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 2
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It may be thought strange that an "outsider" should have been selected as the commanding officer, over men who had been with the Regiment from the beginning, and it would be a hard task at this time to give satisfactory reasons for the choice. It can not be doubted, however, that misrepresentations and intrigue were used to defeat Col. FRIZELL and Major COLEMAN, who were respectively candidates for Colonel and Lieutenant-Colonel. These offi- cers had been doing all in their power to advance the in- terests of the Regiment, by having it filled to the maximum, the men armed, equipped, and prepared for the field, in- stead of working to secure their own advancement. False and malicious reports were circulated concerning their abil- ities as officers, and at one time it seemed that the efforts made to drive them from the Regiment would prove suc- cessful. But a short time was necessary in the actual
* Col. Harrison had resigned several weeks previous, and was not a candi- date.
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THE ELEVENTH OHIO.
duties of the field to show who were CAPABLE and worthy, and there were but few members of the Regiment who did not regret giving these gentlemen secondary positions .*
On Saturday morning, July 6th, an order was received to prepare to leave Camp Dennison on the following day, which order was hailed with joy by all. After two days' hard work the Regiment got off at a late hour on Sunday night, via the Marietta & Cincinnati R. R. to Hamden, thence by Hocking Valley R. R. to Portland, Jackson County, Ohio, arriving at the last named place Monday morning. While the train stopped at Chillicothe for a short time on Sunday night a number of the citizens of that city appeared at the depot with well-laden baskets of provisions, which were most heartily welcomed by the boys.
At Portland the first marching experience of the Regi- ment commenced. Starting at about sundown twelve miles were gone over that night, and after a short bivouac the march was resumed and Gallipolis reached soon after noon on Tuesday. The Regiment was divided for this march into two detachments; the first, under Col. de Villiers, marching at night and having been forced through almost on the "double quick" arrived at their destination tired, hungry and jaded. The companies under command of Lt. Col. Frizell started from Portland some ten hours later, but arrived in good time, and were highly pleased with their trip. An officer who accompanied the first detachment writes: "The day was one of July's hottest, but scarcely surpassed in heat the zeal of the vigilant Col. de V., who failed not frequently to warn the command that they were
* For further details see individual record of "Field and Staff."
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THE ELEVENTH OHIO.
in 'de enemy's country,' and that they 'must be ready to meet de foe at any moment !'"'
While the Regiment was lying at Gallipolis, Rev. GEO. W. DuBois, of Chillicothe, was elected Chaplain. He was recommended by Gen. Cox, and afterward proved entirely worthy of all the General had said in his favor. A kind- hearted, earnest Christian gentleman, he did all in his power to advance the welfare of the command in every particular, but failing health compelled him to resign after sharing the hardships of a soldiers' life until the following January.
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CHAPTER III.
?
On the 10th of July, 1861, the Eleventh first trod the "sacred soil" of Virginia, having embarked on steamboats at Gallipolis, and landed at the village of Pt. Pleasant, four miles above, at the mouth of the Great Kanawha river. During the short stay at this point the country in the im- mediate vicinity was pretty thoroughly scouted by squads of men, frequently under the immediate command of Col. de V., but aside from scaring a few old women and child- ren no important feats were accomplished.
From a letter written home from Winfield, Putnam County, Va., and dated July 14, 1861, we make the follow- ing extract, giving an account of the
FIRST SHOT FIRED BY THE REBELS AT THE ELEVENTH.
We left Point Pleasant on Friday afternoon, and came up the river about twenty miles. Yesterday (Saturday) morning Companies A and F were sent on an expedition up the eastern side of the river. Lieut. Sol. Tever- baugh had command of the advance guard. and about two miles south of Buffalo discovered a party of rebels on horseback on the opposite side of the river, and this party has the honor of firing the first shot at our Regiment. Lieut. T. gave orders to return the compliment, and for a few moments the bullets flew back and forth pretty lively. This was the first time any of our boys had been under fire, but all stood it bravely and seemed to enjoy the affair, rather than otherwise. No one was hurt on our side, and the reb- els retreated without advising us of any casualties that may have happened to them.
