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 18
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On the march he was always in advance, and in a fight
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was ever busy on the skirmish line. He was in his ele -. ment when brisk firing was going on, and was never so happy as when in a " scrimmage." He took a prominent part in all the battles in which the Regiment was engaged, but particularly distinguished himself at Chickamauga, where he was taken prisoner. He refused to leave the field when our forces retired, but remained with the wounded, manifesting his sympathy for their misfortunes in an unmistakable manner. After the battle, the wound- ed were removed under flag of truce, at which time Curly made his escape and "joined his Company."
He was soon after missed from his quarters, and for sev- eral days nothing could be heard of him. It was reported after a while that a Captain in an Illinois regiment had a dog, answering to Curly's description, confined in his tent. Several of Company A boys, headed by Jules Ogier, called on the Captain who denied having the dog. Looking about the premises, the boys saw Curly fastened by a chain in an inclosure in the rear of the tent, but the Captain protested that it was not the dog for which they were searching, Curly hearing the boys, gave such evidence of acquaintance that several officers in the tent spoke in favor of the boys' right to him, and the Captain was. obliged peaceably to give him up. (It is perhaps not necessary to say that the boys would not have considered "shoulder straps" of any consequence had not their claims to their dog been promptly recognized. And if it had been necessary, they would have had " backing" in every member of the Eleventh).
When the Regiment was returning home for muster-out, Curly got off the cars at Bowling Green, in Kentucky, and broke his leg. Before he could be got on board again the train started and left him. Although every exertion was
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made to recover him, all seemed of no avail and he was given up for lost. After a few months, he was recovered, sent to Louisville, and from thence to Osborne, Greene County, Ohio, where he now "resides," well cared for by Mr. Oliver P. Baggott, a former member of the Regiment. Curly visited Dayton a few weeks since, and was heartil; greeted by his numerous friends and "comrades." He is well and hearty, but his broken leg still causes him to limp badly. May he live until the "next war," and may that not be short of a thousand years.
MEDICAL PRACTICE.
While our regiment was stationed at Raleigh, Va., in the spring of 1862, Dr. Gill, our Assistant Surgeon, per- formed some very fine operations, among which was the resection of the head and upper portion of the left humerus of Henry Haubaum, a member of the 37th Ohio, who had been wounded at Princeton. This was the first operation of the kind performed in that part of the army, and in such a scientific manner was it done that the man soon recovered and returned to his home in Sandusky, O.
An old gentleman by the name of Stewart, living in Wyoming county, some thirty-five miles from Raleigh, was shot one day while standing in front of his home by some person concealed in the bushes near by. He sent to Raleigh for medical assistance, and as the old gentleman was a strong and influential Union man, Col. Coleman furnished Dr. Gill an escort of twelve cavalrymen, and sent him out to attend the sufferer. Starting late in the afternoon and traveling nearly all night, the Doctor reached Mr. Stewart's home about daylight. Upon examination, it was found
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that two balls had struck the old man, one of which was extracted, the other left in. Making the wounded man as comfortable as possible, our party returned to camp.
Before Stewart recovered from his wounds, Erysipelas set in, for which treatment was commenced by the old Doctor of the neighborhood. The remedy used was black cat's blood ; the animal to be caught (care being taken not to kill it), a piece of the tail cut off, and the blood allowed to fall upon and around the affected part! After a time our Surgeon was called to visit the old gentleman a second time, as it was thought the resident Doctor's (?) remedy might not suit in the case of a gun-shot wound! This is a specimen of the way in which Union men were used in West Virginia, as well as the medical treatment adopted in certain cases.
Mr. Stewart recovered, and came down the river when our toops fell back in August 1862.
A TRYING CASE.
For some time previous to the departure of our Regiment from Summerville to the South, a certain member of one of the companies had been sick with a disease that baffled all the efforts of the Surgeons. Being convinced that med- icine would do no good, Dr. MeC. determined to experi- ment on the case in a manner not "laid down in the books." When the Regiment was ready to move he had the man placed in an entirely empty army wagon, without a blanket or even a handfull of straw, threw in a few picks and shovels, and started this rather rough ambulance with the train.
