USA > Indiana > The Eighty-sixth regiment, Indiana volunteer infantry : a narrative of its services in the civil war of 1861-1865 > Part 10
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THE EIGHTY-SIXTH REGIMENT,
compelled to fall back. Finally Sheridan's ammunition gave out. and he, too, was compelled to fall back, leaving nine guns, which he could not get through the dense cedar thickets, in the hands of the rebels. The "Right Wing" was now all gone. and the onset that had borne it backward fell with un- broken fury on the "Center." General Rousseau, who com- manded a division of reserves, was ordered up to the sup- port of the right "Center " which was then in peril.
The movement, according to General Rosecrans' original plan, had begun on the "Left" by General VanCleve. Colonel Sam Beatty's First brigade, Colonel S. W. Price's Third brigade, and Captain G. R. Swallow's Seventh Indiana bat- tery, had moved across the river and formed in line. Colonel J. P. Fyffe's Second brigade had just reached the river, and was in the act of crossing, when an order flew to VanCleve to suspend the movement, leave one brigade at the river, send another with a battery on double quick time to the rear to save the wagon train which had been attacked by Wheel- er's cavalry, and another to the support of the right. Col- onel Price was left at the river, Colonel Beatty was sent on double quick to assist General Rousseau, who by this time was hotly engaged. Colonel Fyffe's brigade with Captain Swallow's battery were sent to the rear in hot haste. Knap- sacks, blankets, overcoats and even canteens were scattered to the winds on the way. After tramping on a hop, skip and jump gait for about a mile in pell mell order the brigade came out into an open field, formed in line of battle perpen- dicular to the road, on the left. The rebel cavalry had cap- tured the train, but the corn field was soft and their progress was slow. A few shots from Swallow's battery sent Wheeler flying over the fields and the train was recaptured. At this point Colonel Fyffe received an order from General VanCleve to join the First brigade which had taken position on the right of General Rousseau. Back the brigade started on double quick. The fugitives by this time had darkened the fields, and the panic stricken trains had blocked the roads. On the brigade went through wild confusion and demoral- ized stragglers. The cedar thickets were ablaze with musk-
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INDIANA VOLUNTEERS.
etry, the earth was black with broken battalions, among which artillery wagons were plunging, and the chaos and wreck of a seemingly lost battle-field were to be seen in evi- dence everywhere. Into that vortex of death the Eighty- sixth went.
The brigade was formed in two lines, the Forty-fourth Indiana and the Fifty-ninth Ohio in front, and the Thirteenth Ohio and the Eighty-sixth Indiana in support. The four regiments advanced through the tangled cedar thicket as best they could. There was but little undergrowth, but the whole surface was a continuous ledge of outcropping rock on which only the hardy cedar could find foothold and sus- tenance. In their immediate front there was a lull. They emerged from the thicket into an open field of sedge. The occasional musket shots which came across that field were but the advance messengers of the impending storm. The lines advanced, halted and laid down. They advanced again and again until the skirt of the wood was reached. The front line had advanced some distance in the wood while the second was at the fence. Every nerve was at its highest tension. The ball opened. Then it was work, desperate and furious. The enemy came up in magnificent order, four lines deep, and his opening fire was like the opening jaws of hell. It had been discovered that the brigade had been sent beyond supporting columns. It was a duel to death, but the murderous flanking fire was more than human flesh and blood could withstand, and the brigade, rent and distorted, reeled and fell back. It was a scene appalling in its atrocity and was enough to daunt the stoutest heart. The two color bearers of the Eighty-sixth were shot down and its colorsleft on the field .* At every step men fell like wheat before the sickle. The Eighty-sixth lost more than half its force. The enemy had swept everything before him thus far and doubt- less felt that with renewed effort the successful issue of the
* The colors fell into the hands of Sergent John F. Lovin. Company B, Third Confederate regiment, which was in Woods' brigade, of Cleburne's division, Har- dee's corps.
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THE EIGHTY-SIXTH REGIMENT,
battle was within his grasp. Emerging from the woods with voll after yell, firing as he came, the enemy rushed forward in the attempt to cross the open field and drive back a new line, of which the remnants of the torn and bleeding Second brigade formed a part, and which stood in the way to final victory.
