USA > New York > Memories of the 149th Regt. N. Y. Vol. Inft., 3d Brig., 2 Div., 12th and 20th A. C > Part 19
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CHAPTER XXIV.
RESACA.
". MOSE" CROSSING THE TENNESSEE IN A DUGOUT.
EARLY Monday morning May 2d, 1864, the 149th left Stevenson, 19 officers, 417 musket-bearing men, and 43 musi- cians, non - commis- sioned staff and extra duty men, strong, making an aggregate
strength of 479 men. The brigade column consisted of five New York regiments and the band : the other two regiments being at Bridgport with the remainder of the division.
The stay of the regiment at Stevenson was the longest made by it at any one place during its term of service, and there was a slight feeling of sadness when the hour came to depart; it was like going away from home. Besides this, every man in the command knew that the Summer's campaign was to be a decisive one, and there would be hard work and persistent fighting. Gen. Grant, whose generalship was well known to them, was in command of the whole army, and Gen. Sherman, his able and trusted lientenant, was their commander. Of course, the men knew in the long Summer's campaign many were to sacrifice their lives, and many more suffer injury, and the uncertainty of their fate naturally cast a gloom over them ; yet there was a determined spirit to do their duty manfully,
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have the work over and, if spared, go home to their families. The writer recalls one instance, and there were probably many more, where the departing comrade, with a perception of his fate, wept like a child, saying he never expected to see his family again ; yet he went forward performing his duty un- flinchingly and met his fate with heroic fortitude.
During the first day the command marched leisurely in a southeasterly direction along the railroad towards Bridgport. It rained in the forenoon, but afterwards cleared off warm and pleasant. A halt was made for dinner by the side of a beauti- ful stream of water, and the nooning, as well as the afternoon march, was made pleasant by the fresh green foliage of the trees and the pretty wild flower- growing by the wayside. The brigade went into camp for the night on the hill back of Bridgport between the fort and the railroad. Although the day had been warm and pleasant, the night was cold and there was a slight frost.
Opposite Bridgport there is a large island in the Tennessee River, and in the morning the division crossed the first branch of that stream on a wagon way constructed on the lower tim- bers of the railway trestle bridge, twenty feet below the track on its top. The bridge was over twelve hundred feet long. had ten spans and eight piers. The second branch of the river was crossed on pontoons: The hills about were covered with nearly an unbroken forest in the fresh livery of Spring. the winding river banks were decked with flowering shrubs, the air was bright and clear in the morning sunlight. and the views np and down the river were pleasing. The line of march during the day was along the railroad up the river valley to Shell Mound where the division halted for the night. During the evening many of the men visited the celebrated Nickajack Cave.
The following day the regiment was detailed as wagon guard. and although reveille sounded at four A. M .. it did not move until an hour after sunrise. The progress up the mountain slope and through the Pass of Falling Waters was slow and
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tedious, the poor mules being weak and thin in flesh and the roads rough. The stops were frequent, and the men were obliged to lend a helping hand in getting the wagons forward. While halting under the bridge at Whitesides, a railway train passed over head appearing as if sailing through the air. After dark the road began to descend into Lookout Valley, and then the progress was more rapid, still the regiment did not reach eamp at the northern end of old Lookout until eleven o'clock at night, having made eighteen miles since morning.
During the day dead carcases of mules were found in great numbers partially buried in the road, giving forth a fearful stench, and occasionally the column passed a broken-down wagon, with the wheels wrenched off, bearing evidence of the terrible struggle of the wagon train when it passed that way . the Winter before.