Jolting, bumping and thumping over the rocky roads went the wagon, the patient using all the energy of which
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he was possessed to case his position and to keep out of the way of the tools, which kept bouncing about in a very lively manner. Becoming thoroughly exasperated at the rough treatment the man called out :
" Doctor! what in thunder did you put them shovels and picks in here for ?"
" Why," coolly replied the Doctor, "you are going to dio, and we want them handy so you can be buried without loss of time!"
This capped the climax. The man swore he wouldn't die, and he didn't. From that moment he got better, and was soon able to perform his usual duties, This novel mode of treatment was probably all that saved him, as from some cause he had become thoroughly disheartened and would undoubtedly have died had not his combative energies been aroused as they were.
SERGEANT-MAJOR MITCHELL.
It gives us pleasure to insert the following tribute to the memory of Sergeant-Major Thomas M. Mitchell, who was selected by the writer, soon after the organization of the Regiment, for the position which he so ably filled. The "General Order" was issued by Col Lane, Jan'y 10, 1863.
"The Colonel Commanding deeply grieves to announce to the Regiment the death of the Late Sergeant- Major, THOMAS M. MITCHELL, from a wouud received by the accidental discharge of a gun. The lamented deceased has filled the important position of Sergeant-Major almost ever since the first organization of the Regiment, and has upon all occasions discharged the arduous duties connected with his office faithfully and satisfactorily, and while so engaged gained the respect and esteem of not only all his comrades, but of all with whom he was associated.
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His bereaved family have our warmest sympathies in the irreparable loss which has occasioned a vacancy in his home. Although it was not his lot to fall on the field of battle, with his face to the enemies of his country, yet we feel that ho no less occupies a patriot's grave."
SEIGE OF RALEIGH.
Mention is made on pages 61 and 62 of the fight at Princeton, and defeat of the small force of Union troops at that point. All the day before we could hear nothing by telegraph from General Cox, and when, early the next morning news of the fight was brought in, Col. Coleman anticipated an attack on Raleigh. Head-quarters were moved from "Burgesses" (the boys will not forget Miss Kate B.,) to the Court House, and every man set to work preparing for a seige. The companies were quartered in houses forming almost a circle about the Court House. These houses were principally old-style log tenements, and were admirably calculated for defense against musketry. Every arrangement that skill or foresight could suggest was made for a successful resistance of the anticipated attack, and then all that we could do was to wait patientiy for " something to turn up."
Companies E and F were at Gauley Bridge, and our command was quite small, but Captain Douglass was order- ed to come up with all possible speed. The two companies arrived in good time, and added materially to the effective force.
After everything was prepared the fun commenced, The stoves made for use in the "Sibley" tents bear some resemblance to Parrott guns. Several of these sheet iron weapons were mounted on wagon wheels and posted on the
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roads leading into town-others were set up on top of the log-house forts, the whole, at a little distance, presenting : very formidable appearance. "The Last Chance" was duly designated by a huge sign painted to order of " Chap- lain" Cromer, and we are quite sure that had old Humph- rey appeared in the vicinity the " moral effect" (in a mili- tary sense) of the arrangements would have caused him to pause before venturing an attack on the position.
Great anxiety was felt as to the fate of the men at Pack's Ferry, and it was a dangerous operation to commu- nicate with them just then. But it was necessary that Captain Lane should be informed of the state of affairs, and Andrew F. Thompson was selected as the messenger to bear dispatches to him. One of the numerous " contra- brands" at the post was ordered to accompany Andrew as a guide, and fully prepared with rations and ammunition the two started on their hazardous undertaking. Following the trails and bridle-paths over the mountains, through the valleys and deep gorges, known only to the "natives," after a hard tramp the two men reached the detachment at the Ferry.
The state of affairs having so changed as to render the use of the Ferry unnecessary, the two companies were ordered to return to Raleigh, which they did in good time, bringing in a number of prisoners, a large quantity of tobacco, and accompanied by a squad of Union home- guards.
The Eleventh was now all together again, and we felt strong enough and brave enough to completely annihilate Humphrey Marshall and his ragamuffins, had they shown themselves in the vicinity. But they came not, and the "seige" was "raised" in time for "pay-day."
