USA > Indiana > Memorabilia of the marches and battles in which the One Hundredth Regiment of Indiana Infantry Volunteers took an active part : War of the Rebellion, 1861-5 > Part 11
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Graham's Turn Out, South Carolina, Feb- ruary 10. We destroyed more railroad track in the usual way. The men came in wet and tired. We destroyed everything pertaining to the rail- road, except the earth of which the road-bed was made and even that was rendered useless to the
enemy. So much rain had fallen that military operations were greatly impeded. The enemy showed himself in only two places. Lee's Rebel Corps was in position on the south fork of the Edisto, and Stevenson's Rebel Corps was pressed back to the line of the North Edisto. (Rebel Dispatches. ) (98-1047.)
Camp rooth Indiana, near Holman's Bridge, February rith, 1865: Marched at 7 A. M. to Holman's Bridge on the Edisto River. Marched westwardly about six miles, then north about four miles. We found a bridge destroyed, as usual, by Confederate Cavalry. Some firing on our right. Our men repaired the bridge. We encamped at the edge of the swamp, near the bridge, on the south side of the South Edisto. Saw a few women and children, but not a man. The women said that the men had crossed the river. We marched about six miles; total, 91 miles from Beaufort.
Camp Tooth Indiana, near Shilling's Bridge,
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on the North Edisto River, February 12, 1865: Reveille at 4:30.
General 6, marched 7. The 2d Brigade crossed the South Edisto River at Holman's Bridge this morning and marched in a zig-zag way, though mainly north, through pine woods and swamps, until we reached the south side of the North Edisto River at Shilling's Bridge, where we encamped. We found some forage. Marched about 18 miles; total, 99 miles. Some firing on the right. When we arrived at Shilling's Bridge we found the enemy strongly posted behind works across the river and swamp. General Logan sent Hazen's Division above and John E. Smith's below, with orders for both to cross, while the tooth Indiana was deployed on a high ridge, half a mile in front of the enemy, to attract their attention, while the other troops crossed above and below, which was so effect- ually done that the enemy's retreat was nearly cut off. Eighty prisoners were taken, quite a number were killed and wounded and 200 stand of arms were gathered up, which were thrown away by the enemy in his flight. (98 Howard, 196.)
Camp rooth Indiana, 20 miles north of Shilling's Bridge, February 13. Reveille 4:30. General 6. Marched at 7, crossed the North Edisto and took a blind road on the left; marched nearly all day in the woods, through swampy lands. The roads were very bad and the men were muddy, wet and tired. Our camps were so wet that there was scarcely enough dry ground to sleep on. General Sherman and staff were camped in the woods near ns. The sol- diers thought we had marched 25 miles, but my estimate was 22 miles; total, 121 miles. We
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marched in two colums all day. We encamped on Rucker's plantation.
Wolf's Plantation, S. C., February 14, 1865: We marched early as far as Sandy Run, on the same blind road, or plantation road. Here we struck the main state road, crossed Sandy Run at 2 P. M., and marched four miles further in the direction of Columbia, and went into camp at this place at 4 P. M. We found the Rebel cav- alry here, but General Wood threw out four companies as skirmishers, and they were driven away, but during the night they captured a picket post of the 31st Iowa. They made several dashes at our picket line before daylight. (98 Woods, 242.)
