USA > New York > Memories of the 149th Regt. N. Y. Vol. Inft., 3d Brig., 2 Div., 12th and 20th A. C > Part 15
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The train arrived at Indianapolis in the evening, and the regiment was served with a sumptuous repast by the people. Among the presents bestowed were two mammoth cheeses to each company, One of these was out in pieces and put in the haversacks of the men, but the other in most instances was carried along in the box in which it was presented. This was a simple thing to do so long as the journey was by rail, but at Jefferson, Indiana, the troops disembarked from the cars and
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marched to the Nashville depot on the southern side of the city of Louisville, Ky., a distance of abont five miles, including the ferry across the Ohio River; then came the rub. Some of the men had been separated from their companies during the journey and their arms and knapsacks were cared for by their comrades, making as much Inggage as the men could well carry. In the company of the writer the box of cheese was entrusted to the custody of a wiry little Frenchman who under- took to see it safely transferred. This was the last seen of the Frenchman until he turned up two days after the regiment ar- rived at Murfreesborough without so much as the smell of cheese about his garments.
Some men, although excellent soldiers, could not withstand the temptation of free whisky, and so, when the regiment was transferred at the Ohio River, there were a few who needed more than a guide to pilot them over. One big fellow under- took to conduct an inebriated comrade along the streets from one dlepot to the other : when his friend declined to walk he carried him on his back : when he would not ride he made him walk, and thus alternately toting and leading he finally brought his charge in safety to the Nashville depot.
It was Sunday forenoon when the train arrived at Jefferson, and the people coming from church reminded the men of the day of the week. Dinner was served at the Soldiers' Retreat near the depot in Louisville. The progress of the train after leaving the latter city, like all freight trains, was very slow, and darkness came on long before passing out of the State of Kentucky. The sentiment of the people was inlike that in Ohio and Indiana, and the reception of the troops was not over cordial. No letters, no hot coffee, and none of those thousand and one little courtesies which had been shown during the two or three preceding days. If there were any lond hutz- zas, they were from Union soldiers stationed along the route and not from the people.
In the morning the men found themselves in the State of Tennessee nearing the city of Nashville, at which place the
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train arrived at an early hour. In crossing the Cumberland River, many peculiarly constructed flat-bottomed stern-wheeled steamboat- were seen loading and unloading at the wharfs. The men were disappointed in the size of the river as it was comparatively small and did not appear valuable for purposes of navigation. The stay at Nashville continued for several hours, but the men did not see much of the town as the train was run out upon trestle work fifty feet above the ground where they were unable to leave the car. The principal thing which attracted attention was the Capitol, a large stone build- ing with fluted Corinthian columns at each end, which stood on a high conical hill in the center of the city. High stone steps led up to the building at either end from the open space below, and the approaches to it were guarded by numerous pieces of artillery protected by earthworks and barricades. The city apparently contained ten or fifteen thousand inhabit- ants, and was occupied by army officials and attachus. It was a depot for the Army of the Cumberland, and afterwards served the same purpose for Sherman's whole command, containing besides the Army of the Cumberland, the Army of the Ten- nessee and Ohio. All the principal buildings were in use by the government, and barrels, boxes and all kinds of army property were piled up everywhere and seemingly without limit. The schools, churches, military barracks, and other public buildings were in use as hospitals, and many members of the regiment will remember the days and months spent in them while suffering from disease or from injuries received in the line of duty.
