USA > Ohio > Concise history of the One Hundred and Twenty-Sixth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry : from the date of organization to the end of the rebellion ; with a complete roster of each company, from date of muster ; battles and skirmishes participated in, lists of the killed, wounded and missing, and other incidents of the camp and field > Part 5
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On the morning of the twelfth, in a heavy rain, the Corps was moved to the left and posted in front of the enemy's rifle- pits in three lines of battle. Our Brigade had scarcely got into position, when the Regiment was detached from the Division and at once sent to the front of Gen. Wheaton's Brigade of the Second Division, to relieve a Regiment which had been engaged, and which had retired, exhausted of ammunition. We moved to within one hundred yards of the enemy's rifle-pits, as meas- ured the next day, a thick pine wood covering the space between us and the enemy and extending to the rear of our position. We had no protection save the small pines before us, and the enemy's bullets raked the very earth beneath us. Here we lay, the men loading, rising to their knees and firing. There was no running to the rear, except to carry back the wounded. Every man seemed inspired with unusual courage. Men rose to their feet and stood until their fifty rounds were fired away, and I could see men taking deliberate aim, and so well directed was our fire, that that of the enemy was at times almost suppressed. In this place we remained till our ammunition was exhausted, waiting to be relieved. The enemy's fire grew hotter as as ours slackened. I saw men taking cartridges from the boxes of the dead, using some and distributing others. Still no relief came. Finally the enemy commenced advancing to nearer range, when being in command of the Regiment, (Lieut. Col. Ebright was wounded early in the action) I ordered it to fall back behind the lines in the rear, which was done in good order. The Regiment which afterwards relieved us, would not advance to our place, but took position behind our dead. Our number engaged was about two
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hundred and fifty; sixteen were killed and a large number wounded. Company B did not suffer as much as others, for the reason that it was protected from a cross fire from the enemy's right, and was partially concealed by some bushes on our line. Five were wounded, not dangerously; all behaved gallantly, but Acting Adjutant Hyatt and Sergeant Major Moffat were con- spicuous all along the line for the daring and reckless exposure of their persons, and their efforts to encourage the men. I feel proud to say the Regiment is not demoralized. I believe it has not a dozen stragglers out of the five hundred and sixty, which crossed the Rapidan, and the remnant would again give a good account of itself if called on. Several who skulked to the rear in the first action, behaved gallantly in the last; and a manifest disposition is shown not to tarnish the fair name of the Regiment so dearly earned. The entire loss is four officers killed, six wounded, and two missing out of twenty-one, including the two surgeons; forty-five non-commissioned officers and privates killed, one hundred and ninety-one wounded and sixty-five miss- ing. I feel that I should not close this communication without a word as to Surgeon Ely. Having received an appointment from the President, as Assistant Surgeon of Volunteers, he tendered his resignation as Surgeon of the Regiment, which was accepted before crossing the Rapidan, and he was ordered to report to Washington, but he generously volunteered to remain and risk any danger in not reporting as ordered to, feeling justified by the necessity of the times, and has been doing all he could do to relieve the wounded. The detailed fosses of the Company I have forwarded you some days since, and therefore have not re- peated them here. If this poor attempt at a faithful history of the recent terrible scenes through which the Regiment has passed, will afford any gratification to the relatives and friends of those who compose it, or have fallen in defense of its honor and glorious cause, I shall feel that I have only discharged my duty in the premises.
G. W. HOGE, Captain 126th Ohio Vols.
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On the twenty-first of May, the army commenced its movement for the North Ann river. The Sixth Corps being the last to leave its position at Spottsylvania, was attacked at sundown by the enemy (Hill's Corps). A brisk engagement ensued, the enemy being repulsed; the Regiment came under the fire. The Regiment with its Brigade left its position on the twenty-first at ten P. M., being detailed as guard for headquarters and ammunition trains. It marched all night, only making eight miles. On the twenty- second it moved via Guinea Station, and halted for the night at Flipper's Store, made fifteen miles. On the twenty-third, the Regiment continued the march for eighteen miles, via Chester- field Station, and stopped at eleven o'clock at night near Mt. Carmel Church. On the twenty-fourth moved about two miles and remained all day in charge of wagon train. Heavy cannon- ading in front all day. On the twenty-fifth, the Regiment crossed the North Ann river on pontoon bridge at Jericho Ford. Heavy cannonading in front all day. On the evening of the twenty-fifth, it was relieved from duty as train guard, and re- joined the Division in position in line of battle, on the south bank of the North Ann river.
