USA > Indiana > History of the Sixth regiment Indiana volunteer infantry. Of both the three months' and three years' services.. > Part 16
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Soon after his assignment to the command of the military division, General Sherman went to Chattanooga to confer with General Thomas. The union of the armies of the Cumberland, Tennessee and Ohio, in a campaign from Chattanooga as a base, having been determined upon, preparations of the grandest dimensions possible were at once inaugurated with vigor. During the month of April again, as before the battle in November, Chattanaoga was the scene of the greatest ac- tivity. Troops were constantly coming up from the rear and moving to the front. The Quarter- master and Commissary Departments were pressed to extreme exertion building steamboats, erecting and filling vast store-houses, bringing forward ar- tillery and cavalry horses, and cattle, while the
297
STRENGTH OF THE ARMY.
railway was almost constantly trembling under the long trains heavily loaded with supplies and munitions.
On the 15th of April our corps commander, General Gordon Granger, was relieved, and Gen- eral Howard placed in command.
On the 1st of May the Army of the Cumberland was well in hand, awaiting orders to advance. The army for the field comprised 54.568 infantry, 3.238 cavalry, and 2,377 artillery, with 130 guns, making a total of 60,773 effective men.
In order to properly locate our regiment, I will say that we are still of the Fourth Corps, com- manded by General Howard : Third Division, com- manded by General T. J. Wood, and Second Bri- gade, commanded by General Hazen. Our brigade consisted of the Sixth Indiana, First Ohio, Sixth Ohio, Forty-first Ohio, Ninety-third Ohio, One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Ohio, Fifth Kentucky, Sixth Kentucky, and Twenty-third Kentucky.
The reader will please not get the idea that the figures given above constitutes the entire forces which were to move against the rebel army in and about Dalton, or in onr immediate front. This 60,773 is only the strength of the Army of the Cumberland, under Thomas. To this must be added the Army of the Tennessee. 24,465 strong, under MePherson : also, the army of the Ohio, 13.541 strong, under Schofield, making a total of 98,779 effective men; and to the 130 pieces of ar- tillery in the Army of the Cumberland we have 96
298
HISTORY OF THE SIXTH REGIMENT.
guns with MePherson, and 28 with Schofield, mak- ing a total of 254 guns.
With this grand army all ready to move for- ward, the 5thi of May was fixed as the day for our great chieftain, General Sherman, to give the order to " Forward, march." The order was given, and again the old Sixth Indiana broke camp and started on the "Georgia campaign."
Our grand old regiment had seen so much hard service and for so long a time in the field that she was only a remnant of her former self. Our first Colonel, T. T. Crittenden, had been promoted to a Brigadier-General early in 1862. P. P. Baldwin, who had been promoted to fill the place, was killed at Chickamauga. Hagerman Tripp, who was then Lieutenant-Colonel, assumed command of the reg- iment, but on the very next day after Baldwin was killed, Tripp was so severely wounded that he was sent to the rear and his services were lost to the regiment and his country as well. Our first Lieu- tenant-Colonel, Hiram Prather, resigned and left us May 19, 1862. Major Augustus H. Abbett, who was our first Major, had resigned away back, June 17, 1862. John Earnshaw, our first Adjutant, and who was afterward promoted to Captain, Com- pany H, was further promoted to be Assistant Adjutant-General. Our next Adjutant, David H. Richardson, had been dishonorably discharged. Our first Quartermaster, Wm. E. McCleland, had resigned and left us. Our first chaplain, Rezin M. Barnes, resigned April 23, 1862. Daniel C. Darr,
299
ACCOUNTING FOR OUR LOST.
commissioned in his place, also resigned November 2, 1862. Our grand old doctor, Charles Schussler, who was our surgeon, had been promoted to Brig- ade Surgeon. The first Assistant Surgeon of our regiment was Nathan B. Sparks, who resigned December 17, 1861. The next Assistant Surgeon was Samuel II. Charlton, who resigned March 16, 1862. The next was Myron H. Harding. He, however, declined to serve, and was never mus- tered. Next we have Amos Frost. This was a temporary appointment, and he was never mus- tered. Next we have Finley C. Lattimore, who was discharged May 2, 1864, for disability.
