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 4

Author: Horton, Joshua H; Teverbaugh, Solomon, joint author
Publication date: 1866
Publisher: Dayton, W. J. Shuey
Number of Pages: 578


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 4


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The winter spent at Point Pleasant was an agreeable episode in the lives of nearly all the members of our Regi- ment. Comfortably quartered in the CHURCHES, Court


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THE ELEVENTH OHIO.


House, and vacant store-rooms of the town, duties but light, and agreeable company to be found among the citizens at all times, the winter passed rapidly and pleasantly.


It would perhaps benefit no one now, and be of interest to but few, to give all the details of the imbroglio between the officers of the Regiment and Col. de Villiers, which reached its hight about this time, and resulted in the cashiering of the latter. Suffice it to say, however, that the high-handed course pursued by the Colonel met with general condemnation; and as it soon became clear to the minds of all that he was incompetent for the position, and was at best an ADVENTURER, a number of the officers of the Regiment, headed by Captain Lane (all of whom had been most grossly insulted and abused by the Colonel), resolved to make an effort to get rid of him.


Colonel Frizell and Captain Drury, becoming thoroughly disgusted and indignant, and disliking the bickerings and ill-feelings engendered by the course pursued by de Villiers, resigned and went home. Captain Lane, however, had been too deeply injured to let the matter rest, and being seconded by nearly all the officers remaining in the Regi- ment, preferred a "Charge," with some twenty or more "Specifications," against the Colonel. Not daring to sup- press this paper (which had to pass through his hands), the Colonel forwarded it to Head-quarters at Charleston, accompanied by charges preferred by himself against Capt. Lane. Captain Lane was placed under arrest, and in a few days Captain Bascom, Assistant Adjutant General of the Division, arrived at the Point and performed the same duty for Col. de Villiers. The trial of the two officers soon came on before a General Court Martial. The charges against Captain Lane were not sustained, and he was honorably discharged from arrest; Colonel de Villiers was dismissed the service, and left "for parts unknown."


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Major Coleman was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant- Colonel upon the retirement of Col. Frizell, and assuming command of the Regiment after the arrest of de Villiers, he only relinquished it with his life on the bloody field of Antietam.


Lyman P. Jackson, a Captain in the Thirty-First Ohio Infantry, was commissioned by Governor Dennison, Major of the Eleventh, and reported about the 7th of February.


There was not a member of the command who did not feel that gross injustice had been done in the appointment of a stranger, who was no more competent than hundreds in our ranks, to a responsible position in our Regiment. A protest was immediately drawn up, signed by all the offi- cers, and forwarded to the Governor of Ohio, but no atten- tion was paid to it. The appointment was not revoked, and Major Jackson remained in a position which certainly would have been an unpleasant one to a sensitive man, although he received at all times the full consideration due to his rank.


Company E, Captain W. L. Douglass, joined the Regi- ment about the 1st of January, thereby enlarging the com- mand to nine companies.


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CHAPTER XI.


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The citizens of Point Pleasant, with but few exceptions, were eminently loyal and true to the government, and hailed with delight the presence of a Union Regiment in their midst. Acquaintances and associations were made during our stay there, which are continued to the present day, and a number of "ties" were formed that will last during the lives of those concerned.


Within easy reach from the homes of nearly all members of the Regiment, we had many visitors during the winter. The most welcome guests we had were the ladies, wives of officers and enlisted men, whose presence and many kind deeds, tended greatly to cheer the inevitable monotony of a lengthy stay at one point. Mrs. Chaplain DuBois, Mrs. Dr. Gabriel, Mrs. Capt. Lane, Mrs. Knickerbocker, Mrs. Fisher, Mrs. Capt. Higgins, Mrs. Lieut. Price, and others, remained but a short time. Mrs. Col. Coleman, Mrs. Capt. Douglass, Mrs. Lieut. ("Annie") Seymour, and Mrs. Adju- tant Horton (and son), extended their visit till orders were received in April for the Regiment to move.


