USA > Ohio > A history of the Eleventh regiment, (Ohio volunteer infantry,) containing the military record of each officer and enlisted man of the command -a list of deaths-an account of the veterans-incidents of the field and camp-names of the three months' volunteers, etc., etc > Part 17
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' Man's inhumanity to man Makes countless thousands mourn.'
Some 8,000 more will be added to their number, and where the provisions are to come from to feed this multi- tude is a difficult problem. Five thousand pounds of bacon, or ten thousand pounds of beef daily, seems, in addition to the more urgent draught upon her, far beyond the ability of South Carolina. The question is: Are we not doing serious injury to our cause in keeping these pris- oners to divide with us our scanty rations ? Would it not be better to release them at once on parole?
HOWARD."
The fear on the part of the writer "that some of our loved ones may be undergoing a similar misery," was doubtless inserted for effect. Notwithstanding the barbar- ities perpetrated by the rebels on their defenseless captives, our Government never retaliated in like manner. In fact, at Camp Chase, in Ohio, the rebel prisoners received better treatment than was acoorded paroled Union soldiers at the
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same place. This was undoubtedly the case at other prison " depots" in the North, but we mention only this one be- cause we know what we say is true. To say nothing of the criminal negligence practiced by United States officials (Generals, Quartermasters, &c.,) towards enlisted men, we could mention many brave and worthy officers, honorably captured in battle, and after being paroled, retained at Camps " Wallace" and "Chase," (both near Columbus, O.,) depending for their "daily bread " on the generosity of citizens of the vicinity ! At the same time some of these officers had more than a year's pay due them. These facts were properly represented to "Head-quarters " in Colum- bus, by a committee appointed for that purpose ; but the matter was made sport of and the officers composing the committee insulted and treated with contempt by the "com- mandant" and his cowardly "understrappers."
We include this matter for the reason that a number of the members of our Regiment died in rebel prisons, and others were "guests" at Camps Wallace and Chase.
"WHISKY DODGES."
The expedients that men will resort to, after becoming soldiers, to obtain stimulating drinks, is something strange and extraordinary. Men who, before entering the army, never thought of using the mildest malt liquors, will some- times plan and work for days to obtain that terrible "thief" which "steals men's brains." Why this is so is probably owing to that inherent stubbornness or contrariness of which all men are possessed in a greater or less degree, as it was the custom of all commanding officers to pro- hibit the use of intoxicating liquors by the men-particu-
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larly at posts and garrisons. We always thought the plans adopted to prevent drinking among the enlisted men very foolish, as they certainly were inefficient, generally having the opposite effect from what was intended. Had the good sense and manhood of our volunteers been appealed to instead of the restraints sought to be thrown around them, the effect would have been different.
Among other " dodges," when the regular article could not be obtained, we have known men to buy up the various kinds of "essences" to be found in all country .stores, dilute with a little water and drink the vile decoction with evident satisfaction.
A dealer in oysters at Point Pleasant was suspected of furnishing the boys with whisky, but it was some time before his manner of getting the article inside the lines was detected. Almost every day he made a trip to Gallipolis and brought back with him a case of canned oysters. One day just as he landed from the "Lovell," with a case of shining cans on his shoulder, Colonel De V. stepped up, inserted the blade of his knife in a can, and the mystery was solved-the oysters were no more nor less than "rot-gut" of the surest "forty-rod" description! That oyster trade was stopped.
There was a "genius" in Company K, whose artful dodges to obtain the ardent were worthy of a better cause. On one occasion he killed a large snake, and carefully dissecting the varmint obtained a long, white cartilage, which he carefully cleaned and coiled up. Proceeding to the hospital he very politely requested a small quantity of spirits in which to preserve the curiosity, (which he repre- sented as a tape worm). The Doctor readily assented to the modest request, and complimented the man highly for the interest he manifested in natural science! It is, perhaps, needless to say what became of the spirits !
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By the kindness of Chaplain Lyle we are permitted to copy from his "Lights and Shadows of Army Life" the following account of the
EXPEDITION TO PACK'S FERRY.
