USA > Indiana > The Eighty-sixth regiment, Indiana volunteer infantry : a narrative of its services in the civil war of 1861-1865 > Part 19
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54
208
THE EIGHTY-SIXTHI REGIMENT,
this be true, as it doubtless is, then Indiana lost at Chicka- manga from noon of September 18 to the going down of the sun on Snodgrass Hill, on Sunday, September 20, one- eighth of Indiana's entire loss during the entire war. What a magnificent record this is for the gallantry of the Indiana troops! Their work was well done. They won for Indiana an honorable, a glorious name and place for bravery in the galaxy of States, and the men of Indiana for all time to come may point with pride to the gallantry and bravery of the Indiana troops at Chickamauga.
What of the withdrawal of the Union army from Chicka- manga? By the Confederate reports it was said that the army of Rosecrans "was routed," that it went from the field in confusion and utterly demoralized. Look at the facts, and let the reader judge. As shown, the left of Rose- crans' army was in and about the Kelly field on Sunday and until 5:30 o'clock in the afternoon. The Confederate army had swept around the extreme left and reached the LaFay- ette road at McDaniel's and held that road so that the Union army when it moved off from the Kelly field moved west to McFarland's Gap. The Confederate forces about the Kelly field did not follow them as regiment after regiment marched ont.
The last of the Union troops to leave the battle-field of Chickamauga were those at Snodgrass Hill. The storm that had raged about that hill throughout that entire afternoon, had spent its force in the vain attempt to destroy those who had so gallantly andgheroically made their lodgement there. The tempest had ceased, the guns were all hushed, when at 8:30 o'clock these troops moved off the hill, down across the fields and to and through MeFarland's Gap. What next is scon? When the sun on the morning of the 21st of Septem- ber rose, there on the hills of Missionary Ridge from McFar- land's Gap and Rossville northward were found once more the same men, who under Thomas had held the lines on Sun- day afternoon. The same men who had hurled defiance into the faces of the charging columns of Longstreet with hisleft wing of Bragg army at the going down of the sun, awaited
--
209
INDIANA VOLUNTEERS.
in line the coming of the same foe when the sun again lighted the eastern horizon in another line within easy reach. The remainder of Rosecrans' army marched into Chattanooga, established its lines, and awaited the coming of the enemy.
Finally Thomas and his undaunted troops came marching in with banners flying and music waking the echoes, and pitched their camp in and about Chattanooga. Once more the Army of the Cumberland was united in the city for which the campaign was begun and ended, and there waited for the attack to be renewed by General Bragg. The attack was never made. The men of the Army of the Cum- berland were never whipped. They moved off the field of Chickamauga with their ranks unbroken, and in their new lines were ready for the fray. The attack was not again re- ceived from the army of Bragg, but after two months of seige the same Army of the Cumberland that received the attack at Chickamauga, made the attack that swept the army of Gen- eral Bragg in confusion and dismay from Missionary Ridge, and on down beyond Chickamauga's battle scarred field, in November, 1863. It was the same army that opened the battles about Chattanooga, that stormed the heights of Missionary Ridge, broke through the lines and opened the way for the reinforcements brought by Sherman, which had finally been sent to the Army of the Cumberland, so that they might maintain their foothold at the north end of Missionary Ridge, and establish their colors on the Union left on the memorable 25th day of November, 1863. To the glory of In- diana it may said to her sons was the credit given of leading the charge that broke the center on Missionary Ridge. To the Eighty-sixth regiment of Indiana, and to her associate regiment, the Seventy-ninth Indiana, is due the credit of leading in that wonderful charge, a charge which had it been made by the army of any European power would have brought medals of honor to every man of the rank and file, and titles and knighting to every General in command.
Thus has been given the part that this, the Eighty-sixth Indiana, bore in one of the severest battles of modern war-
210
TIIE EIGHTY-SIXTH REGIMENT,
fare, in many respects the severest. The members of the reg- iment who yet survive may glory in the part they bore on that deadly field. The children of all of the members of the regiment, of the members living and of those who are dead, will never have cause for feelings other than of honest pride that they whose names they bear, were with those who fought at Chickamauga. The joy of to-day comes to the survivors in that the war in which they participated has passed, and Peace shall ever reign within this land. He who shall visit Chick- amanga in the future may read in enduring bronze and firm- est granite the deeds of valor of the men of the North; and the sons of the South, may see the pride and glory of the Nation in that now all cause for strife has passed, and that only deeds of bravery are remembered where once ran the red tide of battle.
