USA > Indiana > Reunion of the 9th regiment Indiana vet. vol. infantry association, 1892-1904 > Part 4
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The Captain had some difficulty with some to convince them that after a rail or a post had been split up for culi- nary purposes it was neither a post nor a rail. Yet when they thought of the sycamores in the swamp, the water and the possible rattlesnakes in the water, and of the heavy
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chopping and splitting of the sycamores growing in the water, and of the gallinippers' long, sharp, bloody bills, they thought as the Captain did regarding the posts and the rails being no longer posts and rails when split into kindling wood. They signed the paper and the victory was with them. It is one thing to achieve a victory and quite another thing to make a good use of a victory.
The next day at the hour of noon Gen'l. Kimball came riding by; as he struck the quarters of the Ninth Indiana the air suddenly became musical with "here's your rails;" the Gen'l was much offended. He made inquiries regard- ing it. The monumental liar reported that it came from H; he sent for the Capt. The Capt. had heard nothing-he was asleep,-likewise the Lieutenants and the orderly; some- how none of H when questioned at Division headquarters knew or had heard anything. The General began to doubt their word, so he placed the line of H in arrest and the rank and file under guard, where they remained till we took ship for Texas."
Captain Amasa Johnson, being unable to attend, sent his address, which was read as follows :
THE FIRST YEAR'S SERVICE OF THE NINTH INDIANA REGIMENT, BY CAPTAIN AMASA JOHNSON.
The Ninth Regiment went into camp at Laporte, Ind., (the larger portion of the regiment), August 19, 1861, and was mustered into the service at the same place September 5 (parts of the regiment being mustered August 27 and Sep- tember 7). From that time until September 14 the time was taken up'in drilling and equipping the regiment for active service, Colonel Milroy being anxious to go to the front as soon as possible. On September 14 the regiment, pursuant to orders, took the cars on the Lake Shore Rail- road for Western Virginia. We were given an ovation in every town and city we passed through. Flags and hand- kerchiefs were waved from every house ; we were cheered on our way ; our men were anxious to take an active part
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in the war as soon as possible. The train could not move fast enough for our gallant and brave Colonel Milroy, as our army at Elkwater was reported in danger and we were hur- rying to their assistance. We reached Toledo after night, but were given a fine reception and were treated to a fine supper, the last square meal that we were destined to cat for months. The next day ( Sunday) we reached the Ohio river and crossed into West Virginia at Bellaire and pro- ceeded by rail to Webster, where we disembarked, received knapsacks and marched for Elkwater. No man of the Ninth will ever forget our first day's march from Webster to Phillipi. The day was intensely hot, and the heavy knapsacks, guns and accoutrements carried by the men made it an extremely fatiguing march.
We camped near Phillipi our first night in active service. Those of the regiment that had been in the three months' service took special pride in relating their daring deeds and pointing out to us the hills and valleys the Ninth had made memorable in the three months' service, all of which stories we listened to in astonishment, and we wondered if we would ever be permitted to perform such wonderful feats of gal- lantry. The next day we continued our march, passing over Laurel Mountain in a severe rain-storm, giving us a faint idea of the hardships of a soldier's life. We camped for the night in a beautiful meadow on the east side of Laurel Mountain. The next morning we continued our march through Beverly and Huttonsville, going into camp at Elkwater September 19. We were placed in General Reynold's brigade. Although surrounded by the enemy, our picket and camp duty was light. The country around us was a barren, mountainous wilderness. All the forage we could get was an abundance of chestnuts on the mount- ains surrounding our camp. Elkwater river, on which we camped, afforded us splendid water. Our camp was finally located, and just as we had arranged our camp in fine shape we were ordered to march immediately for Cheat Mountain Summit, and started on the afternoon of September 25. We marched without tents, and on the morning of the 26th ar-
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rived on the summit, without shelter of any kind excepting the bending pines; for two days and nights, September 26th and 27th, we were exposed to a terrible cold rain storm, the rain pouring down in torrents, making it impos- sible to build a fire; we being withont overcoats, tents or rubber blankets, and thinly clad, made our suffering intense- many of our horses perishing from the effect of the rain and cold, many of our men never recovered from their intense suffering in the fearful storm of those two days and nights amidst the clouds on Cheat Mountain Summit; eventually the clouds that surrounded us disappeared, and the storm ceased, our camp fires, with hot coffee and warm meals caused us to soon renew our usual cheerfulness. Gen. Reynolds hastily concentrated his troops for a reconnois- sance in force on the enemy's works at Camp Bartow; long before day light on the morning of October 3, all our army was on the march down the east side of the mountain, the Ninth was given the advance to attack and drive in the enemy's pickets; after passing the Gum road, two com- panies were deployed as skirmishers, but met with no op- position until the bridge at Green Brier was reached just after day light; a rebel company stationed on the bridge delivered a volley and immediately fled on receiving a few shots from our skirmish line, in which skirmish we lost our first man killed. We crossed the bridge and halted until our column came up. The little valley of the Green Brier, which we were now entering for the first time, and through which we scouted and marched many times afterwards, is one the most beautiful valleys in West Virginia.
