USA > Ohio > Greene County > Greene county in the war. Being a history of the Seventy-fourth regiment, with sketches of the Twelfth, Ninety-fourth, One hundred and tenth, Forty-fourth, One hundred and fifty-fourth regiments and the Tenth Ohio battery, embracing anecdotes, incidents and narratives of the camp, march and battlefield and the author's experience while in the army > Part 6
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March 26th. At Kingston, waiting for rations. We remained at Kingston until the 28th, when the wagons were.loaded and ordered to start at 6 o'clock, when we received a dispatch to move into breastworks and wait a while, as rebel cavalry were seen on the flank .. When we moved back and waited an hour or two, then started back to Golds- boro. Went about half way and halted for the night.
March 29th. Started again. Arrived at Golds- boro about 12 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 build- ing, that is, three companies of the Seventy-fourt !: , viz : Companies 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
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was quite a revival of religion in town at that time. On the 6th we got the news of the fall of Richmond, which caused much excitement, shooting cannon and fireworks at night.
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.
CHAPTER XVI
Arrival at Raleigh-Camp at Martha's Vinyard-Talk of Con -. solidating the Sixty-ninth and Seventy-fourth Regiments- Indignation of the Boys.
April 13th. Started again on the macrh. 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 deco- rated with fine gardens, and the air heavily laden with the perfume of sweet flowers. The ladies are quite handsome. A large majority of the in- habitants 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 swol- len out of its banks. Got wet. Came to Holly Springs in the evening, and stopped by the side.
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of the road. Rain. So muddy that the regiment did not get up.
April 16th. Train and regiment came up about
'9 o'clock. Went a few miles and camped.
April 18th. We received the news of the as- sassination of President Lincoln. The order was read to the regiment, which caused a sudden change of feeling from that of joy to that of sor- row. We were both glad and sorrowful. Glad that we soon expected to return home, and sor- rowful because our beloved President was no more. 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 nnloaded rations and started to Raleigh 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
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the Sixty-ninth Ohio. Colonel Findley rode back to Raleigh to see General Sherman about it. Reg - iment very much depressed in spirits. Strong talk of stacking arms and refusing to be consoli- dlated. 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 2d brigade, 1st division, General Buell, (not Carlos Buell, but a general by that name, commanding the 2d brigade). Regiment was slow falling into. line, supposing they were going to be consolidated .. We went to General Buell's headquarters, when he ordered us into camp, not consolidated. Went into camp not far from headquarters. Two com- panies were detailed by Captain Deton, of the commissary department.
CHAPTER XVII.
Joyful News-Orders to March Northward and Homeward- Great Demonstrations of Joy-Breaking Camp and Starting Northward and Homeward-Arrival at Richmond.
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 north- ward and homeward, the most welcome order that we had ever heard. About 10 o'clock in the morning we were ordered to the regimental head- quarters, and the order read. The division com- mander, 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 packed, 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 2d division, was stationed several miles toward Raleigh, who, hearing the noise, supposed that we had got into an engage- ment with Joe Johnson, and, ii is said, double- quicked his men nearly five miles to support, or,
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rather, reinforce us, before he found out what was the cause of the hubbub.
Started next morning at 6 o'clock, midst cheer- ing and great rejoicing. We had now set our faces towards home. Left camp, band playing " The Girl I left behind me," and " Yankee Doo- dle." Marched about twenty-two miles and camped in the woods.
April 29th. Started again about 7 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 1 o'clock. Marched about twenty miles, to Neuse river, and camped.
March 1st. Started at 5 o'clock. Marched about twenty-five miles, going as far as Tar river to dinner. Crossed Tar river and marched on through Oxford and camped about a mile beyond.
March 2d. Again on the march. Passed through a little town called Williamsburg, to the Roanoke river. Crossed the line into Old Vir- ginia, Mecklenburg county, about 6 o'clock P. M. Camped near the river. Went boat-riding on the Roanoke. The next day we crossed the river on
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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 No- taway court-house. Very tired at night. Marched thirty miles.
