USA > Indiana > Historical sketch of the Sixty-eighth Regiment, Indiana Volunteers : with personal recollections by members of Company D, and short biographies of brigade, division, and corps commanders > Part 11
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pated in the battle of Nashville and the destruction of Hood's army. On this campaign we were forty-two days without a change of clothing, and had few over- coats and shelter tents. What did we look like when we got back ?- dirty, ragged and lousey, and, I like to have said, God-forsaken ; but He had blessed us with a crowning victory.
[Extract from letter of S. C. Poppino.1
CHANUTE, Kansas, July 3, ISS7.
Would to God we could meet and have a grand reunion of our old company. I cannot ex- press in words the joy it would be to me. I want the boys, as many as can, to see this letter, and to know that I send my best wishes. Often do I think over our campaigns. I see the boys with the weary step, the still determined look, while some would swear at ill-luck, others would laugh it off with some droll ex- pression. But, thanks be to God, a part of us are left to pay tribute to the memory of our dead comrades. I live in Southern Kansas, and my head, like many others, is silvered over; but every hair is patriotic. My constitution is gone, my legs are nearly played out, but, thank God, with my pension and the help of my boys we can and do run a quarter section farm, well stocked. Right here I want to say, when any of the boys come West, and feel a desire to call and see "Sile," they shall have the "best in the shop." I will be pleased to show them the great Neosho Valley, a country we are proud to claim as our home.
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XVII .- BY MASON MAXEY. t
On account of disability for field service, I was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps in January, 1864, and in the Winter and Spring was on duty guarding rebel prisoners at Indianapolis. The rebels had as good barracks to stay in as the guards, got as good rations, and actually fared better than we did ; for we had to go on guard every other day and night during the worst kind of weather. We had from five to fifteen thousand to take care of, and it kept us busy all the time. The guards were made up from nearly all the regiments of the Union army. Many had been wounded, nearly all were in feeble health, and the hard duties required of us thinned out our number rapidly ; but we did not grumble, and went where we were told and came when we were called, for we had no say so in the matter. I was on duty at the arsenal at the time President Lincoln was assassinated, carry- ing dispatches to the headquarters in Indianapolis. Washington street was draped in mourning from Pogue's Run to the river, and it was a grand, yet very sad sight to look upon, and to think of the President being murdered just when the war was over.
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XVIII .- BY ED. A. JUNKIN.
In the Summer of 1861, while Sherman's army was battling its way to Atlanta, I was detailed with squads of men as train guards several times. It was our duty to see that none of the cars were opened, or anything taken from them, until we were relieved by the proper officers at the front. Our place was on the top of the box-cars, so that we could see plainly every- thing that was passing below; not a very desirable place in hot, rainy Summer weather, not saying any- thing about the exposure from the bullets of small parties of rebels and bushwhackers that frequently made targets of the train guards. Very often were the trains fired into, men killed and the trains captured. We would have to wait sometimes as long as two days, after we got to the front, before we would be relieved . On one of these trips, at Dalton, I think, while we were waiting, the hospital train came in from the front, loaded with wounded men from the battlefield of Kenesaw Mountain. It stopped close to the cars which we were guarding, and with a few others I went to see if we could find any acquaintances among the wounded. I think there were six or eight cars in the train. I went through several of them, and of all the sights I ever saw that was one of the sad- dest. Men were wounded in every imaginable way. Those that could not stand the jolting of the cars were
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XIX .- COMPANY D AT CHICAMAUGA.
Lieutenant William Beale commanded Company D, 6Sth Regiment Indiana Infantry, at Chicamauga, until shot down, September 19th, 1863 (Captain Mauzy was in the battle as Brigade Inspector on the staff of Colonel King), and had with him thirty-six enlisted men of the Company. Of these one, William Griffin, was killed and twenty-one wounded, viz: Lieutenant William Beale, Abram S. Billings, James R. Bosley, William H. C. Buzan, Harvey Caldwell. Isaac Dale, James B. David, William H. H. Danner, Samuel B. Jones, Caleb Lee, James W. Richie, Jefferson E. Trimbly, and Payton H. Walters,. Thirteen were taken prisoners, as follows: Hugh Beetern, A. J. Gates, Frank Gisselbach, George T. Richie, S. C. Poppino, Fred. W. Short, John Simmons, and D. L. Thomas. Eight, though wounded, escaped capture.
