USA > Ohio > Four years in the saddle. History of the First Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865 > Part 14
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49
About three-fourths of a mile from Farmington I found him posted in force in a dense cedar thicket. I at once dismounted my infantry, deploying them on each side of the road. When I attacked Davidson's division in the morning, breaking through it, part of his column went to the right. Fearing that it would
-
-143-
turn my flank, I sent back instructions to Colonel Minty, whose position was in the rear of the column, to move to the right and anticipate them.
I supposed that Colonel Minty had carried out my instruc- `tions, but when I arrived at Farmington, I learned from one of my staff that Colonel Minty was not with me. The absence of Colonel Minty and some five hundred men left at Murfrees- borough, having been dismounted during the march, left me but about one thousand five hundred effective men.
Finding the enemy vastly superior to me, I left one regi- ment of cavalry to protect my rear, holding the other two regi- ments as a support to the infantry, the country being imprac- ticable for the cavalry to operate in. The enemy's battery was posted in the cedar thickets some four hundred yards distant from me, pouring into me a heavy fire of grape, cannister and shell, and made one or two charges on my men, at the same time attempting to turn both of my flanks. At this critical moment I ordered Captain Stokes forward with his battery to operate upon the enemy. He could only find position for one piete, which was in full view of their battery, and not over three hundred and fifty yards distant. They turned their fire from the infantry on to Captain Stokes' battery, mowing down his horses and men. The captain sighted his own piece, and in three shots he disabled one of their pieces, blowing up a caisson, and throwing their ranks into confusion.
At this moment my infantry, making a charge, broke through the enemy's line, scattering them to the right and left, capturing four guns, some wagons and several prisoners. The enemy then being in an open country, I ordered Colonel Long to the front to make a saber charge, but they had the roads barricaded so as to render it impossible. It now getting dark, I went into camp near Farmington.
Had Colonel Minty, with his brigade, been there at the time the enemy broke, I should have thrown him on the left flank, and, as things turned out since, I would have captured a large portion of his command, together with all his artillery and transportation. I learned here that I fought General Wheeler with his entire command. That night, after the fighting had ceased, Colonel Minty, with his brigade, came up, stating that he had no orders to march with me. From this, together with a disposition manifested during the whole expedi- tion to frustrate my designs in a covert manner, I deprived him of his command and sent him to the rear. I sent my scouts out in different directions that night, and learned that a large por- tion of the enemy had gone toward Pulaski. Being satisfied that they were making for the Tennessee River, and that the portion cut off would join them by other roads, I the next morning pursued them on the Pulaski road, reaching that point at night.
-144-
I found to-day that their retreat, instead of a march, was a rout. . Their rear guard left Pulaski as I came in sight of the town.
On this day's march I found that the night before a portion of those cut off came into the road ahead of us at Lewisburg. On the march next day, another portion came into the road six miles south of Pulaski. I found that their men were deserting and scattering over the country, and learned of a great many wounded being left along the road and through the country.
The enemy left some two or three regiments at Sugar Creek, a strong position, to oppose my advance; but instead of fighting them at long range, as they expected, I ordered a saber charge. The Fifth Iowa, Lieutenant-Colonel Patrick commanding, being in the advance, made a most gallant charge, breaking through their lines, killing ten, wounding nine and capturing some sev- enty prisoners, and scattering the remainder to the mountains.
From this on I met with only a few stragglers on the road. When within eight miles of the river, although my horses were very tired, I galloped most of the way to the river, and there found that the enemy had crossed at a ford but little known of, and just above Elk River, where twelve could cross abreast. I went into camp at Rogersville, General Mitchell, with the First Division, coming up that night; and from that point I was or- dered, with the remainder of the cavalry, to Stevenson, via Huntsville.
On arriving at Huntsville, General Mitchell, learning that the rebel General Roddy was passing in the direction of Win- chester, went in pursuit of him, but he escaped toward Athens. I was then ordered to Winchester, and thence to this place. I have since learned that General Lee, with five thousand men, reached Courtland the same day that Wheeler crossed the river. Roddy, with about eighteen hundred men, had crossed to the north bank of the river at Guntersville, both he and Lee being ordered to join Wheeler, but the latter was driven out of the state and across the river before a junction could be effected. I have since learned that, at Farmington, the enemy left on the field eighty-six of their dead and one hundred and thirty. seven wounded, while many of their wounded were taken up by citizens through the country, of which I have no account.
