USA > Indiana > The Eighty-sixth regiment, Indiana volunteer infantry : a narrative of its services in the civil war of 1861-1865 > Part 41
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Many of the Eighty-sixth regretted that the Fourth corps was not permitted to accompany General Sherman on his march to the sea, and on January 6, 1886, J. A. Barnes
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wrote the General in which he expressed this regret. In reply General Sherman said:
"Of course I hated to send the Fourth corps back from Kingston, but the general plan contemplated General Thomas at Nashville and me marching to Savannah, Columbia, Raleigh, and Richmond, with Hood at liberty to attack either. I therefore had to provide Thomas with enough men to fight Hood. All he asked for in addition to the troops he had was the Fourth corps. After sending that corps to make assur- ance doubly sure, I also sent the Twenty-third corps-Schofield-and you know the result. The battle of Franklin and Nashville were as im- portant to the general cause as the march to the sea. So you may safely assume that you performed a full share in the final campaign which ended the war."
These words of the great General are to be taken and applied in the sense in which they are undoubtedly meant. It is true he is addressing an individual, but as he could know nothing of that individual's service in the ranks, he evidently referred to the command in and with which he served as per- forming "a full share in the final campaign which ended the war." The General evidently then meant his commendation to apply first to the army, to the corps, division and brigade, as he speaks of Franklin and Nashville, but as he was in- formed of the writer's regiment, and as he could know from the records quite accurately of the honorable service of the regiment as an integral part of the organized command, the statement is justified that these words, "performed a full share in the final campaign which ended the war, " apply directly to the service of the Eighty-sixth, and through the regimental organization to the individual soldiers who com- posed it. It is a commendation of which any army, corps. division, brigade or regiment should be proud, and the Fourth corps, Wood's division, Third brigade and Eighty-sixth Indi- ana did their "full share" and justly earned the common- dation.
The month of October, 1864, was an eventful one to the Fourth corps, and with it the Eighty-sixth, which took part in all the duties that fell to the lot of the corps in general. and not only took part, but performed faithfully and well all duties assigned it. In marching back over the rugged mountainous country in the twelve or thirteen days of
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actual marching, that required four months of battle to acquire, was no easy task. Besides the marching, much of which was at night, and consequently very laborious, it will be noted that the regiment performed many other duties, such as building intrenchments and making itself ready to repel an attack. Hood's campaign had been well planned and fairly well, if not brilliantly, executed, and against almost any other commander than General Sher- man, might have been successful. But with his genius to direct his matchless legions, victory was snatched from the reviving enthusiasm of the Southerners, and turned to the advantage of the cause which he represented, that of the country and the Nation, and left Hood so bewildered that it was some weeks before he sufficiently recovered to advance upon Thomas' position and forces.
CHAPTER XXVII.
THE TABLES TURNED.
Hood Marching North-A Race for the Lead-Wood's Division Gets There First- Elk River and " The Irishman's Pontoons"-Hood After Schofield and Thomas -Pulaski-Columbia-Duck River-Spring Hill, or Running the Gauntlet- The Battle of Franklin-Fort Granger-Thomas' Army Organization and Strength.
As was shown in the preceding chapter the Union army was in pursuit of General Hood and his army, ostensibly chasing him from the Western and Atlantic railroad, the line of its communications, and of the transportation of its supplies, but it was also acting as a column of observation to discover Hood's intentions and plan of campaign. But he was now going farther north and somebody must hurry up and get there ahead of him. Who could do it so well as "Wood's Grey- hounds"? Soon now for a time, at least, Hood was to be after Schofield's and Thomas' commands. The Fourth corps was
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to be in it from first to last, from early dawn till late at night, of each day's labors. In appearance, at least, the tables were completely turned, and the rebel army was to a degree paying the Union troops back in their own coin, good hard knocks, for the long, long chase they had given them over the hills to Atlanta, at least so thought the elated rebels. At any rate it was to be brief, although a memorable campaign-a campaign of forced night marches, extremely fatiguing and trying, of wearisome vigils, more exhausting and debilitating than the marching. All this was to be varied and interlarded with hot, spiteful skirmishing, fin- ished up and rounded out on two occasions, at least, by des- perately fought battles, such as have seldom been witnessed on this continent.
