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 8
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The brigade was ordered to Ohio July 17th to assist in capturing John Morgan, and after pro_
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cecding up the Ohio river as far as Blennerhas- sett's Island, and guarding fords for several days, it returned to Fayette C. H. During the months of August and September the regiment was em- ployed in constructing fortifications. On the 4th of November it marched against Lewisburg, but the enemy fled and the regiment again returned to Fayette C. HI. On the 9th of December it made another move on Lewisburg, as a diversion for General Averill. Bushwhackers were very troublesome on this march, and the regiment lost two killed, two slightly and two mortally wounded, and two missing. The Twelfth went into winter quarters at Fayette C. II .. and was engaged in holding outposts and in watching the enemy.
On the 3d of May, 1864, the regiment left Fayette C. H., marched to Cloyd's Mountain, and there engaged the enemy on the 9th. The fight lasted over an hour, and the regiment lost eleven killed and sixty-eight wounded. In addition to these, Surgeon Graham and nineteen men left on the field in charge of the wounded fell into the encmy's hands. The regiment pursued the flee- ing rebels to New River Bridge, where a heavy artillery fight ensued, in which the enemy was driven back. The regiment crossed New river at Pepper's Ferry and destroyed a number of bridges
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and a large amount of property belonging to the Virginia and Tennessee railroad.
The Twelfth regiment marched northward and on the 19th reached Blue Sulphur Springs, where it remained until the 31st, when it moved on Staunton. Arriving at Staunton June 8th, it joined the forces under Hunter, marched south- ward, flanked Lexington, and on the 12th assisted in destroying large quantities of ammunition and in burning the Virginia Military Institute. On the 16th it destroyed the railroad between Liberty and Lynchburg and burned several large bridges. The next day it marched on Lynchburg and met the enemy at Quaker Church, three miles from the city. The Twelfth and Ninety-first Ohio reg- iments charged the enemy in fine style and drove them back in disorder. The Twelfth captured a number of prisoners and lost eight killed and eleven wounded. The next day the regiment was engaged before the enemy's works, but withdrew after dark, and on the 19th marched to Liberty. It moved along the Virginia and Tennessee rail- road to Salem, and from there proceeded northward, via Catawba Valley, New Castle, Sweet Springs, White Sulphur, Lewisburg, and Gauley, to Camp Piatt, on the Kanawha, where it arrived June 29th. On this march both men and horses suf- fered considerably from hunger and thirst.
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The Twelfth regiment was finally ordered to Columbus, Ohio, July 2d, and mustered out of the service at that city on the 11th of July, 1864. During its term of service the regiment moved, on foot, by rail and water, a distance of four thousand and forty-nine miles, and sustained a loss in killed and wounded and missing of four hundred and fifty-five men.
NINETY FOURTH REGIMENT O. V. I.
This regiment was organized at Camp Piqua, Miami county, Ohio, under the immediate super- vision of Colonel J. W. Frizell. The officers were appointed on the 22d of July, 1862, and so vigor- ously was the recruiting prosecuted, that in just one month one thousand and ten men were mus- tered into the United States service.
On the 28th of August, without uniforms or camp equipage, and never having been drilled as a regiment, the Ninety-fourth was ordered to Kentucky, that state being then invaded by rebel forces under Kirby Smith. It proceeded, via Cincinnati, and, upon arriving in that city, was immediately ordered to Lexington. By great perseverance the colonel succeeded in obtaining three rounds of cartridges to the man ; and being supplied with this very limited amount of ammu- nition and sufficient clothing to supply immediate wants, the regiment took the cars for Lexington, arriving at 9 P. M. on Saturday night, where they heard, for the first time, an authentic account of the battle of Richmond.
After considerable search the colonel succeeded in finding the officer to whom he was to report,
.
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but in such a beastly state of intoxication as to be unable to rise from his bed, and perfectly in- competent to give intelligent instructions. With the assistance of some citizens passable quarters were obtained for the men. Hungry, tired, and anxious for the morning, the regiment tried biv- ouacking for the first time.