Early in the afternoon the train was moved hastily twenty- five miles from Nashville to a place one mile west of Mur- freesborough where there was an extensive fortification on the east side of Stone River. Here the regiment disembarked and was hurriedly put in position with Western troops to repel an anticipated attack of the enemy's cavalry, which was said to be in large force on the other side of the town. The works occupied were square in form, and with redoubts in the corners,
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in which were several pieces of artillery, mounted, manned, shotted and ready for action. Along the intervening works were soldiers from all branches of the service. The railroad ran through the center of the fortification, and when the train arrived it was evident there was great satisfaction at the timely arrival of the regiment. After getting into position. the 149th boys looked quietly over the top of the earthworks, and seeing no enemy in view, commenced making coffee and preparing food to eat. When the Westerners saw this they were dis- gusted and the Easterners lost cast. They said. " The d-d Army of the Potomac didn't know enough to be afraid when it was in danger," and as the boys wore paper collars, had their shoes blacked, and presented an orderly appearance, in marked contrast to the Westerners. they sneeringly dubbed them " Paper-collar soldiers". From the first it was evident that the men in the 11th and 12th Corps had not the respect of the Western troops, and there was no end of ways in which they manifested their contempt for them. Just before dark there was great excitement along the lines and it was announced that the enemy was coming. The Western men flew to arms and were with difficulty restrained from opening fire, conse- quently, there was considerable laughter in the ranks of the 149th, a few minutes afterwards, when it was discovered the approaching forces were Union cavalry in pursuit of the enemy who had moved away.
The remaining portion of the ed Division soon arrived at Murfreesborongh, and the head-quarters of the divison and the brigade were established in the village. The largest portion of the Ist Division went on to Wartrace, where Gen. Slocum made his HI-Q .. and detached portions of the 11th and 12th Corps were scattered in earthworks and stockades along the railroad from Murfreesborough to Bridgeport.
Murfreesborough was a shire town with houses chistered around a small square in which was a large brick court-house. The principal business streets faced the square, and as the sur- rounding country was rich and fertile, the place had a thrifty
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business appearance. Several army hospitals were here and a considerable collection of army supplies.
Prior to the arrival of the 2d Division many Union pickets had been captured from the pikes and highways leading into town, and it was a frequent occurrence to see accounts of the captures in the newspapers. Gen. Geary was put in charge of all forces in the vicinity, and among other things receiving his attention was that of picket duty. Guard-mounting took place with much pomp and style in the streets fronting the public square, and on account of the laxity of discipline among the Western regiments, it was so managed that the inspections were conducted by Eastern officers, and the principal pieket posts were put in their charge. The instructions were rigid, and no excuse was received for defects in dress or the per- formance of duty. The Western brethren were a nondescript lot, and so there were some heart-burnings and internal swear- ing when they obeyed the command, " Two paces to the front," and afterwards to report to their respective regiments for ir- regularity. It did seem a little severe, but there were no more pickets captured, and in the end the Western officers gave due credit for the benefits received from the discipline. At this time in the West the general impression prevailed that the Army of the Potomac did not amount to much, and while its tactical knowledge was admitted, the Western men said, " It was all very well, but fuss and feathers didn't count much when you come to fighting." In other words, the Eastern troops were underestimated as fighters.
The fences about the village were destroyed, the lands run to waste, and the surrounding fields were grown up to weeds higher than a man's head ; so when the piekets moved from one highway to another in making the circuit of the town, they moved in paths eut through the weeds resembling those made by moles in high meadow grass. The height of the weeds ren- dered picket duty unpleasant and dangerous on account of the liability to surprise by an approaching enemy.
The fortitications in which camp was located were part of
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those built by Gen. Rosecrans on the battlefield of Stone River. and on the same ground now occupied by the National Ceme- tery. At the time of the arrival it was supposed the stay of the regiment was only temporary, until a railroad bridge three miles below could be repaired, and no effort was made-to erect quarters suitable for protection against the inelement weather. When the boys understood the situation they brought boards and other material from the town and made themselves com- fortable. As it rained more than half the time and was cold, they were glad when their work was completed. Then came an order to move next morning. When the hour arrived the men pulled down their tents and gave away their belongings to other commands. After they were in line ready to move, a second order came directing them to return to quarters, much to their sorrow and disgust. Some of the articles so generous- ly given away were restored, but still a whole day was spent in getting in shape to live again.
While in the Army of the Potomae the troops were visited by newsboys and the men could obtain New York papers with considerable regularity ; here there were no such advantages and even the mail facilities were irregular. There were some compensations, however, for the change to the Western army. especially at Murfreesborough. as the men could obtain bread at tive cents a loaf, butter at twenty-five cents a pound, milk at ten cents a quart, and sweet potatoes without limit at nomi- nal prices.