The Kanawha campaign of 1862, was opened in April, by the forces under General Cox moving from Gauley Bridge and vicinity nearly due south, with the intention of cutting the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, at or near Wythville or Newbern, and destroying the bridge across New River, so as to sever that important line of communi- cation. The rebels had been able, by means of this great central road, to concentrate their troops at almost any point with so much secrecy and celerity as to strike heavy blows on different parts of the Federal line, and by hurling superior numbers against some given point, not unfre- quently causing serious disaster to our forces before rein- forcements eould be brought up. Having the interior line, they could, with one army, fight on the Potomac to-day, and, before a week or ten days elapsed, fight again with the same army on the Mississippi. The necessity of severing this important line of communication was, therefore, obvi- ous. As already stated, the Kanawha army moved forward in two columns-one, under command of Colonel (now General) Crook, passing up on the east of New River to- ward Lewisburg, and the other, under command of Gen- eral Cox, in person, passing up on the west by way of' Raleigh and Princeton. The head of the column, under General Cox, reached a point within a few miles of the railroad, had a severe fight with a greatly superior force, but, being unable to maintain its position, fell back to Flat- Top Mountain. As a tribute to a noble regiment, it is worthy of note, in passing, that the Thirty-fourth Ohio
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fought desperately on this occasion, and so resolutely did they guard the trains, that, at one time, they had to cu: their way through the rebel lines at the point of the bay. onet. The hospital at Raleigh told the tale of their bravery and endurance. The other column, under General Crook, met the rebels near Lewisburg, and achieved a brilliant victory-the Forty-fourth Ohio covered itself with glory. This affair took place on the 23d of May. General Cox proceeded to maintain his positions on both sides of the river, his left resting on Lewisburg, and his right on Flat-Top Mountain. To secure this, however, it was necessary to open direct communication between the two wings of the army, and a point on New River, known as Pack's Ferry, was the only available crossing-place. Floyd, in his retreat from Cotton Mountain, in the fall of 1861, had destroyed all the boats that could be found on New River, and had obstructed the roads by burning bridges, felling timber, and by rolling huge rocks down from overhanging cliffs, in narrow gorges, thus rendering them impassable. The roads were obstructed, more or less, in this way from Shady Springs to Pack's Ferry, a dis- tance of some eighteen or twenty miles.
On the 25th of May, orders were issued to Captain Lane to take Companies G and K, and proceed immediately to clear the roads, put in repair the ferry, and build a boat capable of carrying five hundred men. In making pre- parations for the expedition, it was found that the tools necessary to do the work had been left at Gauley Bridge, and no implements could be had but spades and . axes. The orders, however, were imperative-it was an absolute necessity that communication be opened without delay. The two companies, numbering one hundred and thirty- seven men, immediately left Raleigh for the scene of op-
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eration. Company G, composed of as brave and efficient men as ever shouldered musket or swung an ax, was under command of Captain Higgins-an old Californian of en- larged experience, true as steel in the hour of danger, al- ways cool, calm and collected, and, be it whispered, a dry old wag, whose jokes were as spicy as pepper-sauce. Com- pany K was in no wise inferior to their comrades, but, composed of intelligent mechanics and practical engineers from Cincinnati, their intelligence and experience were only equal to their pure patriotism and unflinching bravery.
