morning, and the two were ordered to scout toward Somerset as far as Waynesburg, which they did witli- out finding any rebels, and returned to Stanford the same day, and the next guarded a body of rebel prisoners to Danville, and rejoined the regiment.
On the 11th of July, Capt. Wright with companies F and I, in command of Lieut. Armstrong and Capt. Wilkins, respect- ively. was or lered to return to Stigli's Ferry, on the Cum - berland River, with a train of wagons, to destroy all boats on the river, and obtain some pontoons left at the river ; arrived there on the 13th of July. On the 14th a detail was sent to Newell's Ferry to destroy a boat, while the rest of the detach- ment loaded the pontoons, and then proceeded to Danville.
Immediately upon the arrival of the regiment at Danville, companies E and G. under command of Capt. Otman and Lieut. Milchrist, were ordered to Harrodsburg, to capture, if possible, two companies of Morgan's command which had left the main body of his troops while on the way to Indiana and Ohio on his famous raid, and being unable to rejoin his force had disbanded, and were attempting to get through the Union lines into the Confederacy Capt. Otman was fortunate in his search, and found and captured one lieutenant, thirty-one men and sixty-one horses. His command being mounted, and hav- ing this additional number of horses to feed, it required a large quantity of forage for the two weeks they remained there. Ex- Gov. Magoffin resided there and owned a farm adjoining town, on which was a large field of oats, just harvested and in the shock, upon which the soldiers levied without ceremony, and fed the same to the horses.
The boys had not forgotten the famous proclamation issued by the governor in 1861, in which he declared that "Kentucky was neutral territory, and neither hostile army should cross her borders." And they recollected his reply to President Lin- coln's first call for troops, that "Kentucky would furnish no troops for the purpose of subduing her sister States of the South." And they remembered that Gov. Magoffin had en- deavored to preserve a position of "belligerant neutrality" only for the purpose of turning his State over to the Confederacy as
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HISTORY OF THE 112TH ILLINOIS.
soon as the South should become strong enough to keep it ; and they rightfully believed that he was a secessionist, and that, in taking his oats, they were simply compelling a rebel to contribute of his means toward paying the expenses of the war for the maintenance of the Union.
When Capt. Otman received orders to return to Danville, a receipt was made out and tendered to the ex-governor for the oats consumed, containing a proviso, however, that his loyalty was to be proven before any voucher should be issued to him. This so enraged him that he tore if up and threw the pieces upon the floor and stamped upon them. He was informed that that was the only voucher he would ever receive ; but his claim has undoubtedly been presented against the government and paid long before this time.
The detachment remained at Harro Isburg until July 27th, scouring the country for bands of rebels : and rejoined the re- giment at Danville just in time to participate in the chase af ter Scott. The only casualty at Harrodsburg was one man, Sylvester H. Stofer, wounded.
The expedition into East Tennessee reached Lancaster, on its return, on the 30th of June, and after a few days rest pro- corded to Camp Nelson. Here on the 7th of July Capt. Dunn, with five officers and one hundred and twenty-nine men of the 112th Illinois, were ordered to accompany Major Ellis, of the Ist East Tennessee to belanon, and the remainder of the Tennessee raiding detachment rejoined the regiment at Dan- ville
Capt. Dunn and his detachment were absent until the 10th of August, when they rejoined the regiment at Stanford. The following report of their operations, made by Capt, Dunn, will show the nature of the service they performe.l.
HEADQUARTERS 112TH REGT. ILL., VOLS., Stanford, Ky., Aug. 11, 1863.
COLONEL .-
Allow me a brief report of the operations of the detachment place l under my conmand by Major T. T, Dow, 112th Illinois, and ordered by Col. R. K. Byrd, 1st East Ten- nessee Mounted Infantry, to accompany Major Jolin Ellis, same regiment, from Hickman Bridge, or "Camp Nelson," to
57
CAPT. DUNN'S REPORT.