Ten days after the battle Lieutenant Beale, Samuel .. B. Jones, and Jefferson E. Trimbly were exchanged. Jones' arm was amputated, and Trimbly's leg, (he died a few days afterward). Caleb Lee died in the rebel field hospital three days after he was wounded. He suffered such pain that he begged them all the time to kill him. The great numbers of wounded on both sides to be looked after, prevented much atten- tion, and so they laid for days on the field; but the feeling of human sympathy prevailed, and the canteen
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of water was divided with the wounded by the pass- ing rebel, and kindly words spoken by those so re- cently in deadly conflict. The others, who were not hurt, were James A. Smith, Wesley Chalfant, John D. Brown, William- Innis, Samuel Pegg, B. F. Cohee, John Francis, Samuel S. Bodine, William M. Souders, David S. Fleehart, Lee Goodwin, George Smith, Enoch Whiteley, Deliscus Lingenfelter, W. F. Al- dridge, and Thomas Bosley-sixteen. Of this number, two months later, Samuel S. Bodine was killed. and Thomas Bosley, severely wounded, in the battle of Mission Ridge.
XX .- FIVE MONTHS' HOSPITAL LIFE-BY FIRST LIEUTENANT WILLIAM BEALE.
Little is known of hospital life, and how the sick and wounded were cared for during the war of '61, and many false impressions have been formed by some who have been in them only a short time, and who know very little of what the Government and loyal people of the North have done for them.
It was my lot to be wounded at the battle of Chica- mauga, on September 20, 1863. I was captured and made a prisoner, but was exchanged on September 30, and was taken to Chattanooga, October ist, where I was admitted to the hospital, which had formerly been a hotel. The first recollection that I had of be-
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ing there was on the second morning after my arrival. Having slept twenty four hours, I awoke to find a nurse feeding me on whisky with a spoon. As the hospital was crowded, and I was among the last get- ting in, my bed was made on the floor, along with many others. From the time I was admitted to the time my wife and kind friends sent Dr. Casterline to bring me home, I never had any cause to complain of of the treatment and care I received. The rising gen- eration have but little conception of the magnitude of the war, and a great deal less of that of caring for the wounded; especially after a severe battle, where hun- dreds and sometimes thousands, were to be cared for at once. But the Government had everything in readi- ness for such occasions, so the wounded could be taken almost as much care of as if they had been at home. It is my opinion, from a careful observation, that they had more care and attention than if they had been at home. The patients had the best of food, trained nurses to attend them, and doctors who examined each one morning and evening.
But the question has often been asked: "How did the army get all the necessaries for its sick and wound- ed?" How little do we remember the loyal homes we left, how they toiled early and late, packing boxes of food and clothing for the hospitals. Never in this life will they know how much they have done to save the lives and sufferings of the ones they loved. There Was one society that should ever be remembered with the kindest feelings, and that was the " Christian Com-
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mission." It was established in every neighborhood of the loyal States, and prepared, collected, and for- warded everything that was of use to the sick soldiers, such as bedding, clothing, bandages, lint, fruits, jellies, meats, and every kind of stimulants, ready for use. I, for one, shall never forget the many good things which I received through their kindness. There was another beautiful deed which I must not fail to mention, though those who did it had but little conception of what it was worth. In almost every package which came to our hospital, though it was ever so small, was a kind letter of love and affection to the one that re- ceived it-such letters as only true patriot mothers, sisters, and friends could write. How it cheered the many sad hearts to know that they were remembered at home. For the five months that I was in the hos- pital, where there was no other commissioned officers, I am free to say that no other nation ever cared for her private soldiers as has our own. Well may the nations around us wonder at what has been done in the car- ing for the soldier in the late war But when they re- member that every soldier was a freeman and equal to the highest officer in command, then may they learn the strength of a government where every one is equal with his neighbor.
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XXI .- FIGHT AT DALTON, GEORGIA, AUG- UST 15th, 1864 .- BY D. L. THOMAS.
