USA > Indiana > History of the Seventy-third Indiana Volunteers in the War of 1861-65 > Part 10
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direct route to the Mussel Shoals, where he could cross the river. General Granger sent up to the support of Colonel Wade two rifled guns and 30 artillerymen of the First Tennessee Battery, and 200 men of the Second Tennessee Cavalry, with the Seventy-third baggage train with garrison and camp equipage.
September 29th reveille was sounded before day- break, and the command formed in line to be ready should an early attack be made.
The following is taken verbatim from Colonel Wade's diary, giving his account of the building of a bomb-proof at this fort and the result of the fight.
"This splendid fort had been built with a great deal of trouble and expense, but the fatal mistake was made of not building a bomb-proof. A happy thought finally struck me. I had not the time to build one in- side the fort, and whatever was to be done must be done quickly, as I had no definite information in regard to the enemy, and was liable to be attacked at any mo- ment. The outside ditch would serve my purpose ad- mirably, and I immediately set to work a force of men and all the teams available in hauling up logs from the old huts in the vicinity. These laid across the ditch makes it perfectly bomb-proof, as any shot striking it will do so slantingly, and must therefore glance off. An entrance into this novel arrangement will be effected by a passageway dug under the gate of the fort. If Forrest gives me until tomorrow noon I will fight his command, artillery and all. There are about 100 wounded here. One dead negro soldier was found upon the battlefield today and buried. A hard rain storm is now setting in.
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"October Ist, 1864 .- I was heartily glad to see my wagon train come in this noon. Huntsville was at- tacked last night, and Major McBath, with the Second Tennessee Cavalry, had been ordered at midnight to proceed to that place, and started this morning at day- break, but came tearing back this afternoon, having met the enemy's advance guard four miles from Hunts- ville coming this way. At 3 p. m. the pickets on the Huntsville road were driven in, and at the same time a drenching rain storm commenced. I deployed one company of dismounted cavalry to engage the enemy, who had taken position behind the railroad, and commenced moving the baggage into the fort. Firing was kept up briskly on the skirmish line until dusk, when I reinforced it with Company G of the Seventy- third to prevent the rebels from gaining possession of a cluster of houses near the fort. The cavalry dis- mounted, fastened their horses, and were stationed in- side of the fort. The passageway under the gate lead- ing into my bomb-proof was but a foot deep when skir- mishing first commenced, but I put all the men on to it that could work, with instructions to dig away, no matter how hard the fighting, and by midnight it was large enough to be used. My garrison now consisted of five companies of the Seventy-third Indiana In- fantry, under command of Captain Eaton; four com- panies of the Second Tennessee Cavalry, under Major McBath; two companies of the Tenth Indiana Dis- mounted Cavalry, commanded by Captain Gaffney; and a section of the Second Tennessee Artillery, Battery A, under Lieutenant Tobin, in all, about 500 effective
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men, opposed to which was Brigadier-General A. Bu- ford's Division of Cavalry and a battery of four guns, numbering 4,000 men. His advantage was in numbers. Ours was in fortifications, a good bomb-proof, and a better cause. During the night the noise made by the enemy's guns enabled me to locate their position ex- actly, and the two pieces in the fort were brought to bear upon them, ready to answer their fire as soon as opened. Three companies were moved into the bomb- proof, the balance placed in advantageous positions, and, we were ready to fight Buford and his whole command.