The loss of the enemy from the time they crossed the river near Washington until they recrossed near Elk River, judging from the difference in the length of time their column (consumed) in coming in and going out, and other satisfactory evidence, I am fully satisfied is not less than two thousand men. One entire regiment, the Fourth Alabama, deserted and scattered through the mountains.
My, loss, during the entire trip, was fourteen killed and ninety-seven wounded. I regret to report the death of the gal- lant Colonel Monroe, of the One Hundred and Twenty-third
-145-
Illinois, who fell while bravely leading on his regiment at the battle of Farmington.
It is hard to distinguish individual cases of bravery and gallantry, when all, both officers and men, did so nobly. Not- withstanding the fatigue and severe hardships under which the men suffered ---- having but three days' rations in twenty days, many of them nearly naked and several times exposed to a cold, drenching rain - yet they never complained, but were always cheerful and ever ready to perform all duties required of them.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
GEORGE CROOK,
Brigadier-General Commanding. Major W. H. Sinclair, Assistant Adjutant-General.
Extract from report of General R. B. Mitchell, Chief of Cavalry:
Decherd, Tenn., October 20, 1863.
I think the record of cavalry service during the entire war cannot show a more severe campaign than the one my command has just closed. There was scarcely an hour during the whole pursuit that the horses were unsaddled; for days and nights together the men were in their saddles, almost constantly on the march, and some days making as high as fifty-three and fifty-seven miles. Take again into consideration the fact that a greater part of the time the troops were out of rations, and our hasty movements giving them little or no time to forage on the country; that the nights were very cold, the men without overcoats, and I think the campaign challenges comparison with any service performed during the war. Yet, with all the severe duty and hardships necessarily devolving upon the men, they made not a murmur, but, on the contrary, seemed only anxious to do everything in their power to accomplish the object for which they had started, viz .: to overtake and, if possible, de- stroy the enemy's cavalry, and whenever we did succeed in reaching them, they proved that they were ready and com- petent to do this. I only regret that the precipitancy of their movements after the engagement at Farmington prevented us from again overtaking their main body, though on the last day of their fight General Crook captured their rear guard. The damage done the cavalry from the time of their crossing the Tennessee River cannot be definitely stated. We pursued them so closely and vigorously that they had but little time to destroy our communications, and the results of their raid, I think, may be summed up so that when General Wheeler strikes his balance sheet the debits and credits will be on the wrong side of the sheet to give him a very large profit. We captured six pieces of artillery, and, including killed, wounded, prisoners and de- serters, I think they recrossed the Tennessee River with between
-
-146-
two and three thousand less men than they started out with.
My command is, of course, very badly used up. Hard marches, scarcity of shoes (although each man carried two at starting), and miserable, worthless saddles, that should never have been bought by the Government or put on a horse's back after they were bought, have ruined many of the horses.
It is positively necessary that a large number of horses be had before the command can be again in working condition. My thanks are due to division and brigade commanders for the interesting energy and zeal they evinced during the entire pursuit.
The troops of their command did all that is possible for troops to do to second the endeavors of their commanders, and when I thank them, as I do, for the fatigues and gallant fighting which they did, I do it in all earnestness and sincerity, realizing and appreciating their labors and sufferings. A simple mention of their marches, of their fighting at Anderson's Cross-roads, at McMinnville and Farmington, is as proud a record as any body of troops need crave.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
ROBERT B. MITCHELL, Brigadier-General Commanding. "Loss, Second Division: One hundred and ten.
CONGRATULATORY ORDER OF MAJOR GENERAL WM. S. ROSECRANS, U. S. ARMY, COMMANDING DE- PARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND.
Special Field Orders No. 279. Headquarters Department Cumberland,
Chattanooga, Tenn., October 19, 1863.
XIV. The brilliant pursuit of the enemy's cavalry under Wheeler by the cavalry command of this army, especially Crook's division and Stokes' Chicago Board of Trade Battery, which were foremost in the fight, deserve honorable mention. The general commanding thanks the cavalry, and particularly General Crook, with the officers and soldiers of his division, and of Stokes' battery, for their valuable services in this pursuit of the enemy, which resulted in driving him in confusion across the Tennessee River. He compliments them for inaugurating the new practice of coming to close quarters without delay.
