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 7
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In order to show how we passed the time while in camp near Atlanta, I will again refer to my journal.
September 11th. Regiment on picket.
September 12th.
On fatigue.
September 13th.
Regiment went to bury Lieutenant Bricker, who died at the divison hospital, in consequence of wounds received at Jonesboro.
September 14th. In camp. Fine weather. Chaplain preached at night.
September 16th. In camp. Meeting of Company C. Drew up resolutions in regard to the death of Melville Davis, W. H. Hollenberry, and James H. Moore.
September 18th. Meeting at night. A committee appointed to draft resolutions in regard to soldiers who had died in battle. Meeting adjourned until next day.
September 19th. Meeting of the Seventy-fourth. Chaplain McFarland made a few remarks. Resolutions adopted. September 20th. John Norwood, James Johnson, and Basel Lucas came to the regiment to-day.
September 23d. Corps inspection.
September 24th. Went to Atlanta.
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September 25th. Inspection at eight o'clock in the morning.
September 26th. Regiment on picket.
September 28th. Came into camp.
September 30th. Battalion drill.
October 1st. Colonel Given had dress parade for the last time, this evening, at which time he made a farewell address to the regiment, and presented his sword to the officers.
October 3d. Started on the march after Hood. Colonel Given beat the drum out of camp, and then left us. We marched on to the Chattahoochie River, and crossed after night. Hard marching, and very tired. Rained at night. The next day we resumed the march, and continued on the tramp all day, halting in an open field where there was plenty of grass.
October 4th. Drew rations at one o'clock at night, with orders to march at four o'clock, but did not start until noon.
October 5th. Again on the march, along a very crooked road, toward Kennesaw Mountain. Marched on until after night. Dark and muddy. Halted, and got a cup of coffee ; then marched on again about a mile and a half, and halted on the side of a stony hill and camped. Rained at night. The next morning it was still raining, and very disagreeable. Started on the march, in the rain. Passed Kennesaw Mountain. The roads were quite muddy. Went about five miles and halted, camping near the Big Shanty.
October 7th. Resting and cleaning up. Some fighting to-day. A wounded rebel general was brought in.
October 8th. Started on the march again at three o'clock, and marched until we reached Lost Mountain, and then turned to the north. Met some rebel prisoners. Weather much cooler.
October 9th. Cool to-day. Went on picket, where we experienced the cold quite severely. Continued marching the next day, passing through the Altoona pass.
.
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October 11th. The regiment halted on the roadside and
held the election. Marched to Kingston, and halted in the thick woods and camped. I was quite sick, here, with the chills.
October 12th. Received mail just as we were starting on the march. Rode in ambulance to-day.
October 13th. Went into camp not far from Rome, and stayed until nearly night, when we started again. Rode in the ambulance until midnight, then joined the regiment.
October 14th. Marched hard all day, passing through Calhoun, and on to Resaca, where we again camped, near the railroad. Saw where the rebels had torn up the road. Fighting in front.
October 15th. Again on the march. Marched on until after night, to the foot of the mountain, when we encamped.
October 16th. Began to climb the mountain, which was very hard, laborious work, indeed, there being merely a bridle- path. Part of the way the path was so narrow that we had to march Indian file. We descended the mountain into Snake Gap, through which we passed, taking a southern course until night, when we camped again, in sight of Lookout Mountain.
October 17th. Started again on the march, in the Chatooga valley. Fine country. Taylor's Ridge on our left. Passed through some rebel camps, which had been occupied only a short time previous.
October 20th. We passed into Alabama, to-day, through some fine country, camping at night near Galesville, where we remained for several days, foraging around, principally for potatoes, which were a scarce luxury.
October 24th. Drew rations, and started on a scouting expedition with the Third Brigade-Colonel Hambright- among the Chatooga Mountains, in search of the rebel Gatewood and his band, who were supposed to be secreted in the
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mountains. We marched about eight miles, crossed the Chatooga River, and then camped. The regiment were very indignant at this marching of the men so far for nothing. It proved nothing but a wild-goose chase. The men had a hard, toilsome march ; yet those in authority were not satisfied with that, but must make the men march some fifty or sixty miles for nothing, while they were taking their ease, smoking their cigars, lounging around their head quarters, and getting big pay, while the poor private soldiers, who got the least pay, did all the work. On that scout I thought of the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man was clothed with purple and fine linen, and fared sumptu- ously every day, while Lazarus lay at his gate and begged the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table. But Lazarus died, and the rich man also died. He had his good things in this world. But I need not follow the subject. All Bible readers are acquainted with the sequel.
