USA > Ohio > History of the Seventieth Ohio Regiment : from its organization to its mustering out > Part 1
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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00824 2387
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012
http://archive.org/details/historyofseventi00conn
GSTORY OF
REGI
PTW
..
OVVD
. FROM ITS ORGANIZATION
TO ITS MUSTERING OUR
BY TW. CONNELLY. COMPANY G.
2
HISTORY
..
-
OF THE 1
SEVENTIETH OHIO REGIMENT
From Its Organization to Its Mustering Out
1
BY T. W. CONNELLY Of Company G
PEAK BROS .. 110 EAST PEARL STREET. CINCINNATI, O,
1652513
. .
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
3
PREFACE, .
.
5
HISTORY OF THE SEVENTIETH OHIO REGIMENT.
Chapter I. 7
Chapter II. 13
Chapter III. 2I
Chapter IV. 29
Chapter V. 42
Chapter VI. 50
Chapter VII. 62
Chapter VIII.
83
Chapter IX.
Chapter X.
115
Chapter XI. 122
Chapter XII. I34
Chapter XIII.
[42
Chapter XIV. 156
Chapter XV. . 161
Chapter XVI.
166
ROSTER OF THE SEVENTIETH REGIMENT, O V. I. . 169
APPENDIX,
.
183
Resolutions on death of President Loudon,
. iii.
In Memory of President Heaton, iv.
Stasaar
A
PREFACE.
We trust this volume will be received and read by every surviving member of the 70th Ohio Regiment, and taken up by their sons and daughters, and friends of this great country of ours. We have tried to give you a correct history of the 70th Ohio from its organization to its muster-out ; of its camps, of its long marches and many battles. And we trust that the surviving members of the Regiment, and all who read this volume, will not be disappointed. We wish every reader a long, prosperous and happy life.
Yours in F., C. and L., T. W. CONNELLY, Historian. 5
.
HISTORY OF THE SEVENTIETH OHIO REGIMENT.
The 70th Ohio Regiment was organized by Joseph Randolph Cockerill October Ist, 1861. Went into camp October 14th, 1861. on the old Adams County Fair Grounds, at West Union, Ohio, afterward named Camp Hamer in honor of General Thomas L. Hamer, of Georgetown, Ohio. The following officers were commissioned by Governor David Tod as the field and staff: Colonel. J. R. Cockerill ; Lieutenant-Colonel, D. W. C. Loudon ; Major, J. W. McFerren ; Adjutant, H. L. Phillips ; Quartermaster. I. H. De Bruin : Surgeons, C. H. Swain and Thomas J. Farrell. The Regiment was mustered into service December 15th. 1861, at Camp Hamer. March Ist, 1862, L. L. Edgington was appointed Sergeant-Major of the Regiment. and March Ist, 1862. Townsend Heaton, of Company B, was appointed Hospital Steward. November Ist. 1861. James A. Stevenson was appointed Quartermaster Sergeant and dis- charged on Surgeon's certificate of disability December 16th. 1862. And on the 16th day of December, 1862, John H. Kelley. of Company H, was appointed Quartermaster Sergeant. vice James A. Stevenson discharged, and Charles A. Grimes, of Company G, appointed Commissary Sergeant. Wagonmaster, Michael O'Neil, Sr .: Sutler. Henry Moore. of West Union ; Drum Major, Samuel Naden, of Company F; Fife Major, Zachariah Guthrie, Company E.
The following companies were organized, mustered and assigned their positions in Regimental line as their Company letters will indicate:
Company A-William B. Brown, Captain ; First Lieutenant, Lewis Love; Second Lieutenant, Brice Cooper: Orderly Sergeant, James Brown.
Company B-James F. Summers. Captain ; First Lieutenant. Samuel G. Richards: Second Lieutenant, William P. Spurgeon; Orderly Ser- geant, Samuel J. Mallicks.
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HISTORY OF THE SEVENTIETH OHIO REGIMENT.
Company C .- Reason L. Naylor, Captain ; First Lieutenant, Valen- tine Zimmerman; Second Lieutenant, William R. Stewart ; Orderly Ser- geant, Jonathan Chamblin.