August 14th, 1864 (while on garrison duty at Chattanooga), we received orders to move at a mo- ment's warning. General Wheeler's cavalry had cut the railroad and captured Dalton, Georgia. At sunset. detachments from the 29th, 44th, 51st, and 6Sth Indi- ana Regiments, the 2d and 10Sth Ohio, the 7Sth Penn- sylvania, and the 14th United States Colored Regi- ments, with a section of artillery, boarded the cars for the scene of action. The trains reached Tunnel Hill at midnight, and we marched to Buzzard Roost Gap, formed in line of battle, and waited for daylight. We met the rebel pickets two and a half miles from Dal- ton. Our skirmishers drove them half a mile, when their forces made a stand. We charged them, and soon put them to flight, and drove them through town at a rapid rate. Rain began to fall when the fight commenced, and by the time we reached the edge of town it was descending in torrents. A halt was made while a piece of artillery threw shells down the princi- pal street. The storm soon abated, when many of our men were standing in water several inches deep. The line of battle moved through the town. Not a man, woman, or child was to be seen. The peaches we found in the yards and gardens were first-class. . But the enemy had departed, and we were left in
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peaceful possession. A wounded Confederate placed Wheeler's forces at four thousand cavalry and ten pieces of artillery. Their loss, not including the slightly wounded, who got away, was one hundred and fifty; our loss about forty. Our regiment had six wounded, two of them mortally. Our forces buried fifteen Confederates in a garden.
Two hours after the fight, some of us took a stroll over town, and, among other incidents, a young lady was singing and playing on a piano as though noth- ing had occurred. During the fight the women and children laid on the floors to avoid being shot.
We entered this fight with some degree of solici- tude. The Confederacy had not recognized colored soldiers as prisoners of war when captured. In case we should be captured with colored soldiers in this fight, would our lives be spared? This question was discussed among us. The officers of the 14th Colored Regiment realized the situation. Hence, they recited their oft-repeated instruction to their men to neither ask nor give quarters. They impressed the fact that both colored soldiers and officers had been killed in every instance when captured. Hence, they would neither surrender nor take prisoners until the rights of prisoners of war were accorded to them. Consequent- ly the few Confederates who fell into their hands met the same fate that had attended captured colored troops. Two Confederate surgeons were left to care for their wounded. While the enemy captured Dalton, the detachment of the 2d Missouri Regiment stationed
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there still held the earthworks, and were rejoiced when we rescued them. On the. 17th, our command started back by railroad. When we had passed Ring- gold we found the road torn up by the raiders. In a few hours the construction corps had repaired the track, and we were again on our way to camp. But at Graysville we found the track torn up worse than the breach just repaired. But workmen from Chatta- nooga were repairing the road, so that we got back to camp at noon of the 1Sth.
Captain Henry Romeyn, 5th United States In- fantry, thus describes the same incident in the Nation- al Tribune, of July 21, ISS7. He was a Captain in the 14th United States Colored Infantry :
"Soon after passing Buzzard Roost Gap, the enemy's advanced guard was met and driven back on the main body. The Federal forces were at once de- ployed, the colored troops being given the left of the line, and the left company (B) thrown forward as skirmishers. No previous moment in the Captain's life had been so anxiously passed as was the next ten minutes. Would the men fight, or was their careful training vain? But as coolly as on drill the line pushed forward into a thick growth of timber and underbush. Reaching the farther side of this woods, the bullets were flying too thick for comfort, and as the left of the skirmish line had been unable to keep up with the right, that was halted for those in the rear to come up.
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The fight was not severe, except in a limited space among some thickets lining the banks of a small stream, where a few of the enemy's skirmishers found themselves suddenly surrounded, and refusing to sur- render to 'niggers,' were all killed.
" The colored soldier had fought side by side with his white fellow, had done his whole duty, and been commended for his steadiness and bravery. On the same line were two Indiana Regiments,-the 51st, Colonel A. D. Streight, and the 68th, Lieutenant- Colonel Espy-and for several months after we served together, and the longer we did so the stronger grew the soldierly tie between us."