On the first day the expedition advanced twelve miles, halting for the night at Shady Springs. Next morning the work of clearing the road commenced in earnest. One-half of the men were kept under arms, with rifles loaded and capped, ready for any emergency, while the re- mainder were busy at work removing the obstructions. These were of no ordinary character. The road wound round precipices, ran zigzag with a rocky mountain stream, and, in its general outline, resembled an immense " W " __ the apex, or apices, striking through some deep, precipit- ous gorges in the mountains. Floyd's rear-guards deserv- ed the credit of being skilled in the art of obstruction, if nothing more. Trees were cut on the sides of the moun- tain and thrown across the road in such numbers and in such a manner as to form an immense network of logs and branches. Added to this, huge rocks had been rolled from the overhanging cliffs and rugged precipices, making the entanglement so perfect that the natives declared it could never be removed. Even the commanding officer of a re- connoitering party sent out from Flat-Top to examine the condition of the road, and the possibility of building a ferry, had reported that less labor would be required to open a new road than to remove the obstructions from the
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old one; and, moreover, that there were no materials in the vicinity for building a ferry. On the evening of the fitt !. day, however, the expedition of unprofessional, but emi- nently practical, sappers and miners, formed their line on the bank of New River, at Pack's Ferry, having cleared the road and made it available for artillery and supply- trains. The greatest caution and vigilance were necessary, however, for the expedition was now in front of the enemy. and it was not less than twenty-four miles to the nearest support. The first work, on reaching New River was to have the position thoroughly reconnoitered. In doing so, it was found that at a point called Blue-Stone Creek, about four miles above, there was a tolerably good ford, and also a road leading to the rear of the detachment. Another road and ford were discovered at the mouth of the Green- brier, about five miles below. Both points were picketed as strongly as the force would permit, and the men so dis- posed and such general precautions adopted that whatever disasters or misfortunes might happen the expedition, a surprise would not be one of them. These matters having been disposed of, the work of building the ferry-boat was at once commenced.
New River, for nearly its entire length, is a rapid, rocky, mountain stream. At the point where the crossing was to be effected it is about two hundred yards wide, and the current runs at about ten miles an hour-a slow pace for New River. About two hundred yards above the ferry, and as many below, the river rushes roaring and foaming over and between immense ledges of rocks, and even at a low stage is an angry mountain torrent, rushing along with irresistible power. The difficulties of the undertaking will at once be apparent. One of the scouts, having, received information that two gunwales for a boat were concealed
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in a creek about ten miles up Greenbrier River, a small party was instantly dispatched to bring them in. This im- portant work was accomplished in about twenty-four hours, and was the result of hard and incessant labor. An old "dug-out," or canoe, was also found, which an- swered the purpose of crossing the river, and was perfectly safe for three or four men-provided they were all experi- enced swimmers.
In the vicinity lived a local preacher of the Hard Shell persuasion, who was possessed of the happy faculty of al- ways occupying the right side of the fence, no matter what troops occupied the country. Captain Lane took a squad of men and made the clerical diplomat a visit-not, we opine, either for a "sarmint" or prayer-meeting. There was something else in the wind than either of these-some- thing considerably more tangible and carnal, but, very pos- ยท sibly, considerably more useful and available just at that time. The preacher received Captain Lane with all the politeness and sanctimonious unction imaginable, and seem- ed anxious to show his visitors that he was too good for any thing merely sublunary. He was asked whether he knew of any lumber in the neighborhood. He replied, in- nocently that he knew of no lumber nearer than a certain point some forty miles up the river. That point being within the enemy's lines, the information vouchsafed was not of the most valuable character, seeing the lumber re- ferred to could not be made available for present necessi- ties. But something else was needed as well as lumber. Captain Lane having noticed a quantity of flax in the barn, he informed the preacher that he would be under the ne- cessity of having some of it, for the purpose of calking the boat he was now building. The preacher expressed great surprise at this request, stating, at the same time, that, there being no materials with which to build a boat,
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of course . there could be no necessity for having flax to calk it with. When he found, however, that he was deal- ing with one who was thoroughly in earnest, and that the flax would have to be forthcoming, he blandly promised to send some to camp next day. Captain Lane informed him that he would save him so much trouble as that, and would only take his (the preacher's) team, then at the door, and, with the aid of Uncle Sam's boys, he could easily manage the flax. "In the mean time," said the captain, "I will look around the premises, and see whether I can find any lumber suitable for our purpose."
The party accordingly proceeded to the barn, and, on turning over the flax, lo and behold ! a large quantity of fine planking was discovered, of the very quality and di- mensions suitable for boat-building. It had been very carefully hidden away, and, of course, the loyal preacher didn't know any thing about it! By this happy discovery sufficient material to finish the first boat was very soon secured, as well as other articles, such as tools, which ma- terially aided in the general work. On the evening of the fourth day after the arrival of the detachment, a boat sixty feet long was successfully launched, amid the shouts and cheers of the one hundred and thirty-seven men, which made the woods and rocky sides of New River re-echo again and again. Two days had been spent in getting the gunwales out from their place of concealment on Green- brier, and in collecting lumber, etc., so that only two days were occupied in building the first boat.