Just after the retreat of the rebels referred to in the above extract, word was brought in that some six or eight hund- red rebels had taken a position some few miles up the river,
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THE ELEVENTH OHIO.
and were ready to give battle. Four of our Companies were marched off the steamboats on which they were quar- tered, and ordered to attack any enemy that could be found. After marching all day without discovering an armed rebel, the detachment arrived at Winfield, and found the village entirely deserted. The inhabitants of the place were finally discovered secreted in the woods adjoining, and induced to return. In his retreat up the Valley, Gen. H. A. Wise had informed the people that the " Yankees" were coming to burn, kill, and destroy, and that they must either join his army or get out of the way. The state of debased ig- norance existing throughout almost the entire mountain region of Virginia made it an easy task for such men as Gov. Wise to deceive and nrislead the people with the most foolish and absurd stories regarding the "Yankees," and it required no little effort on the part of the "invaders" to disabuse the minds of many of these poor, deluded wretches.
The valley of the Kanawha, at almost any time of the year, is one of the utmost beauty, and is deeply interesting to the student of nature. The river itself in many particulars re- sembles the Hudson, although neither so wide nor deep, and is navigable for steamboats nearly its entire length, or to the falls of Gauley. The bluffs at "Red House," and "Tyler Shoals" are the "pallisades" of this noble little stream, and the "Catskills" will find no mean rivals in "Gauley Mount" and "Cotton Hill."
The tillable land on either side of the river is but a nar- row strip, yet for productiveness can not be excelled. Abounding in all the most useful minerals-salt, coal and oil to be had almost for the asking, nothing but a moderate degree of "Yankee" enterprise is needed to make this most remarkable valley more valuable than the mines of California or Australia.
CHAPTER IV.
The forces composing the celebrated "Kanawha Expedi- tion" consisted of the 11th, 12th, and 21st Ohio Infantry, the 1st and 2d Kentucky Infantry, Cotter's Battery, and a " squad" of Cavalry, all under command of Brigadier Gen- eral JACOB D. Cox. The object of the expedition was to drive the rebels under Wise from the valley, proceed to the head waters of the Kanawha River at "Gauley Bridge" and co-operate with the forces under Rosecrans, then in North-Eastern Virginia.
The Military Telegraph system had not yet been put into successful operation, and as it took a long time to com- municate with Department Head-Quarters, the expedition moved but slowly, as it was not until the 25th of July that Charleston, sixty miles from the Ohio, was reached.
July 17th will be remembered as the day on which was fought the battle (?) of "Scarey Creek," and, although not participated in by the Eleventh, intimately concerned them, as it was the cause of the loss to the Regiment of its Col- onel.
The forces under Gen. Cox were camped at Pocotaligo, or better known as "Poca." The bridge across the creek having been burned by the retreating rebels, caused consid- erable delay at this point.
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THE ELEVENTH OHIO.
Col. Lowe, of the 12th Ohio, was ordered to cross to the west side of the river with his regiment, and make a recon- noisance in the direction of Charleston. While in the per- formance of this duty the 12th encountered a detachment of rebels well posted at Scarey Creek, who opened on the reconnoitering party with solid shot. The Union forces were repulsed with some loss, and retreated rapidly towards Poca. Col. Norton, of the 21st Ohio, who accompanied the 12th, was wounded and left on the field in care of Lieut. Brown, and both officers were captured by the rebels.
While the firing was in progress, Col. de Villiers, in com- pany with other officers of the Brigade rode up on the op- posite side of the river to observe the fight. Being unable to obtain any information from the point at which they were situated, and the firing having ceased, these officers crossed the river on a "flat," rode into the rebel lines, and were captured. The regiment saw no more of Col. de Vil- liers until late in the fall, when having made his escape from Richmond he joined the command at Gauley Bridge.
The command of the Eleventh now fell on Lieutenant- Colonel FRIZELL, who immediately made such disposition of the "internal" affairs of the regiment as he saw were necessary. Staff officers were appointed, a more system- atic arrangement of drill and guard duty instituted, and it was but a short time until all was working smoothly and far more to the satisfaction of all concerned than had been the case since leaving Camp Dennison.
Considerable rain having fallen while the troops remained at this point, the loss of the bridge across Pocotaligo Creek was severely felt. Gen. Cox had sent to Ohio for tools with which to build a new bridge, and the delay was becoming vexatious. Captain Lane, of Company K, thought he could overcome the difficulty, and having received the
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THE ELEVENTH OHIO.
necessary orders put his company at work, and in an incredibly short time had a good and substantial bridge across the stream .*
While at Poca Co. "G," from Clinton County, which had been assigned to the Eleventh, joined the regiment, thus increasing the command to eight companies.
