USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Detroit > History of the Twenty-fourth Michigan of the Iron brigade, known as the Detroit and Wayne county regiment > Part 23
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276
HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN.
Colonel Edwards notified them to consider themselves under arrest. On the following day they received a suitable admonition to return to duty and set no more such examples.
On Friday, September 30, the First and Second Divisions of the Fifth Corps with the Ninth Corps, made an attack upon the enemy at Peeble's Farm. The brave Colonel Norvell E. Welch of the Sixteenth Michigan, waving his sword over his head, exclaimed: " A commission for the first man who will scale the enemy's works," and himself led the charge. Mounting the breastworks, he leaped from their top over into the works, but before reaching the ground, two minnie balls pierced his head, killing him instantly. No braver man ever fell for his country. In the afternoon, the Iron Brigade left its works and moved back to the old camping ground and awaited orders.
· At 3 o'clock on Saturday morning, October I, the Iron Brigade was called up and soon after moved out with its Division near the Flower House on the Vaughn Road and threw up earthworks. The enemy charged the line on the left but were repulsed. The Iron Brigade was not engaged, and on Monday, the 3d, was set to building a small fort near the Vaughn Road, and about dark went back to its old camp near the Gurley House. It lay in bivouac till 4 o'clock the next day when it was ordered to support the skirmish line, after which it moved to its old camp at the left of Fort Howard.
On the 7th drill and guard mounting were resumed, for the first time since spring .- The next day the picket line was advanced nearly a mile. A part of it was driven back about dark and the Twenty-fourth went out to help them form a new line. - On the next day, Sunday, the 9th, the regiment was sent out on picket. There · was some firing in the morning and at midnight .- On the 10th, Sergeant Roswell L. Root, of C, captured and brought in two prisoners. One was six feet, five'and one-half inches in height .- On the 13th, the old regiments of the Iron Brigade turned out to bid good-bye to the Nineteenth Indiana which left for home after their hard service of three years. - October 14th found the regiment again on picket duty. A horserace track had been improvised near Fort Dushane, which many of the Generals, other officers and men visited on race days .- On Sunday, the 16th, Corporal Rhoades brought in two deserters from the enemy very early, belonging to the sixty-fourth Georgia .- On the 19th, Lieutenant-Colonel Edwards called General Crawford's attention to the horse racing near Fort Dushane, as having
demoralizing effect upon the army .- The next day the
a Twenty-fourth again took its tour at picket duty .- On Saturday, the
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SIEGE OF PETERSBURG-1864.
22d, General Warren sent down and arrested all the enlisted men at the horse races. Several Generals and numerous other officers were present .- On the 24th, the Iron Brigade turned out to straighten the works in front. All treés in camp were ordered to be cut down. - All the next day the Twenty-fourth was engaged in work on the new lines and clearing away the fallen trees .- On the 26th there was noticeably no picket firing. All soldiers very correctly divine that such periods of silence are usually but preludes to something ominous.
GENERAL SAMUEL W. CRAWFORD.
The wagons were all packed and sent to the rear and orders received to be ready to move at 4 o'clock the next morning.
BATTLE OF HATCHER'S RUN-CLEVER CAPTURE.
Before winter began Grant resolved to gain possession of the Southside Railroad which had become the main channel of Confederate supplies. The Second, Fifth and Ninth Corps were selected for this task of turning Lee' right flank. The Boydton Plank Road runs nearly parallel with the Southside Railroad, between the latter and the Weldon Railroad. Hatcher's Run is formed by several affluents, and it meanders around considerably. In this vicinity it heads in a southeasterly course.
Thursday, October 27, 1864. Punctually at 4 A. M. the Twenty-fourth Michigan with the Iron Brigade ( Crawford's Division and Fifth Corps), left camp, moving westward to where Poplar Spring Church had been burned; thence south to our line of works; then west again, passing out of the works at Fort Clemens on our
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HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN.
extreme left flank near the Squirrel Level road. The column turned down this road to the Vaughn Road; thence down that road, to a new one cut through the woods west to Armstrong's Mill on Hatcher's Run. At the Fort, the column passed Generals Grant and Meade; the former sitting on a log, quite alone, enjoying a cigar.