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COTTON HILL,
Although easy of access from the South, presents a very steep and rocky face on the side next to New River. From the summit across the river to where our camp was located at Gauley the distance is about half a mile, and at this short range the rebels bombarded us for a week in the fall of 1861. They were compelled, however, to shoot down hill, and their firing was neither accurate nor effective.
One day while the bombardment was in progress, the cook of Company C had a large dish of "batter" prepared from which he intended to make "slap-jacks" for dinner. A shell struck near the center of the Regiment, throwing the dirt in all directions, and utterly spoiling the batter. "Fire away, you d-d rebels," shouted the cook, shak- ing his fist at the battery, "but don't sprinkle dirt in my dinner !"
Corporal Roberds, of Company G, had a dish of beans spoiled by the same shell. The Corporal expressed him- self very well satisfied that it was his dinner and not his . life that was lost.
When the shells first commenced to land in and about our camp considerable amusement was created by the maneuvers of old Mrs. White, then managing the cuisine department for the officers of Company B. Rushing from her tent, with an old quilt wrapped around her, she made all possible speed to reach the ravine just north of the quarters. In her haste she became entangled in the folds of the quilt, and down the hill she went in rather a demor- alized condition. The boys watched her motions with a great deal of interest, as they thought she was probably
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giving an exhibition of a new feature in the "Zouave" drill, for which her friend-Col. De V .- was so famous !
We could see the smoke from the rebel cannon some seconds before hearing the whiz of the shell, and if the sound indicated that it would strike near our quarters, such shelter as was afforded by the logs and stumps about camp was made use of. Just behind Chaplain Du Bois' tent was a large stump behind which that gentleman, on one occasion at least, took refuge. We were much diverted in seeing our worthy friend dodge behind the stump, as it was a very rotten one, and we judge would have presented about as much resistance to a shell as would the walls of his tent. (We hope the Chaplain will pardon us for telling this, for we know the stump was rotten-we tried it !)
Finally the river was crossed by our men and the rebels « driven away. In the ascent of the precipitous hill, and the occupation of the late rebel position, enough "incidents" occurred to fill a good sized volume. Only about one hundred and fifty of our men (about all that were fit for duty then) crossed the river, and these were scattered in small squads for a long distance up and down the hill. Several of these squads were forced to retreat before a superior force of rebels, and their only hope of escape was to reach the base of the hill. Down they went, their speed increasing at every step, and it was with difficulty that they could " brake up" in time to avoid plunging into the river !
Sergeant George Cart, of Company D, during the night, got inside the enemy's lines. Soon discovering the situa- tion in which he was placed, he concentrated his energies in an attempt to escape. The rebels were thick between him and the river, and his only hope was to try and erade their guards and reach our lines near the Falls, about a mile
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below. Happily overhearing their countersign for the night, he made use of it two or three times, but at last by some means was discovered to be a " Yankee" and he was vigorously pursued. With great perseverance and daring, he made his way down the western declivity of the hill, and finally encountering a detachment of Union troops just sent across below the Falls he was safe.
POINT PLEASANT.
There were probably few gayer places than Point Pleas- ant, Virginia, during the stay of the Eleventh in the winter of 1862. The duties of officers and men were light, and all had ample leisure for enjoyment and recreation, and the opportunities given were not neglected.
There had been a newspaper published in the town, but the proprietor departed for the more congenial South before the advent of the Union troops the summer previous. The materials-type, presses, &c., were all left, and soon after we became established in the town, several typo members of the Regiment opened up the office and started a Union paper, which they christened " THE ELEVENTH OHIO." The Editors and Proprietors (?) were Charles H. Wright, H. R. Howard and H. Lanbright, who were assisted by talented and distinguished contributors, members of the Regiment!
After the Regiment (excepting Co. F) left the Point, the paper was continued by E. H. Eyer, who changed the name and devoted its columns exclusively to the interests of that Company.