Lebanon, Ky., on the 7th of July. The detachment number- ed, as stated by Major Dow, one hundred and twenty nine men. Capt. McCartney, Co. G, Lieut. Griffin, Co. D. Lieut. Brown, Co. E, Lieut Petrie, Co. C, and Lieut. Newman, Co. H, accom- panied the expedition. We reached Lebanon the next day, about 10 o'clock, and went into camp. Soon after, some of the boys ascertained that a large number of damaged arms were stored in a building in town, which, through the kindness of the commanding officer, they were allowed to examine for the purpose of putting together whole parts, so as to get a bet- ter arm than their own, which was the old Harper's Ferry musket. The examination and refitting lasted for parts of two or three days. On the 9th, Henry J Roberts, of Co. C, fired a loaded gun, the muzzle immediately upon a considerable quan- tity of powder which was scattered about the floor, all of which, of course, at once exploded, fatally burning himself and Wil- liam Herridge, of Co. E-he lived until the third day, and Her- ridge lingered several days longer. Other parties were in the room, but escaped without notable injury.
On the 13th I went, with a part of my command, on a scout, with a detachment from the 1st East Tennessee, and the 1st Kentucky Cavalry, the whole under command of Major Ellis in person. We returne I to camp a little before day on the 14th, without observable results.
On the 14th Col. O. H. Moore, 25th Michigan, commanding the Post, directel Major Ellis to send a scout of thirty men, with directions to proceed as far as Green River Bridge, and parole such wounded prisoners as had not been paroled, and make such discoveries and arrests as opportunities offered. The order was sent to me for the scouts, when I directed Capt. McCartney to report with the men. He proceeded promptly to headquarters, received his orders and was on the road at once. A few wounded prisoners were paroled, and he arrested and sent up to Col. Moore one deserter from the 13th Kentucky.
On the 15th I was ordered by Major Ellis, under directions .from Col. Moore, to proceed with my command to Columbia, Adair county, Ky., requiring Capt. McCartney, whom I should meet on the road, to join me there.
We reached Columbia about noon on the 16th. My orders
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HISTORY OF THE 112TH ILLINOIS,
were to thoroughly scout the roads leading into Columbia, and ascertain if possible the whereabouts and strength of any force of the enemy that might be in the vicinity
Learning immediately after my arrival that Robert Cross, a prominent citizen of Burksville, was recruiting a company for the Confederate service within our lines, I obtained two guides, both belonging to the 1st Kentucky Cavalry, and proceeded, at 6 o'clock in the evening with twenty-two men, to Burksville, reached that place-twenty-eight miles distant-just before day, the 17th, and searched a house in which Cross was sup- posed to be, but without finding him. It was known that he frequently slept in a house just across the Cumberland, and in plain sight of the ferry. Against the advice of my princi- pal guide I determined to cross the river and search that house, before searching the town-which search the guides proposed I should first make. Upon reaching the river the canoe and flat boat were on the opposite side. The guide referred to, Joseph D Bordon, immediately doffed his clothing and swam the river, got into the canoe and brought it over, three of my men returning in it, and bringing over the flat boat. By this time it was broad daylight, though a little foggy, and we could be plainly seen from the house we had our eyes on. I crossed the river with a dozen men, and hurrying up the hill entered the house, and found the object of my search, and also Lieut. Tyrrell, of Morgan s command, and two men, sound asleep. One was wounded in a recent fight and I paroled him. The others were hurried across the river and carefully guarded, while I sent out a party to capture a few rebel soldiers a mile and a half out of town. None were found, however. I should have stated that I threw out pickets on every outlet from town as soon as we entered it.
We set out for camp at 11 o'clock in the forenoon, reaching it before dark, after a hard ride. The man whom I suspected of being a new recruit, but had not the evidence against, took the oath of allegiance, when I discharged him.
The others were sent up to Col. Moore, at Lebanon, on the 19th of July.
Finding no organized force north of the Cumberland, I took the responsibility of crossing the river on two other occasions
59
CAPT. DUNN'S REPORT.