The Iron Brigade crossed the Run about noon and formed in line of battle, this Brigade being in advance with its right next to the stream. The rest of the Fifth Corps was on the opposite side of this
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Dabney
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REGION SOUTHWEST OF PETERSBURG, VA. HATCHER'S RUN, DABNEY'S MILLS, ETC.
stream and up both sides of it the Corps moved. The Iron Brigade marched about three miles up hill and down hill, by the right flank and by the left flank, but actually advanced only about half that distance. The dense low growth of woods and crookedness of the Run caused much delay. A large affluent was mistaken for the main stream which produced diversion, aside from the difficulty in crossing the side stream, the enemy having slashed down the trees upon its bank and felled them into it.
Having crossed this tributary, Crawford formed his Division in line, with the Iron Brigade on the left flank and the Twenty-fourth
.
Boydton
FWADSWORTH
Dunlap
Squirrel Levt Road
Road.
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SIEGE OF PETERSBURG-1864.
Michigan on the left of its Brigade. The Second Corps had made a longer march around to the left of Crawford, but did not connect with him. This Corps (the Second) and the 9th were engaged, but the Fifth was not, except its skirmish line. The Seventh Wisconsin with 156 muskets were sent out as skirmishers, and in the engagement, captured 216 prisoners, and released about fifty Union prisoners that had been captured by the enemy. It was difficult for the two parts of the Fifth Corps to communicate, as the banks of the Run were dammed up and swampy as well as covered with timber slashing. After the repulse of the enemy's attack by the other Corps, night came on and the troops all bivouacked where they were.
During the afternoon it was unsafe to be even a few rods from the line, as the "Johnnies " appeared to be there as well as in front. Captures and recaptures were frequent. Instances of one man capturing several prisoners have been boastfully claimed during the war, with much incredulity, but the Twenty-fourth Michigan claims one such instance, though not vi et armis, but with the tongue. Sergeant Robert Gibbons of B, went a few rods in front of the line to ascertain the position of the enemy when he was captured by half-a- dozen or more "Johnnies." While trying to get back with their capture, "Bob," as he was known in the regiment, tried his argumentative powers on the "we 'uns." He told them that they had better consider themselves as his prisoners and go into his lines; that his side was going to beat in the end and they had better go where their safety and good feeding were assured. The leader of the squad told him : "Yank, if you don't stop that kind of talk, I'll blow the top of your head off." Gibbons then walked with him and told him they would wander around in the woods between the lines until all of them would get their heads blown off, and it was better to go in with him where they would have no more fighting. " This," said he, " was far better than having a head blown off." The leader and the whole squad were persuaded that their cause was going up sure and their prisoner's advice was wise for them, and they consented to go with him. Sergeant Gibbons then had a difficult task to find even his own lines and get in unharmed. Presently he heart the loud " Baw-baw -baw" of some of the enlisted Indians in one of the Wisconsin regiments of the Iron Brigade, and turned in the direction of their familiar whoop. He succeeded in getting in safely with all his captors who laid down their arms at the sight of the Seventh Wisconsin, which regiment was sent out to reconnoiter.
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HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN.
Friday, October 28, was rainy like the day before. In the darkness of the night, the lines were quietly changed. The leaders finding that what ought to have been accomplished yesterday, had failed, resolved to abandon the movement. At daybreak, the Twenty-fourth Michigan was marched out of the woods and placed on picket to cover the backward movement, the design evidently being to sacrifice this picket line to effect the safe withdrawal of the rest of the troops. However, the regiment discovered that all the other troops had gone and the men had a lively run to prevent being captured. They overtook the column at Fort Clemens on the backward march. They arrived in the camp they had left when they set out, at 4 o'clock in the afternoon with only one man missing-A. Brutus Heig (Recruit), of Company D.
RECRUITS-CABINS-ELECTION-CAMP AFFAIRS.
Over one hundred recruits had been added to the regiment during the autumn months and these, as had other recruits in former battles, demeaned themselves in a very creditable manner on this occasion.
Saturday, October 29. The regiment moved its camp back from the line of works and worked all this day and Sunday in building cabins. They worked like beavers to complete their houses before the inclement weather set in and were none too soon. On Sunday night the enemy attacked the picket line. The Twenty-fourth was hastily put into line but their services were not required.