February 15th; Camp a half a mile north Congaree Creek, S. C .: We moved out of camp at daylight, on the main road leading to Colum- bia, the Tooth Indiana having the advance. We immediately encountered the enemy and met with a stubborn resistance all day, driving them from one barricade to another, and being obliged to march with a heavy skirmish line, constantly covering our advance. Our progress was neces- sarily slow. In the afternoon we reached the open fields which lay to the south of the Little Congaree river or Congaree creek, having made five miles. Here the enemy was found on the river bank in considerable force, with three pieces of artillery protecting his position. Col- onel Catterson, by direction of General Wood, deployed the 2nd Brigade in the fields on the right of the road, with orders to press the Rebel left flank. Colonel Stone deployed his 3rd Bri- gade on the left with orders to press the right flank of the enemy. Colonel Woods' Ist Bri-
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gade was held in reserve. The 4th Iowa de. ployed as skirmishers in front of Stone's Brigade and two companies of the tooth Indiana, by di- rection of Colonel R. M. Johnson, were placed under command of the writer and thrown out as skirmishers in the open field south of the bridge and in front of the Confederate battery, and an advance was ordered. The 4th lowa doubled the enemy up and effected a crossing beyond his right, at the same time the detachment of the 100th Indiana poured a galling fire into the fort in their front, and the enemy
hastily withdrew his battery. At this moment the high bridge was discovered to be on fire and the men of the tooth Indiana rushed forward to save the bridge, and while one portion poured a a rapid fire into the fleeing enemy, the other, with boards, shoved the large piles of burning resin which the enemy had placed there, off of the bridge, which was 30 or 40 feet high, and it was saved. The Tooth Indiana men advanced rapidly and formed a line beyond the bridge and was immediately followed by Generals Wood. Logan and Sherman and their staffs and the army, which was quickly formed in line of battle. The enemy were right in our front drawn up in line of battle, in plain view and almost within gun shot. This move brought us within plain view of the houses in Columbia, the capital of the Mother of Secession, and we were of the opinion that if there ever was an opportune time and place for the secession forces to make a stand it was then and there. General Sherman sent Captain Audenreid, of his staff, to inquire of the writer if he could not advance his skirmish line far enough toward the enemy's
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line of battle to fire several buildings which ob- structed the range of our batteries. This was quickly and successfully done, and the 12th Wis- consin battery was placed in position. During this time, about one company of Rebel cavalry made a charge on our skirmish line but our Spen- cer rifles were too much for them and they broke before they reached our line. Sergeant Cherry of Captain Brouse's Company "K" waskilled by a Rebel cannon shot. Night came on and we went into camp and fortified. As Captain Audenreid was returning to the group of generals he saw this company of Rebel cavalry coming on the charge, and urging his horse to a gallop, the latter fell headlong and by the time the horse and rider had picked themselves up the Rebel cavalry was repulsed. On this occasion there was nothing between the several generals and their staffs but the line of Tooth Indiana skirmishers. During the night the Rebels opened on us with a battery from the hills on the east side on the Congaree river. This necessitated the building of tra- verses, which the men did with a will. The writer was placed by Colonel R. M. Johnson on the top of our breastworks, and when the Rebel cannon flashed, gave the alarm instantaneously, at which every man dropped into the ditch until the cannon shot had passed over, and until our traverses had progressed far enough to protect us. The manner in which the soldiers of the 100th drove the enemy out of the fort and saved the bridge was referred to in very complimentary terms by the Generals who witnessed the feat (98 Woods, 242. ) During the day we had five encounters with the Rebels, as follows: Con-
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garee creek, Savannah creek, Bates' ferry on the Congaree river, Red Bank creek, and a cavalry fight at Two League cross roads near Lexing- ton, S. C. (98-3.)
Our casualties at the crossing of the little Congaree were 5 men killed and 10 wounded. (98 Woods, 244.)
During the engagement Battery "II"' Ist Illinois, Battery "B" Ist Michigan, and the 12th Wisconsin Battery fired 39 rounds into the enemy's ranks. (98-89.)
February 16th, camp between Broad and Saluda Rivers, above Columbia: We moved northward past Columbia, on the west side of the Congaree River, up to the factory on the Saluda River, and crossed over that stream and en- camped between the Saluda and Broad Rivers. Saw a good many women and girls at the factory, who presented a strange appearance as they leaned on the fences, all dressed in coarse brown cotton cloth. The ludicrous appearance of these poor people provoked the most amusing remarks from the soldiers. We marched about six miles. Total, 137. The Rebel Cavalry made some op- position to our movement about Columbia, but we were delayed very little on that account. Battery "H" Ist Illinois, the 12th Wisconsin Battery and Company "H" Ist Missouri Light Artillery shelled the city of Columbia, firing 215 rounds into the city. (98-89.)
