USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Detroit > History of the Twenty-fourth Michigan of the Iron brigade, known as the Detroit and Wayne county regiment > Part 16
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FROM COLONEL MORROW'S OFFICIAL REPORT.
Some portions of Colonel Morrow's official report refer to what has already been treated in the preceding pages. Such parts are omitted below. We quote the following extracts :
Previous to abandoning our last position, orders came to fall back. Captain Edwards behaved very gallantly in rallying the men under a murderous fire. The field over which we fought from our first line in McPherson's woods to the barricade near the Seminary was strewn with killed and wounded. Our losses were very large, including three hundred and sixteen killed and wounded and about eighty men and officers missing, in the action, many of whom have never been heard from.
Of the killed, their conduct was brave and creditable to themselves and the service. Captain Speed's death was a severe loss to the service and an almost irreparable one to the regiment. Captain O'Donnell had given strong proof of courage and capacity and his death was deeply deplored. Lieutenant Wallace was a brave officer and good disciplinarian. Lieutenant Dickey had given great promise of future usefulness. Lieutenant Grace was one of the bravest men I ever saw. Lieutenants Humphreyville, Safford and Shattuck were distinguished for unflinching
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190
HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN.
courage in battle. The remains of Captain Speed and Lieutenants Wallace and Safford were conveyed to Michigan, but the other officers sleep with the brave non-commissioned officers and privates who fell that day, in the cemetery in which a grateful nation will erect a mausoleum to perpetuate the memories of its defenders.
Lieutenant-Colonel Flanigan lost his left leg, and his conduct in battle was daring and gallant. Major E. B. Wight acquitted himself in the most creditable manner and remained at his post until forced by his wound to leave the field. Both of these officers were universally respected. Captain Rexford was wounded early. His conduct was gallant and conspicuous. Captain Hutchinson received a severe contusion in the groin early in the day but remained with his company and behaved very gallantly. Captain Edwards displayed great coolness and courage, and deserves honorable mention. Captain Dillon commanded his company with skill and behaved very handsomely. Captain W. W. Wight exhibited much coolness and courage. Lieutenant Dempsey was conspicuous for his gallantry in the charge across Willoughby's Run. Lieutenant Hutton was near me when I was wounded, and it was mainly through his assistance that I got off the field. His conduct was all that could be desired. Captains Hoyt and Gordon and Lieutenants Farland, Dodsley, Sprague, Witherspoon, Norton, Buhl, Earnshaw and Whiting, all acquitted themselves honorably.
The historian of the regiment will narrate the heroic conduct of the brave sergeants and corporals who were killed. Sergeant-Major Connor was conspicuous for his bravery and was severly wounded. Sergeant Haigh of Company D was suffering from a wound received at Fitzhugh Crossing, but went into this battle and was severely wounded. He deserves mention for his bravery. Captain Edwards says of Sergeant Bucklin and Corporal Evans, killed on the field : "They were distinguished in camp for the purity of their lives, and in the field for unflinching courage." This is high praise and well bestowed. Captain Burchell says of Corporals Dwyer and Carroll of B: "They were efficient and brave men." Captain Witherspoon, himself a brave soldier, commends highly the gallantry of Sergeant Pomeroy. Being too severely wounded to handle a gun he tore cartridges for his more fortunate comrades.
First Sergeant William Nagle was wounded near me. His conduct was brave to temerity. Captain Farland speaks in high terms of Sergeant Eberle and Corporals Rounds, Sterling and Strong. It affords me pleasure to bear witness to the bravery of the latter. Sergeant Eberle continued to fight after being twice wounded. Private George Klink of Company F acquitted himself finely.
Surgeons Beech, Collar and Towar were devoted and untiring in their attendance to the wounded. Of Dr. Beech, it may truly be said that no surgeon rendered more valuable service at Gettysburg. Chaplain Way was early in attendance at hospitals and rendered valuable services. He remained several weeks after the battle and both officers and men speak in the highest praise of his efficiency.
EXTRACT FROM THE WASHINGTON HERALD.