-- scouting on the 19th and 20th as far as Albany, Clinton Co. Kentucky, but without results, save impressing the scattered rebels infecting that region with the idea that a strong reserve was on the north side of the river at no considerable distance. Lieut. Petrie and thirty men accompanied me. I was advised, however, that it was unsafe to cross with less than sixty men. On the 19th Cap". MaCartney comman lel a party of twenty- five men on a : cous, accompanied by Lieut. Newman, hoping to intercept rebel soldiers stiaggling singly and in squads, who had been cut off from Morgan's force while passing through the state. He returned, after tvo days absence, without find- ing any stragglers. Lient. Brown was sent up with the pris- one:s, as I did not feel safe in trusting Cross with an ordinary guard. Lieut. Griffin remained in camp.
On the 23d Is ar ed with sixty men, with Lieut. Griffin and Lieut. Petrie, on an expedition into Overton county, Tennes- see, taking with me three competent guides, and crossing the Cumberland nine mile; below Burksville. We returned after a i absence of four days, having captured one captain and four privates in Tennessee, and two soldiers and three refugees from the conscription, after we recrossed the river. The refu- gees were vouched for and were not detained. The five pris- oners taken in Tennessee were paroled; the captain- Quirks of Morgan's command-was wounded in the fight at " darrow- bone," and a private was sick. I did not wish to be encumber- ed with prisoners, as I anticipated trouble with a force under Col. Hughes, who was reported to be in the vicinity, but with who n I did not fall in. The other two were sent up to Col. Moore, at Lebanon, as also were two who surren lere I them- selves to me in camp. Three other Tennesseeaus surrendered themselves. subscribed the oath of allegiance, and were dis- charged. My operations required my little command to spend entire nights in the saddle.
I am indeb'ed to Cap. McCartney and the lieutenants who were with me, for prompt and efficient assistance in carrying o it my instructions. Among them was an order, just before e ection day. to proceed with my command to Burksville, to protect the citizens on that day from violence threatened by the rebels. That movement was made, but no disturbance
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HISTORY OF THE 112TH ILLINOIS.
took place. I cannot speak too highly of the promptness and alacrity with which all the men performed the fatiguing duties assigned to them, nor of their exceedingly orderk and soldier- ly conduct ("gentlemanly conduct," the citizens denominated it), for which, indeed, they received-and I am happy to note the fact-the unbounded commendation of the citizens through an extent of country fifty miles in diameter.
Under an order trom Col. Moore, on the 8th of August, we returned to the regiment, reaching it here on the 10th,-the command numbering eighty-two men, some having joined the regiment, and ten men who had been detailed to guard the polls at Greensburg, Ky., not having returned with it.
Very Resp'y, your Ob't. Serv't, A. A. DUNN, Capt. Commanding Scouts.
To Col. Thomas J. Henderson, Commanding 112th Reg. Ills. Vols.
CHAPTER VII.
THE FIGHT AT RICHMOND-THE SCOTT RAID-AN EXCITING CHASE.
On Sunday, the 26th of July, five companies of the 112th Il- linois, and details from other companies, making a total of one hundred and eighty men of the regiment, in command of Capt. G. W Sroufe, and details from other regiments in the brigade, all in command of Major Dow, with two hundred aud seventy men from the 10th and 14th Kentucky regiments, the whole detachment under the command of Col. Saunders, marched at night from Danville to Richmond-thirty-five miles-arriving there at 8 o'clock the next morning. The de- tachment went into camp and remained there that day. The rebels had driven Col. Gilbert out of London, and were ad- vancing toward Richmond. A strong picket was thrown out about two miles on the London road, and after night brought in to the outskirts of town. The rebels surrounded the sup- posed picket post in the night, expecting to capture the out- post and surprise the force in town, but when they sprung the trap the game was not there.
