USA > Ohio > Greene County > Greene county in the war. Being a history of the Seventy-fourth regiment, with sketches of the Twelfth, Ninety-fourth, One hundred and tenth, Forty-fourth, One hundred and fifty-fourth regiments and the Tenth Ohio battery, embracing anecdotes, incidents and narratives of the camp, march and battlefield and the author's experience while in the army > Part 1
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NYPL RESEARCH LIBRARIES 3 3433 07952774 7
Ohio
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
AUTIMA, LENOX AND TILDEN BOUNDITIONS
-
1
GREENE COUNTY IN THE WAR.
-BEING A-
HISTORY
1
-OF THE-
SEVENTY FOURTH REGIMENT,
WITH SKETCHES OF THE
TWELVTH, NINETY FOURTH, ONE HUNDRED AND TENTH, FORTY FOURTH, AND ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY FOURTH REGIMENTS AND THE TENTH OHIO BATTERY, EMBRACING ANECDOTES, INCIDENTS AND NARATIVES OF THE CAMP, MARCH AND BATTLEFIELD, AND THE AUTHOR'S EXPERIENCE WHILE IN THE ARMY.
BY IRA S. OWENS. !
XENIA, OHIO. 1 TORCHLIGHT JOB ROOMS. 1872.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
90001 ASTOR. LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS R 1923 L
1
-- TO MY- COMRADES IN ARMS, THIS VOLUME IS FRATERNALLY INSCRIBED -BY THE- AUTHOR.
AUTHOR'S PREFACE.
In presenting the following work to the public. it is not the author's design to write a history of the war, but simply a history of those regiments and organizations for which Greene county furnished a large number of her men, namely, the Seventy- fourth, Twelfth, Ninety - fourth, Forty - fourth, One Hundred and Tenth, and One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Regiments, and the Tenth Ohio Bat- tery. While perusing its pages, the reader may be assured that it is not a work of fiction, but of stern reality. The author is indebted to WHITE- LAW REID's book, "Ohio in the War," for valua- ble information. Hoping that this work may prove interesting to its readers, I offer it to the public. IRA S. OWENS. YELLOW SPRINGS, O., January, 1872.
CONTENTS.
INTRODUCTION ...
PAGE
. . .
......
13
CHAPTER I.
Rendezvous at Camp Lowe-Removal to Camp Chase-Guard- ing Rebel Prisoners- Removalto Camp Tod, Tenn .- Scout over the Cumberland Mountains- Picket Duty- Ordered to Lebanon Tenn .- Expected Attack-Marching Orders for Nashville-Camp on College Hill-Anecdote of Colonel Moody
1 ℃
CHAPTER II.
Removing Camp-Ordered to Franklin-Guarding Railroad- Incident-Return to Nashville-Incidents -- Negro Meetings -Changing Camp-Seige of Nashville-Scarcity of Food Foraging-Suffering and Death of Comrades-Removal to Mill creek-Building a Bridge-Ordered to Camp Ham- ilton 23
CHAPTER IL.
Marching Orders for Stone river-Incidents on the March- Battle of Stone river-Marching into Murfreesboro-Camp at Murfreesboro-Exchanging Guns 30
CHAPTER IV.
Working on Fortifications-Resignation of Colonel Moody - Colonel Josiah Given takes Command-Marching Orders ... 39
CHAPTER V.
Letters- List of Killed and Wounded at Stone river-Poetry -- Sent to Nashville -- Hospital Life-Veteran Organization- Reorganization of the Army - Veteran Furlough - At Flome-Reception
49
X
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VI. PAGE
Return to the Front-Incident-Arriving at Nashville-Leav- ing for the Front -- Arrival at Chattanooga -- Camp at Grays- ville. Georgia-Breaking Camp-Starting on the Atlanta Campaign - Fight at Buzzard's Roost - Incidents of the Battle. 56
..
CHAPTER VIL.
March around to Snake Gap- Battle of Resaca-Crossing the Etawah river-Altoona Mountain-Under Fire-Colonel Neibling Wounded-Double Breastworks. 61
CHAPTER VIII.
