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 8
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March 12th. In camp. Chaplain preached in the after- noon.
March 13th. Marched, this morning, into the town of Fayetteville. Crossed the Cape Fear River on pontoons. The
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town of Fayetteville is quite a nice place, of five or six thousand inhabitants, most of the citizens remaining at home. Marched about a mile and a half and camped.
March 14th. In camp. Went foraging. Got a few sweet- potatoes and a gourdful of soft soap.
March 15th. Rained quite hard. Packed up in the rain, and moved a short distance. Marched in the night, some five or six miles, and camped. Bad roads, and raining. On guard at night.
March 16th. Moved a short distance, and camped at a church. Cut up the benches for wood. Raining. Fighting in front.
March 17th. Marched about seven miles. Bad roads. Got some corn meal to-day. Had corn-cakes for supper.
March 18th. Marched about eight miles, and crossed Black River. Camped on an old rebel camp-ground. Heard cannon at night.
March 19th. Marched some twelve miles, over corduroy roads, mostly. Fighting in front, at Bentonville. Our brigade lost heavily.
March 20th. Marched six miles and camped. Some of our foragers captured, and three teamsters killed. Eight wagons captured out of ten.
March 21st. Marched about five miles toward Kingston, when we marched back again, having been ordered to issue rations to the troops. We turned to the right. Very bad roads. Teams sticking in the mud. Raining. Halted in the woods and camped after night.
March 22d. Started again at sunrise. Caught up with the division. Rebel army retreated toward Raleigh. Passed through the battle-ground. Marched twelve miles. Roads swampy and bad.
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March 23d. Started again for Goldsboro, passing through General Terry's command. Crossed the Neuse River on pontoons. Several colored troops were there, belonging to the Twenty-fourth and Twenty fifth corps. Arrived at Goldsboro about five o'clock, the Twenty-third Corps on parade to receive General Sherman. The general rode along the lines, and was hailed with demonstrations of joy.
The next day we received orders to march to Kingston for rations, and the morning of the 25th we started and rode in the wagons some twenty five or thirty miles. We arrived at Kingston at about five o'clock P. M.
March 26th. At Kingston, waiting for rations. We remained at Kingston until the 28th, when the wagons were loaded and ordered to start at six o'clock, when we received a dispatch to move into breastworks and wait a while, as rebel cavalry were seen on the flank. We moved back and waited an hour or two, then started back to Goldsboro. Went about half way, and halted for the night.
March 29th. Started again. Arrived at Goldsboro about twelve o'clock. The next day we drew some clothing, and on the 31st we moved to town, about two miles distant, to guard commissary stores. We were assigned quarters in a building - that is, three companies of the Seventy-fourth, namely, Compa- nies A, D, and C. For the first two nights I preferred sleeping out of doors ; but the third night there were indications of rain, when I moved my quarters into the house, and Columbus McDonald and I occupied a bunk.
We remained in town until the 9th of April, when we moved back to the regiment. During our stay in town we attended church, as there was quite a revival of religion in town at that time. On the 6th we got the news of the fall of Rich- mond, which caused much excitement, shooting cannon, and fireworks at night.
·
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On the 10th we started again on the march. Skirmishing in front. Marched eleven miles and camped.
April 11th. Again on the march. Detailed again as train-guard. Marched about eight miles.
April 12th. Pioneers to-day. Went in front of the train. Bad roads, and had to work hard. Heard the news of Lee's surrender. Marched about twelve miles, passing through the town of Smithfield, on the Neuse River.
April 13th. Started again on the march. Passed through a little village on the railroad. Marched along the railroad. Cars came inside, to-day, with the governor of North Carolina. Marched about sixteen miles, to the capital of North Carolina. Raleigh is handsomely decorated with fine gardens, and the air is heavily laden with the perfume of sweet flowers. The ladies are quite handsome. A large majority of the inhabitants are loyal, so I have been told. Joe Johnson's army retreated at the approach of General Sherman's invincible army. Raining. On guard.
April 14th. Left Raleigh. Marched about fifteen miles, a western course, along the railroad, and then camped.
April 15th. Raining this morning. Went foraging. Had to wade a creek which was swollen out of its banks. Got wet. Came to Holly Springs in the evening, and stopped by the side of the road. Rain. So muddy that the regiment did not get up.