The roar of the battle on the field of Chickamauga is hushed and in its stead from the leafy bowers and beside the quiet stream is to rise for all future time the anthem of peace. The men who died on this field did not shed their blood in vain. The cause for which they of the Union army fought was triumphant, and Chickamauga was the beginning of the end of the years of strife.
CHAPTER XVI.
BELEAGUERED IN CHATTANOOGA.
The Objective Point of the Campaign Held-Arrival of the Eighty-sixth from Chickamauga-Entered Upon its Duties to Defend the Town-The Searcity of Supplies-The Sufferings Endured by the Men-Starvation Staring them in the Face-Provisions Brought Over the Mountains from Bridgeport-Forag- ing Consolidation of the Twentieth and Twenty-first Corps-The Fourth Corps Formed-General Rosecrans Relieved-General Thomas Assumes Com- mand-Arrival of General Grant-The Eleventh and Twelfth Corps-Battle of Wauhatchie-The Army of the Tennessee Arrives-Preparations for the Approaching Battle-Did General Rosecrans Contemplate at Any Time the Evacuation of Chattanooga?
As shown in the preceding chapter, after the battle of Chickamauga, the Army of the Cumberland held the objec-
211
INDIANA VOLUNTEERS.
tive point of the campaign-Chattanooga-and was therefore successful and victorious. The resolute men under General Rosecrans were determined to hold fast to the prize now in their possession. No one questioned the ability of General Rosecrans to hold it against a direct assault by any force of the enemy. Here the troops which had formed the right wing at Chickamanga formed the center and left wing in Chattanooga, and would have been found as firm as their comrades of the left wing were on the memorable "Snod- grass Hill." They proved this later.
The Second brigade of the Third division, Twenty-first army corps, Colonel George F. Dick, of the Eighty-sixth, commanding, reached the immediate neighborhood of Chat- tanooga from the battle-field of Chickamauga on the 21st of September, and did guard duty that evening. On the 22nd the Eighty-sixth was placed as a reserve for the skirmish line, the line itself being formed by the Fifteenth Indiana, the brigade's position being to the northeast of the hill where Fort Wood was afterward located, and not far from Citico
creek. Here the Eighty-sixth constructed a temporary line of breastworks and prepared to support the line in case it was attacked. The regiment was at this juncture under the command of Captain Aaron Frazee, of Company A, Lieuten- ant Colonel J. C. Dick having been wounded in the battle of Chickamauga. There was more or less skirmishing and some artillery firing as the enemy approached the town. At dusk a portion of the Eighty-sixth was placed upon the line. The men were instructed to keep the closest watch upon the en- emy. It was not then known even by those high in com- mand how badly the different organizations had been broken up at Chickamauga by their repeated desperate attempts to win. About 9 o'clock quite a lively fire sprang up on the Eighty-sixth's part of the line, and on the brigade line im- mediately to its right, on account of a supposed attempt of the enemy to steal up by stealth. The nervous tension was great, and the men did not wait to see a rebel approaching to shoot, but fired. The line held its ground firmly and the fir- ing soon died away. The enemy fired a few return shots,
212
THE EIGHTY-SIXTH REGIMENT,
but there was really no evidence of an attempt to advance. The fact was Bragg, as well as his men, had about all the fighting they cared to enjoy for some time, and were in no hurry to rush upon their old antagonists.
The first detail of the Eighty-sixth placed upon the line as skirmishers remained from dusk on the 22nd until 3 a. m. on the 23rd, a long and very trying vigil. The day had been warm, and the approaching enemy had made the situation one of great danger. The night was frosty, making a change of many degrees from the heat of the day. The men lay upon the ground to escape the enemy's fire and felt the full force of the frosty atmosphere. The chilly ground rapidly conducted the heat from their thinly clad bodies and the frosty air chilled them to the bone. It was a night long to be remembered. Those upon the line were relieved at 3 a. m. and returned to the reserve, but little more comfort was to be found there as no fire was permitted, and the men had but few blankets. At 9 a. m. they returned to the line and had a brisk little brush with the enemy as he pushed his lines cautiously up. The Eighty-sixth maintained its ground and stood the enemy off by a sharp and well directed fire. He returned the fire in a sullen, determined manner, as though out of humor. He did not push up with that vim, that aggressive dashing manner so characteristic when con- fident of winning. So the contest was kept up by the Eighty- sixth until 3 o'clock p. m. on the 23rd, when it was relieved and marched back inside the intrenched lines which were rap- idly assuming formidable shape.
