USA > Indiana > History of the Sixth regiment Indiana volunteer infantry. Of both the three months' and three years' services.. > Part 12
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HISTORY OF THE SIXTH REGIMENT.
likely to attack him at any time. But we re- mained here all next day waiting for orders and reinforcements, although McCook took the pre- caution to send his wagon train to the rear. In the meanwhile Rosecrans determined that Bragg was concentrating his army at Lafayette with a view of giving battle. He at once gave orders for the concentration of his three corps. This order brought us back from Alpine to a more convenient road over Lookout Mountain. Rapid marching brought us to the east side of the mountain, where we went into camp for the night. The next morn- ing was the 18th of September, and I doubt if any of the boys have forgotten the sight that presented itself down in the Chickamauga Valley. It seemed to me that we could see twelve or fifteen miles, and every way we looked we could see clouds of dust raising from every available road leading into the valley. The railroad trains were also un- loading troops by the thousands. Bragg was con- centrating a vast army to give us battle. Bragg's right was at Lee & Gorden's mills, while his lett was at Lafayette, his line running along the east bank of Chickamauga Creek. Here he awaited what he saw was coming, an attack from the Fed- eral army. We marched rapidly along up the mountain a short distance quite early in the morn- ing, and about 8 o'clock we struck down its east- ern slope, in the direction of Crawfish Springs. Near the foot of the mountain we struck a road which seemed to run parallel with the mountain
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225
WE MOVE TOWARD CRAWFISH SPRINGS.
and between it and Chickamauga Creek. Here we turned to the left and went down the valley toward Crawfish Springs. Throughout the whole day, and just to our right on the other side of the creek or valley, the rebels could be seen pulling out like ourselves in the same direction. The piekets thrown out to guard our right Hank would every now and then run into a line of rebel pickets who were watching every possible crossing or bridge over the Chickamauga Creek. Night over- took us and we went into camp up near the side of the mountain. The Sixth Indiana went on picket. We were sent out toward the creek, and all the night through we could hear the rebel wagons and artillery rattle as they moved down the valley. Nothing occurred worthy of note that night, and early next morning, after a hasty break- fast, we struck out down the valley again on the 19th toward Crawfish Springs, only a short dis- tance ahead, and arrived at that place at about 9 o'clock A. M. We stopped here just long enough to fill our canteens, and pushed on a short distance beyond and halted to await orders.
There was not even a private in the ranks who did not realize the fact that we had a big contract on our hands. We all thought that Bragg's army was as large as our own and possessed many ad- vantages we did not have. But we had crossed the Rubicon and must fight, and did fight an army of 70,000 of as well drilled and equipped men as
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HISTORY OF THE SIXTH REGIMENT.
our own with an army of 55,000, and with this difference in their favor: They were fresh and rested and at home, while we were nearly worn out with long, hard marching and were many miles from home.
1
CHAPTER XIV.
THE BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA.
Bragg makes a rush for the Rossville road-Rosecrans holds it all the same-Our Division constantly moving to the left-Most desperate fighting-Baird overpowered and crushed-We rush to the rescue and save the day-The enemy comes again and we give way-Jeff. C. Davis comes to our rescue-We reform, fall in with Davis, and send the enemy whirling to the rear- We throw out pickets and stack arms-An unexpected charge of the enemy-Colonel Baldwin killed-We repulse the enemy but fall back-A narrow escape from capture-The brave con- duct of the Sixth Indiana-A half mile to the rear we rest for the night-The result of the first day in our favor-We con- struct defenses early next morning -- The rebels attack us about 8 o'clock-Desperate and repeated charges-We "hold the fort" until about 6 P. M .- Then, under orders, we fall back in good order-One officer wounded as we fall back-Col. Tripp wounded at the front-We fall back to Rossville that night- We throw up works and await the enemy-The enemy fail to attack-We fall back into Chattanooga-The results of the battle.
Bragg's first and grand plan in this battle was to crush our left and seize the road to Chattanooga by way of Rossville. With this idea in view, he kept massing his troops on his right until as early in the day as 10 o'clock, on the morning of the 19th, his left was but very little south of Lee & Gorden's Mills. It will be remembered that Me- Cook's corps had halted at and around Crawfish
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HISTORY OF THE SIXTH REGIMENT.
