USA > Kentucky > The Union regiments of Kentucky, Vol. I > Part 4
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
.
.
29.
Military Campaigns.
MILITARY CAMPAIGNS.
By Capt. Thos. Speed.
The service of the Kentucky Union regiments was al- most exclusively with the Western armies. The 1st and 2d Infantry served in the summer and fall of 1861 with the troops in Western Virginia, and Simmonds' Battery, which was formed from the 1st Infantry, continued in that section and was used with the Army of the Potomac, taking part in the battle of Antietam. Also, toward the close of the war, a number of the regiments went East, either with Sherman, in the march to the sea, or with Gen. Schofield's Corps-the 23d-which, as will be seen, was transferred East in January, 1865. With these ex- ceptions the Kentucky regiments served in the cam- paigns in the West. It is proposed, therefore, in this chapter, to give a brief account of these campaigns. They are given in detail in many historical works, and for that reason details will not be entered into here. Only the events, with dates and salient features, will be men- tioned.
This brief narrative, it is believed, will be useful in connection with the regimental accounts, as it will bring to mind the scenes of the four years' service of these regi- ments, in marching, camping and fighting.
It will be seen, from the accounts of the regiments, that many of them were raised in the summer and early fall of 1861. Many were placed in active service before they were fully equipped and organized, the situation requiring them to take the field even before they were mustered into the service. The first recruiting began under Rousseau and Woodruff, at Louisville, and Nelson, at Camp Dick Robinson, and from these two points, notably, they were promptly used to resist the advance of the Confederates. Also, at Owensboro and Calhoun, camps were established, from which Crittenden, Jackson and others gave protection to the country north of Green river. And in the upper section of the state the Ken- tucky troops prevented the Confederates taking posses- sion. Up to the middle of November, 1861, all the Fed- eral troops in Kentucky were under the command of Gen- erals Anderson and Sherman.
On the 15th of November, Gen. Buell was placed in command of the Department of Ohio. He had a force
-
30
Union Regiments of Kentucky.
under Gen. Thomas about Somerset. At that time the Confederates controlled the southern part of the state from Cumberland Gap to the Mississippi river.
On the 19th of January, 1862, Gen. Thomas defeated Gen. Zollicoffer at Mill Spring. On the 16th of February, Gen. Grant captured Fort Donelson. These successes caused the Confederates to fall back from Kentucky, and Gen. Buell concentrated his army at Nashville. Grant's army moved up the Tennessee river to Pittsburg Land- ing, and March 15th Buell began his march from Nash- ville for the same point. The great battle of Shiloh oc- curred April 6th and 7th, after which the Confederates retired to Corinth, Miss.
Up to this date the following are some of the events which had occurred in Kentucky, in which her soldiers participated or were interested: Skirmishing at Bar- boursville, September 19, 1861; at Green River Lock, mouth of Mud river, September 26th; at Albany, Sep- tember -; at Laurel Bridge, near London, September 30th; at Upton Hill, October 12th; battle at Camp Wild- cat, October 21st; skirmish at West Liberty, October 23d; at Camp Underwood, near Cave City, October 23d; at Woodbury, Morgantown and Rochester, October 29th, 30th; fight at Ivy Mountain, Pike county, November 8th; Brownsville, November 20th; at Camp Goggin, near Som- erset, December 1st; at Bacon Creek, December 5th; at Rowlett Station, December 17th; at Sacramento, Decem- ber 28th; at Paintsville, January 6, 1862; at Middle Creek, January 10th; battle of Mill Spring, January 19th; at Pound Gap, March 16th.
The date the Confederates occupied Columbus was September 3, 1861 .* Gen. Grant occupied Paducah Sep- tember 5, 1861. The investment of Fort Donelson was from February 12 to 16, 1862. Bowling Green was evacuated February 14, 1862. Nashville was occupied by the Federals February 25th. Columbus was evacu- ated by the Confederates February 27th. In the battle at Fort Donelson two Kentucky regiments were engaged
* It is sometimes said this was the first violation of "neutrality." It is also claimed that Gen. Nelson's work at Camp Dick Robinson, in August, 1861, was the first. But as early as in the spring, companies of Confederate soldiers were organized in the state, and moved South with colors flying. of this. Lovell H. Rousseau complained in his speech in the state senate. It is also a fact that Confederate troops under Gen. Zollicoffer occupied Cumberland Gap in July. The statement is made in Tarrant's history of the 1st Ky. Cavalry, that "Before any Union troops were organized on Kentucky soll Gen. Zollicoffer, of the Con- federate army, had already seized Cumberland Gap immediately on the state line, and hold it with a formidable force." Gen. Nelson, in a com- munication to the War Department from Cincinnati, July 16, 1861, says: "The gaps In the mountains are all guarded by rebel troops."