That the brigade was without support on the right was a blunder for which in the confusion and excitement of the rapid and varying movements perhaps no one particularly should be censured. General VanCleve, in his report says that he had information from General Rosecrans that Gen- eral Rousseau, on his left was driving the enemy. This in- formation was accompanied with an order to press him hard. It was in compliance with these orders that the First and Second brigades were ordered to advance. Colonel Fyffe, in his report, says he had assurances that Colonel Harker, who commanded a brigade in Wood's division, would support his right. Fyffe then says: "The division began advancing down the slope of the cedar ridge south of the road, passing Colonel Harker's on my right, beyond the foot of the slope. After passing his brigade, which did not move, my right flank became exposed, with strong indications of a heavy force approaching in front, extending beyond my right flank. As we continued advancing, I sent three different messengers by my aides, calling Colonel Harker's attention to my exposed flank, and at length reported in per- son to General VanCleve. While doing this the Sixty-tifth Ohio, which, it appeared, had been lying down at the edge of the field, rose to their feet where a force was needed. Supposing it would remain there, I passed back to my posi- tion, to see the Sixty-fifth march by the right flank back to Colonel Harker's left." Major H. N. Whitebeck, of the Sixty-fifth Ohio, " says his regiment marched by the right
. It may be stated here that the Sixty-fifth Ohio is the regiment of which Lieu- tenant Colonel Inman, the author of that most popular and widely read book. " Corporal Si Klegg and His Pard," was a member. Colonel Hinman at that time was a Llentenant in Company E. and is mentioned by Colonel Harker. his brigade commander, for conspicuous gallantry on the skirmish line. In the oceans of war Iterature that have flooded the country since those memorable days the statement Is ventured that none equals in popularity that book of 700 pages. It, is popular because it so vividly portrays the actualities and the every-day life of a milllou volunteers.
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INDIANA VOLUNTEERS.
flank to the support of the Sixth Ohio battery. It must have been that movement to which Colonel Fyffe refers when he saw the Sixty-fifth march away by the right flank. Colonel Harker says: "While this movement was being executed, a staff officer from the command on my left (Fyffe's) reported a strong force of the enemy in his front. I replied thay my right was in danger, and that a strong force and battery were in front." Colonel Fyffe's statement that he appealed to Colonel Harker for support is thus confirmed by Harker himself, but it seems his own command was in a most pre- carious situation. Fyffe's brigade was in advance of Har- ker's a considerable distance, thrown out upon assurances and in the belief that it would have sufficient support. When Colonel Fyffe discovered that he was not to have the prom- ised support, he sent Lieutenant Temple, of his staff, to Lieutenant Colonel Dick with orders to wheel the Eighty- sixth to the right, and place it in the woods to secure his flank. "Before the order reached him," continues Colonel Fyffe, "the enemy appeared coming through the woods." The brigade fell back, but in the recession its distance to the rear was as much too great as was its distance to the front, and in turn Harker's left flank became exposed. With his right threatened, and his left already turned, Harker's brig- ade receded. As before stated a new line was formed in the cedar thicket, a stand was made and the ground hotly con- tested, and the enemy driven back across the field.
As the sun sank to rest that 31st of December his last look fell on a ghastly spectacle. The earth, torn, trampled and red, lay piled with thousands-some still and calmn, as if in sleep, others mangled and blown into fragments, while bleeding arms and legs, without owners, lay scattered on every side. Dead horses and shattered gun carriages helped to swell the frightful wreck, over which darkness, in mercy, drew its pall,
But the cessation of the battle and the coming of night did not release the Eighty-sixth and its colleagues of the brigade and division from their position. . They were no longer required to lie prone on the cold, bare ground, but
-
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THE EIGHTY-SIXTH REGIMENT,
were compelled to stand without fire, with a hoar frost falling, until the coming of the new year, when they were allowed to fall back about a half a mile where fires were built from a convenient cedar fence and where they lay till morning.
Four months before the Eighty-sixth had entered the field with a thousand men. Disability, disease and death had decimated its ranks until that morning it numbered 368, in- cluding officers. The aggregate loss on that bloody day was 194, ten more than half. When the roll was called on New Year's morning, 1863, but one hundred and seventy-four officers and men answered to their names.
In the list of dead on the field were the following heroic names:
Company A .- First Lieutenant George W. Smith,
"-Thomas S. Hester,
" -Robert W. Myers,
"-Richard A. Stowers,
B .- Lewis Heintz,
"-George E. Armor.
