USA > Indiana > History of the Seventy-fifth regiment of Indiana infantry voluteers. its organization, campaigns, and battles (1862-65.) > Part 8
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On Wednesday, June 24th, the advance movement of the entire army began. The Twentieth Corps advanced on the Shelbyville pike in the direction of Liberty Gap. By de- flection, the troops passed through Millersburg, where two Divisions of the Corps bivouacked for the night, while the other troops proceeded towards the Gap. When McCook had advanced some distance, after entering the Wartrace road, Johnson's Division encountered tlie Confederates at the Liberty Gap, which after a hard fight was taken and held. The capture of Liberty Gap, which cost Willich's and Miller's Brigades of Johnson's Division and Carlin's Brigade of Davis' Division the sacrifice of 231 men, killed and wounded, was a gallant and creditable affair. Major-Gen. Patrick R. Cleburne's Division, on the Confederate side, lost the heaviest in this engagement. The entire Confederate loss was 100 killed and 750 wounded.
The Reserve Corps took the Middleton road, accompanied by the Third Division of the Fourteenth Corps, from Salem, where they had been ordered the day previous, and advanced
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History of the Seventy-fifth Regiment
on Christiana, bivouacking at night in rear of the Twentieth Corps.
The Twenty-first Corps, except the Division of Van Cleve, which was left at Murfreesboro, concentrated at Bradyville to await orders. The casualties of this Corps in the Tulla- homa campaign were but one man wounded. The Four- teenth Corps, under Thomas, left Murfreesboro on the Manchester pike. The Fourth Division under Reynolds took the initiative-starting at 4 o'clock in the morning. The First Division, under Rousseau, moved at 7 a. m. in support of Reynolds. The Second Division, under Negley, being in reserve, did not start until 10 o'clock in the morn- ing.
Our Division advanced in the following order: The First Brigade of mounted Infantry, Colonel John T. Wilder com- manding, moved on the right. Our Brigade advanced on the left. On this campaign, Colonel Milton S. Robinson of our Regiment commanded our Brigade, in place of the gallant and late lamented Colonel Albert S. Hall, who died of fever, July Ioth, 1863. Colonel Edward A. King of the Sixty- eighth Indiana was absent sick; otherwise he would have been in command. The Third Brigade was in reserve in this advance movement. It was commanded by Brigadier General George Crook, who subsequently became a noted Cavalry officer in the Shenandoah Valley,'and a famous Indi- an fighter of the Northwest. The soldiers of the Fourth Division of the Fourteenth Corps, which were the only Na- tional troops in the battle of Hoover's Gap, met the Confed- erate Cavalry pickets about two miles in advance of our own picket line, at Big Spring Branch. These pickets were composed of the First Kentucky Confederate Cavalry, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel J. W. Griffith. We pushed these pickets to their reserve force, all of which we drove pell-mell through Hoover's Gap, as far as McBride's Creek, 18 miles south of Murfreesboro. This movement was exe- cuted so rapidly and persistently, and the location for the
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of Indiana Infantry Volunteers.
movement of Cavalry was so unfavorable, that this Confeder- ate Cavalry force had no time and opportunity to reform, but was compelled to break and scatter in every direction over the hills.