By command of Major-General Rosecrans,
H. M. CIST, .. Lieutenant and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. Extract from report of General G. H. Thomas:
This pursuit is unsurpassed for its energy and bravery and endurance of the officers and men engaged in it, and prevented
.
500 yards north from the Monument of the Ist. O. V. C.
BLOODY POND-WIDOW GLENN'S-LOOKING EAST.
-
1
-147-
the execution of an extensive plan of destruction of our com- munications, and plunder, rapine and murder throughout Middle Tennessee and Northern Alabama, in which Roddy and Lee were to cooperate with Wheeler.
Campaign of Missionary Ridge, Knoxville, North Carolina, Calhoun, Dalton .-- Re-enlistment of the Veterans, October, November, December, 1863, January, February and March, 1864.
The brigade marched from Rogersville on the 11th day of October via Pulaski, Fayetteville, Winchester, New Market, and Maysville, and reached Paint Rock on the Memphis and Charles- ton Railroad, twenty-five miles west of Stevenson, Ala., October 19th. Roddy had crossed the Tennessee River to the north about the time we had driven Wheeler across the river and was mov- ing toward Decherd, and on the march from Rogersville, Crook's division captured some of his scouting parties with a little skir- mishing. General Lee, with a brigade of rebel cavalry, had also arrived in the vicinity of Florence, just at the time our forces had sent Wheeler whirling across the river. Both Lee and Roddy were to join Wheeler and assist in the destruction of the Railroad between Nashville and Chattanooga, but when they learned of the defeat of their chief, Lee did not cross the river and Roddy re-crossed to the south side as rapidly as possible. Arriv- ing at Paint Creek, Ala., Crook's division settled down for a little rest so much needed by both men and horses, as the division had been on the move with scarcely a day's rest from June 24th, the date that Rosecrans' army made the advance on the Chicka- mauga Campaign. During that time the regiment had marched nearly if not quite 1200 miles and had participated in more than twenty fights and skirmishes. Our horses were very much in need of shoeing and were in a general run-down and jaded con- dition, after the hard six months' campaign. On the 22nd, a scouting party of the First captured the notorious guerilla, Captain Gurley, who murdered General Robert McCook near Winchester, Tenn., in August, 1862. Our wagon train, which . we had not seen since we left Chattanooga, September 22nd, reached us on the twenty-sixth, much to the delight of all, and especially the officers, as their baggage was in the wagons and
-149-
. they had not changed underwear for a month. Scouting parties were sent out every day, and this with outpost and picket duty kept the company busy and the commanding officer seemed to feel so confident that we would spend the winter at Paint Rock that the men were ordered to put up winter-quarters and a great many little huts and cabins were erected with fire-places, mud chimneys and good roofs of boards or any kind of material that would shed the water.
This was an innovation for the regiment, as we had never had anything of the kind before, and the boys began to congratu- late themselves that they were going to have a quiet winter campaign. But alas! "the best laid schemes of mice and men gang aft aglee."
On the evening of the seventeenth of November the brigade received marching orders and on the morning of the eighteenth were in the saddle early and off for the front, leaving the wagon- train, unserviceable horses and dismounted men at Paint Rock. The command marched by Stevenson to Bridgeport and crossed the river on a pontoon and went into camp near Brown's Ferry, on the night of the twenty-second, marched up the river along the side of the mountain toward Chattanooga and the enemies' camp fires were in plain view on the mountain. The brigade crossed to the north side of the river at Brown's Ferry and camped op- posite to Chattanooga. By order of General Thomas the brigade crossed the river again to the south side above Chattanooga, and marched toward Cleveland and struck the railroad a few miles above Chattanooga, commenced the destruction of tele- graph wires and railroad track at once. Having succeeded in securing a copy of Colonel Long's report of the raid on the Georgia Railroad and also the march to Knoxville in advance of Sherman's army and the raid over the Tillico and Unaka Mountains into North Carolina, the report is herewith inserted. This report covers the time from November 17th, 1863, to Janu- ary 2nd, 1864, and no better history of the service of the regi- ment could be written than to publish the report in full.