At the beginning of the campaign, after crossing the Tennessee river, it was a kind of a joyful jubilee, an all promenade affair, for the Confederates. They reasoned that as there was only a handful of men in their way, they would soon knock them on the head and end the business. But after Franklin it was the last desperate, despairing struggle of Hood and his army against what seemed as the hand of fate. It was victory upon their part, or Hood's star as a general must set forever-sink in the gloom of repeated defeats, and the Confederacy, their hope of empire, must fade away. In short, it was victory for, or death to, the Confederacy; and if defeat it would be an ignominious failure upon the part of Hood who had taken command with so much confidence.
As has been seen, towards the last of October Sherman's army, with the exception of the Twentieth corps, left to guard Atlanta, was at or near Gaylesville, Alabama, and remained there several days watching Hood. General Sherman wanted to be sure of Hood's intentions in the campaign he had inaugurated, before he took his final leave of Thomas and the forces left to protect Nashville and prevent Hood's invasion of the North. On the 26th Sherman was riding round among the camps viewing the troops and completing the arrange- ments for the campaign North as well as those for his great
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march to the sea. On the morning of the 27th of October the Fourth corps received orders to march. Beatty's brigade, of Wood's division, was to march at 8 o'clock a. m., but it did not leave camp until a half an hour later. The Eighty-sixth had not marched more than a mile when Companies H and K were detailed to guard the Second division supply train, and had to wait until about 5 o'clock p. m. before they resumed the march. The day's march was made to the northeast toward Chattanooga, and over a rough, mountainous country, a tiresome road to travel at the best, and with a soldier's load to carry, quite laborions. On the morning of the 28th after a hasty breakfast of sweet potatoes, fresh pork and coffee, the march was resumed a little while before sunrise. The regiment passed through Alpine at 8 o'clock in the morning. Marching at a rapid pace it proceeded on its way almost without a halt until noon, when a stop was made for dinner. The halt was made at a splendid spring of water and the men greatly enjoyed this dinner, the rest, and drink- ing the fine water. The command remained here about one hour, and then resumed the march at the same rapid pace as before, resting only every three or four miles. The march was continued until nearly 8 o'clock before the place of bivouac was reached. This was a long day's march and fatigued the men greatly. The march was resumed the fol- lowing morning at the same telling pace. Passing through LaFayette, the county seat of Walker county, Georgia, the command took the direct road for Chattanooga. It is known as the Chattanooga and Rome road, and leads from Chatta- nooga through LaFayette to Rome, Georgia. In the day's march it crossed the now historic West Chickamauga creek at Lee & Gordon's Mills.
Here along this road from Lee & Gordon's Mills to Ross- ville lies the famous battle-field-the bloody Chickamauga- where Bragg's army massed, found the gap in the Union line, divided the Army of the Cumberland and overpowered the extended and weakened right wing, and then vainly bat- tered and beat itself to pieces on the bulwark that "the Rock of Chickamauga" had erected on Snodgrass Hill. This was
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the regiment's first glimpse at the field since the fateful days, 18th, 19th and 20th of September, 1863, where ran the good red blood of the Union troops as water, and the blood of the Confederates flowed not less profusely. It was an awful time when the fiery hosts of Bragg in their most desperate mood ran as to a banquet upon the stubborn battalions of Rosecrans, who would not yield. The timber of the field showed all too plainly of the terrific nature of the encoun- ter that had taken place. The innumerable graves attested the sanguinary character of the contest-that it was a battle unto death. The road led almost from one end of the battle-field to the other, and thus gave the men an opportun- ity to see all along the line how these two mighty hosts in the agony of desperation, had contended. This battle-field is now a National Park, and tablets everywhere mark the blood-stained ground to commemorate the valor of each reg- iment, brigade and division engaged.
