USA > New Jersey > Reminiscences of the war, comprising a detailed account of the experiences of the Thirteenth regiment New Jersey volunteers in camp, on the march, and in battle > Part 9
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movement was begun. Geary crossed the Creek. captured the pickets of the enemy. and then crept up the side of the mountain until his right touched the base of the rocky summit. The mountain being draped in a heavy fog con- cealed the movement. He then threw his line around to- ward the front of the mountain. At the same time Grose attacked the enemy at the bridge below driving them away. The Confederates, now fully aroused, moved from their camps to the intrenchments and rifle pits on the mountain, and one detachment took position behind the
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railroad embankment. Under the protection of a strong artillery fire from the Union lines Geary advanced and succeeded in driving the enemy from their first line, kill- ing and wounding a large number and taking many prison- ers. The fighting grew more and more vigorous, and the smoke of the guns with the deep fog overhanging the mountain gave to this engagement the significant deriva- tion of "The Battle among the Clouds." The routed enemy were rapidly flying to the rear. The army of the Cumberland pushed on over rocky crags and immense boulders until they reached the open ground where a re-adjustment of the line was deemed necessary. The enemy having received re-inforcements now made a determined stand, but Grose's brigade of Osterhaus's com- mand moving into position on the left, the enemy were driven from every defensive position they held, and with broken ranks fled down the mountain side. Bragg thus driven from the commanding position in which he felt safe from successful attack. concentrated his whole army on Missionary Ridge to resist the advance of Sherman. The attack on this part of the enemy's line was begun on the 25th by Sherman and a desperate fight took place between Gen. Corse's brigade and Cleburne's troops. Howard's corps was sent to Sherman's support, who renewed the at- tack upon the enemy's right flank. but was again repulsed. Baird's division was then sent to the support of Sherman who now had seven of the thirteen divisions before the enemy. Sherman informed Baird that he did not need him, and he returned to the centre. In the meantime Hooker had at- tained position on the enemy's left flank, and disposed his troops to sweep Missionary Ridge on the north. While Hooker was thus engaged Gen. Grant ordered an advance from the centre. The assaulting column moved forward in magnificent order meeting with a fierce artillery fire, but not a man wavered. The advance was so rapid and impetuous that the enemy. though supported by fifty guns, lost courage and fled from their lower line of defenses.
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While Sherman's attack on the enemy's right flank had not proved successful Hooker had accomplished his object, and as the assaulting column of the centre pressed up the hill in the face of a destructive artillery and musketry fire, Hooker swept northward from Rossville, and then the Army of the Cumberland held Missionary Ridge the whole length of its front. Hardee's forces, opposite Sherman. alone maintained position, but during the night they were withdrawn. Gens. Hooker and Palmer pursued the defeated enemy through Ringgold to Taylor's Ridge, where an en- gagement took place, but Gen. Grant coming on the field just at that time gave orders to discontinue the pursuit.
While the movements thus described were going on our Division was doing picket and patrol duty along the Nash- ville and Chattanooga Railroad. In the early part of No- vember cach regiment was assigned to some special post. the Thirteenth being stationed on the south bank of Duck River, Captain Guyer, of Co. F, being sent to Maupin's Station, about a mile up the track where a water- tank was located. The Second Massachusetts was sta- tioned at Estelle Springs, the Twenty-seventh Indiana at Tullahoma. the Third- Wisconsin at Wartrace Station, the One Hundred and Seventh New York at Shelbyville and the One Hundred and Fiftieth New York was, I be- lieve at a small town called Normandy. Gen. Slocum, Gen. Williams and Gen. Ruger, our Corps, Division and Brigade Commanders, had their headquarters at Tullahoma. The Ambulance Corps of the Division, encamped at Tullahoma. was commanded by Lieutenant George M. Hard of the Thirteenth. A number of the enlisted men of the Regi- ment were attached to this Corps, of whom I can now name only Sergeant Farrand Dodd and Privates Wm. H. Winans. of Co. A, and Daniel T. Hendrickson, of Co. F.
