USA > Ohio > Greene County > Greene County soldiers in the late war : being a history of the Seventy-fourth O.V.I., with sketches of the Twelfth, Ninety-Fourth, One Hundred and Tenth, Forty-Fourth, Tenth Ohio Battery, One Hundred and Fifty-Fourth, Fifty-Fourth, Seventeenth, Thirty-Fourth, One Hundred and Eighty-Fourth, together with a list of Greene County's soldiers > Part 11
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mishing with the enemy, and the next morning made a recon- noissance, and captured between thirty and forty prisoners. In the afternoon the One Hundred and Tenth, in advance of Brandy Station, was severely shelled by the artillery, and was the first to occupy the enemy's position.
Upon breaking camp at Brandy Station, four companies of the regiment were detached as train guard, and the others took a prominent part in the battle of Locust Grove, losing five killed and twenty wounded. The regiment returned to Brandy Station, December 3d, and occupied winter quarters.
During the month of March, 1864, the One Hundred and Tenth became a part of the second brigade, third division, sixth army corps. On the 4th of March the regiment crossed the Rapidan, at Germania Ford, and the next day took a position on the extreme right of the national line at the Wilderness. After brisk skirmishing it advanced to charge, and drove the enemy to their works. The regiment held its position until after dark, and only fell back when its ammunition was exhausted. The loss sustained was one officer killed, and six wounded ; eighteen men killed, eighty-two wounded, and eleven missing. The next day the regiment occupied the second line, but was much exposed to artillery. In the evening, the brigade on the right being routed, the One Hundred and Tenth fell back about a mile, and held the new position all day on the 7th, and in the evening fell back through Chancellorsville to the vicinity of Spottsylvania C. H. Here the regiment was engaged in fortify- ing and skirmishing until the 14th, when it marched toward Spottsylvania, waded the Nye River after dark, and occupied the enemy's works, from which they had been driven. The One Hundred and Tenth was almost constantly engaging the enemy, marching via Guinea Station and Chesterfield Station, crossing the Pamunky, and throwing up fortifications on Dr. Palmer's farm.
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THE ONE HUNDRED AND TENTH.
On the 1st of June the regiment was engaged at Cold Har- bor. In the assault on the enemy's works on the 3d, the regi- ment was in the front line, and was ordered to continue the advance after the line halted, which it did, and was exposed for two hours, when it was withdrawn. During the entire day the regiment was exposed to a heavy fire, losing one commissioned officer, four men killed, and thirty-four wounded.
On the 14th the regiment left the works, crossed the Chick- ahominy, passed Charles City, C. H., embarked on the transport Star, landed at Point of Rocks, and marched to Bermuda Hun- dred. In the evening of the 19th it crossed the Appomattox, and arrived near Petersburg. After resting a day it marched to the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad, and charged the enemy's line, driving it in; and a few days later moved to the Petersburg and Weldon Railroad.
On the 30th of June the enemy commenced its return, and on the 2d of July occupied its former position near Petersburg. It embarked on the transport City of Albany, for Baltimore, where it arrived on the Sth, and took the cars for Monocacy Junction, and took part in the Monocacy battle. From there it went to Ellicott's Mills, where it arrived on the 10th of July. On the 11th the regiment went to Baltimore, and camped at Druid Hill Park until the 14th, when it took the cars to Washington, and the next day after marched. through Tenallytown, waded the Potomac near Edward's Ferry, passed through Snicker's Gap to the Shenandoah, skirmished with the enemy, and rested awhile. On the 20th the regiment crossed the Shenandoah, then re- crossed the river, and marched all night, arriving at Washington again on the 23d. Three days after it broke camp and marched through Hyattstown, Monocacy Junction, Frederick City, Mary- land, and Harper's Ferry to Healltown, arriving on the 29th, and on the next day fell back through Harper's Ferry to Freder- ick City, Maryland. On the 3d of August the regiment resumed
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the march through Buckeyetown, crossed the Monocacy at Monocacy Mills, then moved by cars from Monocacy Junction to Bolivar, and marched from there to Healltown. On the morning of the 10th it marched through Charleston, Newtown, and Middletown, arriving at Cedar Creek on the 12th. Here it was engaged in several skirmishes, and on the 16th marched as train guard to Charleston. It fell back to Bolivar Heights, but again advanced to Charleston, and on the 29th, in an en- gagement, completely routed the rebels. On the 3d of Septem- ber the regiment marched to Clifton Farm and fortified. On the 19th it crossed the Opequan, and engaged in the battle of Win- chester. It engaged the rebels at Fisher's Hill, capturing four pieces of artillery and one hundred prisoners, then marched to Mount Crawford, and returned to Harper's Ferry. On the 6th of October it moved to Strasburg, and from there to the vicinity of Front Royal. On the 13th it marched to Ashby's Gap, and on the next day returned and camped at Cedar Creek.