Retreat of Rebels-Following them up-Anecdotes-On the March-Thunder Storm-On Picket-Advancing the Line -Incidents 64
CHAPTER IX.
Again on the March-Building Works under Fire-Approach- ing Kennesaw Mountain-Grand Sight-Leatherbreeches: Battery-Supporting the Same 70
CHAPTER X.
Before Kennesaw Mountain-March to Chattahoochie river- Camp near the river-Crossing the river-Fight at Peach Tree Creek-Arrival before Atlanta ..
75
CHAPTER XI.
Poetry-In Breastworks-Incidents- Marching to Jonesboro Battle of Jonesboro-Death of Comrades-Marching back . to Atlanta-Camp near the City 78
CHAPTER XII.
Resignation of Colonel Given - March after Hood - Camp near Galesville, Alabama-Scout over the Mountains- Poetry - March to kome and Kingston - March back to Atlanta
92
xi
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XIII.
PAGE
Burning of Atlanta-Preparing to March-Starting on the March to the Sea-Incidents of the March .. 99
CHAPTER XIV.
Arrival at Savannah-Fort McAllister Taken and the Crack- er Line Opened-Grand Review in Savannah-March to Sister's Ferry. 104
CHAPTER XV.
Camp at Sister's Ferry-Leaving Sister's Ferry-Train Guard -Marching through South Carolina and North Carolina- Arrival at Goldsboro-Guarding Rations. .. 109
CAAPTER XVI.
Arrival at Raleigh-Camp at Martha's Vineyard-Talk of Consolidating the Sixty-ninth and Seventy-fourth Regi- ments-Indignation of the Boys ... 119
CHAPTER XVII.
Joyful News-Orders to March Northward and Homeward- Great Demonstrations of Joy-Breaking Camp and Start- ing Northward and Homeward-Arrival at Richmond. ... 122 .
CHAPTER XVIII.
On the March-Passing through Richmond-Thunder Storm at Night-Disagreeable Night -- March to Washington- Arrival at Washington City 125
CHAPTER XIX.
In Camp near Washington City-Grand Review at Washing. ton Gity-Camp on the Baltimore Road-Departure from Washington - Arrival at Louisville - Breaking Camp - Embarking for Cincinnati and Camp Dennison - Dis- charged-Arrival at Xenia, and Home-Recapitulation ... 129
CHAPTER XX.
Anecdotes-Colonel Moody-On Picket-Foraging-Incidents - Anecdote of the Pioneer Corps- Capturing a Negro
xii
CONTENTS.
PAGK Cook, and Swearing Him In-The Lucky Rob-The Man whose Wife would be Uneasy-Roster of the Seventy - fourth Regiment .. 135
Twelfth Regiment O.V. I .. 154
Ninety- fourth Regiment (). V . I. 161
One Hundred and Tenth Regiment O. V. I .. 170
Forty-fourth Regiment O. V. I 179
Tenth Ohio Battery
186
One Ilundred and Fifty . fourth Regiment (One Hundred Days' Men) 194
INTRODUCTION.
In the fall of 1861, the people of Greene-coun- ty, 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, with- out 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." Hard- ly had a day passed after the battle-cry had sound- ed from Sumter, when at, a war-meeting held in the old Firemen's Hall in the city of Xenia, the or- ganization of two companies, for the defense of the Nation's Capital, was commenced. These, being
14
GREENE COUNTY IN THE WAR.
speedily completed and officered, with Captains John W. Lowe, and Al. Galloway at their head, hastened to Columbus,. The city of Washington, having, by this time become sufficiently guarded, they were sent to Camp Dennison, 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 Ohio 12th, at the head of which fell the brave Col - onel Lowe.
After the ever memorable departure of these two noble companies, the work of enlistment con- tinued, other squads and companies, composed of men from shop, plow and exchange, were continu- ally leaving the county, and joining regiments form- ing 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 ap- pointed consisting of Revs. R. D. Harper, P. C. Prugh, Judge Winans and Hugh Carey, Esq., who were to proceed immediately to Jamestown, 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
15
INTRODUCTION.