Reveille sounded at five in the morning (May 5th). The regiment soon after broke camp and leaving the wagon train, joined the brigade. It first marched over the northern end, or nose, of Lookout Mountain by a road constructed the Fall be- fore by soldiers. The ascent was quite sharp for a short dis- tance, and then more gradual until arriving at a point where the road was at least two hundred feet above the railroad and the Tennessee River, almost directly below. On one side was the mountain towering to a great height above, and on the other, beautiful valleys, the winding river, several lesser streams and the village of Chattanooga below. In time the command arrived in Chattanooga Valley, and marched rapidly to Ross- ville Gap in Missionary Ridge. Before arriving at the Gap, Gen. Hooker and suit, accompanied by Gen. Sickles on horse- back, overtook the moving column and went to the front ; and soon afterwards Gen. Sherman and staff passed in the same di- rection. After leaving Rossville the column turned to the right, on what was known as the Dry Valley Road, and pro- verding a short distance halted in an open piece of woods for dinner.
The command was now in the State of Georgia, and during
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the afternoon passed over the battlefield of Chickamauga. The weather was very warm and the progress during the afternoon very slow, still the boys were glad when they entered camp a little after sundown. After leaving Rossville the country im- proved in appearance and the soil was rich and fertile.
The next morning reveille sounded at four and the march was resumed at sunrise, but the division did not move very fast and halted for the day about ten o'clock in the forenoon, in an open field, while the wagon train came forward and joined it. The 1st Division camped over a hill a short distance to the left. The day was warm and pleasant and the boys improved the time in writing friends at home.
Soon after daylight on the 7th the brigade, having been de- tailed as train guard, broke camp, and after marching about two miles in a southeasterly direction to Lee and Gordon's Mills, stacked arms and waited until a large body of troops and an immense wagon train passed. While resting by the roadside Gen. Hooker and staff. accompanied by Gen. Sickles, went by and acknowledged the cheers of the men by raising their hats.
About noon the brigade overtook the wagon train parked in an open field near Peavine Church. Here a halt was made for dinner and to permit the men to draw rations.
Early in the afternoon the brigade left the wagon train and, joining the division, moved south on a road running nearly parallel to Taylor's Ridge. After proceeding a few miles the road turned to the left and passed over the Ridge through Gordon's Gap. The day was warm, the roads dusty, and the marching more continuons than for a day or two prior. The upper end of the Chickamauga Valley is a fine country with many natural advantages, and only needs good cultivation to render it a desirable place of abode.
After passing Gordon's Gap the division moved east a short distance into Dogwood Valley, passed through a piece of woods to a camp of cavalry, mounted infantry and ambulances, and bivouacked for the night at nine o'clock in the evening.
On Sunday morning, the sth, the sun rose in splendor.
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While waiting to fall in, a division of cavalry and mounted infantry, under command of Gen. Kilpatrick, went south to open communication with MePherson's Army of the Tennessee, which was making its way east by the way of Villanow. After the cavalry had passed, the 3d Brigade fell in and moved lei- surely in the same direction in its support. About noon it ar- rived in the vicinity of Villanow, filed into a piece of woods, and loaded and stacked arms. In an hour or more word was sent back from the cavalry that MePherson was coming, so the men built fires and prepared dinner. The brigade remained at this place until three r. M., during which time part of Mc- Pherson's command passed with its wagon train. After getting free of the Army of the Tennessee, the brigade returned on the road pursued in the morning for a few miles, turned to the right and went east through a heavily timbered country and joined the division. Late in the afternoon artillery firing was heard, and between nine and ten in the evening the brigade emerged from dense woods into an open field where a skirmish had taken place during the day, and where a battery was then throwing shells into the ranks of the enemy up the mountain slope in front. Just before night several regiments of the division had made an assault upon the enemy on the mountain- side at a place called Dug Gap and been repulsed with severe loss. The brigade on joining the division stacked arms and bivouacked for the night. Although the day had been warm and pleasant, the night was cold and uncomfortable.
In the morning the men were up early getting breakfast ex- pecting to be ordered into the fight at any moment, but re- mained in suspense until four o'clock in the afternoon, when the regiment was detailed for picket at the base of the moun- tain, and relieved those stationed in the woods along the bank of Mill Creek. Rocky Face Ridge rises abruptly from the eastern side of the ereck, and the retiring pickets reported hearing the enemy felling trees and building rifle-pits on its rugged sides during the prior night.
