USA > Indiana > The Forty-Fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, history of its services in the war of the rebellion and a personal record of its members > Part 13
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We were ordered to attack their works early next morning. We were all ready to march forward, when news reached us of the sursender. This not being offi- cial, we continued our march. The 44th Indiana, at the head of the column, passed over their entrench-
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ments and through the ranks of the enemy, drawn up in line of battle. We marched to the landing at Dover, and took possession of the immense stores of captured property.
From some cause the 44th Indiana failed to receive, in the reports of the brigade and division commanders, the credit to which it was justly entitled for the part performed by it in the battles of the morning and after- noon of February 15th. With no intention to lessen or in any way detract from other regiments engaged, I will here say that to the 8th Missouri and the 44th Indiana belong the honor of storming the position held by the enemy on the hill, and their defeat here induced the surrender of the Fort next morning. The part of the 44th in this most important engagement attending the capture, was as conspicuous and brilliant as that of any regiment engaged. We were exposed to the same bullets as were the 8th Missouri, which had the advance. The 44th formed in line of battle under a heavy fire, moved to the immediate left of that regiment, and made the brilliant charge which decided the battle. In my official report I say :
" My regiment advaneed to the foot of the hill occu- pied by the enemy, formed in line of battle in the face of a storm of bullets. Finding the ground in our front occupied by the 8th Missouri regiment, I advanced my regiment one hundred yards, faced to the front, und charged up the hill at double quick-our men loudly cheering."
And yet General Lew Wallace, by a shuffle, manages to give to the 11th Indiana the position occupied by the 44th Indiana, in his official report, without reason or
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justice, unless it may have been that the 11th Indiana was his former regiment.
As has been said elsewhere, the 44th Indiana fought its own battles of the morning and afternoon, without seeing or receiving an order from any other officer than its own Colonel commanding, after taking up its line of march for the battle-field. Had either brigade or divi- sion commander been with us, we could hardly have failed receiving the justice denied us in their official reports.
Immediately after the surrender our brigade received marching orders, and we returned to Fort Henry, where we remained for a time, while the Army was reorgan- ized. Our Ist Brigade, 3d Division, was transformed into 3d Brigade, 4th Division, General S. A. Hurlbut commanding.
The reorganization of the Army completed, we were now ready for a forward movement into the heart of rebeldom. Early in March, 1862, the Army was em- barked at Fort Henry on steamers and transports, with attendant gunboats, for Pittsburg Landing, making altogether the grandest spectacle ever seen by the inhab- itants of that wild region. All were warriors of tried metal now. Each Hector and Achilles wore his honors thick upon his brow, to whom all must homage pay. Had not Fort Henry and Fort Donelson succumbed to the prowess of these mighty men ? Why should we not feel that " No pent up Utica contracts our powers-that all the boundless continent was ours " ?
Our fleet was composed of the largest Mississippi River steamers (whose occupation was gone), loaded
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down with victorious troops ; our banners proudly float- ing in the Southern breeze, as we boldly steamed up the Tennessee ; bands playing the most martial and inspir- ing airs ; a sight long to be remembered by all-every heart swelling with " the pride, pomp and circumstance of glorious war." And yet there was an under-current of more subdued feeling, that Donelson had taught, which contrasted with the joyous abandon that attended our voyage to Fort Henry and thence to Fort Donelson. Then the realities of " the siege, the fight, the disastrous chances of the deadly breach," were before us only in imagination, while now we understood the full signifi- cance of "soldiers slain, and all the currents of a heady fight."
On the way up the river many conflicts as to senior- ity occurred, each division and brigade commander claiming to outrank all others.