" -Richard C. Crowell.
" -Anthony M. Saxon,
C .- Edward Blanchfill,
66 " -William J. Boord,
"-Derrick V. Labaw.
66 " -William H. H. Martin,
" -Benjamin Trullinger,
D .- William Lamb,
" -Jackson Jacobs,
" -Nathan C. Pringle,
E .- Abram Fisher,
"-James HI. Clinton,
" _William B. Fleming,
F .- John M. Wilson,
66 " -William C. Stogdill,
" -Robert H. Creamer,
-Henry W. Davis,
. . -Edwin P. Stephenson.
"-James O. Tolin,
1
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INDIANA VOLUNTEERS.
Company F .- James M. Wilkins,
G .- James Cambridge,
"-William T. Whitesell,
H .- Timothy S. Roush,
66 K .- Martin L. Williams-30.
The following are the names of those who were mortally wounded :
Company A .- Floyd N. Worrell,
" -John A. Feeley,
B .- John A. Cozad,
D .- Charles W. B. Gilger,
"-Jamis Guest,
"-John A. Johnson,
. 6 F .- George Baldwin,
"-John C. Beard,
H .- Levi Lidy,
66 I .- John H. Stook,
K .- Bartholomew Green-12.
Lieutenant Colonel Dick reported thirty-three enlisted men killed. This included those who died of wounds the following day. Others died from the same cause after his report had been submitted, so that it would make of killed and mortally wounded a total of 41. The wounded numbered 54, many of whom were afterwards discharged. Five officers were wounded, though none seriously. Ninety-nine men and two officers were captured.
Lieutenant Colonel Dick, who had command of the regi- ment, thus speaks of this part of the battle in his report to Colonel James P. Fyffe:
"My command arrived in front of Murfreesboro at 8 p. m., Decem- ber 30, 1862. On the following morning the regiment numbered 368, rank and file. About noon of December 31, with the brigade, we were marched in line of battle across the Nashville turnpike, about one-half mile south, across an open field to the skirt of a heavy woods, in which the enemy lay concealed in heavy force. My regiment was on the ex- treme right of the brigade. We were halted behind a fence at the edge of the woods, to await the arrival of troops to come up to support us on the right, who failed to come. Our right was totally exposed to
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THE EIGHTY-SIXTH REGIMENT,
the enemy, who immediately attacked us in overwhelming numbers in front, our right flank extending around partially to the rear of our right wing. Our regiment fought bravely until their ranks were being rapidly cut down and thinned, when we fell back to the turnpike road, where a portion of them again rallied with portions of other regiments of the brigade, and drove the enemy back. Our loss in this engagement was as follows: Commissioned officers killed, 1: wounded, 5; missing, 2: enlisted men killed, 33; wounded, 54: missing, 99. Total number of offi- cers killed, wounded and missing, 8: enlisted men killed, wounded and missing, 186. Aggregate, 194. Both color bearers were shot down and the colors left on the field."
Major Dwight Jarvis, who commanded the Thirteenth Ohio of the Second brigade, in his report to Colonel Fyffe. says:
"On Wednesday at 8 a. m., our regiment, under command of Col- onel Joseph G. Hawkins, was ordered in from outpost duty, and took our place in line. Soon after, we started for the south side of Stone's River, but got but a short distance when, by your orders, we countermarched at double-quick a distance of about one mile, to a corn-field on the right of the Murfreesboro road, to repel an attack of cavalry upon our train. Our lines were here formed, my regiment occupying the right of the Second brigade. The enemy being driven from the field by our cavalry and artillery, my regiment was not engaged, and about 10 o'clock under your directions, took a position in the woods south of the corn-field. My regiment was now ordered to cover the Fifty-ninth Ohio, which with the Forty-fourth Indiana. formed the first line of attack, my regiment with the Eighty-sixth Indiana on its right, forming the second line. In consequence of the unevenness of the ground and the density of the thicket, it was difficult to keep our lines properly, but, on emerging from the woods (cedar brakes) into the open field beyond we advanced regularly to the edge of the next woods. The first line having advanced some twenty yards into the woods, my regiment was ordered to lie down. Now it became evident that the enemy was attempting to outflank us upon the right; and this was reported to you, but just at that moment our first line was attacked, and it was compelled to fall back in some disorder and over our men, who were lying close to the fence. At this moment our gallant Colonel fell, mortally wounded, while encouraging the men to keep cool and fire low; and the command devolved upon my- self. I held the position until the enemy completely outflanked us, and was then compelled to fall back in disorder to the line of reserves, where I rallied my command, and this time drove the enemy back, they being now in the open field, while we had the advantage of the cover of the woods. We inflicted considerable loss upon them in killed and wounded, besides capturing some thirty prisoners. My loss in the engagement
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INDIANA VOLUNTEERS.
