USA > New Hampshire > A history of the Eleventh New Hampshire Regiment, Volunteer Infantry in the rebellion war, 1861-1865, pt 1 > Part 13
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IN EAST TENNESSEE.
On the Sunday morning following, the brigade marched through Knoxville with colors flying, bands playing. fifes screaming, and drums rolling. It went into camp about the middle of the afternoon near Erin's station, six miles below. Monday, February 1, the regi- ment was ordered out in light marching order ; it went through Knoxville again, bivouacked for the night one mile beyond, and the next day marched back to camp again. While it was lying at this point, all the horses that could possibly be spared were sent to Kingston, forty miles, to be kept. But little forage could be had in camp. No commander lower than a brigadier was allowed a horse. There were only three teams to a bri- gade, and no ambulances.
There occurred here one of those sad incidents which only a civil war can well produce. A resident, a notorious rebel and a man who had taken particular pains to point out the Union men to the rebel army when last here, was shot by some Union men. His neighbors, Federal soldiers, had warned this man that they would " settle with him some time." The man was hewing a piece of wood in his dooryard, when he was shot by some unknown person. He left a wife and ten children. None of the neighbors dared assist in caring for the body, and two men of the Eleventh, belonging to the provost- guard, protected the body until buried. His mother, a very old lady, tauntingly said, " They [the Union troops] have killed my husband and stole my chickens. Now they have shot my son, but, thank God ! they ha'n't got a tear out of me yet."
A terrible state of things existed throughout East Ten- nessee. Neighbor was watching neighbor ; the father, his sons ; and they, in turn, watching their father. The women had the same spirit as the men. Ignorance pre- vailed. Men and women chewed tobacco, and the latter
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" dipped snuff" in large quantities. Often and again were the men of the Eleventh, and of other regiments, accosted with "Gi' me er chaw o' terbacker?" not only from the men, but from young, good-looking girls, who were as cool and unconcerned in their request as though asking for the best thing in the world.
But the rebels were making a demonstration near Strawberry Plains ; and on February 15 the Eleventh broke camp in a pouring rain, and marched to near Knoxville. and camped for the night. Troops were fall- ing back upon Knoxville, and another siege began to be talked about. Every man was supplied with 140 rounds of ammunition. All was confusion, and the air filled, as usual, with all manner of conflicting reports. The next day the camp was moved north-west, to within two miles of Knoxville. On the day following, the Second Brigade, consisting of the Eleventh New Hampshire, the Thirty- fifth Massachusetts. and the Second Maryland, was has- tily inspected by an inspecting officer of General Grant's staff. The number of the three regiments reported for duty was 668 officers and men. There were at this time only ten regiments belonging to the Ninth Corps left in Tennessee. Every axe in the brigade was set to work cutting wood. and a large amount was hauled into town to be used in case of another siege. One hundred and fifty men were detailed to throw up fortifications. The next morning opened bright and pleasant. In honor of the birthday of the "Father of his Country" the bands played Washington's March, Hail Columbia, Star Span- gled Banner, and Yankee Doodle. The boys were in the best of spirits, and were made all the more so by the reports that Longstreet had crossed the river again, and that our front was rid of rebels.
At midnight of the 24th an order was received to be ready to move at daylight in light marching order.
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Everything that could not be carried was to be placed under guard within the defences of the town. This was done, and at daylight the army took up its line of march, the Second Brigade having the advance, and the Eleventh leading it. After a march of twenty miles we went into camp. Generals Schofield, Parke, Stoneman, Willcox, Potter, Ferrero, and others were in the advance with the Eleventh through the day. The day before the advance was made, nine days' rations were issued to the men, and officers as well. These were the rations : four pounds of beef, half a pound of hard bread, three pints of corn meal, and a very little coffee and sugar. On the 27th we broke camp, and, crossing the river, went into camp near Mossy creek. During that night Colonel Harri- man rejoined the regiment, and was welcomed with all manner of joyful demonstrations. The next morning the march was resumed, the Eleventh having the advance, and Company C being thrown out as an advance guard. The men really had to feel their way, and at night the regiment camped at Morristown, forty miles away, north- east of Knoxville. Everything looked dubious : the rain poured in torrents, the day was dark and dreary, the enemy was reported to be all about us ; and at midnight. with nothing to eat and no shelter from the pitiless storm that was raging, an order was received to have the men under arms an hour before daybreak, to prevent a sur- prise. On the second day the regiment, being the first to enter Morristown and the last to leave, marched back to Mossy creek and camped.