"October 2d, 1864 .- Half an hour before daybreak the men were aroused and stood to arms. From early daylight till 6 a. m. a brisk fire was kept up with small- arms, principally from the west side, where a thick growth of timber approached to within short range of the fort. At 6 a. m. the enemy opened with one gun situated southwest from the fort on the Brown's Ferry road, which was promptly responded to. Ten minutes after three rifled pieces opened fire upon us in quick succession from a slight elevation one-half mile north. With such a cross fire there was scarcely a spot in the fort but what could be reached by a shell, and I im- mediately moved the troops into the bomb-proof, leav- ing a sufficient number as sentinels to watch for indica- tions of an assault. I had previously given orders to Lieutenant Arnold, commanding Company E, to halt any flag of truce that might approach some distance from the fort in order that they might not discover our bomb-proof. After half an hour's practice the enemy's
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guns obtained the range and threw shells into the fort with great accuracy. I had planted the regimental flag of the Seventy-third on the parapet, and it suffered con- siderably, two shells passing through and tearing great holes. A caisson cover was torn off and set on fire within a few inches of the ammunition. Private A. H. Kersey, of Company I, instantly put it out with a pail of water at the imminent risk of being blown to atoms. A tall chimney was tumbled to the ground, hardly leaving one brick upon another. Thirty horses were killed or wounded which were fastened a few yards from the walls of the fort. Five shells struck exactly at the position where Company D of the Seventy-third had stood. About sixty rounds were fired at us. Twenty-two struck the fort, nearly all in- side, the balance bursting overhead or passing beyond. Our two guns returned this severe fire cooly and steadily. Had we remained silent the rebs would not have wasted so much ammunition upon us. At eight o'clock General Buford, concluding that we must be pretty well demoralized, ceased firing, and we soon saw a horseman approaching with a flag of truce. I dele- gated Captain William C. Eaton, of Company I, to meet him and try to ascertain the disposition of their troops while I was answering whatever communica- tion should be sent. While the flag was approaching I had leisure to examine the field with a glass, and soon discovered they were moving up a dismounted line in front of my weakest point. This was a viola- tion of the flag, but I concluded not to notice it and simply ordered out three companies and trained the ar-
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tillery upon their line, which was moved up within 200 yards of the fort. Private Johnson, who had accom- panied the Captain, soon brought in a sealed envelope which contained the following :
"Headquarters in the Field, Near Athens, Ala., October 2, 1864.
"Commanding Officer, U. S. Forces, Athens, Ala.
"Sir: Having invested your place with a sufficient force to reduce it in a short time, for the sake of hu- manity, I demand the surrender of the fort, garrison, etc. Certain conditions will attend the surrender, with which conditions the bearer of this will acquaint you.
"I am, sir, with much respect, etc.,
A. BUFORD, Brig. Genl. P. A. C. S., Comdg.
"Buford's Adjutant, General Small, proved to be the bearer. I had some curiosity to know what conditions he would offer, but as that might lead him to think that we would surrender if they were liberal enough, I sat down on a cracker box and wrote the following:
"Headquarters United States Forces, Athens, Ala., October 2, 1864.
"Brigadier-General A. Buford, Commanding Confederate Forces, In front of Athens, Ala.
"Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of
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your communication of this date, demanding the sur- render of the fort and garrison under my command. In answer I would say that having a sufficient force to defend the place I decline to surrender.
"Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
A. B. WADE,
Lieutenant-Colonel Seventy-third Indiana Comdg."
and sending it out ordered the flag off and Captain Eaton to return immediately. It seems the cowardly rebels had basely taken advantage of this flag, and while I was engaged writing an answer stole six wagons and four ambulances directly from under my guns. I did not know this at the time, but because they had changed position under the flag I determined to teach them a lesson, and as soon as the flag dis- appeared ordered four companies and the artillery to open on their new line. They fell back in confusion, leaving four dead. They continued to annoy us with their sharpshooters, who had taken possession of head- quarters. I finally ordered eight shell to be sent through the building, which drove them out in a hurry. I then sent skirmishers out in every direction at 10 a. m. Suspecting that Buford had found a harder nut to crack than he anticipated, and was leaving, which proved to be true, the cavalry immediately pursued, and found that they had retreated down the Florence road. Our loss was only two slightly wounded. That of the enemy unknown, as he carried off all his wounded. This victory of ours has a great significance
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from the fact that a larger garrison surrendered this same fort when in better condition only a week or two since. I estimate the saving on casualties by our bomb- proof to be at least 50, as shells cannot explode in a small fort filled with men without killing somebody."
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EVACUATION OF ATHENS AND SKIRM- ISHING WITH HOOD AT DECATUR.
After General Buford's retreat from Athens the troops remained there under command of Colonel Wade until October 4th, when the Second Tennessee Cavalry left us and 150 men of the One hundred and second Ohio and one other company of the Seventy- third Indiana were added to the garrison. Lieutenant L. P. Williams, of Company K, who had gone to Athens from Decatur just prior to the fight, remained there, and was appointed Post Commissary. The command continued to increase in numbers until, on the 6th of October, there were six companies of the Seventy-third, 316 men, Captain Eaton commanding : 170 men of the One hundred and second Ohio, Captain Beerbower commanding; 116 dismounted men of the Tenth Indiana Cavalry, Captain Gaffney commanding ; 237 men of the One hundred and twenty-fifth Illinois Infantry, Captain Cook commanding; 31 men of the First Tennessee Artillery Battery, Lieutenant Tobin commanding-a total of some 870 men for duty, be- sides about 200 sick and wounded.