was quite severe, Colonel J. G. Hawkins and Second Lieutenant J. C. Whittaker being killed; together with twenty-seven enlisted men. Captain E. M. Mast, Lieutenants John Murphy, John E. Ray, S. C. Gould, John Fox (since died), and Thomas J. Stone were wounded, and sixty-eight enlisted men, besides thirty-nine missing."
Lieutenant Colonel William Howard, who commanded the Fifty-ninth Ohio, in his report to Colonel Fyffe, says:
"On the morning of that day (December 31) my command was formed at 4 o'clock in accordance with previous orders, and with the balance of the brigade, started at 8 o'clock to take position on the left, when we received orders to march immediately to defend the wagon train against the attack of the enemy, which was done with promptness, and they were driven back with loss, and the whole train was saved. We then received orders to march back and take position on the right of Colonel Beatty's command, in front, as our forces were hard pressed at that point, in line of battle, and moved forward to attack the enemy ; and after moving across the woods we came into an open field, which we moved rapidly across until we reached the woods, and my skirmishers soon discovered the enemy in heavy force and in strong position in front, and fired upon him and fell back to the line. which I immediately ordered forward and made the attack : and after firing upon them sev- eral rounds, and holding them in check for some time, we were forced back by superior numbers about twenty paces, when, by the prompt as- sistance of my officers, we succeeded in rallying the regiment and took position behind a fence, and then poured volley after volley into the ad- vancing ranks of the enemy, and held them in check until Major Frambes, upon the right, informed me that we were being flanked upon that wing and that the balance of the brigade was falling back when I gave the order to fall back, inclining to the right in a skirt of woods, and thereby protecting to a great extent, a flanking fire also. My officers again coming promptly to my assistance, we succeeded in rally- ing again, and moved to the right, through the woods in front of the enemy, and by a well directed fire checked his onward movement, and held him in that position, when we moved forward and drove the enemy from the field with great slaughter and in complete disorder. * * We held our position until darkness closed the controversy of the day."
Lieutenant Colonel Simon C. Aldrich, who commanded the Forty-fourth Indiana, reported to Colonel Fyffe as follows :
"We went into the field on December 31, 1862, with 316 men, officers included. We took our position, by your order, in brigade on the right, and marched in line of battle through an open field south of the pike. In passing through this field we discovered the enemy making a flank
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THE EIGHTY-SIXTH REGIMENT,
movement on our right. in a wood bordering upon the field. Intelli- gence was conveyed to yon, and, as I understand, by you to our division commander. We made a stand at the edge of the wood in our front, but were soon ordered to advance, which we did. After entering the woods our skirmishers were ordered in, as the line of the enemy was in sight. We still advanced to within, as near as I could judge, one hundred yards of their line, and opened fire. They replied and advanced their line; at the same time the flanking force opened a galling cross fire upon us. We held the position as long as we could do so without sacrificing our whole regiment; we then fell back to our battery and formed line of bat- tle. We were ordered by General VanCleve to remain here until farther orders. We soon had orders from you to join the brigade at the right, which we did. Here we formed a new line, and remained until some time in the night, when we were ordered to march to the left again, where we remained through the night. I must here mention that at the first rally at the rail fence was the last seen of Colonel Wil- liams. I suppose him to be taken prisoner. Our loss as it stands now is, 19 killed, 56 wounded, and 25 missing."
These are the reports of the four regimental commanders. The history of one regiment is the history of the four. There is no disagreement in the different reports but each makes his report from a different point of view. It will be seen from the reports of Major Jarvis and Lieutenant Col- onel Aldrich that the Forty-fourth Indiana and the Fifty- ninth Ohio were in the front line and were supported by the Eighty-sixth Indiana and the Thirteenth Ohio when the brigade was thrown into that seething cauldron of death. It was a blunder, but perhaps unavoidable, due largely to the demoralized and panic stricken "Right Wing" which had been driven back with frightful loss. The recession of the divisions of the right had exposed the flank of the "Center " to which VanCleve's division had gone to support, and with the commanders of nearly all grades calling for assistance the wonder is that the error was not more grievous and the results more disastrous.