Aside from the officers already mentioned as lost to the regiment, and whose places had to be filled from the ranks, the following line officers. for various reasons, were lost to the regiment :
In Company A, Thomas J. Moore, First Lieu- tenant, was discharged September 10, 1863.
In Company B, First Lieutenant. Francis M. Rust, resigned February 1, 1863. Second Lieu- tenant, Alonzo S. Prather, resigned February 28, 1864.
In Company C. Captain Allen W. Prather was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, 120th Indiana. March 1, 1864. First Lieutenant James A. Wil- lets, was dismissed August 30, 1862. Jacob Hover, Second Lieutenant, Company C, resigned May 22, 1862.
In Company D, Captain Samuel Russell was killed in the battle of Chickamauga, September 19,
300
HISTORY OF THE SIXTH REGIMENT.
1863. First Lieutenant, Andrew J. Grayson, re- signed May 21, 1862. Second Lieutenant, Charles F. Miller, resigned May 14, 1862.
In Company E, Charles R. Van Trees resigned March 2, 1863. First Lieutenant, Henry C. Hall, resigned February 13, 1862. First Lieutenant, Alanson Solomon, died May 11, 1862.
In Company F, Captain J. R. B. Glasscock re- signed February 13, 1863.
In Company G, Captain James Moffat resigned May 21, 1862. Second Lieutenant, Josiah Fultz, resigned March 28, 1862. Second Lieutenant, Jerome P. Holcomb, killed accidentally in camp at Murfreesboro, Tenn., May 12, 1863.
In Company H, Captain William M. Davis re- signed March 16, 1862. Captain John Charlton resigned May 21, 1862. Captain Frank P. Strader died of wounds received at Missionary Ridge, December 10, 1863. First Lieutenant, John Neal, resigned May 21, 1862. Second Lieutenant, Em- sley Shaddy, resigned April 1, 1863.
In Company I, Captain Silas D. Huckleberry resigned January 1, 1864.
In Company K, Captain George W. Brown re- signed August 8, 1863. First Lieutenant, Wil- liam H. Smock, resigned March 28, 1862. First Lieutenant, George B. Green, died October 28, 1863, of wounds received October 27, 1863, at Brown's Ferry.
Here we have a total loss to the regiment of 39 commissioned officers up to May 1, 1864.
301
INTERESTING STATEMENTS.
When the old Sixth Indiana was reorganized, September 20, 1861, she had for duty, counting the enlisted men :
In Company A, 98 men. Recruits received 8, making a total of 106 men. May 1, 1864, she mus- tered for duty 47 men, showing a loss of 59 men.
Company B organized with 98 men. Recruits received 27, making a total of 125 men. May 1, 1864, she mustered for duty 67 men, making a loss to date of 58 men.
Company C organized with 97 men. Recruits received 11 men, making a total of 108 men. May 1, 1864, mustered for duty 60 men, making a total loss to date of 48 men.
Company D organized with 90 men. Recruits received 12, making a total of 102 men. May 1, 1864, it mustered for duty 43 men, showing a loss to date of 59 men.
Company E organized with 83 men. Recruits received 13, making 96 men. May 1, 1864, it mus- tered for duty 33 men, showing a loss of 63 men to date.
Company F organized with 95 men. Recruits received 9, making 104 men. May 1, 1864. it mus- tered for dnty 55 men, showing a loss to date of 49 men.
Company G organized with 98 men. Recruits received 4, making 102 men. May 1, 1864, it mus- tered for duty 48 men, showing a loss to date of 54 men.
302
HISTORY OF THE SIXTH REGIMENT.
Company H organized with 84 men. Recruits received 15, making 99 men. May 1, 1864, it mus- tered for duty 44 men, making a loss of 55 men to date.