On advancing, the Ninth marched rapidly along the Green Brier to turn the left flank of the enemy; as our ad- vance drove the rebels down the pike we poured a volley into their flank, driving them into the mountains on our left, where a number of the enemy were killed. We were or- dered to lay down across a meadow and protect our right and a battery, while the battery shelled the enemy's fortifi- cations, the shells from our's and the enemy's batteries passed over our heads, sometimes too close to be comfort-
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able, but before the enemy's cannon had got accurate range of our regiment, we were ordered and marched to the top of the mountain on our left, where Gen. Reynolds, after taking a full view of the enemy's entire works, and deeming it not advisable to attack their fortifications, ordered us back to Cheat Mountain.
Our regiment lost two killed and six wounded. Total loss of our army, ten killed, thirty-two wounded. The ene- my's loss was estimated at 200.
We marched leisurely back to Cheat Mountain Summit, whence we returned to Elkwater after our tents and camp equipage, thence we marched back again to Cheat Moun- tain Summit and pitched our camp, expecting a long stay to guard the important turnpike over the mountain at that place. The stony and sharp peaks on top of the mountain made drilling almost impossible, our time was taken up in preparing winter quarters. The severe snow storms that soon set in, which in some instances drifted round our tents four or five feet deep, convinced us that the winters on the Summit were intensely cold. Just as we had, with great labor, about completed our log houses for winter quarters, an Ohio regiment was ordered down from the mountain, and we were ordered to occupy their quarters in the fort on the very highest summit. Our time was largely taken up in numerous and dangerous scouts in the enemy's coun- try, which caused great hardships to our scouting parties; it all tended to make our men good soldiers, especially to teach them the importance of a good skirmish line. Our regiment soon became so skilled in skirmish fighting that no regiment in the service excelled us; we received the very highesl praise from every commanding officer under whom we served, from brigade to army commanders. In one of our scouts to capture a drove of the enemy's beef cattle inside their picket lines, the command was given one Major Bell, a volunteer Aide on Gen. Milroy's staff. My company, with three companies from Ohio regiments, par- ticipated in a night encounter on the night of October 30th, with the enemy in a narrow pass between the Green Brier
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and the mountains on the north; two men were killed and nine wounded in the company from the Twenty-fourth Ohio Regiment; the expedition ended disastrously, and Major Bell was not again entrusted to command a scouting party.
In the month of December our Colonel, now Gen. Mil- roy, succeeded to the command of the Cheat Mountain Division; under his command our entire forces marched to attack the enemy's strongly entrenched camp on Alleghany mountain. Col. Moody succeeded Gen. Milroy as com- mander of our regiment. Our army was divided into two columns, and advanced to the atttack December 13th, The Ninth and a small detachment of the Second Virginia , by orders, marched to the rear of the rebels by a bridle path over the mountains; owing to the difficulty of the guide in finding the way, the Ninth did not arrive in position as- signed the regiment until the forces under Gen. Milroy, at- tacking the rebels' front, had been engaged and withdrawn from the field. The Ninth charged the enemy and drove them into their works, our men taking advantage of the fallen timber in front of the enemy's works, maintained a vig- orous fire on the rebels inside their fortifications -- our men constantly displaying the greatest bravery, but hearing no firing, and receiving no word from the other part of our army, our regiment was ordered to retire, which was done leisurely and in good order. Our regiment lost 8 killed and 13 wounded. Among the killed was the young and gallant Joseph Gordon, who was a great favorite with Gen. Milroy. Our army lost in the battle 20 killed, 107 wounded. The enemy's loss was about the same. Our attack failed from the failure of the two columns to begin the fight simulta- neously; the rebels did not attempt to pursue, or even show their faces outside their entrenchments. Gen. Milroy was so well pleased with the action of our regiment that he ex- claimed on meeting the' regiment, " My glorious Ninth." The regiment retired in perfect order to our camp on Cheat Mountain, where we went into winter quarters. Our time was taken up in scouting expeditions and procuring wood
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to keep our fires burning. It was the coldest and most un- comfortable quarters we had in the service, the snow often drifting three and four feet deep around our quarters. To relate all the incidents of our doings on Cheat Mountain would make my address too long; I would, therefore, refer you to Capt. McConnell's interesting address published in the report of the second reunion.