On the morning of the 19th of October, when the eighth and nineteenth corps were driven back, the Sixth Corp, with the One Hundred and Tenth Ohio in the front line, was formed to arrest the advancing rebels, and in the final effort, which resulted in routing the rebels, no regiment took a more active part than the One Hundred and Tenth. It lost two officers wounded - one of whom died a few days after - five men killed, and twenty-seven wounded, and one officer and one man missing. In the evening the regiment occupied the camp from which it had been driven in the morning, and occupied it until November 9th, when it encamped one mile from Keinstown, and built winter quarters. On the 3d of December it marched to Stebbin's Station, took cars for Washington, proceeded thence to City Point by steamer, took cars near midnight on the 6th, and arrived at the front at daylight. It occupied the line east of the Weldon Railroad, and proceeded to build winter quarters.
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THE ONE HUNDRED AND TENTH.
On the 9th of February, 1865, the regiment took position between forts Fisher and Welch, and again erected winter quar- ters. On the 25th of March the entire brigade assaulted the strongly entrenched picket-line, and after a second charge, under a severe fire, carried it, capturing a large number of prisoners and small arms.
An assault was made on the enemy's works before Peters- burg, on the 2d of April. Just before daybreak, and before it was fairly light, the Sixth Corps was in possession of the fortifi- cations and many prisoners and guns. . The regiment pursued the enemy, routing him at Saylor's Creek, and continuing the pursuit until the surrender of Lee.
The regiment marched to Burksville Junction, and on the 17th, at the presentation of captured flags to Major General Meade, the One Hundred and Tenth - having captured more flags than any other regiment in the corps - was selected as a guard of honor to escort them to General Meade's head- quarters.
The regiment proceeded to Richmond, Virginia, and while passing through the city was reviewed by General Halleck ; from there it proceeded to Washington City, where it was reviewed by the President and Cabinet at the Executive Mansion. Dur- ing its term of service the regiment was in twenty-one engage- ments, and sustained a loss in killed, and wounded, and missing, of seven hundred and ninety-five men. It was mustered out at Washington City on the 25th of June, 1865, and was discharged at Todd's Barracks, Columbus, Ohio.
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KEIFER LEADS THE VAN.
REGIMENTAL SONG, ONE HUNDRED AND TENTH, O. V. I.
BY LIEUT. H. Y. RUSH.
TUNE-UNCLE SAM.
Come, Buckeye boys, and let us sing, for now we've shouldered arms, We've left our wives and sweethearts home, with all their love and charms. The hills and dales, the old homestead, the lovely scenes of youth, We've bid a sad farewell to all, to battle for the truth.
CHORUS.
Then march along, march along, for Keifer leads the van, And Foster he will stick to us as long as there's a man ; Then march along, march along, for Binkley's with us, too; And he will never square the books till Davis gets his due.
The traitors first shot down our flag that o'er proud Sumter stood, And reared their filthy rebel rag, all stained with Union blood. But Yankee boys can rear again that Banner of the Free, Whose folds shall all be kissed again with zephyrs from the sea.
Chorus -- Then march along, etc.
The rebels they would fain tear down this temple of the free, And build instead their cushion'd homes of aristocracy. But from this temple not a stone shall ever be removed ; For in her halls is justice found, as foreign lands have proved.
Chorus-Then march along, etc.
Our country is the best on earth, and bears the fairest name ; And she can boast of giving birth to men of deathless fame ; There's Washington, whose dauntless deeds still keep his mem'ry green, And Jackson, too, who whipped John Bull, so nice at New Orleans.
Chorus-Then march along, etc.
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·
THE ONE HUNDRED AND TENTH.
Poor Jeff, he thinks he's very sharp, and Yancey boasts of wit ; But we can whet our tools, my boys, for Yankees have the GRIT. They call us stupid " mud-sills," boys, and other curious names, But we have logic in our guns, and more within our brains.
Chorus-Then march along, etc.