The 44th Indiana embarked on a steamer on which was part of a regiment belonging to General McCler- nand's division, in command of a Lieutenant-Colonel, who informed me in the most kindly manner that his orders were to retain command of the boat. I replied, in the same spirit, that that was out of the question, I being senior officer. He yielded the point personally, saying he was well aware of the fact, but that his orders (which he exhibited ) were imperative. I explained that there was no probability of a conflict of authority, but that I could not yield my right to act, if there should be. He felt called upon to report the facts to his bri- gade commander, whereupon General McClernand's steamer came alongside and was made fast to ours. His
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brigade commander came on board our boat, and wanted to know, "You know," and after some wordy demon- strations on his part, without effect, retired and reported to his chief, and I received an extremely polite note requesting that I would call upon him, with which I complied. I found General McClernand an exceed- ingly urbane and suave gentleman. He used all his power of persuasion to convince me that the boat was his, having first been occupied by his troops. I explained that I had no personal feeling in the matter ; that there was very little probability of a conflict of authority, but that he had failed to give any sufficient reason why the king should take the ace in this game. Whereupon he very peremptorily called for his clerk, and dictated a written order that I should relinquish command ; to which I replied that I was not aware that I was subject to his orders ; that I represented my division com- mander, and should feel compelled to disregard his order, unless it came through my commanding officer. Thereupon he asked that I would show my division commander the order. When opportunity offered, I did so. General Hurlbut wrote across the face of it : "Countermanded by superior officer." When shown to the inferior officer, he swore a blue streak, and at once sat down without his clerk and wrote-well, what tended towards " pistols and coffee for two." By this time, however, we were at Savannah, and would in a few hours be at our destination. The matter was not further pressed, and we landed without bloodshed. -
When the war broke out, General McClernand was in Congress. A brigadier's commission was at his accept-
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ance. He was an Illinois man ; and did not Illinois own the President, together with all that that implied ? No braver men or more capable officers were found in the armies. Of course they were justly proud. General McClernand was as fiery and impetuous as Hotspur, and was a commander of much ability ; and he merited far greater credit for our success at Donelson than was awarded him. On his part, he failed in giving credit due to troops of other divisions that aided him at a critical time. General McClernand was a gallant sol- dier nevertheless. He was the only officer seen at that day dressed in splendid regimentals-epauletted-Well- ington boots, gold spurs, gauntleted hands, and equip- ments to match. He sat his war horse-a blooded stallion-like a Centaur, and managed his charger with the ease and grace of a Bayard ; with his commanding presence, " the observed of all observers," while the General commanding the Army might have been mis- taken for a slovenly-dressed Major of an Illinois regi- ment. I rode to him, and saluted profoundly. " General, are we to have a fight here ?" "A fight here ! Yes, the greatest battle ever fought on this continent ; they will fight us like h-1." A true prophet.
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CHAPTER III.
SHILOH.
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UPON disembarking, our fourth division, General Hurlbut commanding, moved out about two miles from the Landing, and went into camp. Here we spent some weeks, enjoying the beautiful March weather, warm and balmy as May, giving little thought to the enemy. General Grant held a grand review of his troops, thus breaking the monotony of camp life. On Friday eve, April 4th, we were aroused from our quiet repose, and pushed rapidly to the front to meet the enemy. This proved a reconnoisance in force. They drove in our pickets, learned our position, and after some skirmishing withdrew. Our division returned to camp, to resume our lazy life, little dreaming we were to be awakened to the feast of horrors preparing for us by this same enemy who had just knocked at our door.
Early on Sunday morning following, April 6th, the "long roll " called us to arms. We were soon in rank, ready for "forward to meet the enemy." General Hurlbut sent part of our 4th division to General Sher- man's aid. With the Ist and 3d brigades we moved forward at about 7:30 A. M., and had gone but a little distance before meeting General Prentiss's regiments rushing back from the front pell-mell, holding up their gory hands, shouting : " You'll catch it !- we are all cut to pieces-the rebels are coming." Passing by these
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panic·stricken wretches without a reply-except the one incident related by Major Rerick of Lieutenant Hodges -or with muttered curses at their cowardice, we marched on, the men setting their teeth hard and grasping their guns more firmly, feeling for their cartridge-boxes, to be sure they were prepared to meet this victorious enemy and welcome him "with bloody hands to hospitable graves."
It is past finding out why, but it is a fact well under- stood, that soldiers once panic-stricken are worthless- they do not recover during that battle at least, if ever entirely, from their fright. Some of these men of Prentiss's division were brought back to where we were fighting the enemy, but they acted like a flock of fright- ened sheep, ready to start in any direction. At first one of them crept up to a large tree standing near our line of battle. Gradually others followed, until a line like the tail of a kite extended back some thirty or forty feet, each clutching the one in front in an agony of fear. Their Captain walked hurriedly up and down near them, unable to control himself, much less them. I talked with him quietly ; asked him if he could not get his men to use their muskets on the enemy ; that if they became engaged they would forget their fear. To no purpose. These men were not " native to the manor born." They soon after left us-perhaps to swell the crowd at the Landing, of which so much was made by Buell and his army.