Passing through Rossville the regiment reached its biv- ouac near 5 o'clock p. m., having marched about twenty miles this day. On the following morning. the 30th, the command resumed the march about 6 o'clock, going directly to the depot in Chattanooga. Here the "hospital reserve" of the Eighty-sixth, and in fact of all the regiments of the division, flocked to see "the fellows from the front." The men were soon put aboard the cars and rolled over down the river, around the point of Lookout Mountain, on down by other lofty peaks, and over deep ravines at the bottom of which ran beautiful mountain streams. At Bridgeport the Tennessee river was crossed, thence westward to Stevenson, Huntsville and Decatur. Eighteen or twenty miles west of Stevenson the railroad track had been torn up. presumably by guerrillas or some band of Forrest's cavalry, and the train was delayed for some time. The soldiers took advantage of the delay, and while the track was being repaired they built fires, made coffee, fried bacon and ate supper. After consid- erable delay the onward run was resumed.
. An all night's run, including delays, brought the train to the vicinity of Athens, Alabama. The command arrived
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there a little while after daylight, marched through the town southward and halted. Here it breakfasted, received mail and drew one day's rations of hard bread, coffee, sugar, and salt. Athens had been rather a flourishing Southern town with comparatively good buildings, but it was now showing the effects of war. The command remained here until just after noon, when it resumed the march, going nearly due north in the direction of Nashville. On the north, near town, there were some fairly well improved farms compared with most of the Southern country. But away from the town the farms well improved in number grew small, until at length the country for miles seemed almost a wilderness of woods. The column marched at a rapid rate, seldom halting, and bivouacked about 7 p. m.
On the morning of the 1st of November the column re- sumed the march about 5 o'clock and soon passed into Ten- nessee. Having reached Elk river, Beatty's brigade in ad- vance of the division, and the Eighty-sixth in advance of the brigade, no bridge was found on which to cross. After a moment's contemplation of the stream and the situation, Colonel Dick jocosely remarked that he guessed we would have to cross on the "Irishman's pontoons. " The river flowed in a strong current about waist deep. The men, therefore, soon removed their garments and waded the stream. It was speedily done. The water was quite cold and ran swiftly, so it was no easy crossing, wading and holding one's gun, cart- ridge-box and haversack up out of the water. But the worst of all was to be in the cold water so long. When once across some of the boys set several unoccupied houses on fire by which to warm themselves. This crossing was made at a small town called Elkton. But the regiment did not tarry long to warm by the fires but marched on at a very rapid pace. The division was halted at noon for dinner. Rations were not plentiful and some of the boys did some old-time artistic foraging, getting in their work in good time. The march was resumed and the head of column reached Pulaski between 3 and 4 o'clock p. m. Beatty's brigade passed through the town about a half mile and bivouacked. In the
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evening the regiment again drew rations: one day's ration of hard bread, two of coffee, three of sugar and salt and one and a half of bacon.
Wood's division took position here and began fortifying as usual. Work was continued on the fortifications as long as it remained. The First division, Kimball's, arrived at Pulaski on the 3d. So with fatigue and picket duty the men were kept from rusting away in idleness. On the 10th the officers of the Eighty-sixth were paid off, and on the 11th the rank and file received eight months' pay, which added greatly to the good spirits of the men.
There was nothing of importance occurred during the first few days' stay at Pulaski, but along about the 15th or 16th of the month the drafted men began to come in. This caused great rejoicing among the old soldiers. Some of the drafted men seemed to take it all right, while others appeared gloomy and unwilling to talk about their great misfortune, and if they said anything it was to denounce in unmeasured terms the officers of the draft. The "conscripts" were for sometime the butt of the command, but they were needed, and a little later some of them did good service, for which they are to have due credit.
Along about the middle the month the rebel cavalry began feeling its way out from Florence on the advance and to prepare the way for Hood's infantry. The rebel cavalry made demonstrations toward Lawrenceburg and Waynesboro on the 15th, but the Union cavalry was alert and delayed the enemy's advance, although not nearly so strong in numbers. During the time at Pulaski there were many reports and rumors of the movements, both of the rebel and Union forces. About the 18th or 20th "grapevine telegrams" became numerous, and one said, "Hood is advancing." In fact, Hood's infantry, Lee's corps, did advance about ten miles out from Florence on the 20th, and on the 21st the whole of his army, infantry and cavalry, was on the advance toward Pulaski or to flank it, and if possible, cut Schofield off from Nashville and Thomas.
