USA > Indiana > The Eighty-sixth regiment, Indiana volunteer infantry : a narrative of its services in the civil war of 1861-1865 > Part 8
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
78
THIE EIGHTY-SIXTH REGIMENT,
epithets and abusive terms, and long continued. It was fun for the boys who came in on time, and for some who were in the arrested squad, but judging by appearances it was quite a serious matter for others. Some were greatly crest- fallen at the thought of being under arrest. Others took it quite philosophically. Most of them knew Colonel Hamilton to be a hot-headed but kindly natured man who would relent, and practically, at least, take it all back as soon as his anger cooled off. He soon had a good two hundred under and around that tree, and would gallop his charger in a furious manner almost upon every new arrival. He fumed and fret- ted, he chafed and frothed, and swore what terrible things he intended to do. One would have supposed he would have every man of them shot at sunrise the next morning. At length his anger began to cool and he saw the folly of his rage and the utter foolishness of his conduct. He then gave up in disgust and ordered the men to go to their respective companies, but threatened the direst punishment upon any of them if he ever again caught them straggling. The tirade of the Colonel against the boys occasioned much merriment for those who were calmly watching the circus at a safe dis- tance. The affair was known as "the arrest of the persim- mon knockers," or the "the organization of the Eighty- seventh Regiment by Colonel Hamilton." We believe the latter designation was given it by Ike Wetherall, of Com- pany K, one of the captured late arrivals and one of the noisest men in the regiment. This diversion came in good time. It was needed, and it somewhat revived the men, al- though they were very tired and sore. The march had been a hard one and the men had appetites like sharks. Conse- quently rations vanished with unexampled rapidity.
It will not be out of place here to relate an incident of the night. One of the boys who had a little money and very little rations, went to a sutler near by and bought fifty cents' worth of cheese. But being of a provident disposition the mess did not eat it that night for supper, intending to save it for the morrow when their wants would be still greater, their hunger more urgent and imperative. It was packed away
79
INDIANA VOLUNTEERS.
nicely in a haversack and the haversack placed in a stack of guns standing quite near the mess's sleeping place, in fact, their "shake down" being spread against one side of the "stack." But alas! when the cheese was sought by eager and hungry messmates the following morning not a crumb of it could be found. It had been spirited away. Its disappear- ance was complete. Search was made without success. It was a mystery. Who got the cheese was the question. The poacher, Packer, was accused of the theft but strenuously de- nied it. He swore he would have been glad to have eaten it but did not have that pleasure. The search and all hope of ever finding the thief were given up. But of this, as of almost all things of its class sooner or later the old saying "murder will out, " came true. Some eight years afterward the man who got the cheese, who was wholly un- suspected and might have remained so, took too much "in- sanity drops" and straightway divulged his secret of the theft. He pleaded destitution of both rations and money, extreme hunger and inability to procure anything by begging from comrades almost as destitute as himself, in extenuation of his pilfering. He was freely forgiven, and all who were still living of the mess took a hearty laugh over it and the events of the day, November 1, 1862, when Colonel Hamilton frightened the " persimmon knockers" so badly.
On the following morning the stragglers being fully and duly restored, they all marched out together about 9 o'clock, singing with spirit "John Brown's body lies mouldering in in the tomb." They stepped of at a lively rate, making good time in much better shape than they had done the pre- vious day. They covered some seventeen or eighteen miles by dark and bivouacked in the woods alongside the road. The next morning they were on the road by 6 o'clock and marched steadily, reaching Glasgow, passed through the town and bivouacked about 1 o'clock in a beautiful meadow or pasture lying in the bottom lands of quite a nice stream known as a branch of the Big Barren River.
Here the boys who had an inclination to forage on their own hook had fair opportunities to lay in temporary sup-
0
80
THE EIGHTY-SIXTHI REGIMENT,
plies. The Eighty-sixth on such occasions acted on the principle that "opportunities are like eggs and must be hatched while fresh." The chickens, turkeys, pigs and sheep came into camp in goodly numbers. Camp-kettles were in great demand, and when procured were usually well filled and kept so almost day and night. Active foraging for eat- ables continued while the command remained here. The country afforded an abundance. At this place again a num- ber of the regiment had become sick or so completely ex- hausted as to require that they be sent back to hospitals to recuperate, as the number greatly exceeded the capacity of the regimental ambulances to convey them with the column as it pushed ahead. They were sent from here mostly to Cave City, the nearest railroad point, and from there on to Bowling Green and Louisville.