Sunday morning dawned bright and beautiful, lisclosing the town full of straglers from the Richmond battle-field, relating wild stories of de- feat and disaster, and though but little confidence was placed in their reports, still this, together with the general gloom always attending such a state of affairs as then existed, caused the order for the regiment to proceed to Tate's Ford, on the Kentucky river, fifteen miles east of Lexing- ton, on the Richmond road, to be received with fearful foreboding. However, the order was obeyed without a murmur, and after a hard day's march under a scorching sun over a dry and dusty road, with water very scarce, the regiment arrived near the field just at dark. This being the first march the regiment had made, the men were much exhausted and dropped to the ground as. soon as the order to halt was given.
While the colonel was endeavoring, as best he could in the darkness, to select a position which could be easily defended, a fire was opened upon.
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the regiment by a rebel scouting party concealed in the thickets skirting the road, and it was after- ward ascertained that the whole of Kirby Smith's army was encamped but a couple of miles north of the Ford. A veteran regiment could not have behaved better than did the Ninety-fourth on this occasion. The night was very dark, the men were lying down, and many had already fallen asleep, but after the confusion incident to their rude awakening, very little trouble was experienced in getting the regiment properly formed. The rebel fire lasted but a moment, yet two men were killed and six wounded.
After posting his men to the best advantage, Colonel Frizell remained with the advance picket post (which, from the nature of the country, was but a short distance from the regiment) all night, Major King, Captain Drury and the adjutant oc- cupying intermediate positions between the colonel and the regiment. The night passed slowly and without further alarm, and as soon as daylight appeared the hungry men began looking in some wagons that had arrived during the night for the supplies, which the officer in command at Lexing- ton had said he would send. The search revealed · one hundred and twenty-five rounds of ammuni- tion to each man, and three sacks of green coffee to the regiment.
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While endeavoring to make a breakfast from these " supplies," the rebel army was reported advancing, and soon commenced shelling the regi- ment from a battery they had placed in position in the woods just across the river. Colonel Frizell watched the maneuvers of the rebels for a few moments, and then ordered his adjutant to form the regiment and march back until past the road, where it was supposed the rebels would attempt to form and prevent a retreat. The movement was effected in good order, but none too soon, as the rear guard had just passed the road when the rebels came trooping from it into the pike and be- gan firing upon Captain Drury's command, which had been selected as rear guard. Colonel Frizell remained in the rear until the advancing rebels were checked, when he directed the regiment to a certain point, and there to form for action. He knew that his force was greatly outnumbered, but his order was to contest every foot of ground back to Lexington. Just as the movement was begun a messenger arrived with an order from General G. (. Smith, dated the night before, for the Ninety- fourth to return to Lexington with all possible dispatch.
The regiment was now twelve miles from any. support, with a fresh and victorious enemy more than ten times superior in numbers close in the
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rear : and to successfully conduct a retreat of raw troops under such circumstances required the most thorough ability on the part of the com- mander, and the most undoubted confidence on the part of the men. The regiment toiled along the hot and dusty road, Colonel Frizell and Captain Drury fearlessly exposing themselves, together with the other officers, to prevent straggling ; but their efforts could not prevent quite a number of the almost cxausted men from falling by the way- side and becoming an easy prey to the closely pursuing enemy. At four o'clock the regiment reached Lexington, greatly to the surprise of every one who knew that it had gone out on the expedition. The order sending it to the ford was a blunder, and probably the only thing that pre- vented its capture was the very boldness of the mevements made.
Our army that had retreated from Richmond had already left Lexington, still in retreat toward Louisville, and all stores that could not be easily transferred had been destroyed. With the excep- tion of coffee and crackers on Sunday morning, the men of the Ninety-fourth had had little to eat since Saturday morning. were tired and foot- sore and in bad condition for further marching. In the absence of instructions to the contrary, it was Colonel Frizell's intention to remain in Lex-
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ington, unless driven out, until the men had pro- cured the much-needed food and rest; but the order for continued retreat reached him and was obeyed. At daylight the retreating army reached Versailles and a halt for breakfast was ordered, but just as the coffee began to boil another order to fall in immediately came from the officer in command. The season was very dry and but little water could be obtained. The suffering in conse- duence of this may be inferred from the fact that the Ohio soldiers gave five dollars for a canteen full of muddy water, a dollar a drink, and many drank from standing pools the water that the horses refused to touch. The roads were almost ankle deep with dust, and the sun shone fiery overhead. The day's march began at from 2 to 3 o'clock in the morning and continued until late in the night, and the only provisions issued (or to be obtained) were a few hard crackers each night and what green corn yet remained in the fields adja- cent to the camping grounds. The troops were all or nearly all newly enlisted, and being unused to such a life, it is not to be wondered at that they fell out of the ranks by the hundred and were so easily captured by the force of rebels following.
