USA > Ohio > Greene County > Greene County soldiers in the late war : being a history of the Seventy-fourth O.V.I., with sketches of the Twelfth, Ninety-Fourth, One Hundred and Tenth, Forty-Fourth, Tenth Ohio Battery, One Hundred and Fifty-Fourth, Fifty-Fourth, Seventeenth, Thirty-Fourth, One Hundred and Eighty-Fourth, together with a list of Greene County's soldiers > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18
NYPL RESEARCH LIBRARIES
3 3433 08180031 4
₩ 41
1
1414
4
wil
M
LOW
WWWWWHva ~
----
M
IKG (Ohio: 74 Re Owens
IKG Ohio
2660
GREENE COUNTY SOLDIERS
IN THE
LATE WAR.
BEING A HISTORY OF THE
SEVENTY-FOURTH O. V. I.,
WITH SKETCHES OF THE
TWELFTH, NINETY-FOURTII, ONE HUNDRED AND TENTH,
FORTY-FOURTH, TENTH OHIO BATTERY, ONE HUN- DRED AND FIFTY-FOURTH, FIFTY-FOURTH, SEVENTEENTH, THIRTY-FOURTH, ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-FOURTH,
TOGETHER WITH A
LIST OF GREENE COUNTY'S SOLDIERS.
-27 -.
IRA S, OWENS,
COMPANY C, SEVENTY-FOURTH O. V. I.
DAYTON, OHIO: CHRISTIAN PUBLISHING HOUSE PRINT,
1884.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOK AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS 19 7 L
€
TO MY COMRADES IN ARMS, THIS VOLUME IS FRATERNALLY INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR.
-
PREFACE.
In 1872 the author of this book wrote and published a small book the title of which was, "GREENE COUNTY IN THE WAR." But the supply being exhausted, a second edition has been published, similar to the first one, but enlarged and revised. In addition to the first book, sketches of other regiments have been added, together with anecdotes and incidents of the late war; also, a list of Greene County's soldiers, copied from muster-rolls in the Adjutant General's office at Columbus. In this, as well as the former work, the author does not attempt to give a general history of the rebellion, but simply a history of his own regiment - the Seventy-fourth Ohio-and parts of other organizations in which Greene County was represented. It is not, however, strictly confined to Greene County alone, but other counties in the state, as well. The author having spent considerable time and labor in getting out this book, offers it to the public, hoping that it may prove interesting and profitable to its readers.
IRA S. OWENS.
CONTENTS,
PAGE.
INTRODUCTION
13
SEVENTY-FOURTH REGIMENT, O. V. I.
Organization and Rendezvous I7
Officers 17
Ordered to Nashville 18
A Strict Disciplinarian 18
March to Lebanon, Tennessee
19
The Star Spangled Banner
20
In Line of Battle.
21
Prayer-meeting With Andrew Johnson
22
A Rebel Boaster
23
A Colored Social Meeting.
25
A Skirmish With the Rebels
26
Rosencranz' Words of Cheer
27
March to Murfreesboro 28
Rosencranz' Address to the Army 29
Battle of Murfreesboro 30-39
Sanitary Commission-work. 39-42
Official Report of General Rosencranz 43-53
Hospital Sufferings and Scenes. 53
Seventy-Fourth Killed and Wounded 56-59
Colonel Josiah Given Succeeds Colonel Moody 61 Changes of Officers 62
In the Hospitals at Nashville. 63
The Humane Colonel. 65
8
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
At Home on Furlough
66
The Great Atlanta Campaign. 69
Trick on the Rebels. 72
A Johnnie After Some Coffee. 73
The Killing of General Pope
75
Fixing a Rebel Sharpshooter
75 76 80
Leatherbreeches' Battery
Death of General McPherson
On the Skirmish Line
Method of Cooking Roasting-ears
Melville Davis Mortally Wounded
Death of William H. Hollenberry
Evacuation of Atlanta. 86
The Negroes
91
In Front of Savannah 94
Capture of Fort McAllister 95
A Boat-load of Salt Beef.
