USA > New York > Memories of the 149th Regt. N. Y. Vol. Inft., 3d Brig., 2 Div., 12th and 20th A. C > Part 18
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When this diatribe was over, the barber finished shaving the man's head, and removed his mustache, beard and eve- brows. The culprit, lead by a drum and fife playing the "Rogue's March" and followed by the guards with charged bavonets, was then marched up and down the division lines weeping like a child. The men were encouraged to jeer when the procession passed, but remained silent, except one Ohio regiment, and one Englishman in the 149th, who sang out to the prisoner, " Where did ere git ere bar-berin done?" When the march was over, the culprit, like the "rape goat" of old bearing the sins of the nation, was let loose in the wilderness of Wanhatchie, and never heard of afterwards.
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As an offset to the foregoing, the following is related in ref- . erence to the presentation of captured battle flags to Gen. Hooker. On the 15th of December the 149th, under command of Lieut .- Col. Randall, marched to the quarters of Col. Ireland and formally presented him with four Confederate flags cap- tured in the recent engagements. The regiment, joined by a member of the 60th bearing another captured flag, was then accompanied by Col. Ireland and staff to division head-quarters where the five banners were presented to Gen. Geary, who re- sponded in a few eloquent and complimentary remarks. In return, the men gave him three cheers, and three more for the " White Star".
The little procession then marehed, under the lead of Gen. Geary, two miles to the head-quarters of Gen. Hooker, where the final presentation took place.
The regiment was formed in two lines in front of Hooker's quarters with the officers in front. The bullet-riddled colors of the regiment were brought forward, supported by the eap- tured banners and the division and brigade flags on either side. In front of all was the commanding form of Gen. Geary, with Col. Barnum standing near. On the right of the regimental line was Col. Ireland, the division and brigade staffs, a number of spectators and the band.
Gen. Geary then presented the captured flags to Gen. Hooker in an eloquent and appropriate address, and in a feeling man- ner alluded to the incidents connected with the recent campaign which had resulted so successfully to the Union arms. He said the storming of Lookout Mountain would rank among the most romantic, as well as the most important incidents of the Rebellion, and that the achievement would be remembered as long as its giant peak reared its majestic head towards the stars, whose sparkling glory was the symbol of the conqueror. He said the trophies of the victory were now brought to be laid at the feet of their beloved commander, who as a soldier and a man they all delighted to honor. He then paid a high compliment to Col. Barnum and the 149th Regiment.
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Col. Barnum then followed in a neat and appropriate speech, and after allnding to several incidents of the war, concluded as follows :
"Numerous have been the brilliant episodes of the contest, but chiefest of them all, and equal in its tragic splendor to the proudest effort of any people, is our own recent achievement- Hooker's fight above the clouds-the storming and capture of Lookout Mountain. Thankful are we, sir, that you gave the "White Star' the post of honor, always the post of danger. You have been pleased to commend us for our deeds on that day, performed under the lead of our beloved General; and to-day, by his and your permission, we lay at your feet our trophies of the conflict, and with them, that of our gallaut brother in arms, the 60th N. Y. Receive them, sir, not alone as the evidence of our powers, but also as mute and eloquent witnesses of the brilliant conception and daring boldness of the model soldier, who has given his name to the proud deed."
The flags were then received in behalf of Gen. Hooker by his Chief of Staff, Gen. Butterfield, in a few feeling and com- plimentary remarks; after which each bearer of a flag came forward, and the incidents connected with the capture explained by Col. Barnum. Four of the flags presented were lettered in gold leaf (taken from Ringgold) by Michael Andersag of Co. B. Two each as follows: "Captured at Lookout Mountain Nov. 24th, 1863, by the 149th N. Y. S. Vols., 3d Brig., 2d Div., 12th A. C.", and "Captured at Ringgold Nov. 27th, 1863, by the 149th N. Y. S. Vols., 3d Brig., 2d Div., 12th A. C."
A few days after the presentation Col. Barnum received an order to convey the captured flags to the War Department in Washington, with permission to exhibit them in Cincinnati, Syracuse, Albany and other cities on the route, and a sick leave of absence for twenty days, to take effect after the perform- ance of this duty. As a special recognition for bravery shown in the field, Sergt .- Maj. M. B. Birdseye of the 149th was de- tailed by the same order to accompany Col Barmum and take the manual custody of the flags. On arriving at Albany, as a
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further recognition for gallant services, Governor Seymour commissioned Birdseye to a captainey in the 2d N. Y. Cavalry, and he never returned to the regiment afterwards. The whole number of flags returned to the War Department was ten, of which this regiment captured four.