D. S. Fleehart writes as follows of the fight at Dal- ton :
"The colored troops did nobly that day, as they did afterward; but the 6Sth was the first to enter the town right at the heels of the rebels, and in the hard- est rain I ever saw. In the fight at Decatur, Alabama, two months later, when Hood attempted to cross the river on his way to Nashville, there were no troops to oppose them that had ever seen the smoke of battle, except the 6Sth and 73d Indiana, and the 14th United States Colored Infantry. We arrived there about 2 o'clock in the morning, and had just laid down to get a little rest when the rebels drove the pickets in. The pickets were the toth Indiana Cavalry, dismounted, and were raw troops, having then only been in the
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field a short time. A detail of one hundred men from our regiment and one hundred and fifty from the 14th United States Colored Infantry was ordered to re- establish the picket lines, which we did, although it was dark as Egypt, and not a man had ever seen the place in daylight. When daylight came we found we were within easy range of the rebel pickets. The re- mainder of our regiment was taken down under the bank of the river, and marched along until they got below the. rebel pickets, and then, coming up on the the level ground with such "hallooing" as only Hoosiers can do, captured the pickets of the rebels, nearly half way up their line, in daylight and in plain view of the Johnneys, and in the range of fifty pieces of artillery. Nearly two months after this, at Nash- ville, we again fought in line with the 14th United States Colored Infantry, and were in at the " death," or general wind-up of the rebellion, so far as Hood's army was concerned. It just reminded me, after his defeat there, of the last day of our county fair. After the last big race is run, there is a general rush for the gates to get started home. So it was with the rebels. In the second day's battle they moved from right to left, and from left to right, to try and find a weak place in our lines; but " Pap" Thomas (God bless him!) had formed his lines to stay, and after repeated assaults their army just seemed to melt away, every fellow for himself. They wanted to go home, and I have no doubt they did go, for not half of their number re- crossed the Tennessee when we followed them back
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again, or, rather, their wagon train, down into Ala- bama. While we were on this pursuit, having gone across the country from Franklin to Murfreesboro to take the cars, via Stevenson, Alabama, and then via Huntsville, to try and head them off, the train stopped in the woods. We got off and started across the country toward Decatur, coming to a stream (I do not remember the name), where we camped that night. Early next morning, after breakfast, we dis- robed, and tying our clothing to our guns, waded the river, the water reaching nearly to our arm-pits. Dur- ing the day we crossed two more streams, or bayous, in the same manner. This was about Christmas, and the ground was frozen hard. Comrades who were on that trip, don't it make you shiver yet when you think of it? A day or two later, at Leighton Station, thirty- two miles southwest of Decatur, Alabama, we had our last Christmas dinner in the war. We had sweet potatoes and chicken for dinner. I was remind- ed of the one we had December 25, 1863, near Straw- berry Plains, East Tennessee, at the farm of Samuel Vance, a loyal old gentleman, who gave us the pota- toes and chickens, and loaned us a kettle to cook them in. On this occasion, our meal was confiscated, and "stolen fruits" never tasted sweeter. After this, our chief discomfort during the winter was that at three different times the river rose and covered our camp to the depth of from three to seven feet with water. We had to get out and get along the best way we could auth the water ran down. Comrades. we will
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never all meet together here again. We are scattered over the land. Some are buried in unknown and un- marked graves; some in the National cemeteries: while others rest in our home camps, where their comrades, relatives and friends can strew their graves with flowers. Boys, let us keep the history of the re- bellion before our children, so that they may always point to us with pride, and say that 'My father was a soldier.'"
XXII .- BY CHARLES LESTER.