April 16th Train and regiment came up about nine o'clock. Went a few miles and camped.
April 18th. We received the news of the assassination of President Lincoln. The order was read to the regiment, which caused a sudden change of feeling, from that of joy to that of sorrow. We were both glad and sorrowful. Glad that we soon expected to return home, and sorrowful because our beloved President was no more.
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It will be remembered that the Seventy fourth was guarding train. Consequently we were not with the division all the time, but on the 20th we started to the division, which was about six miles away. Upon arriving at the place we unloaded rations, and started to Ra- leigh for more. We went back to where we left camp, and halted for the night. The order from General Sherman was read to us to-day in regard to the suspension of hostilities and looking to peace, when we gave three rousing cheers. The next day we went to Raleigh and loaded the wagons. Remained at Raleigh until Monday.
On Sunday I attended church five times during the day, and once at night.
We started back again to the division, and camped three miles from the division.
The order came for consolidating the Seventy-fourth with the Sixty-ninth Ohio. Colonel Findley rode back to Raleigh to see General Sherman about it. Regiment very much depressed in spirits. Strong talk of stacking arms and refusing to be consolidated. They said they went into the field as the Seventy- fourth, fought as the Seventy-fourth, and they were going home as the Seventy-fourth.
On the 25th we were ordered to report to the Second Brigade, First Division, General Buell (not Carlos Buell, but a general by that name, commanding the Second Brigade). The regiment was slow falling into line, supposing they were going to be consolidated We went to General Buell's head quarters, when he ordered us into camp, not consolidated. Went into camp not far from head quarters. Two companies were detailed by Captain Deton, of the commissary department.
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On the 26th of April we moved a short distance and camped in the woods, remaining there until the 28th, when we received orders to march northward and homeward-the most welcome order that we had ever heard. About ten o'clock in the morning we were ordered to the regimental head quarters, and the order read. The division commander General C. C. Walcutt, said, " Boys, you have done it all. You may make as much noise as you please from this until you start home." There was no more sleep that night. The boys commenced shooting ; the artillery, which had been parked, was at once in position, and the noise commenced, louder, if possible, than if we had been in a regular engagement. General Beard, who commanded the Second Division, was stationed several miles toward Raleigh, who, hearing the noise, supposed that we had got into an engagement with Joe Johnson, and, it is said, double- quicked his men nearly five miles to support, or, rather, re-in- force us, before he found out what was the cause of the hubbub.
Started next morning at six o'clock, midst cheering and great rejoicing. We had now set our faces toward home. Left camp, band playing, "The Girl I Left Behind Me," and " Yankee Doodle." Marched about twenty-two miles, and camped in the woods.
April 29th. Started again, about seven o'clock, and went a few miles and halted about four hours; then started again, and went about four miles farther. Colonel Findley informed us that we were still the old Seventy-fourth; and we gave three cheers.
April 30th. At Morrisville Station. Chaplain preached. Started for Richmond at one o'clock. Marched about twenty miles, to Neuse River, and camped.
May 1st. Started at five o'clock. Marched about twenty- five miles, going as far as Tar River, to dinner. Crossed Tar
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River, and marched on through Oxford, and camped about a mile beyond.
May 2d. Again on the march. Passed through a little town called Williamsburg, to the Roanoke River. Crossed the line into old Virginia, Mecklenburg County, about six o'clock P. M. Camped near the river. Went boat-riding on the Roanoke. The next day we crossed the river on pontoons, and passed through Boydton. Marched seventeen miles.
· May 4th. The Seventy fourth again on the march. Hard marching. Marched thirty-one miles to- day.
May 5th. Started again. Raining some. Crossed Notaway Creek at the falls. Passed Notaway Court house. Very tired at night. Marched thirty miles.
May 6th. Started about six o'clock. Crossed the Appo- mattox River. Marched on to within nine miles of Richmond. Very warm. Marched twenty-four miles.
May 7th. Started at daylight for Richmond. Marched to James River, and halted on the bank opposite Belle Isle, in full view of the city. Saw where the Union prisoners were kept, and also the dead line, a ditch where, if a prisoner stepped beyond, he was shot. Many a poor fellow stepped over the line purposely, choosing rather to be shot than to be starved to death. We remained at that place till about two o'clock, when we received orders to march five miles and go into camp. We marched out on the Danville Railroad, and camped in the woods. We remained in camp, resting, cleaning up arms, etc., until the 11th of May.