Company D-Charles Johnson, Captain; First Lieutenant, Samuel M. Woodruff ; Second Lieutenant, Josiah W. Denham; First Sergeant, Hugh C. Wilson.
Company E-John T. Wilson, Captain; First Lieutenant, John Campbell; Second Lieutenant, Joseph Spurgeon; First Sergeant, Cyrus Ailison.
Company F-Joseph Blackburn, Captain; First Lieutenant, James Drennin; Second Lieutenant, Isaac W. Adams ; First Sergeant, David A. Dodd.
Company G-N. W. Foster, Captain; First Lieutenant, John K. Truitt; Second Lieutenant, John C. Nelson; First Sergeant, J. W. Pownall.
Company H-Benjamin F. Wiles, Captain ; First Lieutenant, Will- iam H. Herbert; Second Lieutenant, John Taylor; First Sergeant, J. M. Greenlee.
Company I-Daniel B. Carter, Captain ; First Lieutenant, Joinville Reiff : Second Lieutenant, George A. Foster; First Sergeant, Andrew Urban.
Company K-Felix G. Sloan, Captain ; First Lieutenant, William R. Harmon ; Second Lieutenant, Amos F. Ellis; First Sergeant, Milton Rankin.
This completes the list of companies assigned to the original organi- zation, increasing our Regimental roll to about one thousand men.
Stout, healthy looking men-no better Regiment of men ever went into their country's defense than those of the 70th Ohio Regiment. They were the best in the country, and Colonel Cockerill could well feel proud of such a Regiment. Johnny Mckeown (and don't you forget it) was appointed as our Regimental baker, and right royally did he do his part to furnish the Regiment with good, fresh bread each day. The citizens of West Union treated the Regiment very kindly ; we were always bade wel- come to any home in West Union. During the good weather we had from one to two hundred visitors in camp each day, and particularly in the afternoon during Company drill or dress parade.
:
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HISTORY OF THE SEVENTIETH OHIO REGIMENT.
Our camp was very pleasantly located on a high piece of ground over- looking the old Maysville and Zanesville pike. Our guard line extended along the old Fair Ground line of fence. and was high and dry. The west- ern or northern winds were very severe at times, and rather uncomfortable on a cold blustering day or night. The labors and duty of army camp life were beginning to be realized by the boys. Such as fatiguc and guard duty, Squad, Company and Regimental drills each day ; Guard Mounting and Sick Calls each morning ; but generally there were but few responded to the Sick Call. Dress Parade each evening at six o'clock. Taps at nine o'clock, and Reveille at six cach morning. Our rations consisted of beef, pork, beans, potatoes, onions, bread. crackers, coffee, and sometimes black tea for a change. Sometimes the friends would bring in chicken, pies, cakes, honey and jellies, which we never had the courage to refuse : we were always glad to be remembered in this way by our friends. Each morning some member from each Company was selected to act as his Company's cook during that day. Our fires for cooking purposes ivere arranged in the rear of each Company's tents, and tables were built large enough to accommodate the entire Company.
Our camp amusements were football. marbles, jumping, wrestling, dancing, foot races, singing songs, reading books and papers. Here and there some of the boys would be interested in the violin, while others, per- chance, would pass the time away at a social game of seven-up. Occa- sionally our Lieutenant-Colonel would take the Regiment out rabbit hunting, and our orders, when we found Mr. Rabbit, were: "Post pickets, throw out a skirmish line, surround his camp, and prepare for a grand charge all along the line." This movement of course had to be executed cautiously until all was ready, when the boys with a "hip, hip, hurrah!" would suddenly dash upon the fort and the rabbit was ours. Returning to camp we all felt we had gained a great victory.
.
Our tents were of the Sibley style, heated by a small sheet-iron stove, which was sufficient to make the tents warm and comfortable. Our camp was often made cheerful by the presence of interested visitors. We had the privilege of attending Sabbath-school or Church each Sunday morn- ing and evening, and were always bade welcome by the good people of West Union, who left no stone unturned to make the soldier boys feel at home while with them.
But these enjoyable occasions had an end. On the 24th day of December, 1861, orders were received from Regimental Headquarters to pack knapsacks for Camp Ripley, Ohio. On the morning of December
10
HISTORY OF THE SEVENTIETH OHIO REGIMENT.
