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 4
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THE SEVENTY-FOURTH.
of artillery and a stand of colors. It was now after dark, and raining, or we should have pursued the enemy into Murfreesboro. As it was, Crittenden's corps passed over, and with Davis occupied the crest which was intrenched in a few hours. Deeming it possible that the enemy might again attack our right and center thus weakened, I thought it advisable to make a demonstration on our right by a heavy division of camp-fires, and by laying out a line of battle with torches, which answered the purpose.
On Saturday, January 3d, it rained heavily from three o'clock in the morning. The plowed ground, over which our left would be obliged to advance, was impassable for artillery. The ammunition-train did not arrive until ten o'clock, it was therefore deemed unadvisable to advance, but batteries were put in position on the left, by which the ground could be swept, and even Murfreesboro reached by the Parrott guns. A heavy and constant picket firing had been kept up on our right and center, and extending to our left, which at last became so annoying that in the after- noon I directed the corps commanders to clear the fronts. Occupying the woods to the left of Murfreesboro pike with sharpshooters, the enemy had annoyed Rousseau all day, and General Thomas and himself requested permission to dislodge them and their supports which covered a ford. This was granted, and a sharp fire from four batteries was opened for ten or fifteen minutes, when Rousseau sent two of his regiments, which, with Speer's Tennesseeans, and the Eighty-fifth Illinois Volunteers, that had come out with the wagon trains, charged upon the enemy, and, after a sharp contest, cleared the woods and drove the enemy from his trenches, capturing from seventy to eighty prisoners.
Sunday morning, January 4th, it was not deemed advisable to commence offensive movements; and news soon reached us that the enemy had fled from Murfreesboro. Burial parties were sent out to bury the dead, and the cavalry was sent to reconnoiter.
Early on Monday morning General Thomas advanced, driving the rear guard of rebel cavalry before him six or seven miles, toward Man- chester. McCook and Crittenden's corps following, took position in front of the town of Murfreesboro. We learned that the enemy's infantry had reached Shelbyville by 12 M. on Sunday ; but owing to the imprac- ticability of bringing up supplies and the loss of 557 artillery horses, further pursuit was deemed unadvisable.
It may be of use to give the following general summary of the 4
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GREENE COUNTY IN THE WAR.
operations and results of the series of skirmishes, closing with the battle of Stone River and occupation of Murfreesboro. We moved on the enemy with the following forces: Infantry, 41,421 ; artillery, 2,223 ; . cavalry, 3,296. Total, 46,940. We fought the battle with the following forces : Infantry, 37,977 ; artillery, 2,223 ; cavalry, 3,200. Total, 43,400. We lost in killed : Officers, 92; enlisted men, 1,441. Total, 1,533. We lost in wounded: Officers, 384; enlisted men, 6,881. Total, 7,245. Total killed and wounded, 8,778. Our loss in prisoners is not fully made out, but the provost marshal general says, from present information they will fall short of 2,800.
If there are many bloodier battles on record, considering the newness and inexperience of the troops, both officers and men, or if there has been more true fighting qualities displayed by any people, I should be pleased to know it. On the whole, it is evident that we fought superior numbers on unknown ground, inflicting much more injury than we suffered. We were always superior on equal ground, with equal num- bers, and failed of a most crushing victory on Wednesday by the exten- sion and direction of our right wing.
This closes the narrative of the movements and seven days' fighting, which terminated with the occupation of Murfreesboro. Beside the mention which has been already made of the service of our artillery by the brigade, division, and corps commanders, I deem it a duty to say that such a marked evidence of skill in handling the batteries, and in firing with effect, appears, in this battle, to deserve special commenda- tion. Among the lesser commands which deserve special mention for distinguished service in the battle is the Pioneer Corps, a body of 1,700 men, composed of details from the companies of each infantry regiment, organized and instructed by Captain James St. Clair Morton, corps of engineers, chief engineer of this army, which marched as an infantry brigade to the left wing, making bridges at Stewart's Creek ; prepared and guarded the ford at Stone River on the nights of the 29th and 30th ; supported Stokes' battery, and fought with valor and determination on the 3Ist, holding its position until relieved on the morning of the 2d ; advancing with the greatest promptitude and gallantry to support Van Cleve's division against the attack on our left, on the evening of the same day ; constructing a bridge and batteries between that time and Saturday evening ; and the efficiency and esprit du corps suddenly developed in this command, its gallant behavior in action, the eminent service it is contin-
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THE SEVENTY-FOURTH.
ually rendering the army, entitle both the officers and men to special public notice and thanks, while they reflect the highest credit on the distinguished ability and capacity of Captain Morton, who will do honor to his promotion to a brigadier general, which the President has prom- ised him.