October 28th. We started on the march toward Rome, passing through Galesville, and crossing the Chatooga River. We marched about two miles, and camped.
October 29th. Marched to Rome, twenty two miles, and camped near the Coosa River.
November 2d. Marched to Kingston. It rained, which made it very muddy and disagreeable. Marched eighteen miles, and camped near Kingston. While in Kingston we voted, it being the presidential election.
November 8th. We remained at Kingston until the 12th, when we left, and marched to Cartersville, eighteen miles. Left Cartersville next day and crossed the Etawah River, passing over the Altoona Mountains. Marched on to Big Shanty. Tore up the railroad at night. Marched on to the Chattahoo- chie River and camped. Passed Kennesaw Mountain and Marietta.
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November 15th. Marched to Atlanta and received new colors. Camped near the city and drew clothing, and prepared for the grand march to the sea. The city of Atlanta was burned at night, making a grand and magnificent sight.
November 16th. We started on what is known as
" Sherman's March to the Sea." Marched twenty-five miles toward Augusta, and camped at a little town called Lithonia.
November 17th. Marched on to Yellow River and camped.
November 18th. Again on the march. Passed through Covington, the Seventy-fourth in advance. It was amusing to see the negroes running to see " de Yankees," and hear their remarks. "Why," they said, "dey looks just like our people; dey ain't got no horns." An old woman caught sight of our new colors, and said, " Law sakes! Did you eber see such a pretty thing ? " We passed one house where there were a lot of girls standing in the door. I overheard one remark to another, "Why that is not half as pretty a flag as ours." Another soldier heard the remark, and asked her if she would not like a piece of his shirt for a flag. We halted about noon on the plantation of a Mr. John Harris, and remained there during the day and night. Drew rations at night. General Sherman's head quarters were on the same plantation. I was at his head-quarters in the afternoon. He had his tent pitched in the yard, and was sitting in the porch of the mansion watching some soldiers, who had found a barrel of molasses in an out- house. The boys had got one head out, and were going for the molasses, dipping in and strewing it all around. The general sat there laughing at them. When he saw that a few were appropriating it all to themselves, he ordered the barrel taken to the commissary's and issued out, so that it might be equally distributed.
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On the march we passed through a place called Shady Dale, which consisted of a large plantation and a small town of negro quarters,
or cabins. The brigade band played a quickstep tune as we went through, and the negroes flocked out to see us and hear the music, particularly the women, some of whom followed us for over a mile, or, rather, kept up with the band, dancing and keeping time to the music, and cutting up all kinds of didoes.
We passed through the village of Sand Town on the morning of the 21st, in the rain, without breakfast; but after marching some miles we halted and got something to eat.
November 22d. On the march again. The Seventy fourth detailed as train-guard. Camped at Mud Creek, at night, in a pine grove.
November 23d. Again on the march, the morning being cold and the ground slightly frozen. Arrived at Milledgeville, the capital of Georgia, which we left the next day at seven o'clock, marching until about three o'clock. We then camped and went on picket duty, and also drew rations.
November 25th. The regiment went foraging, and caught an old bushwhacker and brought him into camp, together with plenty of forage.
November 26th. Started and marched a few miles, to a swamp, and camped.
November 27th. Marched through the swamp, it having previously been corduroyed, or, in other words, made passable
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by poles being cut and laid crosswise. After passing the swamp we marched over a good road until we came to the Georgia Central Railroad, about four miles from Davisboro, where we camped during the remainder of the day, having passed through the town of Sandersville.
November 28th. On the march. Passed through the town of Davisboro. Here the boys found a lot of peanuts, up stairs, in an untenanted building, the floor being about a foot thick with the same. Some went, with sacks, and loaded themselves, and, as a consequence, the road was soon strewn for a long distance with the hulls. Crossed the Ogeechee River at night, on pontoons. Here we saw the palm-leaf growing.