25th, the sacred ties of old Camp Hamer were forever severed, the good- byes were said and the Regiment moved out of our old quarters for Ripley. Our line of march from Camp Hamer was over the Maysville and Zanesville pike by way of Bradysville and Aberdeen, while a portion of the Regiment marched by way of the old State road, through Decatur to Ripley. At Bradysville we halted one hour for lunch. Resuming our march again we soon found ourselves within the limits of Aberdeen. Once being admitted to the city we found the citizens of Aberdeen waiting with open arms to give the boys a cordial welcome, which was royally done, and in a way never to be forgotten. Marching into town we found that Captain James Helm, assisted by his associates and the loyal ladies of Aberdeen, had prepared a grand dinner, arranged on a long table erected along the center of the pike on Main Street. The weather was chilly and disagrecable, but the boys could sing "Let Us Never Mind the Weather. so the Wind Don't Blow," and they were all the more prepared to enjoy this feast and feel that it was good to be there. All praise to the fair ladies, and citizens of Aberdeen in general, for the interest manifested upon this occasion. Aberdeen-honored for her loyalty to the old flag, and her many acts of kindness and charity toward the old soldier boys -- long may she have a place in the hearts of the boys in blue !
Resting a short time after the dinner was over, we marched aboard the Maysville and Aberdeen ferryboat, and were soon sailing down the beat- tiful Ohio toward our new camp, landing at Ripley shortly after sun- down. By this time a cool rain was falling, and without losing time we disembarked and marched direct to the Fair Ground, east of town, and established quarters for the night in the floral hall. It was still getting cold, and but very little fire being allowed in the hall, we felt that freeze we must. but somehow we managed to pull through. The next day, the 26th of December, our camp was staked off, and our Company and Parade Grounds marked out : our tents were put up, and Company and Regimental Headquarters established. Companies D and I, of the 52d Ohio, arrived from Cincinnati, and were assigned to their places in line as above indicated. Thomas Ellison, of West Union, was appointed Regimental Sutler, vice George Moore resigned. As near as we can remember the following persons were appointed as Regimental Musicians -- James Taylor. Joseph Trotter, Ira Riffle, George Lowery, Jack Midge- hall, Sharmon Viers. Jacob Postel, Henry Tarlton and Jesse McCreight.
The regular camp duties established were just the same as at Camp Hamer, with the exception of Company and Regimental inspection every
II
HISTORY OF THE SEVENTIETH OHIO REGIMENT.
Sunday morning. The Colonel, feeling the importance of a thorough military drill. would cause the Regiment to be called into line on several occasions after the midnight hour, for the purpose of giving the com- panies a thorough drill preparatory to speedy action in case of an alarm or midnight attack. Our camp at Ripley was very pleasantly located, and often made pleasant and cheerful by the presence of lady and gentlemen visitors. who were always welcomed by the officers and men of the Regi- ment. The friendships there made between the citizens of Ripley and the rank and file of the 70th Ohio Regiment will never be erased from memory.
But, as it was said of old Camp Hamer. the time came for these pleas- ant associations to end, when the farewell to all the ties that bound the Regiment to Camp Ripley had to be said. And to many it was the last farewell. On the 16th day of February, 1862, we received orders to pre- pare so many days' cooked rations in our haversacks, pack our knapsacks. and strike tents. The next morning, February 17th, we left our camp and marched to the landing ; all along our line of march we were greeted by thousands of sympathizing friends who had gathered to say the last sad good-bye. The famous steamer Magnolia had been chartered and was waiting at the landing to take us aboard, and as the last farewell was said we marched aboard the boat, and amid the booming of the Ripley battery and steam whistles, the proud steamer Magnolia, loaded with her living freight, backed out from the wharf and was soon whirling us onward over the bosom of the Ohio toward Cincinnati. At every town or landing on our route anxious throngs beckoned to us good cheer. We arrived at the city about five o'clock that evening. and in a few moments we were transferred to the old stern-wheel steamer Ohio, No. I. At about eight o'clock we bid adien to Ohio's shore. and were whirling down the river toward the Southland, landing at the city of Louisville, Ky .. at daylight the next morning. Here we were met with an army of pie and cake peddlers, singing that old, familiar song, "Want Some Pies and Cakes Here?" Well, we pitched into the pies and cakes pretty strongly. and some of us soon became pretty sick of pies and cakes, and the writer must confess that he was sick. We always watched pison cakes after that. As soon as the services of a Falls Pilot could be secured we pulled out and went bounding over the falls of the Ohio, and for a time it seemed to be a greater undertaking than the old. shaky boat would be able to stand, but over swell after swell we went, and on down the river toward
I2
HISTORY OF THE SEVENTIETH OHIO REGIMENT.