The Eighteenth Regiment of Ohio Volunteers, at Stewart's Creek, Lieutenant Colonel Bark commanding, deserves especial praise for the ability and spirit with which they held their post, defended our trains, succored their cars, chased away Wheeler's rebel cavalry, saving a large wagon-train, and arrested and returned in service some two thousand stragglers from the battle-field.
The First Regiment of Michigan, engineers and mechanics, at Lavergne, under the command of Colonel Innis, fighting behind a slight protection of wagons and brush, gallantly repulsed a charge from more than ten times their numbers of Wheeler's cavalry.
For distinguished acts of individual zeal, heroism, and gallantry, and good conduct, I refer to the accompanying list of special mentions and commendations for promotion, wherein are named some of the many noble men who have distinguished themselves and done honor to their country and the starry symbol of its unity. But those names there are by no means all whose names will be inscribed on the rolls of honor we are preparing, and hope to be held in grateful remembrance by our countrymen. To such men as Major General George H. Thomas, true and prudent, distinguished in counsel and on many battle-fields for his courage ; or Major General McCook, a tried, faithful, and loyal soldier, who bravely breasted battle at Shiloh, and at. Perrysville, and as bravely on the bloody field of Stone River ; and Major General Thomas L. Crittenden, whose heart is that of a true soldier and patriot : I doubly thank them, as well as the gallant, ever-ready Major General Rousseau, for their support in this battle. Brigadier General D. S. Stanley, already distinguished for four successful battles-Island No. 10, May 27th, before Corinth, Iuka, and the battle of Corinth-at this time in com- mand of our ten regiments of cavalry, fought the enemy's forty regiments of cavalry, and held them at bay, and beat them whenever he could meet them. In such brigadiers as Negley, Jefferson C. Davis, Johnson, Palmer, Hascall, Van Cleve, Wood, Mitchell, Cruft, and Sheridan, and such brigade commanders as Colonels Carlin, Miller, Hazen, Samuel Beatty of the Nineteenth Ohio, Gibson, Gross, Wagner, John Beatty
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GREENE COUNTY IN THE WAR.
of the Third Ohio, Harker, Starkweather, Stanley, and others whose names are mentioned in the accompanying report, the government may well confide. To these I offer my most heart-felt thanks and good wishes. Words of my own can not add to the renown of our brave and patriotic officers and soldiers who fell on the field of honor, nor increase respect for their memory in the hearts of our countrymen. The names of such men as Lieutenant Colonel J. P. Garesche, the pure and noble Christian gentleman and chivalric officer, who gave his life an early offering on the altar of his country's freedom; the gentle, true, and accomplished General Sill; the heroic and ingenious Colonels Roberts, Milliken, Shaeffer, McKee, Reed, Foreman, Fred. Jones, Hawkins, Knell, and the gallant and faithful Major Carpenter, of the Nineteenth Regulars, and many other field officers, will live in our country's history, as well as many others of inferior rank, whose soldierly deeds on this memorable battle- field won for them the admiration of their companions, and will dwell in our memories in long-future years, after God, in his mercy, shall have given us peace, and restored us to the bosoms of our homes and families. Simple justice to the gallant officers of my staff- the noble and lamented Lieutenant Colonel Garesche, chief of staff; Lieutenant Colonel Taylor, chief quartermaster ; Lieutenant Colonel Simmons, chief commissary ; Major C. Goddard, senior aid-de-camp; Major Ralston Skinner, judge advocate general; Lieutenant Frank S. Bomb, aid-de-camp of General Tyler ; Captain Charles Thompson, my aid-de-camp; Lieutenant Byron Kirby, Sixth United States Infantry, aid-de-camp, who was wounded on the 31st ; R. S. Thorn, Esq., a member of the Cincinnati bar, who acted as volunteer aid-de-camp, behaving with distinguished gallantry ; Colonel Barnett, chief of artillery and ordnance; Captain G. H. Gilman, Nine- teenth United States Infantry, inspector of artillery; Captain James Curtis, Fifteenth United States Infantry, assistant inspector general ; Captain Wiles, Twenty-second Indiana, provost marshal general ; Captain Michler, topographical engineer; Captain Jesse Merrill, of the signal corps, whose corps behaved well; Captain Elmer Otis, Fourth Regular Cavalry, who commanded the second courier line, connecting the various head-quarters, most successfully, and who made a most opportune and brilliant charge on Wheeler's cavalry, routing the brigade, and recaptur- ing three hundred of our prisoners; Lieutenant Edson, United States ordnance officer, who, during the battle of Wednesday, distributed ammunition under the fire of the enemy's batteries, and behaved bravely ;
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THE SEVENTY-FOURTH.