On the 21st of November the Ninth Regiment, Kentucky
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Volunteers, Colonel George H. Cram, was relieved from duty as the regiment's term of service had expired. The Eighty- sixth regretted to see the Ninth go. It was a good steady regiment and could be relied upon. Thus Thomas' forces were being weakened daily by his old and best regiments going home, while newer and less reliable regiments came in to take their place.
As the days passed the talk of the camps became more and more positive that Hood was advancing. About 10:30 on the morning of the 23d came the orders to be ready to march at noon. The "general" was sounded by the brigade bugler at 12 o'clock. Tents were struck immediately, but the order to set forward was not given; it was delayed pre- sumably to allow other troops to march out first. The order was a timely one for the command, but it worked harm to some non-combatant camp followers, notably the sutlers. One of these not being able to secure transportation for his goods when the time came to move piled his surplus and set fire to it. The boys soon discovered the situation and made a dash for the goods, and scattered the fire in an instant. Some secured plug tobacco, some soap, some one thing and some another.
Just at sunset the Third brigade filed out upon the road to Columbia in the direction of Nashville, and marched ten miles, and bivouacked near Lynnville. This made it quite late getting supper, so by the time the men were ready to retire it was about midnight. Forrest was fighting hard to get between the command and Columbia on the Mt. Pleas- ant and Columbia road, and the men were called up at 1 o'clock on the morning of the 24th and hastened on, allow- ing them not more than an hour for rest and sleep during the night. The march was resumed at 3 o'clock and good time was made, as things were becoming critical. During the forenoon the regiment was detailed to guard the wagon train. It was quite plain now that it was a retreat and it appeared that there was more haste necessary than was shown in the immediate front; that the large amount of United States property was believed to be in danger, and it might be diffi-
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cult to save it from rebel clutches. But the "army wagon, the old army wagon" rolled on propelled by the ever faith- ful "mool," a southern product that with the "nigger" was ever loyal and true.
Beatty's brigade arrived at Columbia at noon, having covered twenty miles. The men were ordered, notwith- standing their long march, to proceed at once to the con- struction of a line of breastworks. They were well on the way to completion in a short time, but before they were finished the Eighty-sixth was detailed for picket duty. Another night was to be passed in vigils. The regiment was relieved the next day about 10 o'clock by the Nineteenth Ohio and at once returned to camp. In the afternoon the men were ordered to construct an abatis and prepare to defend this position. Skirmishing was commenced a little after noon, but it was light, with some cannonading on the distant right during the afternoon. Late in the afternoon the regiment drew rations. Still later the Eighty-sixth was moved to the left about three hundred yards. General Schofield, having found it necessary to send some of his forces north of Duck river at Columbia, was forced to con- tract his lines, that he might be the better able to hold them against an attack. The Fourth corps was to hold the posi- tion south of the river, that is Columbia, while the Twenty- third corps and the cavalry were to guard the other cross- ings of the river and protect the rear. This change was made on the night of the 25th. On the 26th there was con- stant skirmishing and more or less artillery firing by both the rebel and Union batteries. An attack was strongly threatened and was confidently expected, but Hood declined the contest, expecting to catch Schofield at a greater disad- vantage.
The Seventy-ninth Indiana was on the skirmish line on this day for the brigade, and had one man wounded. It was a dreary, dark and cheerless day, a drizzling rain falling the entire time. The surroundings were no less inviting. The command was almost surrounded by a greatly superior force, and a deep unfordable river yet to cross. rendered
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the situation one of extreme peril. Still the men were not greatly worried by these unfavorable conditions. They had been besieged in Chattanooga when, to them, affairs looked darker. They had campaigned under Rosecrans, Thomas and Sherman too long to fret. Great confidence was felt that General Schofield would find a way out before the last gateway would be closed. In fact there was no dismay in the ranks. The men were aware of the proximity of the foe as was shown by the little straggling that was done and the compactness of the marching column.
It continued to rain on the night of the 26th. The skir- mishing indicated the enemy to be aggressive. The orders had been that the division would move that night across the river, but just after nightfall it was announced that the troops would remain in position, and that the evacuation would not take place till the following night. On the 27th it continued to rain steadily, and and occasional picket skir- mish broke the dull monotony of the day. The men remained quietly in their intrenchments until 7 p. m. when the division moved out slowly, passed through the town of Columbia, and crossed Duck river to the north side on pontoons. The The Third division led, followed by the First and Second. General Wood in his report says "the passage of the river was made about two miles below the town." The Third brigade marched about a mile and a half from the bridge and bivouacked.