On the morning of the 24th of July the march up the Kanawha was resumed. The Eleventh had the advance, as it did throughout the entire march to Gauley Bridge with the exception of one day, when it was reported that Jen- kins' (rebel) cavalry was in the rear of the army, and that day it was the REAR GUARD.
It had been well known for some time that Wise's forces were at or near Charleston, and that they occupied a most commanding position at "Tyler Shoals." Their pickets were encountered near the latter place late on the afternoon of the 24th, who retreated on the approach of our advance guard. Soon a burning bridge was encountered, then another, and Col. Frizell knew the enemy were near and possibly retreating. The order to "double quick" was given, and a request sent back to the General to hurry for- ward the artillery. On turning a bend in the road a steam- boat loaded with troops was discovered crossing the river, and as the breastworks on the hills and across the road were discovered to be tenantless, Col. Frizell quickly sur- mised that the boat contained the retreating enemy. Hail- ing the boat the Colonel asked what troops they were, and being answered by the interrogatory if "you 'uns" were rebels the Colonel responded "ALL RIGHT-RUN 'ER UP!" and had not the hoisting of the Union flag been too hastily ordered by some officer on the hill adjoining, a valuable
* See record of Co. K.
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THE ELEVENTH OHIO.
lot of ammunition, stores and prisoners would have been most easily captured. The rebel commander saw the flag, and the boat was put across to the opposite shore with all possible speed. Capt. Cotter soon succeeded in getting his six pounders in position, and a shell sent through the steamer not only greatly hastened the disembarkation of the rebels but set fire to the boat, the charred and blackened timbers of the hull of which probably may yet be seen at low water at the foot of the shoals.
Early the next morning a delegation of citizens of Charleston appeared at the outposts under a flag of truce. They stated that Wise, after partially destroying the fine wire suspension bridge across Elk River, had retreated; that nothing prevented the occupation of their town by the Union army, and desired to know if private citizens and property would be molested. Gen. Cox assured them that they need have no fears of abuse from his army, and they departed satisfied.
Nothing of general importance occurred on the further march to Gauley Bridge, which place was reached on the 29th.
The Eleventh went into camp on the bank of Gauley River, a short distance above the site of the fine bridge that had been burned by Wise. There was at that time no suitable drilling ground in the neighborhood, and as a fur- ther advance was not in contemplation, the regiment had a comparatively quiet time for a couple of weeks.
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CHAPTER V.
Our regiment having now made the first "point" of the campaign, it may not be out of place, while resting from the fatigue of the long march, to refer to some of the inci- dental features of the trip.
THE "WHITE HOUSE."
Some two miles from Poca, on the road to Charleston, is a fine large frame country mansion. Situated near the beau- tiful Kanawha, in the midst of the finest fruit and shade trees, with fruits and berries in profusion, it seemed that nature or art could do no more to render a residence here as pleasant and desirable as human beings could desire.
Upon the approach of the Union troops the owner of this place, foolishly believing the absurd stories told by Wise, hastily packed up a few necessary articles of clothing, and with his family and most VALUABLE servants accompanied the retreating rebel army, leaving his splendid home to the tender mercy of the "Yankees." While this place was under the care of the Eleventh nothing in the house was disturbed, but Sherman's "bummers" feasted on no fatter poultry nor sweeter honey and other good things, than the boys of our regiment found in plenty at the " White House" farm.
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THE ELEVENTH OHIO.
ATTACKED BY SHEEP.
The picket station at the bridge between Poca and the " White House" was a favorite post with company H, and when his company was detailed for picket duty Capt. Drury always managed to get them stationed at this point. In connection with this fact it was also noticed that "HI" always had a good supply of fresh meat, and upon being interrogated as to the source from whence the supply was received Capt. D. explained as follows :
"The first night we were on duty at the bridge I heard something cautiously approaching the post. Receiving no answer to my hail I fired, and upon examination found I had killed a fine fat SHEEP. My boys were hungry, and mutton is very healthy meat in summer time. After this I noticed that the comrades of the animal I had accidentally killed seemed to entertain malice towards my company; they would congregate around us, shake their heads, and make such hostile demonstrations that I was fearful some of my boys might be bitten, so I thought it best to shoot a sheep occasionally in order to prevent any such catastrophe!"