Captain Hubbard and Lieutenant Newberry, who joined my staff on the field, acting as aids, rendered valuable services in carrying orders on the field ; Lieutenant Byse, Fourth United States Cavalry, commanding the escort of the head-quarters train, and distinguished himself with gallantry and efficiency, who not only performed these appropriate duties to my entire satisfaction, but accompanied me everywhere, carrying orders through the thickest of the fight, watched while others slept, never weary when duty called - deserve my public thanks, and the respect and grati- tude of the army.
With all these facts of the battle fully before me, the relative num- bers and positions of our troops and those of the rebels, the gallantry and obstinacy of the contest, and the final result, I say, from conviction, and as a public acknowledgment due to Almighty God, in closing this report, " non nobis, Domine, non nobis ; sed nomine tuo da gloriam !"
WM. S. ROSENCRANS, Major General Commanding. BRIGADIER GENERAL L. THOMAS, Adjutant General, U. S. A.
I was slightly wounded in the battle of Stone River, and taken to the field hospital, five miles toward Nashville. It was impossible to supply all the wounded with tents. Rails were hauled and fires built, and they were laid on the ground before the fires. Men were wounded in every conceivable way -some with their arms and legs shot off, some in the head, and some in the body. It was heart-rending to hear their cries and groans. One poor fellow, who was near me, was wounded in the head. He grew delirious during the night, and would frequently call for his mother. He would say, " Mother, O mother, come and help me !" The poor fellow died before morning, with no mother near to soothe him in his dying moments or wipe the cold sweat from his brow. I saw the surgeons amputate limbs, then throw the quivering flesh into a pile. Every once in a while a man would stretch himself out and die. Next morning rows of men were laid out side by side, ready for the soldiers' burial. No weeping friends stood around ; no coffin and hearse to bear them away to the grave; no funeral orations delivered ;
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GREENE COUNTY IN THE WAR.
but there, away from home and kindred, they were wrapped in the soldiers' blanket, a trench dug, their bodies placed side by side, like they fought, a few shovelfuls of earth thrown upon them, and they were left alone.
Among those who were wounded were Charles M. Wolf, James Seldomridge, A. B. Cosler, and perhaps some others from Company C, Seventy-fourth Ohio Regiment.
Through the kindness of Sergeant Cosler, I fared pretty well. He procured an old blanket for me, and I lay by the fire all night, much more comfortable than the night before, on the battle-field. I said "comfortable." It may be imagined that there was not much comfort anywhere. I was wounded just above the left knee, by a musket-ball or a piece of shell, I am unable to tell which. Although my leg pained me consid- erably, so that I slept very little during the night, still I did not complain, as there were others who were hurt a great deal worse than I was. Soon after I arrived at the hospital a surgeon proposed to dress my wound ; but I told him to attend to others around me, who needed attention first.
The next day it rained; and, having no shelter-tent, it was very disagreeable. It was on Wednesday I was taken to the hospital, and on Saturday, being able to hobble around with the aid of a stick, I resolved to get back to the regiment. I accord- ingly started to the front. Being lame, I made slow progress.
I had not gone far before I came up to a squad of men guarding muskets which had been picked up on the battle field. I had lost my gun during the battle, or, rather, I gave it to a soldier to carry for me as I was going to the rear, and he set it up against a tree and left it. I approached the officer who was in command of the squad, and told him I had lost my gun. He told me to go to the stack and select one for myself. I selected a nice Enfield rifle, nearly new, and took it, and went on toward Murfreesboro.
55
THE SEVENTY-FOURTH.
On arriving at the front, which was in the after part of the day, I was puzzled to find the Seventy-fourth, as I had been told they had moved their position ; but after passing several regi- ments and brigades, I inquired of some soldiers of an Indiana regiment if they knew where the Eighth Division (General Negley's) was. They informed me that the division was only a few yards ahead of me, the left resting on the river. They were preparing supper when I came up. I spoke to them, and asked them if they could give a wounded soldier something to eat, as I had eaten nothing since leaving the hospital in the morning. They replied that they did not have much, but would divide with me, and give me something. I wish I knew the name of that regiment. Such generosity is not always found, and especially among soldiers who are living on quarter rations. I ate a hard-tack and a small piece of meat, thanked them, and then set forward again.
After the battle of Stone River the soldiers had a hard time to get something to eat. As much as twenty-five cents was offered for a single hard-tack. Money could not buy rations. They could not be had.