Too much cannot be said in praise of the condnet of Lieut .- Col. Randall in the recent campaign, but owing to his weak condition from wounds received at Gettysburg, the recent ex- postres were too much for him, so on account of sickness he received a furlough and went home. About this time, Lieuts. Merriam and Mckinstry, who were each injured in battle, went home on sick leave. On the 22d of December Stiles Rust and John Ryan visited the regiment and took home the bodies of J. Holland Johnson. Jr., William C. Lilly, Moses Rothchilds, James Hines, James R. Mills, Frank Van Atten, and Jeremiah MeCarthy. Asst .- Surgeon Phillips resigned his commission and went home on December 4th. About this time it being ascertained that Capt. Hopkins was the senior officer of the line, on the departure of Col. Randall, he assumed command. The regiment was detailed for fatigue duty and performed work on the railroad ; still the repairs progressed slowly and half the Winter had passed before the road was in operation and a train had entered Chattanooga.
Before the month of December was over it was found im- possible to properly supply the Army of the Cumberland, in- creased in numbers by the 11th and part of the 12th Corps. and render any assistance to the starving army of Burn-ide at Knoxville by means of steam transports on the Tennessee River. None of the troops received more than half rations, some even less, and for want of forage the poor mules in the wagon train were starving. Something had to be done, so part of the troops were sent back to where the railroad was in operation and where they could be more easily supplied. During the first week of January, 1864, the 1st and 2d Brigades of the " White Star" Division returned to Bridgport, and the 3d Brigade to Stevenson, Alabama. It was unpleasant for the
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149th to leave the comfortable quarters which had cost it so much labor to build in the middle of Winter, still a man's stomach will subordinate all other considerations, and a diet of boiled rice and fat pork, for a few days before the departure, tended to reconcile the men to the change. The poor mules were too weak to draw baggage over the mountains to Bridg- port, so it was taken down by return steamers, and the empty wagon train, without rations for man or beast, returned on the old road along the railroad. Those who accompanied it re- ported the journey the most trying and tedious one ever un- .dertaken. When the poor starving mules had gone as far as they could, they laid down in the road and died, and the aban- doned wagons came forward afterwards by boat and rail.
In order to ration the men for the journey, Gen. Geary marched them to Kelly's Ferry, but found no supplies there. The captain of a passing steamer refused to land, saying he was charged not to stop or discharge his cargo before arriving at Chattanooga. Here was a painful and perplexing situation ; a large body of troops with empty stomachs, and at least two good days' march between it and the nearest supplies. It has been said, that "The righteous will not be forsaken or his seed seen begging bread," and, as if in kindly consideration for the suffering heroes of Lookout Mountain, kind Providence so ordered that the passing steamboat struck a rock before going a mile, and was obliged to return and discharge its cargo to make repairs. It was then a simple matter for the boys to help themselves, which they did, and go on their way rejoicing with stomachs filled with " hard-tack and sow-belly".
The road from Kelly's Ferry led up the mountain slope to its summit, which was found to be a broad and extended plateau under cultivation and inhabited. During the day several characteristic Tennessee dwellings were passed. These con- sisted of two distinct log houses, facing each other, with one roof covering the two and an intervening platform. As the men expressed it, it was a long house with a big hole in the middle. The platform was agreeable for Summer weather,
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and the two rooms served for privacy to the two sexes, al- though Unele Sam's soldiers never saw any practical use of it. The houses on many of the so-called first-class farms in Eastern. Tennessee, Northern Alabama and Georgia were of logs and. fashioned after this manner.
In some places the prospect from the summit of Raccoon Mountain was grand, but cold weather was an unsatisfactory time for enjoying it. In the afternoon the command passed an extensive coal mine, and at night bivouacked near Whitesides. The next day it arrived at Bridgport, and the following one at Stevenson, where Col. Ireland was put in command of the post. Gen. Geary remained at Bridgport with the 1st and 2d Brig- ades.
