USA > Indiana > History of the Seventy-Fourth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry ; a three years' organization > Part 9
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August 5th. At four o'clock in the morning, I received directly from General Schofield, commanding the Twenty-third Corps, an order prescribing movements for the Fourteenth and Twenty-third Corps upon that day, embracing operations pro- posed for this division, and I at once wrote a note to him stating that I knew of no authority under which he could assume to
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give orders to my Division, which belonged to the Army of the Cumberland, but informing him that I would communicate his wishes to my commanding officer. As the order of Schofield detailed at length operations for all troops acting on the right of the Army, and being always anxious to perform my part in whatever may be calculated to promote the success of our arms, I immediately went to my troops to prepare them for the execution of the orders in case they should receive proper sanction of my commander, or to be ready to co-operate on my own responsibility, in any movement which the troops near me might undertake. The order from Schofield, alluded to above, directed me to move at 6 a. m., to push forward my whole line, conforming it to the direction of that of the enemy, and driving his skirmishers, to press on until I had drawn the fire of his line.
The Second Division, commanded by General Morgan, was directed to support my right in the movement and, if possible, to prolong my line when formed. I was also directed to move without reference to my connection with Hascall as Cox would stand ready to fill any interval between us. It was 4:30 a. m. when I gave notice to Schofield that I did not recognise his authority, and both his headquarters and those of our Corps were within a mile of mine, yet it was not until six a. m. that he wrote me another note, saying that my Corps Commander would communicate the order to me properly, and at about 7 a. m. notice was given me that the Corps would act during the day under the direction of Schofield. About that time I found the head of Cox's column well closed up in rear of my left, but I was informed that Hascall would make no movement during the day as his lines were all ready so close to the enemy that any farther advance was impossible. When I finally re- ceived authentic orders from my commanding officer for a movement I had not heard from Morgan, who was to move on my right flank. I did not know how far below us he had crossed the creek, nor how far distant he might be, but convinced from my experience the day before that, if anything was to be accomplished I must act independently of connections, taking care of my own flanks, I instructed my officers accordingly.
The reconnaisance of the night previous had made us thoroughly acquainted with the ground we were to pass over, as well as the position we wished to take up, and it took but a short time to prepare for the work. A doubly strong skirmish line was thrown from each brigade, supported by heavy reserves, and the troops were prepared to follow. A perfect understand- ing was established between the officers along the line, and at a
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signal given about eight o'clock the skirmishers dashed forward. The more distant rifle pits which had been taken the evening before, but not held by us, had been re-occupied by a largely increased force and much strengthened, with orders to the Rebel officers in charge to hold them to the last extremity. This order, by keeping them there, enabled us to take more prisoners than we would otherwise have done. Our men were met by a very heavy fire. but pushed on so rapidly that the struggle was of short duration and a few minutes put us in possession of all the ground up to within short musket range of the Rebel main works. With the capture of the rebel skirmish line the forward movement of my troops was brought to an end, but their exposure to the fire of the main works did not cease. The regiments being brought up to take position and intrench themselves upon the new line were subjected throughout the day to a galling musketry fire from the Rebel main works. as well as from his batteries, from which our loss was considerable.
In the very handsome charge of the skirmish line, Capt. Michael Stone, 31st Ohio, commanded the skirmishers of the First Brigade; Major R. C. Sabine, 87th Indiana, those of the Second Brigade, and Major William Irving. 38th Ohio, those of the Third Brigade, deserve special mention for their gallan- try. Major Irving was wounded in the. leg, which has since been amputated, and a little later in the day the brave Lieut .- Colonel Myron Baker, commanding the 74th Indiana, was shot dead while putting his regiment in line. My casualties amount- ed in all to 5 officers and 8 enlisted men killed and wounded, whilst we captured about 140 prisoners.