Company I organized with 94 men. Recruits received 9, making 103 men. May 1, 1864, it mus- tered for duty 39 men, showing a loss of 64 men.
Company K organized with 91 men. Recruits received 6, making 97 men. May 1, 1864, it mus- tered for duty 40 men, showing a loss to date of 57 men.
If this calculation is correct, it shows that the regimental staff consisted, May 1, 1864, of 1 Lieu- tenant-Colonel, 1 Major, 1 Adjutant, 1 Quarter- Master, 1 Chaplain, and 1 Assistant Surgeon.
Our regiment at this time was commanded by Major Campbell, who held a commission as Lieu- tenant-Colonel, but was not mustered until the 6th of May, 1864. Captain MeKeehan was commis- sioned Major on the 1st day of May, but never was mustered as Major. Mr. Joseph J. Siddall was Adjutant, George W. Crabb was Quartermaster, George W. Pye was Chaplain, and William A. Collins was Assistant Surgeon.
May 1, 1864, the officers of Company A were: Captain, Delaney Kavanaugh; First Lieutenant, James C. Whaley.
The officers of Company B were : Captain, Samuel F. McKeehan; First Lieutenant, Pleasant C. McGannan.
303
INTERESTING STATEMENTS.
The officers of Company C were: First Lieu- tenant, William A. Cummings ; Second Lieutenant, Charles A. May.
The officers of Company D were : Captain, Andrew F. Conner and William P. Dillon, who, at that time, ranked as Second Lieutenant.
The officers of Company E were: Captain, Oscar F. Rodarmel; First Lieutenant, Henry E. Van Trees.
The officers of Company F were: Captain, Andrew J. Newland; First Lieutenant, Moses Crawford, and Second Lieutenant, John Barrett.
The officers of Company G were: Captain, Samuel T. Finney ; First Lieutenant, William N. Williams.
The officers of Company H were : Captain, James F. . Simpson; Second Lieutenant, Charles Neal.
The officers of Company I were : Captain, Dan- iel W. Conner ; First Lieutenant, Ezra J. Wool- man.
The officers of Company K were : Captain, Charles C. Briant ; First Lieutenant, Lewis HI. Hill.
A recapitulation shows that the strength of the Sixth Indiana, May 1, 1864, was :
Field and staff 5
Line officers
Enlisted men, Company A
21
47
66
B 67
.
66
C 60
66 .. D 43
304
HISTORY OF THE SIXTH REGIMENT.
Enlisted men, Company
33
66
55
G 48
66
66
H
44
66
66
I
39
66
"ו
K 40
Total strength of regiment 502
That the reader may see the comparative results, and the wear and tear upon the physical ability of men to endure such hardships as they were com- pelled to go through in defense of the Union, I will now give the strength of our regiment when first organized.
September 20, 1861, when the regiment first answered to roll-call, she numbered as follows : Field and staff and band 31
Company officers 30
Enlisted men 920
Total recruits received 114
Total strength to be accounted for 1095
Total strength May 1, 1864 502
Total loss incident to warfare 593
At the above rate of loss not a man of the orig- inal organization would remain at the end of five years. The United States enlists men for the reg- ular army for a period of not less than five years. They are invariably young and stout, healthy men. Their treatment is generally such as to de- velop every faculty of the physical system, plenty
E F
66
305
PREPARING FOR ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.
and regular rations, good shelter, no exposure. no forced marches, no great battles, and no prison pens, while the volunteer soldier for the Union had to endure all these privations. Besides this, the volunteer army in the rebellion was composed of men vet in their teens, while some were in their fifties. Young and old alike placed side by side in the ranks, required to carry the same load and to march the same number of miles, physically un- equal as they were, still they were required to per- form an equal amount of labor regardless of the results. No wonder that under such circumstances over one-half of our regiment should have been swept from the rolls in about two and one-half years.