A very pretty camp was built by the Regiment at Duck River Bridge and the happiest hours of our soldier life were spent there. The duties which devolved upon the Regiment were not burdensome and the days passed
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swiftly and delightfully by. The routine was about the same as in every other camp we had formed. Reveille was sounded at an early hour in the morning, and it is an amusing sight to see a regiment of men crawl out of their tents, some rubbing their eyes, others buttoning up coats and lacing shoes as they form into line at the head of the company streets for roll-call. The next duty is to perform the necessary morning ablutions and get breakfast. after which, about 8 o'clock, the "Sick Call" is beat, when to the tune of " Come and get your blue pills." all those affected with any slight ailment, march up to the Hospital Steward's tent. where a diagnosis of their com- plaints is made by the Surgeon and prescribed for. The Orderly Sergeants of the several companies having submit- ted their reports to the Sergeant Major are furnished with the number of inen required for guard duty and picket. and the details are then made. At 9 o'clock guard mounting takes place. The details from the several com- panies are marched to the parade ground, and after being formed in line. the officer in charge commands them to open ranks by the order: "To the rear open order, march." An inspection of the guns and the personal appearance of the men then takes place. The old camp guard is then re- lieved and the picket-detail sent out. On arrival at their respective places of duty. the old reserves are drawn up and present arms while the new detail takes position along side. The men are divided into three reliefs. known as first. second and third. The first relief is then conducted to the several posts, a new man relieving the old at each post by coming to " Arms Port" when the latter falls in the rear. and so on until the whole circuit of the camp is made. On the arrival of the relieved guard at headquar- ters. all form in line, and breaking ranks return to their quarters. Each relief is on duty two hours at a time making eight hours for each man out of the twenty-four. To the old guard is assigned the duty of " policing" the camp- keeping it clean and in good order. During the day there
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may be company or battalion drill ; "fatigue" details or- dered for cutting railroad ties or some other extra duty, and at sunset the "Assembly Call" is beat for "Retreat' or " Dress Parade." A Dress Parade is a beautiful sight. Every man is expected to have his musket in perfect order, his equipments and brass buttons highly polished, his shoes blacked and clothes well brushed. The companies all form in their respective streets and when ready the Captain and Lieutenants take their positions. The musi- cians take up position on the parade ground and at the first tap of the drum each company is marched up to its proper place in line. The colors, and right and left general guides, then make the alignment, to which the whole Regiment is formed. The Adjutant then orders the rear rank to move back four paces, by the command : "To the rear open order. march." the line officers at the same time moving four paces to the front. After the line is " dressed" the command " Present Arms" is given, when each gun is brought to the front simultaneously and the officers salute with drawn swords. The officer in com- mand then exercises the men for a brief period in the Manual of Arms, concluding by the command: "Order Arms." This movement is a good test of the proficiency of a Regiment in drill. If every gun comes to the ground with a sharp thud, so that it sounds like one quick . move- ment, it is a good test of thoroughness. But when they strike the ground one after the other, in irregular succes- sion, producing a sound like that of a miss strike at ten pins, a feeling of mortification takes immediate possession of all, particularly if visitors are in camp. The command is then ordered to a "Parade Rest." the musicians march up and down the whole lino after which the Adjutant reads such orders as may have been received from headquarters. This over, the command is again brought to its original position in line, and the companies are marched back to their quarters. " Tattoo" is generally beat at nine o'clock, when all are supposed to retire, and at " Taps" every light
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should be put out and the whole camp is then left to the care of those on guard. In addition to other duties a pa- trol was established along the railroad, and every night. an armed squad composed of men of all the regiments pa- trolled the track from Murfreesboro to Bridgeport.
While the Regiment was thus engaged I was detailed for special duty as clerk to the Division Court-Martial in session at Tullahoma. The Court was composed of officers from the several regiments of the Division, Col. Selfridge of the Forty-sixth Pennsylvania being President and Capt. S. V. C. Van Rennselaer of the Thirteenth New Jersey. Judge Advocate. The cases for trial consisted mostly of enlisted men charged with all sorts of offences "prejudicial to good order and military discipline."
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CHAPTER XII.
Tullahoma -- Objects of Interest-Influx of "Contrabands "-A prob- lem Solved -- Forming New Acquaintances-A " Well-to-do" Family -- Abundance of Game -- A Genuine Plantation "Hoe Down."