The Mounted Brigade was ordered out the Manchester road towards Fairfield, and down the Noah's Fork road, as far as Robertson's Mill. On these roads, small detachments of this same cavalry Regiment, under Col. J. R. Butler and Lt. Col. Griffith, were met, scattered and demoralized. The Second and Third Brigades of Infantry under Robinson and Crook now moved into the Gap, and made preparations for an attack. About 2 o'clock in the afternoon, three Confed- erate Infantry Regiments and a Battery-Twentieth Tenn- essee, the First Georgia and the Fourth Georgia Battalion and the Eufaula's Battery-under the personal command of Brig. Gen. W. B. Bate, vigorously attacked the First Brigade at Garrison's Fork, near the southern terminus of the Gap, This was too much for Wilder; Bate claims that he drove him back into the Gap. The Second and Third Brigades of In- fantry were now rapidly pushed forward to the affray. Bate became alarmed about the security of his left flank, and un- der the eye of Gen. A. P. Stewart, his Division commander, who was now on the field, he sent the Fifteenth and Thirty- Seventh Tennessee Regiments, which had now come up, to- gether with the Ninth Georgia Battalion, on a charge across Garrison's Fork to gain the hills so as to protect his flank. This attack was made with spirit and resolution. They gained some momentary advantage. The Thirty-seventh Georgia was also sent to gain one of the hills, from which we received an enfilade fire. A Confederate Brigade, under Brig. Gen. Bushrod R. Johnson, moved in the rear of Bate's Brigade as a support. It was now about 4 o'clock in the af- ternoon. The disposition of the Second Brigade to meet this vigorous attack was as follows: The Nineteenth Indiana Bat- tery, under Capt. S. J. Harris, was stationed on a command- ing elevation with the Sixty-eighth Indiana Regiment in sup-
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History of the Seventy-fifth Regiment
port. The Seventy-fifth Indiana Regiment, under Lt. Col. Win. O'Brien, supported by the two remaining Regiments of the Brigade-the One-hundred and first Indiana and One- hundred and fifth Ohio-double quicked to the extreme right of our line, which was greatly pressed by a large force. When the Regiment got into position here, it fought despe- rately for the space of two hours. The position of the Regi- ment here was in front of a strip of cedars, facing the accli- vity of a steep hill, at the foot of which ran Garrison's Fork of the Duck River. From the official report of Gen. Bate, the Thirty-seventh Georgia Confederate Regiment, under Col. A. F. Rudler, which had been ordered to occupy this hill, and direct an enfilade fire upon the force engaging the Confederate left, composed the troops confronting the Sev- enty-fifth Indiana. Robinson's Brigade, with the assistance of two Regiments of Wilder's Brigade with their Spencer Carbines, succeeded in dislodging the Confederates under Bate and Johnson, and driving them back from the hills and woods on our right, and thus preventing them from turning our right flank.
In the fight at this point, though the loss in the Second Brigade was slight, Bate's Confederate Brigade lost very heavily. In his official report to his chief, Gen. Bate says:
"My command-having lost in killed and wounded nearly twenty-five per cent. of the number engaged, being wet from the drenching rain, and ex- hausted from the fight-was relieved by the reinforcements, except the Twentieth Tennessee and Eufaula Light Artillery, which remained without intermission in line of battle. Thus closed with the day a most spirited and sanguinary conflict, in which less than 700 men (about one-half of my Bri- gade) successfully fought and drove back into Hoover's Gap and held at bay until nightfall the battalions of the advancing foe. It was a bright day for the glory of our arms, but a sad one, when we consider the loss of the many gallant spirits who sealed with their blood their devotion to our cause."
This estimated loss, which Gen. Bate herein gives, must be an exaggeration. He could not have lost twenty-five per cent. of his men engaged, unless his Regiments were greatly depleted, for he had four Regiments and a Battalion, and two
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of Indiana Infantry Volunteers.
Batteries engaged, the loss of which in killed and wounded aggregated 145, including nine officers. The official returns of casualties, herewith following, of the only two Divisions- Federal and Confederate-engaged in the fight, show all the losses.
The affair at Hoover's Gap was a complete victory to Reynolds' Division. The odds were largely against the Con- federates. Their gallant effort to prevent an onward mnove- ment of the National army proved utterly futile. For the time occupied and the number of men engaged, the battle was sanguinary-especially on the Confederate side. The casualties in the Fourth Division were 15 killed and 60 wounded. Among the killed was the Rev. John R. Eddy, the chaplain of the Seventy-second Indiana Regiment, He was killed by a cannon ball. In Stewart's Confederate Di- vision were 22 killed, 153 wounded, and 40 captured. The largest portion of the prisoners were from the first Kentucky Cavalry (which is not given in the tabulated statement fol- lowing). With the prisoners of this Regiment, a battle flag was captured. This trophy, made of silk and beautifully embroidered, was a present to the First Kentucky Confeder- ate Cavalry, from the sister of Gen. B. H. Helm, who subse- quently lost his life in the battle of Chickamauga, leading the Kentucky (Confederate) Brigade. He was a brother-in-law of Mrs. President Lincoln.