On the 8th of January, with shouts of joy, we bid a final adien to the cold Cheat Mountain tops, and marched down the mountains to Beverly, Gen. Milroy accompaning us down the mountain, bidding us at the foot of the mountain a final good by. It was with saddened hearts we parted from our beloved Commander, under whom we were never to serve again. From Beverly we marched to Phillipi, where we remained several days; from thence we marched to Webster, thence by rail to Fetterman, where we arrived January 18th; while there a large number of our soldiers died from the measles. On arriving at Fetterman Com panies B, D and F, under the command of Lieut .- Col. Blake, were detached and sent to Rowlesburg to guard the important railroad bridges at that point, one of them being over Cheat river. Our regiment remained at Fetterman until ordered transferred to Gen. Buell's army, and on Feb- ruary 20th we took freight cars on the Baltimore railroad, crossing the Ohio river at Parkersburg, thence to Chilli- cothe, where we were royally entertained by the citizens of that city; thence to Cincinnati, where we took a steamboat for Nashville. We stopped one day, February 24th, at Louisville and left our sick. As we passed on down the Ohio river and up the Cumberland we passed a great many boats loaded with sokliers going to Nashville; we also passed several gunboats.
On reaching Nashville, March 3rd, we were assigned to the Nineteenth Brigade, commanded by Gen. Hazen (then Colonel), Fourth Division,' commanded by Gen. Nelson, the Army of the Ohio (afterwards the Army of the Cumber- land), commanded by Gen. Buell. We went into camp in Camp Jackson, near the Murfreesboro pike, from thence on
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our time was taken up with guard duty and drilling. While here, with Gen. Nelson's command, we visited the tomb of Gen. Jackson: We found the strict disipline of Generals Nelson and Hazen very different from our military experi- ence in West Virginia, the severe punishments they in- flicted for the most trifling offenses did not meet our approval. We made rapid progress in regimental and brig- ade drill. We only remained in Camp Jackson a short time, for on March 17th all of our sick and disabled were sent to Nashville, and we struck tents and started on our march to Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., with our division, en- camping about twelve miles from Nashville; the next day we marched through Franklin with our splendid regimental band at the head of our regiment, and marched on until near Spring Hill, where we remained in camp several days, owing to the bridge over Duck river having been burned by the rebels; the other divisions of our army had been halted in our front to rebuild the bridge, as they did not believe they could ford the river, which was 200 yards or more wide, and the water rapid and cold: but Gen. Nelson, find- ing the river falling so that the water only run in his wagon beds a few inches, determined to take the advance of our army and ford the river; our men, without much difficulty, forded the river March 28th, and the next day we marched to Gen'l Pillow's plantation, where we camped March 30th; we continued our march through a very poor and hilly country, over bad roads, reaching Savannah April 5th, our division being the first to reach that point; we went into camp, expecting a rest until the other divisions should arrive, not a man having the slightest expectation of a fight before the rear divisions should reach Savannah.
