USA > Indiana > History of the Sixth regiment Indiana volunteer infantry. Of both the three months' and three years' services.. > Part 4
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But we soon got over this and presented the appearance of warriors sufficient to cause the rebel General Buckner to withdraw his advanced forces back to Bowling Green. where he strongly fortified his position.
But before we leave this part of Kentucky, the writer would be inexcusable not to remind the boys of the very agreeable surprise and treat pre- sented to our Regiment by the ladies of the Sixth Ward, Louisville.
On Thanksgiving Day, 1861, on the line of the Nashville Railroad, near Sonora, in commemora- tion of the fact that the Sixth Regiment was the first to enter the State for its defense against Buck- ner, who was threatening Louisville, the train rolled up to the station, and to the wonder and as- tonishment of the boys, off walked about two hundred ladies, who at once began to prepare spreads, on which was placed a most sumptuous Thanksgiving dinner. Those grateful ladies, not unmindful of their rescuers, of those who had thrust themselves between their beautiful city and those who threatened its destruction, had sought this manner of showing their generosity, and cer- tainly nothing could have been more fitting or suitable, and as the boys had been in camp about
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long enough to "get up" a good appetite, it is needless to say that they did full justice to the oc- casion. I do not remember that there was any one too sick to eat that dinner. After the dinner was dispatched, the Hon. James Guthrie presented a beautiful silk flag, as a present from the ladies. On this flag was inscribed : "From the ladies of the Sixth Ward, Louisville, Ky., to the Sixth Reg- iment, Indiana Volunteers." The reply was made by Captain A. W. Prather.
After many good wishes for the success of the Indiana boys, these patriotic ladies and gentlemen again boarded the train and returned to Louisville, and there was but one sentiment in the Sixth Reg- iment as that train rolled away, and that was, God bless the ladies of the Sixth Ward.
After the Regiment left Nolin Creek, the writer has a faint recollection, and, perhaps, many other members of the Regiment have not forgotten it, of a camp we called Camp Sixth Ward, in honor of the ladies who had so kindly remembered us on Thanksgiving Day. The boys called it Camp " Ground Hog," from the fact that we were or- dered, and did dig pits in the ground about 10x12 feet square, and four to six feet deep, over which we spread our tents. We did not stay in these " dug- outs " very long, as the discovery was made, that while ground hogs might live in the ground with- out endangering their health, it was not a very good place for men. While in this camp many contracted sickness, and were sent to the rear,
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some never to return. It was at this camp we carried poor John S. Ross, a member of the same Company with the writer, to the train, and ship- ped him back to Louisville, never to return again, as the poor fellow died on the 19th day of the February following. Who can tell how many poor fellows contracted their death in these " dirty mud holes," and, again, who can tell how much money the Government is paying as pensions for disabilities contracted at Camp "Ground Hog."
The next move of the regiment was to Bacon Creek, where the boys found more creek than bacon. The regiment never was in as bad condi- tion, perhaps, as it was while here at Bacon Creek. It is safe to say that there was not one man in ten who had not contracted chronic diarrhea-this ter- rible scourge of the army, this dreaded disease which, perhaps, laid the foundation for more disa- bilities than all other ailments that ever befel a poor soldier. How many affidavits have gone up to the Pension Department bearing the telling words of " chronic diarrhea, contracted at Bacon Creek."
A very considerable number of the regiment had measles while at this camp, from which fur- loughs were granted, and eventually discharges given. In fact, measles had broken out back at Camp Nevin, and at one time there were so many men down with that disease that drills had to be discontinued. Cold, wet, disagreeable weather
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caused it to assume a dangerous character, or rather to run into some other malady which proved fatal.