97
Burning Property in South Carolina
98
Assassination of President Lincoln.
104
Homeward March 106
Richmond and Belle Isle. 107
Citizens Once More
III
Recapitulation.
III-113
Incidents 113-118
Campaign Songs. 119-125
TWELFTH REGIMENT, O. V. I.
Organization I26
· Battle of Scarey Creek I26
Death of Colonel Lowe at Carnifex Ferry I26
Rout of Rebel Cavalry 127
82 83 84 85
9
CONTENTS. 1
PAGE. Second Battle of Bull Run. 127
South Mountain and Antietam 128
Battle of Cloyd Mountain 129
Muster-out
130
Reunion
130-139
NINETY-FOURTH REGIMENT, O. V. I.
Organization 140
Fight With a Scouting Party 141
Falling Back to Lexington 142
One Dollar a Drink for Water 143
Fighting at Stone River, Chickamauga, etc I44
Mustered Out
145
ONE HUNDRED AND TENTH REGIMENT, O. V. I.
Organization 146
Pursuit of Lee 147
Fighting in the Wilderness 148
Battle of Monocacy 149
Battle of Winchester 150
Assault Before Petersburg. 151
Mustered Out
151
Song- Keifer Leads the Van
152
FORTY-FOURTH REGIMENT, O. V. I.
·Organized. I54
Retreat to the Kanawha. 155
Re-organized as Eighth Ohio Cavalry 157
Mustered Out. 158
TENTH OHIO BATTERY.
Organized.
159
Battle of Corinth 160
10
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
A Clever Maneuver . 161
Kennesaw Mountain 163
Officers 164
Mustered Out 164
Reunion
164-167
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-FOURTH REGIMENT, O. V. I.
Organized. 168
Skirmish With McNeil's Battalion 168
Battle of New Creek 169
Mustered Out 169,
FIFTY-FOURTH REGIMENT, O. V. I.
Organized. 170
Battle of Pittsburg Landing. 170
Battle at Chickasaw Bayou. 171
Engaged at Vicksburg. I71
Pursuit of Hood. 172
Mustered Out 173
SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT, O. V. I.
Dr. John Turnbull 174
THIRTY-FOURTH REGIMENT, O. V. I.
Organized. 175
Battle of Fayetteville. 176
Colonel Toland Killed at Wytheville 177
The Lynchburg Raid.
179
Battle of Winchester. 181
Pursuit of the Rebels 183
Attack on Beverly 184
Consolidated With the Thirty-Sixth Ohio. 185
11
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-FOURTH REGIMENT, O. V. I.
Organized . 186
Encounters With Guerrillas 186
ROSTERS.
Seventy-Fourth 188-212
Twelfth. 213 .- 216
Ninety-Fourth. 217-222
One Hundred and Tenth 223-224
Forty-Fourth.
225
Tenth Ohio Battery . 226-230
One Hundred and Fifty-Fourth 231-240
Fifty-Fourth, : 241 Thirty-Fourth 242-243
One Hundred and Eighty-Fourth 244-245
Third New York Cavalry 246
First Ohio Regular Infantry.
247
Errata - Officers of Seventy-Fourth 248
Anecdotes and Incidents. 249
Closing Scenes of the War 291
.
INTRODUCTION.
In the fall of 1861, the people of Greene County, realizing to some extent the magnitude of the war in which the country was then engaged (the southern states, all save Maryland and Kentucky, marshaling their entire strength, fully equipped with arms stolen from the General Government, for the destruction of the Union; the North, without a single exception, meeting them with an equal force upon the bloody field of battle, in defense of the Union), and being anxious to show, at the end of the war, a bright chapter in its history, proposed to raise an entire regiment of volunteers, to be known as the " Greene County Regiment." Hardly had'a day passed after the battle- cry had sounded from Sumter, when, at a war-meeting held in the old Firemen's Hall in the city of Xenia, the organization of two companies for the defense of the nation's capital was com- menced. These being speedily completed and officered, with Captains John W. Lowe and Al. Galloway at their head, hast- ened to Columbus. The city of Washington having by this time become sufficiently guarded, they were sent to Camp Den- nison, and were among the first to lay out the camp and begin the erection of camp-buildings. At the close of their three months' service they re-enlisted, and became a part of that well- known and hard-fighting regiment, the Twelfth Ohio, at the head of which fell the brave Colonel Lowe.