But the end is not yet. Although tired and weary, worn to skin and bone, this remnant of old veterans must plunge still deeper into danger and hardships. A few of them are still left, and their services are too valuable to let them go vet awhile. The rebellion is not yet crushed out- the Union is not yet saved-and again we strike ' out for the front, in pursuit of the enemy of our country. On the 6th of May, the armies repre- senting the controlling strength of the contending powers in the west, lay confronting each other on the eve of one of the greatest canpaigns of a war, made memorable in the annals of the world by the magnitude of armies, the frequency of great battles, and immense compass of military opera- tions.
20
CHAPTER XVIII.
ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.
The bugle sounds the forward, May 7-Tunnel Hill and Buzzard Roost-Rocky Face Ridge-Severe engagement-The Sixth Indiana trees the "Jonnies"-They roll rocks down at us- The enemy fall back to Resaca-We move forward-Our charge of the enemy's works at Resaca-The result a failure -It cost us 25 men-Nevertheless the enemy retreats-We pursue and overtake at Kingston-Destructive work of our artillery-The enemy again flanked-We camp at Burnt Hickory-The enemy takes position at New Hope.
The bugle sounded the forward for the Army of the Cumberland on the 7th of May. The enemy made a show of resistance, but when our corps struck them on the left, at Tunnell Hill, they fled to Buzzard Roost. On the next day Woods' di- vision was required to throw out skirmish lines, and, as usual, the Sixth Indiana was placed in the front. The boys will remember how we pressed the enemy along Rocky Face Ridge, until, as it were, we treed them on Buzzard Roost. Buz- zard Roost is one of the peculiar freaks of nature worthy of note. It is situated on the highest point of Rocky Face Ridge, composed of huge rocks piled one upon another, getting smaller as they get higher, until it seems to terminate almost in a point, towering several hundreed feet above the valleys all around it. On this bare rocky
307
TUNNEL HILL AND BUZZARD ROOST.
tower the buzzards, by the hundreds, would con- gregate for a resting place at night, and no won- der it was given the name of Buzzard Roost.
Our corps, the Fourth, made several unsuccess- ful attempts to charge the enemy on Rocky Face Ridge, but his position was too strong. We did, however, run them to the very top of the hill. One charge the Sixth Indiana made sent them to the very top, but it was so rough, rocky and steep that we could do nothing, while they amused them- selves by rolling large rocks down at us. The boys would not dodge the bullets, but when great big rocks, the size of a flour barrel, was seen com- ing down the side of the mountain, bounding many feet in the air, and again cutting off small trees, truth compels me to say that the boys gave it a wide wake.
The entire army, except our own corps, had been drawn away from the front and sent through Snake Creek Gap, on the right, as a flank movement. This forced the enemy to retreat toward Resaca, while our corps (Howard's) followed closely the retreating rebels to his next position at Resaca, and on the 14th the Sixth Indiana was located on the high chestnut hills to the north of that town. During the several days the regiment was engaged near and on Rocky Face Ridge, she sustained the loss of Isaac T. Hall, killed on May 9, and John MeLellan, killed May 9. both of Company B : also. Jasper Reed, of Company G, was wounded, May 9. Milton Beebe, of Company H, was wounded so
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308
HISTORY OF THE SIXTH REGIMENT.
severely here at Buzzard Roost that he died, May 22, 1864.
On the same day that we got into the works, be- fore Resaca, our gallant old chieftain made an un- successful attempt to turn the enemy's left flank, in order to prevent his retreat. General Palmer who occupied the left-center of our line made a vigorous effort to carry the position in his front, but was repulsed with a heavy loss of seven hun- dred and fifty-five men. The rebel commander made also a desperate attempt to turn our left, and it was this demonstration that brought on the des- perate fighting by Hooker's Corps, immediately on our left. The members of the Sixth Indiana, no doubt, to this day, remember seeing the gallant charge of Hooker's men, just on our le't, as they went down across the field. The boys will also remember that we ourselves charged the enemy at this same time. Don't you remember, boys, that we received orders to be ready to advance at the sound of the bugle ? You will remember, also that our brigade commander, General Hazen, was stand- ing just to the rear of our regiment, and when the bugle sounded he gave the orders to forward. Don't you remember how gallantly we leaped from the temporary works, we had hurriedly thrown up, and sprung out down the hill toward the rebel works? And don't you also remember how un- gallantly we got back up the hill again, to our own hiding place ? This movement of "forward and back again," was done in one time and two motions, and in the key of "G" sharp.