On the 9th of December McCook ordered Gen- eral R. W. Johnson to move forward to Mun- fordsville, on Green River, and about the 17th his whole command moved up to Green River, and Camp Wood was established, and here we floun- dered around in the mud the balance of the winter. The rebels had burned the bridge across Green River, and Colonel Willich, with the Thirty-second Indiana, constructed a temporary crossing, over which four companies of his regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Von Trebra, passed December 17, and took position near Rowlett Station. The rebel General Albert Sidney Johnson had sent General Hindman with his brigade from Bowling Green, with instructions to destroy the railroad as far north as Green River. On the same day that the Thirty-second Indiana crossed the river, Hind- man reached Woodsonville. On the approach of Hindman, Von Trebra threw out two companies as skirmishers. The enemy fell back with the purpose of decoying the Union troops to the point where his main command of infantry and artillery was posted.
The cavalry-a squadron of Texas Rangers- made a dash at the Thirty-second boys, and their skirmishers rallied and formed a hollow square to receive the charge. After repeated charges from the cavalry, which were resisted by the Thirty-
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second, in one of which Colonel Terry was killed, Colonel Willich re-enforced Von Trebra with four additional companies. After maintaining their position under fire for an hour and a half, the Indiana troops repulsed the enemy in every charge, and Hindman's force then withdrew. Colonel Willich had in the engagement only the eight companies of his command, with Cotter's battery. The enemy attacked with a force of eleven hundred infantry, two hundred and fifty cavalry and four pieces of artillery. The Thirty- second Indiana lost thirteen men killed and ten wounded.
Professor Kettell, in his history of the Great Rebellion, gives this account of the engagement at Rowlett's Station :
"On the 17th day of December, four companies of the Thirty-second Indiana, thrown out in ad- vance of Munfordsville, on the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, forty-two miles north of Bow- ling Green, encountered a party of Texas Rangers, who charged them, and were received with a sharp fire. The infantry were then ordered to rally upon an adjoining wood. In the act they were charged by the Texan horsemen, and a desperate hand-to- hand encounter ensued, the Indianians making use of their sword bayonets, they soon gained the woods, and were reinforced by two other regi- ments, when the Texans fled, leaving many dead, in- cluding their Colonel, upon the field. The Federal loss was thirteen killed and as many wounded."
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In the above statement the author is simply mistaken, when he says the " Indianians were re- inforced by two other regiments," as Colonel Wil- lich took two other companies of his own regi- ment, and went to the relief of the two already engaged. Besides that, they did not get to the wood, but formed a "hollow square" in the open field, where they successfully withstood the des- perate charges of these daring Rangers, and finally repulsed them. At one time this " hollow square " was completely surrounded by the Rangers, and the only thing that saved the Indiana boys was their skillful training and knowledge of military tactics.
One of these Texas braves dashed up within a few feet of this " hollow square," and, taking de- liberate aim, fired and killed Lieut. Max Sachs, but he paid dearly for his temerity, as he "bit the dust " instantly.
The Sixth Indiana was fortunate enough to " get up " just in time to be a little too late to see this engagement, but, in company with others, the writer went and examined the battlefield.
From about the middle of December until the middle of February was spent here on the bank of Green River. To drill, go on dress parade, and do picket duty was the order of the day, while writing letters home, and playing euchre was the occupation to while way the long, dreary winter evenings. Men who never knew one card from another before, here learned to play euchre, and to
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smoke a pipe, and why not ? Nothing to read, noth- ing to do, but to think of home and loved ones left behind. Half siek and discouraged, what else could we do, but to resort to something for amuse- ment, something to kill time?
It was at Green River the writer was promoted to Orderly Sergeant. It was my custom to visit each company tent once or twice a day, for the sole purpose of cheering the boys and learning their various wants. One evening, when making these rounds, I dropped into a tent and found one poor fellow all alone; he was writing a letter home to his wife. I saw in a moment that he was very much affected, in fact, he could not conceal the tears that were freely running down his cheeks, and I said, "why, Bill, what's the matter ?" His re- ply was: "Oh, God! don't ask me; this is the second letter I have received from my wife; she and the children are almost destitute; I had but little to leave her, and now that is gone; we are very poor, and the store-keepers will not trust her for even the necessaries of life; I sent her all my last pay, but it did not pay up all the rent, and the landlord says she must move ; I don't know what to do." At the close of this sentence he dropped his pencil, lay back on his bed of straw and wept bit- terly. I was silent, and too full for utterance, while the hot tears flowed freely down my face. Remembering my manhood, I braced up instantly, and said to him : " Here, Bill, is two dollars (which was the last cent I had) ; send her this, and I will
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see if I can't help you out with some more to-mor- row," told him good night and went on my rounds. The next day I borrowed five dollars from my Lieutenant and gave him. He wrote her at once enclosing the money.