Columbia, South Carolina, February 17th: As soon as the bridge was finished over Broad Riv- er we crossed and marched down into the city of Columbia. I saw a good many stores and ware- houses with the glass fronts broken in. We met a great many negroes, of all shades of color, age,
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and sex, who were drunk. They had clothing, tobacco, chinaware and other articles. They gave our soldiers considerable tobacco as we marched by them. We marched through the city and encamped on the side of a hill half a mile southeast. A very large pile of cotton bales were on fire in the street when we entered. I saw many stores broken open, the negroes said by Rebels. It was a very windy day. Some houses caught fire from burning cotton flying in the air. At 11 P. M. the whole city was on fire. The command was ordered out. The soldiers helped men and women to save clothing and other effects. Marched about 4 miles. Total, 141 miles from Beaufort.
The Third Brigade, Col. Stone, entered the city first, then came the second; the Tooth In- diana being in advance. The city was surren- ered to Col. Stone by M. Goodwin, the Mayor, and the Aldermen, who came out in a carriage to meet our forces. (98 Stone, 264.)
The Confederate forces evacuated Charles- ton on that day, so the two twin secession cities of the South, the home of traitors, fell on the same day.
Columbia, February 18th, 1865.
I took a walk over the stricken city. Noth- ing but destruction was to be seen. The citizens were taking care of such property as they had saved. The soldiers were assisting them. The railroads and warehouses, foundries and arsenal were being destroyed. Some refugees were with us. I was at the arsenal and saw some old cannons which were used in the war of the Revolution. The command remained in camp. Our position at Columbia forced the
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evacuation of Charleston as much as if we had been within the range of its guns, and by order of our army commander, the Tooth Indiana was directed to inscribe on its regimental flag the names of Charleston and Columbia. The Rebels blew up their commissary depot at the former place and with it 200 human beings were blown to atoms. (98-1019.)
We captured at Columbia a large number of printing presses and material for printing con- federate money and also several hundred thous- and dollars of the new bills printed ready for circulation. Our men used this money in play- ing poker for recreation on the march.
Columbia, February 19th.
The work of destruction went on, several wagon-loads of shells exploded between the water-works and the Congaree river and killed several men engaged in destroying ammunition. The citizens took shelter in the houses, wherever they could get it, regardless of ownership. We remained in camp all day. We destroyed 550 bales of cotton which were stored about the city. (98 Woods 243.) The railroad depots, arsenals, machine shops, the armory with a large quantity of machinery, a powder mill which was well equipped for opera- tions, and three large store houses full of ammu- intion were destroyed. (98 Howard, 199.)
Camp on Peay's Ferry Road.
February 20th, 1865.
Reveille, 5, General 6; marched at 7 A. M., northward on the east side of the railroad 20 miles. Total, 161 miles. Having made a
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detour by way of Robert's Cross Roads and Muddy Spring to Rice Creek, on the Peay's Ferry Road. where we went into camp about Io P. M. (98 Howard, 199.) (98 Catterson, 259.) Camp near Longstown, on Winnsboro Road. February 21st, 1865.
We marched at 8 A. M. over a hilly country and encamped about 40 miles north of Columbia, at Longstown, on the main road leading from Winnsboro to Camden. The country was barren and we got but little forage for men or animals. Marched 20 miles. Total, ISI. (98 Logan, 228.)
Camp near Peay's Ferry, on Catawba River, February 22, 1865: We marched north yesterday and east today. It rained all day, we were very wet and the roads very bad; sandy country, some pine. We put down our pontoons. Marched 15 miles; total, 196. (98 Adams 353.)
