USA > Ohio > Four years in the saddle. History of the First Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865 > Part 9
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creek and crossed, joining my brigade on the right, retiring slowly in column of fours. After retiring half a mile, we were again formed in line of battle, and remained until we were under heavy fire from the enemy's artillery, when we were compelled to retire. Here the brave and heroic. Major D. A. B. Moore fell, mortally wounded. We then retired across a cornfield, the enemy in full and fast pursuit, with at least three times our number, when we again formed, receiving three heavy charges from the enemy's cavalry, but repulsed them every time with a fire from our carbines. Their artillery was still open on us. The enemy (cavalry and infantry) immediately appearing, our noble com- mander, Colonel Minor Millikin, ordered our regiment, five com- panies, to charge then. Being unable to hold his position after the charge, he ordered the regiment to retire, when he received the fatal shot that killed him instantly. About this time, Second Lieutenant Condit was killed, and our Adjutant, First Lieutenant Wm. Scott, fell seriously wounded. The companies then returned to the pike and crossed Stewart Creek on the pike. I found myself in command and repulsed the enemy, who had pursued to the creek and taken possession of our wagon train, killing two and wounding four.
January 1, at 9 A. M., Major Laughlin reported for duty and took command of the regiment.
Total loss, thirty-one.
VALENTINE CUPP,
Captain, commanding First Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. Colonel L. Zahm, commanding Second Cavalry Brigade, First Division, 14th Army Corps.
Extract from report of Colonel Zahm:
Headquarters Second Cavalry Brigade, In camp near Murfreesborough, Tenn., January 6, 1863. .
I herewith have the honor to report the part taken and the work performed by my brigade since our departure from Nash- · ville until the close of the battle before Murfreesborough.
I left Nashville on the morning of the twenty-sixth ultimo, with three regiments of my brigade, viz .: the First, Third and Fourth Ohio Cavalry, the Fifth Kentucky remaining at Nash- ville. My force numbered 950 men. When within two miles of Franklin, drove in the rebel pickets, skirmislied all the way down to Franklin, drove the enemy out, and pursued him some two miles. From the best information received the enemy was 900 strong (all cavalry), part of Wharton's brigade. We killed four, wounded several and took ten prisoners, among them a Lieutenant of Bragg's escort, several horses and mules, and de- stroyed their camps, with some tents standing thereon.
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On the twenty-seventh sent the First Ohio and most of. the Fourth Ohio under the command of Colonel Millikin, on the Wilson Creek pike, to reconnoiter toward Triune. They pro- ceeded within two miles of Triune, captured six of the rebel pickets, when the enemy opened on them with shells; threw some fifty without damaging us any.
On the twenty-eighth moved with the command to Triune, without anything occurring worth mentioning.
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On the twenty-ninth proceeded toward Murfreesborough, moving between the Franklin road and the road called Bole Jack road, which General McCook's corps moved on. I divided my brigade into three columns, marching parallel with one another and with the main force, the right (the Fourth Ohio), moving on the Franklin road, the Third in center, and the First on the left, the columns being from one to one and a half miles apart, throwing out skirmishers, connecting one column with the other, and connecting on the left with the main column. We thus proceeded for five miles, when the center column en- countered the enemy's pickets, which they drove in, the different columns steadily advancing.
Shortly after, both the right and the left encountered pick- ets, driving them in before them. After proceeding about one mile farther we came upon the enemy's cavalry (Wharton's bri- gade), engaged them for three hours, sometimes the right wing, then the left, then the center, receiving several charges, which were repulsed, driving the enemy some two miles, when the brigade concentrated, repelling a heavy charge from the enemy, driving him back under his guns, which were only a short dis- tance from us.
Some few casualities occurred this day. The officers and men behaved admirably during the whole day.
On the morning of the thirtieth was ordered to proceed on the Franklin road toward Murfreesborough, to push the enemy hard.
I proceeded that morning with my command and the Sec- ond East Tennessee, which reported to me via that road to the Franklin road, at which crossing we encountered the enemy's pickets and drove them in. I increased the number of skirmish- ers, especially to the left, skirmished with the enemy for an hour or more.