All engaged in this affair both officers and men behaved handsomely as men could do and are deserving the highest praise. When I first got into position the Second Division had not yet come up, and my two right regiments were re- fused so far as to cover that flank; but later, when those troops did arrive, all were brought up on the same line. Whilst I was making my advance, and throughout the day until dark no move- ment was made by the troops of the 23rd Corps on my left. al- though the line of Rebel rifle pits, captured by my men ex- tended along Hascall's front, and could have been carried easily by a charge simultaneously with mine. They were the same pits which were taken two days later by the troops of our First Division, Fourteenth Army Corps.
August 6th. About daybreak in the morning, the troops of the 23rd Corps were withdrawn from my left to be transferred to the extreme right, and were replaced by the First Division
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of our Corps, commanded by General King. The operations of the two corps were again detailed and promulgated in a lengthy order from Schofield issued the previous night but as the part to be performed by my division was dependent upon the move of Cox and Hascall, who were expected to turn the enemy's left flank or to break through his lines in the vicinity of the Sandtown Road, and as those movements did not appear to be carried into execution, my men remained in their works. It was on the same day that Major-General Palmer relinquished the command of the Fourteenth Corps and turned it over to Brig .- Gen. Johnson.
August 7th. The First Division having made arrangements to push out and take the skirmish pits of the enemy corres- ponding with those captured by my men on the 5th, I ordered a strong demonstration along my whole line to aid them. In some places my works were so close to those of the rebels that the men could not go out of them, but in others the skirmishers were pressed out so strongly and a sharp encounter of some duration ensued. It ended in my advancing my left regiment. sore 200 yards, and those on the right which had been retired came up on the line with the others. General Morgan moved forward at the same time and our divisions joined near the Junction of the Sandtown and Lick Skillet roads. In the opera- tions of that day I lost 66 men killed and wounded. The lost of the First Division was of course heavy, but it gained both prisoners and advanced position. I have been thus minute and circumstantial in my narrative of events since coming in con- tact with the Twenty-third Corps, inasmuch as complaint was made to the Major General commanding the Department of the Cumberland, that the Fourteenth Corps had failed to accom- plish its portion of the work marked out, when, in fact, every advantage of any kind that was gained from the time we moved to the right up to the 8th of August was achieved by the Four- teenth Corps.
August 8th. From this date until the 26th. the general position and disposition of my troops was not changed. The necessary location of our camps was such that they were ex- posed constantly to the enemy's fire, and there were few points at which a man could show himself without risk of being shot. On certain positions of the line a temporary truce would be arranged with the troops that chanced to be in front, whilst at others a vicious skirmish would be kept up and for days the men would be imprisoned in their trenches, not daring to show their heads above the parapet, and this varied by the fire of artillery or more active demonstrations begun by one or the other party. In this passive condition with no operations on
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our hand our daily reports presented not unfrequently a list of 10, 20 or 30 casualties, and a long continuance of the con- finement and privations were extremely trying, yet the men bore all with a degree of cheerfulness, patience and heroism that can find its reward only in the consciousness of duty well performed and devotion to the holy cause in which they were engaged.
During our long stay in such close proximity to the enemy, de- serters from their lines, chiefly from Alabama regiments, came in constantly and in large numbers. They finally became so numerous that the most strenuous means were resorted to by the Rebel officers to prevent them.
On the 22nd of August, Brigadier General Davis, having received the brevet of Major General and been assigned to the command of the Fourteenth Corps, relieved General Johnson, who was transferred out of the Corps.
Respectfully submitted, A. BAIRD,
Brigadier General, Commanding Division. Capt. A. C. McClurg,
Assistant Adjutant General.
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A PECULIAR MEETING OF TWO BROTHERS
On October 10, 1863 about three weeks after the battle of Chickamauga I was detailed with our commander and some others for picket duty near Orchard Knob at Chattanooga. Soon after we got to our position behind some breastworks, an Aide from General Thomas' headquarters with orders to try and stop the continual firing between the pickets, and brought me a newspaper with which to signal the rebel lines not very far from us. It was a dangerous undertaking as both sides fired upon any one in sight. But by using a little strategy, I managed to signal and soon was on my way between the lines to exchange papers. I was met by a Lieut. of the 4th Kentucky Confederates whose home was at Henderson. We had no trou- ble about agreeing to stop all picket firing subject to the ap- proval of the Generals commanding, and from that time on all pickets were in plain sight of each other without a shot being fired. When the Lieut. found out that the 4th Kentucky Union regiment was in our Brigade, he was anxious to find out if a Sergeant Miller of Co. I was still living as he had a Ser- geant Miller in his company, a brother of our Miller. We man- aged to let the two brothers meet between the lines in our presence and I can never forget their conversation and their brotherly parting as they bade each other goodbye and hoped that each would keep out of the way of the other's bullets. But such is war.