BATTLE OF NORTHI ANN RIVER.
After leaving the works at Spottsylvania, the opposing armies were engaged in an exciting race, the goal being the North Ann river. Lee, having the shorter route, had arrived at the south bank of the North Ann in advance of Grant, and had deter- mined to make a stand. He had chosen this position in order to cover the Virginia Central railroad, over which troops from the Shenandoah valley were hastening to join him. Grant took im- mediate measures to dislodge him. His left, under Hancock, was at Chesterfield Bridge, one mile from Hanover Junction, and Warren was at Jericho Ford, four miles above, where no formidable opposition appeared, as Lee was engaged in holding the more important position in front of Hancock. So Warren proceeded to cross and take the Confederates in reverse. Early
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on the afternoon of May twenty-third, Warren's Corps crossed over to the south side of the river and formed in line of battle. At five o'clock he was attacked by Hill's Corps, and a severe en- gagement took place, in which the enemy were repulsed, with a loss of a thousand men made prisoners. In this encounter War- ren lost three hundred and fifty men. He then established a line and entrenched it without further resistance. In the mean- time, Hancock tried to force the passage of the Chesterfield Bridge, where he was confronted by Longstreet. After consid- erable opposition, the enemy withdrew to a stronger position in the rear. On the morning of the twenty-fourth, Hancock passed over the bridge without opposition, and at the same time Wright's Corps crossed at Jericho Ford and joined Warren's Corps.
Grant now paused for two days to study the position of the enemy. His antagonist had the advantage in position. His lines were disposed in a wedge like form, with his two wings thrown back, the right resting on Little river, and the left cover- ing Sexton's Junction of the two railroads running into Rich- mond, rested on the marshes of Hanover. The powerful center near the river menaced Grant's center, and threatened to sever the National army. The two powerful wings of Grant's army were on the south side, and unable to form a junction with cach other, while his weaker center, under Burnside, was still on the north side. The stream was liable to be suddenly swollen by rain, making it difficult to pass. Grant came to the conclusion his enemy could only be dislodged by making a flanking move- ment. He secretly recrossed the river on the night of the twenty-sixth, and going well to the castward, to avoid a blow on his flank, resumed the march toward Richmond. Thus ended the battle at North Ann. During the engagement the One Hundred and Twenty-Sixth Regiment was under the fire of the enemy's skirmishers and artillery. On the twenty-sixth of May, the Reg- iment with its Brigade marched about three miles to the Virginia Central railroad, at Noel's Station, where it destroyed the road, tearing up the rails and burning the ties, and immediately returned
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to its former position on the North Ann. On the twenty-sixth of May at seven P. M., the Regiment with its Corps left its position and recrossed the North Ann river at Jericho Ford, and continued the march all night, a distance of ten miles, arriving at Chesterfield Station at daylight. The night march was very severe; roads very muddy. On the morning of the twenty- seventh at six o'clock, resumed the march, going twenty miles; passed Concord Church and Brownsville. At six A. M. on the twenty-eighth continued the march for six miles to the Pamunky river, which it crossed at Sailor's Ford at twelve M. After crossing, moved about two miles,and threw up fortifications on Dr. Palmer's farm, near Hanoverton. Dr. Palmer was a very wealthy farmer. The army tore down his stable, corn house, wagon house and fences to build fortifications with. Tore up things generally.
At daylight on the morning of the thirtieth, the Regiment with its Division moved via Hanover C. H., to the Tolopotamy creek, arriving at its north bank at five P. M., where it was formed in line of battle. Heavy skirmishing and cannonading was kept up all day in front. At twelve M. on the thirty-first, moved across the creek and formed in line of battle on the ex- treme right of the army, now in front of Cold Harbor. Heavy skirmishing ensued throughout the remainder of the day, the enemy being in front in strong earthworks. Companies A and F were on the skirmish line all day.
SKIRMISH AT TOLOPOTAMY CREEK.