At this place there was a low, one-story brick church, of the Baptist faith, and upon the desk there lay a large. old-fashioned, covered Bible, upon the flyleaf of which was written " The property of the Mossy Creek Baptist Church." Although the building had been deprived of everything combustible, yet within its walls were that desk
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and that Bible. The doors and windows were gone. but that Bible remained unmolested by both the armies which had passed through the little village. It was kept in a little box with a cover to it.
At this point, a little past noon of March 5, a sharp skirmish took place between the Second Brigade, assisted by a small force of the Third Tennessee Cavalry, and a force of 300 rebel cavalry. Sabres were crossed and clubbed muskets were used, but the rebels were beaten off, leaving several dead and wounded in our hands, besides quite a number of prisoners. In this skirmish the following incident occurred : One man of the Tennes- see cavalry was severely wounded in his left arm by the officer in command of the rebel cavalry. They proved to be own cousins, and as they came near each other the Union man said, "Don't you know me?" " Yes," said the rebel, " and damn you, I will kill you." Just then a bullet went through the rebel's heart, and he was fairly lifted from his saddle by Union bayonets.
March 13 the regiment broke camp and went back to Morristown again, where it remained until the morning of Thursday the 17th. The night previous an order was received to " send the Ninth Corps north at once," and a most welcome order it was to the men of the corps. The march was taken up early Thursday morning, and we camped at Newmarket. twenty miles away. that night. By the next night as many more miles had been covered. and the regiment went into camp one mile north of Knoxville. On Monday morning, March 21, having sent the sick and disabled north via Chattanooga, the Ninth Corps commenced its famous march over the mountains into Kentucky. At Jacksboro', forty miles' march from Knoxville, four days' rations were put into the haversacks of the men. The teams all returned to Knoxville, and the mountains were before us.
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Mountain after mountain was climbed, and for fifty miles the march was, the most of the time, made through woods, and upon its whole distance only ten houses were seen. When the line was crossed into Kentucky, the band, inspired by the same spirit as the men, played in fine style " A'n't you glad you've got out of the wilder- ness?" and cheer after cheer echoed out through the crisp, frosty air of the morning.
Point Isabel was reached on the Sunday morning following, where some more rations were secured, several sutlers being the losers thereby. At Hall's Gap, on the 29th, some shoes and hose were issued to the men, the first time for several months.
In fifteen days from Morristown, Nicholasville, Ky., distant 230 miles, was reached, with a rest of only one day. Four days of the time there were snow-storms ; there were as many more of frozen rain ; and most truly glad were the men of the brigade when they got on board the cars, or things called such : anything was an improvement over the long, weary march. Sunday after- noon following. the regiment and the brigade, having marched through the streets of Cincinnati with flags fly- ing and bands playing, left at 5 :30 for Annapolis, Mary- land, via Pittsburgh and Baltimore. At Pittsburgh, on the Tuesday morning following, the men were provided with a most excellent breakfast by the kind-hearted Christian men and women of that city, who vied with each other in doing everything possible for the soldiers passing through their busy, hospitable city.
Thursday, April 7, the regiment went into camp at Annapolis, and became once more a portion of the Army of the Potomac.
Thus ended the campaign of East Tennessee, which was in all respects the most remarkable of the campaigns in which the Eleventh bore a part. From the time the
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regiment left London. Ky., until its return again into that state, it was continually on the move. Besides the siege of Knoxville, it had very many sharp skirmishes with the enemy. No bivouac was had, or camp made, without the expectation of being ordered to move before daylight. Rivers and creeks were forded, mountains were climbed, narrow gaps were fortified, picket and guard duty was constant. while on many occa- sions double duty was required. The men marched, bivouacked. and camped in the snow, mud, and rain, without shelter of any kind at night during a large por- tion of the time. The weather was freezing cold at times, with much snow upon the ground. Meanwhile the men lived upon the smallest kind of a quarter ration daily. Many days they had nothing but one ear of raw corn, dealt to them in the same manner as it was to the mules, the men even picking from the ground the stray kernels as they fell from the mules' mouths. This corn was parched by some, by others pounded or ground as fine as it well could be, and then made into a hoe-cake and baked before the camp-fire.