After the ever-memorable departure of these two noble companies, the work of enlistment continued. Other squads and
.
14
INTRODUCTION.
companies, composed of men from shop, plow, and exchange, were continually leaving the county and joining regiments forming in other parts of the state, thus leaving this county without its proper credit. Hence at a meeting of half a dozen or more of the citizens of Xenia, held late one evening in the auditor's room of the court-house, it was resolved to form a Greene County regiment. A committee was appointed, consist- ing of Revs. R. D. Harper, P. C. Prugh, Judge Winans, and Hugh Carey, Esq., who were to proceed immediately to James- town, and, if possible, prevail upon a company, composed of the best men of that place and vicinity, organized under Captain Ballard, and chafing for the field, to remain in the county for the time, and take the post of honor in the new regiment. This company had already offered its services to General Fremont, then at the head of the army in Missouri.
The delegation proceeded, the next day, to Jamestown, held a consultation with the company, and proposed that they should immediately go into camp at Xenia and become the nucleus of the county regiment, the committeemen pledging themselves to use every possible effort in speedily filling it up.
After a few earnest speeches the company yielded, recon- sidered their former purpose, and in a few weeks were in camp. The pleasant memories that still cluster around the scenes of that winter, in which soldiers and citizens happily mingled, meetings of prayer and praise, both in and out of camp, public days of fasting and feasting, speeches, parties, and concerts, will not soon be forgotten by those who, just as winter began to break, were " left behind."
No truer patriots than were these ever lived. No braver men ever fought. £ And Corporal Owens has done good service to both county and regiment in writing their history.
The readiness with which this regiment enlisted and marched to the field, the manner in which it fought, the many bloody
15
INTRODUCTION.
battles it won in the great struggle of freedom for the nation and the world, its re enlistment of those who survived after having spent three long years of the most intense labor in marchings and fightings, imposing itself . all the while as a wall of fire between our enemies and our homes, standing again and again in the very presence of death, should never be forgotten. The author of this little book has done much toward making all this a part of living history in the nation's struggle to free itself from the "accursed thing." In this he makes no attempt at display, but proposes, in a plain, simple way, to give a sketch of those scenes and actions in which his own regiment was engaged, together with a brief account of the other organizations to which Greene County contributed her men and means.
We bespeak for this little, unassuming companion a place, not only among the survivors and friends of the old Seventy- fourth, but in the families and homes of the county as well.
P. C. P.
HISTORY
OF THE 1.
Seventy - Fourth Regiment, O. V. I.
CHAPTER I.
In October, 1861, the organization of the Seventy-fourth O. V. I. was commenced. Its rendezvous was Camp Lowe, in the old fair ground, Xenia, named in honor of Colonel John W. Lowe, who fell at Carnifax Ferry, Virginia, in the early part of the war. The regiment was organized to the extent of seven companies, at Camp Lowe; but on arriving at Camp Chase the following February, three more companies were added, making the complement, and aggregating nine hundred and seventy-eight men.
The regiment was officered as follows : Granville Moody, colonel commanding; Alexander Von Schroder, lieutenant colonel; A. S. Ballard, major; J. R. Brelsford, surgeon, etc. (See roster at the end of the book.) The duty of the regiment at Camp Chase was, guarding prisoners. Colonel Moody was „appointed post-commander.