I found the Seventy-fourth near the river. The boys appeared glad to see me; and it is certain I was glad to see them. Soon after I arrived they were called out, but soon returned. It was expected that the rebels would make an attack ; but they did not. No doubt they had enough of the Yankees, as they called the Union troops. That night it rained, and I slept but little. It was a very quiet day compared to what it had been for a few days past. We remained close to the river until near evening. That night some one stole my Enfield.
We received orders to march, as we supposed, into Mur- freesboro, late on Saturday afternoon. We went over the field so hotly contested, and no one, only those who have been over a
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GREENE COUNTY IN THE WAR.
battle-field after a hard fight, can form an idea of the spectacle it presents. Numbers of dead men and horses were strewn over the ground like old logs in a clearing or deadening. Guns, knapsacks, pistols, cartridge-boxes, etc., and squads of burying parties gathering up the dead, were to be seen on every side. We moved up to the rebel breastworks, near the river. The battery sent over a few shells, to ascertain whether the rebels had gone or not. We spent the night among the dead, who were lying all around us.
I will here subjoin a letter written soon after the battle :
THE KILLED, WOUNDED, AND MISSING OF THE SEVENTY-FOURTH REGIMENT.
HEAD-QUARTERS SEVENTY-FOURTH REGIMENT, O. V. I., } MURFREESBORO, TENNESSEE, January 10, 1863.
MESSRS. EDITORS : - We copy from a report from the commanding officer the following names of men killed, wounded, and missing in the two late engagements before Murfreesboro. The battle was one of the hardest and most terrible of the war. Our men suffered severely, both before and after the fight, having to march through mud and rain, and being obliged to lie out in the cold and wet, without tents or blankets.
On the morning of the 28th we took up our line of march to the scene of the conflict, skirmishing through the day, and at eleven o'clock at night we were ordered out to support a battery; and there we lay on the cold ground, without fire, until sunrise. I suffered more that night than in any night during the war.
At sunrise we were relieved ; but, after swallowing a hasty breakfast -in fact, some not eating anything - we were ordered out again, and in a short time we were engaged in deadly conflict with the enemy. Our position was on the left center, in a dense growth of cedars, hiding, to some extent, the enemy from our view. We, however, soon had the privilege of giving them the contents of our guns, and with our trusty and brave Colonel Moody, and gallant Major Bell, and Adjutant Arm- strong, the Seventy-fourth went in with a will.
Colonel Moody's horse was shot from under him, and he narrowly escaped with his life, his clothes being cut in several places. A ball struck his pistol, which no doubt saved his life. But at all times he was cool, not appearing the least excited, and giving his orders with great
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THE SEVENTY FOURTH.
firmness. The men also stood up to the work without flinching. I think the Seventy-fourth deserves great praise for the manner in which it acted during the fight.
Some of our brave boys who went into that fight fell as martyrs to their country. But their blood has not been shed in vain. Every drop that they have shed is a lasting memorial of their undying love for their country, and their memories will be held sacred for generations to come. General Rosencranz, General Negley, and General Miller passed the highest encomiums on the Seventy-fourth. General Rosencranz said he believed the Seventy-fourth was a " fighting regiment." And if every brigade and every division had done as well as General Negley's and Colonel Miller's we would have whipped them out the first day.
Several of our officers lost their horses. Major Bell and Adjutant Armstrong lost theirs. There were a great many horses, as well as men, killed.
As you no doubt will get a statement of the losses on both sides before this reaches you, I will close.
Yours respectfully.
IRA S. OWENS,
Private Company C, Seventy-fourth O. V. I.
The following are the names of the killed, wounded, and missing in the battle of December 31st :
KILLED.
Company A .- Corporal Isaac I. Smith. Privates Wyatt H. Jones and Jacob Bushert. Total, 3.
Company F .-- Sergeant William H. Smith. Private B. G. Hughes. Total, 2.
Company I. - Private John Hawkins.
Company K .- Corporal John D. Halson.
WOUNDED.
Colonel Granville Moody, slightly.
Company A .- Sergeant A. C. Mahan, slightly. Corporals Samuel Schooley and James R. Hayslet. Privates Daniel S. Wilson Barney Walters, Michael McMarrah, Jesse Curry, Jacob Shields. Total, 8.
.
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GREENE COUNTY IN THE WAR.
Company B .- Sergeant James McCann, slightly. Privates John A. Seiss, seriously; William H. Pratt, Ephraim Dickenson, Jacob Wildermott, and Jesse Stevens, slightly; Henry C. Edwards and James Bone, badly (wounded accidentally ). Total, 8.