When we started again, as we passed through Manchester we had a reception by the troops of the Twenty-fourth Corps. We crossed the James River on pontoons, passing by Castle Thunder and Libby Prison, and marched through several streets. Here the negroes seemed to be our only friends. They had water at every corner along the streets, and waited on the boys,
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supplying them with water; and many a "God bless you, massa," was uttered by them. We marched out toward Alex- andria, crossed the Chickahominy River, and toward night, though a thunder-storm was rising, still we marched on, the clouds threatening to overtake us, until at last, just at dusk, we filed out to the right, and were ordered to halt and stack arms. We had no sooner obeyed the order when it became very dark, and the rain came down in torrents. There we were in the darkness, without tent or shelter, having marched nearly all day, tired and hungry. We procured our gum blankets and sat down on our knapsacks. As soon as the rain ceased coming down so hard, I procured a hatchet, and, groping my way along in the darkness, seeing a little when there was a flash of lightning, found some brushes, cut some poles, and went back and tried to erect a tent ; but in the darkness it was slow work. We man- aged, however, to get our tent up, and had spread our blankets on the wet ground and just laid down when there came a gust of wind, upsetting our tent and exposing us and our blankets to the storm and rain; for it had not ceased raining. We arose and adjusted our tent as best we could, and, going to the stack of arms, procured guns, and, with the bayonets, staked our tent down.
The next morning we moved a short distance and halted beside the road, our blankets wet and heavy. When we halted, the sun came out warm and pleasant, and we soon had our blankets hung out to dry. We did not start again until about four o'clock, by which time our blankets were dry as well as the roads, and everything appeared more pleasant and comfortable. Marched some nine miles, passing Hanover Court house. Went as far as Pamunky River. The river was high, and we had to wait until bridges were made and the troops ahead had crossed over. We had to halt several times before we reached the river. Night coming on, we spread our blankets and laid down
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three times that night. We finally crossed the river and camped at four o'clock next morning.
May 13th. Started again on the march, crossing the river and taking a westerly course, toward the Blue Ridge Mountains. Marched about twenty miles.
May 14th. Again on the march. Went about twenty miles.
May 15th. Started again. In sight of mountains. Marched about twenty miles.
May 16th. Started again. Turned northward, crossing the Rapidan at Raccoon Ford. Passed the battle-ground of Cedar Bluff
May 17th. Crossed the Rappahannock River at Kelly's Ford. Camped at Cedar Creek and drew rations.
May 18th. Started again at five o'clock. Very warm. Marched over part of Bull Run battle ground. Saw the fortifi- cations, and the ground strewn with old knapsacks, haversacks, and other relics of a battle field. Halted at Bull Run. Crossed it and got dinner. Went into the creek, swimming. Marched about three miles farther, making eighteen miles on that day. Rained at night.
May 19th. Started at five o'clock. Passed Fairfax Court- house. Arrived in sight of Alexandria and Washington City, and camped about five miles from the capital.
May 20th. In camp. Raining. Several of the boys came to the regiment to day, among whom were George Kempher, L. Wright, S. Mullen, Clinton Randolph, C. Hols- man, B. Crossy, John Norwood, and S. Kildow, of Company C. While encamped at this place the grand review came off - the review of the Army of the Potomac on the 22d, and the next day the review of the Army of the West, General Sher- man's. It was a grand affair. Never before was there anything like it, and, I presume, never will be again. Among the many
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mottoes and devices were such as these : Liberty and Freedom ; Patriots, Welcome Home; Western Heroes; Shiloh; Vicksburg ; Atlanta; Stone River; Savannah; Raleigh ; Mission Ridge ; Lookout Mountain, etc. We marched up Maryland Avenue, around the Capitol, down Pennsylvania Avenue to the treasury building and president's house, where we were reviewed by Generals U. S. Grant, Sherman, and Mead, President Johnson, Secretary Stanton, and others. We then marched out by the Aqueduct bridge, and back to camp.
On the 26th we broke up camp and moved across the river on the long bridge, marched through the city, and went into camp about a mile west of the city, near the Baltimore pike. While marching through the city part of the regiment repre- sented Sherman's bummers and foragers, some on mules, with tin pans, kettles, corn-fodder, chickens, bacon, tobacco, etc., etc., just as they used to be seen going through Georgia and the Carolinas. The day was rainy and disagreeable, but we had become accustomed to that.