At Murfreesborough the regiment received notice of the death of Mr. MeQueen, one of the teamsters, who was accidentally killed while horse-racing at Bealton Station. Also an order was published, in accordance with the decision of a court martial, whereby Henry Shorey of Co. A was sentenced to loss of pay and to hard labor in the provost guard during his term of ser- vice for desertion. An election occurred at this time among the Ohio troops and a good deal of interest was taken in the result owing to the sympathy aroused while passing through that State. The result was a unanimous vote in favor of Brough against Vallandingham for governor.
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Abont night on the 23d day of October, two days subsequent to the previous breakup, the regiment took cars and resumed its journey for the seat of war. The track had been so fre- quently torn up by guerrilla bands, it was not deemed safe to travel nights, so the train ran twenty-five miles down to War- trace and laid over until the next morning.
Wartrace was a small village situate on the southwest side of a hill, and was the head-quarters of Gen. Slocum. At nine o'clock the next morning the train ran down to Tullahoma. The railroad at this time was used entirely for military purposes and the trains were run in sections; the one bearing the 149th was the second in order. Just below Tullahoma the first see- tion was run off the track by guerrillas, causing a delay until the wreck could be removed and the track put in order. The wrecked train carried army supplies and had a guard of twenty- five men : these kept the enemy away until the second section, bearing the regiment, came in view, when the Confederates took to their heels and ran away. One officer, one or two men and several of the enemy were injured.
While remaining in the village of Tullahoma the men skir- mished for food and supplies. After a little they returned loaded with canned fruits, bottles of pickles, sardines, and nu- morons other sutter goods. The Sergeant-Major soon after- wards came running down the line saying a store had been broken open and the contents removed, that the Colonel and General were coming and if any of the missing articles were found with the men they would be punished : then there was a serabbling to secrete the coveted property. The command- ing officer- talked loud and severe about the occurrence and what would be done with the culprits if discovered, but strange to say they found nothing, although the ridge-pole of the cars was covered with sardine boxes and other stores. The boys laughed about the occurrence, but did not repeat it.
Late in the afternoon the train ran down to Deckert Station, where it remained until the following morning, and then went to Cowan Station at the foot of the Cumberland Mountains.
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It was then broken into sections, and each, with an engine in front and one behind, ascended the mountain slope on a grade of two hundred feet to the mile. The scenery was grand and the men got on top of the ears to enjoy it. After about four miles, the train suddenly entered a tunnel a mile in length, then came the tug of war. The smoke settled down and was stifling, but the boys pulled the capes of their overcoats tightly over their heads and clung to the top of the cars with their hands. It was an experiment no one desired to repeat. Emerging from the tunnel. the track rapidly descended for eight miles to the valley below, and wound in and out deep cuts and over trestles and embankments where views were obtained into deep ravines at frightful depths below. The scenery was grand and picturesque, but few persons would desire to view it from the top of a freight car with an active memory of recent work by guerrilla bands in that vicinity, especially as the curves were frequently so sharp that it was impossible to see the length of the train. The feelings of the members of the regiment were relieved when they arrived in the valley below.