.
31
Military Campaigns.
-the 17th, Col. John H. MeHeury, and the 25th, Col. J. M. Shackelford, being in the division commanded by Gen. Lew Wallace.
In the battle of Shiloh fou een Union Kentucky regi- ments participated-the 17th and 25th, being with Grant's army, and fought both days. There were with Buell's army, in the second day's battle, the 2d and 3d Cavalry; the 1st, 2d, 3d, 5th, 6th, 9th, 11th, 13th, 16th, 20th Infantry.
In some respects, Shiloh was the most remarkable battle of the war. On neither side were the troops in- ured to fighting. Grant's army had had some experi- ence at Belinont, Fort Henry and Fort Donelson, but the Confederate army had not been in auy engagement of consequence, the battle of Mill Spring being the most important, and that also was the most important which any of Buell's army had known. Yet, the fighting at Shiloh on both days, and on both sides, was marked by features characteristic of veterans.
It is claimed that the Confederates fell upon Grant's army by surprise. Without discussing this point, it is enough to say that the "surprised" army began to fight at once, and fought over twelve hours, inflicting as much loss as it suffered, and backed altogether about a mile and a half. The fighting began at 5 a. m. and lasted until after 4 p. m. There were no fortifications. It was a pitched battle upon the natural, open ground through- out the day. From first to last it was a great and fearful struggle. The first clash produced the most terrific bat- fle roar ever heard upon this continent up to that mo- ment. The close at 4 p. m. was with a mighty charge, led by the Confederate commander in person, in which he fell, and the point was not carried.
The results were losses in killed and wounded on each side about the same, and the Federal army driven back about a mile and a half. But it is said it was driven to the river and could not get farther away. This is an error. If the maps are examined, they show the Federal line at night, not along the river bank, but only one end at the river, and the line standing out across the country. The line extended from the landing out toward Snake. creek bridge, which was more than a mile from the river. Over that bridge Gen. Lew Wallace came that night, and took position near by. This position of the Federal line is shown on all the maps, including those in connection with Gen. Buell's account, and in Col. Wm. Preston John- ston's Life of Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston. The battle ended while there was vet more than two hours of good
1
32
Union Regiments of Kentucky.
daylight, and the assailants had received blow for blow.
Much has been said about the stragglers at the Land- ing. Naturally all there were would crowd to that point, and all being visible at one view the impression was great. The reports show the rear of the Confederate army was in no better condition. Col. Wm. Preston Johnston, in his book, says: "Gen. Beauregard, at Shiloh, two miles in the rear, with the debris of the army surging back on him, pictured in his imagination a wreck at the front totally different from the actual condition there."
Without dwelling on the subject, it is interesting to note what Gens. Grant and Sherman said in their re- ports, made two days after the battle. Gen. Grant says: "During the night all was quiet, and feeling that a great moral advantage would be gained by becoming the at- tacking party, an advance was ordered as soon as day dawned." Gen. Sherman says: "The soldiers were in good spirits during the night, and determined to redeem on Monday the losses of Sunday." Thus these two offi- cers wrote at the time. The reports of the officers of Grant's army, division, brigade and regimental, show that these organizations went into the battle the next day.
The presence on the field that day of Buell's army made the victory certain. If no other troops except Gen. Lew Wallace's 8,000 had arrived, it is impossible to de- clare certainly who would have won the battle of Mon- day. Both contestants in the Sunday battle were ter- ribly battered, and Wallace's fresh troops might have turned the scale in Grant's favor, as they might have done on Sunday had they then arrived.
Having dwelt for a moment on this tremendous strug- gle, we will now note the events following.
After Shiloh, the Union forces united under Gen. Hal- leck, and moved out to Corinth. The Confederates evac- uated that place May 29th, and then the two Union armies were again separated. Grant's moved down the Mis- sissippi, and a year later captured Vicksburg. Buell's army remained in Northern Mississippi and Alabama, being opposed by the Confederate army under Gen. Bragg. From Corinth, Buell moved through Iuka and along the Tennessee river, occupying Florence, Tuscum- bia, Athens, Decatur, Huntsville, Battle Creek and other places.