Among the lady residents of the "Point," Misses Eva and Nannie Rodgers, the Misses Maria, Elizabeth and Sallie Smith, Betty Hall, "Tim" Ford, Maria Minturn, Kate Harris, Maggie Blake, 'Mandy Risk, of the Point, and Miss Maggie Stevens, Miss Maxon and others, of Gallipolis, will ever be held in kindly remembrance by "our boys,"


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Neither will " Aunt Violet" and her daughter " Abbey " be forgotten. The latter were the family servants (colored) of a rebel by the name of Fisher, who went South at the beginning of the war, leaving his residence with its contents under the care of Violet. (Col. de Villiers took possession of the house, however, thus relieving Violet from the responsibility for the loss of the silver ware and many other valuable articles, which could not be found when wanted by parties properly authorized to receive them.) To Messrs. Hall, Smith, Charles, Thompson, Waggoner, Holli- day, Dr. Shaw, and others, many of us are under obliga- tions for kindness shown and favors freely given; they received us as brothers, and it is perhaps not too much to say that our parting in the spring was mutually painful.


As an instance of the very tender feelings that sprung up between some members of the Regiment and the citizens of the Point, it may be mentioned that three of our men- William Warner, of Company B, Presley Stone and John Kelly, of F, took unto themselves wives from the fair daughters of the village. And since the Regiment was mustered out of service other "engagements " made during that winter have been "consummated."


Many pleasant parties were given at the "Virginia House," and other places, at which, so far as came under the observation of the writer, "shoulder straps" and "blouses" always met on an equal footing. On the evening of February 21st, a "Military Hop" was given by the "enlisted men" of the Regiment, and in order to insure perfect equality, a rule was adopted prohibiting officers from wearing their insignia of rank. This "order" from the boys was cheerfully complied with by all the officers who were enabled to attend the party, but Gen. Cox arriving at the post while the festivities were in progress,


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it was thought best, out of respect for him, to allow the officers to don their "straps."


On the 16th of April, 1862, Companies A, B, C, D, E, G, H, and K, bade farewell to the Point, and embarked on steamers bound "up the Kanawha." Company F was left to guard Government stores, immense quantities of which had been accumulated in the town. *


Arriving at Winfield the same day we left Point Pleasant, we remained there until the 8th of May. An expedition, consisting of Companies C, B, HI, and K, was sent to Gar- rott's Mills, on Hurricane Creek, about the 26th of April, to look after a gang of bushwhackers, horse thieves, &c., whose head-quarters were in that vicinity. The mill was burned by our men, who were fired upon while on their return by a party of bushwhackers whose position was inaccessible. Company E was sent to Ripley, Jackson County, to protect the court in session there. Detachments were also sent to Cole Creek, Buffalo, and other points in the neighborhood.


* For other matters connected with our stay at Point Pleasant, see " Incident" department of this work.


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CHAPTER XII.


The 9th of May found the Eleventh again in their old camp at Gauley Bridge. The "Kanawha Division," com- manded by Gen. Cox, had opened the campaign by a move- ment in the direction of the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad, via Fayetteville, Raleigh, Princeton, &c. Although brigaded with the Thirty-sixth and Forty-fourth Ohio, under Col. Crook, the Eleventh was detached and ordered to operate with the troops under the personal command of Gen. Cox.


Companies E and G were left at Gauley, and on the 15th our head-quarters were established at Raleigh. Company D was sent back to Fayetteville the next day, thus extend- ing our regimental line a distance of one hundred and fifty miles !


Company F was soon relieved from duty at Point Pleasant, and with E and G joined the Regiment at Raleigh. Companies G and K were sent to Pack's Ferry to build a boat, as it was the intention of the General to communicate by that route with Col. Crook, who had advanced to Lewisburg and defeated the rebels under Gen. Heath.


A few days after our arrival at Raleigh, the startling news was brought in that the rebels had attacked and defeated our forces at Princeton, then Gen. Cox's- head- quarters. The telegraph wires were cut, and we could


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obtain no direct information. Stragglers kept coming in for two days, and we expected and prepared for an attack, but were not molested. The main portion of the army had gone beyond Princeton, the advance having arrived at Parisburg, in Giles County. The General, however, was at Princeton, with about three hundred of the Thirty-fourth Ohio. An attack was made on this force by Humphrey Marshall, with some three thousand rebels, and after severe fighting the little band of Union troops was defeated, with severe loss in killed and wounded. General Cox narrowly escaped being captured. Proceeding to the front the Gen- eral sent a force back to Princeton, which drove the rebels away and opened communication with the rear.


The wounded men from the Princeton fight, both Union and rebel, were sent to Raleigh and placed under the care of Drs. Gabriel and Gill, of the Eleventh. The weather was very warm and many died, although treated with the greatest skill and kindness.


