USA > Indiana > History of the Seventy-third Indiana Volunteers in the War of 1861-65 > Part 6
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12
1
.
117
Seventy-Third Indiana.
in the memorable battle about to be fought. After the brigade was across it lined up and advanced, driving the enemy back until we were close up to the body of the rebel army. We could hear the commands of their officers, rallying their men and giving instructions. Our position was so perilous that an order was soon sent for us to withdraw and recross the river, and this order was silently and promptly executed and the regiment camped for the balance of the night after recrossing the river, near its border, so close to the enemy that no camp fires could be built. The weather was cold, and the boys suffered much from wet clothing. We after- wards learned that two of our men, Sebastian Lay, of Company B, and Charles Osborn, of Company E, were left asleep on the other side of the river and were made prisoners. They were later exchanged, and Lay re- turned to his company and Osborn was discharged and subsequently received a commission in the One hundred and twenty-eighth Indiana.
On the morning of the 30th the enemy began firing artillery from the same position we had occupied the night before. Their shells came uncomfortably close, but did no damage in the brigade. Their missiles, go- ing over our troops, struck a gun carriage in the rear, killing four men. Our battery, the Sixth Ohio, opened fire on the enemy at this point and silenced their guns, but skirmishing continued in our front during the day, while there was heavy firing on some other parts of the line, especially to the right.
On the morning of the 31st the heavy fighting of this battle began. The regiment's quota of men for
118
History of the
duty, according to the muster made that morning, was only 309, ten of whom were sick. When the fighting began on the extreme right, Harker's Brigade was ordered to that point. Our regiment first occupied a position in the open woods about 200 yards southwest of the Nashville Pike. The Sixty-fifth Ohio was in our front and became hotly engaged, while our regi- ment lay in reserve with our brigade battery to the right. After a hot fight of some fifteen or twenty minutes the Sixty-fifth Ohio began to fall back through our ranks, and as soon as they were back of us Colonel Hathaway ordered our regiment to fire, and as rapidly as possible the fire was kept up for some time, and a bayonet charge was then made, driving the enemy back beyond the point where they had engaged the Sixty- fifth Ohio. The Sixty-fourth Ohio then came up to our support. At this juncture four rebel regiments bore down on our left and opened a terrible enfilading fire, compelling us to fall back. Other regiments of our brigade came to our relief and the advance of the enemy was completely checked at this point. The day was far spent and the Seventy-third fell back in the ce- dars skirting the battle-field and prepared to spend the night in bivouac. Here the teamsters under command of Quartermaster-Sergeant Williams, succeeded in bring- ing coffee and crackers to the men, and its effect was to waken up the tired, sleepy soldiers and set their tongues going with vigor, cheer and courage. We were not permitted, however, to remain in this sheltered position, and were ordered back into line in an open corn field, where we lay with our accoutre- ments on until morning.
1
119
Seventy-Third Indiana.
Our regiment lost almost one-third of its men during this day's work, 92 out of the 300 men who went into action in the morning being killed, wounded or missing. Company K lost half of the men with which it entered the fight. Colonel Hathaway's horse, "Redwood," was shot down under him, and he continued in command on foot. Our regimental flag had nine bullet holes through it, and all the color-guards were shot down except Sergeant Hagherty, of Company D, who was the color-bearer.