Rosecrans, by selecting the route upon which he marched his army, could not have successfully made the Tullahoma campaign without passing through Hoover's Gap. Bragg very well knew this, hence he stubbornly and persistently held the Gap as long as he could. It cost our Division sev- eral valuable lives, but the importance of its possession was the compensation for the sacrifice which we made to take it.
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History of the Seventy-fifth Regiment
Return of Casualties in the Fourth Division, Fourteenth Army Corps, in the Battle of Hoover's Gap, June 24th, 1863.
Killed.
Wounded.
Captured or missing.
FOURTH DIVISION.
Maj .- Gen. JOSEPH J. REYNOLDS. First Brigade.
Col. JOHN T. WILDER.
Officers.
Enlisted men.
Officers.
Enlistad men.
Officers.
Enlisted men.
Aggregate.
98th Illinois.
I
4
5
123d Illinois .
2
4
6
17th Indiana.
6
I
18
25
72d Indiana.
I
I
12
I4
Total First Brigade.
I
IO
I
38
50
Second Brigade.
Col. MILTON S. ROBINSON.
68th Indiana.
I
I
5
7
75th Indiana.
2
2
IOIst Indiana.
6
6
105th Ohio
I
I
Total Second Brigade
I
I
14
I6
Third Brigade.
Brig .- Gen. GEORGE CROOK.
18th Kentucky.
2
3
5
92d Ohio
I
I
2
Total Third Brigade
3
4
7
Artillery.
18th Indiana Battery .
I
I
19th Indiana Battery .
I
I
Total Artillery
2
2
Total Fourth Division
I
14
2
58
75
.
.
Considering the spirited fighting which our Regiment did, and the amount of damage inflicted upon the enemy at Hoover's Gap, the loss in the Seventy-fifth was unusually small. The casualties were two men wounded. Cyrus V. Gorrell, of Company K, lost an eye in this battle. Isaac Pitzer, of Company B, was shot in the face, from the effects of which he died after the war.
IOI
of Indiana Infantry Volunteers.
Return of Casualties in Bate's Brigade, Stewart's Division, in the Skirmish at Hoover's Gap, June 24th-26th, 1863.
[Compiled from nominal list of casualties.]
Killed.
Wounded.
Command.
Officers.
Enlisted men.
Officers.
Enlisted men.
Aggregate.
9th Alabama
5
5
Ist [37th] Georgia.
3
3
42
48
15th and 37th Tennessee
20th Tennessee. .
3
6
I
23
33
Caswell's Battalion .
I
3
I
38
43
Eufaula Battery
2
6
8
Maney's Battery
2
2
Total
4
15
5
I2I
I45
OFFICERS REPORTED KILLED .- Caswell's Battalion, Adjt. J. R. Yourie; Twentieth Tennessee, Maj. F. Claybrooke (died of wounds), Capt. J. A. Pet- tigrew, and Adjt. James W. Thomas.
Return of Casualties in Bushrod Johnson's Brigade, Stewart's Division, Hardee's Corps, in the Skirmish at Hoover's Gap, June 24th, 1863.
Killed.
Wounded.
Captured or missing.
Command.
Officers.
Men.
Officers.
Men.
Officers.
Men1.
Aggregate.
17th Tennessee .
I
16
I
I
19
23d Tennessee
I
I
3
5
25th Tennessee .
I
5
I
7
44th Tennessee
2
3
5
Battery .
Total.
3
I
26
I
5
36
.
5
6
I
.
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History of the Seventy-fifth Regiment
The number of officers and men who were left in Middle Tennessee by desertion and otherwise, and have not yet re- turned, are as follows:
Command.
Officers.
Men.
17th Tennessee
3
I25
23d Tennessee
52
25th Tennsssee.
47
44th Tennessee.
104
Battery .
4
Total .
3
332
By the morning of the 25th, the Fourth Division had got- ten quite through the Gap, and occupied the deep narrow gorge, known as Matt's Hollow. Rousseau's Division was encamped near'the Widow Hoover's house in supporting dis- tance, and Negley's Division was at Big Spring Branch in Rousseau's rear. The disposition of the Fourth Division was as the previous day.