A SCOUT OVER THE HILLS.
About sunset on Sunday evening, July 14th, when the Kanawha expedition had arrived at Buffalo, a couple of citizens came in and reported that a detachment of rebel cavalry were that night to be at a certain point some five miles from the river, to receive a lot of supplies that had been stored there for them. Company F was detailed to proceed to the place, and, if possible, whip or capture the rebels, and break up the depot. Guided by the men who had made the report, the company marched until near mid- night over a range of steep hills, almost mountains. The path being narrow and rough, the men had to march in 3
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THE ELEVENTH OHIO.
.. single file, and it required extreme vigilance to prevent becoming separated and lost among the thickets through which the path lay. Arriving near the "scene of action," a halt was made and plans arranged. There were three houses to visit-one the residence of the man where the rebel cavalry were expected to be found, another the dwel- ling of "'Squire Thomas," who was said to be a dangerous old fellow, and the other inhabited by the 'Squire's tenant. Capt. Johnson, with Lieut. Teverbaugh and sixty men, started to hunt up the rebels, and Lieut. Horton, with eight men and a Sergeant, proceeded to look after the 'Squire and his tenant. The Captain proceeded with his party to the locality pointed out to him as the place where the rebs were to be found. Surrounding the premises, the order to close in was given and executed. No enemy being dis- covered, the house was searched and found to be occupied by three or four old women and a very young baby, but nothing in the shape of military supplies could be dis- covered.
Lieut. Horton, in executing the duty assigned him, found that 'Squire Thomas was indeed a "dangerous" man. After some parley the 'Squire made a light, threw open the door of his house, and with a loaded rifle in his hands con- fronted the Lieutenant when he entered the door. Ser- geant Charley Achuff, seeing the state of affairs, stepped up, and under the influence of the Lieutenant's pistol and the Sergeant's musket the 'Squire "laid down his arms" and surrendered. Sergeant Achuff secured the rifle and handed it to one of the boys outside the house, when the old man, secing himself again alone with the Lieutenant, started to get hold of an axe standing by his bed, which at- tempt was frustrated by the interposition of a "colt."
This old man had been a justice of the peace and had held other offices under the State authority for many years,
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THE ELEVENTH OHIO.
and was one of the few generally well informed "moun- taineers," but placing the utmost confidence in the stories circulated by the rebels concerning the barbarities perpe- trated by the Union troops, had given himself up for lost when he saw the blue coats in his house, and resolved to sell his life as dearly as possible.
Had this affair happened a little later in the war, very short work would have been made with the old man, not- withstanding his gray hairs, but at this time the policy was to "conciliate," administer the oath to the rebels and let them go. 1643464
The Captain having arrived just after the Lieutenant had left the 'Squire's house, and nothing contraband being found at the other place, the company started back to the river, arriving some time after daylight, tired, hungry, and considerably disgusted with the trip.
COL. FRIZELL'S VISIT TO SUMMERVILLE.
A day or two after arriving at Gauley Gen. Cox, desir- ing to obtain as much information as possible concerning affairs in the neighboring counties, sent out numerous scouting parties. One of these, a small party of cavalry, .went under the command of Col. FRIZELL into Nicholas . County, to break up a recruiting station for the rebel army, reported to have been recently established there. The Colonel was ordered to administer the oath of allegiance to any person whom he thought NEEDED it, and in all things to act for the best interests of the Government and the safety of his party. Capturing and holding the town of Summerville, he proceeded to investigate the standing of the inhabitants, and to "swear in" those whom he thought were not as loyal and well disposed towards the United States as they should be. In the performance of this duty
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THE . ELEVENTH OHIO.
he came across a lady who could not be induced to under- stand the nature of an oath, and who, although a violent secessionist, was very badly frightened at being in the power of the "Yankees." As the oath would apparently do but little good in this case the Colonel "changed his tactics" and obliged the woman to get down on her knees and repeat the LORD'S PRAYER! As the expedients adopted by the Colonel to uphold the dignity of the Government and subdue rebels were generally successful, there can be but little doubt of the efficacy of his treatment in this case.
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CHAPTER VI ..