On the morning of the 5th of November, the column re- sumed its march. The men were somewhat refreshed and strengthened by the rest and " the fat of the land." It was now the Fourteenth Army Corps, Department of the Cumber- land, and General Rosecrans was in command. Passing through Glasgow the column bore off to the southwest on the Scottsville and Gallatin road, and covering some sixteen or seventeen miles, bivouacked about 3 o'clock in the woods near the road. A little rain fell in the evening, but not enough to lay the dust. The foraging was continued while on the march, but not with the same effect as when in camp. The supply of chickens brought to the evening's bivouac was limited. On the following morning the orders were to march at 6 o'clock, but it was near 10 o'clock when the regi- ment filed ont upon the road. The command covered some fourteen or fifteen miles during the day's march, passing through Scottsville and a mile beyond, and bivouacked in a perfect thicket of underbrush. The roads were good except being very dusty. Again this evening there was a light sprinkle of rain, after which it turned cooler. The boys divided very liberally with the citizens of the country through which the army passed, and brought to camp chickens, pigs and dried fruit. The enterprising "pot-hound" was a prime
81
INDIANA VOLUNTEERS.
necessity to raw troops on a long march. The following morning was quite cool. This made it disagreeable and the men hovered round the bivouac fires. About 10 o'clock the tramp was resumed. The weather remained cold and damp, snow falling more or less throughout the day. The distance made was not great, but it was a very uncomfortable day's march. The night was cold and the men felt the full force of the disagreeable weather. The following morning reveille was sounded about 3 o'clock. The regiment arose promptly, breakfasted at 4:30 and resumed its line of march for Gallatin about 6:30, where it arrived after a hard march at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, having traveled some eighteen or twenty miles. It pressed on still farther to within about one mile of the Cumberland River. In this day's march it was esti- mated by different ones that the command had marched from twenty-two to twenty-five miles. As there was no halt called for dinner few, if any of the regiment, had eaten anything during the day more than a few bites as they plodded along the road. There was therefore great demand for rations and not many rations to be had. After a good night's rest the men learned that they would not move as there was no bridge on which to cross the Cumberland river. A detail was made from the Eighty-sixth to aid in its construction. Until this detail re- turned there was no probability that the command would march. This was a pointer for the free-handed foragers and they might have been seen making good time for *green fields and pastures new." On every hill-top one or more blue-coats could be seen scenting the game, and that, too, at an early hour. Nor did they come back empty handed. The bridge detail returned about 9 p. m. and reported the bridge ready for crossing. The orders for the following morning were to march at 6:30 o'clock, but Hawkins' brigade did not start until 7 o'clock. The command marched directly to and crossed the Cumberland river on the new bridge. After crossing the river, the brigade proceeded on the road run- ning nearly due south until it reached the Lebanon and Nash- ville pike. At this point it turned west toward Nashville and marched a few miles and halted for the night in a fine
82
THE EIGHITY-SIXTH REGIMENT,
pasture near a beautiful stream of water. The command marched during this day probable twelve or fifteen miles. This place was known as Silver Springs.
The men of the regiment were delighted with the place as a camping ground, and the prospect of remaining here long enough for a good rest seemed fairly good. There was a fine sward, a plentiful supply of pure water, and an abundance of rails conveniently near for all necessary purposes, both for cooking and heating. Such a fine place for camping it had not been the men's fortune often to see. There were also certain signs discovered which denoted that there might be found in the immediate vicinity of camp a goodly supply of ducks, geese, chickens, pigs, and sheep, and it was almost certain that the demand would be quite equal to the supply. Fear- ing the supply would soon be exhausted, the Eighty-sixth sent out some strong foraging parties the first night. The officers of the regiment did not do this, but the men with muskets did. They were efficient and energetic and served their respective messes and companies well and faithfully. They brought to camp in abundance, turkeys. chickens, pigs, cured meat, dried fruits, and sweet potatoes. Even the next day the fowls could be heard on all sides in the camp of the Eighty-sixth, and the old soldiers of the brigade began to "let up " on guying the boys about their inability to look out for themselves in the way of foraging. The 11th of November, the next day after arriving at this camp, was clear, cool and fine. There were no orders to march and this was cheering news. The weary, foot-sore men were greatly pleased with the prospect of getting additional rest.