Tuesday, November 8. Election Day. An election in a Virginia Camp for candidates away off in Michigan was a novel affair. The · day before was ominous with silence by the enemy and an outbreak was expected to disturb the voting, but all was quiet. The polls were opened at eight o'clock at Regimental Headquarters. Lieutenant- Colonel Edwards, Captain Witherspoon and Lieutenant Hendricks were made Inspectors, and Captain Dodsley and Adjutant Chamberlin were made Clerks of Election. For President, the vote stood 177 for Lincoln and 49 for General McClellan. Ex-Lieutenant- Colonel W. W. Wight was present as Commissioner and carried the vote to Michigan. During the voting, a deserter came in from the enemy and said he wanted to vote for Lincoln. The vote of the old regiments of the Iron Brigade was 543 for Lincoln to 116 for McClellan.
Sunday, November 13. Colonel Morrow returned to the regiment looking quite well. For several weeks he had been detailed on a
1
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SIEGE OF PETERSBURG-1864.
General Court Martial at Columbus, Ohio, after his recovery from his Wilderness wound. For the rest of the month nothing unusual occurred in the affairs of the Twenty-fourth Michigan aside from the usual inspections, camp, fatigue and picket duties. During three days and four nights it rained incessantly after which, on the 23d, the ground froze solid and winter had really begun. That morning Patrick English ( Recruit) of C was wounded on the picket line. There was usually very little picket firing when the black hats of the Iron Brigade were seen ; but along the other lines, the spiteful popping was heard, averaging from sixty to one hundred shots a minute. It was so common that it was hardly noticed. Quite a number of deserters from the enemy came in every night and a score or more of them reported at Division Headquarters every morning.
Thanksgiving Day came on the 24th and a good dinner from friends at home was expected, but the delay of a boat disappointed the men, and the good things did not arrive for several days after. There was a treat in camp when they did come, and the men began to count the days until August 15 next, when their three years of service would permit them to enjoy the full blessings of that enchanted place, home. Several promotions about this time occurred in the regiment. First Leiutenant Benj. W. Hendricks became Captain, and Sergeants Samuel W. Church and Shepherd L. Howard became First Lieutenants, while numerous advancements were made among the rank and file. The camp of the Twenty-fourth Michigan was in front of General Meade's headquarters, which locality was marked by a mammoth flag by day and two red lights by night. Rows of huts roofed with cotton and plastered over with Virginia soil were everywhere to be seen. Major Graves, the sutler of the Twenty-fourth Michigan and Iron Brigade purveyor, came up with a fine supply in his line. The Military railroad ran near the camp and within hearing distance of the southside railroad operated by the enemy. The shrill whistles of their engines were answered back and forth as each was hauling supplies for its respective army. The health of the regiment was good and now was recruited up so that 300 men appeared in its dress parades.
RAID TO MEHERRIN RIVER.
Monday, December 5, 1864, brought orders to leave camp on the following morning with six day's rations. The Sixth Corps came to relieve the Fifth and the fine cabins of the Twenty-fourth were to be
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HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN.
occupied by the Fifteenth New Jersey. Thus the soldier knows not in the morning where he will sleep at night; or whether he will sleep at all, or in eternity. There was hurrying to and fro. All baggage was to be left behind and the men discarded all extra pieces of tents, blankets and clothing with which they hoped to make themselves comfortable during the winter. They saw a hard winter's march before them for some place, none knew where, and not wishing to be burdened with a heavy knapsack, put themselves in light marching order. Here and there was some soldier giving some message to a comrade who was to remain behind, or entrusting his valuables to him for safety while he went on a doubtful campaign. Letters from friends and " the girls at home " were carefully consigned to the flames that they might never by chance be seen by eyes of strangers. The camp sank to rest amid the echoes of bugle and drum beat that filled the fields and woods with tattoo, as the entire Fifth Corps seemed to be camped near by. On Tuesday morning, an early reveille awakened all the field and hundreds of fires blazed up to cook the frugal breakfast of coffee and bacon. At daylight the long line of blue moved away about two miles and massed near the Jerusalem Plank Road.