.On the morning of January Ist, 1863, about four o'clock, our brigade fell back a quarter of a mile and took position in the woods. About eight o'clock the enemy advanced in force, threatening our position, and coming on with a rebel yell, until stopped with a storm of shell, grape and canister from the Sixth Ohio Bat- tery, which apparently quieted them until three o'clock in the afternoon, when their artillery opened fire on us. Being protected by the trees and stones, the Seventy- third held its position without loss and remained on the ground until the morning of the 2d, when an artillery battle was again fought between the Sixth Ohio Bat- tery and the batteries of the enemy. In the confusion the Chicago Board of Trade Battery mistook the Sixtlı Ohio Battery for the enemy and opened fire on it, kill- ing several horses and some of their gunners. The Thirteenth Michigan also suffered loss by the same mistake, it being in position to support the Sixth Ohio Battery. Later the Seventy-third moved to the right, in open ground, and suffered much annoyance from sharpshooters posted in the woods. A line of skir-
1
I20
History of the
mishers was thrown out and drove back the sharp- shooters, when our men were compelled to fall back by a terrible artillery fire. In the afternoon, about 4.30, the enemy began falling back, and the artillery kept up its work, our batteries responding until nearly dark. Colonel Harker's Brigade was then moved to the left and crossed the river to hold the ground which had been gained late in the afternoon. During that night temporary breastworks, consisting of rails, poles, stones, and such things as could be found, were thrown up to afford protection, as an attack was expected next morning. A drizzling rain set in, and next morning, January 3d, the enemy failed to appear. We were then relieved by other troops and returned to the rear, where we made coffee and obtained some rest. We had been in the front from the 29th of December to the morning of the 3d of January, and we again took the front in the afternoon, but had no more engagements. About midnight of the 3d we were relieved from the front, and on the morning of the 4th we found that Murfrees- boro had been evacuated by the enemy, and General Rosecrans took possession. In the afternoon our regi- ment went over to that part of the line where our desperate fight took place on December 31st, and gave three cheers for the victory. General Rosecrans met us on our return and made a short speech, compliment- ing us very highly for the work we did and giving us the credit, in a great measure, of turning the tide of battle and saving the day. The Seventy-third lost 27 killed, and from the best estimate that could be made the wounded and missing numbered 65, making a total of 92 killed, wounded and missing.
121
Seventy-Third Indiana.
The following is the list of those killed in this battle : Privates John H. Early and Edward Welch, of Com- pany A; Privates Hiram Babcock, John Brittenham, Ephraim T. Lane, William H. Moon and George Paul, of Company C; Private Christopher Bucher, of Com- pany D; Captain Miles H. Tibbits and Privates Niles Singleton and Gilbert Wariner, of Company F ; Private Ephraim Powell, of Company G; Captain Peter Doyle, Sergeant Henry H. Thornton, and Privates Samuel Burns and John H. Fiddler, of Company H; Sergeant William H. Hendee and Privates John Brown, Horace H. Curtis, George McCurdy, Thomas C. Shull, and Charles Stinchcomb, of Company I; Corporal Carey I. Weston, color-guard, Wagoner Miles W. Peck, and Privates Christian Augustine, James McNally, William H. Peterson and Justice F. T. Stephens, of Com- pany K.
The names of the wounded and missing will be found in the muster-out rolls of the respective companies.
After the battle we remained at Murfreesboro, changing from one camp to another several times, until April 6th. During this time our duty was to guard forage trains, to go out on picket, to work on fortifica- tions, guard supply trains to and from Nashville, and other similar duty.
On January 20th, Colonel Hathaway and Leande: P. Williams, then acting as Quartermaster-Sergeant, started to Indiana, having leave of absence, and Cap- tain Ivan N. Walker, of Company K, was left in com- mand of the regiment. Lieutenant-Colonel Bailey hav- ing resigned December 22, 1862, Captain Robert W.
1
I22
History of the
Graham, of Company I, was promoted to Lieutenant- Colonel, February 13th, 1863, and Captain Walker, of Company K, was promoted to Major. Lieutenant- Colonel Graham being in ill health, never took com- mand of the regiment, and resigned on March 29th, and on March 30th Major Walker was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel.
123
Seventy-Third Indiana.
STREIGHT'S RAID.
After the battle of Stone River, Colonel Abel D. Streight, of the Fifty-first Indiana Regiment, who was restless under enforced inaction, asked General Rose- crans, Commander of the Army of the Cumberland, to give him the command of a Provisional Brigade, to be properly equipped and mounted, and charged with the duty of flanking Bragg's army, by the way of the Tennessee River, Northern Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia, for the purpose of interrupting, as far as pos- sible, Bragg's communications south of Chattanooga by interfering with his transportation, destroying bridges and supplies, and such manufactories of army equip- ment as could be reached.
The commanding general, after some hesitation, finally granted Colonel Streight's request and gave him authority to organize such a brigade, permitting him to select four infantry regiments from the Army of the Cumberland and two companies of organized cavalry, all to be mounted and properly equipped for the under- taking. .
After receiving his authority, Colonel Streight pro- ceeded with his usual vigor to organize his brigade by selecting as his command his own regiment, the Fifty- first Indiana; the Seventy-third Indiana, Colonel Gil- bert Hathaway ; the Third Ohio, Colonel O. A. Law- son ; the Eightieth Illinois, Lieutenant-Colonel A. F.