Besides the great amount of work done in clearing the road to Pack's Ferry, and also at that place, the country for miles on both wings of the army was scouted over by detachments from the Eleventh, as Gen. Cox seemed to depend almost entirely on our Regiment for such informa- tion as he needed concerning the movements of the enemy.


The failure of Mcclellan to take Richmond, enabled Lee to send a heavy force to oppose the advance of our Division. The demonstrations in his front being "vigorous and heavy," Gen. Cox concentrated his command at " Flat Top," and directed Col. Coleman to keep a "good look out in the direction of Wyoming." This order was most thoroughly complied with-our scouting parties scouring the country for forty miles to the right and rear of the troops on Flat Top.


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About the time the two companies at Pack's Ferry had accomplished their work, Capt. Lane was ordered to return to the Regiment, the changed state of affairs rendering the use of that Ferry unnecessary. Every thing seemed to indicate that "lively times" were anticipated in the neigh- borhood of Flat Top; also at Raleigh, Gauley Bridge, and other points in the territory under Gen. Cox's jurisdiction. The country was full of small parties of rebels, who exhib- ited a greater degree of boldness in their operations than had at any previous time been shown by them. The Eleventh was furnished with an iron twelve pounder, which the boys christened "Black Bet." All remanied moderately quiet, however, on the west side of New River, but at Summerville two companies of the Ninth Virginia (Union) were surprised and captured.


On the 25th of July, Companies B, C, G, H, and K started for Gauley, under command of Col. Coleman. The next day Company F marched to Fayette, a detachment from the Company being sent to Miller's Ferry, near Hawk's Nest. Companies A and E remained at Raleigh till the 28th, when being relieved by the Thirty-seventh Ohio, they also proceeded to Gauley. Companies C and E were sent to Summerville on the 30th, to take the place of the captured "Virginians."


About this time a female bushwhacker was captured near Gauley, to guard whom, Luther Sheets, of A, was detailed. The woman said the initials of her name were "M. A.," but that she was commonly called Hettie Amanda Jones Atkins. She was a fond lover of whisky and to- bacco, but had a most hearty hatred for the "Yankees."


The movements of the Eleventh, from the time of leav- ing Raleigh till the 15th of August, were quite animated. Company B was sent to Loup Creek on the 9th of August,


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and the next day H and K marched to Camp Piatt in great haste, the troops at that point expecting an attack from rebels known to be in the vicinity. No enemy appearing, our men returned to Gauley on the 13th. Companies D and F arrived from Fayette on the 14th, C and E from Summerville, and Gen. Cox and Staff from Flat Top, on the 15th.


The Kanawha Division was ordered to proceed with all possible dispatch to Washington, affairs in Eastern Vir- ginia having assumed an aspect not very favorable to the Union cause. The troops that had served so long a faith- fully among the mountains in the West, were very anxious for a "change of scene." They desired to behold the "Grand Army of the Potomac," which they had so often heard extolled as excelling all others in drill, discipline, fighting qualities, &c. The sequel will show how the an- ticipations formed were realized.


The Regiment was reviewed and inspected by Gen. Cox and Col. Crook on the 16th, at which time marching orders were issued. The Division marched on the 17th to Camp Piatt, there embarking on boats, which immediately steamed down the Kanawha and into the Ohio, arriving at Blennerhasset's Island on the 20th. The river being very low the troops here disembarked and marched to Parkersburg, where cars were in readiness to convey them to Washington, via the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Henry G. Keenan, of Company G, accidentally fell off the cars, on the 22d, and was killed.


Arrived at Washington on Sunday, August 24th. While crossing the Potomac the cars broke through the Long Bridge, no person, however, being seriously injured. Dis- embarked from the cars, formed and marched to Alexan- dria, where the Regiment remained till the 27th.


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Were this book intended as one of the many "Histories of the War,"(!) with which the country is becoming rather surfeited, it would be proper here to give a minute account of the state of affairs exisiting in the vicinity of Washing- ton, with the position of the Union and rebel forces throughout Virginia. It is sufficient for our purpose, however, to but glance at such matters. Halleck was the General-in-Chief of all our armies, with Head-quarters at Washington. McClellan had made a failure in his "on to Richmond" movement, and was ordered to withdraw his forces from the Peninsula. Pope was engaged with the rebels on the Rapidan. Lee was endeavoring to gain Pope's rear in order to capture Washington, and invade the North. Banks, Sigel, Porter, McDowell, Hooker, Reno, and other Generals were marching, fighting, ad- vancing and retreating daily.