Ne'er let your hands grow weary, boys, while in this noble cause, Till every rebel grounds his arms, submitting to our laws ; Till on a strong palmetto-limb, a curious fruit you see, Jeff Davis to a strong hemp rope "a-dancing jubilee."
Chorus-Then march along, etc.
We now are in that " Dixie land," of which we often sing ; And now the music of that song shall from the musket ring. We come with love within our hearts, but lead within our guns, With sharp and tickling bayonets to make the rebels run.
Chorus-Then march along, etc.
Come, let us press with vigor on, and crush rebellion down, Then union, peace, and plenty all, shall through the land abound. Then wives and children left behind, and sweethearts brave and true Will welcome back the Buckeye boys that put the rebels through.
Chorus-Then march along, etc.
Forty-Fourth Regiment, O. V. I.
This regiment rendezvoused at the fair grounds, near Spring- field, Ohio, during the summer and autumn of 1861, and on the 14th of October, being fully organized, it moved, via Cincinnati, to Camp Piatt, West Virginia. On the morning of the 19th, having reached its destination, the regiment disembarked and · pitched its tents for the first time on disputed ground. Two weeks after its arrival five companies were ordered to Gauley Bridge, and assisted in driving Floyd from his camp, and en- gaged in all the skirmishes during his retreat. Before their return two hundred men from the regiment crossed the Ka- nawha, marched to Platona, captured the place, and moved on against Colonel Jenkins, at Logan C. H. - but the colonel de- camped before their arrival. After being absent six days they returned, bringing in seven prisoners, some horses, and one hundred head of cattle.
After these expeditions the regiment remained in camp for five months, quietly drilling. Winter quarters were built, and the men comfortably sheltered. During the month of November Captain John M. Bell, of Company K, with an orderly sergeant and six men, were drowned while crossing the river in a skiff, to relieve the picket on the other side. This sad accident cast a gloom over the whole regiment, and it was felt that a serious loss had been sustained. During the latter part of the winter com- panies A, B, and K were stationed on the opposite side of the river from Camp Piatt, for the better security of the camp.
On the 1st of May, 1862, the regiment moved up the river
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to Gauley Bridge, and was brigaded with the Thirty-sixth and Forty-seventh O. V. I., under Colonel George Crook. The brigade moved to Lewisburg, and from there the Forty-fourth and another regiment penetrated as far as Dublin Depot, on the Jackson River Railroad, and destroyed a portion of the track. Hearing that a large force of rebels were trying to intercept their retreat, the two companies withdrew to Lewisburg, where the enemy appeared on the 23d of May, and was not only repulsed but routed, leaving most of their dead and wounded to fall into the hands of our troops, together with three pieces of artillery and many prisoners. They occupied the place for a short time after the fight, then fell back to Meadow Bluffs, where they encamped until the middle of August.
The Forty-fourth took up the line of march on the 15th of August, toward the Kanawha, halting a week at Camp Ewing, and then falling back to Camp Tompkins. A force of six thousand rebels was advancing against the four regiments in the valley, and on the 9th of September the two regiments on the right bank - the Forty-fourth and another - were attacked, and fell back on Gauley, where a stand was made until the teams could be removed from danger, when the retreat began in ear- nest. The Forty fourth marched in the rear all day and nearly all night, covering the retreating column until it reached Camp Piatt. The national forces fell back upon Charleston, and on the 13th the rebels made the attack and were firmly met. Su- perior numbers finally forced the Union lines back, but every foot of ground was hotly contested. Our forces withdrew across a deep tributary of the Kanawha, and with a few blows of an ax severed the hawsers that held the suspension bridge, and it fell with a crash into the stream. The retreat now continued in safety to Racine, on the Ohio River, and from that place the troops were taken by steamer to Point Pleasant. Transportation was procured, and they were sent forward into Kentucky. They
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encamped some time at Covington, watching the movements of Kirby Smith, and on his retreat they pursued as far as Lexing- ton, where they were ordered into camp and assigned to the Second Brigade, Second Division, Army of Kentucky, com- manded by General Gordon Granger. The regiment was actively engaged in scouting, taking in its field of operations Richmond and Danville.
On the 20th of December the regiment returned to Frank- fort and was mounted, and from that time, until Burnside's advance into Tennessee, there was but little rest for man or beast. The men almost lived in the saddle. It was continual advance and retreat, with almost constant skirmishing. The regiment partook in the engagement of Dunstan's Hill, charging the rebels and contributing materially to their rout. The regi- ment was frequently engaged in chasing John Morgan, though with not very satisfactory results, as he generally proved the faster rider.