The Confederates planted two cannon directly opposite the right of our line. Reynolds placed two guns of Lilly's Bat- tery in position opposite the Confederate guns, which resulted in an artillery duel of a few hours, after which the Confede- rates withdrew their guns.
Capt. Harris, of the Nineteenth Indiana Battery, belonging to the Second Brigade, put two of his rifled cannon in a com- manding position on a high knob, from which they did ex- cellent work during the day. The Regiments of Infantry supporting Harris' Battery-the Seventy-fifth being one- skirmished quite lively at times with the Confederate pickets nearly all day. About sunset there was a vigorous artillery duel of an hour between the Batteries, with very little dam- age to our forces. The casualties of the 25th of June in the Fourth Division were three killed and six wounded. Gen.
.
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of Indiana Infantry Volunteers.
Thomas made the following disposition of the Fourteenth Corps during the night: Rousseau's Division was placed in the immediate rear of Reynolds, to be in readiness to attack the Confederates at Beech Grove. The Third Division under Brannan, having arrived from Salem and encamped at Hoover's Mill, moved up very early in the morning, before daylight, to take part in the assault. The Second Division (Negley's) moved in support of the others. It rained inces- santly during the night of the 25th, as it did almost without intermission during the campaign, which made it very diffi- cult for the Divisions of the Corps to move into their respect- ive positions.
On the morning of the 26th, the Divisions of the Corps co- operated in a gallant fight at Beech Grove, with a small loss to our forces. Immediately thereafter the First and Third Divisions drove the Confederates in the direction of Fairfield. The Fourth Division rapidly advanced toward Manchester, encamping a few miles north of the place, having taken nine prisoners on the way. During the morning of the next day, the Division quickly moved into the town, capturing a guard of twenty prisoners at the railroad depot, three of whom were commissioned officers. The town was taken by a complete surprise. The Division spent the day of the 28th here rest- ing, except Wilder's mounted Brigade, which was sent via Hillsborough to cut the Nashville and Chattanooga railroad in the vicinity of Decherd.
During the 26th, the Twentiethi Corps remained encamped at Liberty Gap, and the Reserve Corps at Christiana. The Twenty-first Corps marched with great difficulty over the muddy roads in the direction of Manchester. The Twentieth Corps withdrew from Liberty Gap on the 27tli, and passed through Hoover's Gap, marching towards Manchester in rear of the Fourteenth Corps. The Reserve Corps with Stanley's Cavalry captured Guy's Gap, through which they passed to Shelbyville after brushing away Wharton's Confederate Cavalry a few miles north of the town.
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History of the Seventy-fifth Regiment
All these movements on the theatre of war proved conclu- sively that Bragg considered his line of defense no longer tenable, and by the withdrawal of his army from Rosecrans' front, the success of the latter's strategy was confirmned.
During the morning of the 29th, in a drenching rain, the Second and Third Brigades of the Fourth Division, Four- teenth Corps, marched in the direction of Tullahoma, en- camping within five miles of the town near Concord Church, at the intersection of the Tullahoma and Winchester roads. At the same time the First and Third Divisions encamped at Crumpton's Creek and the Second at Bobo's Cross Roads. At Concord Church the two Brigades of the Fourth Division lay in camp all day of the 30th. On this date, Gen. Thomas sent upon a reconnaissance in the direction of Tullahoma the Second Brigade of the Third Division, under Gen. Steedman, and two Ohio Regiments from the Third Brigade of the Fourth Division-the Eighty-ninth and Ninety-second-u11- der Col. Fearing. These troops advanced on different roads within two miles of the town before discovering the Confed- erate pickets. With a feeble resistance they drove the pickets to their reserve posts, when Colonel Fearing, think- ing the enemy was only drawing him into a trap, returned to camp at Concord Church. The mounted Brigade also re- turned on the evening of the 30th, having succeeded in cut- ting the railroad near Decherd.