A portion of the Twenty-fourth Michigan had been out on picket during the night and in the morning while one of the men, Samuel Davis of B was cooking his coffee about 8 o'clock, he was killed in a most murderous manner by a rebel fiend who stealthily crept up and shot him dead. The act was the more dastardly from the fact that for two months amicable relations had existed between the pickets and videttes of the enemy and those of the Iron Brigade, and our men felt safe from picket firing. The members of the Twenty-fourth Michigan rightfully felt very bitter over this treacherous murder and had they been allowed to remain upon the line, there would have been a fearful retaliation. His comrades brought his body away and buried it with military honors about half a mile south of Fort Stevenson where the troops were massed. The deceased was only twenty years old and his parents resided in Detroit.
Wednesday, December 7. The column left camp at 7 A. M. and marched south on the Jerusalem Plank Road. It crossed Nottaway River on pontoons near Freeman's Bridge and pushed on as far as Sussex Court House where they bivouacked for the night. At daylight on the 8th, they moved on south and soon turned in a westerly direction. Reaching the Weldon Railroad at Jarratt's Station, they burned the station and the bridge north across the
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SIEGE OF PETERSBURG-1864.
Nottaway without opposition, destroying the railroad between. Lieutenant-Colonel Edwards was made Field Officer of the Division and posted pickets to protect the men while destroying the railroad. On the 9th they moved further south tearing up and destroying the railroad as they advanced, for a distance of twenty miles, as far as Hicksford on Meherrin River. The railroad was completely destroyed. The rails were heated by being placed on top of heaps of burning ties and fence rails, and then twisted around trees and rendered useless. Culverts and bridges were burned, and every unoccupied dwelling along the line of march was laid in ashes as the column returned.
·
SOLDIERS DESTROYING THE WELDON RAILROAD.
This raid seemed to be the most vindictive that the army had ever engaged in. Some of our stragglers had been murdered by guerrillas and their bodies savagely mutilated, which so enraged our troops that vengeance was wreaked upon everything that would benefit the enemy. The destruction of the railroad was a military necessity, as the enemy used it to transport their supplies; but the destruction of the houses of peaceable women and children, though venomous in their Union hatred, cannot be justified. We are glad to record that the Twenty-fourth Michigan and the Iron Brigade had no share in the vandalism. The country passed over had been pretty badly used by the enemy themselves and most of the dwellers had gone further south away from the track of war.
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HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN.
On Saturday December 10, about daylight, the column commenced moving back. The Iron Brigade moved about II o'clock covering the rear, by the direct road to Sussex Court House. The biting wind, cold snow and sleet with the muddy roads, long and rapid marches, made the expedition a tedious one. After a march of fifteen miles, the Twenty-fourth Michigan was put on picket to guard the rear, about five miles south of Sussex Court House. On Sunday the IIth, the Iron Brigade again acted as rear guard to the returning column. It moved at 8.30 A. M. and kept half a mile behind the main column. The enemy followed close but did not attack with any spirit. They crossed the Nottaway and bivouacked two miles north of it. Continuing to act as rear guard, the Iron Brigade reached Fort Stevenson about sunset on Monday evening, the column having marched over 100 miles in six days, aside from its labor in destroying over twenty miles of railway track.
CAMP CRAWFORD-NEW COLOR GUARD-PROGRESS OF THE WAR. 4
After its return from the Meherrin River Raid, the regiment remained in most uncomfortable bivouac in an open field, exposed to the cutting cold, damp winds, and stiflng smoke of pine wood fires until Friday morning, December 16, when the bugle sounded the "pack-up." The column moved across the Jerusalem Plank Road, toward the rear and eastward, followed by the wagon trains. The Iron Brigade filed off to the east of the Plank Road into a thick growth of small pines, flanked by heavier woods in every direction, and began cutting logs for new winter quarters. The location was a good one, and about two miles from the military railroad. It was named " Camp Crawford " after the Division Commander.
On this day Colonel Morrow reorganized the color-guard. The guard appointed on May 3 had nobly borne and preserved the regimental flag till nearly all were wounded and had to relinquish their charge. Special order No. 68 declared :
Sergeant Charles D. Durfee of Company C, having volunteered his services, and having by long service entitled himself to this honorable distinction, is hereby appointed Color Sergeant of this regiment. The following Corporals are also appointed to the color guard : Frank Stewart of Company C, James Lindsay of Company D, William Weiner of Company G, John Malcho of Company H, and Frank Kellogg of Company K.