The town is situated in a bend of the Tennessee river which here winds its way through the mountains. Coming from the north until within a mile, the river changes its course and flows nearly west, curving slightly northward as it passes the town. Then the curve increases and it flows a little east of south with a high point-Cameron Hill-between it and the town. It continues this direction for probably two miles and then curves to the southwest for the distance of a half mile and strikes the rocky base of the mighty Lookout, and again changes for another half mile, this time to the north-
213
INDIANA VOLUNTEERS.
west, and then again nearly due north until opposite the town again turns in a northwest direction and divides into two branches to encompass Williams' Island. Opposite Lookout Mountain its curves form Moccasin Point. At the bend east of the town Citico creek empties its waters from the base of Missionary Ridge. At a point nearly due north of the palisades on Lookout, Chattanooga creek empties its waters from the south part of Chattanooga Valley. Nearly a half mile west of the mouth of Citico creek is the head of an island known as Chattanooga island. A little more than a half mile above the mouth of Chattanooga creek is another small island. Starting from a point opposite the lower third of the lower island the main intrenchments followed a line, curving outward slightly, to a point on the bank of the river a little east of the head of Chattanooga island. The Eighty- sixth was assigned a camping place on this line a little north of the East Tennessee and Virginia railroad some three or four hundred yards perhaps from the river, on a slight ele- vation where the government cemetery was first placed.
Now began the siege of the Army of the Cumberland cooped up in Chattanooga by the Confederate forces under General Bragg. The intrenchments were strengthened day by day, forts were constructed and every preparation made to hold the town. To complete all these required great labor, and with the heavy picket duty, the men were kept constantly engaged. The line of the Union piekets covering the front of the works extended from the mouth of Citico creek on the left to the mouth of Chattanooga creek on the right. Within the main line of intrenchments, high points of ground were fortified. About two hundred yards to the right of the camp of the Eighty-sixth and a little more ad- vanced was constructed a strong fort known in history as Fort Wood, named in honor of Brigadier General T. J. Wood.
Each morning the troops were called before daylight and "stood to arms" in the trenches. On account of some picket firing the troops, on the left at least, were called into the trenches twice during the night of the 24th, and were called
211
THE EIGHTY-SIXTH REGIMENT,
up for the day on the morning of the 25th at 4 o'clock. On the following day the cause of the night's skirmishing was learned. During the day of the 24th the skirmish line tothe right had been advanced. When night came on and shielded the enemy from the fire of the Union batteries he advanced in some force and drove the Union troops back upon their old lines. However, on the morning of the 25th, the artillery opened a red-hot fire upon the enemy's outposts. The Union skirmishers were ordered forward and speedily drove him back, and occupied their line of the previous evening, which was ever afterwards maintained. During the 25th there was much heavy cannonading around the lines, accompanied by lively skirmishing. The enemy had not yet settled into lines satisfactory, which very naturally caused some irritation.
All through the first month of the seige the troops were called out frequently during the night into the trenches to be ready to repel the threatened attacks. These calls at night with heavy skirmish duties, fatigue duty, short rations, thinly clad, and illy supplied with blankets for the cold frosty nights, made the service at this time anything but play. The army had stored its winter wearing apparel and blankets, and was therefore poorly prepared to endure bad weather. Rations daily grew more scarce and the mules grew weaker, thous- ands dying from overwork and starvation. The long trips over the rough mountain roads compelled them to perform extraordinary labors. The army mule should be voted a badge of honor for services rendered.
Day by day the men came to understand the situation and to see with a clearer vision the difficulties of their envi- ronment. In front was a superior force of an inveterate en- emy commanded by a skillful General. In rear a large river, and beyond were rugged mountains and a stretch of country over which all supplies must be hauled a distance of sixty miles. Could the end be seen? It looked black, though there were few but were confident that in the final round up the Union army would come off victorious.
On the rebel skirmish line at the east side of a small field, across which the Second brigade skirmish line extended, was
.