After recounting the movements of the brigade when the order was received countermanding the movement across Stone's River, and double-quicking to the rear to save the train, Colonel James P. Fyffe, who commanded the Second brigade, says in his report:
"At this point an order was received from General VanCleve to re-
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INDIANA VOLUNTEERS.
turn to the Third division, and form on the right of the First brigade in two lines to support it; that Colonel Harker would support my right. The order was immediately complied with; the division began advanc- ing down the slope of the cedar ridge south of the road, passing Colonel Harker's on my right, beyond the foot of the slope. After passing his brigade, which did not move, my right flank became exposed, with strong indications of a heavy force approaching in front, extending be- yond my right flank. As we continued advancing, I sent three different messengers (messages) by my aides, calling Colonel Harker's attention to my exposed flank, and at length reported in person to General Van- Cleve. While doing this the Sixty-fifth Ohio, which, it appeared, had been lying down at the edge of the field, rose to their feet in the place where a force was needed. Supposing it would remain there, I passed back again to my position, to see the Sixty-fifth march by the right flank back to Colonel Harker's left. The firing in front of my first line, composed of the Fifty-ninth Ohio and Forty-fonrth Indiana, was getting to be heavy, and the skirmishers, running in, reported a heavy force advancing through the woods, outflanking my right. Lieutenant Tem- ple, of my staff, was sent at once to Lieutenant Colonel Dick with orders to wheel his regiment to the right, and place it in the woods to secure my flank. Before the order reached him the enemy appeared coming through the woods."
At a meeting of the corps commanders at headquarters during Wednesday night it was decided to fight the battle out on this line. It is said that General Crittenden asked permission to cross the river with the "Left Wing" and fight the enemy as originally contemplated. All acknowledged that the prospect looked gloomy. The enemy held two- thirds of the battle-field, and had in his hands one-fifth of Rosecrans' artillery. About seven thousand men, one-sixth of the whole army, had disappeared from the field, and were among the killed, wounded and captured. It was believed that the enemy would renew the attack in the morning. General Rosecrans, finding that he had ammunition enough, made up his mind to fight it on that very spot. It was a clear, cold December night, but, after midnight, the heavens be- came overcast, and the bitter rain came pitilessly down on the weary ranks, and on the dead and wounded that bur-
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THIE EIGHTY-SIXTH REGIMENT,
dened the field. Having decided to make the stand the com- manding general began a disposition of his troops. General VanCleve had been wounded, and Colonel Sam Beatty, of the First brigade, assumed command of the Third division. On New Year's morning the entire Division crossed the river and took position in line of battle according to the original plan. The Third brigade, Colonel S. W. Price, held the right; the Second brigade, Colonel J. P. Fyffe, the left; the First brigade, now commanded by Colonel B. C. Grider, stationed in support of the center. The Forty-fourth Indi- ana and the Thirteenth Ohio were placed on the front line, and the Fifty-ninth Ohio and the Eighty-sixth Indiana on the second. Thus the forces rested during the day with con- siderable picket firing in front, and artillery duels at inter- vals, whereby some casualties occurred, but there was noth- ing like a serious attack. The question of rations became a serious matter, and as many of the men had had nothing since the morning before, they did not hesitate to sample a horse or mule steak from the animals which had been killed in battle. The more frugal, those who held on to their haver- sacks, notwithstanding their store was scant, were not re- duced to this extremity. At night the men lay down on their arms again, without removing their shoes or even un- clasping their cartridge belts, ready to leap out at the slight- est alarm.
Friday morning, January 2, was devoid of special inci- dent, save a most terrific artillery duel far to the right. The tiring on the skirmish line began early and continued lively throughout the morning. Shortly after noon it became evi- dent that an attack was imminent. Colonel Fyffe then ordered the Eighty-sixth Indiana and the Thirteenth Ohio into the front line, deflecting the Eighty-sixth back, and placing it behind a fence to be ready to sweep an open field in front. At 3 o'clock the skirmishers reported that the enemy was throwing down fences, as if making ready to charge. At 4 o'clock a double line of rebel skirmishes was seen to advance from the woods in front of Breckinridge's position and move across the fields. Behind them came
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