In the meantime, I had ascertained, likewise, that a heavy force of the enemy was encamped some little distance south of the Franklin road, and east of where my column halted. I did not think it prudent to advance, and owing to the bad grounds (being all timber), where my force halted, I retired to my camping ground, near where were large open fields, well adapted for cavalry movements. I soon formed a line of battle. The enemy made his appearance. Skirmishers engaged him pretty briskly.
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The enemy maneuvered with the design to outflank me, but did not succeed.
At daybreak of the morning of the thirty-first I had my command drawn up in line of battle in the rear of my camp, sent out two squadrons to the front and to the right to reconnoiter. Had been in the line about half an hour, when I heard heavy firing -- cannon and musketry -- to my left and a little to the front. Soon after, I beheld our infantry scattered all over the field, running toward my line, when I learned that General Johnson's division was repulsed. At about the same time, my skirmishers engaged the enemy, when they were driven in, re- porting that the enemy were approaching in heavy force. To my right the enemy's cavalry were coming in long columns, with the evident design to outflank us.
I retired slowly toward the main body of our army, the enemy pressing hard on me; kept him at bay with my skirmish- ers. I retired this wise for a mile, when I formed a line of battle with the First and Third, when the enemy charged on them with their cavalry, but were repulsed by our men. The first shell that landed mortally wounded Major Moore, of the First Ohio. I formed a new line, received the enemy's charge, repulsed them, and made many of the rebels bite the dust.
When we arrived on the open ground, General McCook's aide told me that the whole of General McCook's ammunition train was close by on a dirt road running by that point, and that I must try to save.it. I soon formed my command in line, when the enemy made his appearance in a position occupying two-thirds of a circle. They prepared to charge upon us, like- wise commenced throwing shells. The First had been ordered to proceed farther on to form and to receive a charge from another line of the enemy's cavalry. The First charged upon the enemy; did not succeed in driving them back. On returning from said charge, the gallant Colonel Millikin and one Lieu- tenant were killed, and another Lieutenant severely wounded. LEWIS ZAHM,
Colonel, Commanding Second Cavalry Brigade.
Extract from report of Brigadier-General John A. Wharton, C. S. Army, commanding Cavalry Brigade at Stone River:
Headquarters Wharton's Cavalry Brigade,
Shelbyville Pike, Tenn., January 22, 1863.
About three hundred of the enemy's cavalry, not over four hundred yards distant, were bearing down upon the battery with a speed that evinced a determination to take it at all haz- ards. A few men, with Colonel Smith, were promptly formed, and the battery unlimbered and ordered to fire upon the ap- proaching enemy. Several shells were exploded in their ranks
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and they retired in confusion. The command that had captured the wagons, thinking that they had driven the entire force of the enemy's cavalry across Overalls Creek and apprehending danger alone from that quarter, were prepared to meet it only from that direction. Besides, many were scattered along the entire length of the wagon train, directing its movements and guarding the many prisoners taken. In this condition they were attacked by the same party of cavalry from the direction of Mur- freesborough, that I had repulsed with the artillery, the enemy's cavalry that we had driven across Overall's Creek being in condition likewise to attack them in the rear.
In this engagement the enemy suffered severely, losing many officers and men, both killed and captured. Among the former was Colonel Minor Millikin, who was killed by Private John Bowers, of Company K, Texas Rangers, in single combat.
Extract from reports of Colonel John M. Harlan, Tenth Ken- tucky Infantry, commanding brigade:
La Vergne, January 25, 1863.
A train of cars were attacked one-half mile this side of Antioch this morning; two cars were burned; fifty-six pris- oners were captured and paroled by the enemy - a cavalry force under command of Forrest. The force at Mill Creek bridge came to relieve the train and succeded in saving the locomotive and several cars. This force is estimated at about two thousand and it is supposed that they had returned toward Franklin.
(V.) CUPP, Captain First Ohio Volunteer Cavalry.
Department of the Cumberland, Murfreesborough, January 5, 1863.