When General Burnside made his advance into Tennessee the Forty-fourth was dismounted and accompanied him. It can claim equality with any other regiment of all that took part in this expedition. Finally, falling back on Knoxville, and throw- ing up fortifications, it lay in the wet, chilly ditches day and night When the rebels retreated the regiment pursued, and on its return went into camp at Strawberry Plains.
On the 1st of January, 1864, the proposal to re-enlist was made to the regiment, accompanied by the promise that they should be armed and mounted as cavalry. Before the 5th - out ·of six hundred men - five hundred and fifty had re enlisted. On the 7th they marched for Camp Nelson, Kentucky, and on the 21st took cars for Cincinnati, where they arrived the next day, and were quartered in the Fifth Street Bazaar, erected for the Sanitary Fair. Here they were obliged to wait until muster - out and muster in rolls could be made out. This was at last
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accomplished, and the men were mustered by the 29th, and started on a special train for Springfield. Their arrival was heralded by the booming of cannon, and they were received with joyous shouts and enthusiastic greetings. In a few days the men were paid off and furloughed, and when they again assembled it was under the name of the Eighth Ohio Cavalry, of which the following is a brief sketch :
On the 28th of March, 1864, the veterans and recruits of the Forty-fourth Ohio Infantry were ordered to report at Camp Dennison, where they went without delay, and were organized into the Eighth Ohio Cavalry. On the 26th of April six com- panies - not mounted - were ordered to Charleston, West Vir- ginia, and on the 8th of May the detachment remaining in camp was ordered to march to Cincinnati, to be transported thence by steamer to Charleston. On the 10th they left camp for Cincin- nati, mounted on horseback, with no rein but a rope, and each man leading two or three horses. They arrived in the city a little after noon, in a drenching rain, and by dark were on the boat on their way up the river. On the second morning after they started they landed at Guyandotte, and again mounting barebacked rode to Charleston, arriving on the 14th, very much exhausted.
At Charleston the Eighth was armed with carbines and drew-saddles, and on the 29th of May marched for Lewisburg, where they arrived on the 1st of June, and on the 3d started with Averill on the Lynchburg raid. The regiment was first assigned to General Duffie's brigade, and afterwards to Colonel Schoonmaker's Fourteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. On the 9th they arrived at Staunton, formed a junction with General Hun- ter, and on the 13th moved to Buchannon, where they rested until the 15th. They had frequent skirmishes, doing good serv- ice, until they arrived at White Sulphur Springs, where they arrived on the 24th, and from thence moved to Beverly, arriving
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at noon on the 30th, having marched six hundred miles. On the 23d of August companies C, H, and K-eighty men in all - were surprised and captured at Huttonsville. The men were released, but all their equipments and horses taken by the rebels. Soon after Company A was captured, and the captain and some of the men taken to Richmond. About the 1st of
December Colonel Moore joined the regiment. They were at Winchester, fought at Fisher's Hill, and barely escaped at Cedar Creek. On the 11th of January the rebels surprised the camp, killing and wounding twenty-five, and capturing five hundred and seventy men and eight officers. They were taken to Libby Prison, but afterwards paroled at Columbus, Ohio, and in August were mustered out of the service at Camp Dennison.
Tenth Ohio Battery.
This battery was organized at Xenia, Ohio, on the 9th of January, 1862, and was mustered into service on the 3d of March. It was ordered to St. Louis, Missouri, and on the 4th of April moved up the Tennessee River to Pittsburg Landing, where it arrived on the 9th. On the 13th it received some twenty men from the Thirteenth Ohio Battery.
With the rest of the army the Tenth moved upon Corinth, but during the siege it was held in reserve. The Battery re- mained at Corinth from the 25th of June to the middle of Sep- tember. It then moved to Iuka, and remained at that post on garrison duty.
While at Iuka orders were received to procure forage from the country. A portion of the men, under command of Lieu- tenant Grossekoff, while in the performance of this duty, were
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attacked by Roddy's rebel cavalry, at a point five miles below Iuka, and lost, by capture, privates William F. Nixon, Richard Sparrow, John W. Shoemaker, Abe Hulsizer, and William Leslie. These men were taken to southern prisons, and after- ward exchanged.
