USA > Illinois > Yates phalanx : the history of the Thirty-Ninth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Veteran Infantry in the war of the rebellion, 1861-1865 > Part 23
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"There was some terrible hot work going on."
OFFICIAL REPORT OF COLONEL OSBORN
"Headquarters First Brigade,
First Division, Twenty-Fourth Army Corps,
Appomattox C. H., April 14, 1865
Major P. A. Davis, A.A.G.
"Major: - I have the honor to forward the following report of the operations of this Brigade since leaving the north bank of the James.
"The Brigade, preceded by a battalion of sharpshooters under command of Captain Curtis, moved from camp on the New Market road at 6:45 p.m. March 27, 1865, crossing the James river at Deep Bottom at eleven p.m. crossed the Appomattox at Broadway landing at daylight, halting about two hours, a mile beyond, for breakfast.
"Marched during the day toward Hatcher's Run on the left, bivouacking for the night near Humphrey's Station. At four a.m. March 29, 1865, moved forward and relieved General Miles (First) Division of the Second Army Corps, occupying his entire Division front at three p.m. on March 31, and Third and Fourth Brigades of this Division being engaged on our left; our pickets were strongly reinforced in accordance with orders of the Brigadier-General commanding, and a brisk skirmish was commenced with the enemy's pickets which continued about two hours, drawing heavy reinforcements to the line. But two of our men were wounded, one of the Thirty-Ninth Illinois Volunteers and one of the Sixty-Second Ohio Volunteers; both slight.
"Being relieved by a Brigade of colored troops April 1, 1865, at seven p.m., I moved my Brigade to the left in accordance with orders, reporting to the Brigadier-General command- ing. Arriving on the ground designated, my command was placed in readiness to charge. In the meantime, by direction of General Foster, I sent six men forward to ascertain, if possible, the strength of the enemy, and the nature of the ground and obstructions intervening between our forces and the enemy's works; which was satisfactorily accomplished, the scouts giving full and reliable information.
"At five o'clock on the morning of April 2, I ordered forward one regiment of my command, the Thirty-Ninth Illinois Volunteers, by direction of the General commanding, to support the Third Brigade which was skirmishing with the enemy. At six a.m. I withdrew the Regiment, and in accordance with orders from the Brigadier-General commanding I moved left in front to the grounds of the Sixth Army Corps, some four or five miles to the right, nearing the front of the Sixth Corps; and word having been received that the enemy were re-occupying a portion of the line of works from which they had been driven early in the morning, the command 'double-quick' was given. Passing through the lines of the Sixth Corps, the Sixty-Second Ohio Volunteers being in advance, I threw them forward as skirmishers while the other regiments of the Brigade were in position 'in echelon' in the following order: the 199th Pennsylvania Volunteers on the right; their right resting on the line
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of the rebel works; the Sixty-Seventh Ohio Volunteers in the center, the Thirty-Ninth Illinois Volunteers being on the left. At once pressing rapidly forward we drove the enemy from their position, capturing some twenty-five prisoners, with two pieces of artillery; and turning these guns upon the enemy moved forward until we gained the hill, immediately in front of Fort Gregg and the chain of forts in the interior line of the defenses of Petersburg, which we wound to be strongly defended by artillery and infantry.
"At this point I halted my Brigade and prepared to charge the fort. The Third and Fourth Brigades moving up formed on my left at fifteen minutes past noon. At one p.m. orders were received to move forward and carry the enemy's works. I moved my command forward about half the distance in quick time at 'right-shoulder-shift arms,' and having passed a deep and difficult slough gave the command to 'charge' when the Brigade with cheers swept up the ascent at the double-quick under a terrible fire of grape, canister and minié balls tearing through the ranks. The Thirty-Ninth Illinois Volunteers moving straight forward struck the angle of the fort on the left and next the angle on the road; the Sixty-Second Ohio Volunteers and the 199th Pennsylvania Volunteers, striking this angle and the angle still further on the right, swept around to the rear, striving to gain an entrance, but it was found to be an enclosed fort admirably constructed for defense. The men rushed into the moat, and clambering up the exterior slope fought hand-to-hand across the parapet with the enemy, who stubbornly refused to surrender, although surrounded on all sides. The fighting lasted 24 minutes, when we forcibly burst over the parapets and the fort was ours. The redoubt on the right of the fort was also carried in the charge, by a portion of the skirmish line of the Sixty- Second Ohio Volunteers, assisted by two companies which had been detached from the 199th Pennsylvania Volunteers for this purpose, capturing a number of prisoners together with two cannon and five caissons.