T The General Court Martial held its sessions daily in a one-story frame house on a street which ran parallel with the railroad. Like most of the houses in the place this one was raised from the ground about a foot and a half, resting on a foundation of posts driven in the ground at certain intervals. The building had once been painted a yellowish color, but that had long since faded out. There were two rooms, one each side of the hall, and in the rear was a log house that had been used for a kitchen. The court-room was on the right hand side of the front entrance. Across the street almost directly opposite was a house of similar construction two stories in height, with a piazza extending across the whole front. No one occupied it. On the walls of the rooms of the first floor maps of Tennessee and Kentucky had been drawn with colored crayons, the work probably, of some offper on Gen. Bragg's staff -- this house having been used as his headquarters when the Confederate army occupied the place. The town itself was in a rather dilapidated con- dition and before the war might have had a population of four hundred souls, but at this time there were not more
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than fifty citizens living in the place. Nearly every house was vacant. Northeasterly from the town, on the east side of the railroad, an immense fort had been thrown up, and stockades had been erected on the high ground near the depot for defence against raiding parties. Northwesterly from the depot was a famous spring of water out of which a large stream flowed. The spring was I think about fifteen feet in length by ten in width, and was about four feet deep. It had been protected by a casing of heavy planking. The water was always cool and very pleasant to the taste.
A great many colored people, male and female, came into Tullahoma daily, the most of those I saw. hailing from Huntsville. Ala., and vicinity. They were all jubilant over their "freedom " but none seemed to know exactly what it meant, further than to live in idleness and be thankful that they had no "more massa" to interfere with the bent of their inclinations. When I first arrived at Tullahoma, I was rather singularly situated. Ordinarily, when an en- listed man was detailed for special service at headquarters. he formed one of a "mess" who drew rations in common and had their meals prepared regularly for them. I was isolated from all such companionship, and though I had a "bed" erected in the court-room. and had plenty of wood and a good fireplace where I might prepare my meals, I found that the aroma of fried salt pork. beef, coffee, etc., was not altogether desirable in a hall of justice. My time was very much occupied by writing up the day's proceed- ings and it became a matter of necessity that I should make some sort of an arrangement whereby I might get my meals regularly and have them properly cooked. I labored under serious disadvantages. I could only draw rations for myself, and was without money to pay any one for such service. I finally succeeded in making arrange- ments with a family near by to do my cooking. agreeing to recompense them for their trouble out of such provisions as I received. This proved entirely satisfactory. I drew
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rations every five days from the Commissary Department at Tullahoma and was very generously supplied. The amount given me as the ration for one served, by the prac- tice of studied economy, to supply three of us. It proved a blessing to the family and a great convenience to me.
On days when business was dull I frequently strolled about the town and during my stay made several acquaint- ances. There were no young men in the place. for that matter there was scarcely a citizen of any kind except a few old men, too feeble to do military duty. I started out on a ramble one day with a comrade and after we had traveled a couple of miles in a northwesterly direction we came to a rather comfortable looking house, for this section. We walked up to the entrance and was met by a savage growl from a large dog, but as we kept right on, he contented himself with snuffing at our shoes and watching us as we: proceeded to the doorway. The occupants of the house were an old lady about sixty years of age, two ladies per- haps twenty or twenty-five years old and a young man about eighteen. We were politely received, and very pleasantly entertained for about half an hour. The floors of the house were carpeted. a clock on the cupboard of the dining-room, where we entered, ticked off the seconds merrily, and a home-like influence pervaded the whole place. The ladies were busily engaged reading when we made our appearance but they were not in the least discon- certed on beholding us. Our conversation turned to the condition of affairs in Tullahoma when Bragg's army was. there, and all of us enjoyed a good laugh at the recital of the very remarkable stories that were circulated about the Yankees. This was the first time I had ever enjoyed a free talk with an intelligent Southern woman since I had en- tered the service, and I felt well repaid for my walk.
On our return to Tullahoma we toc's a new route. follow- ing an old wagon road that seemed to lead to no particu- lar place,-probably it had been made by Bragg's wagon trains as they passed back and forth to the troops in the
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fortifications. On each side of the road, among the trees and bushes, were plenty of remnants of old dirty gray clothes, cast off by Bragg's soldiers; we passed the re- mains of several mules, that had expired in the Confederate service, whose bones had been thoroughly polished by the army of turkey buzzards which still hovered around the spot. Branching off into a by-path we disturbed a large flock of partridges whose loud "whirr" caused us to start for a moment. As we walked on we discovered flock after flock of these birds, the woods, indeed, being full of them. We reached our quarters after a pleasant walk and with good appetites for the dinner of roast beef and hot biscuit we knew would be waiting for us.