Company C .- Privates Henry G. Forbes, . William T. McDaniel, Philip Tracy, and Ira S. Owens, slightly; Alfred Harold, badly; James H. Seldomridge, wounded badly in the back; Charles M. Wolf, in the arm; Chauncey White, in the leg ; Samuel T. Miller, accidentally in the foot. Total,. 9.
Company D .- Privates Philip Minehart, mortally ; John Q. Collins and Richard Galloway, slightly ; J. Coppie, leg ( since amputated ) ; P. Castello, J. McCune, William McAfee, F. Hunter, and A. Ames. Total, 10.
Company E .- Corporal John Cox. Privates Ed. C. Snyder and Wesley Snyder. Total, 3.
Company F .- Captain Walter Crook. Lieutenant M. H. Peters. Sergeants Enos H. Walters and Cyrus Phillips. Orderly Sergeant Charles C. Dodson. Corporals David Bansman and Edon Schumer. Privates John Elder, George W. Beck, and Patrick McConor. Total, 10.
Company G. - Orderly Sergeant M. K. McFadden. Cor- poral L. Baker. Privates. Hiram Cox, John Handy, William Chambers, and J. C. Mansfield. Total, 6.
Company H .- Captain Joseph Ballard. First Lieutenant David Snodgrass. First Sergeant Raper A. Spahr (since died ). Corporals Philip Stumm and Albert F. Johnson. Privates Calvin Curl (since died), Dudley Day, Joseph Wyburn, John A. Donald, and Augustus Houmard. Total, 10.
Company I .- First Lieutenant Robert Cullen, severely. Sergeant John Toole. Privates Michael Connell, Terrence Mclaughlin, and James McCarty. Total, 5.
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THE SEVENTY-FOURTH.
Company K .- Corporal William Carter. Private David Steith. Total, 2.
MISSING.
Company A .- Privates Alex. Walthal and Charles Hummer .. Total, 2.
Company B .- Privates Patrick McNary, Edward Persinger,.
George C. McClellan, and Charles Lucas. Total, 4.
Company D .- Corporals J. H. McClung and J. Hamilton. Privates S. G. Stewart, Henry Frock, and William Drummonds. Total, 5.
Company E .- Private Isaac M. Keiser.
Company F .- Privates Jonathan Townsend, John O'Brien,. and Jacob Candell. Total. 3.
Company G .- Private Charles Weaver.
Company H. - Corporal Fred Shull. Privates Christopher
Cline, Morris Haley, and Urs Yagge. Total, 4.
Total number of killed, 7; wounded, 78; missing, 22.
I regret that I have lost the list of those killed on the 2d of January, 1863.
The following letter was also, written while at Murfreesboro, to the Xenia Torchlight :
A VISIT TO THE GENERAL FIELD HOSPITAL, NEAR MURFREESBORO.
CAMP NEAK MURFREESBORO, TENNESSEE, May 20, 1863.
MESSRS. EDITORS : - Yesterday morning I left camp, and visited the general field hospital, situated one mile west of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on Stone River. The river runs nearly around it, forming almost an island, the ground being in the shape of a horseshoe. Here I found several of the Seventy-fourth boys who are detailed -among them, John F. Reed, formerly of Cedarville, Greene County, who is clerking and partly assisting in the washing and laundry department. Through him I was enabled to gain considerable information pertaining to the hospital ;. „and it may be interesting to your many readers to give a description of the same.
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GREENE COUNTY IN THE WAR.
In company with Mr. Reed I visited, first, the washing and laundry department. Here they employ thirty-two females (colored), and they wash and iron about five thousand articles of clothing per week. Captain Frink's lady, of the United States regular army, superintends this depart- ment.
I next visited the garden. It contains about forty acres. Here I found different kinds of vegetables growing -onions, potatoes, etc. The ground is neatly laid out in squares, with streets running each way for vehicles. In the center, where the streets cross, I understand it is the intention to plant the Stars and Stripes.
George Sargent, of Company C, Seventy-fourth Regiment O. V. I., is ward-master of the hospital, which is divided into eight wards, the streets being about fifty feet wide, with an avenue between each ward, where the cooking is done. In each ward there is a frame house to cook and eat in. There are two tables in a room, sufficient to accommodate about eighty men at a time. I partook of their hospitality, and ate with them. They have plenty to eat, and it is gotten up in good style.
There are about twenty ladies here from the northern states, who are administering to the wants of the patients. And here let me say that if I were to be sick in the army, I would rather be here than anywhere else, with these angels of mercy to attend me while away from home.
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