November 29th. Marched a short distance, passing through the town of Louisville, Jefferson County, Georgia.
November 30th. Marched to Sebastopol Station.
December 1st. Marched a short distance to the crossroads and went on picket, remaining all night, the Twentieth Corps passing in the night.
December 2d. Started again, and marched to another crossroads; then turned to the right and marched until noon, halting for dinner in a cotton-field. Marched six miles farther and camped, making about fifteen miles that day.
December 3d. Marched around and across fields. Crossed Buckhead Creek on pontoons. Marched on to the Augusta Railroad and camped.
December 4th. Tore up the Augusta & Savannah Rail- road; then started again on the march, camping a few miles farther on. Rebels in our rear, firing at us.
December 5th. Marched nearly all day through pine woods, and camped at night in a sandy cornfield.
December 6th. Again on the march. Warm weather. Camped in the woods. On picket.
December 7th. On the march. Rain. Very warm
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weather. Hard marching. Boys went foraging and brought in some fresh meat. Had to carry it until after night, when we halted twenty-seven miles from Savannah.
December 8th. Started again. Marched about three miles; then halted, and remained until about ten o'clock. Marched again, crossing Ebenezer Creek. Went about two miles and camped near a grave-yard, in the woods. Heard cannonading in the direction of Savannah. Skirmishing in the rear.
December 9th. We crossed the great swamp, and halted in a field for dinner. Camped in the woods at night. Skir- mishing in front.
December 10th. Passed a rebel fort on the road. Went a few miles and camped. Rained at night.
On the 11th of December we arrived at, or in front of, Savannah, or as near the city as we could get, the rebels having fortified it. There is a canal leading from the Savannah River to the Ogeeche, for the purpose of supplying water to the rice plantations, as rice grows under water. A short distance apart there are flood-gates, and when they wish to overflow the land they hoist these gates. The rebels made use of these gates to overflow the country, so that Sherman's army could not approach the city. We, however, camped along the canal and threw out a picket-line, and prepared to stay until communications by water should be opened around Savannah. There is a long moss that grows on the trees, hanging in festoons from them, sometimes four or five feet long. The boys used to get this moss, and cut the palm leaves, and, by spreading the palm-leaves on the ground and the moss on them, it made a very comfortable bed.
There was a battery almost directly in front of our regiment that used to fire every day ; but the balls would always go over our heads. This they kept up for several days, until, one day,
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it was noticed that they did not fire any. Toward night, or after night, the battery spiked all their guns and came over on the Union side. They said they had been watching for an opportu- nity to desert the rebels ever since the Union troops arrived, but were watched by their officers. By making a feint, however, of keeping up a cannonading at the Union lines, they so deceived their officers that they thought they might trust them alone; but as soon as the rebel officers left they came over.
December 13th. Fort McAllister was taken to-day, which caused great rejoicing along our lines. As soon as the news came, they commenced at one end, and the cry went from one brigade to another, "Fort McAllister is taken, and the cracker line is open ! "
On the 16th we went to the Ogeeche River for rations, the Savannah River not yet being open to the city. We arrived at the river and camped near it, waiting our turn to load, the next day. We remained at the Ogeeche River until the 23d. During the time we were there, it being very warm weather, we had to live principally on rice, which we gathered from the fields. Near our camp were some negro cabins, and in them we found mortars, with which we would make the negroes hull our rice, which was done by putting the unhulled rice into the mortars and pounding it. 'Then we took it out, and, putting it in our blankets, blew the chaff out. We loaded our wagons and started back to Savannah. Meanwhile the rebels had left, and our troops were in peaceable possession of the city.
December 25th. Went to Savannah, and went to the Baptist church. Heard a sermon delivered by the Rev. Mr. Landrum. After church I started around the city, and, passing along the street, I saw an old negro woman standing in a door. I spoke to her, and asked if she could give a soldier something to eat. She replied, " Yes, massa, I do dat; come in." I went in; and the old woman had what is called an ash-cake in
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the fireplace. An old Virginian would know what an ash cake is. It is made by taking corn dough and covering it up in the ashes, and putting fire on it, like roasting potatoes. Taking her ash-cake from the fire and putting it on the table, she procured part of a turkey the white folks had given her, and some butter- milk. She invited me to sit up and help myself. I did so, being very hungry. I thought I never ate a better meal.