April 6th opened up a bright, pleasant morning. Some of our men were getting breakfast, some putting their guns in order and brushing their uniforms for the Sunday, when we were all astonished to hear the sound of distant cannon in the direction of Pittsburgh Landing, where Gen'l Grant's army was encamped. The other regiments of our brigade had not yet been in a fight and thought it might be only a
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skirmish, but we had heard the sound of cannon before. From the continuous roar of artillery we knew a bloody battle had commenced and was raging with intense fury. Our men saw that their arms were in good condition. All the morning we could hear the continuous roar of artillery in the distance. Our regiment was impatient to be off for the scene of battle, about nine miles distant. About one o'clock Gen'l Nelson's entire division, with a good guide, started for Pittsburgh Landing. As no steamboats could be had, through woods and paths we marched, through mud, across log bridges we built, and ditches filled with water. As we approached nearer the roar of cannon increased and the rattle of musketry could be distinguished, but our men kept cool and marched more rapidly, anxious to be in the fight before the end; there is no halting; all do their best to hurry on. As the sound of guns grew more distinct our pace was hastened. Before the sun went down we arrived at the Tennessee river, opposite Pittsburgh Landing. . We could hear the shouts of the men, volleys of musketry and all the noise of a great battle, the enemy's musket balls even strik- ing across the river where we were. Ammen's brigade crossed the river first on steamboats and immediately en- gaged the enemy; our brigade next followed across the river. On arriving on the west side we found thousands of skulkers and demoralized soldiers from the fight, who had taken shelter under the banks of the river and who told us the desperate condition of our army, that their regi- ments had been cut to pieces, that they were all there were left of their regiment, that their army .was defeated. But their exaggerated stories of disaster had no effect on our men. We pressed on up the high river bank and went into line. It was now dark, the battle had ceased for the day. We bivouaced in line on the field of battle. The night of April 6th was one of the most dismal nights we passed in the service. During all the night our men held their gans ready for instant action. The rain poured down in torrents; the groans of the wounded and dying around us could constantly be heard; the booming of the cannon from the Union gun.
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boats every fifteen minutes through the entire night and the bursting of shells away out in the rebel lines prevented any sleep. We anxiously waited for the morrow, for we knew the fight would be renewed.
At five o'clock in the morning our line of battle was formed, our division being the left of the army. Our skir- mishers were deployed. As we advanced our skirmishers commenced firing, opening up the second day's battle by rapidly driving the enemy's pickets and skirmishers before them. So rapidly did our skirmishers drive the enemy that they captured a battery, but owing to the rebels being rein- forced, our men were unable to retain possession of it. We had now advanced one mile. Our skirmishers were with- drawn and the battle became general. Our regiment poured a terrible fire with our Springfield rifles upon the enemy that charged us, repulsing them with a heavy loss. During the day we frequently charged and drove the enemy before us. During the day, by reason of the absence of Col. Moody, the command of the regiment suddenly devolved upon Lieut. Col. Blake, who greatly distinguished himself by his splendid, soldierly conduct. Our regiment from the time it went into the fight to the end of the battle was in the thickest of the fight, our rifles always inflicting heavy losses on the enemy. The battle raged with fury. The brave and noble Nelson, our division commander, took frequent notice of our splendid, soldierly conduct in action; so greatly was he pleased with our fighting qualities that ours was the only regiment in his division that he rode up to in action and gave special thanks for its gallantry. Afterward, to show his high appreciation of our conduct in battle, he pur- chased for the regiment a magnificent flag. We continued in the action until the close, about three o'clock, the enemy being driven from the field.
A thrilling description of our regiment in the battle of Shiloh is given by Sergt. N. V. Brower, and published in the report of our Fifth Reunion. Our force in action was, of- ficers and men, 569; killed, 2 officers and 18 enlisted men; wounded, 6 officers and 144 enlisted men; missing, 4; total
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loss 174, our loss being the largest of any regiment in Gen'l Buell's army, and the largest that our regiment sustained in any one battle during our term of service. In the killing of Capt. Houghton and Adjt. Patton our regiment lost two good men and splendid officers. The noble and brave con- duct of Genl' Nelson in battle won him the full confidence and admiration of every man in the regiment. We all admired his ability in battle as well as his personal bravery. Ever afterward he could never praise or do too much for " My gth Indiana regiment," as he often afterwards called us. There were no men he loved to have around him like the members of the 9th. The beautiful flag he gave us he had inscribed: "Shiloh! General Nelson to the Ninth Indiana."