The One Hundred and Twenty-Sixth Regiment was detailed entire, to go on the skirmish line on the evening of the thirty- first. It was exposed to a terrific artillery fire from the enemy, while moving forward to take its position. It was engaged in a severe skirmish until ordered back. The Regiment lost in this skirmish one man wounded, Wm. Gibler, of Company F. It remained all night on the skirmish line, and at daybreak was withdrawn and followed the Sixth Corps, which had preceded it
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in the direction of Cold Harbor. At twelve o'clock, midnight, of the thirty-first, the Sixth Corps moved by the way of Salem Church from the right to the extreme left of the army at Cold Harbor, where it arrived at half past ten A. M. of June first; distance marched fourteen miles. It was awful hot and dusty, and many fell down by the way from sunstroke and exhaustion. The enemy being in front, entrenchments were hurriedly thrown up.
BATTLE OF COLD HARBOR.
About two P. M. of June first, the One Hundred and Twenty- Sixth Regiment with its Division was formed for an assault on the enemy's works. At six P. M. the charge was made. The lines moved swiftly forward in the face of murderous volleys of musketry, carrying the works in its front and capturing several hundred prisoners. The captured works were held, although re- peated efforts were made to retake them. In this charge the Regiment lost one officer and nine enlisted men wounded, one of whom died. The One Hundred and Twenty-Sixth Regiment with its Division covered themselves with glory in this action, and for their gallant conduct received the following compli- mentary order by telegraph :
HEADQUARTERS A. P., JUNE 1ST, 1864.
To Major Gen. Wright:
Please give my thanks to Brigadier Gen. Ricketts and his gallant command, for the very handsome manner in which they have conducted themselves to-day. The success attained by them is of great importance, and if followed up will materially advance our operations.
Respectfully Yours, GEO. G. MEADE, Major General Commanding.
[Signed.]
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HEADQUARTERS 3RD DIV., 6TH A. C., JUNE 3D, 1864. Brigadier General Ricketts:
GENERAL: Major Gen. Wright directs me to say that he transmits the within to you with great pleasure.
Your obedient servant,
[Signed.] R. F. HALSTEAD, Capt. and A. A. Gen'l.
[Official.] ADAM E. KING, Capt. and A. A. Gen'l.
On the second of June no general engagement occurred, but brisk skirmishing and artillery fire continued all day. The Regiment lost two enlisted men wounded. The captured works were altered and strengthened for defensive operations. At six A. M. on the morning of the third of June, a general assault was made by the entire army, which proved unsuccessful; the Division to which the One Hundred and Twenty-Sixth belonged, succeeded in going into position about two hundred yards in ad- vance, which it held and fortified, though greatly exposed to the enemy's fire. Bayonets, tin cups and plates were used for the purpose of entrenching themselves. The Regiment remained in the fortifications in front of Cold Harbor until the twelfth, being constantly under the artillery and musketry fire of the enemy day and night. The men were protected by strong earthworks. No man dared to show his head above the works, lest he be made a target for a rebel sharpshooter.
BATTLE OF COLD HARBOR, AS PARTICIPATED IN BY THE ENTIRE ARMY.
The Confederate line, with cavalry on its flanks, extended from near Hanover C. H., down nearly to Bottom Bridge, and was so disposed as to cover the chief highways and railways leading into Richmond, and also to dispute the passage of the Chicka- hominy. A. P. Hill's Corps occupied its right, Longstreet its center, and Ewell its left. The left of our line was held by the Sixth Corps, with the Corps of Smith, Warren, Burnside and
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Hancock, extending to the right in the order named. At four o'clock P. M. of the first of June, the attack was made by Wright's Corps (the Sixth), holding the extreme left, and the Corps of Smith on his right. In front of our line was an open field two-thirds of a mile in width, at the further side of which the Rebel works were situated, in the edge of a pine thicket of woods. The troops advanced over the open field with great spirit, in the face of a murderous fire. Ricketts' Division of the Sixth Corps, and Devins' Division of Smith's Corps, behaved with great gallantry, and quickly captured the enemy's first line of works and about six hundred prisoners. They then assailed a second and stronger line of works, but the Rebels firmly held these works until night fell and the struggle ceased. In these desperate encounters, our troops lost two thousand men. Our troops firmly held the lines of works taken, and repulsed desper- ate attempts made by the enemy to retake them during the night. The result of this day's work was the occupation of Cold Harbor, which commanded the road leading to the White House, and was the chosen place from which to force a passage of the Chickahominy. That night Grant ordered important but dangerous movements. Hancock was ordered to move from the right and take position on the left of the Sixth Corps at Cold Harbor. Warren was or- dered to extend his line to the left from Bethesda Church, so as to connect with Smith, and Burnside was withdrawn entirely from the front, to the right and rear of Warren. These movements were nearly all accomplished, but not without some trouble and loss. But so satisfactory were all the arrangements that night, that Grant and Meade, whose headquarters were now established at Cold Harbor, determined to force the passage of the Chickahom- iny the next day, and compel Lee to seek shelter within the for- tifications around Richmond. At dawn on the morning of the third of June, the National army was in battle order. Hancock's Corps on the Dispatch Station road on the left, the Sixth Corps next, Smith's command adjoining them, and Warren and Burn- side on the right, extending to Tolopotamy creek. Wilson's
CHAPLAIN 126TH REGT. O. V. I.