the land of rebeldom we sailed ; finally on the evening of February 20th, 1862, we landed at Paducah, Ky., where we disembarked and went into camp, all tired and hungry, but in good spirits, and all anxious to see a live Rebel.
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CHAPTER II.
Our camp at Paducah, Ky., was located along the southern bank of the Tennessee River, a short distance above the city, and within one- quarter of a mile from the Ohio River. The ground upon which our tents stood was often very muddy, unhealthy and disagreeable. We drained around our tents as best we could and made everything around us as comfortable as possible. Some days the sun shone out very beautiful and bright, making all nature smile with her beauty. Other days would be rainy and gloomy, and the boys realized that we were not at old Camp Hamer or Camp Ripley. Here we were within the lines of an enemy's country, doing and performing military duty, and not a single gun in camp. We were compelled to stand guard and do picket duty, drill and pass in review, be inspected, and no guns. We were in a grand condition to repel an attack of the enemy had he made a sudden dash upon us. It would have been quite amusing to some old soldier of the Revolutionary or Mexican Wars to have reviewed our camp and inspected our arms while at Paducah. It would have been a novel scene to see soldiers in an enemy's country, walking their beats around camp, or standing picket guard at some important bridge or crossing, carrying at shoulder arms or right shoulder and arms support, a long stick whittled out of pine or poplar, with an old bayonet fastened on one end. These were our arms of defense.
I desire now to dwell a moment in explaining the organization of the army at this point. By the President's order, No. 3. issued March 11th, 1862, Major-General Halleck was assigned to the command of the Department of the Mississippi ; Major-General U. S. Grant was assigned by General Halleck to the command of the Army of the Tennessee, operating on the line of the Tennessee River. After some other changes of importance the organization of the Army of the Tennessee was con- pleted in the following order: Major-General John A. McClernand com- manding the First Division, General Charles F. Smith the Second Divis- ion, Brigadier-General Lew Wallace commanding the Third Division, Brigadier-General Stephen A. Hurlbut commanding the Fourth Division, General W. T. Sherman in command of the Fifth Division, Brigadier- General B. M. Prentiss to command the Sixth Division. From three to five Brigades composed a Division: four Brigades made up the Fifth -Sherman's-Division. Our Regiment was assigned to duty in the Fourth Brigade of the Fifth Division. Colonel R. P. Buckland, of
13
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HISTORY OF THE SEVENTIETH OHIO REGIMENT.
the 72d Ohio, was appointed commander of our Brigade. made up of the 70th Ohio, 72d Ohio and 48th Ohio Regiments. The other Divisions were made up in like manner.
On or about the 10th day of March, 1862, General Halleck decided to advance up the Tennessee River as far as practicable by water, then disembark on the west bank and attack the enemy at Corinth. Accord- ingly on the Sth day of March, 1862, the order was issued to prepare for a general advance up the river. Our Regimental Quartermaster, in company with the Commissary Sergeant, went to the Division Commis- sary and supplied our Regiment with all necessary rations for the trip. Our knapsacks were packed, haversacks filled, and all Company and Regimental property arranged for transportation. On the 9th day of March, 1862, our Regiment marched aboard the stern-wheel steamers Shenango and Maringo, and by ten o'clock that day seventy-five steamers were moving up the Tennessee River, having on board the Army of the Tennessee ; this expedition was led by the gunboats Lexington and Tyler. It was a grand sight, and but little did we know of what was before us. Many in that expedition enjoyed their first and last steam- boat ride.