No clothing of any kind was received for over four months. The men were ragged. almost hatless, a good many of them without stockings, and when called out were often tracked by the blood oozing from their feet. When an animal was by any means secured and slaugh- tered. the hide was taken in charge by the commanding officer of the regiment, and moccasins were made of it for those most destitute. This was the manner of their making : a piece was cut from the hide, brought up around the foot, and fastened together with wooden thongs. The moccasin became dry after a time, but was never removed from the foot until worn out. Many a time six spoonfuls of flour was a week's ration with one ear of corn per day, and often only one table-
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spoonful of coffee was given for three or four days at a time.
The people of East Tennessee as a whole were loyal, but they were exceedingly poor. Both armies had sub- sisted upon the country until nothing was left for man or beast. The younger Union men were in the Union army, and the disloyal were in the rebel army, and many a time when the men asked at a house for a little something to eat, they received for an answer. " I would be glad to give you something, but we are plumb out, and haven't got a dust of meal in the house. We tried to make a little corn last year, but the rebels stole it all for their horses when they passed through here."
Woodbury, in his "Ninth Army Corps," has these good words for the men of the Tennessee campaign :
Such were the circumstances amid which the movement for the redemption of the loyal people of Tennessee was consummated. The soldiers of the Ninth Corps exhibited as heroic a spirit in the endur- ance of hardships as in the achievement of victories. As no foes could appall them, so no privations could subdue. With cheerful and ever eager alacrity, they were willing to take up new duties and bear new pains in behalf of the country for which they fought and suffered. They proved to the enemy that they could not be conquered, and he was forced to be content with the loss of the important section which they had wrested from his grasp.
The Ninth Corps was soon to return to the East, and participate in movements of a more startling and conspicuous character. But it may safely be recorded, that, of the important operations of 1863, the DE- LIVERANCE OF EAST TENNESSEE deserves to hold an equal rank with the victory which turned the tide of invasion from Pennsylvania, and is not far behind the magnificent triumph which gave the Mississippi once more to the Republic.
The East Tennessee campaign was most truly the "Valley Forge" of the Civil War.
On the IIth of December, 1863, General John G. Foster assumed command of the Department of the Ohio.
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relieving General Burnside, who left Knoxville on the 14th, and reached his home in Providence, R. I., on the 23d. On his way home he was received in Cincinnati with a great ovation, and in the course of his remarks he disclaimed the honors which were given him, declaring that they " belonged to his under officers and the men in the ranks." On the 2Sth of January, 1864, the president approved the following resolution, which had passed both houses of congress :
Resolved, That the thanks of congress be, and they hereby are, presented to Major-General Ambrose E. Burnside. and through him to the officers and men who have fought under his command, for their gallantry, good conduct, and soldier-like endurance.
After the enemy had retreated from Knoxville, Presi- dent Lincoln, on the 7th of December, issued a procla- mation, congratulatory in its character, in which he recommended that " all loyal people do, on receipt of this information, assemble at their places of worship, and render special homage and gratitude to Almighty God for this great advancement of the National Cause." General Foster was soon relieved by Major-General Schofield. and on January 7. 1864, General Burnside was again assigned to duty as commander of the Ninth Army Corps.
A WAR CORRESPONDENT'S COMMENDATION.