The following conversation occurred at a Washington Hotel with Colonel Bachelder, the historian of the Battle of Gettysburg. Said Colonel Bachelder :
This jostling crowd little realize that those two gentlemen in conversation yonder (pointing to Senator Gordon, of Georgia, and General Morrow, of the United States Army), were prominent actors on opposite sides at the battle of Gettysburg.
191
BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG.
Colonel Morrow commanded the Twenty-fourth Michigan which belonged to the famous Iron Brigade. It was with this Brigade that General Reynolds was killed, and it was Colonel Morrow's regiment which enveloped the flank of Archer's Brigade. The sanguinary character of the engagement of the Twenty-fourth Michigan will be better realized when it is known that out of four hundred and ninety-six men and officers, three hundred and sixteen were placed hors de combat, losing nine color bearers killed and wounded and all the color guard, after which Colonel Morrow took the flag and was struck by a ball on the top of his head, the blood from which covered his face. While washing it away he found his retreat cut off.
Late on the Third day, Colonel Morrow allowed Mrs. Judge Wills, whose guest he was, to tie a green scarf (a surgeon's insignia) about him. He then sallied out and soon met General Gordon and staff. Saluting he said, "General, I am informed that our wounded of the first day's battle lie uncared for where they fell and I ask your assistance in having them attended to."
"You astonish me," answered the General, and turning to a surgeon said, "Is this so, and if so why is it?" The surgeon assured him that the wounded of both armies had been cared for alike, but that they had been unable to visit that extreme part of the field. Turning to Colonel Morrow, General Gordon said : "Doctor, I will give you a detail of ambulances this evening to bring in your wounded."
At nightfall, Colonel Morrow started with a train of twelve ambulances with Confederate drivers, for that part of the field where the battle opened. It was a weird sight, that long train of army nurses, as by the fitful light of a half-clouded moon, made more obscure by the lanterns they bore, this party threaded its way among the blackened and swollen corpses. The moans and cries for assistance and water were heartrending. Some were delirious and talked of home and friends and wondered that they neglected them so long, while others, in their wild delirium cheered on their comrades as they fought over in imagination the terrible battle. By midnight they were tenderly borne away to receive the care they so much needed.
ON CULP'S HILL. - CAPTAIN EDWARDS' ADDRESS.
The ninety and nine of the regiment that rallied around the flag on Culp's Hill the evening of the first day's fight, bivouacked there for the night, pondering over the terrible reality that they were but a fifth part of the regiment that so happily camped but six miles away the night before. Alas, many a soldier's diary was cut off by this day's awful events. The next morning the survivors hastily intrenched themselves, and their line of breastworks on the brow of Culp's Hill, built nearly twenty-eight years ago, still remains. During this and the following day, the regiment, with the Iron Brigade, supported a battery which was playing upon the enemy from near where they lay. We would gladly give the names of those who were with the flag the evening of the first day, but cannot do so accurately. Captain A. M. Edwards issued the following to the men :
CULP'S HILL, July 2, 1863. - All the field officers of this regiment having been wounded, and the senior captains killed or wounded, I hereby assume command. In thus being called to this responsible position, as little desired as expected, I
192
HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN.
congratulate you, brave soldiers, upon your splendid achievements of July 1, a single Division holding in check an entire army corps, the flower of the Southern army, an achievement of which you may well feel proud. The enemy's dead in front of your lines attest your valor and skill. Again have you merited a nation's gratitude ; again have you shown yourselves worthy of the noble State you represent and the glorious cause for which you are fighting.
Our joy in the glory of our arms is mingled with sadness for the heroic dead on the field of honor. Let the memory of our lamented comrades inspire your hearts with new life and zeal to emulate their heroic virtues and avenge their untimely fall. A thousand hearts are beating for you to-day in your own loved Michigan, and thousands of eyes are looking anxiously for the records of your gallant deeds. Let that record be as pure, as noble, and as heroic in the future as in the past, and a redeemed and purified land will bless your names and hold them in sweet remembrance.
On the following day, July 3, the fragments of the regiment were formed in four battalion companies, as follows :
(1.) A and F under Captain William W. Wight.
(2.) D, I and C under Leiutenant John Witherspoon.
(3.) H, E and K under Lieutenant Edwin E. Norton.