"In this assault on Fort Gregg, Captain Patrick O. Murphy and First Lieutenant Robert McMillen, 199th Pennsylvania Volunteers, were killed; as also First Lieutenant William Lamb, Thirty-Ninth Illinois Volunteers; Captain O. M. Eddy and Captain Ansil, Sixty-Seventh Ohio Volunteers; Lieutenant Neil, Thirty-Ninth Illinois Volunteers, and Captain Gregory and Captain Beppus, Lieutenants Williams, Patton and Allison, 199th Pennsylvania Volunteers. Captain Hitchcock and Lieutenant Murry, Sixty-Second Ohio Volunteers, were wounded. The 199th Pennsylvania lost fourteen enlisted men killed and sixty wounded; the Sixty-Second Ohio Volunteers, three killed and twenty-five wounded; the Thirty-Ninth Illinois Volunteers, nineteen killed and forty-four wounded; and Sixty-Seventh Ohio Volunteers, seven killed and fifty-four wounded."
Narrative of William H. Howard, Company G, of the Thirty-Ninth Illinois stated:
"On the night of April 1, 1865, after our Regiment had reached the left of the line in front of Petersburg, I lay down for a little rest; but soon there came an order for me to report to General Terry, and he sent me out through our lines to locate the enemy's batteries and to ascertain the nature of the ground in our front. I was sent out without arms, and if possible
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"There was some terrible hot work going on."
I was to get inside the rebel lines and find out what I could; and if captured, to play the part of a deserter. I started out, and had proceeded some distance when I was shot at while crossing a little stream on a log. I soon found out that I could not get through, and returned at three o'clock in the morning and reported to General Terry the position of the rebel batteries to our left and right, and what other facts I had gathered.
"We were in line at four o'clock for an assault, but at seven o'clock we were ordered to the right again, where we made preparations to assault Fort Gregg. While we were standing in line in the advance of the assaulting column I asked Captain Plimpton, commanding the Regiment, to let me advance as a sharpshooter. He at first declined, but finally said that I might go. I advanced about half way to the fort to a good sheltered position, and made several pretty fair shots at the rebel gunners. When the command to 'charge' was given, I started to the left oblique for a trench that ran out from the fort, but before I reached it there was some terrible hot work going on. I could see our 'boys' falling thick and fast. After reaching the trench I noticed a rebel officer with his hat in one hand and sword in the other, advancing from the rear to get into Fort Gregg. Two of Company D's boys who were with me fired at him, but missed. I then jumped out of the ditch near the stockade and took am at the officer's belt-plate, fired and the officer fell dead. As I rose up to get back to the ditch I was struck in the neck by a rifle-ball and knocked down, but it was a nearly-spent ball and did no great damage.
"After the fort had been taken, I went out where the dead officer lay and took his spurs and a pair of sleeve buttons, also some Confederate money. Some soldier from another regiment took his sword, which was a beauty. This officer, I have good reason to believe, was General A. P. Hill."
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CHAPTER TWENTY
"End of this wicked rebellion "
In the previous chapter Captain Plimpton's letter of August 28, 1865 wrote of the attack on Fort Gregg, Virginia. His letter continues with the next phase in the final days of the war for the Thirty- Ninth Illinois.
"In our marches and fighting's from Petersburg to Appomattox Court-House where we compelled General Lee and his army to surrender on the 9th, it would run my letter out to too great length to give you a full account. Suffice it to say, our Corps, the Twenty-Fourth, followed the route along the Southside Railroad, marching day and night, skirmishing with the enemy wherever he would make a stand. It was by this rapid marching, some days without stopping for meals or sleep, that we succeeded in getting around in Lee's front and heading him off at Appomattox Court-House about twenty-two miles from Lynchburg.
"Our Division was in the lead of all the infantry when we arrived at that place, and our Brigade in the advance of the Division, and the Thirty-Ninth Illinois in the advance of the Brigade.