Springs, while Lee & Gorden's Mills were still away to our left. This condition placed us with practically no enemy in our front except cavalry as guards. Rosecrans, knowing the importance of holding the Rossville road, had sent Thomas still to the left of Crittenden, with orders to hold this road under all circumstances, and that he should be backed by the whole army if it became neces- sary, and sure enough it did soon become necessary, and that, too, fully as soon as it was expected, for shortly after 10 o'clock, MeCook received orders to send Johnson's Division (which was ours), to the left to report to General Thomas. The boys will remember how rapidly we went up the road where our left was being forced back. The rebels had overpowered and had almost crushed General Baird's Division, which was passing to the rear. Our division arrived just in time to be thrown into the breach, and to save a stampede. We were double quicked until after we had passed all of Baird's troops, then halted, formed in line of bat- tle, and started to meet the victorious rebels, who, with the same old Stone River yell, doubled up and came at us like so many demons. These were the rebel General Walker's troops, but they were re- pulsed and driven back in confusion on their orig- inal line; but Cheatham, who was on reserve, was brought up to reinforce Walker, and the combina- tion was too heavy for us, and we fell back. This force struck our division first, and came with vastly superior numbers. General Davis took our place
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ROSECRANS HOLDS THE ROSSVILLE ROAD.
on the line and checked the rebels, and our line was re-formed. and again we moved to the front. and, after most desperate fighting, drove the en- emy back to their original line again.
General R. W. Johnson himself says in regard to this last conflict that, " My division drove the enemy at least a mile and a half, and captured seven pieces of artillery," while General McCook says of us that " General Johnson's division fought near the extreme left of the line. It fought glo- riously, driving the enemy for more than a mile, capturing seven of the enemy's guns and a large number of prisoners." The old Sixth can testify as to one fact to a moral certainty, and that is, it was a most desperate and hotly contested conflict. But as General Johnson says : " My glorious old division acquitted itself with great credit, and its honorable part in this battle was the cause of many compliments from almost every general offi- cer in the battle." This engagement took place, I think, about two o'clock in the afternoon.
We were ordered back a short distance, formed in line of battle near the front line, where we stacked arms and broke ranks to rest. Of course a heavy skirmish line was placed out in front to watch the enemy. I must say that it was not a very pleasant place to rest, for while the wounded had been carried to the rear, the dead of both sides were all around us yet uncared for. To give an idea of the number killed on this occasion, I will say that I stood in one spot and counted
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HISTORY OF THE SIXTH REGIMENT.
thirty-five dead, some dressed in gray and some wearing the blue, and I have no doubt that but for the heavy timber and brush, logs, etc., I could have seen many others from the same standpoint. The boys lay around here munching crackers and bacon, and wondering what had become of the rebels in our front, on up until the shades of night had begun to settle down upon us; in fact we had began to flatter ourselves that the fighting for the day was over, when, all of a sudden, a volley was fired into our pickets, which sent them whirling back into our ranks without firing a shot at the advancing enemy, who, with a demoniacal yell, was pursuing them with several heavily massed columns in close order, on a rapid run. The con- mand, " Fall in!" went up the line by us like a meteor, and I think was repeated by every officer along the line, and like a tiger springing upon its prey, so every soldier sprang for his musket, and in less time than it takes to tell it, a shower of leaden hail was being belched into their very faces, dealing out death and destruction in a most ter- rible manner. Still, on came the exultant rebels ; yell after yell sounded through the woods in a most threatening manner, which would have put to flight any but the most courageous, brave and well-trained soldiers.
On they come, in the very face of fire and lead, until they strike the right of our regiment, and yet not a man of the old Sixth had given back an inch, but when too close to load and fire, the rebels
231
AN UNEXPECTED CHARGE OF THE ENEMY.
were clubbed over the head and checked for the moment, while, instinctively, both sides recoiled a few steps without breaking the lines, and with that cool, deliberate determination and reckless- ness which characterizes all soldiers after breath- ing an atmosphere strongly impregnated with powder-smoke, these deadly foes practiced the art of loading and firing in a manner that I believe was never surpassed on any battle field during the rebellion. This, of course, could not last long- one side or the other must give way-but the old Sixth stood her ground, she did not give back. A better example of courage and bravery could not be shown by any soldiers than the action of the Sixth Indiana on this occasion. The rapid load- ing and firing, the cool, deliberate aim at the very eye of the rebels, which was plainly visible by the light of their own guns, was the target for our boys. A few moments of such work was enough for the enemy, who had come with such a rush and yell. They waver, they fall back step by step. their shots become fewer and scattering, their ranks are being broken, they turn their back to their foe and fly for their lives from the deadly missiles which are still being sent after them.