LAWRENCE GATES,
Capt. of Co. H.
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ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE OF MISSIONARY RIDGE By NELSON J. LETTS, Company H, 74th
After maneuvering for three days the battle commenced November 23, 1863, at which time our regiment was a part of Baird's Division Fourteenth Army Corps, and was held in re- serve on that and the day following, but little fighting was done in the center. However, Sherman was busily engaged on the left, and to the right Joe Hooker was making his name famous on Lookout Mountain. We watched the fight on the right quite anxiously through a field glass of Captain Gates of our Com- pany, even after dark we could see the flash of arms of both ar- mies as our men advanced and the Southerners fell back.
We were satisfied that our chance would come on the third day of the battle, as both left and right wings, had plenty of work and the center would have to finish the job. The morning of the 25th dawned and after a hurried breakfast, Baird's was ordered to the left to assist General Sherman in a charge. The 74th led the hurried tramping division but were halted by Staff Officers with the news that General Sherman had not room to operate the divisions already on hand. We were turned back to the left of the center, and with care kept out of sight of the enemy for our health until an open field had to be crossed to reach the desired position. The 74th with the 10th Kentucky and the 10th Indiana on its right formed in the front line, the 14th and 38th Ohio, two large regiments close behind us for the second line, we pressed forward until nearly at the top of a hill called Orchard Knob, and here we were ordered to lie down and wait for the signal of six guns from Fort Wood. While waiting the signal the Rebel artillery commenced to shell us; sand and gravel was plowed up and thrown into our faces, but little actual damage was done. As we gazed upward toward the ridge and enemy our thoughts were busy with the possibil- ities to come. O, for the signal for action ; at last it is given. the bugle sounds forward and up we spring with loud hurrah and yells, start forward on the run; to stop or hesitate means death. A terrible fire came from the enemy on the ridge, as we passed the old Rebel camps at a lively speed, we could not halt here as ordered for death dealing missils were coming thick and fast. An incident occurred here the boys will remember, a Rebel shell struck and exploded in an old vacated Rebel shanty hurling the roof against Corporal James Pew covering him so complete- ly with debris that we had to extricate him as we passed. Harvey Wakefield was struck by a cannister ball and his gun bent so
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that he was forced to pick up another for future use. But on, on, up, up, pell mell, we went using our guns to aid us up the steep hillside, in some places crawling on all fours, on and up we went, proving the saying we got there just the same. When we reached the summit the bayonet in some cases was used and behold the ridge is ours. Hurrah. Hardly had our colors been planted on the works when a whole Rebel Division attacked us on the flank, it was dark all around us and the flash of fire arms alone guiding us in our defense, and many brave men went down to death. Colonel Phelps of the 38th Ohio, commanding the Brigade, while standing by our regiment's flag urging the men to stand steady, fell dead, a Rebel bullet had pierced his heart. Our Company's casualties were fortunately light, Robert War- ren was wounded and once Orlando Light dropped as though killed. but on examination we found a bullet had passed through eight folds of his blanket and stopped at the ninth and last, it was a narrow escape with life but many close chances occur in war. However, we held the ridge and drove the Rebels away and commenced to protect ourselves immediately by preparing new works anticipating a second attack, but they came not. We lay with our arms ready among the dead on the ridge that cold night.