The following from a war correspondent of the Army of the Ohio will be read with much interest :
"A few words of parting to the little remnant of the Ninth Corps. These iron men, who now march few and sparse as the travellers on the distant end of the Bridge of Mirrah, have driven home their good bayonets
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A WAR CORRESPONDENT'S COMMENDATION.
on some battle-field in every principal department of the Union but one-the Gulf. When they were not fighting, they marched-marched that they might fight again. Their reputation for both is spread throughout the entire army. To give in detail an account of the battles and marches innumerable they have made, would be to com- pose a respectable history, which would be premature ; but no one, certainly, will fail to have heard of some field where the Ninth Corps performed a specimen of its superb work. Since its entry into this department last fall, the singular uniformity of the services required of it is somewhat remarkable. Whenever an advance was to be made ' up the country,' through regions which might be a little perilous, the Ninth Corps has the advance, sometimes four or five miles out, and quite alone. When the regular time came to fall back, and the rebel cavalry were hurrying the rear, there the Ninth Corps must march and protect the column. Still it was but natural that this should be so, since the corps was very small, perfectly cemented into unity, wieldy, and every man a veteran. Of late, though. the rule seems to have been varied from in consequence of their extreme paucity.
"The Ninth Corps has never yet received its full meed of honor for the magnificent part it bore in the defence of this place last fall. It was stationed directly in Fort Sanders, and for some distance on either side. They received almost alone the whole head and front of the fierce assault, when four hundred rebels perished under the devouring sheet of fire which issued from the muskets of these men. The other corps did their parts well where they happened to be stationed. but no formal and organ- ized assault was made upon them. The rebels. as was learned afterwards from some of those who were cap- tured, suspected the Ninth Corps was in Fort Sanders, and refused to attack them. They were only induced to
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do so by lying speeches of their officers, in which they declared the fort was manned by raw recruits. When they had discovered by their ruinous trial that they were deceived, their curses, of course, were infinite, and they protested with bitterness that they never would have attacked the fort, knowing it to be manned by the men they found there.
"These few words in justice to brave men. The corps leaves the department with the regrets and best wishes of their comrades in arms. They are going East to be recruited to something near the just proportion of a corps. Permeated by the traditions and esprit de corps of the several regiments they join, and inspired by the example of the veterans beside them, the new recruits to the gallant corps will do as valiant service elsewhere as their military foster fathers have here."
THE SIEGE OF KNOXVILLE.
(FROM DIARY OF LIEUTENANT C. C. PAIGE.)
On Monday morning. November 16. the Eleventh Regiment was called up by the long roll before day- break, and moved from camp towards the city. They formed in line of battle facing their camp. since a report said that a raid was expected from that direction. Just after dark we were ordered to change our position to the left and throw out pickets, which was done. There we remained until near night, when an order was received to join the brigade in the city. It really seemed curious when we marched into the city. so crowded with teams and troops. and the camp all aglow with camp-fires. It brought forcibly to mind the counter we played at Vicks- burg, driving in and surrounding the rebels. We now
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are in and surrounded by them, though it is not a matter of necessity for Burnside to stop and be besieged, for he still has a way open.
" He has taken and held this place so far. and he is bound to still hold it, or be destroyed in the struggle. He tells us that he shall be taken with us and the city, if that is accomplished by the rebels. We have rifle-pits and fortifications thrown up: and have a very strong position. The first day we were ordered to detail for picket duty one captain, six sergeants, ten corporals, and one hun- dred and sixteen men, and the remainder went into the rifle-pits. The rebels are on our front and left, and seem to be making around to the right. There has been a charge on our left, but it was repulsed in good shape. General Hartranft is building a dam across a stream near our pits so as to overflow the valley in front of the pits and thus prevent a successful charge from the enemy.
" Thursday. 19th. We are really in a besieged city. and each day we expect an assault by the enemy, but it will be a bad thing for them. and it will cost them many men, whether they are successful or repulsed. I cannot see that they can take us by assault. They must cut off our supplies and starve us out first. I think ; but, as their forces are larger than ours by one half, they can injure us very much, and possibly take us by fighting. I hope and pray we may get out of this all right and save our army.
"Friday, 20th. We changed our position across Gay street on the heights beyond and occupied some pits. To- day we worked improving and strengthening them, and really have a very formidable position. Were the whole line as strong and as hard of access as that we occupy, one man in the pit could hold it against five to eight men. It is with difficulty that a man can climb the hill in our front without any one to oppose him. Then add to this
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difficulty a pond of water from two to six feet in depth at its base, and we surely have a strong position, but we may be dislodged yet. The will and spirits of the men of the Eleventh are good and determined. and I know that the rest of our brigade is the same. We are expect- ing some hard fighting.