The following morning, the 28th, the men were called at 4 o'clock. The brigade remained here until 8 o'clock, when it moved farther up the river, taking a position on the ex- treme left of the corps when facing the enemy. The Eighty- sixth was detailed for picket, the sentinels being stationed on the bank of the river. The regiment was not relieved until noon of the 29th. Early on this morning Post's Second brig- ade was sent on a reconnoissance up the river to watch the movement of the enemy, as it was reported that he was crossing at a place called Davis ford. As soon as the Eighty- sixth was relieved from picket it was ordered to march in the direction of Post's brigade as support. In the meantime
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there was a good deal of skirmishing and cannonading in the direction of the pontoon bridge. General Cox, with his divis- ion of the Twenty-third corps, was holding that position, although the enemy was making a strong show of attempt- ing to cross at that point. Cox had a critical day of it. Had the enemy succeeded in effecting a crossing he would have had the Union troops between the upper and the nether mill- stone. With one corps already across at Davis' ford, five miles above, and with another at this point he would have had the three divisions of the Fourth corps and the two divisions of the Twenty-third corps as if in a vise. Fortu- nately for the Union side Cox's magnificent division, handled with remarkable skill, held its ground firmly and repelled every attempt to force his way over the stream. Cox with- drew his division from its position soon after dark and retired to Spring Hill, leaving the crossing covered by his skirmish line, consisting of two companies of the Sixty-third Indiana. supported by two other regiments.
The Eighty-sixth rejoined the brigade soon after night- fall. There was no moon and the darkness was almost im- penetrable. Wood's division filed in after Cox and began its retreat about 10 o'clock p. m. on the 29th. Wood was fol- lowed by Kimball's First division. Kimball had started northward in the morning, but had halted on the hills south of Rutherford creek, four miles north of Columbia. When Wood's division reached that point, Kimball followed with his division. Until this stream was crossed the progress was very slow, exasperatingly slow. The report, which had been freely circulated during the afternoon, that a large body of Confederate infantry had crossed Duck river five miles above Columbia, had been confirmed. Wagner's Second division of the Fourth corps, which left Duck river early in the morn- ing, had been fighting most of the day at Spring Hill. How- ever, Wood's division marched on undisturbed, until weari- ness became fatigue, and fatigue exhaustion, when the light of large camp fires broke upon the vision of the men some distance in front, or in the direction they were marching. This, of course, was supposed to be the camps of the Union
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forces, and the troops, cheered by the prospect of securing rest and sleep, stepped briskly forward. One comrade would inform another that he intended to rest there whether the regiment halted or not. But lo! what a change came over the spirit of their dreams! The column was quietly halted, and Captain M. P. Bestow, of General Wood's staff, rode down the ranks and announced softly, "Boys, this is a rebel camp lying near the road and we must march by it as quietly as possible. Arrange everything so there will be no noise!" This confirmed the worst reports and put quite a new phase on the aspect of affairs. Every soldier who heard what the Captain said knew from his earnest tones that he meant that the command was in a most desperate situation, and if at- tacked in that place a miracle of skill on the part of the com- mander, and nerve unparalleled on the part of the men, alone could save the two divisions. Now shone the soldierly qual- ities of the men of the old Third division, and the cool, de- termined purpose and skill of the "iron-gray veteran, Wood," their commander. Cut off from the rest of the army, except Cox's skirmishers and their support, the two divisions must depend on themselves to form a junction with the rest of the army. With Beatty's Third brigade in advance the column proceeded. The Eighty-sixth was in the advance of the brig- ade. There never was any dilly dallying or foolishness about Colonel Dick if he had a duty to perform. It was " Forward, march!" and it was done. So it was that night. He was ordered to send forward an advance-guard. Adjutant Thomas detailed Companies B and H, under the command of Captain Jeremiah Haugh, to perform that duty, and the Captain, in quiet, low tones, ordered the two companies "forward" to run the gauntlet and try the alertness of the enemy. Now was the critical moment.
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