"We did not arrive upon the scene of the conflict five minutes too soon-Lee's advance was steadily pushing Sheridan's cavalry back, which he was determined to do before we could get up. General Sheridan sent work back to us for instant assistance. We arrived on the ground at the double-quick and immediately flew into line of battle, six companies of my Regiment being thrown out as skirmishers. A narrow strip of timber concealed us from the advancing rebels. As soon as we formed, we emerged from the woods with a regular Western yell, pouring a volley into the astonished rebels. At our first fire they halted and seemed to be dumbfounded, and as they saw the lone line of blue coats continuing to emerge from the woods they began to falter, and soon to break, and as we continued to advance, firing at every step, away they went in all directions, over the hills and down the gullies. I never, since entering the service, saw such a general "skedaddle." It was our sudden appearance directly across their only avenue of escape, and that right in their immediate front, that told them that their doom was sealed.
"We had not advanced over a quarter of a mile after the flying rabble ere the announce- ment ran along our line like wildfire, 'Lee had surrendered!' The white flag was sent out from his army in front of our Division."
"It was useless for me to attempt to give a description of the scene that followed the tidings. The tears rushed to my eyes-my heart was too full for utterance. There I stood at the head of my Regiment on the very ground where the Army of Northern Virginia, led by their pet General, Robert E. Lee, was compelled to surrender by our brave boys. It was to
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accomplish this very end that they had left home and friends, and periled their lives time and time again; and oh! how many of them are now sleeping the soldier's long, long sleep, unmindful of this great achievement! Here we recognized the end of this wicked rebellion, and you may be sure gratitude filled our hearts when we contemplated this grand result of all our tolls, our hard marches, hard fighting and exposures.
"I saw General Lee when he took his leave of General Grant after the papers were all signed, and I watched the countenance of our gallant chieftain as he came away, and I shall never forget it. It was beaming with a smile of satisfaction; and as he raised his hat when passing one of our sentinels who presented the proper salute, I knew that he did it as a mark of homage to the noble boys who had so gloriously accomplished this great work.
"We left Appomattox Court-House on the 16th and arrived at this place on the 25th. It was when were on the march back that we were shocked, yea horrified by the tidings of the death of our beloved President-killed by the cowardly hand of an assassin. Deep and revengeful was the indignation of the army when the truth was known. Emblems of mourning meet the eye on all sides. We never knew the depth of our love for that noble man until we heard of his cruel murder.
"This morning we heard of the death of the assassin. Vengeance is mine, and I will repay, saith the Lord. Amen, So let it be."
Colonel Osborn's Offical Report
"At eight a.m. on the morning of April 3 the Brigade moved at the head of the Division, the right in front, and marched toward Lynchburg, bivouacking for the night about eighteen miles distant from Petersburg. On the 4th reached Wilson's Station, halting at Ford's Station for dinner. On the 5th, after a long and tedious march of twenty-five miles, by was of Nottoway Court-House, we arrived at Burke's Station at eleven p.m. At one o'clock on the 6th of April we marched, in accordance with orders, towards Rice's Station. Arriving there were found the enemy in heavy forces throwing up entrenchments at the station to oppose us. In accordance with orders from the General commanding, throwing forward skirmishers, I formed line of battle and moved forward the Sixty-Second Ohio Volunteers and the 199th Pennsylvania Volunteers to the left and in advance of the Thirty-Ninth Illinois Volunteers, which was held in reserve, its right resting upon the railroad; the Sixty-Seventh Ohio Volunteers upon the right of the Thirty-Ninth Illinois Volunteers, the railroad intervening, and connecting with the Fourth Brigade on our right. I advanced my line as far at the Phillips House, nearly one mile southeast of the station, under a severe shell and musketry fire, driving back the enemy. Halting at this point, we remained during the night sleeping upon our arms.
"In this engagement Lieutenant-Colonel West of the Sixty-Second Ohio Volunteers and Captain Oliver C. Gregory of the 199th Pennsylvania Volunteers were wounded. The 199th Pennsylvania lost also in wounded, three enlisted men; the Sixty-Second Ohio Volunteers, thirteen enlisted men; the Sixty-Seventh Ohio Volunteers, seven enlisted men.