At about three o'clock that day we came in sight of Fort Henry, situated on the east bank of the river ; the steamers were signaled to land by a shot across the bow of the steamer in advance from the battery at the fort. After remaining here about one hour our fleet moved farther up the river, and laid up for the night near where a rail bridge across the river had been burned and destroyed by the Rebels. The gunboats Lex- ington and Tyler advanced some five or six miles farther, occasionally sending out a shell through the woods from one of their sixty-four- pounders, as a gentle feeler for the enemy. They returned to the fleet about eleven o'clock, and tied up for the night. We remained at this place all day the Ioth.
'The movement of our fleet was very slow and cautious, feeling our way carefully. On the IIth day of March we advanced thirty miles farther up the river. The banks, on either side of the river, presented a wild scene, with heavy timber, thick underbrush. high hills and bluffs, and many places very heavy canebrakes. The Lexington and Tyler would occasionally send a broadsider through the timber on either bank, as a warning to all intruders. On the 12th we advanced about twenty miles, lying up at the bank each evening, with pickets thrown out. By this time the army had received their arms and accouterments ; part of
i
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COL. R. J. COCKERILL.
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HISTORY OF THE SEVENTIETH OHIO REGIMENT.
our Regiment being supplied with the old Austrian rifle, and part with Belgian muskets. Each one of us now had something to do to pass away the hours, by cleaning up our guns and arranging our cartridge boxes for actual service.
March 14th, we landed at Eastport, landing near Bear Creek. Here three States cornered, so that you could step from one to the other, namely: Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama. After making a faint at this point we quietly dropped back down the river and disembarked at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee. March 15th, 1862, David C. Young, of Company E, died and was buried on the bank of the Tennessee River. Pittsburg Landing is a high bluff, and a landing for steamboats, on the front of the bluff, is a deep cut containing at this time one or two log buildings used for warehouses, down to which leads the Corinth road to the river. The distance to Corinth from this point is about twenty miles. We went into camp on the bluff, not far from the landing, the country looking more like a wilderness than anything else. We only advanced a short distance at a time, and in every movement the 70th Ohio was always thrown in the lead. The top of the bluff presented the marks of an engagement, as here and there was found, about half buried, the Blue
and the Gray, presenting a sickening sight. Shortly after becoming settled in camp, Thomas Ellison, assisted by that noble and kindhearted Johnny Mckeown, and the ever faithful Clayton Naylor, arrived with a large supply of sutler goods-just the thing we wanted-for we were all hungry and thirsty for chewing and smoking tobacco. Our duties, as mapped out for us, were to police our quarters each morning ; the other duties of the camp being guard and picket, and each afternoon Division drill, by General Sherman.
On the 17th day of March, 1862, we broke camp and advanced three miles, and went into camp with the left wing of our Regiment rest- ing on Shiloh Church. on the eastern bank of Owi Creek. The 5th Ohio Cavalry was stationed with us at this point. This was our last move before the great battle of Shiloh. Many of our boys were taken sick, due to the unhealthy condition of our camp. Men would take sick in the morning, and we would have to bury them before night. While in this camp we were pleased to receive, as visitors to our quarters, Captain Will Kirker, William Bryant, Samuel Bryant, Dr. Gaskin, Charley Her- bert and other friends from Cincinnati. Everything was done that could possibly be done for the health of the soldiers, yet after all, our camp- ing ground became very muddy and disagreeable. Since coming to
18
HISTORY OF THE SEVENTIETH OHIO REGIMENT.