May 6th. Started about six o'clock. ('rossed the Appommatox 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 2 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 and clean - ing up arms &c., until the 11th of May.
CHAPTER XVIII.
On the March-Passing through Richmond-Thunder Storm at Night-Disagreeable Night-Marching to Washington- Arrival at Washington City.
When we started again, as we passed through Manchester, we had a reception by the troops of the 24th corps. We crossed the James river on pontoons, passing by Castle Thunder and Libby Prison, and marched through several streets., Here the negeoes seemed to be our only friends. They had water at every corner along the streets, and waited on the boys, 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 or, 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
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and sat down on our knapsacks. As soon as the rain ceased coming down so hard, I procured a hatchet, and, groping my pay along in the dark - ness, 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 managed, how- ever, to get our tent up, and had spread our blankets on the wet ground and just lain 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 arme, procured guns and with the bayonets, stacked 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 4 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
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several times before we reached the river. Night coming on, we spread our blankets and laid down three times that night. We finally crossed the river and camped at 4 o'clock next morning.
May 13th. Started again on the march, cross- ing 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 moun- tains. Marched about twenty miles.
May 16th. Started again. Turned northward, crossing the Rapidad at Raccoon ford. Passed the battle-ground of Cedar Bluff.
May 17th. Crosed the Rappahannock river at Kelly's ford. Camped at Cedar creek and drew rations.
Play Isth. Started again at 5 o'clock. Very warm. Marched over part of Bull Run battle- ground. Saw the fortifications, 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 5 o'clock. Passed
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Fairfax Court-house. Arrived in sight of Alex- andria and Washington City, and camped about five miles from the Capital.
CHAPTER XIX.
In Camp near Washington City-Grand Review at Washington City-Camp on the Baltimore road-Departure from Wash - ington-Arrival at Louisville-Breaking Camp-Embarking for Cincinnati and Camp Dennison-Discharged-Arrival at Xenia, and Home-Recapitulation.
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. Holsman, 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 Sherman's. It was a grand affair. Never before was there any thing like it, and, I presume, never will be again. Among the many mottoes and devices were such as these : Liberty and Freedom, Patriots, Wel- come Home, Western Heroes, Shiloh, Vicksburg, Atlanta, Stone River, Savannah, Raleigh, Mission Ridge, Lookout Mountain, &c. We marched up Maryland Avenue, around the Capitol, down Pennsylvania avenue to the treasury building and president's house, where we were reviewed by
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Generals U. S. Grant, Sherman, 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 represented Sherman's bummers and foragers, some on mules, with tin pans, kettles, corn fodder, chickens, bacon, tobacco, &c., &c., 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 re- mained 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, &c.
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 acci- dent, notwithstanding the greater part of the regiment rode on top of the cars, day and night,
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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.
On the Fourth of July General Sherman made us & farewell speech. WVe formed linc 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 ex- ceedingly hot day and we remained in line about two hours, waiting for the General, but he did no come. We returned to camp and in the afternoon 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.
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RECAPITULATION.
The aggregate loss of the Seventy-fourth in the Atlanta campaign, ending with the battle of Jones- boro, was 18 killed and 88 wounded. At that time several officers resigned and were mustered out, viz : 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 con- nected it with the North on the 12th of November, 1864. We arrived at Savannah December 21st and left that place for the South Carolina cam- paign January 25, 1865. Owing to the bad con- 1 .dition of the roads, which had to be corduroyed before they could be passed, the corps made solw progress. The Seventy-fourth was, about this time, detailed as train guard, a post of danger and re- sponsibility, 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 Rich- mond, 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 be- gan. The muster-out rolls of the Seventy-fourth
THE SEVENTY FOURTH. 153
were made out bearing date July 10, 1865, and signed by the mustering officer of the 1st Division, and on the 11th of July the regiment, having re- ceived 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 for- gotten. 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. Bo- quets and wreathes of flowers were showered through the ranks, and everything done that could in any way express the unbounded joy and grati- tude of fathers, mothers, wives, sisters and friends. On the 17th of July the regiment returned to Camp Dennison, 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 en- gaged in the attempt to storm that stronghold, at which place, on the 9th of Mav, we lost sixteen men killed and wounded, and at Resaca, May 15th, nine men were killed and wounded. In the en- gagement of the 27th of May the conduct of the Seventy-fourth and other regiments of the 3d
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brigade elicited the highest encomiums from the Division commander.