On arriving at Columbus the regiment was quartered the first night in the state capitol. The next day it marched out to Camp Chase, after being reviewed by Governor Todd. Whatever may be said to the contrary, the prisoners there were well cared for. The writer was detailed several times to 2
18
GREENE COUNTY IN THE WAR.
help erect tents, etc. They had plenty to eat, and comfortable quarters. The regiment remained at Camp Chase until April 20th, when they were ordered to Nashville, Tennessee, under command of Lieutenant Colonel Von Schroder - Colonel Moody remaining at Camp Chase.
On arriving at Nashville the regiment marched through the city, and encamped near the river, remaining there only a short time, when they were ordered to move camp. They camped in a beautiful grove, about one mile south of the city, which was called Camp Tod, in honor of Governor Todd. Colonel Von Schroder was a strict disciplinarian - having been a Prussian officer - he would not allow the men even to spit on dress parade. While in command at Camp Tod his wife visited him. He had issued strict orders that not a man should leave camp after a certain hour in the evening-as some of the boys were in the habit of frequenting the city until a late hour, and then coming into camp in a state of intoxication.
One day he made arrangements with some of the citizens to take tea with them at a certain time. Accordingly he and his wife rode up to the gate, when he was halted by the guard, who told him that he had orders from Colonel Von Schroeder not to let a man pass after a certain hour-it being then after that hour. " Well, but," says he, "I am Colonel Von
Schroder." "I don't know who in the h-1 you are," says the guard, "you can't pass here." "Well," says the colonel, " I'll have that order changed in the morning," and turned around and rode back to his quarters. The next morning he sent for the 'guard who was at the gate at the time he wanted to pass out. The guard approached him with much fear and trembling, no doubt expecting to be severely dealt with, for the colonel looked at him with a stern countenance, and spoke in a very harsh manner, which frightened the poor fellow still
19
THE SEVENTY-FOURTH.
worse. "You are the man that wouldn't let me out of camp last evening !" "Well-well-colonel, I-I-had orders not to let any one pass, and-and-I thought I must obey orders." The colonel then changed his voice, and spoke in a very pleasant manner, and said, "You did right. I wish all my men were as good soldiers as you are; we would then have no trouble. I'll promote you to a corporal."
After remaining in camp a short time, a detachment of the regiment was ordered on a scout over the Cumberland Mountains, or at least as far as McMinville. That was the first experience many in the regiment had in the toils, hardships, and fatigues of the march. Part of the regiment was left behind, being detailed on picket duty. Standing picket then was rather a pleasure and a pastime, there being no enemy near; and in the warm season of the year we were plentifully supplied with milk, potatoes, honey, etc., which were generally pretty easy of access-the forest furnishing mulberries, and the orchards cherries, plums, etc. Although the policy then was to guard rebel property, yet it was not always guarded. While on picket we enjoyed many luxuries, of which many times afterward we were deprived. We passed sixteen days thus very pleasantly, until the return of the balance of the regiment.
July 1st the regiment - or four companies of the same - were ordered to march to Lebanon, Tennessee, thirty miles from Nashville. We passed the Hermitage, the former residence of Andrew Jackson, and we saw the monument erected to his memory, underneath which lies the ashes of the hero of Orleans. On the march we gathered blackberries, which grew in immense quantities on each side of the road. The four companies were under the command of Major Ballard. On this march the boys did some foraging, by killing hogs, for which offense they were arrested and confined in jail in Lebanon. The indignation of
20
GREENE COUNTY IN THE WAR.
·the boys was very great at this act. They threatened to tear the jail down, and I have no doubt would have done so, had not the prisoners been released promptly.