Preparations were immediately made for building au- other boat eighty feet long, which, in due time, was accom- plished; the two were joined together, thus making a ferry- boat one hundred and forty feet long. By the time this was accomplished, a rope had arrived from Gauley Bridge
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. to work the ferry-boat, as it could not be managed with oars in such a strong current, and in such a stage of water. The design was to make what is known as a "flying bridge," or ferry, propelled by the current, having the boat fastened by means of a long cable to an anchor placed in a proper position up stream. The working of such a ferry will be familiar to most readers, but to the natives on New River, it was one of the wonders of the world. Some of them shrugged their shoulders and knit their brows dubiously, and even hinted that the devil or some of his special friends, must be in the Yankee camp. The Hard-Shell brother had owned both the ferry and the old negro who worked it for a number of years; but such a profound mystery as an immense ferry-boat, moving from bank to bank so rapidly and regularly without oars or oth- er visible means of propulsion, was something beyond either of their wise heads. The old slave frequently sat on the bank watching with intense interest the movements of the Yankee ferrymen, but he would never consent to take a trip in the new boat, although frequently invited to do so. He would shake his gray head, and mutter some- thing about "De old Debil pushin' dat ' ar boat," and that he "wasn't gwine ober dar, least old Split-foot should cotch him." The preacher crossed several times, and finally took such an interest in the spiritual welfare of the boys, that he kindly offered to preach to them on Sun- days. The boys, however, were not hungering after such righteousness as they thought he possessed, and preferred literal immersion to preaching on Sundays, believing that cleanliness of body was closely connected with purity of mind.
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OUR COLORS.
Almost every company of our Regiment possessed a flag. but we had no proper " Colors" until in June, 1862, when a beautiful "stand" was presented to the Regiment by Mr. John W. King, our worthy sutler. These colors were made to order, and cost about two hundred dollars. They were carried through the engagements at Bull Run, Fred- erick City, South Mountain, Antietam, Chickamauga, and Mission Ridge. In the battle of Chickamauga they were so torn that it was with difficulty they could be kept fast- ened on the staff, but at Mission Ridge they were literally torn to ribbons by shot and shell, and hung in strips about the scarred and splintered staff. They were the first colors planted on the rebel fortifications on the Ridge, and of the three brave men who successively bore them on that day one was instantly killed and two severely wounded.
The ladies of Troy Ohio, immediately set to work to pro- cure a new set of colors, to replace those which had receiv- ed so many honorable scars. In a short time the efforts of the ladies were crowned with success, the flags were made and consigned to the care of Chaplain Lyle who presented them to the Regiment in the name of the fair donors. The Regimental flag was made of the heaviest blue silk, with the national emblems in the centre richly embroidered in silk and chenilie. On each side of the emblems, in gold letters, were the names of the principal battles in which the Regiment had been engaged, viz; Bull Run, Frederick City, South Mountain, Antietam, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge. The same names were inscribed on the national flag, or colors proper, on the red and white stripes. On each flag staff was a silver shield bearing the inscription: "Presented by the ladies of Troy to the Eleventh Regi- ment O. V. I., U. S. A., January, 1864." These colors cost
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two hundred and twenty-five dollars ; the embroidery alone costing about sixty dollars.
In a letter written to an Eastern paper, giving a descrip- tion of the flags, Chaplain Lyle says:
"There are several things which make this handsome . present peculiarly fitting and interesting. Those who so deeply interested themselves 'in this good work, are those noble and devoted ladies who have always promptly re- sponded to every request I have made in behalf of the brave men in the field. Those who received the colors have fully and gloriously earned such a tribute of genuine and loyal esteem, for they have distinguished themselves on every field on which they have been engaged, and from the time they drove the lying Wise and thieving Floyd out of West- ern Virginia, till they planted their war worn standards on the rebel works on Mission Ridge, they have constantly been in the front, and always in the advance. If ' None but the brave deserve the fair,' then none but the brave deserve such precious tokens, appreciations and genuine admira- tion from fair hands. All honor to those who give; all honor to those who receive; and may the time speedily come when the silken folds of our starry banners shall not be swept by the storms of war, nor stained with the blood of the good and the brave, but shall float out on the sum- mer's breeze and the wintry wind, the emblem of peace, of liberty and love."