(4.) G and B under Capt William Hutchinson.
The regiment remained on Culp's Hill during the terrible struggles of the second and third days of the battle. It was not actively engaged except to hold back the enemy from occupying Culp's Hill. At nine o'clock Sunday morning, July 5, it moved to the left near the scene of Pickett's charge where it halted until six o'clock the next morning.
HERE IS THE PLACE WHERE GEM REYNOLDS
CHAPTER X.
AFTER GETTYSBURG -- 1863.
PURSUIT AND ESCAPE OF LEE-VALUE OF INTRENCHMENTS.
B Y THE morning of July 6, the Union army was well under way in pursuit of Lee. At an early hour the Iron Brigade was on the march amid a heavy rain storm. A march of eleven miles brought it to the hills east of Emmitsburg and soon after the Twenty-fourth went on picket.
Moving at daylight on the 7th, it passed through Emmitsburg where it found the Sixth Corps asleep, having just arrived after an all night's march. Moving forward on the Pike through Franklinsville, Mechanicstown and Catoctin Furnace it halted at Lewiston for dinner, and then turning short to the right, followed up a very rocky branch of the Monocacy. By a steep, narrow, stony path, practicable only for infantry and packmules, but dry and shady, the Iron Brigade passed over the Catoctin Mountain and through Hamburg on the summit. The men were frequently obliged to march in single file, so stretching the line that a halt of several hours was made to get closed up. A better road was found on the western slope. The view from the mountain top was most beautiful. They moved five miles up the Middletown valley to Bellsville, and camped, weary and tired, after a twenty-four mile tramp.
Wednesday, July S. The march was resumed at an early hour in a drenching rain, by the Boonsboro Pike, through Middletown. A halt was made at II o'clock for dinner, a warm sun permitting the men to dry their tents and blankets, it having rained almost every day for two weeks. Moving on at three o'clock, the Iron Brigade passed over South Mountain by the National Road, (a macadamized way which winds its course about abrupt peaks and along the stecp gorges of the mountain) over the same route it passed in the autumn of 1862, and bivouacked on its western slope near the foot, a mile east of Boonsboro, in the edge of some woods overlooking the Antietam battlefield. During the afternoon, our Michigan cavalry brigade
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194
HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN.
engaged the enemy in this vicinity. They hovered on Lee's flanks and inflicted heavy losses on his train.
Thursday the 9th, was spent in camp while the rest of the army continued to pour over the mountain, and the clatter of artillery wheels rolled along the road. The material and force of a large army were pouring out in yonder fields. The game of war went on with determination on one side and desperation on the other.
Friday, July 10. At an early hour the Iron Brigade moved on through Boonsboro to about two miles of Funkstown, and threw up intrenchments east of the Pike, half a mile from Beaver Creek. Sneers at the "spade " may affect the morale of a General, but no troops can afford to discard this element in war. The Roman soldiers never retired to sleep without first securing themselves with an intrenchment of earth. A remarkable strength is added to an army by an hour's work, in thus improvising shelter against the foe. A rail fence properly disposed, and covered with a few shovelfuls of earth, doubles the defence of the troops as well as gives strength to their confidence.
Behind their barricade the men lay till Sunday noon, July 12, when they marched to the right, halting half an hour or so at Beaver Creek village ; thence to the left to the Pike at Funkstown where it crossed Antietam Creek, formed a line of battle supporting a brigade of Maryland troops, in right of the enemy's lines, and again threw up earthworks.
For ten days Colonel Morrow had tried to do duty with the regiment, but his wound became too troublesome in the hot weather marches, and on the 14th he left for home for needed restoration, leaving Captain Edwards in command.
For a week past our army had been rolling over the mountains, drawing its folds closer around the retreating army. Many in the North still seemed to think that Meade's army should have annihilated it. It had won a great victory in defeating and turning back the invaders, but the opposing armies were too nearly equal, both before and after the Gettysburg battle, for either to destroy the other. Our victory had cost us too dearly to be rash. Like wounded lion, the invader pushed his way back along his line of retreat, turning at bay to confront his pursuers when pressing him too hard.