The battle of Chattanooga which includes Orchard Knob, Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, was fought November 23rd, 24th and 25th, 1863. Our losses, as given by General Boynton, were: Killed, 859; wounded, 5,289; total, 6,148.
CONFEDERATE LOSSES.
4
The report of the Confederate losses in these battles are very meagre, but the following losses were reported, but no doubt fall far short of the real losses. Killed, 91; wounded and missing, 1,635.
-
-150-
REPORT OF COLONEL ELI LONG, FOURTH OHIO CAVAL- RY, COMMANDING SECOND BRIGADE, SECOND CAV- ALRY DIVISION OF RAID ON THE EAST TENNESSEE AND GEORGIA RAILROAD, AND INCLUDING OPE- RATIONS, NOVEMBER 17, 1863, TO JANUARY 2, 1864.
Headquarters Second Brigade, Second Cavalry Division. Calhoun, Tenn., January 19, 1864.
General: I have the honor to submit detailed account as follows of the operations of my brigade since marching from Woodville, Ala., pursuant to orders received on the night of November 17, 1863. Lieutenant-Colonel Kitchell, Ninety-eighth Illinois Mounted Infantry, and Major Gray, Fourth Michigan Cavalry, having reported to me for orders, with detachments of their regiments, I marched on the morning of the eighteenth with a command of about one thousand strong. Reaching Bridgeport on the evening of the nineteenth, I crossed the river next morning near Kelly's Ford. On the twenty-second, Major Dobb joined me with a battalion of the Fourth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry and Lieutenant-Colonel Jordan reported with a part of the Seventeenth Indiana Mounted Infantry and Fourth Michi- gan Cavalry, increasing my command to fifteen hundred men. Marched that evening to Brown's Ferry and crossed the Tennes- see River to north side, opposite Chattanooga.
On the twenty-fourth, receiving orders from Major-General Thomas to march to Cleveland, Tenn., and destroy, as far as pos- sible, the enemy's lines of communication in that direction, I crossed by pontoons above Chattanooga and struck the Chatta- nooga and Cleveland dirt road, running along the railroad. A few miles east of Chattanooga I cut the telegraph wires and at Tyner's Station, burned two rebel caissons. At other points be- tween this and Cleveland, the telegraph was severed and the railroad was destroyed in frequent places by burning and tear- ing up the track.
On the night of the twenty-fourth I bivouacked thirteen miles from Chattanooga and sent a party forward to Ootewah, who found and destroyed some four thousand pounds of flour. On the following day, I burned two freight cars, together with one hundred cars of tan bark, belonging to the Confederate States of America. Nearing Cleveland, rebel pickets were en- countered and driven in. The advance regiment (First Ohio), then charged into the town and drove out Colonel Woodward with the Second Kentucky (rebel) Cavalry Regiment. Next morning I sent a detachment under Colonel Seidel, Third Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, on the East Tennessee and Georgia Railroad with directions to go, if possible, to Hiwassee River and ascer- tain the enemy's strength at Charleston; also, to tear up the rail- road. Major Patten, with the First Ohio Cavalry, was sent down
-151-
the Dalton road and Major Dobb, with the Fourth Ohio, back on the road we came, each party being directed to damage the rail- road. Colonel Seidel went as far as Charleston and found Kelly's Brigade stationed at Calhoun, with artillery, and drove the cavalry across the river, losing one man wounded. Major Patten destroyed ten miles of the Dalton track and consider- able damage was done on the other road. In Cleveland I found a considerable lot of rockets and shells, large quantities of corn and several bales of new grain sacks. Destroyed all that was not appropriated to the use of my command. Burned several railroad cars found here; also, the large copper rolling mill, the only one of the kind, in the Confederacy.
Early on the morning of the twenty-seventh I was attacked by General Kelly with a brigade of cavalry and a section of two pieces of artillery. Started my command out on the Harrison road, sending forward the prisoners under charge of the Fourth Michigan Cavalry. Retired slowly, the enemy pressing us closely and shelling vigorously. A strong line of skirmishers was kept up, till we had passed Candy's Creek, keeping in rear of my column and holding him in check, when the enemy retired. My Joss during the action was two killed, fourteen wounded and twelve missing. Most of the latter have since joined. The en- emy's loss was not fully known, but he suffered in killed and wounded more severely than we. I moved on, via Harrison, to Chattanooga and reported in person at the headquarters of the Major-General commanding. During this trip I captured two hundred and thirty-three prisoners, including a number of of- cers, also eighty-five wagons and eleven ambulances, which, to- gether with their contents were burned. Among this number of wagons was the train of General Wright's Brigade.