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One of De Villiers' first acts here was to establish a patrol guard, with orders to arrest and place in the guard house everybody-male or female-found on the streets after nine. . o'clock. Before the order became generally known there was a party given at the house of a citizen one night, and about twelve o'clock, as a number of the young people who had been in attendance, were wending their way homeward, they suddenly encountered the patrol and were marched to the guard house! The good sense of the officer of the day prevented the full letter of the order being carried into effect, and the young ladies and their beaux were released from the awkward predicament. After a short time, however, acquaintances were formed between the members of the Regiment and the people of the town, and the order in question became a dead letter.
The first "party of the season " was held at the "Kline House," and was quickly followed by others at the " Vir- ginia House." The music was furnished by the " Eleventh Regiment String Band," the principal players being Mr. Jo. S. Streeper, (a visitor) Butler, Hardenbrook and Gilson assisted by numerous "second fiddlers." Every company could boast of more or less performers on some sort of an instrument, and many were the "stag dances" enjoyed in the buildings occupied as Company quarters.
Captain Fielding Loury, A. Q. M., was stationed at the post, and many a pleasant evening was spent by Col. Cole- man, and other officers, at his quarters.
In January both the Ohio and Kanawha rivers "got on a high," and overflowing the town made a "change of base" necessary for most of the companies. An immense quan- tity of Government forage was destroyed, as the water raised so rapidly that the hay, corn, &c., could not be moved,
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although every exertion was made to save it. For a time. the officers, and many of the men, had to depend on the generosity of the citizens on the hill for a supply of pro- visions, and the favors then extended are not yet for- gotten.
It may be surmised that we lived " high" at Point Pleas- ant. There was a good supply of chickens, turkeys, beef tongue (of which Capt. T. was very fond), &c. &c., in the neighborhood; and when any desired article was lacking it was an easy matter to transport from Cincinnati and other markets.
Although divine services had been regularly held since our arrival at the Point, a systematic religious organization was not effected until the 3d of March, 1862, when a meet- ing was held in Masonic Hall, where a " Bond of Union " and "Articles of Religion" were adopted, and quite a number of the men joined the organization, which was known as "The Union Church of the Eleventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry." Chaplain Lyle was, of course, the prime mover in the organization, which. he kept up during the term of the Regiment's service.
DIDN'T KNOW HIM.
General Rosecrans was sometimes careless in his dress, and at Sewell Mountain wore a citizen's overcoat somewhat rusty and dirty. He took it for granted that every one must know him in whatever guise he might appear, and was always particular to exact from his men the respect due his rank. He frequently walked alone through every part 16
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of camp to see that good order and discipline were observ- ed. On one of these excursions the following incident occurred :
It was on the top of Sewell Mountain. The day was rainy, and he was dressed in his citizen overcoat, slouched hat and top boots.
Forage was scarce and the teamsters were in the habit, when an opportunity offered, of taking an extra allowance for their horses.
To prevent this the guard was instructed to permit no one but the Quarter-master, or the Forage-master, to ap- proach a certain large pile of oats and hay. A member of the Eleventh was on duty when the General, without pay- ing any attention to him, attempted to cross his beat. The guard brought his gun down and ordered him to halt. The General was brought up standing, at the bayonet's point, and indignantly accosted the soldier with "Don't you know who I am?"
"No, and I don't care a d-n; I have my orders, and you can't pass here."
"But, I am General Rosecrans, commanding this army."
"Stand back, old fellow, I understand that game; you can't fool me; you are one of them d-d teamsters, sneak- ing around here for a chance to steal oats. Stand back! or I'll punch you."
There being no one near to recognize the General and pass him through he was compelled to take the back track. His momentary anger, however, gave way to a smile of good humor as he reflected that the guard was only doing his duty as a good soldier. P. R. W.
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GENERAL JACOB D. COX.
Our first Brigade commander was the gentleman whose name stands above, and who now most worthily occupies the gubernatorial chair of our State. Like thousands of others, he entered the service without any previous practi- cal knowledge of the duties of his position, but his superi- or talents and close application enabled him soon to master all difficulties, and it is no flattery to pronounce him now one of the best Generals in the country.
His first work was to clear the rebels out of the Ka- nawha Valley, in which he was eminently successful, al- though at the time many thought him too slow in his move- ments. This feeling was shared by many in the small army under his command, and he was frequently bitterly denounced and ridiculed. We often heard foolish men in- timate that he was no more loyal than he should be! For the benefit of any who may still think the General did not properly conduct that campaign, we have but to say that he moved as rapidly as the orders given him permitted or as it was prudent to go.