Upon arriving at Louisville the Ninety-fourth went into camp without tents in the woods, but the men were so utterly exhausted that their only
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need was rest as best they could get it. Having been deprived almost entirely of sleep, water and food for seven days, marching night and day with feet and limbs swollen almost to bursting, and every sense dulled with suffering, many of the the men were pitiable objects. In a short time, however, all had regained comparative strength, health and cheerfulness, and were ready to go where duty called.
The first regular report that the adjutant could make after arriving at Louisville showed a loss of two hundred and eighteen men. With the excep- tion of the two men killed at Tate's Ford, all eventually returned to the regiment, having been parolled by the rebels almost as soon as captured.
With the exception of some hard work in the. trenches and on fortifications, and a participation in two or three " grand reviews," the regiment had very easy times until the first of October, when the movement began which resulted in the battle of Perryville, and the driving of Bragg's rebel army from Kentucky. Previous to the battle of Perryville the Ninety-fourth had been assigned · to Rousseau's division of McCook's corps, and took an active part in the engagement, being high- ly complimented in general orders. The regiment broke camp near Nashville on Christmas day, 1862, and was in advance of the army marching
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on Murfreesboro, and during the battle of Stone River was engaged every day - from Wednesday until Saturday. The Ninety-fourth was again in advance on Tullahoma, participating in the fight at Hoover's Gap in June, 1863, had a skirmish at Dug Gap, and were engaged in the hard-fought battle of Chickamauga. At Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge the regiment again took a prominent part, participating in the grand charge upon the Ridge ; was with Sherman on the march to Atlanta, taking part in the battles at Buzzard's Roost, Resaca, Kingston, Pumpkinvine Creek, Kennesaw Mountain, Chattahoochie River, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, and Jonesboro. After pur- suing Hood the Ninety-fourth participated in Sherman's grand march to the sea, arriving at Savannah before Christmas. On the 20th of Jan- uary, 1865, it was again on the march through North and South Carolina, and after participating in the battle at Bentonville, North Carolina, arriv- ed at Goldsboro on the 23d of March, 1865. The Ninety-fourth was the first regiment of in- fantry to enter Raleigh, North Carolina, and soon after the surrender of Johnston marched to Washington, via Richmond and Alexandria, participating in the grand review before the pres- ident, General Grant and others, and was mus- tered out of the service at Washington on the 6th
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of June, 1865, with an aggregate of three hun- dred and thirty-eight men - all that were left of them-left of one thousand and ten !
ONE HUNDRED AND TENTH O. V. I.
This regiment was organized at Camp Piqua, Ohio, on the 3d of October, 1862. On the 19th of October the regiment moved by railroad to Zanesville, thence by steamer to Marrietta, and from thence by railroad to Parkersburg, Virginia. On the 3d of November it marched to Clarksburg, where it remained until the 25th, and then took the cars for New Creek, where it arrived the next day. Here it remained in camp, fortifying and drilling and performing guard and picket duty, until December 13th, whence it marched, via Bur- lington and Petersburg, to Moorfield, Virginia. Three hundred men from the 110th joined an ex pedition to move in the direction of Winchester , Virginia, while the remainder of the regiment moved with another expedition in the direction o f Romney. The main portion of the regiment ar- rived at Winchester without serious interruptio n on the 1st of January, 1863, and joined the de- tachment which had arrived a weck previous.