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 them- selves to use every possible effort in speedily filling it up.
After a few earnest speeches, the company yielded, reconsidered their former purpose, and in a few weeks were in camp. The pleasant memo- ries that still cluster around the scenes of that winter, in which soldiers and citizens happily min- gled, 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 battles it won in the great
16
GREENE COUNTY IN THE WAR.
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 towards making all this a part of living history in the Nation's struggle to free itself from the " ac- cursed 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 com- panion, a place, not only among the survivors and friends of the old 74th, but in the families and homes of the county, as well.
P. C. P.
HISTORY
OF THE -
SEVENTY FOURTH REGIMENT,
O. V. I.
CHAPTER I.
Rendezvous at Camp Lowe-Removal to Camp Chase-Guard- ing Rebel Prisoners-Removal to Camp Todd, Tennessee- Scout over the Cumberland Mountains-Picket Duty-Order- ed to Lebanon, Tennessee-Expected Attack-Marching Orders for Nashville-Camp on College Hill-Anecdote of Col. Moody.
In October, 1861, the organization of the 74th O. V. I. was commenced. Its rendezvous was Camp Lowe, Xenia, named in honor of Colonel Lowe, who fell at Carnifex Ferry, Virginia, in the early part of the war. The regiment was organ- ized to the extent of seven companies, at Camp Lowe, but on arriving at Camp Chase, the following February, three more companies were added, mak- ing the complement, and aggregating nine hundred and seventy-eight men.
18
GREENE COUNTY IN THE WAR.
After remaining at Xenia until the following February, the regiment was ordered to Camp Chase, near Columbus, Ohio, to guard rebel prisoners, Colonel Moody being appointed Post Commander. Whatever may be said to the contrary, the prison - ers there were well cared for ; plenty to eat, and comfortable. quarters. The writer was detailed several times to help erect tents, &c. The regi- ment remained at Camp Chase until April 20, when they were ordered to Nashville, Tennessee, under command of Colonel Von Shroder, Colonel Moody staying at Camp Chase. On arriving at Nashville, they marched through the city, and en- camped near the river, remaining only a short time, when they were ordered to move camp. They encamped in a beautiful grove, about one mile south of the city, which was called Camp Tod, in honor of Governor Tod. After remaining in camp a short time, a detachment of the regi- ment was ordered on a scout over the Cumberland mountains, or at least as far as McMinnville. That was the first experience many in the regi- ment had in the toils, hardships and fatigues of the march. Part of the regiment was left, however, 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.
19
THE SEVENTY FOURTH.
potatoes, honey, &c., which were generally pretty easy of access, the forest furnishing mulberries, and the orchards, cherries, plums, &c. Although the policy then was to guard rebel property, yet it was not always guarded. On picket we enjoyed many luxuries, of which many times we have since been deprived. We passed sixteen days thus, very pleasantly, until the return of the balance of the regiment.
July 1st, 1862, the regiment, (or four compan- jes of the same,) were ordered to march to Leba- non, 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 their first foraging by killing somt hogs, for which offence they were arrested and confined in jail in Lebanon. The indignation of 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. We were quartered in the spacious college building at Leb- anon, the same that John Morgan and his men oc-
20
GREENE COUNTY IN THE WAR.
cupied previous to our arrival. It was a very dirty place, but by hard labor, washing and scrub- bing, we made it fit for soldiers to quarter in. We spent the Fourth of July at Lebar It was a very dull day, not much going on. Our duty whilst there was light; we performed some picket duty, had dress parade in the afternoon, the bal- ance of the time being spent in loafing about the building, reading, writing letters home, or going out for blackberries. We also formed a glee club ; we used to visit the Union families. (when we could find them out,) and serenade them with Union songs. We were always invited in, and asked to partake of cake, wine or cordial, which we never refused on such occasions. On the 10th of July, our camp was thrown into considerable excitement. by the rumor that the rebel cavalry were advanc- ing on us, but as feeble as we were, we com- menced 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 o'clock, a. m., of the 12th ; no enemy yet.