CHAPTER X. SILVER SPRINGS AND RURAL HILL.
A Forty Days' March Reviewed-Death of William Rose and Archibald Coats-A March to Rural Hill-Skirmish With John Morgan's Men-In Camp Near Nashville-Detail of Twenty Men for the Pioneer Corps-Drill and Picket Duty.
The Eighty-sixth had been on the march for forty days, and a part of the time day and night. Raw, soft, and un- drilled as the men were, they had been placed in a brigade and division of veteran troops, hardened campaigners, ac- customed to marching and inured to all the duties of the field and a soldier's life, and they were expected to, and did, perform their full share of duty with these troops. It was a terribly rough introduction, but there was no help for it, and all the Eighty-sixth could do was to perform the duty or die. Many indeed had fallen by the way-side-literally marched to death. Others had sickened and died, the principal factors causing the sickness being exposure, pri- vations and the exhausting labor of marching. Still others sick and exhausted, unable to keep pace with Buell's column as it pushed on after Bragg, were sent to the hospitals in the rear, here and there over the country, to regain their health for future campaigns. But many of these never again "took arms" with their former comrades. They were too much broken in health to return to duty in the ranks. Per- haps the pursuit of Bragg's army by that of Buell's, taken as a whole, was the hardest and most trying march any Union army was forced to endure during the entire war. The army was not then supplied with the light and convenient shelter tents which it afterwards carried. The bulk and unhandi- ness of the Sibleys made them no better than no tents, for
84
THE EIGHTY-SIXTH REGIMENT,
either the wagons were never up with them, or the men were too tired to handle them at night when they reached camp. Therefore, they slept constantly without tents, exposed to the night air, in good and bad weather, in rain and in snow, and felt the full force of all the changes of weather. The great exertion during the day heated their bodies and the cool nights chilled and stiffened their joints and bound their muscles. These things with the inexperience and the ex- treme scarcity of water, together with the very bad quality of most of it that could be procured, rendered the march a continual struggle for existence, an epoch in one's life to be remembered. It was a very common, almost daily, occur- rence to find
-" the gilded puddle Which beasts would cough at,"
the only supply of water to furnish drink and from which to procure enough to make a pot of coffee. Those of deli- cate, nervous systems and dainty stomachs, with a thought of home, its healthy food and drink, and even delicacies, would sicken at the sight of a putrefying mule half sub- merged in the pond of water where they were compelled to get their supply. The thought of a good, cool drink from the pure water of the well at home would cause them to turn with unutterable disgust from this festering filth with its green scum. Such men were already more than half beaten without the suspicion of the smell of gun powder. Others, however, of firmer fibre, stauncher mold, and iron nerve, and a resolution that would never say "hold, enough," parted the thick green scum, filled the canteen, shut their eyes and drank deeply of the water as it washed back and over the festering animal matter, set in motion as it was by the dipping of many canteens. Such material makes invincible soldiers, as near, at least, as human beings can be called invincible. Of such material was the Army of the Cumberland composed. Father Abraham at Washing- ton had no better, truer, soldiers than those of this old army after the chaff was winnowed ont of it. All the Eighty- sixth now lacked to complete the test was the baptism of fire-the battle's storm and hail to finish in every particular
85
INDIANA VOLUNTEERS.
its initiation. In looking back over this trip through Ken- tucky after Bragg's army it is with horror that one thinks of the abominable character of the drinking water, the scant rations and the general treatment the men received. It is a wonder that so many endured it and survived.
Many, who by indomitable pluck and perseverance, came through the march in pursuit of Bragg had the seeds of dis- ease sown in them which afterwards developed and bore fruit, and from the effects of which they never will be free until they shall have paid the last debt of nature and reaped the reward of their manliness and patriotism. The extent of their sacrifices is little known or appreciated in this life.