The regiment was quartered in the spacious college building at Lebanon - the same that John Morgan and his men occupied previous to our arrival. It was a very dirty place, but by hard labor, washing, and scrubbing, we made it fit for soldiers to quarter in. We spent the Fourth of July at Lebanon. It was a very dull day. Our duty while there was light. We performed some picket duty, and had dress parade in the afternoon. The balance of the time was spent in loafing about the building, reading, writing letters home, or going out for blackberries, etc. We also formed a glee club, and used to serenade Union families - when we could find them out. One of our picket-posts was near the residence of ex-Governor Campbell. We went one evening to serenade him. We had just concluded one song - I think it was the "Star Spangled Banner " - when the old governor came out bareheaded, and: cordially invited us into the house. "Boys," said he, "it does me good to hear those good old patriotic songs." We sang several more songs. He then had his daughter play for us on the piano. We were about to take our leave, when he told us to wait a few minutes. In a short time his negro man came in with a large tray, or waiter, loaded with nice cake, fruits, cordial, etc. He told us to help ourselves, and we did
so. There were some excellent Union families in and around Lebanon, who hailed our approach with joy.
On the 10th of July our camp was thrown into considerable excitement, by the rumor that the rebel cavalry were advancing on us. But as feeble as we were, we commenced making preparations for defense. Our force consisted of four companies of infantry, and part of a regiment of cavalry. On the 11th I was on picket, and was relieved at 9:00 A. M. of the 12th -
21
THE SEVENTY- FOURTH.
no enemy yet. On the 13th we received marching orders for Nashville. It was about eleven o'clock at night when we received the order to march, and by twelve o'clock we were all packed up, armed, and equipped, and in line. While marching out of town all was still as the grave; the quiet of the citizens was not disturbed; no sound of martial music; no colors flying - nought could be heard save the heavy tramp of the soldiers, as they marched out, almost on the double quick ; and by the time the gray light appeared in the eastern horizon, we were sixteen miles out on the road to Nashville, when we halted a short time, and got a bite to eat, and by ten o'clock .we were in Nashville, having marched thirty miles. That was the time the rebel, Forrest, was expected to make an attack on Nashville. It was a very hot day. Some of the boys came near being exhausted, and one man had a sunstroke. We camped on College Hill, and that night we lay in line of battle for the first time. We were expecting to see the rebel cavalry dash on to us every minute. They came within about three or four miles, and burned a bridge, the light of which we could see. The next day - which was the 16th - Colonel Moody, with the detachment which was sent to Louisville, arrived. An anecdote was told of him here, which I will relate: He came galloping into camp, ordering the men to fall in, inquiring at the same time for the drummer, but the drummer could not be found. Seizing the bass drum he commenced pounding it with his fist. Observing one man without a gun, he inquired of him where his gun was. The man told him he had none. The colonel then told him to get one. The man replied he could not. " Well, then," says the colonel, "get a club; you shall shoot." A strong guard was kept. The city was barricaded with wagons, cotton bales, etc. A cannon was in position on each street, and every precaution taken in case of an attack. In that case the few troops around Nashville would
22
GREENE COUNTY IN THE WAR,
have had warm work, and the rebs would have met with a warm reception. This is the time when it was said the cele- brated prayer-meeting was held with Governor Andrew Johnson. A story went the rounds in the papers something like this: It was said that while Colonel Moody was praying, and as he waxed very fervent in his supplications, that the governor kept inching toward him, until at last, putting his arm around him (the colonel), said, "Colonel, I believe in God and the Christian religion ; but I'll be d-d if Nashville shall be taken." And it was not taken.
A constant watch was kept for several days. Pickets were thrown out, and guards stationed on the road on which the attack was expected to be made. Several times it rained very hard, and wet the soldiers to the skin. It was very difficult to keep the muskets dry. The rain and mud were disagreeable. We remained at College Hill a short time. During the time we were in camp there we were reviewed by Major General Nelson.