124
History of the
Rodgers commanding ; and Companies D and E of the First Middle Tennessee Cavalry, composed largely of loyal Alabamians, who had fled from that State as refugees into the Union lines, commanded by Captain David D. Smith, an intensely loyal Alabamian, and Captain Henry C. McQuiddy, a native of Shelbyville, Tennessee.
Colonel Streight at once commenced active prepara- tion for his expedition by selecting as his staff : Captain D. L. Wright, of the Fifty-first Indiana, Assistant Adjutant-General; Major W. L. Peck, Third Ohio, Brigade Surgeon; Lieutenant J. G. Doughty, Fifty- first, Brigade Quartermaster ; Captain E. M. Driscoll, Third Ohio, Brigade Inspector; Lieutenant C. W. Pavy, Eightieth Illinois, Brigade Ordnance Officer ; and Lieutenant A. C. Roach, Fifty-first, Aide-de-Camp, all of whom were required to at once take charge of their respective positions and proceed as rapidly as possible to have everything ready for an early de- parture.
The brigade was ordered from Murfreesboro, Ten- nessee, to the city of Nashville, where supplies for its equipment were more abundant, and proceeded to make the change by railroad on the 6th day of April, 1863.
On arriving at Nashville requisitions for necessary equipments and supplies were at once issued and the preparation continued day and night until all was in readiness for departure except the animals on which to mount the command. These were scarce and of an inferior quality, and the failure to secure good ones greatly embarrassed the situation.
1
---
1
125
Seventy-Third Indiana.
On the 10th of April, an order was received from General Rosecrans for the brigade to embark at once on the steamers then at the wharf at Nashville, as the press had already given out all the particulars they could ascertain as to destination and object of the ex- pedition, which information, no doubt, was quickly sent into the rebel lines, Forest's Cavalry being then at Columbia, Tenn., fifty miles from Nashville, waiting and watching for an opportunity to strike a blow at the Union army or any detachment of it.
. The boats were rapidly loaded and made ready for departure, and in the early dawn of the IIth loft the wharf at Nashville and steamed down the Cumberland River with the Provisional Brigade on board, which arrived at Palmyra, Tenn., on the afternoon of that day, disembarked, and the Seventy-third ordered out for picket during a wet, cold and dreary night.
Palmyra had already suffered the ravages of war. and like many other small villages of that day, had been occupied by the contestants on each side until it was nothing but burnt and blackened ruins. The 12th was spent in efforts to gather in a supply of animals by a detail from the command for that purpose. Every horse and mule found were at once appropriated, as the command had left Nashville with less than 800, many of them useless for the service required. It was, therefore, imperative, if the expedition was to be a suc- cess, that this deficiency should be supplied.
The animals on hand were mostly unbroken and had to be tamed down before they could be of any service on the march. There was much fun and much danger
126
History of the
experienced in this taming, as most of the mules when mounted would buck, jump stiff-legged, with head down and heels up, and over the rider would go. For- tunately no one was seriously hurt. .
Colonel Streight was greatly mortified and chagrined that his Brigade Quartermaster had accepted such animals as were turned over to him at Nashville, and to show his estimate of them he reported to General Thomas as follows :
"The mules issued to me at Nashville were nothing but poor, wild, unbroken colts, many of them but two years old ; a large number of them had the horse dis- temper; some forty or fifty of the lot were too near dead to travel and had to be left at the landing, and some ten or twelve died before we started. Those that were able to travel at all were so wild and unmanage- able that it took nearly two days to catch and bridle them; even then a man saddling one was in great danger of his life unless he kept a sharp look-out for its heels."
On the 13th, Colonel Lawson, with four companies of the Third Ohio and three companies of the Seventy- third Indiana embarked for Fort Henry, on the Ten- nessee River, via Paducah, Ky., with all the equipments of the command on the eight transports that had brought the brigade to Palmyra. The balance of the command remained there during the day, selecting and breaking in the animals and foraging for more, with the result before stated.