Pittsburg Landing our old Austrian guns were exchanged for the Belgian rifles. But the Belgian, not proving to be the most effective gun in use, was exchanged for the Enfield rifle. Soon the boys had these guns cleaned and brightened up so they would pass the most rigid inspec- tion. Our camp at Shiloh Church was situated on the eastern bank of Owl Creek. On either bank of this little stream was grown up a thick forest of shrub oak, easily passable for troops except where the under- growth had grown up so thick that it constituted an obstruction. About three miles from the landing the road leading to Corinth divided, forming the lower Corinth road and the Corinth ridge road, while. another road led off a little farther to the left across Lick Creek, to Hamburg. On the right two roads led west to Purdy, and another ran north across Snake Creek, and down the river to Crump's Landing, a distance of six miles. On each of these roads, and fronting south, the Army of the Tennessee was encampcd. General Sherman's Division camping near, and along the bank of Owl Creek, and posted in the following order : First Brigade, commanded by Colonel J. A. McDowell, consisting of his own Regiment, the 6th Iowa ; 40th Illinois, Colonel Hicks; 46th Ohio, Colone! Worthington, and Captain Behr's Morton Battery on the right, guarding the bridge over Owl Creek, on the Purdy road. The Fourth Brigade, commanded by Colonel R. P. Buckland, of the 72d Ohio, together with the 48th Ohio, Colonel Sullivan, and the roth Ohic, Colonel J. R. Cockerill, continued the line, with the left wing of the 70th Ohio resting on Shiloh Church. The Third Brigade, commanded by Colonel Hildebrand, of the 77th Ohio, including that Regiment ; the 53d Ohio, Colonel Appler : the 57th Ohio, Colonel Mungen, lay on the left of the Corinth road, with the right wing of the 77th Ohio resting on Shiloh Church. Taylor's Battery of light artillery was stationed at the church. Waterhouse's Battery was camped on the ridge to the left, commanding a large open field between the 53d Ohio and the 57th Ohio Regiments. The Second Brigade. Colonel Stewart's, was in camp on the extreme left of the army. Ow! Creek rises near Lick Creek, flows northeast and empties into Snake Creek. Shiloh Church was built of logs, chinked and daubed; the roof was made of clapboards. The style of the building is on the old, ancient plan ; it was used by our surgeons for hospital pur- poses before and after the battle.
My purpose in giving the above descriptions of the roads, creeks, and the location of the different Brigades and Regiments, is to give the reader an exact location of Sherman's Division, and especially that of the 70th
ยท
19
HISTORY OF THE SEVENTIETH OHIO REGIMENT.
Ohio. We were in the midst of a dense forest of scrub oak, with here and there an open field. The native inhabitants of this part of the coun- try were scarce and far between. Occasionally a clay-complected looking chap would come into camp, pretending to be a friend, and after being directed to some Regimental or Brigade Headquarters would address the commander with the following question: "Can I get a guard, sah?" In reply the Colonel would put the following: "What is your name?" "My name is John Jones, sah." "Are you a loyal. man?" "Oh, yes, sah ; I am a loyal man, sah ; and the Rebels have taken about all I've got, sah. I want a guard." "All right; you can have a guard."
Our supplies were transported by our Regimental teams from the landing at the river to camp. Our Regimental Quartermaster, Captain I. Il. de Bruin, was very prompt and faithful, and deserves praise for the interest in keeping the supplies well up with the Regiment. Our camp ground became very muddy, but our tents were comfortable and dry- we still carried our little sheet-iron stoves to heat them. We built little bunks out of poles to sleep on, and made them high from the ground. We policed our quarters, aired our blankets and knapsacks each morning. We had two or three bake ovens built in the Regiment, and other arrangements completed for the comfort and health of the boys. We received mail about once in a week. Each Sunday morning and after roon we had inspection and review, and sometimes we were favored with religious services, conducted by some one or two of the Regimental or Brigade Chaplains. A detachment of the 5th Ohio Cavalry was sent ou! to the front each morning, returning in the evening would report they had been out about twenty or thirty miles and could find no Rebels in our front. Colonel Buckland, our Brigade commander, always looking after the best interests of our camp, thought it would be beneficial to the health of the boys to enjoy some suitable exercise other than the regular camp duties, and requested General Sherman to allow him to take his Brigade out on a kind of picnic excursion. The request was granted, and on Wednesday morning. April 2d. 1862, with our Regiment in the lead, fol- lowed by the 72d and 48th Ohio Regiments, Colonel Buckland in com- mand, we marched out on the Corinth ridge road a distance of eight miles from camp, where we halted, and stacked arms for dinner ; in the meantime Major J. W. McFerren, of the 7th Ohio, with seven men, was sent farther out on the road as pickets : they had not advanced very far before they were challenged-"Halt! who comes there?" To which the gallant Major replied: "It is the advance guard of the Grand Army of the
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