On December 17, Lieutenant-Colonel Edwards rode up to the place where the Twenty-fourth Michigan made its fearful charge on
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SIEGE OF PETERSBURG-1864.
the 18th of June last. The trees had all been cut away and its appearance much changed. All day Sunday the 18th, the men worked to complete their cabins .- With winter-quarters, the furlough season returned. In granting furloughs, preference was given to married men and those who had never been away from the regiment on furlough or otherwise .- Captain George W. Burchell was appointed to try and determine court-martial cases for violations of the military discipline .- The holidays were spent without any special event. General Bragg having gone on a leave of absence, December 22d, Colonel Morrow took command of the Brigade, and as Lieutenant- Colonel Edwards left the same day on leave, the command of the Twenty-fourth Michigan devolved upon Major Hutchinson.
During the months of the siege of Petersburg, it is well to note the progress of our arms in other parts of the wide field of war operations. We have already noted the departure of Sherman upon his campaign at the same time that Grant crossed the Rapidan on his Richmond advance in the early days of May last. During the summer, Sherman had victoriously fought his way to and captured Atlanta, including the battles at Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain and Marietta, during the six weeks that Grant was moving from the Rapidan around to Petersburg. Both wings of the Union army seemed "to flap together" for once, owing to the directive mind of one man. At midnight of May 3 when Grant started on his line of march, he telegraphed the fact to Sherman who also set out with his army. These dual operations of the eastern and western sections of the Union forces occupied the attention of the Confederate armies opposing each, so that neither, as frequently had been the case theretofore, could spare troops to assist the other. On the 23d of July, Atlanta fell, which was a great loss to the Confederacy, as it had been the great center for manufacturing war material for the Southern armies.
Admiral Farragut and the Union navy were also getting in their work on the water borders of the would be slave-government. During August, he captured Mobile and so, slowly but surely, the good work went bravely forward. While Grant was firmly holding the enemy to his defences around the Confederate capital and Petersburg, Sherman was resting at Atlanta, making preparations for his great movement a few months later which would startle the world and strike terror into the heart of the Confederacy.
Then too, during this autumn there were the most glorious victories of Sheridan over the Confederate Early in the Shenandoah
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HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH MICHIGAN.
Valley, at Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek, which electrified the nation, knocked gold from its dizzy height, and placed the Union cause upon an assured basis. Story and song have made famous " Sheridan's Ride" from Winchester to the front on his coal black steed, and by his magnetic presence reorganizing the fleeing troops and winning a brilliant victory out of defeat.
The Shenandoah Valley had been the granary for the Confederate army and Grant ordered Sheridan to destroy it so completely that "a crow would have to carry rations in flying over it," and it was done. Every house, barn, shed, farming implement and fence that could in any way be utilized in cultivating crops to feed the enemy's army was destroyed. Such is war. Virginia and many parts of the South drank the waters of bitterness during the four years of their armed rebellion -but they invited and brought the trouble upon themselves when they set at defiance the national authority.
The day after election, General Sherman, having allured Hood's army to follow up a part of his troops away from Atlanta towards Nashville, cut loose from his communications with the North. After having completely destroyed Atlanta as a military supply center for Confederate armies, he started on his great " March to the Sea" which became the wonder of both continents. He captured Savannah just before Christmas and disclosed the weakness and inevitable collapse of the Confederacy.
General Hood had gone on to Nashville where General Thomas gave him battle, and his army was so completely annihilated and its remnant so dispersed, that it was never heard of after, except in history. All in all, the year 1864 closed with every encouragement for the success of the Union cause and speedy restoration of peace, and New Year, 1865, was the brightest since the war began.
.
CHAPTER XIV.
CLOSING MONTHS OF THE WAR.
INDORSEMENT - CAPTAIN BURCHELL - GENERAL MORROW.
W INTER quarters, the most comfortable and uniform that the regiment ever had, were completed during the early days of January, 1865, and called "Camp Crawford." It was laid out in five streets, a company on each side of a street, the cabins were 612 x 10 feet in size, with chimneys in the rear, each cabin accommodating four men.
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