The regiment remained at this place until nine o'clock in the
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morning of the 12th of May, when it was relieved by MeCook's Cavalry. During its stay the enemy was active, felled trees and frequently strengthened his position. Occasionally large bowlders, loosened by him, came tumbling down the mountain- side to the picket line. Geary's men also felled trees and built breastworks to protect themselves. The firing of artillery and musketry was heard almost constantly during the daytime to the north along Rocky Face Ridge, and the pickets were kept- in constant suspense and expectation. About noon of the 10th a terrifie thunder storm came on and continued with more or less severity during the afternoon and night, and was succeeded by several days of cold windy weather.
After dark on the 11th the enemy showed signal lights, the- rumbling of a wagon train was heard, locomotives whistled, the enemy moved among the bushes on the mountain-side, and the pickets were on the alert.
On the morning of the 12th the regiment was relieved and, joining the brigade and division, moved south through the woods in the direction of Snake Creek Gap. During the day several log houses were passed on the way which were nearly destitute of windows, had very little chinking between the tim- bers, and were as open as a eorn barn. So far as comfort was con- cerned they were only a slight improvement over an Indian wigwam.
A little after noon the division halted on a high piece of ground by the side of the road while troops, baggage and ord- nance wagons, and ambulances passed in great numbers going to the front. After a while the division again moved forward and passed through the Gap, which was a wild, densely-wooded, narrow and picturesque pass, about six miles in length, lying between Rocky Face Ridge on one side and Horn Mountain on the other. Through this flows Snake Creek, running south into the Oostanaula River three or four miles below Resaca, and along the bed of which was a common wagon road seldom used. The gap had scarcely a cabin its whole length, and was penetrated only by the midday sun_
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After emerging from the pass the division moved easterly a mile and a half and occupied some rifle-pits which had been constructed by the Union army. In about an hour the divis- ion again advanced a short distance and bivouacked for the night.
The little hamlet of Resaca is situate near the junction of the Cannasauga with the Oostananla River; on the northern side of the latter and the western side of the former. A mile or more west of Resaca a small stream, called Camp Creek, flows south into the Oostanaula, which runs westerly. Be- tween this creek and the Cannasauga is an elevated platean which terminates in high hills two or three miles north of Resaca. These hills and the western brow of the platean were strongly fortified, as well as a high hill on the western side of Camp Creek, just north of the Oostanaula. The latter hill, although isolated from the enemy's main line on the other side of the creek, was important as it commanded the wagon and railroad bridges over the Oostanaula south of Resaca. The possession of this hill and ground opposite to it east of Camp Creek, together with a foothold south of the Oostananla at Lay's Ferry, a few miles below, eventually caused the evacu- ation of Resaca: still, before that occurred, a good deal of hard fighting took place on other parts of the field, and espe- cially among the hills north of Resaca. While Sherman was endeavoring to get a foothold on the south, Johnston was maneuvering to turn his left at the north. The topography of the country was not known to Sherman's army, and there was considerable delay in getting into position through the dense woods, over the ravines and other impediments while foreing the enemy within his entrenchments at the north. During the delay the enemy was active and contested every advance.
The proper place of the 20th Corps in the general line was near its center and opposite the angle in the enemy's works where they departed from Camp Creek Valley and went east, but owing to the exigencies of the occasion, the corps at one time was well over to the left of the general line and, in whole
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MEMOIRS 149th N. Y. INFT.
or in part, east of the Dalton road. At a later period it re- turned two or three miles further to the right. With this di- gression, the writer returns to the narrative of events connected with the regiment.
The night of the 12th passed without incident worthy of notice, and the 13th of May opened warm and pleasant. At seven o'clock in the morning the 2d Division moved a short distance, closed in mass, came to a front, and remained in re- serve until afternoon. While resting, Gen. Kilpatrick and his division of cavalry passed and went south ; in an hour or two the General returned in an ambulance severely wounded. Dur- ing the forenoon a large body of troops passed going to the left.