While at Winchester the regiment was assigned to the 1st brigade, 2d division, 8th army corps, and Companies A and D were detailed as provost guard. The regiment was employed in guard and
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picket duty, in drilling, fortifying, and making raids and reconnoissances. At one time a de- tachment went to Front Royal and captured a large amount of stores. At another time a de- tachment proceeded to Summit Point and other places, dispersing bands of rebels and destroying stores : and in the early part of May the regi- ment marched to New Market and returned. On the 13th of June the regiment was moved out to Kernstown, and engaged Lee's advance. This is the first time the regiment was under fire, but they behaved bravely. On the morning of the 14th the 110th occupied a small earthwork about three- fourths of a mile from the main fort. In the af- ternoon the enemy opened on it with twenty-six pieces or artillery and advanced in strong columns to the assault. The regiment held the works until it was driven out at the point of the bayonet by an overwhelming force. It attempted to retire in the night, but was met by the enemy, and a two hours engagement ensued, in which the regi- ment succeeded in cutting its way through and marched to Harper's Ferry.
On the 16th of June the regiment crossed the river and encamped on Maryland Hights. On the 1st of July it went by canal to Georgetown, D. C., then to Tenallytown, then to Washington, and from thence to Frederick City, Maryland.
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At this place the regiment was assigned to the 2d brigade, 3d division, 3d army corps, Army of the Potomac. Marched in pursuit of Lee to Williams- port, Loudon, Upperville and Manassas Gap, where it skirmished with the enemy, and reached Fox's Ford, on the Rappahannock, on the the 1st of August. On the morning of the 15th the reg- iment left the ford, took the cars at Bealton Sta- tion for Alexandria, and from there to New York, where the regiment camped for a while on Governor's Island and then moved to Carrol Park, South Brooklyn. On the 6th of September the regiment returned, via Alexandria, to Fox's Ford and marched from there to Culpepper, Virginia, in charge of an ammunition train. On the 10th of October it moved out to meet an attack, and remained there all night under arms, and the next day marched across the Hazell and Rappahannock rivers, through Centerville, Bristow, Catlett's Sta- tion, and at last reached and occupied the first line, near the Rappahannock. On the 7th of No- vember the regiment crossed the river, skirmish- ing with the enemy, and the next morning made a reconnoissance and captured between thirty and forty prisoners. In the afternoon the 110th, in advance of Brandy Station, was severely shelled by the artillery, and was the first to occupy the enemy,s position.
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Upon breaking camp at Brandy Station four companies of the regiment were detached as train guard and the others took a prominent part in the battle of Locust Grove, losing five killed and twenty wounded. The regiment returned to Brandy Station, December 3d, and occupied win- ter quarters.
During the month of March, 1864, the 110th became a part of the 2d brigade, 3d division, 6th army corps. On the 4th of March the regiment crossed the Rapidan at Germania Ford and the next day took a position on the extreme right of the national line at the wilderness. After brisk skirmishing it advanced to charge and drove the enemy to their works. The regiment held its po- sition until after dark, and only fell back when its · ammunition was exhausted. The loss sustained was one officer killed and six wounded ; eighteen men killed, eighty-two wounded and eleven mis- sing. The next day the regiment occupied the second line, but was much exposed to artillery. In the evening, the brigade on the right being routed, the 110th fell back about a mile and held the new position all day on the 7th, and in the evening fell back through Chancellorsville to the vicinity of Spottsylvania C. H. Here the regi- ment was engaged in fortifying and skirmishing until the 14th, when it marched toward Spottsyl-
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vania, waded the Nye river after dark and occu- pied the enemy's works, from which they had been driven. The 110th was almost constantly engaging the enemy, marching via Guinea Statio n and Chesterfield Station, crossing the Pamunky and throwing up fortifications on Dr. Palmer's farm.
On the 1st of June the regiment was engaged at Cold Harbor. In the assault on the enemy's works on the 3d the regiment was in the front line and was ordered to continue the advance after the line halted, which it did, and was exposed for two hours, when it was withdrawn. During the entire day the regiment was exposed to a heavy fire, losing one commissioned officer, four men killed and thirty-four wounded.
On the 14th the regiment left the works, crossed the Chickahominy, passed Charles City C. H., em- barked on the transport Star, landed at Point of Rocks and marched to Bermuda Hundred. In the evening of the 19th it crossed the Appommat- tox and arrived near Petersburg. After resting a day it marched to the Norfolk and Petersburg railroad and charged the enemy's line, driving it in ; and a few days later moved to the Peters- burg and Weldon railroad.