"Cease firing!" is heard above the roar of the musketry, and the conflict is over, and we are in- stantly enveloped in midnight darkness. What a sensation ! What a change ! Only a moment ago the stream of fire constantly pouring from both lines of musketry, only a few feet apart, made the
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HISTORY OF THE SIXTH REGIMENT.
woods as bright as the noonday sun. The next instant, like the flash of a meteor, all is gone, and we are left in utter darkness. Yes, indeed, what a sensation ! And, to render our situation still more disagreeable, imagine, if you can, while standing here in this darkness, listening to the screams and groans of our wounded comrades, hurried word is brought to us that our troops, both on our right and left, had been repulsed and forced back over a quarter of a mile, leaving us isolated, and, if not out of the way in ten minutes time, we would all be prisoners.
This excitement spread through the regiment like the alarm of fire in a town or city, when to add still more to our confusion, a Pennsylvania regiment, which I suppose had been sent back to look after us, came to the top of a little raise just back of us some sixty or seventy yards, and in the darkness and confusion mistook us for the enemy and fired a volley at us. But, fortunately for us, our cool, level-headed Colonel Tripp, took in the situa- tion in a moment, and notified the regiment that this firing was by our own men, and immediately rode to the rear and told the Pennsylvania boys of their mistake, and they with our own regiment passed rapidly to the rear, and just in time too to save ourselves from a trip down in Dixie. I have been told by John Volmer, a member of my own company, who was wounded and left on the field and who was captured by the enemy and went the rounds through the rebel prisons, but finally lived
233
COLONEL BALDWIN KILLED.
through it all and got home, that the regiment had been gone to the rear only a few minutes when the rebels, with fixed bayonets and in good order, came marching down the hill from just the way we had gone, and passed on over him, back toward their own side. Mr. Vohner says, when he first heard them coming he thought it was our own men, but when one of them gave him a kick and asked him if he was a wounded " Yank," he changed his mind.
Our most serious loss in this engagement was the killing of Colonel P. P. Baldwin. of our regi- ment, but who at the time was commanding our brigade. At the time the charge was made Col- onel Baldwin was near the right of the regiment. dismounted and standing near his horse. His business, of course, was to look after, not our regi- ment, but the brigade. He instantly mounted his horse and got the brigade in readiness for what seemed to be a most desperate conflict. His con- tidence in the old Sixth in a case of emergency, as I suppose, brought him back near it, and just on its right where he had left the moment before. But by this time the rebels were upon us, and he. as I suppose, concluded that a counter charge was the best way to meet the enemy, and immediately rode through our ranks and called on the Sixth Indiana to follow him. This, of course, placed him between the two fires, which were only a few yards apart. and both him and his horse were killed instantly. The regiment. very sensibly, did
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HISTORY OF THE SIXTH REGIMENT.
not obey an order which never should have been given, but did just as they should have done : " Stand fast and give 'em 'ell!" In this case it was a practical demonstration of the American idea-the majority rule-and, as usual, it proved to be right.
I think the members of the old Sixth will all bear witness that Colonel Baldwin was a brave officer, of fine military bearing and a splendid dis- ciplinarian, but it certainly was very rash in him to ride between the two firing lines just at this time, as by so doing he lost his life, and if the reg- iment had obeyed his command, in my opinion, it would have proved the certain death of many of its members as well as its utter route, which would have resulted in a stampede. In my criticisms of Colonel Baldwin, I do not wish to be under- stood as trying to reflect upon his character and reputation as a brave, daring officer, but merely in this particular case, that under the excitement, his judgment was at fault. But the mistake cost the brave Colonel his life, as he died where he fell and he and his personal effects fell into the hands of the enemy. Colonel Baldwin had many warm friends in the regiment, and when the fact of his death was known, there was universal sorrow through- out the regiment ; and well there might be, for by his death the old Sixth lost one of its best friends, and the service a valuable officer.