I was born in Onondaga county, New York, Aug- ust 27, IS27; taught school in Ohio and Kentucky sev - eral years, and in the summer of IS52 attended Fol- som Business College, at Cleveland, Ohio; taught sev- eral years in Kentucky and Indiana, where I married Emily R. Morgan, a daughter of Jesse Morgan, in Rush county, and began farming. When the rebel- lion came on, I felt it my duty to go. I volunteered, and was mustered into Company D, 6Sth Indiana. Soon after I was promoted Sergeant, and commission- ed by Colonel King. I was with the company until it was called to Munfordsville. Being on picket there, I was left behind, and, with others, was attached to other troops, and went to Salt Creek; then to Louis- ville; from there to Elizabethtown, and back again to Louisville: and then rejoined the regiment, at Indian- apolis, in parole camp. In April, 1863, while on picket
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near Murfreesboro, one cold night, I took a severe cold, which developed into pneumonia, and I was sent to the hospital. The first morning that I got able to sit up, I was by the fire when the surgeon came in "tipsy." He ordered me to be sent at once to my regiment, and I was soon ready for the hospital again from a relapse. The Government lost much of the field ser- vice I was able to give, and I had to suffer, all because of that officer's morning dram. I was sent to Nash- ville, and when better I met Captain John Lakin, who had charge of the barracks there. He had me detail- ed as commissary sergeant, and I filled that position there until in March, IS64, when I started to join my company in East Tennessee. At Knoxville, I was put on duty in a drenching rain, and it again brought on sickness. I was sent to the hospital there, and after a long spell of sickness was furloughed home. I re- turned to the regiment at Chattanooga, and took my share of the skirmishing and fighting with Hood's army at Nashville, but gave out on the march in the pursuit, and shortly after was ordered to report at the headquarters of Colonel Morgan, commanding the Ist Colored Brigade at Chattanooga, where I wrote in the A. A. A. G.'s office until the end of the war. The duties of the position required accurate work, and I found much pleasure in it, and all the officials connect- ed with my duties agreeable and intelligent men. During the last two weeks of my service there, the war being over, I was furnished a horse, and with others visited the battlefields and other places of in-
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terest. The following order was issued, and I return- ed to my company, and with them was in a few days mustered out:
HEADQUARTERS COLORED BRIGADE, A. C., CHATTANOOGA, June 17, 1865.
Special Order, No. 42.
I. Sergeant Charles Lester and Private James H. Roberts, Company D, 68th Indiana Volunteers, detailed for special duty per Par. V., 30. No. 28, Headquarters District of the Etowah, are hereby relieved from said detail in order to be mustered out of the service of the United States by reason of the expiration of their term.
II. In relieving them, the Colonel commanding desires to express his highest satisfaction at the manner in which they have performed all their duties since their connection with these head- quarters. In the Adjutant General's and Inspector's offices their services have been faithful, efficient and invaluable.
By order of Col. Thos. J. Morgan, Commanding Brigade.
JOHN E. CLELAND, Lieut. and A. A. A. G.
XXIII .- BATTLE OF NASHVILLE-BY SER- GEANT CHARLES LESTER.
November 29, 1864, all the troops that could be spared from Chattanooga were sent to Nashville. All were taken except the sick and those on detached service. We went in box-cars, and on our arrival at Nashville were put on picket line, doing picket duty and digging trenches. Our Captain was on detached duty, our ist Lieutenant had been permanently dis- abled, the ed Lieutenant was sick in camp, and I, be- ing the ranking non-commissioned officer present, had
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command of the company. We were in the advance line of pickets when Hood's army first appeared, and part of Company D was out as infantry videttes. Some of us, who were anxious to see more, went on to the top of the ridge, and a shower of bullets was fired at us. We retreated in good order. After this the Johnneys wanted to see, and we returned the compliment. Neither party being disposed to receive the other in friendship, no further sight-seeing was sought. That day we left our trenches, by order, for the enemy to occupy, and falling back, went into camp near the railroad to Murfreesboro. Every morning, when not on other duty, we were drawn up in line of battle at three o'clock and remained there until day- light. Several days the ground was covered with ·snow and sleet, which froze hard and made it so slippery that one could hardly walk on the rolling ground. We were called out for drill once, at this time, which created some merriment, but was of no utility. Previous to the general battle, our regi- ment skirmished with the enemy at three different times. The first was to learn the position of the enemy in our front. We had the 14th United States Colored Infantry on our left, and several regiments in support in the rear. While the whole line was advancing and firing rapidly, some comrade called my attention to what we called a "goplier hole" (a vidette post), which we discovered to be occupied. I said, "Boys, let's go for them," which we did, and that post was silenced in a short time. A white rag
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