Soon after arriving at Stevenson the 60th, 78th and the 102d,. having re-enlisted and mustered as veterans, received thirty days' leave of absence and went home to recruit. The 137th was assigned to duty at Stevenson as commissary and provost guard, while the 149th was broken up and distributed along the railroad and-three companies, I, Cand K, under command of Capt. Lindsay-at Caperton's Ferry on the Tennessee River, three or four miles from Stevenson. Capt. Murray was assigned to duty as provost-marshal at Stevenson, with Lieut. Gaffney as his assistant, and Capt. Ira B. Seymour to the same duty at. Bridgport.
Caperton's Ferry was a place of considerable importance as. many Union refugees and Confederate deserters crossed there to get within the Union lines, and citizens were constantly passing back and forth at that point from one side to the other of the river. The crossing was made in two or three old dug -. outs which required careful manipulation to prevent upsetting. The boys acted as ferrymen, the animals swimming the stream while their owners rode in the dug-outs. The enemy's cavalry frequently scurried up and down the opposite bank, and every one who crossed carried a gun and exercised great caution to. prevent ambushment and capture. One day when a woman was being ferried the dug-out turned over and precipitated the-
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occupants into the water. The woman and the soldier were saved, but the man was short a gun. No one in the 149th was ever captured, but the 66th Ohio, which relieved it, sustained several losses both by capture and injury.
The signal service which was organized at Wanhatchie was continned at this place and was made a means of communica- tion between Col. Ireland's quarters and Caperton's Ferry. There were three stations, one at head-quarters, one upon a high hill back of Stevenson, and one at the Ferry. The ser- vice was more than ornamental, as the post was often threat- ened with attack by Morgan's Cavalry, and the Ferry was not only one of the principal avenues of approach, but was an im- portant avenue through which information was obtained of the enemy's movements.
When Capt. Lindsay's little command was relieved at the ferry, it was reinforced by Co. B, and sent to guard a railroad bridge at Crow Creek several miles west of Stevenson.
In the Winter of 1864 a large number of colored refugees eame into Stevenson. At first they were cheerfully received and put to work handling freight and performing general fatigue duty, but in the end, their number became so great, they were a burden and a serious problem on the hands of the post commander. Towards Spring he colonized them in a lit- tle village which he laid out, built and named Douglastown. Each family had a log cabin and a spot of ground for a garden. Schools were instituted for week days and Sundays, and under the rigor of military discipline, the little village prospered. Among these people were all kinds of artisans, and as they were willing to work, many were employed ; yet they all ate at Uncle Sam's table and increased his burden.
To add still more to the perplexity of the Commissary De- partment, the white population for miles around Stevenson, from one cause or another, were destitute, and Uncle Sam had to open his larder to them every tenth day. On ration days Stevenson swarmed with thousands of " White Trash", which made its appearance on foot, on horse-back, on mules and asses,
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and by every conceivable conveyance known to man. They were a nondescript lot and, with a few exceptions, as ignorant and unsophisticated as the primitive man. All ages and sexes were represented, though the female element predominated. The women "chawed" tobacco, dipped snuff, and smoked like troopers. Butternut garments and slouched hats were the pre- vailing costume, even among the women. Of course, no rations were distributed until every mother's son and daughter of them took the oath of allegiance, yet probably most of them would have taken an oath to support the Southern Confederacy the next day for a duplicate of rations. These occasions, when the "natives" came to town, were of great interest to the sol- diers, who thoroughly enjoyed the novel experience. There was no end of fun and frolic with the gentler sex, some of whom were afterwards visited by the boys at their homes. Their escapades with these people could not, and some of them should not, be told in this sketch.
As an example of their unsophisticated character, it is re- lated that two of the boys were married to two young women at the home of the parents with their approval ; a comrade act- ing as chaplain. Their faith was not shocked by any of the performances of the men until the chaplain got gloriously drunk and indulged in profanity, and even this was excused on the score of being a Yankee peculiarity. As these wives were never introduced into Northern society, it is presumed the marriages, like the boys' enlistments, were "for and during the War".
One day one of the "native" women came to the brigade surgeon to get a prescription for her son whom she described as having "a right smart misery in his guts".
There were other places, besides Stevenson, where there was a heavy drain upon the Commissary Department for other than army purposes, but in behalf of the colored people it can be said, they repaid Uncle Sam by their labor and furnished him with many excellent soldiers for his army. Before the Spring campaign opened several colored regiments were organized at this point and distributed for duty along the railroad.