-
309
SEVERE ENGAGEMENT.
Unfortunately, the writer was one of the men who had to obey this foolish order, and I want to tell you that at one time, I thought I was good for a trip down South, when we began to near the rebel works nearly all the regiment very sensibly turned and went back, while Lieutenant L. H. Hill, of Co. K. and Lieutenant P. C. MeGannon, Co. B and myself, either had more courage or less sense and went on toward the rebel works, fol- lowed by some twenty or thirty men, when we made the discovery that there was only a small squad of us still trying to obey the order, while all the balance had returned ; all hope was gone and we too, turned to seek safety; we were not more than one hundred feet from the works, when we turned, and the whole rebel fire was concen- trated on us, and it took only an instant to deter- mine that it was sure death to every man, to un- dertake to get back to our lines just then, so we made a rush for a sink hole, into which we plunged all spraddled out. And yet our safety depended upon laying to the ground, and the flatter the bet- ter; and my opinion then was that Lieutenant Hill was the flattest man I ever saw. But our condition was very critical indeed, as both sides had opened a most deadly musketry fire, while the artillery of both sides were raining shot and shell into each other's lines.
All this was going on over our unholy heads, and I hope the reader will not think me joking when I say that I did not enjoy it a bit. To at-
.
310
HISTORY OF THE SIXTH REGIMENT.
tempt to retreat was certain death. To remain where we were made us liable to be captured any moment. But all at once the firing ceased, or nearly so, and this was our chance. Some fellow proposed to make the break for our lines. It was agreed to, and at a given "order" every fellow sprung to his feet, and away we flew up the hill. The whole rebel line opened up on us, and one would think that at the rate we went the bullets could not catch us; but still one poor fellow was badly wounded. The only wonder is that any of us escaped, and another wonder is that, after such a "flattening," any of us ever again got back to our former rotundity. This was on the 15th, and ended the fighting of our regiment for the day, and some time during the night the rebel army pulled out for Calhoun, destroying the bridge over the Oostanaula River.
Our total loss in this series of engagements was about 800 killed and over 4,000 wounded. About 1,000 prisoners were taken, besides eight cannon. The rebel loss was about 2,500. The Sixth Indi- ana lost in killed and wounded the following named men :
OFFICERS.
Co. B. Pleasant C. McGannan, wounded.
ENLISTED MEN.
Co. A. John W. Anderson, wounded. Garnet D. Land, killed.
-
311
SEVERE ENGAGEMENT.
Co. B. Leonard Ennis, killed May 15. Samuel H. Tull, wounded.
Co. C. Jonathan C. Poland, wounded.
Co. D. Thomas Q. Brady, wounded. Henry Connet, wounded. William McCullough, killed.
Co. E. None reported.
Co. F. None reported.
Co. G. Samuel Brannan, wounded. William H. Bright, wounded.
James Campbell, wounded.
Gabriel Cash, killed.
John Ewing, wounded. Aaron Huffer, wounded.
Richard Hoffinan, wounded.
William John MeComs, killed.
Jordan Miller, killed.
James P. MeCain, wounded.
Co. H. Aaron Day, killed.
Jesse Hays, wounded.
Co. I. None.
Co. K. Wm. P. Ensminger, wounded. Lorenzo D. Martin, wounded.
Daniel M. Shubart, wounded. James T. Jordan, wounded.
Here we have a loss to the regiment of one officer and twenty-four men, and in the short space of fifteen days, our regiment sustains a loss of twenty-five at Resaca and three at Rocky Face, making 28. This from our muster roll of May 1, of 502 leaves for duty 474 ; and still the end is not yet.
312
HISTORY OF THE SIXTH REGIMENT.