Major-General Rosecrans:
General: I occupy Murfreesborough with General Negley and Rousseau's divisions. General Stanley has followed up the enemy with his cavalry on his two routes of retreat, Shelbyville and Manchester pikes. From the best information I can obtain, the main body of their infantry and artillery went out by the Manchester pike, both columns well covered by a heavy body of cavalry. As yet, I have not heard of any public property, but will make the necessary inquiries. Colonel Zahm has just sent me word that he is engaging the enemy's rear guard on the Shelbyville pike, about five miles from town. They have three pieces of artillery. I have ordered a brigade of infantry and a battery of artillery to go to Zahm's support.
GEO. H. THOMAS.
Extract from a number of the Richmond Dispatch, Jan- uary, 1863:
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General Bragg has certainly retreated to Shelbyville, thirty miles from his victory at Murfreesborough, as he did last fall from his victory at Perryville. On this occasion, he has saved his prisoners, captured guns, stores, etc. But, if he has retired (that is the fashionable phrase on our side, as "change of base" is on the other) to Shelbyville with his whole army, he has thrown East Tennessee entirely open to the Yankees. There is a very strong position, beginning with Shelbyville on the left, extend- ing across the railroad running from Nashville to Chattanooga, at or near its junction with the Shelbyville road, with its center at a place called Decherd's, and its right terminating in the Cumberland Mountains, the whole distance being twenty-five miles from left to right, which, we understand, military men thought last summer ought to be the place to defend East Ten- nessee. It may be that Bragg has fallen back to this position. If he has, all is right. But if he has merely gotten out of the way, with the design to go to re-enforce the army facing Grant, which is three hundred miles off, then East Tennessee is in great danger, if Rosecrans wishes to take it. . And East Ten- ' nessee is precisely the very portion of the Confederacy which it is most inconvenient for us to lose, since it cuts it completely in two.
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Maj. Gen. Eli Long.
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After the Battle of Stone River.
From January 1, 1863, to June 24, 1863.
· After the death of Colonel Millikin, the command of the regiment devolved on Major James Laughlin, and soon after the battle of Stone's River, the regiment went into camp at Lavergne, Tenn., a station on the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad, about ten miles north from Murfreesborough. Companies B and D were stationed at Stewart's Creek, about midway between Lavergne and Murfreesborough. During the winter and spring months of 1863, the service of the regiment was very arduous, as the First was the only cavalry regiment on duty between Nashville and Murfreesborough to guard the communication along a railroad line of thirty miles, in addition to guarding the fords along Stone's River for many miles.
- One brigade of infantry was stationed at Lavergne, com- manded by General Ward, of Kentucky, but their service as compared with that of the cavalry was very light. The infantry was only called out when a reconnoissance was made in force or when a large wagon train was sent out some distance to forage for two or three days.
Buchanan's Mills, Dr. Charlton's ford and Dobson's on Stone's River are all names familiar to the members of the First Ohio, and with each of these familiar names some incident of interest can be recalled. The night march from Lavergne through dark cedars to Buchanan's Mills, and the burning of the mills at midnight can be recalled, and in imagination we can see the bright flames leaping high above the old mill, light- ing up the dark forest along the banks of the stream. Another night is remembered, when a company of the Fourteenth Ohio Infantry and a platoon of Company K, First O. V. C. made a night march to the river for the purpose of capturing a squad of rebel cavalry who were in that vicinity, and a colored man
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had come into our camp about dark and reported that a supper was being prepared for them at a house on the east side of the river. The detachment of our command arrived at the river about eleven o'clock, and cavalry and infantry were rowed over in a rickety boat by a faithful old colored man, taking six at a load. Guided by this old darkey, the command marched to the house designated, but did not find any enemy, as they had no doubt been apprised of the movement of our men by some citizen on the alert, and they had made good their escape. A fine supper had been prepared, with covers for about twenty- five, and our boys proceeded at once to partake of the good things spread, to which they done ample justice. The only thing they contributed to the supper was coffee, of which they had an abundance, and which was made under the direction of the good lady of the house. There might have been a few crumbs left when the repast was finished, but it is doubtful whether or not twelve baskets could have been gathered from the table. It was a hard night's march and devoid of results from a mili- tary standpoint, but the boys thought there was a little glory in capturing the supper prepared for the enemy, and so there was. The captain in command thanked the lady of the house in a neat little speech for her hospitality to the defenders of the old flag, and became quite eloquent as he warmed up to his subject, but his eloquence fell on deaf ears, so far as any outward indications appeared. Quite a number of neighboring ladies were present, and all were treated with the greatest re- spect and gallantry by the chivalric cavalrymen.