On the 13th, we received marching orders for Nashville. It was about 11 o'clock at night, when we received the order to march, and by 12 o'clock we were all packed up, armed and equipped, and in line. While marching out of town all was still
21
THE SEVENTY FOURTH.
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 grey light appeared in the eastern horizon, we were sixteen miles out on the road to Nashville, and by 10 o'clock next day we were in Nashville, having marched 30 miles. That was the time the rebel Forrest was expected to make an attack on Nash- ville. It was a very hot day. Some of the boys came near giving out before arriving at camp. We camped on College Hill, and that night we lay on our arms, in line of battle, for the first time. The next day, (which was the 16th,) Colonel Moody, with the detachment which was sent to Louisville, arrived and took command of the regi- ment. An anecdote was told here of him, which I will relate. He came galloping into camp, and 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 on 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 Col- onel then told him to get one. The man replied that he could not. " Well, then, " says the Col- onel, " get a club ; you shall shoot." A strong
22
GREENE COUNTY IN THE WAR.
guard was kept ; the city was barricaded with wag- ons, cotton bales, &c. 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 have had warm work. This is the time when it was said the celebrated prayer-meeting was held by Col. Moody, with An- drew Johnson. A story went the rounds in the papers something like this : It was said that while Col. Moody was praying, that Johnson, putting his arms around him, (the Col.,) said : "Col., I believe in God, I believe in prayer, and the Chris- tian religion, but I'll be d-d if Nashville shall be taken." And it was not taken.
CHAPTER II.
Removing Camp-Ordered to Franklin-Guarding Railroad -- Incident-Return to Nashville-Incidents-Negro Meetings -Changing Camp-Siege of Nashville-Scarcity of Food. Foraging-Suffering and Death of Comrades-Removal tu Mill Creek-Building a Bridge-Ordered to Camp Hamilton.
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 Maj. Gen. Nelson. Soon after we changed camp, and camped on the farm of Maj. Lewis, near town. This camp was called Camp Lewis. Shortly after we received or- ders to march to Franklin, Tenn. I think it was about the Ist of August when we started to Franklin. When within about two miles of Frank- lin, we halted and spent the night. The following incident occurred at that time, which I will relate :
It is generally known, that about that time or- ders were strict concerning rebel property, which
21
GREENE COUNTY IN THE WAR.
was to be held sacred, the orders coming from onc 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 surroundings. Vegetables were scarce, and Buell's orders plenty. George concluded to suspend one of the orders, touching potatoes, for a short time ; 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 du- ly arrested, and taken under guard to Col. Moody's headquarters for examination. The owner accom- panied 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 Lis commanding General's orders. Whereupon the Southern nabob waxed wrathy and valiant. He said such soldiers as Snyder "were Northern pol- troons and cowards ; that if it were not for the
THE SEVENTY FOURTH. 25.
musket he carried, he would have whipped him and kicked him off his premises ; that he could whip half a dozen such fellows." Moody listened to the harangue, and thought he would give Johnny a chance to clean George out. Thereupon he or- dered Snyder as follows : "Lay down that mus- ket, sir. George obeyed. "Take off that hav- ersack." George dropped his sack. "Unfasten that belt, sir." It was done. "Take off your coat." George shed his linen. "Now. sir, I re- lease you from arrest. Step out and whip this brave scion of the South until I tell you to stop. This was just the kind of order that George loved to obey, and he sprang bick a la Heenan to the combat. But this the cowardly boaster had not bargained for. His eyes protuded ; his knees shook like Belshazzar's ; his tongue refused to ut- ter 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. His brother came forward and told the Colonel that he (the speaker) was a Senator of Tennessee, and broth- er to the palsied victim, and urged Moody to stop the proceedings. Moody assured Mr. Senator that he was doing all he could to bring the conflict
.