COMMISSARY LIGHTNING.
After our armies had advanced pretty well into the South, it was frequently the case that whisky could be ob- tained only from the "Commissary " department. At one time, when our brigade was near Rome, Tenn., this supply
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ran short, and the General allowed the article to be issued only to the couriers, who had to make trips daily, however wet and disagreeable the weather might be. The whisky was execrable stuff at best, and many wondered why the men of the courier line, who were required to perform du- ties often dangerous and difficult, were allowed to drink it.
George C-11, of Company A, after patient investiga- tion, solved the problem. He says the whisky was regular "lightning," and after drinking a small quantity the cour- iers could go a mile a minute without difficulty! After testing the article, we have no hesitancy in pronouncing George's auburn locks sound on that question.
BARBER BILLS.
John Black, of Company A, was something of a barber, and performed the duties of the tonsorial profession for such of the boys as desired, always being willing to wait until "next pay-day" for remuneration. The boys say that John never varied in the amount of his. bills-they were always the same. When any one desired to settle with him, and asked the amount of the debt, John had the account balanced to even "two dollars." If remonstrated with for over-charging, he would go into the most minute explanation of the day and date of each job, and seldom failed to convince the most obtuse customer of the correct- ness of the account.
PAYING IN ADVANCE.
Our first Chaplain, Rev. Geo. W. DuBois, was ever on the alert to break up the many vices which are sure to find a lodgment among soldiers. Among other measures. he
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induced the boys of Company A to agree to pay twenty- five cents into the hospital fund each time they uttered an oath, and he hoped by this means to, partially at least, . abate the evil in that company.
It is related by the boys that John Wroe, finding the arrangement rather expensive, called on the Chaplain, and in his blunt and straightforward manner inquired :
"Say, Chaplain, if I take a dollar's worth in advance, can't you let me have them cheaper ?"
SERGEANT SHAIN.
In his "Lights and Shadows," Chaplain Lyle pays the following eloquent tribute to the memory of Sergeant Thomas Shain, of Company I, which, by permission, we gladly copy :
"Among those who died at Carthage, Tennessee, and whose dust quietly reposes in the burial-ground on the beautiful banks of the Cumberland, was Sergeant Shain, or, as he was known at home, Rev. Thomas Shain, minister of the United Brethren Church, and pastor of a congregation in Dayton at the time he entered the army. I desire to place on record here a tribute of more than common re- spect to the memory of this most excellent man.
"He was one of the most humble, unassuming, godly men with whom I was ever acquainted. His piety was genial, loving, and Christlike. Many an hour he spent in my tent, conversing on personal piety and the work of God in the army. The Thirty-sixth Ohio Regiment had no chaplain, and many a sermon he preached and many a prayer-meeting he held in behalf of that regiment. Not
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a few were converted through his instrumentality, and claimed him as their spiritual father. Good brother Shain! How closely he walked with his God! With what child- like confidence and thrilling earnestness he could unite in the services at our prayer and fellowship meetings! And how refreshing, consequently, were his Christian con- versations! With Thomas Fall, his friend and comrade, at whose grave he spoke of Christ and immortality, and with others of the dear, noble men of the Eleventh, Thirty- sixth, Eighty-ninth, and Ninety-second, he sleeps his last sleep, far from kindred dust. But he and they fill honored graves, and their memory will ever be green."
CURLY.
Curly was a remarkable animal. If he was not in pos- session of reasoning faculties his instincts approached so nearly to that human gift as to make a distinction unne- cessary. He was as well acquainted with the members of the Regiment as any one, and if he could not call their names he was never mistaken in identifying an Eleventh man. He knew as well when a march or movement was in contemplation as if he understood every word of the order issued, and made his preparations accordingly. It was his custom upon receiving his "rations" to consume as much as he required, and then bury the balance. If, before he became hungry again, he noticed preparations for anything unusual going on in camp, he would immediately resurrect and eat his "reserves" and then patiently wait to take his place in the column.
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