About three o'clock in the afternoon the division fell in and marched two or three miles through the woods to the left and halted in a elearing in support of the Ist Division, which was then heavily engaged with the enemy a short distance in front beyond the clearing. While moving to this place the column met women and children going to the rear for safety. Dur- ing the stay at this place the men made coffee and ate supper.
About sundown the 3d Brigade moved forward a short dis- tance and occupied a line of breast works which had been thrown up by others. At this time one or two Union batteries in the vicinity were throwing shells to the front, and a large body of troops was passing to the left of the brigade in double-quick. After sundown the men worked by moonlight in strengthening the works occupied by them and, when quiet was restored, laid down in their places and slept.
The morning of the 14th opened clear and pleasant. A lit- tle skirmishing commeneed early in the morning and was suc- ceeded at noon by artillery and musketry firing along the ma- jor part of the line. The roar of battle was particularly heavy to the left of the position occupied by the 3d Brigade. About two hours before sundown the ed Division fell in and marched through woods and clearings six or seven miles, by a cireuitous route, around to the extreme left of the line, and about dark
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came up with the Ist Division, which had come to the relief of the 4th Corps, been vigorously engaged with the enemy, and driven him back towards his entrenchments. The 2d Division passed some distance beyond the contestants and occupied a position on the edge of a piece of woods, on a side-hill, east of the Dalton Road. Part of the way was made after dark and very slowly, the light of the moon shining down through the tree tops upon the column as it proceeded through the woods. After halting the men went actively to work, brought rails and other material, and built breastworks. At one o'clock, after they were completed, the men laid down to sleep while a skir- mish and picket line kept watch in front.
On the morning of the 15th, the men were up at daylight getting breakfast and strengthening the breastworks. Every- thing remained quiet for a short time between the two contend- ing factions while each maneuvered for positions and made disposition of forces. Among other things, on the Union side a brass battery came up and occupied a knoll a short distance in front of the breastworks of the 3d Brigade, and, about nine o'clock, the ed Division formed in line and marched back through the woods, about two miles to the right, and formed in support of the 3d Division, which lay in triple lines in the woods in front of breastworks.
About one o'clock m the afternoon the 2d Division marched in front of the breastworks and formed in a heavy charging column of deployed brigades, or demi-brigades, of four or five lines deep. The place where the formation was made was on a side-hill sloping gently towards the front and covered with dense wood and some undergrowth. A brisk skirmish fire was then taking place in front and bullets occasionally flew past the heads of the men. After the formation commeneed a four gun battery, five hundred yards or more away, commenced throwing shells into the ranks of the forming column. As the old regiments took their places they dropped on the ground for cover and awaited orders ; but a new regiment of the 3d Divis- ion, in Zonave dress, was unable to stand the pressure and
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MEMOIRS 149th N. Y. INFT.
stampeded to the rear while the old "Vets" yelled and langhed as they saw their red legs twinkling over the top of the breast- works. With much profanity and exceration the truants were finally returned by their officers to a place in line.
When the word of command was given the column passed over three lines of the 3d Division and moved slowly forward through dense woods, down the hillside, to a little valley and a road at its foot running nearly at right angles to the course of the moving column. A little to the right of the head of the column, in front, as it appeared at this road, was a sharp hill a hundred and fifty feet in height, on top of which, a hun- dred and fifty yards away, was a four gun Confederate battery protected by lunettes, and supported by a heavy line of infantry behind breastworks fifty yards in its rear. Between the road and the enemy's position, on the hill above, the timber had been partially cut away, leaving stymps, piles of brush, and here and there little elumps of growing briars and under brush ob- structing the way. When the head of the charging column arrived at the foot of the hill this battery commenced throwing grape and eanister, and the Confederate infantry a shower of leaden hail, into the ranks of the Union men, who with rousing cheers started quickly to make the difficult ascent. At this critical moment a new regiment in rear lost nerve and dis- charged a volley of musketry into the ranks of the moving column in front ; and, to add still more to the perplexity of the occasion, some new troops in advance broke and stampeded through the charging lines partially destroying organization ; but after the fire in rear had ceased and the column had freed itself of the disorganizing element. part of it, in the smoke and confusion, went to the left and engaged the enemy in that di- rection, while the balance proceeded forward to the right and planted itself securely along the brow of the hill below and against the works enclosing the battery in question. Althor ch the guns were silenced and literally captured, it was imposs ole to effect their removal as they were covered by the enemy's rifles securely lodged behind breastworks in rear ; so they re-
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mained unused between the two lines until dug out and re- moved late in the evening by troops belonging to the 2d Divis- ion sent to relieve those now present. When the charging column arrived at the brow of the hill, being met by a terrific volley of musketry, it was halted and permitted to remain where it was during the day without further effort to carry the enemy's works. Whether a further attempt was considered inexpedient, or the capture not deemed worth the sacrifice re- quired, was not known ; yet, notwithstanding the disorganiza- tion of regiments, part being in one place and part in another, an effort for their capture would have been resolutely made if the men had been so commanded.