I have no apology to offer for once more speak- ing of the actions of the Sixth Indiana in this
235
BRAVE CONDUCT OF THE SIXTH.
particular engagement. While the quick and des- perate charge of the enemy was no surprise, yet it was so sudden that the tendency was to confuse, or to produce disorder; and. then, the assault was made by many times our number, and, too, at a time when our arms were stacked, and the boys quietly resting. The enemy had every advantage of us, taking advantage, as they did, of the low, heavy woods over which the shades of night had quietly settled ; just about that time in the evening when the tiger would slyly steal out from the jungle in search of his prey, and with all the ferocity and fierceness of the tiger, bound upon us in an unsus- pected moment. Their plans were complete, and would have been successful but for one thing- that characteristic " rebel yell " or " Indian whoop," gave them away, and proved to be the " quack " of the goose that saved the city of Rome. After the sound of this familiar warning reached our ears we had time to prepare for them. This charge of the enemy covered our division front, and while his advance was checked, it is also a fact that our entire line had been forced back near a quarter of a mile, except our regiment and the Thirty-Second Indiana (Willich's old regiment), which joined us on the left. These two regiments alone of the en- tire line had the staying qualities to stand their ground.
The fighting qualities of the Thirty-Second In- diana were not surpassed by any other regiment of the Army of the Cumberland, and soldiers
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HISTORY OF THE SIXTH REGIMENT.
throughout the State of Indiana speak of it only to praise it; and yet the old Sixth, here in this hotly contested conflict, had a chance to measure her staying and fighting qualities along by the side of Colonel Willich's splendid regiment, and proved herself every bit its equal. Every member of our regiment, from the rank and file to its command- ing officer, conducted himself as though the suc- cess of our cause depended upon his own actions.
The cool, yet brave and deliberate conduct of Colonel Tripp in this engagement deserved and received universal praise of our entire regiment. His conduct as a commanding officer, as displayed in this engagement, should have placed the stars upon his shoulders, and I doubt not would have done so but for the misfortunes of the following day, of which I shall speak in the proper place.
Our lines were re-formed about a half mile to the rear, and after placing a strong picket on the front, we rested for the night on the field.
The battle of the 19th was a series of brilliant charges and counter-charges, in favor of first one side and then the other. During the day our troops, at times broken and driven by the enemy, always promptly rallied and drove the rebels in disorder to their lines by brilliant and effective dashes, moving to the attack with vigor and determination. In the main the results of the day were in our favor.
But the battle was not yet over. The Com- manding Generals on both sides held councils of
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237
THE REBELS ATTACK US.
war during the early part of the night, and all the after part of the night was used in re-forming the lines and making preparations for the terrible con- Hiet, which must come off to-morrow. We took our position on the line very early in the morning, and commenced the construction of temporary breast-works of logs and rails, which under the shades of a heavy fog that hung over us during the morning, we succeeded in forming to such a good advantage that we were enabled to hold it, against the many desperate charges made on us on the second day of the battle. At about half past eight o'clock, the rebel attack opened on our left with skirmish firing. From this the attack be- came general all along the line: in our front the skirmishers advanced only a respectable distance, if you please, until they halted to await their re- serve, which was soon brought up : in a few mo- ments we heard the yell, and here they came. but they too coneluded to not venture up too close, but stopped and took shelter behind trees, for a little while and then retreated. In about an hour they had gathered new courage and fresh recruits, and here they came again. This time they velled awfully, but still they did not scare us very much. The boys let them come as close as they thought was prudent, and then a few well directed volleys made them seek shelter again. In a few moments this squad went back after more recruits. This same thing was kept up at least once every hour through out the entire day, and there was only
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HISTORY OF THE SIXTH REGIMENT.
one rebel who ever did succeed in reaching our works, and he got so close he was afraid to leave his tree to start back; the boys got to shooting at the tree, and it got too hot for him, and he held his hat out to one side and waved it up and down and the Colonel stopped the shooting and called to him to come in, which he did as fast as his legs could bring him. He was a great, big six-footer and the best tickled man I ever saw.