These men were not really greater cowards than others. The fault was not theirs. It belonged higher up-in placing raw troops where they could be pounced
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down upon, as were these, without a shovelful of earth or a tree felled for protection. Donelson should have taught us better. All were green alike, from private in the ranks to General-in-Chief of all the Armies, and had to learn the art of war from actual experience in the field. I saw General Prentiss in rear of our line, clamoring for he knew not what-the line to be pushed forward to his former position, etc. He was as demor- alized as his troops. He rode off to the front with his staff, to be captured-and was.
I have been led off, and left my Regiment on the way to the battle-field. We went forward about a mile, and formed our line of battle a short distance in rear of General Prentiss's camp, the left wing of the 44th reaching to " Peach Orchard." Our line was formed along a country road. In our front were bushes and . saplings, with a few trees of large size scattered here and there. We were soon fiercely attacked with mus- ketry. The enemy charged up to within a few rods of our line, and were repulsed with heavy loss. After some delay they again renewed the attack, and charged up to within a few yards, and were again driven off. The musketry firing here was as fierce and continuous as any during the battle ; the brush and small saplings were cut off by bullets, giving it somewhat the appearance of a Southern corn-field that had been topped, as is the cus- tom there. Our men fought as coolly and effectively as if it had always been their occupation. They required no urging. I found it irksome enough sitting on my horse with nothing to do but be shot at. It was a curi- ous study to note the manners of the. different officers.
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Lieutenant-Colonel Stoughton sat his horse like a statue, neither swerving right nor left, keeping his face to the front, as if his only thought was to be shot with his face to the enemy.
Captain Heath (acting Major) was all movement. He could not be still. He rode up and down the line, at times, as fast as his horse would carry him. If an order was to be repeated, it did him much good to cry it along the line.
Captain Williams kept up his martial bearing, moving with a more stately step than was his wont, trim and erect, grasping his sword with a firm hand. If he was to be killed, he wanted it done " with his martial cloak around him." This was his first battle-field, and he displayed great gallantry.
Captain Cosgrove looked as if devising some plan to get at the enemy to better advantage, as he stood near his men, ready for an emergency.
Captain Tannehill wore a stolid, bull-dog expression. He was going to see that out.
Captain Aldrich moved about from place to place in a quick, nervous way, to be sure that his men were do- ing their very best.
Lieutenant Hodges, commanding Company I, looked on at his men with a cool, calculating manner which evinced that being shot did not enter into his calcula- tions ; it was the enemy he was after.
Lieutenant Newman, commanding Company H, was active and energetic, wanted to be doing more, and would like to know what the enemy were about.
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Acting Captain Weamer had probably a premonition of his fate Every nerve quivered, but he never flinched. His moral courage was equal to the occasion. He stood to his post bravely to the end.
Captain Murray was amongst his men, and looked as if he would have preferred a musket to his sword. His manner was more subdued. He may have been pre- monished also, as are very many men. He did his whole duty manfully to the last.
Lieutenant Kinmont, commanding Company F, ! showed by his steady bearing that he could be relied on for determined action under all circumstances. He might have said "Git ep" instead of "Forward," but would have gone to the right place all the same.
Second-Lieutenant Burge Smith, commanding Com- pany A, looked as if he just wished he had something to do, as he towered over his Company like Saul among his brethren.
All of these, as well as other commissioned officers, were too proud to follow the example of their men, who had been ordered to " fall and fire," but stood erect, facing the enemy.