The next morning it fell to my lot with six comrades from Company H to assist in burying our own dead, also those of the enemy. Never can I forget the unpleasant and hurried way of the burial of those tall stiff men of the enemy on that side hill of Missionary Ridge. Of this detail Sergeant Samuel Cole, or Father, as we familiarly called him, afterward in battle met a soldier's death and a soldier's burial. After burial duties on the Ridge had been performed we attempted to wash with but little water, had some hot coffee and hard tack, and left for Ringgold where the enemy had withdrawn, here we expected another skirmish but the enemy did no waiting for it, had passed on through the gap; at the time we felt glad, but afterwards we saw them during the Atlanta campaign for 104 days with continuous fire, fight and battle.
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COMPANY H. CAPTURES TWO REBEL OFFICERS.
It was on the 24th day of January, 1863, while our regiment was at Lavergne, Tenn., about half way between Nashville and Murphysboro, that we were ordered out on a foraging ex- pedition to get some hay and corn for our teams. After march- ing about three miles, the left wing under command of Capt. Jacobs had two plantations selected and Co. H was set to work at a fine farm, and it did not take long to fill four wagons with hay and corn. The other companies had gone about half a mile beyond and while we were waiting for them, the Cole brothers of our Company informed me that a darkey had told them that a Rebel Colonel and Quartermasteh were in the fine residence near us. After talking to the darkey myself to obtain particulars I was told by him, that the two officers probably could not be taken without a fight, so I detailed twelve men of my company with loaded guns and placed them in four squads around the house, and then took Corporals Pierce and Hull into the house with me. After getting a drink of water we found an old lady and two younger ones in the parlor. I made my errand known, that I had been ordered to arrest the two men. But I received quite a lecture from the old dame and a haughty denial of harboring any officers. It took me about fifteen min- utes to convince them that I knew what I was talking about and requested one of them to inform the hidden officers to come forward .. Using some severe threats as to what might hap- pen, if they resisted or used fire arms, one of the ladies after consultation went upstairs and in a short time the two Con- federates came down and surrendered to us, although much against their will. We took them to Lavergne, where I turned them over to Colonel Harlan, our Brigade commander, who gave us a vote of thanks for taking two such high officers without any one of us getting into trouble. The officers were Lieut. Col. C. T. Goode of the 10th Tennessee Cavalry, afterward Colonel of 10th Regular Confederates, and Capt. J. B. Weakly, a quartermaster of the Regular Confed- erate Army. Col. Harlan sent them to Nashville where in a few days they were paroled or exchanged.
LAWRENCE GATES,
1st Lieut. Commanding Co. H at that time.
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SHERMAN'S MARCH TO THE SEA By BEN W. CARR, Company A
We started from Goldsboro on a very rainy day, the roads being muddy ; we skirmished all the way and when we got to Smithfield we found the bridge was burned by the Johnny Rebs as afterward we learned.
So hoist up the flag, boys, And long may it wave Over Billy Sherman's boys So true and brave.
Hoist up the flag And long may it wave Over Joe Johnson As he slumbers in the grave.
From Smithfield on to Raleigh we then did wend our way, All along the roadside, the Johnnies they did lay,
But when we got to Raleigh no Rebels there we found, For Kilpatrick had been there and everything was sound.
The first day's march out from Goldsboro, N. C., we ar- rived at Smithfield where we went in camp after marching all day in a drizzling rain. Next morning before starting on the march I, with some of the boys, on looking around the town discovered a whipping post. Someone suggested that we cut it down, so I said, "I will if somebody will furnish the ax ;"' a com- rade of Company H furnished the ax and while we were chop- ping "fall in" sounded but we stayed long enough to finish the job. While we were chopping the post down a courier came back from the front and told us of the assassination of Presi- dent Lincoln. We thought he was jesting and gave it no farther thought. A few hours later the sad news was officially read to our Brigade. We marched that day as far as Statting's Station on the Lynchburg Railroad and went into camp about 3 p. m. sixteen miles south of Raleigh, N. C. Whilst there we heard the whistle of a locomotive. On looking up we saw it coming down the line. Its appearance caused considerable mirth as we had not seen or heard an engine or train of cars for a long time. They drew up and stopped in front of our forces. They had on board Governor Zebulon Butler Vance who bombastically de- clared at the commencement of the war, if the d-n Yanks in- vaded North Carolina that he would take command of the
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army and fill Hell so full of Yanks that their legs would stick out of the windows, but instead of carrying out his threats, he, at the head of the city officials, surrendered the city of Raleigh to the hated Yanks.