How many thousands of poor fellows have had a similar experience, but alas ! I fear they did not all find a like friend. How many long, dreary nights have I laid in my tent, stretched out on an old, dirty blanket, weary and foot-sore, almost dead for rest, while the mind and thoughts were wandering back home, thinking of wife and babies. -" Dear ones, did you but know my condition to- night, your hearts would faint within you, you would weep yourselves to sleep." But the loved ones at home are not permitted to know these trials and hardships. The brave soldier cheers up, and when he writes home he tells them all is well, do not worry after me. Oh! for something to oc- cupy the mind, to cheer the drooping spirits, to drive away the blues, yes, anything, even a civil game of euchre.
The boys will remember that it was here on the banks of Green River we took our Christmas din- ner. Almost every fellow had been remembered by loved ones at home, by sending him a box of sweet-meats. The writer, too, had not been for- gotten by the dear one who had been left behind to care for our two little angel babies while their father was absent in defense of the country. Yes, we got a box, and it was only an average box, not
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more, yet it contained roast chickens. an assort- ment of pies, cakes, jellies, honey, apples, etc., and two pint bottles full of a kind of red fluid, which was not coffee, or tea. The contents of this box was spread upon an oil-cloth in the center of our tent, and of course surrounded by our mess. The opening ceremony commenced by starting one of these pint bottles around the circle. Poor Bill was there and he took a big one. Of course, I sup- pose it was to drown his troubles. But after the last chicken bone was stripped the exercises closed as they begun by emptying the other bottle. In fact, the whole regiment had a general feast on good things-a splendid Christmas dinner.
The members of Company K will remember while at this camp one morning, after a heavy rain during the night, old Charley Stewart came in very late after being out all night, looking like he had been on a protracted drunk, and when the Captain asked him where he had been, he said that he had, in fact, got drunk on the evening be- fore, and in trying to get back to the regiment had got lost, and after wandering around a long time. unable to find his way back, he crawled into one of the large cannons in order to get out of the rain. He went sound asleep in a little while, and of course those darned artillerymen did not know he was in there, and when they fired their morning salute they just happened to fire the gun he was in. He said he did not waken up until he was passing over Green River, but then it was too late
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and he had to go on, and lit over on the point near Rowlett Station. He said he was all right, only it made him a little tired to walk back to camp.
Mud and rain, snow and sleet, freeze and thaw, were changes that followed each other in such quick succession that it. made it very unfortunate for us poor creatures, who were just putting in our first winter as soldiers. I remember very dis- tinctly on one occasion our regiment went on picket across Green River; we took position on a high-quite steep-knob. This knob was al- most covered with cedar bushes, with branches long and drooping. When we got posted it was not cold, still the sky was covered with black, heavy clouds, but in about an hour it began to blow, and I never saw it snow any harder or faster. This condition lasted until about mid- night, when the snow changed to a very cold, freezing rain, lasting the balance of the night. We found shelter from the wind and snow by crawling under the cedar trees. But when it be- gan to rain we soon got out of there, and the only thing left was for us to stand up and take our medicine. When we were relieved in the morn- ing it was not much trouble to get down off that hill. The boys would sit down, turn up their toes like sled runners, stear clear of cedar bushes, and " let her go, Gallagher." Everywhere it was a complete glare of ice and sleet. My only shelter that night was an oil-cloth, and somehow I didn't
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sleep very well; in fact. none of the boys went to sleep that night on their post.
On the 13th of February, 1862, the Third Divi- sion, under General O. M. Mitchell, broke camp, and moved rapidly toward Bowling Green to pre- vent Johnson from sending reinforcements to Fort Donelson, which was about to be attacked by General Grant. General Mitchell arrived on the north bank of the Barren River, opposite Bowl- ing Green, on the day following. His arrival was announced by the roar of cannon, whose bombs, busting in the city, spread terror among the in- habitants, and hurried the retreat of the rear guard of General Johnson's army.