215
INDIANA VOLUNTEERS.
a log cabin, in which there was daily posted a rebel sharp- shooter that made good use of his opportunities. A picket detail was his special delight, and many a picket marching out to duty was disabled by his unerring rifle. And a soldier going outside of the intrenchments for any purpose was a fair mark. Next to a picket detail he seemed to delight in having a crack at soldiers going out for wood. But wood was necessary, even if it took blood. At length the timber was all cleared away, much of it having been cut and carried to camp on the boys' backs after night. The sharp-shooter wounded a number of the Eighty-sixth when going out to the skirmish line. To fire at the cabin was useless, and he was left undisturbed. Once or twice a gun from Fort Wood was turned upon the cabin and a few shots would quiet him for a time, but he soon resumed his vocation. On the 30th of September, some members of the Eighty-sixth were on duty on the skirmish line. Two or three of them, tired of sharp-shooting, crept out along the bank of Citico creek to a concealed place and gave him a few shots that annoyed him. He at once stopped shooting and began swearing. For a time now it was a war of words instead of bullets, and it was difficult to decide which side was the more fluent and vicious. The Eighty-sixth boys returned to the reserve and the heathen rebel rested from his labors. They came off the line at 3 a. m., returned to the reserve and tried to sleep. They had just got soundly asleep when a heavy shower came up suddenly, and when they awoke they were in water up to their necks-lying down, of course. This little incident gives one some idea of the trials of a soldier's life. It was useless of course to try to sleep on the ground in such a deluge of rain.
On the night of October 1 it continued to rain, accom- panied by a wind storm, blowing down tents and scattering numerous necessary articles in various directions. Many tents blew down a second time. Add this to all other things which the inen endured at Chattanooga-hunger, fatigue, dangers aud trying vigils-proved to be an exhaust- ing strain upon the whole physical system. Many finally
216
THE EIGHTY-SIXTHI REGIMENT,
broke down who seemingly bore it fairly well at the time. Is it to be wondered that the health of so many soldiers was injured while in the service? It is marvelous that so many endured it and still live.
On October 2 a member of Company D was shot through the arm by the cabin sharpshooter as he was going out on skirmish line. It was a severe and painful wound, although not necessarily dangerous. On this day, too, General Rose- erans issued an order to the Army of the Cumberland, of which the following is an extract:
" Army of the Cumberland: You have made a grand and successful campaign ; you have driven the rebels from Middle Tennessee. You crossed a great mountain range, placed yourselves on the banks of a broad river, crossed it in the face of a powerful opposing army, and crossed two great mountain ranges at the only practicable passes, some forty miles between extremes. You concentrated in the face of superior numbers; fought the combined armies of Bragg, which you drove from Shelby ville to Tullahoma, of Johnston's army from Mississippi, and the tried veterans of Longstreet's corps, and for two days held them at bay, giving them blow for blow with heavy interest. * *
* * You have accomplished the great work of the campaign; you hold the key of East Tennessee, of North Georgia, and of the enemy's mines of coal and nitre."
This is only an extract but it relates the fact that the Army of the Cumberland in the late contest had much more than Bragg's army with which to contend. In a letter written by General Halleck dated at Washington, D. C., Oc- tober 20, 1863, to General Grant, that officer says:
"It is now ascertained that the greater part of the prisoners pa- rolled by you at Vicksburg, and Banks at Port Iludson, were illegally and improperly declared exchanged, and forced into the ranks to swell the rebel numbers at Chickamauga."
In short, General Grant had made a very serious mis- take in paroling Pemberton's army and the Army of the Cumberland and its great leader had to suffer for Grant's error.
On October 3, Dr. A. M. Walton, Assistant Surgeon of the Eighty-sixth was sent into Chattanooga from Chicka- manga, having been severely wounded in both feet by the accidental discharge of a gun. When our forces fell back from that terrible field, Dr. Walton courageously and nobly
217
INDIANA VOLUNTEERS.
volunteered to remain with the wounded and minister to their wants. Nobly did he fulfill the task he had assigned himself, but alas! he too was soon numbered with the suffer- ing patriots and required the attentions of a brother surgeon.