On the twenty-ninth of November, I again marched for Cleveland, pursuant to orders received at Chattanooga and re- ported to Major-General Sherman. From there took the road to Benton, sending my ammunition wagons with the infantry column on Charleston road, striking the Federal road, I came upon a drove of about three hundred hogs, belonging to the Con- federate Government. Moved on to (Benton) with the main column, sending the Fourth Michigan on reconnaissance to mouth of Ocoee River and the Fourth Ohio down the Federal Road. The latter party captured another drove of about five hundred hogs.
December 1, I marched to Columbus, on the Hiwassee River; then, returning to Benton, detached the Fourth Michigan and Fourth Ohio to go back to Cleveland with captured hogs, and prisoners taken on the twenty-ninth and thirtieth. One regi- ment was sent to secure the boats at the mouth of the Ocoee and float them down to Charleston and, with the remainder of the command, I proceeded to Charleston. Orders from General
.
-
-152-
Sherman directed me to move on immediately to Athens and I reached there some two hours after midnight. From Athens I sent back one hundred and fifty men under charge of Captain Wade, Ninety-eighth Illinois Mounted Infantry, to garrison the town of Calhoun and hold the bridge at that place; also twenty- five men to be joined by twenty-five others from the two regi- ments then at Cleveland, to take the captured hogs to Chatta- nooga. Detachments of the Third U. S. Cavalry and Fifth Ohio Cavalry reported to me for orders and I marched for London in advance of General Sherman's forces. Near London my ad- vance regiment, Third Ohio, was met by a force of rebel cavalry, routed them and took about thirty prisoners, losing one killed and two wounded. General Vaughan with a force of infantry and some artillery occupied the fortifications about the town and opened upon my column with shell. Not being able to dis- lodge the enemy any other way, I determined to charge the walls. I dismounted my command and moved forward in line, but, on approaching his position, I found him stronger than an- ticipated, the confronting force being fully equal, if not superior to my own in numbers, besides the advantage of position being greatly in their favor. I then fell back and, after reporting to General Sherman, bivouacked about a mile from London. Dur- ing the night Vaughan destroyed his stores, took up his pontoons and, after running into the river four locomotives and forty-four cars, evacuated the place. On the third of December, being or- dered to move forward to Knoxville, and open communication with General Burnside that night, if possible, I crossed the Ten- nessee River and marched via Maryville. Traveling from (Maryville) I could get no information as to the position of the forces or condition of affairs at Knoxville. All reports that could be obtained indicated that the town was completely sur- rounded by Longstreet, but near 2 A. M. I struck Colonel Wal- ferd's pickets some two miles from (Knoxville) and camped within his lines. Reported to General Burnside the following day.
On the night of the sixth, pursuant to orders from General Sherman, I marched to Maryville and was here joined by the two regiments that had been sent back from Maryville to Cleveland. From this point, I was directed to start in pursuit of a train of some three hundred wagons, which had been cut off at London, when we marched on that place and was now making its way into North Carolina. Crossed Little Tennessee River at Motley's Ford and after crossing Tillico and Unaka Mountains and Long Ridge, following up the Hiwassee, I arrived at Murphy, N. C., on the ninth of December. Met no force of the enemy, except a few of Morgan's men and a company of home guards stationed at Murphy. My advance guard had a slight skirmish with these
-153-
and drove them from the place. Marched six miles from Murphy and camped. >
Up to this time, since leaving Chattanooga, I had taken ninety-five prisoners, including seven officers, also a few horses and mules. Found the road from Maryville to Murphy for the most part good. After leaving Tillico Plains the route lies through a mountainous country, but the road over the moun- tains is well engineered and practicable for wagons. The country is very poor, the fields poorly cultivated and grain and forage more scarce than any locality previously visited during my entire trip. It is well watered, however, by frequent creeks and mountain streams. Frequent incursions have been made in there by rebel cavalry and but few cattle of any kind, horses or mules, were found.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.