The men being fully occupied with their fighting, had no time for other thoughts. When one was hit he would quietly crawl back, or be helped to the rear by a comrade, into the hands of our Surgeons, who were at hand, exposed to the same bullets and as much inter- i
ested as any in the fight. '
Surgeon Martin, excited and fiery, moved about in his quick, impetuous way, wanting his horse to be shot in
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battle ; while Assistant Surgeon Rerick was as cool and collected as if in his hospital. The only doubt he felt was whether he had not mistaken his calling. If he could have had his choice then, it would have been a sword or a musket, and in line with the foremost. There could not well be a greater contrast than these men presented. Dr. Martin was genial, demonstrative, full of sympathy. He would take off his coat, and go at the sick in such a way as to make them feel it a comfort to be in condition to have his help. He would give them a teaspoonful of calomel, to "respond the liver,"-a tablespoonful of jalap, "to respond the bowels; " if that did not fetch them, a pint of blood, to "respond the circulation." By this time, perhaps, they would fall into Dr. Rerick's hands, who would build them up, and tend upon them in his careful, considerate way, without any demonstra- tion. That took longer to impress itself on the men ; when done, it remained. But they let nothing interfere with their duty, and soon had their hands full.
The enemy had enough at this point. After some delay they form in column and march forward over cleared ground called the Peach Orchard, on which our left wing rested. On they come with a quick step, in gallant style, without firing a gun, the stars and bars flaunting jauntily in the breeze-and I must admit it to be as bold and defiant a battle-flag as one could wish to meet in battle's stern array. I at once wheeled two companies of the left wing to the right, and when they had come within point-blank range, opened fire. Their ranks were mowed down as with a scythe. Yet on they come. It seemed almost barbarous to fire on brave men
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pressing forward so heroically to the mouth of hell. But human nature could not longer endure it. They wavered, faced about at the word of command, and retired as if on parade. Bravely fought, my gallant foe, worthy of a better cause-my misguided countrymen ! They had enough of the Ist and 3d brigades of the 4th division. We had fought them from 8:30 A. M. to 2 P. M., and beaten them in fair fight, gloriously.
But now a pressing call for help comes from the left wing of our Army. Colonel Stuart's brigade had been driven in, thus leaving our flank exposed. Our 3d bri- gade, consisting of the 44th and 31st Indiana, the 17th Kentucky, with a small number of the 25th Kentucky, and Willard's battery, were rapidly pushed half a mile to our left. We found the enemy marching to our rear. I here quote from General Hurlbut's official report :
" In a few moments two Texan regiments crossed the ridge separating my line from Stuart's former one, while other troops also advanced. Willard's battery was thrown into position, under command of Lieutenant Wood, and opened fire with great effeet on the two Lone Star flags, until his line of fire was obstructed by the charge of the 3d brignde, which, after delivering its fire with great steadiness, charged full up the hill, and drove the enemy three or four hundred yards."
We then took position on the brow of the hill, this being on open ground, with here and there a large tree scattered over the field. The 44th Indiana and the 17th Kentucky, in all not to exceed a thousand men, (the 3Ist Indiana being in reserve, ) fought the enemy for nearly three hours ; this being by far the fiercest contest of the day. The enemy outnumbered us at least three
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to one. Their tactics were altogether different from ours. While we stood in line of battle, they were marched about hither and yon at a lively step, in col- umn, by companies. Their flags flaunting defiance, they would move forward as if to make a charge, wheel to right or left, march obliquely, or to the rear, face about, move forward, again form in line, and open fire. At no time were all deployed in line of battle, and yet some of their regiments were firing away at us almost con- tinuously. Our flag was a target at which they fired per- sistently, and it was riddled with balls. Never was flag more heroically defended. Our color-bearer, A. P. Waterhouse, was soon wounded. It was borne by Michael Harrison, William Woodford, William Under- wood, Augustus A. Galloway, William McNeal, John Keifer, Samuel B. Sweet (a boy of 17), James Riddle, James Nicodemus, Frank Baldwin, Sergt. I.'N. Thomas, N. P. Lewis, Sergt. Samuel Havens, John Engle, Sergt. M. B. Willis, Joseph Anderson, George Roy, Sergt. O. Z. Rawson, Sergt. Alexander Kinmont, C. M. Thomas, Lewis Griffith, H. A. Lords, Sergt. John Ulam, Edwin Matthews, James M. Flutter, Ralph Goodrich, Owen Shaw, Joseph Reed, Marion McGinnis, Sergt. George W. Schell, Samuel Hartzell, Nicholas Ensley, Owen Shaw, Peter Stahl, Sergt. Nelson Mansfield, Randall Simmons, Henry Twitchel, J. B. Rowe, and Lieuten- ant Jacob Newman, all of whom were either killed or wounded.