Among the men in the front line were a number having re- peating ritles ; these served a good purpose in keeping the enemy well within his works. During the afternoon the men laid on their faces on the hillside, and when those in front were killed, wounded or out of ammunition, those in rear crawled forward and took their places. The enemy was not more than fifty yards away, and whenever any one on either side showed himself a shot was sure to follow. Occasionally a bandying of words took place between the two lines. Johnny shouted out, "Yank ! Why don't you come and take the guns away !" and Yank responded, "Oh ! Johnny, I'm no hog. You can have 'em ; come and get 'em."
The major part of the 149th men, with the colors, were op- posite the battery and close under the pieces, the mouths of which projected through the embrasures. So near were some of the men they could touch the pieces with their rifles and could distinctly see the canister with which some of them were loaded. Occasionally a man, with undue curiosity, crawled too far forward or peered through the embrasures, but usually paid dear for his temerity. One poor fellow, against the re- monstrance of his comrades, crawled up where he could get a better view, and almost instantly was killed in his place. In falling his head was exposed and, during the afternoon, the enemy literally filled it with bullets. The s! pe of the hill
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afforded a partial protection, yet occasionally a person under cover was injured by sharp-shooters in trees or other places commanding the position. The source of this annoyance was not easy to determine, so the men could only protect themselves by lying quiet and not attracting attention by motion. They had little to do except keep the enemy in place, lie quiet, watch, dread and think. The suspense was dreadful ; and even the occasional accidents which occurred were a relief in affording something for the mind to rest upon. It was a long, long afternoon and told heavily on the endurance of the men.
About four o'clock, the enemy made an effort to flank the position by charging through a wheat field and into a piece of woods to the left and rear. A portion of the 3d Division oc- cupied the woods in question and had a line of breastworks running diagonally along its edge next to the wheat field. The 149th men, with their companions lying on the hillside, could hear the Confederates forming in line and their well- known yell in charging, but could not see the movement owing to intervening woods. As the enemy advanced no opposition seemed to be interposed until he was well in rear of the line held by the men below the little fort. It was an anxious mo- ment and there were many throbbing heart-, when suddenly deafening cheers rent the air, followed by a rapid discharge of musketry, which sent the Johnnies to their long home or to cover from whence they came. It was a gallant response to a defiant yell, and lifted a load of anxiety off the minds of the valiant men on the hillside. The next morning the Confeder- ate line could be traced by its dead where it met the opening volley of the sturdy Union men.
The long, long day, like Joshua's of old, finally came to an end ; and at eight in the evening the men were relieved by a brigade of fresh troops belonging to the ed Division sent to take their places and, retracing their steps of the morning, moved to a little hollow a short distance in rear of the Union breastworks, where they made coffee, ate supper and laid down to sleep.
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About midnight the enemy opened fire along his whole line and balls flew lively over the heads of the men. The division flew to arms and awaited orders, but quiet being soon restored it stacked arms and the men again laid down to rest.
Early in the morning the men were on the alert, but daylight , showed that the enemy had retreated and left the battlefield in possession of the Union men. Everywhere could be seen evi- dences of the confusion and hasty flight of the enemy.
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