On resuming our march next day we passed through the city and encamped on the college grounds on the west of Raleigh. Next day we marched on and skirmishing with the enemy and went in camp at Durham, N. C., an insignificant little town in the pine woods which informants say is the city where the Bull Durham Smoking Tobacco is manufactured; from there we started for Greensboro on the Heuse River where we expected the Rebels would make a stand and give us battle. I, along with others, was detailed on the foraging party, being the last of the kind made in Sherman's Army. We started out with Lieutenant King of Company G in command. After going some distance in the country off the main road traveled by the troops we were divided, six going one way under Lieut. King, and seven under Sergeant Hess of Company E. I was in the squad with Sergeant Hess. Our party soon found a grist mill run by water power obtained from an overshot wheel. There seemed to be no miller in sight. We found fifteen or twenty bushels of wheat but no miller, so one of the boys said "I could grind the wheat if I knew how to start the danged thing;" I told him I believed I could start it. He said, "go ahead. "
I found the gate and started to raise it to let the water on when in popped the miller and said, "what are you all doing down here?" I said we were foraging for Sherman's army and we were out of flour and had to have it. He said the grain did not belong to him. "So much the better," said I, "in that case you lose nothing." "You all better go 'long." I said, "We will do nothing of the kind and if you do not grind for us we are millers and will do our own grinding, and we will put you under guard so you can stay and see that we do it right." After we had joshed him for some time Sergeant Hess explained to him that he would get his pay, that he would give him an order on the quartermaster for his money. So he started the mill and ground us three sacks full (the sacks held about 21/2 bushels). While we were getting our grist some of the boys went across the stream to an old vacant log cabin and tore off the roof for firewood, others started a fire to cook our dinner. While this was being done Lieut. King came up with a wagon load of smoked ham, shoulders and bacon. So we took the door from the cabin and made a table to eat our dinner on, some were baking flap-jacks, others frying meat, three or four others went back to
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the plantation where King's squad got the meat and got a few chickens and a keg of molasses (you bet we had a good dinner) While we were enjoying our dinner we heard a great shouting and commotion. Looking in the direction from whence the noise came we saw fifteen or twenty men bearing down upon us yell- ing. We thought they were Rebel soldiers, but as they came closer we found that they were our own comrades, come out from camp to tell us that an armistice had been agreed to, hence the joy. We loaded our flour on the ox-cart and pro- ceeded back to our regiment in camp at Holly Springs, N. C. That night the order was read to all the troops giving the terms of the armistice and defining an imaginary line to be observed for thirty days in order to come to terms of peace.
We had fixed up a nice camp expecting to stay there for the thirty days, but on the morning of the fourth day about 3 p. m. we heard heavy artillery firing out in our front at Neuse River. Supposing that the parties could not agree to terms of surrender had concluded to fight it out the Third Brigade was ordered to reenforce the First Brigade at Greens- boro, the 74th Indiana being in front and Company A being in front of the Regiment I had good chance for observation. After marching one and a half or two miles, Colonel Morgan called a halt and I being in the front rank, just coming gray daylight I could see a courier advancing with a big white envelope in his belt. I saw him ride up and hand the order to Colonel Morgan. I suppose that he told the Colonel of the contents for it was not light enough to see to read the order ; the Colonel faced and said "boys the war is over"; then there was pandemonium. The boys threw up their hats and yelled at the top of their voices. That was virtually the end for General Joseph E. Johnston surrendered to General W. T. Sherman 36,817 men, the largest number that was surrendered at any time during the Rebellion.
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PERSONAL MEMOIRS By CAPTAIN RUNYAN
When the Regiment was camped at Lavergne, Tenn., I visited Nashville-fifteen miles away-quite often and on each occasion stopped with Captain Driver, a Union resident of the city whose home was the headquarters of Union officers and soldiers in the city temporarily. I became quite well acquaint- ed with the family, the Captain and his wife and two grown daughters.
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