The country west of the Cumberland Mountains is fertile and comparatively well cultivated, while to the east it is more sterile, wild and sparsely settled. The inhabitants seen along the road were of a class called " Crackers": a lazy and shift- less set living from hand to mouth and worse off than the negroes. The first place east of the mountain was Stevenson, Ala., a hamlet of fifty houses or more at the junction of two railroads. After a short stop the train proceeded ten miles to Bridgport on the Tennessee River, the end of railroad carriage. Bridgport was the name of the place where the railroad for- merly crossed the river. There were no houses in sight and all was wild and primitive as at the base of the Rocky Monn- tains. The railroad bridge, an imposing structure of eight. piers, had been destroyed, hence this was a depot for the Army of the Cumberland then at Chattanooga. After crossing the river the railroad formerly ran up the valley of the Tennessee a distance, and then over Raccoon Mountain into Lookout Val-
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ley on the way to Chattanooga, twenty-five miles from Bridg- port. The country lying between these two places was then in the hands of the enemy, which, with the destruction of the railroad bridges, made it necessary for the Army of the Cum- berland to obtain its supplies from Bridgport by wagons over mountain roads on the western side of the Tennessee River, a distance of about sixty miles. As a result the army was in a starving condition and an effort was to be made to open a shorter route. The 11th Corps had preceded the 149th, the first to arrive of the ed Division of the 12th Corps, the only division taking part in this movement. After leaving the cars the regiment went into camp on a hillside overlooking the river and the surrounding country. The weather was propitions. and the sun shone with a mellow light upon the surrounding hills and mountains covered with a nearly unbroken forest in the richest of Autumn tints. The leaves had fallen in consider- able quantities and made dry and comfortable beds for the night. Although the surroundings were pleasing, the wildness of the place, and the intuitive knowledge of the work to follow, made the men sad, but did not shake their resolution in the performance of duty. The grounds occupied were subsequently used for an extensive field hospital in which many men present afterwards suffered from wounds received in action, and they seemed to have an intuitive perception of what was to follow and the suffering there to be endured.
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CHAPTER XXI.
WAUHATCHIE.
PURSUANT to orders received the previous evening, the regiments which had arrived be- longing to Geary's Di- vision left Bridgport at CHATANOS dayhght on the 27th day of October, cross- ing the Tennessee River on a pontoon bridge. The line of march dur- ing the day was near CRACKER LINE. the railroad up the val- ley of the river in a comparative wilderness. At three o'clock in the afternoon the 149th arrived at Shell Mound and went into camp for the night. There were no building's at the place except a small railway station.
At the base of a high rocky cliff in Raccoon Mountain, half a mile from the station, is the famous Nickajack Cave. Its entrance is a hundred feet in width and high enough to permit a man to enter it for some distance on horseback. The roof is horizontal and impreses the beholder, on approaching, with a sense of insecurity. From the mouth of the cave issues a large stream of water of a light green color, which flows through the whole length of the cavern visited by the men ; some of them paddled a rowboat on its surface in making their exploration.
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Near the mouth of the cave were erude but extensive works used in the manufacture of saltpetre from the clay and earth taken in baskets and hand-barrows from the floors of the pas- sageways and chambers. Water drained through this earth in leaching tubs is evaporated by boiling for the saltpetre. The manner employed is similar to that used in the manufacture of potash from wood ashes. It was reported that these works were of great value to the Confederacy, and at one time the chief source of its supply of this article. Nickajack Cave in early times was infested by robber bands who preyed upon traders and emigrants descending the Tennessee River. Fabu- lous stories were told of its extent and magnificence, but there is no doubt that it is at least two or three miles in length and worth a visit.
The name of the station, Shell Mound, no doubt is derived from the fact that it stands on earth largely composed of shells.
About dark a large detail was made from the regiment to as- sist in laying a pontoon bridge across the river opposite the station. It took fifty-three pontoons besides several old seows and barges and was about twelve hundred feet in length. The night being dark, large fires were built on the banks to give light to the workmen, and as the river was deep and had a stiff current, the work was laborious and attended with considerable personal risk. The bridge was completed and the men relieved at two o'clock A. M.
Reveille sounded at four and the regiment was again on the march at daylight still pursuing the course of the railroad up the river. The mountains about, decorated in the gorgeous livery of Autumn, with the winding river, rendered the scenery beautiful and impressive. The sun came out and the march would have been enjoyed but for the fatigue of the previous night's duty. The road gradually ascended the mountain-side above the river and valley. Many of the seenes passed have since been portrayed in Appleton's " Picturesque America" and are among the most valuable contributions to that work.