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At Stevenson the men received full rations and plenty of clothing, but the condition of the poor mules did not improve accordingly. The railroad was taxed to its utmost to meet the requirements of the army and the refugee population. There was no transportation for bulky forage, and the surrounding country was destitute. As a consequence the poor animals perished from starvation by hundreds and their careases were lying everywhere decking the surrounding landscape like hay- cocks in a July meadow. When the weather moderated, the nuisance was unbearable, and large fatigue parties were de- tailed to abate it.
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CARISTMAS SPORTS.
The Alabama House was opened as a Soldiers' Home by Capt. Park Wheeler and wife. With the advent of Mrs. Wheeler came the wife of Col. Ireland, and Mrs. Dr. J. V. Kendall, giving a savor of dite society to the post at Steven- son. Everything about Stevenson was barren and desolate, as the fences had been entirely removed and the roads obliterated, but everything was furbished and put in its best livery in honor of these ladies ; the newly-organized band, consisting of four- teen pieces besides drums, which joined at Stevenson, daily
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discoursed sweet musie, and dress parade, guard mounting and all manner of military ceremonials were performed in front of head-quarters in their presence. Col. Ireland was an intelligent and kind-hearted man, and a capable officer, and everything he thought would add to the comfort and pleasure of his men and the fair guests of the brigade was done by him.
Among the things instituted for the diversion of the men was horse-racing, barrow races, running in bags, eatehing greased pigs, and so forth, by his proteges of Douglastown. The boys did the laughing and the darkies did the tumbling.
In the month of January Burnett E. Miller joined the regi- ment, was mustered as Ist Lieutenant. and took command of Co. K. Dr. Adams also joined the regiment and was again mustered as Asst .- Surgeon. In the month of February Lieut. Spore resigned his commission and went home. Capt. Hop- kins received a leave of absence, and Lient .- Col. Van Voorhies was again in command of the regiment. A box was received from the ladies of Syracuse containing over eight hundred pairs of mittens. In the month of April Capt. Hopkins was promoted to Major, Lieut. Coville to Captain and Lients. Knapp and Hopkins to Ist Lieutenants.
In the middle of February a colored wedding took place at the Soldiers' Home between two of Capt. Wheeler's help. The occasion was made a society event at which the officers appeared in full uniform and the ladies in full dress. The colored preacher, who was to officiate, was late in making his appear- ance, to the embarrassment of the interested parties, but on arriving made amends by tying the golden knot in the most approved fashion. At the close of the ceremony congratu- lations followed, in which Dr. Kendall kissed the bride. After an elaborate supper, furnished by Mine Host Wheeler, all who wished tripped the light fantastic toe to the music of the band.
During the stay at Stevenson, an enterprising member of the 137th published a newspaper which was issued when oc- casion required. In the absence of type and press, the paper was written by hand and posted where it could be read, or
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passed from hand to hand among the patrons. In the next. issue after the wedding appeared the following : LINES ON THE BLACK WEDDING. I saw two "Shades" as black as Spades, Tanned by the Southern Sun ; I saw too-Shades of various grades Assembled when work was done. Assembled to see the wedding rite, To see the two made one.
Sparkling faces, both black and white, Were there to see the fun- At the Alabama House that night, Now called the " Soldier's Home". There was no red blush on her cheek ; There was courage in her eye ; Patiently she stood, and meek Tho' she heaved a deep-drawn sigh.
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There Dinah stood, on her wedding night, And a manly form stood by- His manly brow shone clear and bright, (Black marble between you and I !) The white-wash glistened upon the wall : Sweet fragrance filled the air ; Not one was there who would not call Them a happy and loving pair.
At last he came (being rather late), The Priest. this job to do- And he jimed them together, fate to fate, To love, to cherish and be true. The bridegroom kissed her amber lips- His wife-so black and sleek- And after that were frequent sips, As her friends her hand did seek ; And the Doctor came, with courtly grace, And kissed her on her cheek. The gentlemen leered, the ladies jeered, As he went out through the hall. The floor was cleared-the tiddlers appeared .. And the night wound up with a ball.
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About the 1st of March the 60th, 78th and 102d returned from the North with recruits, and the officers of the brigade turned out with the band and serenaded their brethren. Abont the same time the 149th received seventy-five or a hundred recruits.