We remained in camp on the field of battle until May 2nd, when the regiment broke camp and marched with our divi- sion toward Corinth, twelve miles away. We marched each day, with our brigade assisting on the way in picket and skirmish duties, building roads, erecting intrenchments, as we moved slowly forward, driving the rebels before us. Not until May 30th did we enter Corinth, which we found evac- uated by the enemy. We pursued the retreating foe to near Booneville, Miss. Thence we marched in a northeastwardly direction and went into camp a short time near Iuka. From there we marched to Tuscumbia, Ala., and went into camp near the celebrated . spring at that place. Thence we marched to Florence, crossing the Tennessee river near that place; we continued our march until we arrived at Athens, where we remained in camp a few days. We participated in a grand review of our division, July 4th. From Athens we marched north to Reynolds Station to protect the rail- road from rebel cavalry. From there we proceeded by rail to Franklin, to guard against an anticipated cavalry raid. We remained in camp at Franklin several days, having a pleasant camp and a good time. On breaking camp at Franklin we marched to Murfreesborough, where we re- joined our brigade and went into camp August 6th, remain- ing until August 17th. Col. Moody was mustered out as
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colonel August 19th, at Nashville, and was succeeded by Lient. Col. Blake, who was next in rank and strongly recommended to Gov. Morton by Gen. Buell as an " officer of merit."
Gen'l Nelson, having been assigned to the command of the troops in Kentucky, attempted to go to Louisville but failed in his attempt by reason of the country being overrun with rebel cavalry. He returned to Nashville. Our regi- ment marched with him as his escort as far as Bowling Green; from there we marched back to Gallatin; thence we marched to Edgefiekl Junction, at which place Capt. Cole commenced his historical address, as published in the report of our Fourth Reunion. Such is only a brief sketch of our first year's service. As the regiment now starts on the march at the commencement of its second year's service not 500 men take their place in the ranks. Where are the re- mainder of the 1,000 that started with us with sanguine expectations, in their youth and manly vigor, one year ago. Some have been killed in battle, many have suffered and died in the hospitals; those disabled from disease or wounds have been discharged; a few are still in the hospitals; but those that remain are strong, active and trained soldiers, ready for any march, or to meet the enemy on the skirmish line or battlefield; no better or braver officers were to be found in our army, no truer men to their National Colors ever wore the blue. They were ready for every emergency. The published reports of the War Department fully show what grand and glorious achievements were performed by these soldiers, during the period of more than three years that they afterward bore proudly their regimental flag, on the march and through the storm of many a hard fought battle, never laying aside their arms or quitting the service until long after the war had ended.
Note by Secretary: Major Milroy criticised the descrip- tion of assault on Buffalo Mountain, and claimed that the column led by Col. Moody failed because he lacked capacity and courage to lead the column and that a panic and great loss of lives would have followed had be. Milroy, not refused to retreat as early as was commanded by Col. Moody.
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An elegant Fruit Lunch was served during the forenoon intermission by the ladies of the Woman's Relief Corps, and after the historical addresses Lieut. J. M. Helmick pre- sented a memorial to Congress in the interest of a man who was enlisted in the company and disabled by an accident at Camp Colfax before he was mustered, and has been a cripple for life, and had been unable to secure a pension on account of not having been regularly mustered. Col. Suman spoke of the injury to this man in camp as he remembered, and expressed an opinion that the man was as patriotic as any and simply was cut out of service by an unfortunate acci- dent and ought to have an allowance from the government the same as if disabled in line of duty, and on his motion the Secretary was, by unanimous vote, authorized to attach to the memorial petition to Congress the name of every comrade present at this reunion ( which the Secretary after- wards did ).
The association extended a vote of thanks to the citizens, ex soldiers and ladies of the Relief Corps of Rensselaer for hospitalities enjoyed, and to make the resolution more em- phatic and old-soldier-like, gave three rousing cheers as a ratification of its adoption. Many being compelled to leave on trains departing during the noon hour, farewells were said and the larger number left for their homes. Those leaving on later trains adjourned for dinner and returned after dinner for an all-round talk and good time. Several comrades related incidents and reminiscences of the camp and field, and Secretary Whitehall, at Comrade Sam Howe's request, read a vivid sketch of the bloody battle of Frank- lin, Tenn., from the pen of a Confederate who charged the Yankee lines and was driven back several times.
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