26
GREENE COUNTY IN THE WAR.
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 Gen. 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 and Columbia railroad, the different companies be- ing scattered along the road, from Nashville to Columbia, Co. C occupying Franklin. Col. Moo- dy's headquarters were at Franklin. While there we built stockades and did some duty guarding. The duty, however, was not very heavy. We lived very well off the products of the country, such as apples, peaches, potatoes and honey,-all being plenty. About the 1st of September we returned to Nashville. We took a train or two of cars loaded with corn to that city. We went out into the woods some three miles from the city, and camped. While there a man was cleaning his gun, when it was accidentally discharged, killing a negro. We staid in camp only one night, when we received orders to change camp. We then camped near Nashville on the Franklin pike, where we remained a short time. A great many negroes were employed at that time working on the forti-
27
THE SEVENTY FOURTH.
fications around the city, and especially on Fort Negley near our camp. I used to go sometimes to their meetings, which they held out-doors. One evening I attended a social meeting, when one old darkey arose to speak. The substance of his speech was as follows : "My Bredren, you see's me gwine around drivin' de cart. You do not know whedder I'se got religion or not ; but God knows it. By and by, I'll be high up in Heaven, and dese wicked sinners will be low down in Hell, where de blue blazes of damnashun will be bilin' out of dar noses." These negroes were very ig- norant. making use of some very droll expres- sions.
We then moved south of town and camped in a field where the weeds were nearly as high as one's head. This camp was called Camp Weeds. We staid there a few days and then moved a short dis- tance, near the Hillsboro pike, not far from our old Camp Tod. This was about the time of the siege of Nashville, when our communication was cut off. We suffered considerably for want of rations. We could get none from the government, and I have often thought since, that the government ought to have paid us, as we drew no rations from its cof- fers. But about all we could get to eat was what we could get in the country, which was mostly coon. One day I ate nothing but one small
28
GREENE COUNTY IN THE WAR.
sweet potato. The reason was obvious-I could get nothing else. This camp we called Camp Starvation. After remaining there awhile we moved into the Chattanooga depot.
The first day of our arrival was a very busy one, the boys all being engaged in making bunks. It reminded one of a large carpenter's shop, and all hands at work. It was while here that the boys suffered very much from camp diarrhea, seve- ral of whom died. I will mention some of them : Thomas Harp and William Funderburg, of Compa- ny C, and Thomas Faulkner of Company B, with perhaps some others. While here we were all called up before daylight to drill every morning.
Orders were soon received to march toward Lebanon, Tennessee. Having lost my knapsack at the battle of Stone River, I am not prepared to give exact dates at this time. We marched out some seven miles and halted, where we remained a short time. Then we started back toward Nash- ville, and we camped on Mill creek. Here the 74th commenced building a bridge across that stream, the rebels having burned the old one. This was about the middle of November, 1862. We were temporarily assigned to the command of Brigadier General Morgan. While there I saw a revolting sight. One morning a negro having died in one of the out houses, his body was discovered
29
THE SEVENTY FOURTHI.
partly eaten by rats. His nose and part of his face were eaten off.
About the last of November we again received. orders to march, before completing the bridge. We were ordered to Camp Hamilton, about seven miles from Nashville, near the Franklin pike. Our camp was on the farm of a Mr. Overton. Here the Army of the Cumberland was encamped. While here we were reviewed by General Rosecrans,. when he rode through the camp of the Seventy- Fourth and had something to say to each company. To Company C he said, " Boys, when you drill, drill like thunder. It is not the number of bullets you shoot, but the accuracy of the aim that kills more men in battle." There was a large cane- brake near the camp. and the boys used to go at night with torches to kill robins, of which there were immense numbers. The light would blind · them, and by taking a stick or club they could be casily killed. Sometimes the boys would get lost in the brake, even in the daytime. Colonel Nei -. bling, of the 21st Ohio regiment, went into the brake one day and got lost, and had to climb a trec in order to see which way to get out. We had battalion drill frequently.
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