The "Lewisburg road," from Gauley Bridge to Big Sew- ell Mountain, is familiar ground to the Eleventh Ohio. "Tompkins' Farm." "Devil's Elbow," (S. H .! ) "Hawk's Nest," "Miller's Ferry," "Big Creek," (sometimes called "Rich Creek"), "Mountain Cove," "Friday," "Saturday," and "Sunday" Roads, "Lookout," and "Locust Lane," are never-to-be-forgotten localities, on this, to the Eleventhi, almost classic avenue of travel .*
The first scouting expedition sent out in the direction of Lewisburg was a detachment of the Eleventh, under com- mand of Lieut-Col. Frizell. Going as far as "Locust Lane" on Monday, the 12th of August, the Colonel found his force too small to warrant being so far from support, and on the
* We will not attempt to give a certain number of miles as the correct distance between any two places in West Virginia, as all the information to be obtained from citizens is " well calculated to deceive." It is about one hundred miles from Point Pleasant to Gauley Bridge, but upon compiling the distances between different points, as given by residents along the route, we find the "Point" and the " Bridge" over two hundred miles apart!
The following table is probably as near correct as it is possible to make it with- out actual measurements :
Point Pleasant to Gauley Bridge,
100 miles.
Gauley to Tompkins' Farm,
3
" Devil's Elbow,
5
" " Hawk's Nest,
616 16
" Big (or Rich ) Creek,
712 “
" Mountain Cove,
13
" Sunday Road,
20
" " Camp Look Out,
23
" Locust Lane,
24
" Foot of Sewell,
28
" Top "
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THE ELEVENTH OHIO.
following day fell back to Mountain Cove. Here the bal- ance of the regiment, with the exception of Company A, which was ordered to remain at "Devil's Elbow" to · exchange their old muskets for Enfield rifles, and Company D left at Gauley Bridge, joined the Colonel's party on Wednesday, and another advance to Locust Lane was made.
The next day a detail of one hundred and twenty (officers and men), under Col. Frizell, continued the expedition to the foot of Big Sewell Mountain. Lieut. John D. Shan- non, of Company B, who had command of the advance guard, discovering rebel cavalry a short distance ahead, deployed his men in the thickets on the left of the road, and, advancing, was soon fired upon by a rebel picket guard. Two men of Company B, Will. Rae and Augustus Houck, were wounded, one in the right and the other in the left hand. Hearing the firing, the Colonel gave the order to double-quick, and upon turning a bend in the road a squad of rebel cavalrymen were encountered, who gave and re- ceived a volley and then retreated. The Colonel formed an "ambush " and sent out scouts from Company H, under Lieut. Weller, who also encountered rebels and received and returned a fire. After waiting for some time and no enemy appearing in the road, it was thought best to fall back to Locust Lane, which was done in the shape of a dis- orderly retreat while passing the few houses on the route, in order, if possible, to entice the rebels to fall into an am- bush which Capt. Drury had been directed to form at a suitable place on the line of "retreat." Not succeeding in luring the enemy on "to their own destruction," our forces were again concentrated at Locust Lane.
Feeling confident of being able to hold this position for at least one day more, but at the same time well assured that we must soon fall back, Col. Frizell was extremely- anxious to capture a rebel scouting party that had been
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THE ELEVENTH OHIO.
hovering around our camp for some time. To effect this object he ordered a detail to be made of one hundred and fifty men, which he intended to lead in another advance towards Sewell during the night, but a majority of the officers deeming an immediate retreat advisable, the Colonel reluctantly consented, and the order to return to Mountain .Cove was given, at which place the Regiment arrived just at daybreak.
Company D joined the command but a short time before the march back to Mountain Cove was begun, and it was very hard on the men to be compelled to retrace eleven miles of the distance they had just hurried over. Four or five of the men of this Company, however, prefering to risk capture rather than march any more that night, hid them- selves in an old barn, and came into camp the next evening, having successfully eluded the rebel scouts, who were reported in considerable numbers along the route. +
On Sunday morning, August 18th, just after the new guards had "gone on," at Mountain Cove, word was received that the rebel army, commanded by John B. Floyd, was advancing, being then but three or four miles distant. As the country here was too open for so small a force as ours to successfully resist such an attack as would probably be made, a retreat to "Big Creek," some two or three miles distant, was resolved on.
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