Patterson's store, near Flat Rock, South Carolina, February 23rd, 1865: The day was dark and misty. We crossed the Catawba River on the pontoons; marched over bad roads. The train and column was strung out. Marched about 6 miles; total, 202.
Near Pine Tree Church, Feb. 24.
Marched at S A. M. amidst rain, mud, sand hills, pine smoke, profanity and bad roads. This place is near the Flat Rock of Revolutionary fame. Marched 9 miles; total 211. The 2nd and 4th Divisions of the 15th Corps entered Camden and destroyed all the stores and public buildings in the place. (98 Logan, 229.)
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100.
IND,
The tooth Indiana crossing the swollen Catawba river, near Flat Rock, in South Carolina, February 23d. 1865.
Camp 100th Indiana,
Tiller's Ferry Road, Feb. 25, 1865.
Marched at 7 A. M. eastwardly. Got some
forage. The land was swampy in many places. We were on the road from Peay's Ferry, on the Catawba River, to Tiller's Ferry, on Lynch's Creek. Marched about 10 miles over miserable roads. Rained so hard we could make no fires. Total marched, 221 miles.
Tiller's Ferry, Feb. 26, 1865.
Marched at S A. M. ; reached Lynch's Creek at evening; rained all day, the river was very high and over the bottoms; we put down our pontoons, then the river fell at once, leaving half the pontoons on the ground; we thought the Rebels dammed the river below with timber and that the dam gave way. We marched about 9 miles; total 230 from Beaufort. (98-5.)
Tiller's Ferry, Monday, Feb. 27, 1865.
The rain ceased; we remained in camp. The men were all engaged in drying their clothes and blankets. We crossed some men over the river on horses. About noon the river was very high, we had to build a bridge here about three hundred feet long before we could cross. (98 Woods, 246. ) (98 miles, 473.)
Tiller's Ferry, South Carolina, Feb. 28, 1865.
We made muster rolls all day; remained in camp. The engineers were busy completing the bridge; the men crossed the pack mules and horses over by swimming them alongside a raft of planks and logs. The weather was very un- favorable for military operations, and had been for many days. (98 Woods, 246. )
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Camp 15 miles northeast of Tiller's Ferry, March 1, 1865: We crossed Lynch's Creek and marched hard till night and went into camp in the woods. Rained very hard all day; put out all our fires and we had nothing to eat. Lynches Creek is about 280 feet wide at a high stage of water at Tiller's Ferry and from 5 to 6 feet deep. We marched northeast all day, 16 miles; total 246.
Camp 15 miles southwest of Cheraw, South Carolina, March 2, 1865: Reveille 5. General 6. Marched at S A. M. : bad roads, sandy coun- try and pine timber; some hills. We encamped on a stream running about northeast, about 25 miles northeast of Tiller's Ferry and about 15 miles southeast of Cheraw, South Carolina. We saw but few farms, no forage. We marched 10 miles; total 256.
Cheraw, South Carolina, March 3, 1865: We marched at S A. M. to Cheraw, 15 miles or more, over a sandy country; this town is on the Great Pedee River. The 17th Army Corps train blocked our way till I A. M. We captured 25 cannons and a large amount of ammunition here. The Rebels burned a bridge across the Great Pedee, and also destroyed some stores and munitions of war.
Cheraw, South Carolina, March 4, 1865: We remained in camp, saw a large quantity of powder and many rifles, cannon, harness, caissons, siege guns and tents destroyed. The men were all in good health. The pioneers made a road beyond the river; a portion of the army crossed over on pontoons. The river was high. There was some firing on the hills about a mile or
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two east of the river-crossing. Our captures at Cheraw were 25 cannons, 16 limbers, 16 caissons, 5,000 rounds artillery ammunition, 20,000 rounds of infantry, 2,000 stand of arms, 1, 000 cavalry sabres, locomotives, cars and several thousand bales of cotton. Mower's Division crossed on the pontoons at 3 P. M., and at once engaged the enemy on the high hills east of the Pedee River. (98 Blair, 38I. )
March 5, 1865: Reveille 5. General 6. Marched at 8 A. M.