We were kept on the move almost continuously, day and night, scouting and patroling the river, and the many miles traversed over the by-roads among the cedars became as familiar as our neighboring roads near our homes in Ohio.
During the months of April and May, a platoon, and some- times a company was sent out each morning, leaving camp about three o'clock, so as to reach the fords along Stone's River about daybreak, sometimes striking the river at Buchanan's Mills, then patroling up the river past Charlton's, leaving a squad at each ford to watch the movements of the enemy, and "report if any- thing unusual was discovered." This kind of service was very monotonous, but now and then the monotony was relieved by a little skirmish. The roads were narrow, and the woods were very thick. Frequently scouting parties were fired upon by guerillas, who usually made their escape easily. One of our outposts was at Antioch Church, about three miles from La- vergne on the railroad, in the direction of Nashville. The home of Dick McCann, the notorious bushwhacker and guerilla leader, was near this church, and he made a number of raids, capturing trains in this vicinity in spite of the vigilance of our troops. At one time he piloted a large force of rebel cavalry to this
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point on the railroad and captured a train with a large amount of money in the express car. Our troops at Murfreesborough had just been paid off and the boys were expressing their money home, and whether or not the rebels were aware of that fact, they got a rich haul. Colonel Cupp, Lieutenant Leib and several other soldiers of the regiment were on the train en route for Nashville, all of whoni were captured. They were paroled and returned to the regiment in a few days, and reported that some of the rebel cavalrymen had their haversacks full of greenbacks. We were kept on the alert all the time watching the movements of the enemy, and scarcely a day or night passed without some part of the regiment was called out to make a scout to ascertain whether or not some reported movement of the enemy was true or was only a "grape vine," reported by some frightened con- traband. One day we would be hurried out on a gallop toward Triune or Eagleville, on the right flank; perhaps the same night we would be called out to reconnoitre along the fords of Stone's River, on the left flank, to check some movement of the enemy reported at headquarters. Thus we were kept continuously on the move, while the main body of the army was lying in camp having comparatively little, or in fact, no hard service. The cavalry are the eyes of the army, so to speak, and when two armies are lying in close proximity to each other, as were the armies of Rosecrans and Bragg, from January 1 to June 24, 1863, glaring at each other like two gladiators, watching for any advantage he may take over his antagonist from some weak place in his lines, by some movement of his troops, then it is that the commander appreciates the good service of his cavalry, handled by daring and intelligent young officers, for on their audacity and dash, when reconnoitering the enemy's position to get information, often the safety of the whole army depends. These two astute commanders of the Union and rebel armies seemed to be equally watchful and enterprising, and each was determined that the other should not get any advantage by movements on the flanks or rear, consequently the clashes be- tween the cavalry of the two armies were frequent and some- times lively. During the winter and early spring months there was a great deal of rain, and this continuous service in mud, sleet and rain, disabled many of the horses by "scratches" and cracked heels, as we had no shelter for them at any time, and they were covered with mud and water night and day, and it was impossible to keep them clean and dry, so that many horses were totally disabled. In some instances the disease was so bad that the hoofs would almost come off, and it was not possible to move horses in this condition. When the weather became, warm and the roads dried un, these horses were soon cured, and the troops were all well mounted, adding quite a good many horses pressed into the service from the surround-
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ing country. I think it is safe to say that at no time during our service were so many horses totally disabled as during the time we were stationed at Levergne.
Some of the daring exploits of small scouting parties, often commanded by non-commissioned officers, would have done honor to an officer of high rank, notably the affair at Dobson's Ford, which appears in the official published list of the battles and skirmishes of the war. A patrol was sent out one morning under command of Sergeant Chapin, of Company K, and after patroling up the river, halted at Dobson's to watch the ford for the day. The widow Dobson's house stood on the east bank of the river near the ford, and the patrol was stationed on the west side, directly opposite the house.