On the 14th the balance of the brigade left Palmyra and marched fifteen miles, camped on Yellow Creek,
1
127
Seventy-Third Indiana.
fourteen miles from Fort Donelson (the scene of General Grant's first great success, and noted for his demand for "Unconditional Surrender.") This was the first day's march as Mounted Infantry, though as yet only about one-third of the men were mounted-a discouraging start for a command entering upon a most hazardous enterprise, and had it not been for the enthusiasm of the soldiers, who up to this time had known nothing but success in their military career, would have had a most depressing influence. But the lovely spring weather, the bright flowers and foliage, and above all the novelty and excitement of the duty they were on, made them see the best side of the under- taking and the prospect of failure never entered thei .: minds; but the fortunes of war are of all things the most variable.
The command reached Fort Henry on Wednesday the 15th of April, after a two days' march across the . peninsula between Forts Donelson and Henry.
The transports had not reached Fort Henry when the command got there, but came up during the night, hav- ing been detained at Paducah, loading on supplies for General G. M. Dodge's army at Corinth, Mississippi.
Thursday, the 16th, was passed in getting the mules and horses aboard the boats. The number of these animals had greatly increased on our march, as the foragers had been industrious, and every old settler within ten miles of the road had contributed, though often unwillingly, all his serviceable animals to the "Mule Brigade." Many fine horses, as well as the best of mules, had thus been accumulated, and with the ex-
I28
History of the
ception of not all being shod, were in good condition.
Having gotten all on board during the night, early on the morning of the 17th the fleet steamed up the beautiful Tennessee River, Major Walker with the right wing of the Seventy-third on board the steamer Baldwin, and Captain William M. Kendall, of Com- pany D, with the left wing on the Aurora. The regi- ment only numbered 303 men, being the smallest of the brigade. Colonel Ellett's Marine Fleet, organized to guard and patrol the Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee and Cumberland rivers, escorted the transports to East- port, Miss., where a landing was made in the afternoon of Sunday, the 19th. Owing to low water Eastport was the head of navigation for the large transports on which the brigade had come that far.
General Dodge had been ordered to advance in the direction of Tuscumbia, Ala., to cover and conceal, as far as possible, Colonel Streight's movements until he could break loose and get well on his way toward the railroad between Chatanooga and Atlanta, the main objective point of the expedition.
General Dodge's army was then in camp on Little Bear Creek, some ten miles distant from Eastport, to which Colonel Streight at once started for a consulta- tion with General Dodge as to future movements.
Colonel Lawson, of the Third Ohio, was left in com- mand of the brigade to direct and manage the landing of the animals and supplies. In doing so some 300 of the animals stampeded and succeeded in escaping into the woods. Considerable time was lost in efforts to recapture the strays, but few, however, were recovered
129
Seventy-Third Indiana.
and a large share of them fell into the hands of the enemy. This was a great loss, as it caused a delay of two days at Eastport and further delay on reaching Tuscumbia to supply their places.
Left Eastport on the 21st of April, and made connec- tion with General Dodge's command next day.
On the evening of the 22d, Colonel Hathaway and Lieutenant L. P. Williams joined the Seventy-third. They were in Indiana on detached duty when the regi- ment started from Nashville, and had considerable difficulty in joining the command, only succeeding in doing so by securing a tug at Paducah to take them to Eastport. They brought with them about 15 or 20 men of the brigade who had been left behind.
On the next morning Colonel Hathaway took com- mand of his regiment, relieving Major Ivan N. Walker, who had most satisfactorily commanded the Seventy- third during the absence of Colonel Hathaway.
Lieutenant Williams was at once detailed Acting Regimental Quartermaster, Lieutenant Edward Bacon, the Quartermaster, having been sent back on account of illness.
Before leaving camp, Colonel Streight, for the first. time informed the brigade. of the object and destina- tion of the expedition, and in an order explained the perilous nature of the undertaking upon which we had started. That we would have to penetrate hundreds of miles into the enemy's country, would be surrounded by a wily foe; for weeks, if successful, we would have to subsist entirely upon the country for rations that might be hard to obtain.
130
History of the
This information seemed only to quicken the spirits of the men and nerve them for the hardships of the march and brace them for the fighting which they now saw would have to come.
On the morning of the 23d the march was continued toward Tuscumbia. General Dodge had the advance and cleared the road of such organized forces as showed themselves in his front.
Colonel Streight's scouts were scouring the country to secure animals to replace the ones lost at Eastport and were constantly skirmishing with the enemy who were hovering around trying to prevent foraging. They were not successful, however, as many horses and mules were secured, though they had to be fought for.