At noon the route turned to the right into a long low pass
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through Raccoon Mountain, leaving the river behind. During the afternoon the command passed under a high railroad trestle bridge, which crossed from one side to the other of the pass, and seemed to be in good order. Some of the men, tired of walking in the wagon road, marched along the bed of the rail- road which ran nearly parallel to it. When they came to this bridge, part had the nerve to eross it high over head, while others not so daring retraced their steps and joined the column.
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Early in the afternoon the command reached Whiteside, a congregation of small buildings clustered around larger ones belonging to a coal company which had a mine a short distance north connected with this place by a branch railroad. All work at this time was suspended. At several places in the railroad euts the outeropping of coal could be seen in the rocks.
The road through the pass lies along the line between the States of Tennessee and Georgia and once during the day it passed over into the latter and then back into the former. Late in the afternoon, emerging from the pass, the route took a northeasterly. course down the mountain side into Lookout Valley. After several miles the railroad, which the command had been pursuing, was joined by one coming north from Tren- ton. A short distance beyond the junction, Geary's command turned into a piece of woods with a dense undergrowth, to the left of the railroad and south of a small clearing, and bivouacked for the night.
Lookout Valley is about two miles wide, bounded on the west by Raccoon Mountain and on the east by Lookout Moun- tain. These two ranges are broken off abruptly at the Tennes- see River, which flows westerly across their northern extremi- ties, as well as that of Lookout Valley. On either side of the valley are high foot-hills which run parallel with these moun- tain ranges. East of the foot-hills, and hugging the base of Lookout Mountain, is Lookout Creek, which flows northerly into the Tennessee River. The western side of Lookout Moun- tain is very abrupt, covered with bowlders and loose stones, and has a ledge of overhanging rocks thirty to fifty feet in
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thickness running along its top. The place where Geary halted his command is four or five miles south of the Tennessee River and known as Wanhatchie.
The little clearing spoken of near camp was heart shaped, extended on both sides of the highway and railroad, with the two lobes to the south, and contained five or six acres on either side of the road. On the southern edge of this elearing, just west of the road, was a little knoll a few feet above the sur- rounding country, near which was a small Tennessee log house occupied by a cracker, his wife, and numerous progeny. Knap's Battery, containing three or four pieces, with the attending caissons, was located on this knoll, while the ammunition and baggage train was parked in the southwestern corner of the open field on the west side of the railroad. A road leading from the valley to Kelly's Ferry through a pass in Raccoon Mountain joined the main road just north of the house. At several places wagons had passed through the woods from one to the other of these highways leaving deep ruts and mud-holes along their track.
When Geary entered the valley, the enemy was firing shells from a battery on the Point of Lookout Mountain into the ranks of Howard's troops in front. As he neared Wanhatchie, his command was also favored with a similar compliment, but the range was too great to do any special harm, so the enemy soon ceased firing. Howard's troops, as the men supposed, held the northern entrance to Lookout Valley, and part of Geary's command held the entrance to the south, so when bivonacking for the night, they believed themselves secure and quickly fell off to sleep to obtain the rest which they so much needed.
A little after ten o'clock the regiment was aroused by dis- tant picket firing and put in line for duty. In a few moments word was whispered along the line to load at will. Then fol- lowed the metallic sound of ramrods carrying home the leaden messengers of death. The night was still and chilly and the men, roused suddenly from coveted sleep, were dazed and trem-
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bled from chilliness and the nervous strain induced by the in- expected situation. They were thoroughly surprised and un- prepared for an enemy whose presence they could not divine. After a short delay the whispered order came to move by the left flank. As the men groped their way, they held their arms over their heads to ward off injury to their faces by swinging bushes. While emerging from the underbrush into a wood road and endeavoring in the darkness to gain company and regimental lines, the enemy opened on the scattered members of the regiment with a terrific volley of musketry at short range from the direction of the wagon train in rear. The opening volley was followed by a deafening roar of musketry from the enemy's whole line. To add to the confusion. the enemy was so close at hand it was difficult in the darkness to distinguish friend from foe. At this critical moment Col. Randall, with coolness and invincible courage, quickly formed the regiment and moved it amid a shower of leaden hail to the position assigned it on the railroad.
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