The country all about Tullahoma was thickly wooded, with small vistas of open fields. There was very little to inter- est any one and the monotony of daily life was only broken by the sound of heavily loaded trains of cars, and the shrieking of engine whistles as they passed back and forth from Chattanooga. We were kept well posted concerning the progress of affairs at the front by the conductors and engineers of the trains that stopped at Tullahoma.
Quite an interesting event occurred one night. The young ex-slaves determined to have a dance, and on the night selected I was present to witness the sport. About thirty darkies, male and female, had congregated in an old log house or kitchen, when I arrived. Aroaring fire had been made in the large fire-place, and the logs were crackling and spitting away in the most seductive manner. A mid- dle-aged colored man produced an ancient fiddle from some mysterious place, and after a quarter of an hour's work "tunin' her up." the order to begin was sent abroad. How the old house shook as the enthusiastic dancers warmed up to their work ; the females shouted and brought down both feet with a " stand from under" emphasis that added to the sport. Amid shouts of " Hey dar," " Git a- long now, " "Oh, how nice," " Keep 'em agoin," etc., from
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the males and the equally as boisterous demonstrations of the women, accompanied with screams of delight as they were squeezed a little closer than ordinary, the place be- came a perfect bedlam of noise and was rendered almost un- endurable by the dust and the heat which seemed to issue from every part of the room. I saw one dance and left the place for more agreeable companionship.
There were fresh accessions to the colored population daily, and they took possession of the vacant houses in the place. Some of the young men found employment as ser- vants at headquarters and to officers of the several com- mands, but the greater number passed their time in idle- ness, and these were finally sent to Nashville.
CHAPTER XIII.
Camp Scenes-Guerrilla Warfare-Atrocious Murders of Soldiers-An Important Order by Gen. Thomas-An Expedition into Lincoln County, Tenn .- Two men of the One Hundred and Fiftieth New York Regiment Killed-A Military Commission Ordered to try Bushwackers-A Big Scare.
n the latter part of December the General Court Martial dissolved and I returned to my Company. then at Mau- pin's Station. A day or two afterward I was detailed for special duty at Regimental Headquarters. Duck River. The men were having fine times in camp, the duties were light, food abundant and of excellent quality, and no re- strietions of an aggravating nature were placed upon the inclinations of any. The men were permitted to visit families in the neighborhood of the camp, and many pleas- ant hours where thus passed. Notwithstanding all this, there were a few incorrigibles who could not keep out of mischief. and they were frequently in trouble. The mode of punishment which came in vogue about this time, was to compel those found guilty of any misdemeanor to wear a "wooden overcoat"-a barrel with the heads knocked out and holes pierced in the sides, which, being put on, transformed the wearer into a very ridiculous look- ing object. While I was with the Regiment, one man of Company " C"was obliged to wear one of these uncom- fortable "coats" two hours a day for five days, and walk in plain sight of the Regiment from the guard-house to the
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Colonel's tent. A placard containing the words "I am too lazy to work," was posted in front of the barrel, and the poor fellow must have been deeply mortified as he listened to the taunts and ridicule of his comrades, whenever they passed by him.
About the first of March 1864, I was again detailed for special duty at Division Headquarters, this time as Clerk to the Military Commission, called to convene at Tullahoma, for the trial of a number of guerrillas who had been cap- tured by the mounted infantry of our Division. Colonel Ezra A. Carman was President and Captain David A. Ryerson (both of the Thirteenth) was Judge Advocate. The Commission held its sessions in the same building where the General Court Martial formerly transacted its business.
These guerrillas were arraigned on the different charges of murder. robbery, assault and other criminal offences. They represented that they were regularly enlisted in the Confederate service, but were unable to prove satisfactorily that such was the case. In the latter part of December 1873, four United States soldiers were murdered by guerril- las, the particulars of which were sent to Gen. Thomas, commanding the Army of the Cumberland, who issued the following order: *
HEAD-QUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Chattanooga, Tenn., Fan. 6, 1864.
GENERAL ORDERS } No. 6.
It having been reported to these Head-quarters that, between seven and eight o'clock on the evening of the 23d ult., within one and one- half miles of the village of Mulberry, Lincoln county, Tenn., a wagon which had become detached from a foraging train belonging to the United States, was attacked by guerrillas, and the officer in command of the foraging party, Ist Lieut. Porter Co. A, 27th Indiana Volunteers, the teamster, wagon-master, and two other soldiers who had been sent to lo id the train, (the latter four unarmed, ) captured. They were imme
* I am indebted to Lieutenant Garrett S. Byrne, Quartermaster of the Thirteenth Regiment, for this document.