Camp on Fills Creek, about five miles east of Cheraw, March 6, 1865: It was mud- dy, foggy and rainy. We marched about east. We only moved our camp about three miles out on the Fayetteville road and encamped in the woods.
On this date General Joseph E. Johnston again took command of the Confederate army in our front. (99 Jefferson Davis, 1304.)
Camp near Goodwin's Mills, north of Che- raw, March 7, 1865: We had plenty of forage. Lieutenant Meeker, of the 100th Indiana, in com- mand of the regimental forage detail, took pos- session of two mills and put several negroes to shelling corn. They shelled and ground enough to supply the Brigade, and brought it a long dis- tance. We had also plenty of chickens and sweet potatoes. The country here was much better than heretofore.
March 8, 1865, Laurel Hill, North Caro- lina: Marched at 7 A. M. We crossed the state line between North and South Carolina at noon.
Camp Bethel, North Carolina, March 9. I865: We marched at S A. M. about 15 miles in
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the rain and wet sand. We crossed the Little Pedee at Gilchrist's Bridge and went into camp on the east side of the river. Forage plenty for the whole army; saw no enemy; total, 308 miles. The streams were all flooded and the swamps were full of water, and every soldier's clothing perfectly saturated. The weather was cold and chilly, and many of the men had but little cloth- ing and their shoes were worn out and their ponchos and blankets likewise.
Camp five miles east of Bethel Chapel near Little Rock Fish, March 10, 1865: Marched at 8 A. M., crossed the Lumber River and contin- ued eastwardly on the Fayetteville road in the mud and rain. The men were all wet and the wagons mired down. Forage was plenty. The country was comparatively level. Marched five miles; total, 313 miles. We were also 20 miles from Fayetteville, N. C. The men had been soaking wet for about sixty hours, with nothing to eat but cold rations. The weather continued very cold; no fires could be built except of pine knots, while a rubber poncho was held over them to keep the rain off. The sufferings of the officers and men, as well as the animals, was very great.
Fayetteville, North Carolina, March II, 1865: Marched at 7 A. M., 21 miles to Fayette- ville. Rained most of the day. We took a large arsenal here. The city is on high ground, on the west bank of Cape Fear river.
A steamer came in from Wilmington.
Fayetteville, March 13, 1865: We buried O. S. Davis, of Company "A," rooth Indiana, in the cemetery. I made some measurements to
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determine his grave hereafter. The army was very orderly-not a citizen complained. An- other steamer came in. I got a New York Tribune and read it aloud to a large crowd of soldiers, who wanted to hear the news. After I read it, a soldier of the 17th Corps offered me a one-thousand dollar bill, Confederate money, for it, which I refused.
March 14, Fayetteville: We remained in camp. More boats landed at our camp from Wilmington; they returned loaded.
March 15, 1865: Wednesday morning we heard some firing on the left. We marched at Io a. m. about five miles east and encamped on the west bank of the South branch near the crossing. Marched five miles, total 346. (92- 2.34.)
March 16, 1865, Camp near Beaman's Cross Roads: Reveille 5, General 6. Marched at S a. m .; crossed the South branch; marched slowly about ten miles and went into camp in the woods. Sandy and quite level. Heavy firing on theleft. We halted north of Troublefields. We were moving directly on Goldsboro. More firing on the left. Marched ten miles, total 356. We had three encounters with the enemy. The firing we heard on the left was the battle of Averasborough. Our loss was 12 officers and 83 men killed, and 34 officers and 499 men wounded, and 54 missing, total 682. The Reb- els lost a battery of three pieces and one caisson, their ambulance train and 175 prisoners. We buried 128 on the field; their wounded numbered 576; total 879. (98 Slocum, 423.)