December 27th. There was a grand review of the Fourteenth Corps by General Sherman. Several high officials from Washington were in Savannah that day; among the rest, Secretary Stanton.
December 30th. Laid out and moved to a new camp, and put up a tent. Several of the boys joined together and put up tents. We cut poles and built open about ten feet square, then joined our shelter-tents together and made a roof in these tents. We remained until the 20th of January. Although there was a great deal of snow in the North that winter, yet there was none where we were. In fact it looked like summer-time. There the trees were evergreen all winter, especially in the city of Savannah. The streets were lined on each side with the tree known as the " Pride of India," or live-oak, whose leaves are evergreen. During the time we were in Savannah we worked on the fortifications around the city.
January 20th. Received orders to march, and started out of camp in the rain. Marched eight miles through the mud and rain, until the army got mudbound, and could go no farther. We then turned out into a pine woods and halted. There was not a dry stick to be found anywhere-nothing but green pine. The boys cut a tree and tried to make a fire, but it was no go. The rain put it out as fast as they could kindle it. We had marched in the rain nearly all day, and I had neglected to put on my gum blanket; consequently I was wet through. The ground was also covered with water. By taking a spade and
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ditching, and throwing up the earth, we made a place to stretch our tents ; then taking our gum blankets and spreading them down, and our government blankets on them, we made our beds and retired without supper. I lay all night in my wet clothes, and the next morning there was the print of my body on the blanket ; yet, strange to say, I took no cold. The next day we managed to get a fire and something to eat, and about ten o'clock we went on picket, it raining nearly all day.
January 25th. We left camp at seven o'clock in the morn- ing, and marched fifteen miles and camped.
January 26th. Started again at seven o'clock. Marched hard, through swamps and woods, all day.
January 27th. Regiment detailed as train guard. Marched all day.
January 28th. Started again at noon, and marched through swamps and woods. Weather clear and cool. Camped two miles from Sister's Ferry.
january 29th. Marched to Sister's Ferry.
We remained at Sister's Ferry, on the Savannah River, until the 5th of February. While at the ferry we spent the time in writing letters, skiff-riding, etc. One evening as four or five of us were out on the river, coming down to camp, we espied a flatboat, or barge, floating down the river, and which finally lodged against some trees or boughs on the opposite side of the river. We immediately headed our skiff for the boat, and, on coming alongside, discovered that no one was on board. We made our skiff fast alongside, and immediately boarded her. It proved to be a boat loaded with salt beef, which had broken loose from her moorings at the landing, about a mile above, and had drifted down. We found a barrel that had the head out, and soon had some meat in the skiff, and then pulled for camp. When we landed it was getting dark; so we conveyed our property -for we considered it ours then-to camp, un ler 7
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cover of the darkness. It leaked out, however, some way, that we had found meat, and how we got it; and several boat-loads were brought into camp early next morning. So much was missing that the men who came after the boat suspected the boys taking it; and on coming to camp some of the meat was found. An order was immediately issued that all the stolen meat should be brought to head-quarters. We had been very careful to secrete ours securely ; and when the officers came around hunting and searching for the meat, none could be found in our quarters. Consequently we had plenty of meat for several days.
Here our regimental band made fine progress. They would serenade the head quarters of the different departments. At one place - I do not now remember which one-there was a little negro boy who used to dance. Of all the droll antics and manners, he beat them all. He would sometimes stand on his head and keep time to the music, with his heels in the air. The boys played well, and made very good music.
February 5th. Started at daylight and went two miles up the river and camped. Then loaded teams with rations, and drew clothing.
February 6th. Started again on the march. Went some seven miles and camped. We were now on the soil of South Carolina, and the buildings along the road were all burned. No restrictions were laid here; and it seems that the soldiers, if possible, would have burned up the state-the hot-bed of secession. Whenever they came to a fine, palatial mansion - especially if it was ascertained that the owner was in the rebel army -the torch was soon applied. Houses, fences, trees -in fact, everything that it was possible to burn - were burned. A large amount of cotton and cotton-gins were burned to the ground and laid in ashes. There was a track made of about sixty miles wide, inside of which everything was destroyed -
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some think very unjustly, but I think just to the contrary; for Sherman's raid, I think, broke the backbone of the rebellion. I will not, however, discuss that question. It has already been done by abler men and abler writers than I am.