About daybreak on the 27th, the Eleventh and Twelfth Ohio, moved via the Orange and Alexandria Railroad to- wards Manassas. Before arriving at Bull Run bridge it became necessary to leave the cars, by reason of the road being blockaded by two trains coming in contact. A New Jersey brigade having been recklessly pushed forward had suddenly encountered the enemy, and after fighting for some time became panic-stricken, and were retreating in disorder. These troops were entreated to return, but could not be induced to do so; they had lost confidence in their commanding officer, and were repeating, in a small way, the scene enacted over a year before in the same vicinity. The Ohio brigade (Eleventh and Twelfth Regiments), moved on and were soon engaged. A portion of the Eleventh waded the creek and formed on the hill. The dense laurel thicket in which the Regiment found itself required their front to be twice changed, before a successful 4


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· resistance to the rebel attack could be maintained. Pour- ing in rapid and deadly vollies our Regiment had the satisfaction of seeing the advance of the rebels checked.


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The Twelfth having made a vigorous attack on part of the rebel lines, were flanked by a rebel regiment sent to their rear. Many of the Twelfth considered themselves prisoners, and the whole regiment would undoubtedly have been captured had not the Eleventh hastened to their assistance, thus enabling them to fight. their way out of the difficulty. But a short time elapsed before the Eleventh required the same kind of assistance they had just given, when the Twelfth gallantly "returned the compliment." Ever after this day these two regiments entertained for each other only feelings of the kindest regard, and on other hard contested fields maintained their friendship and generous rivalry.


During the action our Regiment became somewhat disor- ganized, and the men scattered along the railroad track in considerable confusion. Col. Coleman was in Washington on business, and did not know that the brigade had moved till he returned to camp. Hastening to the front, his ap- pearance was greeted with a hearty cheer by the boys, who knew that they now had one in command whom they could trust, and in whom they had the fullest confidence. Quickly reforming the broken ranks the contest was renewed, but the odds were too great in favor of the rebels. The bold movements of our little force (numbering not over fifteen hundred), completely deceived the rebel commanders, who supposed that we were the advance of Mcclellan's army.


Falling back to Fairfax Station, the column halted; arrangements were made for the night, and the strictest silence enjoined. Being surrounded by the enemy, it was necessary to leave during the night. Striking into an


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unfrequented path the command succeeded in escaping, arriving in camp near Alexandria on the 28th.


Adjutant John E. Alexander was mortally wounded. during the fight, and was left on the field. He and others, were made prisoners, but within a few days all were paroled. and sent within our lines. He was taken to the hospital at Alexandria, where, attended by his father and mother, who hastened to his assistance, he died on the 20th of October. An accomplished gentleman, brave soldier, and faithful friend, he fell a martyr to his country's cause. He sleeps well.


NOTE .- At the time of preparing the copy for this part of our work we were not in possession of all the Company records; hence, we do not give lists of casualties in this nor in subsequent engagements. All such matters, however, will be found in that portion of the work devoted to Company and individual histories ..


CHAPTER XIII.


Lee crossed the Potomac, near Point of Rocks, on the 5th of September, his advance being led by Stonewall Jackson. Stuart's cavalry entered Frederick City the next day, where they remained till driven out by our troops on the 12th. McClellan, who had been virtually deprived of com- mand, was again invested with the direction of the Union army in the field. That portion of the army to which our Regiment was attached, began moving from the vicinity of Washington on the 7th. The Eleventh was now brigaded with the Twenty-eighth and Thirty-sixth Ohio, commanded by Col. Moore, of the Twenty-eighth, General Cox com- manding the Division.


Marching but five and six miles a day the army made but slow progress, and it was not till about the 12th of September that the vicinity of Frederick City was reached. Knowing the enemy to be in considerable force here, an engagement was anticipated, and the troops disposed in proper order. Cox's Division occupied the center, Col. Moore's Brigade being in advance, and near the city artil- lery firing from both sides began. At this juncture Gen. Burnside rode up, amid the cheers of the troops, moved to the front and made such disposition of the forces as he thought necessary. Gen. Cox disposed his Division on


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either side of the turnpike, keeping the Eleventh as a reserve in the road.