On Wednesday, July Ist, Gen. Thomas, for the second time, sent upon a reconnaissance Steedman's Brigade and two Regiments of the Fourth Division towards Tullahoma. The force from the Fourth Division (Gen. Reynolds) this time consisted of two Indiana Regiments-the Sixty-eighth and the Seventy-fifth-under Colonel Milton S. Robinson. These forces moved upon different roads also, Robinson's Regiments advancing upon Steedman's left. As they neared Tullahoma Robinson deployed the Seventy-fifth, his own Regiment, as skirmishers. At Tullahoma the Confederates had built forti- fications, in front of which they constructed abatis of felled
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of Indiana Infantry Volunteers.
trees, denuded of their smaller branches, and the sharpened ends of their larger branches directed upwards and outwards towards our advancing lines. The town lies in a low, flat and marshy country, called the "Barrens." The con- tinued rains soaked the ground and made it like a quagmire. In view of the jagged branches of the felled trees through which
BREASTWORKS AND CHEVAUX-DE-FRISE AT TULLAHOMA, TENNESSEE, JULY IST, 1863.
we had to pick our way, and the soft ground and water, on account of the incessant rains, over and through which we had to travel, the skirmish line of the Seventy-fifth made its advance upon Tullahoma under difficulties. How- ever, the line reached Tull-
ahoma at eleven o'clock in the morning, and discovered that the Confederates had evacuated the town, and no troops of
8
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History of the Seventy-fifth Regiment
any kind were there, except the rear guard of the retreating enemy, a few of whom we captured.
Hence, the Sixty-eighth and the Seventy-fifth Indiana Regiments were the first Union troops to enter the town of Tullahoma after its evacuation by the Confederates. They were the first troops to reach the objective point of the cam- paign. This information was conveyed by an orderly to Gen. Reynolds froin Col. Robinson. The Brigade under Gen. Steedman arrived an hour later-at 12 o'clock, noon.
As Gen. Steedman was the senior officer, Col. Robinson reported to him for duty, on his arrival. As soon as Gen. Reynolds was informed of the situation, lie moved forward the remainder of the Fourth Division, which entered Tulla- homa about 5 p. m.
The following is an extract of Gen. Reynolds' report of the capture of Tullahoma:
"June 30, division lay in camp. Sent reconnaissance of two regiments, the Eighty-ninth and Ninety-second Ohio, Colonel Fearing, Ninety second Ohio, from the Third Brigade, toward Tullahoma. This force went to within two miles of Tullahoma, and encountered the enemy's cavalry pickets. Drove them back to the main body of cavalry, which being too strong for the party, it returned to camp.
July I, sent reconnoitering party of Sixty-eighth and Seventy-fifth Indi- ana, under Colonel Robinson, toward Tullahoma, in support of a force from Third Division (Brannan's), Fourteenth Army Corps, which moved on another road from Concord Church. Colonel Robinson's command marched into Tullahoma by II a. m., and found no troops of enemy or our own in possess- sion. Colonel Robinson sent this information to division headquarters, and on arrival of General Steedman, with his brigade, reported to him, as the senior officer present. On the receipt of this information, the remainder of the division marched to Tullahoma, and on arriving, about 5 p. m., found the place occupied by the Third Division (Brannan's), Fourteenth Army Corps, and the command of Colonel Robinson above referred to. Division encamped at Tullahoma."
The campaign, of which Tullahoma was the objective- lasting ten days-was eminently successful. It was the means of driving the Confederates, not only from two strongly fortified towns, Shelbyville and Tullahoma, but also of forcing
107
of Indiana Infantry Volunteers.
them out of Middle Tennessee, thus restoring to the Federal Government all that important territory lying north of the Tennessee River. The campaign began, progressed, and ended during a rain, which, for the great quantity of water- fall in so short a time, was, without a precedent, the mnost extraordinary in the history of Middle Tennessee. The Seventy- fifth Regiment, with its Division and Corps, during the campaign of ten days, marched seventy miles, fought successfully at Hoover's Gap a battle, slept in the rain, and waded rivers and streams without a dry stitch of clothing. With great difficulty we kept our powder dry.