" Sunday, 22. All seems very quiet. A little while before dark the enemy threw a few shells into one of our forts, but they were bad shots. The day has been fine, and it does not seem, sometimes, that a revengeful enemy is lying so near waiting for his prey ; but so it is. Time is the great revelator to man, and I wait patiently, and without fear, the result.
" Monday, 23. The Second Maryland and the Forty- eighth Pennsylvania were driven in this evening, and made a bad thing of it, as the rebels gained a good posi- tion and we lost one man in Company B, and two others in our brigade. A number of buildings were burned to prevent the rebels from occupying them. The sight from our position was really splendid. A beautiful moon looked down upon us, and the burning buildings lighted up the country finely, and added to this and the picket firing was the burning of a building in which were a large number of rebel shells, which exploded and made the scene grand.
"Tuesday, November 24. The Eleventh New Hamp- shire, the Twenty-first Massachusetts, and the Forty- eighth Pennsylvania regiments went out. soon after light this morning, and charged on the rebel pickets. and drove them back to their old position. Three men were killed in our brigade-one of them was in Company B. our regiment ; and one of our mien was wounded-Corporal Whipple of Company C. The morning was foggy, so quite favorable for our movements. The enemy seem to have a camp not more than one mile from our front. We
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cannot anticipate their movements, but are constantly on the lookout for an attack.
Wednesday, 25. Sent on picket this morning ninety- six men, one lieutenant, one captain-a very heavy detail. There were then left in camp in the pits only one acting lieutenant and the acting adjutant.
" Thursday, 26. Thanksgiving Day in New Hamp- shire, and also in the states generally, on account of the proclamation of the president. It has been rather quiet to-day here in this besieged city, and we soldiers are in good spirits, hardly thinking that we are bound for Rich- mond under guard.
"Friday, 27. The enemy have been very still for two or three days past, and have not fired a cannon for that length of time-ominous of some impending danger or evil.
"Saturday, 28. Quiet nearly all day, and until nearly midnight; then the rebels commenced to be bold, and advanced in skirmish line, advancing their position a good distance.
"Sunday, 29. Our regiment, with the Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania and the Thirty-fifth Massachusetts, went to the front and drove back the rebel lines, and occupied the old ground in front of our brigade. While we were out, the rebels made an assault on Fort Sanders to the left of our division, and were handsomely repulsed, los- ing 1,000 men in prisoners, wounded, and killed. The cannonading was fierce and heavy. Benjamin's battery killed and wounded them terribly as they advanced upon the fort. I went up to the fort to-day, and it was a ter- rible sight. Some hundreds were lying in front of it dead, wounded, and dying. There is an armistice to-day until 5 p. m. I talked with some of the rebel soldiers. They treat us with respect, and appear well. They are Georgia troops. They must feel exasperated towards
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us for the fearful slaughter this morning, but it is their fault.
" Monday, 30. Last day of autumn, and with the Ninth and the Twenty-third corps we are still in this besieged city, not knowing whither our destination ; but wherever it may be. we are in the best of spirits, and ready to fight, or not just as the rebels shall say. Very quiet to-day after the armistice of yesterday.
"Tuesday, December I. But very little firing on either side to-day. We have very cheering news. A circular was furnished from head-quarters to our regi- ment stating the following facts : 'Information has been received at these head-quarters that General Grant has driven the enemy, Bragg, from Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge ; and that they are in full retreat for Dalton. Ga. Grant attacked Bragg, and whipped him severely, though General Sherman was repulsed on the left, with a loss of 300 killed and 2.500 wounded. But Grant took 6,000 prisoners and 50 pieces of artillery. Bragg is effectually broken up, and our army is follow- ing.' Also that reinforcements are within forty miles of us. This is all very cheering, and each regiment in our lines gave nine hearty cheers for the great success of our arms. We are expecting another attack, perhaps to-night. The generals are very particular to have all keep a good watch. We are constantly under excite- ment and getting but little sleep .-. sleeping with one eye open.' The rebels are up to something, we don't know what.
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