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diately mounted and hurried off, the guerrillas avoiding the roads until their party was halted about one o'clock in the morning, on the bank of Elk river, where the rebels stated they were going into camp for the night. The hands of the prisoners were then tied behind them, and. they were then robbed of everything of value about their persons. They were next drawn up in line, about five paces in front of their captors. and one of the latter, who acted as leader, commanded, "ready," and the whole party immediately fired upon them, One of the prisoners was shot through the head and killed instantly, and three were wounded. Lieut. Porter was not hit. He immediately ran, was followed and fired upon three times by one of the party, and, finding that he was- about to be overtaken, threw himself over a precipice into the river, and succeeded in getting his hands loose, swam to the opposite side, and. although pursued to that side and several times fired upon, he, after twenty-four hours of extraordinary exertion and great exposure, reached. a house, whence he was taken to Tullahoma, where he now lies in a critical situation. The others, after being shot, were immediately thrown into the river-thus the murder of three men, Newell E. Orcutt, 9th Independent Battery, Ohio Vol. Artillery, John W. Drought, Co. H, Twenty-second Wisconsin Volunteers and George W. Jacobs, Co. D. Twenty-second Wisconsin Volunteers, was accomplished by shooting and. drowning. The fourth, James W. Foley, 9th Independent Battery. Ohio Vol. Artillery, is now lying in hospital, having escaped by getting his hands free while in the water.
For these atrocious and cold-blooded murders, equalling in savage ferocity any ever committed by the most barbarous tribes on the conti- nent, committed by rebel citizens of Tennessee, it is ordered that the property of all other rebel citizens living within a circuit of ten miles of the place where these men were captured, be assessed, each in his due pro- portion, according to his wealth, to make up the sum of thirty thousand dollars, to be divided among the families who were dependent upon the murdered men for support, as follows :
Ten thousand dollars to be paid the widow of John W. Drought, of North Cape, Racine county, Wisconsin, for the support of herself and two children.
Ten thousand dollars to be paid the widow of George W. Jacobs of Delevan, Walworth county, Wisconsin, for the support of herself and. one child.
Ten thousand dollars to be divided between the aged mother and sis- ter of Newell E. Orcutt, of Burton, Geauga conty, Ohio.
Should the persons assessed fall within one week after notice shall. have been served upon them, to pay in the amount of their tax in money .. sufficient of their personal property shall be seized and sold at public auction to make up the amount.
Major General H. W. Slocum, U. S. Volunteers, Commanding 12th .. Army Corps, is charged with the execution of this order.
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The men who committed the murder, if caught, will be summarily executed, and any persons executing them will be held guiltless and will receive the protection of this army, and all persons who are suspec- ted of having aided, abetted or harbored these guerrillas will be im- mediately arrested and tried by Military Commission.
By Command of Official :
MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS. WM. D. WHIPPLE, Assistant Adjutant General.
In accordance with the above, Companies B, E and H. of the Thirteenth Regiment left Duck River on the 19th of January and were joined at Tullahoma by three Companies of the One Hundred and Fiftieth New York. On the 20th, all under the command of Major George A. Beardsley of the Thirteenth, proceeded to the place where the men were cap- tured. On the night of the 20th. the detachment en- camped at Lynchburg, and the next day reached Mulberry, Tenn, a small town of about thirty houses. Col. John H. Ketcham, of the One Hundred and Fiftieth New York Regiment took charge of the detachment on its arrival at Mulberry. In order to carry out fully the instructions con- tained in the above order, a day or two was spent in ascer- taining where the tax lists of the county could be obtained in order that some idea could be formed of the wealth of the district. These were eventually seized upon, their contents carefully sifted and a circuit of ten miles around the spot where the men had been captured was drawn. Every rebel citizen was compelled to meet the assessment thus levied upon him, the result being that over $25.000 of the money ordered to be collected was secured in cash and the balance made up by forage, etc. The detachment remained in Mulberry and vicinity until the eleventh of Feb- ruary. when. having accomplished their object, they started to return. On the march back, two men of the One Hun- dred and Fiftieth New York. who persisted in keeping far ahead of the command and wagon train. were shot by guer- rillas and killed. The firing was distinctly heard by the
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