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cavalry were on the right, and Sheridan's were holding the lower fords of the Chickahominy and covering the road to the White House. Orders had been given for a general assault along the whole lines at half past four. The gray light of dawn was struggling through the thick envelope of clouds, and a light pattering rain was falling. All was still as the grave, yet in a few minutes the storm of battle was to burst forth along a stretch of six miles. At half past four the signal was given. Suddenly, from behind the rude parapets, there was an upstarting, a noiseless springing to arms, the hushed command of officers forming the lines. Swiftly the lines move to the attack. One, two, three, a dozen, a hundred shots break the silence; a roll, deep, heavy, prolonged, like the rush of a mighty river. Above the awful roll is heard the cannon-boom, boom, boom, five, ten, twenty, one hundred discharges in a minute. How it deepens. It is terrific, yet grand and sublime. The great reaper of death is out there upon that field, stalking unseen between the trenches, walking in darkness, bordered with lightning, showering it with leaden rain, making it the valley of the shadow of death. The battle was "quick, sharp and decisive." In twenty minutes, the fierce charge, the deafening volleys of musketry, the thunder of artillery, the wild yell, and the battle is over. In twenty min- utes after the first gun was fired, ten thousand Union troops lay stretched upon the sod, calm and still in death, or writhing with wounds. Our lines were repulsed at nearly every point with awful slaughter. Our lines had only been advanced to a nearer position to the enemy, where they were held and fortified, while the enemy yet held his main line of works, behind which he had been so well sheltered that his loss did not exceed one thousand men. On the left, the Divisions of Barlow and Gibbon, of Hancock's Corps, that of Birney supporting, drove the Confed- erates from a strong position in a sunken road, and captured several hundred prisoners, a battle flag and three guns, and turn- ing the latter upon their foes, sent them back in confusion. But before the second line of Barlow reached the front, the Confed-
5
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erates rallied in stronger force, and retook the position from which they had been forced. Each of these Divisions, after falling back, held an advanced position within fifty yards of the enemy's main works, where they so speedily entrenched them- selves, that they could not be dislodged. In these assaults Han- cock lost three thousand men. Simultaneously with the attack of the Second Corps, the Sixth under Wright, connecting on the left of Hancock, made a general advance, each Division as- saulting on the line of the enemy's works. The assault of the Sixth Corps was made with the utmost vigor, and succeeding in carrying the first line of rifle-pits along its entire front, and got up within two hundred yards of the enemy's main line of works. Smith's Corps connecting on the right of the Sixth, had ad- vanced in conjunction with it, but the left Division, that of Martindale, which led the attack in deep heavy columns, got disarranged and was repulsed. This repulse of Smith had a dis- astrous effect upon the position of Wright. It exposed Ricketts' Division, which was stoutly holding the advanced position, to a savage fire on the prolongation of its line. Notwithstanding, the Sixth Corps held and fortified its advanced position, though greatly exposed to the fire of the enemy. Warren and Burnside also attacked at the same time, but achieved no decisive results, except the carrying of the lines of rifle-pits occupied by the Rebel skirmishers. After this dreadful repulse, it was apparent to every one, that further attempts to carry the enemy's position would be useless, and so by one o'clock on the afternoon of the third of June, the battle was ended with dreadful loss of life. The National loss in the engagement was, one thousand, nine hundred and five killed, ten thousand five hundred and seventy wounded, and two thousand four hundred and fifty-six missing. The Rebel loss was twelve hundred killed and wounded, and five hundred missing.
SKIRMISH AT COLD HARBOR, JUNE FOURTH.