We held this position until a late hour in the evening, when we received orders to retreat, or rather the order was to fall back a short distance to a new position, and, in fact, I thought this was just what we were to do, until I noticed we did not stop at the point designated. Then, and not till then, did I have the least idea that we were leaving the field. We left the field in good order, and with no confusion whatever. In fact, there was not the slightest signs of fear, fright, or de- moralization in the regiment. Still, I am ready to admit that the true condition of affairs was not known among the boys, neither am I prepared to say what a full knowledge of all the facts might have produced.
The boys will please excuse me for noting a very amusing little thing that happened as we were falling back, and when we had gone only a short distance to the rear, Captain Rodarmel, of Com- pany E, was heard to hollow out at the top of his voice, and at the same time was seen to bound off through the briers like a Texas steer, holding one
239
THIRTY-SECOND SENT TO HELP THE SIXTH.
hand behind him. Some of the boys run to see what could be done for him, for all knew he was shot ; and when asked where he was hit, between tears and groans he said : "Oh! my God, only think of it. I am shot in the " A close exam- ination showed that a spent ball had hit him as he claimed. but had neither went through the clothing nor broke the skin.
But before we retreat too far, let us make a note of what was going on along other parts of the line. as well as observations among ourselves. The temporary breastworks, behind which we felt so se- cure, consisted of three pine logs, two on the ground, close together, while the third one was placed on top of these, and made a defense of two and a half or three feet high, according to the size of the logs. By getting down behind these logs, only our heads, or perhaps our heads and shoulders, would be exposed, and then I want to tell you that these logs are mighty good things to stop bullets.
On one occasion, when they thought the charge on us was going to be more than we could stand. the Thirty-second Indiana was sent up to help us. They came up with a bound, and dropped down behind the works along with us. In a moment. their Colonel (Willich) came down the line, carry- ing his hat in his hand (an old slouch wool hat). This old hat was rolled up in a long, club-like shape, and every once in a while he would hit a fellow a crack over the back with this club, and say: "Go in, boys, and give 'em hell." and was all the time cursing in Dutch.
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HISTORY OF THE SIXTH REGIMENT.
Jonathan Burton, of my company, received an ugly wound, and was sent to the rear. I had no- ticed that one fellow was a little cautious about getting his head too far above the logs. I picked up Burton's gun and handed him, and said : " Here. give me your gun and load this one." I picked out my man and fired. As soon as he had loaded, we again changed guns. Again I selected my man and fired. We kept up this double work until the gun barrels got so hot that I thought I was in more danger than the man I was shooting at, and then, if the other fellow was not, I was getting about enough of it. At times, when everything would seem to be quiet in our front, the roar of artillery and rattle of musketry, both on our right and left, was simply terrific, and at times our right would seem to be pressed back until the rebels would be velling away in our rear, while at the same time our left would be driven back until I thought sure the Rossville road was gone. Our line of battle at one time was just in the shape of a letter V, with our own division at the apex.
Just at this crisis I remarked to our Major, C. D. Campbell, that our situation was a very dan- gerous one. " Yes," he said, "it is good fighting all around us." While engaged in this conversa- tion we both instinctively turned and started to- ward Colonel Tripp, who was some thirty steps distant. We had gone only a few steps when a volley from the approaching rebels on our front, fired at our picket line, caused us to go at once to
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COLONEL TRIPP WOUNDED AT THE FRONT.
our post of duty. In a minute I looked back, and saw the boys gathering around Colonel Tripp. who was prostrated on the ground. I knew he was wounded, and went to his assistance as soon as I could leave my post. Major Campbell at once ordered a detail. and he was sent to the rear. The wound was very severe and painful-a ball had shattered his leg below the knee. The brave colonel refused to have his limb amputated, and in time he recovered so as to be sent to his home at North Vernon, and although he lived until the 12th day of February. 1891, he suffered untold misery on account of the imperfect healing of this wounded limb. But his suffering is over, he has gone to rest. Kind hearted, vet courageous and brave : loyal to his country, for which he suffered and died, our brave comrade has gone to rest :
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