Under cover of very strong intrenchments near the Potomac, the enemy withdrew across that stream at midnight of July 13, leaving 2,000 men as a rear guard, who were captured, and their commander, General Pettigrew, killed. It was this brigade to which belonged the
195
AFTER GETTYSBURG-1863.
famous Twenty-sixth North Carolina, which fought such a terrible duel with the Twenty-fourth Michigan at Gettysburg.
At ten o'clock on the 14th, the Iron Brigade by a forced march pushed forward to within two miles of Williamsport and passed through the intrenchments which Lee's army had vacated. A glance showed what a slaughter an assault would have cost, upon the succession of Lee's naturally defensive lines, doubly strengthened by
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196
HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN.
skill. The thrice decimated regiments that closed around the enemy and compelled him to seek inglorious flight to the war-stricken fields of Virginia, may answer how many men they could spare to drench the fields above Antietam's bloody ground.
Everything indicated a sudden departure. The air was thick with putrid odors, compelling the Iron Brigade and other troops to move half-a-mile back from the road and camp as far as practicable from the abandoned works. The puffed, distended body and legs of a defunct mule or horse dotted the field here and there, and occasionally there was seen standing by the roadway or in a field, mute and motionless, a many ribbed specimen of kindred kind, unharnessed and turned out to die after his hard term of army service.
RETURN TO VIRGINIA. - LOYAL VILLAGE. - CAMP FIRE.
On the morning of the 15th, at six o'clock, the regiment moved off on the Pike to within sight of Hagerstown; thence across the country to the Sharpsburg Pike; thence south and eastward through Jones' X Roads and Smoketown. Soon after, it crossed the Antietam stream and passed on through Keedysville, reaching the base of Crampton's Gap after dark, and rested for the night. The march this day, a part of the way, was by the same roads the Twenty-fourth traversed upon the cold, stormy Sunday, October 26, 1862, when it left camp near Bakersville. The camp this evening was but a short distance from the site of "Camp Misery" on that fearful night. On July 16, the march was resumed at seven o'clock in the morning, over South Mountain at Crampton's Gap, into Pleasant Valley and on to " Camp Hickey," near Berlin, where it halted two days last October before crossing into Virginia. The field return for the regiment this day showed four officers and one hundred and thirty-five men present for duty. After resting a day, the long roll sounded at three o'clock on the morning of July 18, and the regiment again crossed the Potomac at Berlin, where it entered the confederacy just eight months and twenty days previously.
Through a fair region not before ravaged by the war, the column passed on to Milltown, and bivouacked nine miles from Berlin, at Waterford, a most beautifully embowered and intensely loyal village. It seemed strange to find so patriotic a place in the Confederate dominions, and that evening merry maidens of the place with elastic step, tripped the fantastic toe with the army officers.
Sunday, July 19. This morning the Twenty-fourth Michigan led
197
AFTER GETTYSBURG-1863.
the First Corps on the march, headed by a band made up of the fragments of several regimental drum corps. Their notes were somewhat discordant, but the martial strains were full of life. (The Twenty-fourth's band was still at Gettysburg, soothing the sufferings of wounded comrades, having been ordered by Colonel Morrow to play for the men at the different hospitals every evening). This improvised corps of fifes and drums awakened chords responsive in the hearts of the Waterford denizens. The streets were lined with smiles and beauty. Windows and balconies were filled, and matron, maiden and child waved handkerchiefs and the starry flag, and cheered on the Union troops with many a "hurrah for the Union." In the best of spirits the column marched six miles to Hamilton and camped five miles west of Leesburg.
At four o'clock the next morning, July 20, the march was resumed past Circleville, Philomont, Mountsville and Millville; thence across Goose Creek by fording a two and a half feet depth of water ; thence on to Middleburg in Loudon county -a most offensive
THE BIVOUAC AND CAMP FIRE.
198
HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN.
secesh town; not a door or shutter open and scarcely a resident was to be seen, everyone with a scowling malignity and steeped in secession. While riding in advance of the column this day, the corps commissary, his orderly and a colonel were captured by the enemy's " bushwhackers" who infested this vicinity. This event called out the next day strict orders against "straggling," which had become rife among the boys for obtaining soft bread, butter, berries, etc.