We remained in camp until the 9th of June, nothing of importance transpiring during the time. We did some guard duty. The rest of the time was spent in resting in camp or visiting the city and the most public places, such as the Capitol buildings and grounds, the Patent Office, Smithsonian Insti- tute, etc.
On the 9th we took the cars for Parkersburg, West Virginia, by way of Harper's Ferry.
We arrived at Parkersburg on the 11th, without accident, notwithstanding the greater part of the regiment rode on top of the cars, day and night, through several tunnels. While at Cumberland City the regiment was furnished with coffee.
On the 12th we embarked on board the steamer Elenora, and arrived at Louisville on the 14th, camping about four miles from the city.
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On the Fourth of July General Sherman made us a farewell speech. We formed line in the morning, and marched out into a field about a mile from camp. The field was grown up in weeds about as high as a man's head. It was an exceedingly hot day. We remained in line about two hours, waiting for the general ; but he did not come. We returned to camp, and in the after- noon the general made his speech, on horseback, in the camp, we being drawn up in line to receive him.
On the 11th we broke up camp and marched to Louisville, and went on board the steamer General Buell.
We arrived at Cincinnati on the 12th, and took the cars for Camp Dennison.
On the 14th the regiment took the cars for Xenia, at which place it had a reception. Here we remained until the 17th, when we again went to Camp Dennison, and on the 18th of July, 1865, we were paid off, received our discharge papers, and became citizens once more, having served the country nearly four years. The same day we took the cars for Xenia, and the Seventy-fourth was no more.
RECAPITULATION.
The aggregate loss of the Seventy-fourth in the Atlanta campaign, ending with the battle of Jonesboro, was eighteen killed and eighty-eight wounded. At that time several officers resigned and were mustered out, namely, Colonel Given, Captains McMillan, Armstrong, and Baldwin, and Lieutenants Adams and Baldwin.
The Seventy fourth was the last to leave Kingston, Georgia, in the new campaign through that state, severing the link that connected it with the North on the 12th of November, 1864 We arrived at Savannah, December 21st, and left that place for the South Carolina campaign January 25, 1865. Owing to the
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bad condition of the roads, which had to be corduroyed before they could be passed, the corps made slow progress.
The Seventy-fourth was, about this time, detailed as train- guard - a post of danger and responsibility, as the enemy were watching eagerly for a chance to capture the supply-train. The Seventy-fourth was with the supply-train through the Carolinas, and on May 7th arrived at Richmond, having averaged thirty- two miles a day, being the third regiment to arrive at the river, where we stacked arms with but one man missing from the. ranks.
On the arrival of all the troops, on the 11th of May, the march to Washington began.
The muster-out rolls of the Seventy-fourth were made out bearing date July 10, 1865, and signed by the mustering officer of the First Division ; and on the 11th of July the regiment, having received the farewell addresses and thanks of their corps, division, and brigade commanders, started for Camp Dennison, Ohio.
The reception at Xenia, on the 16th of July, will not soon be forgotten. An immense crowd was gathered in the city. Congratulatory addresses were delivered, and tables, loaded with all the choicest delicacies, were spread by the fair daughters of Xenia. Bouquets and wreaths of flowers were showered through the ranks, and everything was done that could in any way express the unbounded joy and gratitude of fathers, mothers, wives, sisters, and friends.
On the 17th of July the regiment returned to Camp Denni- son, and on the 18th received pay and final discharge papers.
After starting on the Atlanta campaign the regiment was under an almost continuous fire of rebel musketry and artillery for over one hundred days. At Buzzard's Roost we were especially engaged in the attempt to storm that stronghold, at which place, on the 9th of May, we lost sixteen men killed and
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wounded, and at Resaca, May 15th, nine men were killed and wounded. In the engagement of the 27th of May, the conduct of the Seventy-fourth and other regiments of the Third Brigade elicited the highest encomiums from the division commander.
COLONEL MOODY.