On the 7th the men of the One hundred and second Ohio were ordered to Decatur. Two more dead rebels were found in the brush, killed in the battle of the 2d.
On October 13th Company K returned to the regi- ment from the Piney Creeks, and about 300 men of the Ninth Ohio Cavalry were added to the garrison.
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On October 27th Lieutenant-Colonel Wade was or- dered to Decatur with his regiment, leaving one com- pany -C-and the convalescents at Athens, with Lieu- tenant Williams in command. The rebel general, Hood, was threatening Decatur, and fighting had al- ready commenced. The detachment arrived about two o'clock in the morning of the 28th, with 150 men avail- able for duty. A portion of the Seventy-third had ar- rived at the fort the day preceding Colonel Wade's arrival, and had made a charge, re-establishing the picket lines, which had been driven back by the charge from the rebels.
At daylight on the 28th it was discovered that the enemy had fortified their new lines, which extended from the river above the fort to the river below, a dis- tance of about three miles. One company of the Eighteenth Michigan moved out on the right of the Seventy-third, flanked the enemy's line, and charged down upon them with a yell which surprised the rebel line and broke it to the rear without firing a shot. The artillery from our fort immediately opened on them with telling effect, killing and wounding a number, while about 100 were taken prisoners. The enemy im- mediately advanced another line, and the Seventy-third was ordered out to cover the retreat of the Eighteenth Michigan
We double-quicked to the southeast sallyport and pushed out under a heavy skirmish fire. We deployed to the right and left, and lay down to escape the fire of the enemy, and after remaining there some time firing and being fired upon, we returned to the fort without
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the loss of a man, although two were wounded. One man was killed in the charge made on the 27th, Robert Flewellyn, of Company I.
In the afternoon of the 28th we were sent out to hold the extreme left rifle pits. The enemy were in considerable force in our front and a lively skirmish was kept up all the afternoon. Eighty rounds of am- munition to the man was thus expended by us with but small results, as both sides were well protected. A regiment of colored troops, under Colonel Morgan, was sent out to charge a rebel battery on our left, but the position was too strong and they fell back with a loss of 40 killed and wounded. In the evening we were relieved from the picket line and returned to the fort.
On the 29th we still remained on picket duty, but the enemy seemed to be leaving, and soon our skirmishers occupied their ground and we recovered the body of Robert Flewellyn, and also found several of their own men left unburied in their "gopher holes."
On the 30th it was assumed that Hood's whole army was crossing the river at Florence, and it was thought that we would march immediately toward Nashville by way of Athens, and our regiment was ordered back to Athens, where we arrived and found everything all right.
On October 31st we had positive orders about four o'clock in the afternoon to evacuate Athens at once, without waiting for railroad transportation. The Seventy-third remained, however, until night, and then marched to Decatur Junction.
Considerable government property was ordered to
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be destroyed, and it was hastily set on fire and destroyed.
The next morning we were ordered to return to Athens, and we marched back, arriving there about 3 p. m. The hasty evacuation had evidently been a mistake, either of the General Commanding, or a mis- understanding on the part of Colonel O'Dowd, of the One hundred and eighty-first Ohio, who had, as rank- ing officer, command of the place on our return there on the 30th.
On' November 7th orders were received from Gen- eral Granger to be ready to evacuate whenever the enemy should appear in force. Colonel Wade tele- graphed for permission to remain, claiming that he could hold the post against ten times our number, but received the reply that the order was from General Thomas, and was imperative. Accordingly, we set off our baggage on the cars.
On November 14th it was apprehended that Decatur was to be again attacked, and 100 men from our regi- ment, under command of Lieutenant Clark, went down to Decatur and remained in the trenches all night. Next day we moved to the hotel porch at the close of a rainy day, and some of us slept inside the hotel on the night of the 16th, but on the 17th we returned to Athens on a special train and found our baggage all returned.