Before evacuating Bowling Green the enemy had burned both bridges over Barren river, public buildings, railroad cars and other property. The swollen stream, without bridges, prevented the immediate advance of the troops to arrest the con- flagration.
General Turchin's Brigade had secured some boats in which they crossed the river during the night, and by 5 o'clock next morning were in the city, and saved from destruction a portion of the rolling stock of the railroad.
The continued high water offered such a barrier to the transfer of troops, artillery and trains to the south bank, that a week elapsed before Gen- eral Mitchell could resume his march toward Nashville. But the week was improved by get- ting the balance of the army from Green River up
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to Bowling Green, ready to cross as soon as Gen- eral Mitchell could get out of the way. By the 22d, however, General Mitchell had succeeded in getting his men all across the angry stream, and struck out the same day for Nashville, without trains, and by way of Franklin, Mitchellville and Tyree Springs, while the balance of the army be- gan the passage of Barren River. General Buell succeeded in repairing cars and engines enough to carry about a thousand men. This train was loaded with troops, and steamed off at once for Nashville, carrying General Buell and staff, and about one thousand men.
It reached Edgefield on the 24th, just as Gen- eral Mitchell had arrived and was going into camp.
The surrender of Fort Donelson, on the 16th, forced the evacuation of Nashville. Consequently, when General Buell arrived at this city, he found it evacuated, and the whole rebel chivalry rolling off toward the South.
When General Grant notified the commander at Fort Donelson that he proposed " to move against his works without delay," he put his threat into execution, and when the rebel commander saw that defeat was sure, Generals Pillow and Floyd (and their staffs) turned the command over to General Buckner, and took steamer for Nashville, where they remained just long enough to burn all the bridges across the Cumberland, and they too moved on south to look for a more "healthy cli- mate."
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In the meanwhile Buell's whole army was mov- ing on toward Nashville. The Sixth Indiana was at her place " in ranks," and although some of the boys did not answer at roll-call at night when we went into camp, they got there all the same, and were ready for roll-call, and their rations, too, in the morning. The writer well remembers of being detailed to gather up the stragglers at Franklin, near which place we camped over night. When the Regiment pulled out toward Nashville that morning, I went up in town and succeeded in gath- ering up near fifty tired, sore-footed boys, looking a little worse of the wear, some without guns, and nearly all without rations. The boys of this sore-footed squad will remember that we all got together on the railroad, near town, and fell in and counted off. The ammunition was divided among those who had guns, and the rations-well, we simply didn't have any. Here was a desperate case ; we were two days' march from Nashville, the army had gone on and left us in the midst of the enemy's country, while only about half of our squad had guns, with perhaps eight or ten rounds of ammunition to the gun, and not enough rations for one square meal, and not only this, but three- fourths of the squad were actually sick, while all were foot-sore and broke down; and still another item to take into consideration was that as we had no tents, what would we do for shelter when night overtook us?
So with all these vital questions before us we
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simply held a " Council of War," in which privates as well as officers participated. It was finally de- cided to divide into two equal squads. The writer was to take one squad and go the pike, while another Sergeant took the other and was to go down the railroad track. The object of dividing was to give us a better chance to forage, and then, perhaps, we could find a better chance to get shel- ter at night; so with this understanding the boys told each other " good bye" and we started, with the intention of catching up with the regiment on the evening of the second day, which we did, get- ting in about the same time, and without any mishap. As for myself and squad, we certainly faired very well. We found plenty to eat and very often the parties refused to take pay, which was always offered. If there still survives any who were in the squad with the writer, they will remember that, on the evening of the first day, we come to a respectable looking farm house, and decided to strike the old fellow for quarters over night. While the boys lay down to rest I went on to investigate. I found the proprietor a very in- telligent gentleman and, a solid Union man. He told me to bring the boys in and he would not only give them lodging, but would prepare a good supper and breakfast for them. When I returned and announced my success I was well rewarded by the broad smile that spread over the tired faces. We fell in and marched into the yard in true soldier style; halted, stacked arms and broke
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ranks. The old man approached and gave each man a hearty shake of the hand. We were then furnished water and towels, and for the first time since we broke camp every fellow had a clean face and his head combed.