During the Winter the men at Stevenson and along the rail- road frequently turned out to repel raids of cavalry, or an at- taek of guerrillas, and remained under arms during the night ; but were never assailed as their evaseless vigilance prevented it. In the month of March Col. Ireland ordered the erection of a fort at Stevenson, which was built under the direction of Q .- M. Merritt of the 60th, a practical engineer, and when com- pleted was a beautiful structure. On the 23d of March there was a storm and snow fell to the depth of sixteen inches. The whole brigade turned out and had an old-fashioned snow-ball- ing match. The men built snow forts and had a sham battle in which there were no killed, but many bloody noses.
When the Spring opened many officers obtained passes and visited Huntsville, a beautiful village of five or six thousand inhabitants, a few miles from Stevenson. The season opened much earlier than in the North and, before the departure, the Spring's work of the farmers was nearly done; wild flowers were in full bloom, and the woods and groves were filled with singing birds. During the stay several of the boys kept pets in their quarters, and among them was a tame squirrel and a tame rabbit, which were presented to Mrs. Col. Ireland.
On the 12th of April Gen. Geary with about a thousand men and a section of Knap's Battery went down the river on steamboats to reconnoiter and destroy all craft in use of the enemy. They were gone several days and returned in safety.
About the middle of April an order was promulgated consoli- dating the 11th and 12th Corps into a new one, called the 20th. It was unpleasant to loose the old corps numbers, but the men of the 12th were reconciled to the change by the adoption of their badge, the star, as the emblem of the new organization. Geary's Division still retained the " White Star", to its honor
HIJO. ENG CO
MAIOR MOSES SUMMERS.
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and great satisfaction. Ireland's 34 Brigade received an ac- . quisition to its numbers by the introduction of the 29th and the 111th Pennsylvania, which formerly constituted the 2d Brigade under Col. Cobham. These two regiments were well known to Ireland's men and heartily welcomed. The 20th Corps as then organized, had three divisions: the 1st com- manded by Gen. Williams, the 2d by Gen. Geary, and the 3d by Gen. Butterfieldl. The first two were composed mostly of old troops and the third of new. In Butterfield's Division was the brigade commanded by Gen. Benj. Harrison, now President of the United States.
One of the disagreeable features of the consolidation was the removal of Gen. H. W. Sloeum, as corps commander. This was a great disappointment to every member of the 12th Corps. He was a modest, unassuming and capable officer, and . generally respected by his men, who knew his worth. They had implicit faith in him and were willing to follow where he led. They admired Hooker who took his place, but they loved Slocum, and reposed confidence in his cool judgment. Slocum's parting with the 3d Brigade, which took place at a review held at Stevenson a few days after the consolidation, was attended with unfeigned regret. Gen. Sherman after- wards showed his appreciation of the ability of Gen. Slocum by assigning him. after Atlanta, to the command of one of the wings of his army, but it is questionable if the general public, even to this day, fully appreciate this capable officer, and his valuable services to the country.
About the last of April Moses Summers was appointed A. A. Q .- M. on the staff of Col. Ireland, and Lieut. Merriam was assigned to duty as Q .- M. of the regiment in his place. George II. Deitz was promoted to Sorgt .- Major, vice Birdseye pro- moted. Lieut .- Col. Randall returned from the North bring- ing a new stand of national colors presented by the officers of the Salt Springs, and took command of the regiment, which had been relieved from duty along the railroad. Orders were re- ceived to be in readiness to move at a moment's notice, and
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Mrs. Wheeler, Mrs. Col. Ireland, and Mrs. Kendall were sent North in charge of Capt. Wheeler as escort. Maj. Hop- kins, being ill, was sent to hospital at Nashville, and Lieut. Gaffney was acquitted by a court-marshal of the charge of in- toxication while on duty and conduct unbecoming a gentleman.
Before the departure of the officers' wives for the North a social party was given by Mrs. Ireland at her husband's quar- ters, which were elaborately decorated for the occasion. All sorts of military trappings embellished the walls of the different rooms, and transparencies were suspended at convenient places bearing the names of honored commanders and the names of battles in which the brigade had participated. Everything that willing hands could do to make the occasion brilliant and pleasing was done, and no end of praise was bestowed upon the supper which was served by the fair hostess. Of course, there was a predominance of the masculine element present, yet the ladies made themselves agreeable and entertaining to supply the deficiency of numbers on their part. Among the noticeable things at the supper table was a bounteous supply of wild flowers. On account of the death of Col. Ireland at the close of the Summer's campaign at Atlanta, the remem- branee of this parting entertainment, by those present, has always been tinged with sadness; for Col. Ireland and his estimable wife were highly respected. ,
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