On November 18th Colonel Wade received an order from General Granger, assigning him to the command of all that part of the Tennessee and Alabama and M. and C railroads, then under command of Brigadier-
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General Starkweather, extending from Athens to Hur- ricane Creek.
On November 19th Captain Gaffney's company of the Tenth Indiana Cavalry was added to our forces for courier duty.
On November 23d Colonel Wade, Lieutenant Wil- liams, and some of the scouts escorted the Paymaster in his visit to pay off the companies on the railroad and at Triana, and late in the afternoon of that day we received orders to evacuate Athens again.
Lieutenant Hagenbuck had been left in command of the regiment, and on the 24th, under his command, we vacated Athens for the last time and set out on our march to Decatur Junction, where we went into camp, Colonel Wade having met us on the march there.
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EVACUATION AND REOCCUPANCY OF NORTHERN ALABAMA.
On November 25th we marched to Huntsville, going by way of Mooresville. We called in the companies located on the railroad and at Triana as we marched along, and when we reached Huntsville about 10.30 o'clock at night found the troops preparing to evacuate.
We lay in camp all day the 26th, amidst great excite- ment. Business men were trying to dispose of their goods in order to get away. Colored people and white refugees were making preparations to leave ; also many were going off on top of the trains, and some old build- ings were set on fire, without orders, which kept the town lighted up at night. The whole regiment was placed on patrol duty.
On the 27th we broke camp about eleven o'clock and started on the march toward Stevenson, and we marched out about eight miles. There was a large number of refugees and negroes following us with their household goods and bundles, many of them car- rying them on their heads.
On the 28th we continued our march and crossed Paint Rock River and went into camp near by. Our baggage wagons failed to reach us.
On the 29th we marched on to Larkinsville and en- camped, at which place our teams came up.
On the 30th marched on to Bellefonte, the Seventy-
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third in advance all day. The roads were bad and had to be repaired in many places by our pioneer squad in order for us to get over. About 60 of the Seventy- third were mounted and were under command of Lieu- tenant Williams.
On December Ist we marched to within three miles of Stevenson, where we went into camp, the refugees and negroes camping on all sides of us. It was esti- mated that there were about 3,000 of these followers in camp that night.
On December 2d we marched into Stevenson, on the railroad, and the wagons were brought in on the cars. We went into camp near the large spring, and found a German regiment, the Fifty-eighth New York, whose Colonel was in command of the post.
On the 3d our teams were brought in, and on the 4th General Granger arrived and assumed command of the. post. Lieutenant-Colonel Wade was placed in com- mand of the "Redoubt Harker." The redoubt mounted six guns and was provided with a good stockade in- side. The telegraph was cut and the railroad torn up between Stevenson and Nashville.
Most of the regiment remained at Stevenson until December 19th. The weather was wet and cold most of the time, and the men were occupied in picket duty, building and repairing quarters, and fortifying the place against an anticipated attack.
On the 14th a detail of 30 men, including Company K, under command of Lieutenant Williams, was sent to the bridge across Paint Rock River. Thirty men from the One hundred and second Ohio, under com-
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mand of Captain Benton Beerbower, were also sent, and the whole detachment was under the command of Captain Beerbower. This detail arrived at Paint Rock on the 15th, and on the 16th and 17th they heard can- nonading in the direction of Nashville.
On the 18th news came to the regiment in Stevenson of the battle of Nashville, in which General Thomas had defeated General Hood, and on the 19th orders were received to occupy again Northern Alabama. Colonel, William P. Lyon, of the Thirteenth Wisconsin, who was commanding the brigade, was ordered to Huntsville with his regiment, and Lieutenant- Colonel Wade was given command of the brig- ade. This resulted in placing the Seventy-third in comand of Captain James M. Beeber, of Company D, until after we reached Hunts- ville. Marching orders having been received, the brigade moved out to the Tennessee River at Cap- erton's Landing and camped. After much difficulty because of the bad roads and mud, the brigade was finally loaded on gunbots "Chattanooga" and "Stone River," which moved down the river, anchoring at Bellefonte, Ala.
On the morning of the 21st the fleet moved on to Limestone Point, and there a council of war was held, General Granger finally deciding that the boats should return to Whiting instead of attempting to make an at- tack on Decatur, and on December 23d all the troops disembarked at Whiting, and went into camp, and in the evening of that day orders were received for the command to hasten to Huntsville, anticipating that
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General Forrest was approaching that place. The dis- tance was about ten miles, and Huntsville was reached about 10 o'clock p. m., the brigade marching in the following order: The Eighteenth Michigan, Seventy- third Indiana, 29th Indiana, and One hundred and second Ohio.