The supper was good and the boys ate it with a relish. When we retired at night we took our guns with us, and was ready for any emergency. We got an early start next morning after a good, square breakfast, for all of which the old man would not have a cent of pay. I am satisfied the men were fifty per cent. better off this morning than they were when they left Franklin. Dan Shubart declared that on a good night's rest and two square meals, he could go into camp that night without an other bite to eat.
CHAPTER V.
ENTERING NASHVILLE.
Move toward Duck River-We strike out for Savanah, Tenn .- We hear the cannon at Shiloh-Our steamboat ride up to Shiloh-A terrible night in the mud and rain-Screaming of the wounded and dying.
The rear of the rebel army was scarcely out of the city of Nashville when General Buell with his magnificent army arrived on the north side of the Cumberland River, boats were procured, and the work of crossing began at once. By 9 o'clock at night the troops were all over, and Nashville was in the possession of the Union army. In order to find camping ground, the army was marched two or three miles beyond the city, and our brigade halted in an open field for the night. These fields were enclosed by stone walls or fences and conse- quently there was nothing to build fires. A cold rain had been falling nearly all day, and when evening came the mercury fell below the freezing point; the boys clothes which were thoroughly wet were frozen on them. In the absence of fire without, it was thought advisable to kindle one within. Accordingly, two barrels of whisky was ordered to each brigade, and was issued to the men which seemed to arouse their drooping spirits,
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and they were enabled to endure the storm until morning, when suitable camping grounds were selected, and soon they had immense log fires by which their clothes were dried : the seething camp- kettle told of coffee, and the patient soldiers soon forgot the hardships and trials of the night before.
It was just as the boys were preparing their evening meal around these big log fires, that the writer and his sore-footed squad arrived in camp : to say we were happy, expresses it mildly.
The army remained quiet around Nashville un- til about the 15th of March, when MeCook's Di- vision was ordered to strike tents and head toward Columbia, on Duck River, with a further view of moving on to Savannah, on the Tennessee River. a point where the whole army was ordered to con- centrate. When we arrived at Duck Run we found the bridge burned, and the stream full to the top of its banks. As our division had no pon- tons, it became necessary to build a bridge, which work was assigned to the Thirty-second Indiana. But before the bridge was completed, General Buell received word that General Grant, who had brought his forces up the Tennessee River, had landed on the west bank of the river. General Buell's keen military vision enabled him instantly to see the great danger of Grant's army. The ex- citement among the officers of Buell's army was so intense that General Nelson would not wait for the completion of the bridge, but crossed the river by wading and swimming together, getting his 7
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entire division, artillery, baggage, etc., over safely, and struck out rapidly for Savannah. The bridge, however, was completed on the 29th, and the march was immediately resumed, and by the 31st the en- tire Army of the Ohio was headed for Savannah.
Before we get too far from Duck River, I must halt'long enough to ask the boys of the Sixth In- diana if they have forgotten the night we crossed that turbulent stream? I confess that I was so thoroughly frightened that to this day I shudder when I think of the great danger we were in. I would, of choice, risk my scalp in another battle like Shiloh, rather than start across another bridge like the one over Duck River-a temporary bridge built on top of the water, held to its place by ropes fastened to trees away up a stream swift as a mill race and many feet deep, mad, angry and turbulent, rushing and foaming, fairly hissing un- der our feet, only a few inches above it-the white foam rolling up against the upper end of this frail structure in a most threatening manner, and dark as hades, except the flickering lights on the shore, which only enabled you to see more clearly your terrible danger. Only imagine this frail structure freighted with human souls to the very water's edge, continually screeching and cracking under your feet, while the ropes that held it in place were stretched so tight by the great volume of rushing waters that you could hear them fairly sing in the air; and then remember that every man is carrying a gun, cartridge-box, haversack,
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