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CHAPTER XX.
Anecdotes-Colonel Moody-On Picket-Foraging-Anecdote. of the Pioneer Corps-Capturing a Negro Cook-Swearing- him in - The Lucky Reb - The Man whose Wife would be. Uneasy-Roster.
COLONEL MOODY.
The following anecdote of the Seventy-fourtli 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 Meth- odist preacher. He relinquished the altar for the sword. Malicious people insinuated that the gos- pel 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 preach- er. He is fifty or more, perhaps, but well pre- served, 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.
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Lieutenant Colonel Vonshrader, inspector gen- eral on the staff of General Thomas, than 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 gallantry, he approached him in the heat of des- perate 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 pa- ternally called them, were obliged to withstand a terriffic fire, without enjoying an opportunity to return it. Moody galloped to General Negley ar.d protested, "This fire, General, is perfectly mur- derous ; it will kill all my boys." But there was no help for it. His martial flock, imposing upon this benevolent nature, sometimes indulged a little sly irumor at his expense. In the midst of a battle an Irishman in the regiment shouted, " His river- ence, 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 mer- Tily accused him of having used heterodox exple- tives in the ardor of engagement. "Is it a fact, Colonel," inquired the General, "that you told the boys to give 'em hell ?"
" Now." replied the Colonel, reproachfully,
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" 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 injune- tions to his regiment sounded marvellously like a fervent ejaculation swelling up from the depths of the " amen chorus " in an old-fashioned Meth- odist church. This fact must be imirinel that the anecdote may be appreciated. The Colonel's mind was saturated with piety and prignacity. HIe praise God and pitched into the rebels altern .. te- ly. He had been struck by bullets four tunes already. He had given the rebels Hail Columbia once, and they reeled back to cover. Now they
are swarming back to renew the contest Mnoly's regiment were lying on their bodies, waiting for them to come up. HIe 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 , quiet- ly, " Now, boys, fight for your country and your God." And, said one of his boys, "we all thought he was going to say ' Amen ;' but at tha- instant the rebels les de. and the old hero marel with
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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 John- nie drove up in a buggy. I halted him and de- manded 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 drow 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 mo- lest her sweet potato patch. I returned to camp, untied my sack and poured out my sweet potatoes.
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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 a notion to forage a little, but, as General Buell had issued an order prohibiting foraging, we thought we would forage on our own hook. Accordingly we started and went a long way from camp, taking only our revolvers with us. Pretty soon we came across a nice lot of hogs, near the river. They were very wild, but we fired at one, slightly wounding it. It took the water, and Irvine on one side and I on the other began pelting it with rocks, &c., when it soon submitted to have its hide taken off. We saw at a distance some men whom we supposed to be rebels, so we started back to camp on the doublequick."
Mr. Lynch was detailed into the pioneer corps. He says: " At one time when near Kenesaw Mountain the rebels shelled us. My comrade and I laid a rail down on a rock to build a fire and get dinner, but, as we stood on one side, a cannon
GREENE COUNTY IN THE WAR.
ball struck the rail and knocked it into splinters. We then gathered up the pieces, made our coffee, and laughed at the Johnnies for making us fire- wood.
"In the same corps," says Mr. Lynch. "our squad captured a negro man to cook for them. He was dissatisfied and wanted to leave. The boys wanted to have some fun, so they formel a ring around the darky, and called to me to come and swear him in. I orderel him to take off his hat. He stood up like a man, and I swore him in as follows : ' You do positively swear in the pres- ence of these Yankees, the searchers of all meat- houses, that you will faithfully perform your duty, as you shall answer to Abraham Lincoln ?' He replied, . Yes, sah.' He shortly after left in the night.
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