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"End Of This Wicked Rebellion"
"At six a.m. April 7, my Brigade, advancing upon the enemy's works and finding them abandoned, moved out, taking the advance, following closely after the enemy; our skirmishers under command of Lieutenant-Colonel R. P. Hughes of the 199th Pennsylvania constantly engaging their rear, taking several prisoners. Crossing Sandy river, where General Crook's cavalry division came up on our right, we moved forward to Bush river, where we found the enemy inclined to dispute the passage. By direction of the General commanding, I formed line of battle, the 199th Pennsylvania on the right, its right resting upon the left of the road; the Sixty-Second Ohio in the center; the Sixty-Seventh Ohio on the left; the Thirty-Ninth Illinois supporting-and moved forward to the bank of the river, which was impassable except at the bridge. The 199th Pennsylvania, being on the right, was immediately thrown across the river, moved to the top of the hill, the enemy falling back before them. Moving across with the remainder of the Brigade we arrived at Farmville at five p.m., and encamped for the night on the west side of town.
"At six a.m. April 8 the march was resumed, bivouacking at midnight, having marched a distance of thirty-seven miles. Moving forward again at half-past three a.m. on the 9th inst., we halted at six a.m. for breakfast. At seven o'clock, heavy skirmishing being heard in advance in the vicinity of Appomattox Court-House, my Brigade moved rapidly forward to the scene of the action, arriving on the ground at the 'double-quick,' the cavalry falling back in confusion; and having thrown out a portion of the Thirty-Ninth Illinois as skirmishers, and throwing my Brigade forward into the line, the Thirty-Ninth Illinois on the right, the 199th Pennsylvania in the center, the Sixty-Second Ohio on the left, the Sixty-Seventh Ohio in reserve, I charged with a yell upon the enemy, giving them notice that the old Twenty-Fourth Army Corps was again in their front. Moving forward at 'doublequick,' I soon gained the edge of the woods, where I halted until the Third Brigade coming up extricated my left, which had become enveloped; when I again advanced, driving the enemy from the field, capturing one heavy piece of artillery.
"Changing direction by the left flank, in accordance with orders, I was passing the enemy's right when I was ordered to halt, word having been received that the Army of Northern Virginia had surrendered to the Army of the United States.
"In this engagement the 199th Pennsylvania Volunteers lost five enlisted men killed and twenty wounded; the Thirty-Ninth Illinois Volunteers, one commissioned officer and six enlisted men wounded; the Sixty-Seventh Ohio Volunteers lost one enlisted man killed and six wounded; the Sixty-Second Ohio Volunteers, eighteen enlisted men wounded. Two commissioned officers and thirty-eight enlisted men captured.
"Of the endurance and patience of the officers and men of this command during the tedious marches, and of their heroism and gallantry upon every battlefield I cannot speak too highly. I cannot close this report without speaking in high terms of the officers of my staff, Captain Childs, Captain Denny, Lieutenant Doud, and Lieutenant Ripple, for their heroic conduct. "I have to honor to be, Major,
Very respectfully, Your ob'd't serv't, T. O. Osborn, Colonel Thirty-Ninth Ill. Vols, Com'd'g Brigade."
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The letter of Major Plimpton and the official report of General Osborn have given a full and detailed account of the operations of the Thirty-Ninth from March 27 to the April 9, 1865. The writer now goes back a little and takes up the thread of his narrative. It will be remembered, however, that he was with the flying hospital of the Twenty-Fourth Corps, and what is said cannot very well be dissociated from the operations of that branch of his service. In fact, it has been the intention of the writer to give some prominence to the medical service of the army, which has never received the recognition that was its due except in the Medical and Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion. It was the general impression that the medical staff of the army-the "doctors!" as they were called, were exempt from the dangers and chances of war; but the following figures from the Surgeon-General's Report show to the contrary: thirty-two surgeons were killed in battle; nine by accidents; eighty-three were wounded in action, of whom ten died; four died in rebel prisons; seven of yellow fever; three of cholera; and 271 of other diseases incidental to camp-life and exposures. The medical staff as a body were efficient and faithful in the performance of duty; and were actuated by the highest motives of National and professional pride. They not only underwent the fatigues and exposures of the march and the chance on the field of battle, but many of them were also exposed to the contagion of disease.
Some idea of the labor performed by the medical department of the armies may be had when it is stated that 5,825,480 cases of wounds and diseases occurred among the white troops, and 629,354 among the colored soldiers.