After dark on the evening of the third of June, the One Hundred and Twenty-Sixth Regiment was sent out on the skir-
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mish line. During the night the men dug rifle-pits, (gopher holes) to protect themselves from the fire of the enemy. On the fourth, the Regiment still remained on the skirmish line and kept up a brisk skirmish with the enemy all day, but met with no casualties. Considerable cannonading took place during the day. At six o'clock the Regiment was relieved from the skir- mish line and took its position behind the second line of works. The enemy's works were about three hundred yards distant. Skirmishing and cannonading was constantly kept up. On the the evening of the fifth, the cannonading was very terrific.
SKIRMISH AT COLD HARBOR, JUNE SIXTII.
Before daylight on the morning of the sixth, the Regiment was mnoved out to the front line of works, where it lay all day skir- mishing with the enemy, and strengthening the fortifications. Lieut. Hixon was killed by a Rebel sharpshooter at eleven o'clock A. M. The men had to sit crouched behind their works. To raise the head above the parapet was certain wounding or death. The enemy were concealed behind their works, but their presence was manifested by the sharp crack of the rifles of their sharpshooters spitting forth lead, followed by the small blue tufts of smoke that rose gracefully in the air. Bullets were flying at all times, and the hissing whistle of the minnie ball, sometimes wounding men as they slept, became very familiar. Tents bullet proof were built, one side stockaded and banked with earth, and various other methods were the means employed to save life in that inferno of shot and shell. Now and then a round shot would go plunging through the earthworks as a change in the chapter of fears and horrors. The daily burrow- ing in the drifting sand during those long hot days of June, with fears kept alive by the frequent explosion of shells, was tor- ture and a slow death. It was not uncommon to look upon a comrade, one moment in life and the next a shattered corpse. An armistice was held from one to three P. M., on the sixth, for the burrying of the dead. During this cessation of firing, the
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men on both sides met midway between the lines, and held friendly intercourse with each other, for the exchange of newspapers and the barter of coffee and tobacco. The Regiment lost this day one officer killed and one enlisted man wounded. At midnight the Regiment was relieved on the skirmish line, and went back to the rear to rest. On the ninth of June, the Regiment was moved after dark to the second line of works and remained till the eleventh. At two o'clock on the morning of the eleventh of June, the Regiment with its Division was moved to the rear and left and a little in rear of the Second Division, Second Army Corps. Skirmishing and cannonading continued all day along the front line.
SKIRMISH AT COLD HARBOR, JUNE TWELFTH.
After dark the Regiment was taken to the front line and re- lieved troops of the Second Corps. The men passed to the front line in a deep ditch dug for that purpose. Daylight on the morning of the twelfth, revealed the fact that the Regiment was now within less than one hundred yards of the Rebel line. No firing, however, occurred till eight o'clock in the morning, a mutual agreement having been made between the hostile pickets not to fire on each other. During this singular armistice, the men on both sides seemed to forget that they were mortal ene- mies. They met midway, held conversation and exchanged commodities: Suddenly the cry was raised, "Run back, Johnnies, or run back, Yanks, we are going to fire," and as soon as all heads were down behind the breastworks, hostilities began again. The Regiment remained on the front line during the twelfth, and kept up a lively skirmish with the enemy. During the night of the twelfth, the whole army withdrew quietly from the enemy's front and began a movement toward the James river, leaving the skirmish line in front to cover the movement. At two o'clock, on the morning of the thirteenth, the Regiment yet on the skir- mish line, also quietly withdrew from the enemy's front, and moved back to the rear fortifications, where it remained till day-
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light, when it followed its Division which had moved on in ad- vance. It marched by way of Hopkins' Mills, Moodie's Farm, and Emmett Church. It crossed the Chickahominy at Jones' Bridge at ten o'clock at night, and encamped on the south side of the river for the night; made twenty miles; a very severe march. The men were tired and foot sore. On the fourteenth continued the march for eight miles, via Charles City C. H., to Wilcox Landing on the James river. At this place the Regi- ment was joined by one hundred and twenty-five drafted recruits. On the afternoon of the fifteenth the Regiment with its Corps, being the rear guard, were formed here and entrenched, and re- mained until all the army and trains had crossed the James river. At eight P. M. of the sixteenth, the Regiment with its Division, being detached from the Corps, embarked on Transport "Star" at Wilcox Landing. Going up the river to Point of Rocks, it disembarked at three o'clock on the morning of the seventeenth. From thence, on the seventeenth of June, the Regiment with its Division marched eight miles to Bermuda Hundred, and reported to Gen. Butler. On this day the Regi- ment received seventy more drafted recruits.
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