His persistent (seemingly so, at least), unbelief in the re- ports sent him by Col. Frizell, when we were operating on the Lewisburg road, caused great dissatisfaction among our men. We were fighting the rebels daily, and then to be told by a General miles in the rear that "he had positive information that there was no enemy in our front," was most too much for good nature. As an instance: We were one morning lying in wait for the rebels near Rich Creek, when Lieutenant Alexander arrived with certain orders from the General. In the course of the conversa- tion that ensued, the Lieutenant spoke of the reliable infor- mation the General had received, mentioned above. Just
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at that instant the rebels opened a brisk fire on our line, but a few rods distant. With a peculiar but bitter smile on his countenance, Colonel Frizell remarked:
"No rebels in our front, hey? If my reports are not believed at Gauley they will soon have all the evidence they want of that fact !"
We do not know what explanation the General can give for his course at that time, but now have now hesitancy in attributing to him the best of motives. In his earnest ef- forts to do every thing for the best, he allowed himself to be imposed upon by designing persons, to whose plausible stories he gave more credence than he should. The whole matter is well summed up in a remark we heard made by Colonel Frizell :
"The General is a mighty good fellow, but the poorest judge of human nature I ever saw."
There was a poor chance for "glory " among the moun- tains of West Virginia, however much skill or bravery might be displayed, and it was not until the "Kanawha Division " went to the East that the worth of the men and their commander was properly recognized. By this time our " favorite General" had secured the entire confidence of his men, and all were as much gratified at his success and the splendid record he made there as he undoubtedly was of theirs.
General Cox's career, from that time forward, is well known to the country. His undoubted gratification at the successful termination of the war, to which end he so long devoted his best energies, is only equalled by that of his many friends who feel proud. that those efforts are appreci- ated by a grateful people.
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GENERAL GEORGE CROOK.
The first time we saw this gentleman he was standing on the porch of a house near "Camp Sunday Road," in West Virginia, one afternoon in the month of September, 1861. His costume was half civil, half military, and as he had probably been taking it "rough and tumble" his appear- ance was not very prepossessing. We judged him to be Captain or Lieutenant of a company of Union " bushwack- ers," and we intend this in no disparaging sense, for it re- quired a smart man to fill such a position at that time. Upon inquiry, however, we learned that he was Captain George Crook, of the regular army, lately appointed Col- onel of the Thirty-sixth Ohio, then in search of his regi- ment, which he had not yet seen.
When General Cox reorganized his army for the cam- paign of 1862, he placed Colonel Crook in command of a brigade composed of the Eleventh, Thirty-sixth and Forty- fourth Ohio Regiments, a portion of the Second Virginia Cavalry and a battery of artillery. (Our Regiment was detached from the brigade, and acted under General Cox's immediate orders).
The action of the 23d of May, at Lewisburg, where, with two regiments he defeated a largely superior force of rebels under General Heath, gave Colonel Crook great prestige as a skillful commander, and from that time for- ward his career was one of gratifying success.
His brigade took a prominent part in the battles fought on the Potomac in 1862, after which he was promoted to Brigadier-general of Volunteers and placed in command of a Division. In a little more than one year from the time we first saw him standing almost unnoticed and alone at the house near Sunday Road, he was returned to the same
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vicinity, high in command and with a name as an officer of which any man might be proud.
Until the 31st of July, 1863, our regiment was under General Crook's command, at which time he was assigned to duty in a different field. Like all "regular" officers, his manner of doing business did not always meet with the approval of the volunteers. It seemed hard for him to un- derstand the difference between the "machines" of the service in which he had been educated and those men over whom he held temporary command. Fence rails, pigs, chickens, &c., were considered public property by our " cit- izen soldiers," and when ordered to pay for or replace any thing of the kind consumed by them they were disposed to murmur. Aside from the faults which his "red tape" training naturally inculcated, nothing can be said against General Crook as a commander or a man, and his success is a source of gratification to the men who served under his orders so long and well.
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