February 7th. Again on the march. Boys went foraging, and brought in fresh pork and sweet-potatoes. Marched twelve miles, and then camped.
February 8th. Marched about a mile; then camped and drew rations. Foragers came in well loaded with pork and potatoes.
February 9th. Continued on the march. Cool and cloudy weather, with some snow.
February 10th: Marched about fifteen miles to-day ; then camped and went on guard.
February 11th. Left camp early, and marched to Barnwell and halted for dinner. We found the town burned. Camped that night two miles north of Barnwell.
February 12th. Marched at seven o'clock. Crossed the Charleston & Augusta Railroad at Williston Station.
February 13th. Stayed in camp all day, and started on the march at dark. Marched two miles, when we went into camp and drew rations.
February 14th. Left camp at eight o'clock. It rained and sleeted all day. Marched twelve miles, and camped at dark.
February 15th. Left camp at eight o'clock and marched until four. Got dinner; then marched until ten o'clock at night. Marched twenty miles that day. Went on guard at night. Rain.
February 16th. Left camp at nine o'clock and marched till noon. Halted for dinner at Lexington. Marched till dark.
February 17th. Started again at seven o'clock. Marched
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through a good country. Forage plenty. Crossed the Saluda River, and camped five miles north of Columbia.
February 18th. Left camp at ten o'clock. Went out on the road, and halted and stayed till three o'clock. Marched three miles and camped. Forage plenty. Got flour, meal, bacon, and molasses.
February 19th. Sunday, and in camp. Chaplain preached. Left camp at dark. Marched until two o'clock in the morning. Crossed Broad River; then marched eight miles and camped.
February 20th. Left camp at eight o'clock. Marched five miles and went into camp. Drew rations of coffee and sugar.
February 21st. Left camp at eleven o'clock. Most of the buildings burned. Country hilly, and very thickly settled. Weather good.
February 22d. Left camp at nine o'clock this morning. Marched two miles, and halted at the Catawba River. Got dinner, and crossed the river. Very muddy. Teams could scarcely get along. Had to help push wagons up hill. Went as far as we could, and then halted in the road. Rained all night.
February 25th. Cut and carried poles, and laid them in the road. Mud nearly knee deep. Helped wagons up the hill. Country very hilly. Got into camp about two o'clock P. M. Rained all day and night.
February 26th. In camp. Chaplain preached, it being Sunday. On guard.
February 27th. In camp. Got some corn ground. Rations scarce.
February 28th. In camp. Rained in the morning. Fight ing in the rear. March 1st. Started again on the march. Went about fourteen miles. Very hilly. Roads bad.
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March 2d. On the march. Went about fifteen miles. Country very broken. Marched until night. On guard.
March 3d. Again on the march. Most of the road very bad. Went ahead as pioneers. Worked hard, and very tired at night. Camped in the edge of the woods. A rebel came into our lines this morning. Raining.
March 4th. Started again on the march. Halted and waited until the train passed. Rebels said to be in our rear, capturing some of our men. Got into North Carolina at night. Saw a man, Mr. Junius W. Whiting, who had escaped from Wheeler's cavalry.
March 5th. Again on the march. Went about fifteen miles and camped, about two o'clock, near the Great Pedee River. Foragers came in with meat, meal, etc.
March 6th. Started again and marched to the river, and waited all day and all night to cross. Mules harnessed all day and night.
March 7th. Started again, and went down to the river and got breakfast. Crossed over about ten o'clock, and marched about eighteen miles.
March Sth. Again on the march. Marched about nine- teen miles, it raining nearly all day.
March 9th. Stayed in camp until noon ; then marched ten miles. Made some corduroy road. Rained.
March 10th. Marched about ten miles. Kilpatrick's camp surprised this morning. Cannon heard on our left. Camped before night.
March 11th. Marched to within about two miles of Fay- etteville and camped. On guard.
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