On December 24th it turned out that the anticipated attack of Forrest was an error, and General Steadman's troops came in on the trains with about 9,000 men, and at one o'clock of that day our brigade was ordered back to Whiting, except our regiment, which was ordered to remain at Huntsville, much to the satisfaction of the men.
The detachment of the Seventy-third Indiana and One hundred and second Ohio at Paint Rock Bridge were ordered to Huntsville, and arrived on December 21st.
Christmas Day was celebrated in camp at Hunts- ville.
On December 31st, Lieutenant-Colonel Wade was ordered to Brownsboro with 150 men; 100 remained at Brownsboro, and 50 were sent to Hurricane Creek. Orders soon came for the 100 men at Brownsboro to go on to Paint Rock, and this detachment reached Paint Rock about daybreak on New Year's Day, January Ist, 1865, and found the place evacuated by the enemy and took peaceable possession.
The headquarters of the regiment remained in Huntsville until January 13th, when we left camp at eight o'clock in the morning and took the train for Lar- kinsville, reaching there about sundown.
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On the 14th Company K began work building a log cabin, supposed to be strong enough for a stockade, and when about finished on the 20th the company was or- dered to Paint Rock Station, or Camden, under com- mand of Ist Sergeant Barnard, and Lieutenant Wil- liams was ordered to Officers' Hospital at Nashville for treatment.
The headquarters of the regiment remaining at Lar- kinsville, Colonel Wade appointed Lieutenant R. M. Brown, of Company D, Provost Marshal, and Lieu- tenant W. S. Ramsey, of the same company, Com- missary.
On the 20th Colonel Lyon visited the camp and in- spected the blockhouse and authorized Colonel Wade to build according to his own plans.
Company E was sent to Woodville Station to gar- rison that place.
On the 28th Colonel Wade was placed in command of the railroad defenses as far as Stevenson.
On January 30th Lieutenant Thomas, of Company C, returned to the regiment from imprisonment, hav- ing been confined since his capture in May, 1863. Hc assumed command of Company C, and Lieutenant Slick was appointed Assistant Commissary of Sub- sistence.
On February 2d, Lieutenant Brown, of Company E, returned from his long imprisonment and joined his company at Woodville.
On February 5th we received a six-pound gun and caisson from Battery D, First Missouri.
On the 7th Abram Finney, of Company C, while on
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picket, accidentally shot himself, and died in a few minutes.
Skirmishing occurred with the guerillas at various points along the line of the road, 150 guerillas camp- ing within five miles of Larkinsville.
February 17 Company H and the pioneers at Gur- ley's tank, while out foraging, were attacked by a con- pany of the Fourth Alabama Cavalry, the fight continu- ing about half an hour, one man killed on the side of the enemy and one wounded and brought into camp. Our boys sustained no loss. An attack was made on Woodville and one wagon from Company E was cap- tured. The order was issued by Colonel Wade to the effect that if the citizens did not prevent the guerilla outrages going on in the country he should be obliged to burn their houses.
On February 22d Washington's birthday was cele- brated, the celebration being enlivened by the news of the surrender of Charleston, S. C., and the hoisting of the stars and stripes again over Fort Sumpter.
On March Ist Colonel Wade promoted Albert H. Kersey, of Company I, to the position of corporal as a recognition of his bravery at Athens in extinguishing the burning caisson at the peril of his life.
At this time the various companies of the regiment were located and commanded as follows :
Company A, Stevens Gap, Lieutenant George S. Clark commanding.
Company B, Larkinsville, Lieutenant J. H. Kiersted commanding.
Company C, Larkinsville, Lieutenant Alexander N. Thomas commanding.
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Company D, Paint Rock, Captain James M. Beeber commanding.
Company E, Woodville Tank, Lieutenant John L. Brown commanding.
Company F, Larkinsville, Lieutenant Otto H. Sollan commanding.
Company G, Hurricane Creek, Lieutenant Alexander Wilson commanding.
Company H, Gurley's Tank, Lieutenant Wilson Dailey commanding.
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