During the same spring and summer Gen. Mitchell moved down from Nashville with a force and co-operated with Buell. In the same spring Gen. Buell directed a movement to be made by Gen. Geo. W. Morgan upon
I
33
Military Campaigns.
Cumberland Gap, and that important place was taken in June, 1862. (See account of 7th Ky. Infantry.)
Buell's movement toward Chattanooga caused Bragg to occupy that place, and in August Bragg started on his march for Kentucky. Buell then hastened his forces to Nashville and the two armies advanced into Kentucky at the same time. It was a race for Louisville, and Buell succeeded in reaching it first, where he found Gen. Nel- son with a considerable force gathered for the defense of the city. Bragg was between Bardstown and Louisville. On the first of October Buell moved out against him. The two armies met at Perryville, October 8th, when a bloody battle was fought.
A description of this battle will not be here attempted. A number of Kentucky regiments were engaged, the 15th suffering terribly, losing its gallant colonel, Curran Pope, Lieut .- Col. Geo. P. Jouett, and Maj. Wm. P. Campbell; also several other officers and 63 men killed. In this battle Gen. JJames S. Jackson fell.
During this "invasion of Kentucky," the entire east- ern half of the state was in a terrible condition. Bragg had moved in through Glasgow, Kirby Smith through Barboursville, toward Richmond and Lexington, while Humphrey Marshall Jed in a force from West Vir- ginia. There was apprehension that Louisville and Cin- cinnati would be captured. The forces under Kirby Smith encountered the Union troops first at Big Hill, August 23d, defeating them. Then on the 30th the fight at Richmond occurred, in which they were again defeated, and the Confederates advanced to Lexington and Frank- fort.
This triumphant procession of the Confederates was not unnatural, as there was no adequate means of check- ing such a force as Kirby Smith led into the state. His command was organized and disciplined, and was co -. operating with the column led by Gen. Bragg. To oppose his invasion, there were only such scattered and unorgan- ized regiments as could be hurriedly gathered up. The 7th Ky., under Col. Metcalfe, which was dispersed at Big Hill, was only in process of formation. Gens. Nelson, Lew Wal- lace, Mauson, Jackson and others were hastened to the scene of danger, but no troops were available. The Union army, with which were all the troops, marched to Louisville under Buell, and the Confederate army could only be resisted by that one. When those two met at Perryville, October 8th, the Confederates gave up the idea of remaining in Kentucky, and withdrew. During this in- 3
-
34
Union Regiments of Kentucky.
vasion, Gen. Geo. W. Morgan withdrew from Cumberland Gap, and marched to the Ohio river. In his command were several Kentucky regiments. (See account of 7th Ky. Inf.)
After pursuing Bragg some distance, Buell's army marched back to Nashville and Buell was superseded by Rosecrans. Bragg's army had also made its way to mid- dle Tennessee and concentrated at Murfreesboro. Toward the last of December, Rosecrans moved against him, from Nashville, and December 31st and January 1st and 2d was fought the battle of Murfreesboro, or Stone's River.
The official reports of the battle of Stone's River are found in Vol. 70, Part I, Official Records. The numbers en- gaged on each side were not far from 40,000. The battle began about 7 a. m., December 31, 1862. Rosecrans with his left and center was to cross Stone's river, and ad- vance on to Murfreesboro, while his right wing was to hold back any attack made upon it. The crossing be- gan, but during the forenoon Rosecrans received word that his right wing under McCook was routed. This made it necessary to concentrate troops near the center to resist the advance of the Confederates who had routed McCook. The position taken was a knoll commanding the approach from "the cedars."
There were posted Guenther's and Loomis'-the latter commanded by St. Van Pelt-batteries, and the infantry of Gen. Thomas. Gen, Thomas says in his report: "From this last position we were enabled to drive back the enemy, cover the formation of our troops and secure the center on high ground. He also says the troops there with Guenther's and Loomis' batteries gallantly held the ground against overwhelming odds.".
Gen. Bragg also, in his report, mentioned "continu- ously driving the enemy until his line was thrown entirely back at right angles to his first position, where he massed his reserves and posted some very strong batteries."