All were greatly rejoiced at the prospect of a breathing spell and an opportunity to recuperate after the late rough service they had undergone. On the night of the 11th of November, here at this camp William Rose, of Company B, died. He was buried on the 12th. On the 13th, Archi- bald Coats, of Company D, died, and was buried the same day. The deaths of these two men so soon after our long march show how desperately the men sometimes struggled to do what they considered their duty. Up to within a very few days of their death they had, shoulder to shoulder, tramped the weary miles through Kentucky with their com- rades, literally wearing their lives away. Yet when a halt was called and the relaxation came which follows protracted effort, they gave up and passed away to that peaceful land, where the clash of steel, and the tread of armed squadrons do not disturb. This march had been to the Eighty-sixth an expensive one. The deaths and the many sent back sick, had reduced the regiment to about one-half its original strength.
On the 14th of November the Eighty-sixth was ordered to prepare for general inspection. Then came the hurry and bustle of cleaning arms and equipments, bathing the"person and washing the clothing. Besides these things the men were instructed for some time in company drill. On the morn- ing of the 15th they received orders to arrange camp in reg- ular system. This greatly cheered the boys. It caused a
86
THE EIGHTY-SIXTH REGIMENT,
great deal of work, however, to take down and change all those heavy Sibley tents, but they they supposed they had a very good assurance that they would remain here for some time, and all therefore worked willingly. But scarcely was the camp laid off and the tents arranged and put up in regu- lation style when orders were received to march. Some rather caustic " benedictions" were pronounced in a very en- ergetic manner upon the officers for this extra work, and the order to march following so close upon it. The order was received about 11 o'clock a. m. Tents were struck at once, packed and placed in the wagons. All other "traps" were done up and put on the wagons or arranged for the soldier's own "pack, " and the regiment was in line ready to march by noon.
At this camp at Silver Springs on the night of Novem- ber 12, was the first time the regiment slept in tents after leaving Louisville, October 1. For more than forty days the men had marched and bivouacked-had laid upon the ground in fair and in foul weather with naught but their blankets, darkness, and the starry heavens to cover them, save occas- ionally when sleeping in the friendly cover of some leafy bower of the forest. This march was an instructive exper- ience. Its lessons were forceful and not to be denied atten- tion. They asserted themselves. Here is an example: Often in the still hours of the chilly night, one might hear the shriek of some youth, as he suddenly awakened from slum- ber, to the realization that he was suffering excruciating tor- tures, writhing in pain with numerous extra "kinks" in his legs forcing him to make these outcries. What does it mean? It means that he had overtaxed his strength, his muscles, in endeavoring to keep pace with the advancing column. Bur- dened beyond his strength and years, with knapsack, haver- sack, canteen, and gun and cartridge-box, he had labored with every muscle throughout the day to keep his place in ranks. He had obeyed the laws and orders of man, but broken the laws of nature, and he was now paying the pen- alty. All day long the muscles of his lower limbs unceas- ingly had contracted and relaxed alternately. They were
87
INDIANA VOLUNTEERS.
still keeping up the play, but now the action was of a spas- modic character. In short, the overtaxed muscles, of his legs were cramping as though they would pull themselves loose from their attachments, and in his agony he cries out and calls on some comrade to rub him until the attack of cramp passes and he can again lie down to sleep. Some times this is repeated many times during a single night, and no one who has never suffered such attacks can estimate the torment of them. Short the attacks may be, but terrible in their punishment of the victim who has broken an inexor- able law.
The regiment was drawn up in line ready to march at the hour of 12. Hawkins' brigade was the only troops mov- ing. There was not therefore a very large force on the march. Covering some seven or eight miles the command bivouacked in a very pretty place in a fine woods pasture in the immediate neighborhood of Rural Hill, Wilson county, Tennessee, and supposed to be in the vicinity of the enemy. Accordingly the brigade was ordered to sleep on its arms. Shortly after "taps" picket firing occurred, and the command was immediately called "to arms," and stood in line for a short time. At 5:30 a. m. the command was again called up and stood to arms until daylight.