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Camp near Troublefield's store, March 17, 1865: We marched about ten miles through mud and pine woods, part of the time as flankers along the train. The men and animals were all much worn and tired out. Marched 366 miles.
Camp two miles from Lee's store, March 18, 1865: Marched about ten a. m. about eight miles and encamped in the pine woods about two miles from Lee's store. It was raining and muddy. We had to leave the roads and march in the timber. Total 374 miles.
Camp on Falling Creek, March 19, 1865: Twenty-three miles west of Goldsboro. We marched in rain and mud all day, and in the sand and pine woods. There was some firing on the left. We made about eight miles; total 382 miles.
The 100th Indiana in the Battle of Bentonville.
In line of Battle about two miles southeast of Bentonville, March 20th.
On the morning of the 20th of March the Second Brigade had the advance, the rooth In- diana in front. We moved on Falling Creek soon after daylight, and met the enemy at once, on the road leading from Cox's bridge to Bentonville. Posted behind a line of barricades. Six companies of the 97th In- diana were deployed on the right of the road and companies "A," "C," "I"' and "H" of the Tooth Indiana, under Major John W. Heading- ton, on the left; and a charge was made on the Rebel line, which broke and fled towards Ben-
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tonville, closely pursued by our line. The country on the road, covered by the 97th, was all open fields, while that covered by the four companies of the rooth was mostly timber. The Rebels fled from the open fields to the timber in front of the tooth, which brought the entire Rebel force in their front. In this position a running fight of about three miles was made. The enemy were driven away from one barricade after an- other. At this juncture the 97th Indiana was relieved by the 6th lowa. The 100 Indiana, with all the Rebels in its front, which had been doubled up during the running fight, was not re- lieved, but with the 6th Iowa continued to press the enemy back. Part of the time on the dou- ble-quick to a point three miles from Bentonville, where the enemy made a determined stand, in a line of works, with open fields in front of our entire line. Generals Logan, Wood and others, had followed the skirmish line closely, and Col. Johnson followed the Generals closely, with the other six companies of the 100th Indiana, his command being the head of the column. The ammunition of the 6th Iowa became exhausted just as we drew up in front of the enemy's line of battle, and that Regiment was relieved by the 46th Ohio. But Major Headington's four com- panies of the rooth Indiana, having pressed for- ward right up to the edge of the open fields, in front of the enemy's works, were not relieved. At this time the Confederate commander either discovered the group of Generals or that Major Headington's line was far in advance of its sup: port and intending either to capture the Generals or to get in the rear of Headington's, line he despatched a large body of Wade Hampton's
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Rebel Cavalry to our rear, around our left, for that purpose, not being able on account of the timber, to see Col. Johnson's column, which he had judiciously kept well closed up on ourskirmish line. The Rebels struck the right of his column and in- stantly the roar of battle began, right in the rear of Headington's line, which then had an entrenched Rebel line of battle in its front and a battle going on closely in its rear. In this situation some of the officers suggested to Major Headington that we were surrounded and had better cut our way out towards the right. In response to an inquiry by Major Headington to the writer as to what he had better do, the answer given by me was to hold our position as long as we had a man left, and this Col. Headington decided to do. In the meantime Col. Johnson instantly brought his line to face the cavalry, which had encountered the Tooth, by one of those difficult movements, the necessity for which rarely happens in a lifetime, and his men delivered a withering fire into the Rebel Cavalry, from which they quickly recoiled, and the 46th Ohio, which had relieved the 6th Iowa, and was armed with Spencer rifles, charged the Rebel works in our front, and as the line of that Regiment came in line with Major Heading- ton's line, the men of the 100th Indiana charged with it, and all went together over the Rebel earthworks, and the Rebel line, being Hagood's entire Brigade of Hoke's Division, was routed and fled from their position. It is, without doubt, true, that if Col. Johnson had not been well closed up on Major Headington's line, and had not so skillfully interposed the Tooth Indiana between the Rebel Cavalry and the group of Generals, the latter would have been either killed
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