Of the conduct of the troops of the Fourteenth Corps on the campaign, Gen. George H. Thomas, its magnificent commander, in his official report of the campaign says:
"Without particularizing or referring to individual merit in any one di- vision of my command, I can render willing testimony to the manly endur- ance and soldierly conduct of both officers and men composing my corps, marching day and night, through a most relentless rain, and over almost impassable roads, bivouacking by the roadside, ever ready and willing to "fall in " and pursue the enemy whenever ordered, with a cheerfulness and determination truly admirable, and no less commendable when confronting the enemy; fearless and undaunted, their columns never wavered, giving the highest proof of their veteran qualities, and showing what dependence can be placed upon them in time of peril."
The total loss in the Army of the Cumberland during the campaign, in killed, wounded and missing, was 570; of this number the Fourteenth Corps lost 206, and the Fourth Di- vision of the Corps, 75.
The total loss in the Army of Tennessee (Confederate) was 1000 killed and wounded and 1634 captured. With the captured were thousands of stands of small arms, seven pieces of Artillery, one hundred tents, and thirty-five hundred sacks of corn meal.
Extract from Gen. Rosecrans' report:
"The Fourteenth Corps, Major-Gen. Thomas, was to advance on the Manchester pike, seize and hold with its advance, if practicable, Hoover's
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History of the Seventy-fifth Regiment
Gap. .. Gen. Reynolds had the advance in the Fourteenth Corps . . . He surprised and carried Hoover's Gap, a defile 3 miles in length."
Extract from Gen. Thomas' report:
"Early on the morning of July I, having heard from a citizen that the enemy were evacuating Tullahoma, Steedman's Brigade, Third Division, supported by two regiments of Reynolds' Division on his left, were ordered to advance cautiously and ascertain if the report was true. Meeting with no opposition, he entered Tullahoma at 12 in. capturing a few prisoners."
Extract from Gen. Reynolds' report of Hoover's Gap:
"Harris' Battery (Nineteenth Indiana) was ordered to the front, and the Sixty-eighth Indiana to support it. The Seventy-fifth and One-hundred and first Indiana, and One-hundred and fifth Ohio, were ordered to the ex- treme right, which was now hard pressed by superior numbers."
Extract of the report of Brig. Gen. W. B. Bate, of the Con- federate Regiment (Thirty-seventh Georgia) which confronted the Seventy-fifth Indiana Regiment during the engagement at Hoover's Gap:
"Finding no disposition on the part of the foe to press my right to regain the ground from which he had been driven and relieve the Manchester pike, I ordered Colonel [A. F.] Rudler, with the Thirty-Seventh Georgia Regi- ment, to move his command across the creek up the steep acclivity of its left bank, form line parallel to the same, and give an enfilading fire to the force then heavily engaging my left. The order was obeyed with alacrity and in good style. The enemy, anticipating the move, met it with a line of battle fronting the wood which skirted the bank of the creek. A bloody engage- ment here ensued, with great odds against us, and after a futile but most persistent and gallant effort to dislodge him, Colonel Rudler properly with- drew his command under cover of the bank. At this juncture every gun and piece in that portion of my command which had arrived on the field was engaged in a spirited and deadly contest."
CHAPTER V.
CROSSING THE ELK RIVER-CAMPS WINFORD AND UNIVER- SITY PLACE-MOVEMENT ACROSS THE CUMBERLAND MOUN- TAINS AND TENNESSEE RIVER-SCALING LOOKOUT MOUN- TAIN-EVACUATION OF CHATTANOOGA BY THE ENEMY.
(JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER 17TH, 1863.)
ON July 2d, by order of General Thomas, the Third and Fourth Divisions of his Corps moved to Spring Creek, and pursued the Confederates out thie Winchester road, as far as Elk River. Here the bridge spanning the river was burnt by the enemy. The Fourth, accompanied by the First and Third Divisions, at once moved up the river as far as Jones' Ford. Some of the troops crossed over here; but on account of the continuous rains, which had swollen Elk River, Gen- eral Reynolds, to protect his ammunition, deemed it prudent not to attempt a crossing, until the burnt bridge should be repaired or the water should abate. Hence, the Fourth Division remained on the north side of the river, and en- camped for the night at this fording.
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