On the 1st of October the Battery moved toward Corinth, and on the 2d it passed through the town and halted for the night at a fort southwest of it. On the morning of the 3d it was ordered to take position near the Chewalla Road, where it crossed the Memphis Railroad. From this place the Battery was ordered into position north of Corinth. About eleven o'clock, on the morning of the 4th, the rebel lines advanced. The Battery opened with shell, and one piece was disabled after the first fire, by a shell getting fast half way down. Two shells were fired by each of the other three pieces, and canister - doubled - was used to the direct front. The ground was favor- able for canister practice, and at each fire gaps of twenty, thirty, and forty feet wide were cut into the advancing columns. The Battery stopped three columns of rebels. Each piece was pour- ing out from eighteen to twenty rounds per minute, when the order was given to retire. The rebels had advanced on the right, and the Battery was without the support of a single mus- ket, right or left. The pintle-key of the third piece had to be tied to its place, and the corporal, while tying it, discovered that the sponge-bucket was left. He called .out, "Get the bucket, No. 2!" George S. Wright, a boy of eighteen, acting as No. 1, · ran back towards the rebels, picked up the bucket when they were not more than twenty-five rods from him, and returned with it to the gun.
As fast as the pieces were limbered they went off at a gal- lop. They were unlimbered east of the town and south of the Decatur Railroad, but only for a moment, when they were returned to a point about one hundred yards in rear of the former
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TENTH OHIO BATTERY.
position. In a short time the enemy retired. The Battery lost only three men wounded. A number of horses were also wounded, including those belonging to Captain White and the bugler. It pursued the enemy as far as Ripley, and then returned to Corinth.
In the latter part of October the Battery received forty men from an Iowa brigade, but about twenty of them were returned. In November it moved to Grand Junction, and marched with the army into Mississippi, along the Mississippi Central Railroad.
After the surrender of Holly Springs, the Battery returned to that point, and formed part of the garrison. It removed from there to Lafayette, and from Lafayette to Memphis On the 21st of January it moved to Milliken's Bend, and from there to Lake Providence. In April it returned to Milliken's Bend, and moved from there to Grand Gulf.
On May the 14th, while the Tenth was at Grand Gulf, General Dwight, of General Banks' army, arrived on a gunboat, on his way to General Grant's head quarters - then near Black River. There being no cavalry at the post, Captain White was detailed with thirty men of the Battery to act as an escort to the general. They left Grand Gulf May 16th, and rode all night. The battle of Champion Hills being in progress, they were un- able to reach General Grant's head-quarters, and were compelled to remain on the road in their saddles until two o'clock in the morning of the 18th, without rations for themselves or forage for the horses. At six o'clock in the morning, when General McPherson's head quarters were reached, the men were com- pletely exhausted, and the horses unfit for further travel.
Later in the day the escort commenced its return to Grand Gulf, having supplied themselves with horses and mules taken from citizens. On its march through the woods the escort ran into a brigade of Pemberton's rebel army, that had been cut off from the main force. Captain White so maneuvered his men as 11
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to make the rebels believe he had a large force of cavalry, and actually succeeded in capturing thirty-four rebels. On returning to camp some of the men of the escort were asleep in their saddles
On the 13th of June the Battery reached Vicksburg, and on the 18th it was posted in Fort Ransom. On the next day one of the guns broke its axle, and another its stock, leaving but two serviceable pieces. On the night of the 19th Quartermaster McPherson, with the wagon-master and Artificer Cline, procured another carriage from near the rebel lines, cutting it out, as it were, under fire of the rebel guns. On the 20th artificers Cline and Wheeler, while under fire from the enemy's sharp shooters, repaired the disabled guns.
The Battery remained in the fort until the latter part of June. It then moved to Big Black, and after the surrender of Vicksburg it marched to Jackson. As soon as it arrived it was ordered back to Champion Hills, to guard the communications. On the 28th of July the Battery entered Vicksburg.
In August - of seventy-two men present - only seventeen were reported for duty. The men were worn out with sickness and service. The well men did guard duty, took care of seventy horses and mules, went for forage and rations, hauled water, fixed shades, and at night cared for their sick comrades.
The garrison went into winter quarters on the bluffs south of Vicksburg - one section was sent to Red Bone Church, twelve miles south of Vicksburg ; the other put on duty at Hall's Ferry Road.
During the winter the Battery received about ninety re- cruits. Thirty two men out of fifty four, who were eligible, re-enlisted, and on the 8th of April, 1864, the Battery, with one hundred and fifty men for duty, left Vicksburg for Cairo. The Battery was attacked on its way up the river by a portion of Forrest's forces, but it used its guns effectually, and drove off
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