The Dobson family consisted of the widow and three hand- some daughters, all bitter rebels, still they would smile sweetly on the gay cavalry boys now and then. Although their house was known to be the favorite rendezvous of the bushwhackers and rebel cavalry, still our boys would take the chance of vis- iting the girls, notwithstanding it was always attended with danger, and taking heed that "faint heart ne'er won fair lady," they would cross the ford to talk with the southern beauties over the garden wall.
On this particular morning, as usual, a couple of the troopers crossed the ford to have a chat with the girls, whom they found in an unusually friendly mood, and gave the troopers a very cordial invitation to go over and eat dinner, as they would have fried chicken and many other tempting dishes.
The boys were delighted and accepted as a matter of course, but when they joined the patrol and reported, the Sergeant in command said, "Nay, there is a nigger in the wood-pile; those girls are entirely too friendly, so we will wait and watch devel- opments."
The pickets were placed at a proper distance from the ford to watch for any scouting party of the enemy that might appear on the opposite bank of the river.
All through the morning the girls could be seen flitting about the house and often appearing at the front door or yard, watching longingly for their tardy lovers who did not come, and the boys were swearing through their teeth, because the Sergeant had seen fit to exercise his authority and cut short the promised pleasures of the day. All day they watched, but no enemy appeared, and as the patrol usually started for camp about sun down, orders were given to ride down to the ford and water the horses before taking up the march.
Just as the platoon rode into the river and threw the reins down on their horses' necks to allow them to drink, bang! bang! bang! came a volley from the high bank near the Dobson house, shot guns, yaugers, and revolvers, all joining in a general medley,
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as can only be given by a squad of bushwhackers, armed with all kinds of weapons. The platoon galloped back to the position they had occupied during the day, and then opened up on the enemy with their carbines, and, after a few volleys, routed them from their ambuscade and took possession of the ford, which they held until satisfied that the rebels had beat a hasty retreat from their ambuscade. The bank was so high on the opposite side of the river that the first volley went over the heads of our men, and not a man was touched, but as it was a complete sur- prise, and, under the circumstances, rallying as they did and holding the position with a little squad of less than a score of men, shows what discipline will do under the most trying crisis.
It was the intention of the Dobson family to induce the boys to take dinner, and at the proper time, when they were in the house, a signal would have been given, and this band of bush- whackers would have pounced down upon them, capturing their horses and equipments, and either killing or wounding all of the men before the detachment on the other side of the river could have rallied to their support. But the scheme failed, much to the disgust of the fair southern girls, as was learned a few days later by some of the same detachment, who crossed the ford to reconnoiter the situation and ascertain if any damage had resulted from the fusillade of their carbines. The girls were in the front door and did not meet the boys with the same sweet smiles as of old, but berated them in very severe and indignant language, pointing at a bullet hole just above the door made by one of our carbine balls.
The troopers retorted, that if they proposed to take a hand in the war by intrigueing to have our troops, who had been kind to them and had protected their property and protected them as ladies, captured and murdered by bushwhackers, they must take the chances of war. This argument seemed to have the desired effect, and we were never after troubled by bushwhackers at Dobson's. They refused to give any information as to the loss of the rebels in the skirmish, but it was afterwards ascer- tained that a Lieutenant Buchanan and several of the band that infested the fords along Stone's River were wounded, and Buchanan was afterwards captured at his home.
This is only one of many similar incidents that were occur. ring almost daily in the cavalry service, testing the courage and coolness of our troopers under fire very often against great odds.
During the months of May and June, in addition to the reg- ular scouting, patrol and picket duty, the regiment resumed mounted drill, and devoted much of the time to remounting and equipping for the coming campaign. The whole cavalry force was reorganized, and by the middle of June we were fully
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equipped and ready for the hard campaign soon to commence. The regiment remained in camp at Lavergne until June 18, and then joined the brigade at Murfreesborough, the Second Brigade, Second Cavalry Division, commanded by that ideal soldier, Col- onel Eli Long, who, before the close of the war, was promoted to a Major-General "for gallant and conspicuous service on the field."
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