Soon after we changed camp, and camped on the farm of Major Lewis, near town. This we called Camp Lewis. Shortly after we received orders to march to Franklin, Tennessee. I think it was about the 1st of August when we started to Franklin. When within about two miles of Franklin we halted for the night. The following incident occurred at that time, which I will relate :
It is generally known that about that time orders were strict concerning rebel property, which was to be held sacred, the orders coming from one Buell. He was very careful to protect rebels from the assaults of the blue-coats upon hen-roosts, hog-pens, and potato-patches. The hero of this story, George Snyder, was a good soldier. He obeyed orders, as a general rule, but could not see the sin of digging a few potatoes and having an ash-roast once in a while. It was George's fortune to be placed in charge of a pompous southern mansion and
23
THE SEVENTY- FOURTH.
surroundings. Vegetables were scarce, and Buell's orders plenty. George concluded to suspend one of the orders touching potatoes. Thereupon his bayonet became a potato-fork, and a few small, scrawny tubers were taken from the sacred soil, carefully roasted, and transferred to George's stomach. For the suspension of this order George was duly arrested, and taken, under guard, to Colonel Moody's head-quarters for examination. The owner accompanied the squad, swearing vengeance on poor Snyder. The pompous son of the South preferred his charges. Moody heard him, spoke of Buell's order, and the necessity of respecting the same, and reprimanded Snyder for presuming to suspend his commanding general's orders. Whereupon the southern nabob waxed wrathy and valiant. He said that such soldiers as Snyder were northern poltroons and cowards; that if it were not for the musket he carried he would have whipped him and kicked him off his premises; and that he could whip half a dozen such fellows. This insulting language aroused Colonel Moody. He listened to the harangue and thought he would give the brave son of the South a chance to clean George
out. Thereupon he ordered Snyder as follows: "Lay down that musket, sir." George obeyed. "Take off that haversack." George dropped his sack.
" Unfasten that belt, sir." It was done. "Take off your coat." George shed his linen. "Now, sir, I release you from arrest. Step out and whip this brave scion of the South until I tell you to stop." This was the kind of order that George loved to obey, and he sprang back, a la Heenan, to the combat. But this the cowardly boaster had not bargained for. His eyes protruded; his knees shook like Belshazzar's; his tongue refused to utter the words he would have said. Moody urged, insisted, and ordered Johnny to make good his boastful words. Snyder, cool, snappy, eager for the fight, was inviting him to " come on." But it was no go. The poor fellow had been trapped and could only back out squarely.
24
GREENE COUNTY IN THE WAR.
His brother came forward and told the colonel that he (the speaker) was a senator of Tennessee and brother to the palsied victim, and urged Moody to stop the proceedings. The colonel assured Mr. Senator that he was doing all he could to bring the conflict to a close by having George Snyder conquer a peace ; and, moreover, that peace he would have, and that neither he nor his doughty brother should insult him or his men by calling them poltroons and cowards. Thus the orders of General Buell were respected and obeyed by George Snyder and his colonel.
We remained at Franklin about a month. The regiment was at that time guarding the Nashville & Columbia Railroad, the different companies being scattered along the road from Nashville to Columbia, Company C occupying Franklin. Colonel Moody's head-quarters were at Franklin. While there we built stockades and did some guard duty. The court-house was occupied by the colonel, he having his head-quarters in it. It was barricaded by taking the large flat stones from off the yard and putting them in the windows, drilling port-holes in them.
Colonel Moody was then acting as chaplain as well as colonel. He would command the regiment during the week and preach on Sunday. The citizens in and about the vicinity of Franklin would come to hear him, although he would denounce them in such terms as only Colonel Moody could.
We lived very well off the products of the country, such as apples, peaches, potatoes, and honey, all of which were plentiful.
About the 1st of September we returned to Nashville. We took a train or two of cars, loaded with corn, to that city. When about half way, the train stopped, and the engineer jumped from his engine and took to the woods, thinking, doubtless, that the train would be captured. But Colonel Moody said the train should go into Nashville if the men had to push it in. However, a man was found who ran the train in.
On arriving in the vicinity of Nashville we went into the
25
THE SEVENTY. FOURTH.
woods and camped. While there a man was cleaning his gun, when it was accidentally discharged, killing a negro. We stayed in camp only one night, when we received orders to change camp. We then camped near the city, on the Franklin pike, where we remained a short time.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.