On the morning of the 16th, the Army of the Cumberland occupied Resaca ; and General Sher- man gave orders for rapid pursuit. There was delay, however, in passing the river, as it was necessary to throw a pontoon bridge at Resaca, and at points above. During the day Howard's Corps crossed at Resaca and moved forward toward Cal- houn. Our progress was slow, as stubborn resist- ance was offered by the rear guard of Johnson's Army.
Our corps. fought the enemy back inch by inch until we reached Kingston, which place we reached on the 18th and went into camp. At 8 o'clock next morning, we moved against the enemy, and again it was a running fight, but near Cassville, we thought sure the enemy would give us battle, but when Howard's artillery opened, the first line of the enemy retreated in confusion and our corps advanced and occupied the position. It was here at Cassville that we got to see the grandest mili- tary display I ever saw.
The enemy had taken position near Cassville, in the woods, with a large field just in their front ; in this field Howard's whole corps, as it were, passed in review. in plain sight of the enemy, and then while standing closed in mass, the artillery was brought up and placed in position to shell the woods, in which the rebels were stationed. There were some fifty pieces of artillery and at a given signal they were all to open on the woods. The boys will remember that our regiment was called
313
WE TREE THE "JOHNNIES."
on to defend a battery and that we took position just in front of it. Don't you remember, how the large guns belched the fire and smoke down over us ?
The signal gun sounded, and then she opened up, and Great Heavens! "Talk about noises." such a noise and such a sight. is not often wit- nessed by mortal man.
Each gun was required to fire as rapidly as it could be loaded, and this kept up for at least ten or fifteen minutes. The woods were thick and heavy, and into this the shot and shell rained like hail, in a field of standing grain. The limbs were falling and timber being knocked in every direc- tion. When the firing ceased the only thing to be heard was the echo of Howard's destructive artil- lery and when this died away, we could hear away to the front a rattling. tumbling noise, which we did not fully understand, until the next day, as we passed along by the woods and through Cassville. the ground in the woods was litterly covered with the green limbs of the trees. These woods were full of rebels when the cannon opened on them, and in a few minutes they all broke in wild disorder and confusion, and an old man in Cassville told me that he never saw men so confused in his life, that both officers and men were running at full speed for the rear. and that there was no signs of any organization like a company or a regiment, it seemed to be every fellow for himself. This oc- curred about sundown and the whole rebel army
314
HISTORY OF THE SIXTH REGIMENT.
crossed the Etowah River fourteen miles away, and burned the bridge after them, that night.
The enemy next took position at Allatoona pass. General Sherman did not pursue beyond the Etowah. The rough hills and gorges around Al- latoona presented such obstacles to maneuver and attack as to deter him from a direct advance. He chose rather to make a detour to the right, to turn Allatoona, or throw his armies upon John- son's communications at Marietta or the Chat- tahoochee River. He accordingly gave orders for a few days of rest, and time to repair the railroad to Cassville and accumulate supplies at Resaca. On the 23d General Sherman put his armies in mo- tion south of the Etowah. Each army had supplies for twenty days in wagons. Our corps (Howard's) encamped that night just beyond a small stream they called Euharley Creek. The members of the Sixth will remember when we crossed this little stream. The rebels had attempted to burn the bridge, and it was hardly safe to cross on ac- count of being nearly burned off; and then they will also remember that we marched late at night in a drizzling rain.
Andrew B. Sands, of Company K, my company, will certainly remember how impatient he became, so much so that he cursed everything and every- body from the Colonel up to the President. Poor Andy was no worse off than the balance of us, but he got very hot, and took this plan to cool off; and still, when we fell in next morning (24th), at
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315
THE MARCH RESUMED.
daylight, for a forward march, Andy was cooled off and ready for duty, and there was no better soldier in Company K, nor one more ready or will- ing to do his duty, than my dear old comrade Andy. The distance we marched this day was not so very far, but it was awful hot and tiresome. We camped on the night of the 24th at " Burnt Hickory .*
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