The following anecdote of the Seventy-fourth and Colonel Moody has been in print before, but I will give it to my readers :
Colonel Granville Moody, commanding the Seventy-fourth Ohio Volunteers, is a famous Methodist preacher. He relin- quished the altar for the sword. Malicious people insinuated that the gospel had lost the services of a good advocate, and that the army was not promoted by its accession from the pulpit. But the colonel proved that he was a tremendous fighter as well as a good preacher. He is fifty or more, perhaps, but well preserved, with magnificent front, and six feet two or three inches of stature. He has a fine, genial face, fiery dark eyes, and vocal range that would have excited the envy of roaring Ralph Stackpole. He carried into battle a spirit of enthusiasm which inflamed his boys to the highest pitch of daring, and won for him the admiration of thousands.
Lieutenant Colonel Von Schræder, inspector general on the staff of General Thomas, than whom a braver or better soldier never resisted the storm of battle, had not been on friendly terms with Moody for some months, but admiring his splendid gal- lantry, he approached him in the heat of desperate conflict, extended his hand, expressed his earnest approbation of the colonel's heroism, and begged that peace ever after might exist between them. A little later Moody's " boys " - as he pater- nally called then - were obliged to withstand a terrific fire, without enjoying an opportunity to return it. Moody galloped to General Negley and protested, "This fire, general, is per- ×
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fectly murderous ; it will kill all my boys." But there was no help for it. His martial flock, imposing upon his benevolent nature, sometimes indulged a little sly humor at his expense. In the midst of a battle an Irishman in the regiment shouted, " His riverence, the colonel, has been fightin' Satan all his life. I reckon he thinks hell's broke loose now."
Not long after the battle General Negley merrily accused him of having used heterodox expletives in the ardor of engage- ment. "Is it a fact, colonel," inquired the general, "that you told the boys to give 'em hell ?"
"Now," replied the colonel, reproachfully, "there's some more of the boys' mischief. I told the boys to give the rebels Hail Columbia, and they wickedly perverted my language."
This was true. The colonel said, "Now, boys, say your prayers, and give them Hail "- he had just got the word hail out, when the rebels let loose a volley at us, and drowned the Columbia.
But there was no doubt that one of his injunctions to . his regiment sounded marvelously like a fervent ejaculation swelling up from the depths of the "amen chorus" in an old-fashioned Methodist church. This fact must be imagined that the anec- dote may be appreciated. The colonel's mind was saturated with piety and pugnacity. He praised God and pitched into the rebels alternately. He had been struck by bullets four times already. He had given' the rebels Hail Columbia once, and they reeled back to cover. Now they are swarming back to renew the contest. Moody's regiment were lying on their bodies, waiting for them to come up. He had a moment to spare, and he thought he would exhort them. The rebels were advancing sharply, and probably cut him short; but as they approached he said, quietly, " Now, boys, fight for your coun- try and your God." "And," said one of his boys, "we all thought he was going to say, 'Amen!' but at that instant the
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rebels let fly, and the old hero roared with the voice of a Stentor, ' Aim low ! '" Weeks after, when the colonel passed through the camp, the mischievous boys would shout behind him, " Fight for your country and your God - Aim low !"
INCIDENTS.
Mr. James A. Lynch, of Company C, related to me the following incidents :
" When the Seventy-fourth was on picket near Nashville, in 1862, while at my post, a proud johnnie drove up in a buggy. I halted him, and demanded his pass. He remarked that he lived in sight, and that he had shown it a few days ago, and was about to drive on, when I drew my gun up close to his bread- basket. He then succumbed to a Yankee mudsill, and ever after that, when I saw him coming, I would exchange posts with the boys, so as to demand his pass. I understood he had been cashier of a bank at Nashville.
" When near Franklin," continues Mr. Lynch, "I went into a sweet-potato patch, and got a good supply of potatoes, when the old lady came out and begged me to give them up. The sack was on my shoulder, and I told her not to be troubled ; that I would see the colonel, and have him issue an order to the effect that the boys should not molest her sweet-potato patch. I returned to camp, untied my sack, and poured out my sweet- potatoes. When young Clark asked me where I got them, I directed him to the place, and told him that the old lady was clever, and invited the Seventy-fourth boys to come and get potatoes. Clark took the sack, and was gone a short time, but returned with only a few potatoes, and evidently disappointed. The old lady told him a man had promised her that he would see the colonel, and have him prohibit the boys getting any more potatoes. At the same place," says Lynch, "a Mr. Irvine took
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