During the forenoon some prisoners were captured and brought into camp. Three rebel cavalrymen were brought in by the Eighty-sixth. It was evident that the enemy was watching closely and would attack if a favorable opportun- ity offered. Company H was put on the picket line with orders to keep a sharp watch for the enemy. Lieutenant Jeremiah Haugh, of Company B, went outside of the picket lines and was doing a little independent scouting when he was chased by the enemy's cavalry and had a close call to escape. The "Johnnie Rebs" finding that the blue coats would not halt at their commands opened fire upon him. A running fire is seldom an effective one, yet Haugh received a severe wound through the left shoulder, but he wavered not in his retreat, running a good race and made his escape sure. His wound was severe but not dangerous. The weather was
THE EIGHTY-SIXTH REGIMENT,
dark and gloomy, raining or misting all day. Besides the adventure of Lieutenant Haugh the regiment lost another adventurous spirit, company H's champion forager and "pot- hound, "John Miller. He went out on one of his predatory excursions and failed to return. He was captured and paroled, but he never again returned to the regiment or com- pany. He went home and when reported as a deserter and it became too hot in Indiana he went still further away. Evidently he had seen enough of Morgan's men. Some time before he had captured a donkey with which he made his foraging trips. Presumably on this occasion the donkey was not swift enough when ladened with turkeys and chickens to outrun Morgan's cavalry, and he had therefore been cap- tured with a donkey load of pillage in his possession. See- ing him to be a genuine pilferer, they had doubtless threat- ened to take his life if ever again caught, and had so fright- ened him that when released he at once started for home, and probably promised to do so, if they would but spare his life.
On the morning of the 17th of November, Company E, Captain Phillip Gemmer, relieved Company H from picket duty, and received the orders to keep the strictest watch for the expected enemy. All day the command watched and waited. There were some indications of an attack, but none was made. On the morning of the 18th, just after daylight, while the command was busy preparing breakfast, the pickets began a brisk firing that indicated an attack. The brigade was under arms immediately. The enemy's calvary had made a bold dash on the picket line, had broken it and rode it down and came right on in gallant style for the brig- ade camp, doubtless expecting to take it by surprise, stam- pede it, and capture the entire command. But "the wisest plans o' mice and men gang aft aglee." It was the unex- pected that happened to them and they met a great sur- prise.
During the night of the 17th, the Eighth Kentucky had come in with the supply train. This regiment bivouacked one hundred or one hundred and fifty yards to the left in a
89
INDIANA VOLUNTEERS.
little ravine, where there was a spring and every convenience for a concealed bivouac. It was out of sight of the ap- proaching rebels, and was not seen by them until it opened fire on the charging squadrons. This Kentucky regiment was armed with Colt's revolving rifles and the men delivered their five shots in the face of the enemy before the latter was hardly aware of the difficulty that lay in his way. The enemy as soon as he saw that he was foiled, wheeled about, and galloped back badly demoralized and in far greater haste than he came. This handsome repulse by the newly arrived regiment saved Hawkins' brigade from a savage at- tack in the flank where it was least expected. Five of the enemy lay dead in front of the gallant band that had met their dash in such a cool determined manner. How many were wounded is not known, but it was quite evident that it was too hot a place for the rebel cavalrymen to tarry long. They did not wait upon the order of their going, but went at once, and that very quickly. After this dash by the enemy and its signal repulse he opened up with his artillery. One, shot, an unexploded shell, struck about thirty paces in front of the center of the Eighty-sixth. A number went whiz- zing and screaming over it, but did no damage whatever. The battery replied to his fire with interest and a fine show of artillery practice was made for a time, but the enemy soon again found it too hot and limbered to the rear, leaving the field to the despised "yanks." It was said by one of the staff officers, who was looking with a field glass, that Swallow's battery dismounted one of the enemy's guns and this closed the battle. This was the first fire to which the Eighty-sixth as a regiment was exposed, and the men showed genuine Hoosier grit and staying qualities. In short, it was there to stay until ordered away.
General T. L. Crittenden at 8:30 o'clock on the evening of November 18, sent the following report of the Rural Hill affair to Colonel J. P. Garesche, Chief of Staff:
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.