But I feel that I am doing injustice to other brave men in giving the names of any where all fought with equal valor. Never was greater bravery exhibited on a
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battle field. We lost fully one-third of our number in killed and wounded, in this battle. Officers and men "rallied round the flag" not only "once again " but again and again, well knowing it to be almost certain death or wounds they faced. At the bridge of Lodi, where Napoleon led his troops and carried the flag, to insure their passage to victory, was no greater act of heroism than was here displayed by these men.
It may not be considered in good taste for me to say it-yet it is the truth, nevertheless-that our little bri- gade saved the day by their heroism on this battle-field. There were no other troops but these between the enemy and the Landing, which, had they reached, General Sherman and General McClernand would have had the enemy both in front and rear. Beauregard's boast, that he would water his horse in the Tennessee River at Pittsburg Landing that night, would have been fulfilled.
This same enemy had driven Colonel Stuart's bri- gade from the field. We met them, flushed with success, drove back and held at bay thrice our numbers for nearly three hours, and when compelled to fall back, from lack of ammunition, we had taught them discretion. Their advance was slow and cautious, thereby giving the needed time for their reception.
I will here quote from General Hurlbut's General Order No. 20, which is of course addressed to the 4th division-most of which, however, fought elsewhere- and it should be understood to apply more particularly to our 3d brigade of the 4th division, who held the position on the left referred to :
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HEADQUARTERS OF THE 4TH DIVISION, I Pittsburg, April 9th, 1862.
The General commanding tenders his heartfelt con- gratulations to the surviving officers and men of this division for their magnificent services during the two days of struggle, which, under the blessing of God, has resulted in victory. Let this division remember that for five hours on Sunday was held, under the most ter. rifie fire, the key point of the left of the Army, and only fell back when outflanked by overwhelming masses pressing through points abandoned by our supports.
Let them remember that when they fell back, it was in order, and that the last line of resistance, in rear of heavy guns, was formed by this division.
Let them remember that on the morning of Mon- day, without food and without sleep, they were ordered to reinforce the right, and that whenever a brigade of this division appeared on the field of action, they were
in time to support broken flanks and hold the line.
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S. A. HURLBUT, Brig. Gen. Commanding 4th Division.
Official :
F. C. SCHOFIELD, A. A. A. G.
To return to our fighting. As Generals Hurlbut, Lauman, and myself were talking together about how we could get a supply of ammunition, the enemy's sharpshooters sent a volley about our ears. We looked in each other's eyes to note the effect, and moved each to his post.
After the first opening of the battle here-from what cause I do not now remember-Willard's battery was silent. Neither did the enemy use artillery. It was a fair open-field fight, each force in plain view of the other ; the enemy's movements giving interest to the scene. Our men lost all sense of danger, as they stood and deliberately fired. There was no disposition to get
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down out of the way of bullets ; and had we been amply supplied with them, we should have driven the enemy from the field. They were only held by consummate handling.
I had, during a lull in the firing, ridden over to the left of our line, and found Colonel -, as brave and efficient an officer as any in the Army, sitting with his back to a tree, just in rear of his line of battle, holding his horse by the bridle. Ile jocularly ex- claimed : " What in h-l are you riding about in that way for ? Do you want to be shot ? Get down. You can see my men are all right." While I sat on my horse talking with him, he leaned over on his elbow- whiz !- a shot passed through the fleshy part of his arm. He sprang up, exclaiming : " There, you have got me shot." As his wound was being tied up with his hand- kerchief : " I will keep my face to the enemy hereafter. I thought those fellows were going to let me have time to rest a little." He was very proud of that " hit," after the battle was over.
The 44th Indiana had already twice filled their cart- ridge boxes here, and had emptied them at the enemy ; but now, our last cartridge gone, the 31st Indiana was ordered up from where it had been held in reserve up to this time, to take our place. We withdrew a short distance, to where the ammunition wagon stood. In hunting over the empty boxes the men found a few cartridges scattered about, giving to each man a few rounds. We were now ordered by General Hurlbut to a position further to the left-the enemy moving part of his force to his right, with the evident intention of
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