After a hard march, the troops ever welcomed the bivouac. The regiment and brigade were filed off into some field or woods, ranks were closed up and arms were stacked in front of each company. The stacking of arms was a "trick" which only the soldier could do. Three soldiers hitched the tops of their guns together by gyrative motions unexplainable in print, forming a tripod with the butts on the ground, around which others placed their arms.
Each squad of comrades who usually chummed by themselves then selected a spot for their "fly tents" which were described on page 67. One pitched or erected the tent, another took the canteens and hied himself in search of some spring or brook for water, and another got a fire started with any fuel most convenient - whether fence rails or dead tree limbs. Soon scores of blazing fires and a city of tents had risen up and the men were cooking their bacon and coffee.
Supper over and duty done, a larger camp fire was usually built, as fuel permitted, around which the men gathered for the evening ; some trying to make out their latest letters from home; some trying to write letters by the firelight, often in a stifling smoke; some smoking their laurel or corn cob pipes and discussing any and every subject of science, politics, philosophy and religion. The volunteer was still a citizen, freeman and man, and so long as he attended to his duties he could carry his mouth with him and discuss as he chose, which he did - perhaps the events of the latest fight or skirmish, how he fought and his hairbreadth escape ; the conduct of the war-in fact give his opinion on any subject he desired ; or perhaps they calculated the time " in the sweet by and by" when they could see home again. So long had they been rousting about at soldier life out-doors that they could hardly hope at once to resume their old home babits. The first night they would sleep in the hog pen; the next night in the corn crib or barn; the next night in the woodshed, and in about a week they thought they might venture into a "feather bed." Then to sit at a table and eat! They had forgotten what tables, chairs and such things were for.
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ROUTE OF IRON BRIGADE TO THE RAPPAHANNOCK, JULY, 1863.
FAMILIAR SCENES - MUTIN- OUS TROOPS - BACK TO THE RAPPAHANNOCK.
Wednesday, July 22. The column marched at 3 P. M. through a fine hill country, eleven miles to White Plains on the Manassas Gap railroad, five miles west of Thoroughfare Gap. This was the " Deserted Village " described in a previous chapter, by which the regi- ment passed, November 6th last.
July 23. Marched at 8 A. M. as train guard, by regiments, to protect the wagon-trains from cavalry or other attack. Passed through Georgetown and New Baltimore, joining here the Centerville Pike ; thence to Warrenton, a march of thirteen miles, which place was reached a little before dark, encamping on the Sulphur Springs Road a mile southwest of the town. Early the next morning the men moved their camp a short distance to the top of a commanding hill and near the sight of "Camp Flanigan" or "Camp Cold, Rain, Snow and Hunger." Sergeant S. D. Green with some comrades visited the site of this former camp and there found scraps of Detroit newspapers, etc., lying around, just as we left it November 11 last.
Saturday, July 25. Reveille at 3 A. M. Marched at daylight to Warrenton
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200
HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN.
Junction and went into camp at mid-afternoon. The Nineteenth Indiana and forty men of the Twenty-fourth Michigan were sent out on picket. Sunday morning brought a large mail, the first for ten days. Here the regiment remained a week, resting up. The present location was called "Camp Speed" in honor of the late Captain of Company D.
At 5 o'clock on Saturday morning, August 1, the Iron Brigade was ordered to fall in for the day's march. On July 16, the One Hundred and Sixty-seventh Pennsylvania (nine months' troops) were assigned to the Iron Brigade to complete their term of service, about twenty days more. This morning that regiment refused to
move when ordered. They were conscripts, and officers and all claimed their term of service had expired, reckoning from the average time of their enlistment instead of the time of their muster. The rest of the Iron Brigade were drawn up in front of them with loaded muskets, and the commands "Ready! Aim!" were given by General Cutler, but before the word "Fire" was given, there was a. wonderful hustling among them to get their accoutrements on and get into line. They well knew that the Iron Brigade would stand no such nonsense and that until they were mustered out by proper authority, they must obey orders like other troops. The Sixth Wisconsin was placed behind them with orders to shoot any man who fell out of the ranks. They marched.
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