Col. Moore, with his aids and escort, made a charge on the rebel cavalry posted in the suburbs of the city, driving them some distance down the street. The Colonel's object was to follow the rebels a short distance, to give time for , two pieces of artillery to be placed in position in the street, presuming that when he turned to retreat they would fol- low. His instructions to his escort were to open right and left when near the guns, so the artillerists could fire on the pursuing rebels. All would have worked finely had not a sad accident happened just in time to mar the whole plot. Some one, in the rapid movement past the guns, and before the Colonel's party had passed, rushed against the lanyard in the hands of an artillerist, thus pre- maturely discharging the piece, killing and wounding several of the escort. Among the number injured was Lieut. Achuff, of the Eleventh, who was acting as one of Col. Moore's Aids. His horse being killed, the Lieutenant was thrown off in the confusion, the dead animal falling upon and crushing him to the ground, where he laid in a lifeless condition till order was restored. Being relieved from the weight of the horse, Charley rapidly recovered his usual sprightliness, and returned to duty.


The rebel cavalry came thundering down the street, capturing and dismounting both pieces, and also taking Col. Moore prisoner. The Eleventh at this time was quite a distance in the rear on the pike, and Col. Coleman imme- diately received orders to move forward, which was done in a double-quick movement. Arriving within a few hundred yards of the scene of the accident, he halted and formed into divisions of companies. Bayonets were fixed, and the gallant Coleman, in front of the first division, led


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his noble little command forward to recapture the lost ar- tillery. This movement was executed in admirable style, considering the exhausted state of many of the boys, who threw their knapsacks from their persons in order to facili- tate their movements ; yet, notwithstanding this precaution, many of them fell upon the streets totally helpless. But a short time elapsed till the pieces were recaptured, and orders issued for a further advance upon the rebels. Com- panies A and F were deployed as skirmishers on either side of the road, and the whole command again moved forward, recapturing a large number of prisoners. The Regiment went into camp in the western suburbs of the city, together with the balance of the "Kanawhas."


Gen. Lee required his men to pay for every thing they obtained from the people of Maryland. He said he had come to aid them "in throwing off the foreign yoke, and to enable them again to enjoy the inalienable rights of freemen." Large sums of Confederate money were in- vested in the many articles needed by the rebel army, and if this was any assistance to the people they had plenty of it. They did not rise at Lee's call, and were evidently uncon- scious of wearing the "yoke" to which he so pathetically alluded. The advent of Mcclellan's army was hailed with delight by the citizens of Frederick. Flags were unfurled in profusion, patriotic emblems displayed, and men, women and children vied with each other in supplying our soldiers with much needed refreshments. To use the language of a member of the Regiment, "we had a general good time during our very brief visit to Frederick City."


On the following day the army again moved forward, our cavalry skirmishing with the rebels, who were being closely followed. During the day a rebel Colonel was


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captured and exchanged for Col. Moore. Cox's Division laid in line of battle a mile or two beyond Middletown, during the night of the 13th, and early the next morning- Sunday-moved forward, and engaged in


THE BATTLE OF SOUTH MOUNTAIN.


Moving a short distance on the road leading to Hagers- town, our command filed off into the open fields. Simmons' battery of twenty pounder Parrotts was placed in position and began shelling the woods, to ascertertain the location of the rebels. While the firing was going on Sergeant Wilson arrived on the field, bringing that ever-welcome visitor to the soldier-the mail. How eagerly those letters were read, can be imagined only by those who have re- ceived "news from home" . under similar circumstances. It was while waiting here for the forward movement, which was soon ordered, that Col. Coleman wrote his last letter to the "loved ones at home."


Shortly the Division advanced, Col. Crook's Brigade on the right, and Col. Scammon's* on the left. The rebels occupied a position behind stone walls, but their exact locality was evidently not known, as the Eleventh was sent forward to draw their fire. Advancing but a short dis- tance, our little Regiment received such a fire as clearly revealed the position of the enemy. From three sides came the leaden hail, rendering the position untenable, and the objeet of that movement being accomplished, the Regiment retired a short distance to the shelter of the woods. Co- operating with the advance of our Regiment, the Twenty- third Ohio made a most gallant charge, forcing the rebels to yield their position.




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