The work devolving upon the flying hospital during this short but decisive campaign was enormous. The troops had been engaged with the enemy almost every day since March 27. We had stopped at eight different points along the line of advance since leaving Petersburg and put up our tents, tables and cots, and had cared for 1,200 wounded men, and 400 out of this number required operations. At the time the Army of Northern Virginia was paroled we received 200 of the enemy's wounded into our care, and after giving them all the attention they required sent them back where they could reach their homes as soon as able. We had been a flying hospital in so far as clarity could make it. We sooner was one lot of wounded disposed of, that we started onward again, keeping pace with the army.
We reached the scene of the assault on Fort Gregg in time to witness the return of our victorious troops, and in ample time to received the wounded of the First Brigade. After they had been cared for, which consumed the most part of the night, the writer rode into the city of Petersburg to gratify a curiosity to see the stronghold that our troops had been pounding at for so long a time and at so fearful a cost. On reaching the city the first party to encounter was made up of President Lincoln, Secretary Stanton and Generals Grant, Meade and Sheridan. Little did he think at that time that it would be his last look at the noble Lincoln, our beloved President. After riding through the district that had suffered so severely from the Federal shot and shell while on the other side of the river, and witnessing the great destruction to property, he rode back to quarters through the almost deserted streets of the fallen city. The only persons met with were groups of joyous Negroes who seemingly could not repress their enthusiasm, and they all wanted to see their great emancipator "Massa Linkum."
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"End Of This Wicked Rebellion"
On getting back, the Twenty-Fourth Corps was in motion, advancing in the pursuit of Lee's army. Cannon were already booming at the front; aids-de-camp were hurrying to and fro, delivering orders; batteries of artillery were swiftly wheeling to the front, and the various regiments of infantry were deploying into marching order. The scene was grand and inspiring. The men looked weary and worn, but their spirits were jubilant and flowing over at the prospects before them of soon ending the rebellion.
At about noon of April 3 we came across the remains of the brave Assistant-Adjutant-General Theodore Reed, of General Ord's staff, who had been killed the day previous, and who had been buried in a very rude way by the rebels; his feet protruding out of the ground. In a short time we had his body exhumed and sent back, much to the satisfaction of his many friends.
Thus we followed on. Occasionally there was a lively brush with the rear-guard of Lee's army, and some quite severe battles until Appomattox Court-House was reached on April 9, where we set up our tables for the last time on the field of battle, and dressed the last man wounded in the finishing campaign of the war, belonging to the Twenty-Fourth Army Corps.
We started out on the preceding morning, April 8, and six a.m. and continued to press forward, with an occasional halt for rest and to await the movements of the advance guard, until midnight, when we turned into a field for bivouac. It was a brief one, however, for at three a.m. the call to "fall-in" sounded, and we were soon in motion, encouraged and stimulated by the reports that reached us, to the effect that Sheridan's cavalry was in the front and flank of the enemy, and fighting desperately to arrest the progress of Lee's army, and the orders were to "hurry up." The boys were very weary and foot-sore,-but courageously pressed onward, feeling-yes, knowing that the Confederates would be forced to surrender.
At six a.m. a halt was ordered for breakfast, but before the coffee was ready orders came to move forward on the "double-quick." Sharp firing was in progress at the front, and under this incitement the old Brigade started out at a swinging gait and soon covered the mile of distance that separated them from the advance of Lee's army. They were immediately formed in line of battle as they ran, with the Thirty-Ninth in the advance as skirmishers.
The rebels were totally unaware of the presence of infantry, the timber which we were hiding them from view, but they were soon apprised of the fact by hearing the unmistakable crack of the Springfield rifle, which was easily distinguished from the cavalry carbine. The surprise was as complete as unexpected, and we had not pressed forward on a forced march of forty-five miles in the past twenty-four hours for nothing. The enemy stood their ground faithfully, and even desperately, until either shot down or taken prisoner. "At one time," said Charles C. Hudson, Company E, "we thought the rebels had gained an advantage and got in our rear, as we heard lively volleys of musketry in the direction, but it proved to be a volley fired by a Negro regiment to celebrate the news of the surrender of the 'Army of Northern Virginia,' which fact had not yet reached us; but soon the welcome order 'Cease firing!' came to us, with the glad tidings that Lee was capitulating."
Appomattox Court-House was a town of about 200 buildings. It lay in a valley which divided the two armies. On hearing that Lee surrendered it was almost too good news to be believed all at once, but later, on riding out of the timber, we saw the wagons of the enemy perched on the slope beyond the town, and little white flags all along their line. Negotiations were then pending between Grant
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