Concerning the defeat and rout of Rosecrans' right wing at Stone's river, Gen. Bragg's report contains language very suggestive of the description some writers give of the battle of Shiloh. He says: "About 7 o'clock the rattle of musketry and roar of artillery announced the beginning of the conflict. The enemy were taken com- pletely by surprise. General and staff officers were not mounted, artillery horses were not hitched, and infantry not formed. A hot and inviting breakfast of coffee and other luxuries was found upon the fire unserved, and was left while we pushed on to the enjoyment of a more invit- ing feast. that of captured artillery, fleeing battalions,
35
Military Campaigns.
and hosts of craven prisoners begging for the lives they had forfeited," etc.
This success of the first day's fighting caused Gen. Bragg to dispatch that night as follows: "We assailed the enemy at 7 o'clock this morning and after ten hours' hard fighting have driven him from every position ex- rept his extreme left, where he has successfully resisted us. With the exception of this point we occupy the whole field."
It is only necessary to add here, in order to complete the likeness of the first day's fighting at Shiloh, that the distance Bragg had driven the Federals during the fore- noon of December 31st was over two miles; at Shiloh it was about a mile and a half.
1755172
The next day, January 1st, repeated unsuccessful efforts were made to take the point above mentioned, and on January 2d the celebrated assault was made by Breck- inridge's command, which also failed. The next day Bragg withdrew, and fell back to Tullahoma, and Rose- crans occupied Murfreesboro.
The official report of Gen. Rousseau especially com- pliments Lieut. Alfred Pirtle, his ordnance officer; also C'apts. W. P. McDowell and Taylor, 15th Ky., Capt. John D. Wickliffe, and Lieut. W. G. Jenkins, both of the 2d Ky. Cavalry, who were on his staff.
As the stand made on the first day was the turning point of the great engagement, the following account, written by Maj. Alfred Pirtle, who was an eye witness and contributed much by his intelligent direction to the result, is here inserted. Maj. Pirtle was the ordnance officer on the staff of Gen. Rousseau. He had placed the ammunition wagons on the eminence, which became the turning point in the battle. From that point his quick nye observed that it so commanded the field it was the natural place for artillery. Seeing Gen. Rousseau ride out of the cedars and seeing the moving artillery he rushed to Gen. Rousseau and said: "This is the place for the guns." Rousseau, making a quick observation of the field, directed him to place them there. Pirtle then con- dneted Van Pelt's and Guenther's batteries to the spot, moving his wagons to make room. The guns of these batteries turned the tide of the battle.
Maj. Pirtle says:
The dawn saw the opening of the battle of Stone river. It was my first battle. I had been in the service many months and had feared the war might be over before I saw a battle. After that day I was in hopes It would end before I had a hand in another.
I shall not attempt an account of this battle, only of one important art In It which I saw, and "a part of which I was."
Rousseau's division marched into the woods, made famous after-
36
Union Regiments of Kentucky.
ward as the "Cedars," as soon as the sounds of firing on the right made it evident that there was the place it would be needed. My train moved up until halted on a slight elevation, from which I had a full view of all the cleared ground.
While pausing here I first saw troops under fire. A full regiment of blue-coats, well drilled, was marching up a slope about half a mile away. With colors gayly flying, non-commissioned, line and staff officers all at their proper intervals in the rear, they advanced, as if on parade, in line of battle.
From my seat on horseback, I could look over the crest of the hill up which they were moving, and in the distance I saw some troops, but could not determine what they were. The line advanced-I saw they moved "guide center"-keeping the most accurate alignment, with all the exactness of battalion drill, until the full array was displayed on the summit; then three white puffs of smoke rose from the troops in the horizon, the guns were heard, and the shells flew into the right, center and left of the regiment so bright and gay, and with a unanimity that seemed to have been drilled into them they, every mother's son of them, turned and ran down the hill, save here and there a man killed or wounded lay upon the ground.
Away off to the right the noise of the combat was growing louder, more distinct, more small arms firing, everything showing it was a big fight. Across the cotton fields, a few men straggled leisurely to the rear; an ambulance trotted out of the cedars with wounded men, then a squad of soldiers moved rather briskly away from the front; I saw the number of sound men growing larger very rapidly; it looked badly. as the crowd increased every moment. Indeed I was mortified to see a color guard with their regimental flags falling back, and then the swarm grew apace, so that I thought I was in the midst of another Bull Run. By this time, there were hundreds of men and officers, mingled with cannon, ambulances, and what not, hurrying out of the cedars toward the turnpike to Nashville.