General Dodge reached Tuscumbia on the 24th, where he found two regiments of Roddy's rebel cavalry, which he soon dispersed, and took possession of the town, a beautifully located place about four miles from the Tennessee river, surrounded by a very fertile country and noted for its famous springs of the purest water.
On the 25th General Dodge captured Florence, Ala., on the north side of the river, driving off about 1,500 rebel cavalry who were watching our movements and trying to prevent the collection of animals and supplies. From this day's work General Dodge turned over to Colonel Streight about 200 mules and six wagons. He also supplied him with 200 pack saddles, on which the men were expected to ride, being a most uncomfortable seat for them, as well as being hard on the backs of the animals. The mules were as wild and unbroken as
1
I31
Seventy-Third Indiana.
deer, and many ludicrous scenes were witnessed and a number of the men hurt in trying to reduce their long-eared steeds to a state of gentleness.
The whole of the 25th and 26th of April was con- sumed in preparations for the start, and by ten o'clock of the night of the 26th there was some appearance of readiness. About 150 of the men, however, were un- mounted, but the start could be delayed no longer and they must march on foot, depending upon the foragers to supply them. This was difficult to do, as the news of our raid having preceded us, most of the animals were so successfully concealed that but few were found.
Before daylight of the 27th of April the "Provisional Brigade" moved out of camp at Tuscumbia, Ala., in the direction of Rome, Georgia, which place, it was in- tended, should be reached as soon as possible.
General Dodge, to protect us, moved up the Ten- nessee river on our left flank to look after the enemy until we would be beyond their reach. But Forrest got the start of him and succeeded in crossing his com- mand over the Tennessee before he could be inter- cepted. This crossing at once placed the brigade on the defensive and greatly imperiled our hope of success.
0
During the day we passed through Russellville, Franklin County, Ala., where a rebel major was cap- tured, who was sent back to General Dodge as a prisoner of war. At night, after a march of thirty-four miles, encamped at Mount Hope, a small village in Lawrence County, Ala., a weary and exhausted lot of men and animals, as the route had been through a hilly country and over next to impassable roads.
1
[9]
132
History of the
Brigade headquarters were in the house of a wealthy secessionist who was bitter in his denunciation of the Union cause, but as an offset to his vituperation his daughter professed the warmest sympathy for the Union, and as a remuneration for her good wishes Colonel Streight ordered her to be paid for a saddle horse that she had claimed as her own which had been captured and appropriated by one of our "foot-back" soldiers. This payment was made in accordance with General Rosecran's orders to pay all loyal citizens for supplies taken.
By order of Colonel Hathaway, Adjutant Wade, with Company G, went on a foraging tour to the planta- tion of Dr. Napier, who was in the rebel army. Large quantities of well cured meat and an abundance of corn was found and taken, against the indignant pro- test of three handsome young ladies on the premises. The Adjutant, though a tender-hearted bachelor, did not listen to their entreaties, as he knew there were many hungry men in camp waiting for his return to appease their appetites.
The following day we reached Moulton, the county seat of Lawrence County, into which our cavalry, under Captain Smith, made a charge, capturing a number of Roddy's men and putting to flight the others.
The jail at Moulton was found crowded with natives of Alabama who had been arrested and imprisoned be- cause of their loyalty to their country and who had re- fused to be driven into the rebel army. Many of these men were friends and acquaintances of Captain Smith or his men, and a majority of them were natives of the
1
133
Seventy-Third Indiana.
county. On Captain Smith's request they were released from the prison, in which they had been held for months, and allowed to return to their homes, from where many of them finally reached our lines and en- tered the Union army.
Such was the persecution meted out to loyalty in that region by the Confederate authorities who had assumed control of a region which at the commencement of the war had been almost unanimously for the Union.
After a short stop at Moulton for refreshments and rest the march was resumed, it being evident that our success depended upon reaching Rome before Forrest could overtake us.
On the following day the foragers secured a suf- ficient number of animals to complete the mounting of the brigade, and for the first time the expedition was in condition to move rapidly. We also captured dur- ing the day several wagons loaded with bacon, guns and ammunition, which were being taken to the rebel. army. Such of these as could be made available for use were appropriated and the balance destroyed.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.