At daylight the next morning (28th) the pickets were attack- ed on all sides of the town, and it was not long until large bod- ies of rebel cavalry were in position commanding every road. They opened upon the Union troops with artillery, and for an hour and a half poured shells and solid shot into their ranks, but, being scattered in small bodies, our forces suffered but little loss. In the meantime the rebel lines were drawn closer and closer, and soon our troops found themselves completely surrounded by more than 1,500 of the enemy. under command of Pegram and Scott. The air was filled with clouds of dust,
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HISTORY OF THE 112TH ILLINOIS.
and the men were covered with it so thickly that it was diffi- cult to distinguish friend from foe. Capt. Sroufe was in a corn field with part of his command, and seeing a squad of men on the other side of the fence, two rods away, whom he supposed to be Union soldiers, called out to them : "Here, boys, come in here !" and received in reply a volley from rebel carbines. Lieut. Davenport, with his company (H), in changing posi- tion, rode right up to the rebel lines, and seeing their mistake wheeled and rode away, followed by a volley as soon as the re- bels discovered their own mistake-they at first supposing them to belong to their own forces. There was but one way to get out of there, and that was to mass the Union forces quick- ly at a point where the rebel line was weakest, and with a dash and a yell cut their way through. Capt. Colcord, with his company (K), was the last to come in from his position and join the column forming for that purpose, and they were at first mistaken for rebels and came near being fired into.
Capt. Lee, with his company (A), was at one time complete- ly surrounded, and the rebels yelled with satisfaction as they demanded his surrender, but he cut his way out and joined the main column. When all was ready, Col. Saunders gave the command to "charge !" and plunging spurs into their horses sides, away they went, like a whirlwind, through the rebel lines, shooting right and left and yelling at the top of their voices. They were closely pursued by the rebels ; but as the latter were by this time nearly out of ammunition for their carbines and could only use their revolvers, the Union forces escaped with but little loss, and made their way to Lexington, where they were joined the next day by the 112 h Idinois and other Union troops. The whole loss of the detachment was ten men killed, and about twenty-five wounded and captured. A number who were cut off and supposed to have been cap- tured succeeded in eluding the rebels, and rejoining their com- mands.
The casualties of the 112thi Illinois were as follows :
Co. C .- Allen Woods, severely wounded; Emanuel C. Bet- chel, wounded and captured ; John M. Henderson, foot broken and severely injured by fall of horse, and captured; and John
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CAPTURED AND WOUNDED.
F Barney, Wesley Crigler, Noah Hampton, George Kelton and William F Smith, captured.
Co. H .- Serg. John H. Matthews, captured.
Co. K .- James Ague, Joseph Clough, John M. Blade and Delos Taylor, wounded ; and Lewis H. Detterman, Oran In- gram and Gunne Opplecust, captured,
Co. G .- Serg. Eli H. Manek, John S. Hite, Hiram W Hub- bard and William O. Shurtleff, captured.
The captured men were paroled on the ground ; but the pa- roles were not recognized by the government, and the depart- ment commander, by general order, directed all these men, and others coming within the rule laid down, to report to their respective commands for duty and the 112th Illinois men at once joined the regiment.
The Co. G men were captured about two miles north of Richmond. A company of the 10th Kentucky cavalry was rear guard, and running out of ammunition was unable to hold the rebels in check. Lieut. Spaulding directed Serg. Mauck and three men to take down the tence, so he could move the com- pany into position in a field to check the rebel advance.
As they were removing the tence, the rebels made a charge and the company was swept down the road. leaving the dis- mounted men surrounded by the enemy. They were sent to the rear without a guard, and being covered with dust tell in with another advancing rebel force, without being recognized, and joined with them in making a charge upon our lines, hop- ing by that means to make their escape. They were recogniz- el, however, by Col. Scott and orderel back.
Serg. Mauck again attempted to reach the front, but he was again recognized by Scott, who drew his revolver and threat- ened to blow Mauck's head off if he did not go to the rear and stay there. They were then dismonnted, and marched back to town and paroled.
August T. Sniggs, ot Co. H, was also cut off and surrounded by rebels, who commanded him to surrender, but he ran into a corn field and concealed himself and made his escape.