A battery, walking their horses, and at regular intervals, caught my eve as they debouched from the cedars right in front of me, which I recognized as the 1st Michigan, under the command of First Lieut. Van Pelt; Capt. Loomis, its late commander, had just been promoted to major, and was serving as chief of artillery of Rousseau's division. At the same moment, Gen. Rousseau. followed by a single orderly. ad- vanced at a gallop from the cedars. I spurred my horse toward him. and turned so as to face my wagons. I said: "General, shall I post the battery where my wagons are? It is the best position on the field." "Do it instantly. Tell Van Pelt I will get him infantry support," and away he went to look for troops. I galloped over the cotton patch, and delivered my order to Lieut. Van Pelt, who was as cool as if on a march. He looked at the spot I pointed out. nodded affirmatively and rode away to direct the foremost piece of battery. Then I put my horse at full speed, reached my wagons, and moved them into the slight depression behind the knoll they had stood upon, packed them as closely as pos- sible, dismounted all the drivers, telling them to lie down under the wagons and keep as quiet as they could.
This took only a short time, but in that period the fields around had become covered with troops, much demoralized and mingled in a good deal of confusion. Lieut. Van Pelt had opened fire, drawing some re- turn from the infantry in the edges of the woods; another battery had been posted directly to his right, and was firing occasionally. I became so much interested in the fight that I left my train and went to the crest of the knoll to see what was going on. There I found that the battery at Van Pelt's right was Battery H. 5th U. S. Artillery, and had been posted there by order of Maj. Loomis, and on its right for support was the regular brigade, Maj. Carpenter in command. On the left of the 1st Michigan Battery was a brigade of Van Cleve's division, but I could not tell whose command it was.
There came a lull in the noise of the battle; it seemed to mean some- thing. I was standing near a gun, rather to rear of the 1st Michigan Battery, looking at the dark cedars, where I knew the enemy were, for none of our forces were in advance of the front of these two batteries
.
1
37
Military Campaigns.
and their supports. In front of us was a small space of ground, then the turnpike, then the cotton patch about 300 yards wide. Toward the right of this cotton patch was a clump of bushes. tall weeds and dried grass. Lying about the surface of the cotton patch were some dead men. and some wounded men in gray moving now and then, but not much; no signs of life in the cedars, but all eyes were fixed there, for in their depths the enemy had gone, and from them they must come or into them we must go.
As I looked a man on foot, sword in hand, with a shout precipitated himself into view; the edge of the timber was in an instant alive with a mass of arms, heads, legs, guns, swords, gray-coats, brown coats, shirt sleeves, and the enemy were upon us, yelling, leaping, running. Not a shot from them for a few jumps, then one or two paused to throw up their pieces, fire and yell, then run forward to try to gain the front. By no order that I heard, the whole of the guns of our two batteries together fired, covering the field with a cloud of smoke, hiding every object in it. And then as fast as they could load they fired into the cloud.
They ceased and not a moving object was in front, but the dreadful effects of the cannonade were shown. The dead and wounded had been dreadfully increased, while cries and groans reached our ears. On our side men and horses had been killed and wounded, yet no serious loss was inflicted. One of the Michigan men lay almost at my feet, wounded badly, but refused to leave the spot.
My train was unhurt and could not leave the ground. Back to the front I went again to take in the scene, as I felt sure the enemy would make another charge, because this was the first point where they had met with anything like successful resistance and the position must be carried. For miles they had swept up everything in their impetuous rush, and now victory was within their grasp, for if the stand now made was carried, Rosecrans would be driven away from the road to Nashville and routed.
Maj. Loomis was encouraging his old battery by a few words of praise. I heard him tell Van Pelt the enemy were going to make another charge, and "you give them double-shotted canister as hot as hell will let you." He went over to the Regular battery, where Lieut. Fred Guenther and his second lieutenant, Israel Ludlow, were preparing for the next charge, and gave the same war-like orders.
The interval this time was spent by our men in getting the guns depressed, so as to rake the ground from the turnpike to the cedars; in filling swab-buckets, taking harness off dead horses, replacing damaged implements, or in caring for the few wounded.
The enemy were reconnoitering the position carefully, keeping out of sight as much as possible; though now and then one would be seen, yet the silence on their side was ominous. Our army was moving into a new position, making the batteries the pivot or center, extending a line of battle rapidly both ways.
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.