The siege dragged on. To relate one-half the incidents of camp and skirmish line would be impossible. To say the least the condition of affairs was pressing and very interest- ing. At length the rebel cavalry, under their great leader, Wheeler, made things lively in the rear. He captured a large supply train in the Sequatchie Valley and almost de- stroyed it. The enemy patrolled the river bank for miles below Lookont, down to and around "the Suck, " a bend of the river around the north end of Raccoon mountain, between that mountain on the south and Walden's Ridge on the north. The best road left open to Rosecrans' trains wound around along the north bank of the river, being cut into the terminal cliffs of Walden's Ridge as they jutted up close to the bank of the river. The enemy's pickets patrolling the river bank acted as sharpshooters at "the Snck" where the trains were forced near them and killed many mules, drivers, and train guards. They maintained constant watch and fire, and ren- dered the road so dangerous that it had to be abandoned, the trains going over Walden's Ridge further north. This necessitated many more miles of travel, and far more difficult mountain roads to be used, to convey the hard tack and bacon to the famishing soldiers in the beleaguered town. The longer trips and more difficult roads required greater time, when time was an element of much importance. The innles on account of their extraordinary exertion and lack of forage were daily growing more feeble and less able to work. While they were growing weaker and fewer in number, for they died and were killed by the hundreds, their labors were grow- ing greater and more urgent. The bad weather set in and added deep mud to the rough and execrable mountain roads. Daily, rations grew scarcer, until, as the boys jocosely remarked, it was only river water with a very faint suspicion of coffee about it. It looked gloomy indeed-disheartening in the extreme-but General Rosecrans with great courage
218
THE EIGHTY-SIXTH REGIMENT,
fought the elements and the difficulties of his environment with the same fortitude that he contended with the rebel forces, and the iron-hearted Army of the Cumberland was as firm as the palisades of the lofty Lookout, and cheered their commander lustily whenever he rode along the lines. Some times unlooked for misfortunes came. After a heavy fall of rain the enemy up the river sent down rafts at night to break the pontoon bridges at the town. They succeeded in this a number of times until at length a watch was placed on the head of Chattanooga Island, and the river was patrolled. The logs were just what General Rosecrans and his Chief Engi- neer, General W. F. Smith, wanted to make lumber, with which to build more bridges.
On October 3 one day's rations of hard tack were drawn, and on the night of the 4th the enemy succeeded in breaking the pontoon bridge with a raft of logs which interfered with the much needed supplies. On the 5th details from the Eighty- sixth Indiana and the Fifty-ninth Ohio were made for the skirmish line for the brigade. Captain C. P. Rodman, of the Eighty-sixth, was the officer of the day.
About 10 o'clock a. m. the enemy opened with his artil- lery all around the lines and made it quite uncomfortable. The reserves of the First and Second brigades received a full share of the enemy's attention. The fire was kept up the entire day. It is a day embalmed in the memory of hun- dreds, rendered thus memorable by the continued booming of batteries all day long.
On the afternoon of the 7th the Eighty-sixth received orders to be ready to start on foraging duty at a moment's notice. Lieutenant Colonel J. C. Dick, then in command of the regiment, sent word that his command could not go on account of not having any rations. The information was returned that rations would be provided. The following morning at 9 o'clock the Eighty-sixth was ordered to " fall in " and it marched through town and across the river where rations were issued. The guards of the trains were veterans from the ranks of the besieged army. They knew the situa- tion. They did not see anything wrong in famishing men
219
INDIANA VOLUNTEERS.
supplying themselves. The expedition proved to be forag- ing duty beyond a doubt; for if ever a regiment of Hoosiers had the stomachs to forage it was on coming out of Chatta- nooga after what appeared to be a three weeks' fast. The purpose of the expedition was to secure corn and corn-fodder as forage for the mules and horses, but it also gave the Eighty-sixth, acting as guards, an excellent opportunity to turn the occasion to good account for themselves. The duties of the trip were many and various, such as loading wagons, catching chickens, ducks and pigs, standing guard and doing picket duty when the place of bivouac was reached at night. On the afternoon of the 9th, having reached a point some thirty or forty miles northeast of Chattanooga about thirty of the wagons were loaded with forage. Besides securing forage for the animals, the boys caught the chickens, geese and turkeys of the mountaineers, killed their hogs, cattle and sheep, went into the houses and ate the biscuits on the table, carried off their bee-hives, and des- troyed quite as much in getting what they may have needed as they themselves consumed. Looking back at this time upon this conduct one cannot but pronounce it a brutal destruction and waste. The passions of the soldiers had been aroused to their highest pitch by their suffering while besieged in Chattanooga, and they stopped not to think of the suffering they might inflict on innocent non-combatants. The foraging was continued during a part of the 10th when the train and guards started on their return trip and reached camp between 3 and 4 o'clock in the afternoon on the 11th.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.