While at Danville the 1st and 2nd East Tennessee regiments ot mounted infantry were added to the brigade ; and the 112th exchanged its old Harper's Ferry muskets for new Enfield ri-
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HISTORY OF THE 112TH ILLINOIS.
fles. The rifles arrived in the night of July 26th, and orders were given to draw and issue them instanter, and be ready to move, with five days rations at a moments notice.
The men turned out of their tents ; the new arms and accou- trements were distributed, the old packed in boxes ready for shipment, rations prepared and everything got in readiness for an immediate movement ; but the day passed and no or- der to march was given. Information was wanted as to the movements of the rebels, and finally it came. At 4 o'clock Tuesday afternoon (the 28th), the command was given to move at once ; and leaving one hundred men in camp in command of Capt. J. C. Dickerson (who was unable to ride on account of an injury received in a tussle with a mule) the 112th Illinois with the hrigade, marched for Lexington, and arrived there at 2 o'clock the following morning, and after resting two hours, was ordered to saddle up and be ready to move in five minutes, but did not start until in the afternoon. The detach- ment from Richmond joined the reghnent here ; and informa- tion having been received that the rebels were at Winchester, the 112th Illinois, 10th and 14th Kentucky. 2nd East Tennes- see regiments, and a battalion of the 5th East Tennessee, (a new organization half formed. made up of Union refugees from Tennessee) -- all mounted, -- and the 2nd Ohio battery, Col. Saunders in command, at 3 o'clock, started after them, arriv- ing at Winchester at 8 o'clock the same evening.
The Union advance guard here came upon the rebel rear guard and captured eight or ten of them. At Winchester the command left the turnpike, and struck into the hills, over rough and stony roads, through ravines and across streams, in the midst of a terrible thunder shower which continued un- til daylight. The force of rebels under Scott had taken this route, hoping to elude the Union troops and make their escape from the State ; but Col. Saunders, who commanded this de- tachment of Union troops, was determined to punish Scott for driving him out of Richmond two days before.
The Union troops marched all night and overtook the rebel column at 8 o'clock the next morning, at a little place called Vienna. The rebels attempted to make a stand here, but, af- ter a sharp skirmish, broke and retreated rapidly toward Ir-
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ON THE MOVE.
vine, on the Kentucky River, followed closely by the Union forces. Arrived at Irvine at noon. Here the rebels again formed a line and showed fight; but after a severe skirmislı, lasting about two hours, the battery was brought up and open- ed on them, and at the same time the Union troops charged upon their line, and they gave way and retreated towards Lan- caster.
Up to this time the Union column had made but one halt exceeding thirty minutes since leaving Lexington, and that was at Vienna while engaged in a skirmish. Frequent halts of a few minutes each had been made, and during these the men had fed their horses corn, which had been found in the country, picked up the uneaten ears when the bugle sounded the advance, and carrying them until another halt was made, and then feeding again; and in that manner the horses had fared very well for food. But both men and horses needed a little rest, so the command halted at Irvine to take breath, and feed the horses some hay which was found there.
When the column left the turnpike at Winchester and struck the "knobs" the wagon train, containing rations and feed for the horses, was left in the rear, and the men now had only two crackers each (many not any), and a very small piece of very dirty, greasy meat. This was their first "square meal" since leaving Lexington, and after eating that, the order was given to mount and away again in pursuit of the flying rebels.
Again the column moved-marched the remainder of the day and all night-the advance guard engaged in a continual skirmish with the rebel rear guard-until daylight, when the main rebel force was discovered a short distance ahead at "Big Hill." A temporary halt was made to close up the ranks and get into line, and then the Union troops spurred their horses into a run and rode straight forward toward the rebel liue, yell- ing like demons, and firing guns and revolvers as they advanc- ed. The rebels fired one volley and then broke and ran. From this point the chase became exciting. At a little town near Lancaster they again attempted to check the Union advance, but failed and scattered and ran like sheep, through fields, over fences and across roads, on to Lancaster. Here, supposing
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