On the 30th of June the enemy commenced its return and on the 2d of July occupied its former
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position near Petersburg, It embarked on the transport City of Albany for Baltimore, where it arrived on the 8th, and took the cars for Mc- nocacy Junction, and took part in the Monocacy battle. From there it went to Ellicott's Mills, where it arrived on the 10th of July. On the 11th the regiment went to Baltimore and camped at Druid Hill park until the 14th, when it took the cars to Washington and the next day after marched through Tennallytown, waded the Potomac near Edward's Ferry, passed throwgh Snicker's Gap to the Shenandoah, skirmished with the enemy, and rested awhile. On the 20th the regiment crossed the Shenandoah, then recrossed the river and marched all night, arriving at Washington again on the 23d. Three days after it broke camp and marched through Hyattstown, Monocacy Junc- tion, Frederic City, Maryland, and Harper's Ferry to Healltown, arriving on the 29th, and on the next day fell back through Harper's Ferry to Frederick City, Maryland. On the 3d of August the regiment resumed the march through Buck- eyetown, crossed the Monocacy at Monocacy Mills, then moved by cars from Monocacy Junc- tion to Bolivar, and marched from there to Heall- town. On the morning of the 10th it marched through Charleston, Newtown and Middletown, arriving at Cedar Creek on the 12th. Here it was
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engaged in several skirmishes and on the 16th marched as train guard to Charlestown. It fell back to Bolivar Hights, but again advanced to Charleston and on the 29th, in an engagemnt, completely routed the rebels. On the 3d of Sep- tember the regiment marched to Clifton farm and fortified. On the 19th it crossed the Opequan and engaged in the battle of Winchester. It engaged the rebels at Fisher's Hill, capturing four pieces of artillery and one hundred prisoners, then marched to Mount Crawford and returned to Harper's Ferry. On the 6th of October it moved to Strasburg and from there to the vicinity of Front Royal. On the 13th it marched to Ashby's Gap and on the next day returned and camped at Cedar Creek.
On the morning of the 19th of October, when the 8th and 19th corps were driven back, the 6th corps, with the 110th Ohio in the front line, was formed to arrest the advancing rebels ; and in the final effort, which resulted in routing the rebels, no regiment took a more active part than the 110th. It lost two officers wounded, one of whom died a few days after ; five men killed and twenty- seven wounded, and one officer and one man missing. In the evening the regiment occupied the camp from which it had been driven in the morning and occupied it until November 9th,
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when it encamped one mile from Keinstown and built winter quarters. On the 3th of December it marched to Stebbin's Station, took cars for Wash- ington, proceeded thence to City Point by steamer, took cars near midnight on the 6th and arrived at the front at daylight. It occupied the line east of the Weldon railroad. and proceeded to build winter quarters.
On the 9th of February, 1865, the regiment took position between Forts Fisher and Welch, and again erected winter quarters. On the 25th of March the entire brigade assaulted the strongly entrenched picket line, and after a second charge, under a severe fire, carried it, capturing a large number of prisoners and small arms.
An assault was made on the enemy's works be- fore Petersburg on the 2d of April. Just before daybreak, and before it was fairly light, the 6th corps was in possession of the fortifications and many prisoners and guns. The regiment pursued the enemy, routing him at Saylor's creek, and continuing the pursuit until the surrender of Lee.
The regiment marched to Burksville Junction, and on the 17th, at the presentation of captured flags to Major General Mead, the 110th, having captured more flags than any other regiment in
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the corps, was selected as a guard of honor to escort them to General Mead's headquarters.
The regiment proceeded to Richmond, Virginia, and while passing through the city was reviewed by General Halleck; from there it proceed to Washington city, where it was reviewed by the president and cabinet at the executive mansion. During its term of service the regiment was in twenty-one engagements and sustained a loss in killed and wounded and missing of seven hunnred and ninety-five men. It was mustered out at Washington city on the 25th of June, 1865, and' was dischared at Todd's barracks, Columbus, Ohio.
FORTY FOURTH REGIMENT O. V. L.
This regiment rendezvoused at the fair grounds near Springfield, Ohio, during the summer and autumn of 1861, and on the 14th of October, be- ing fully organized, it moved, via Cincinnati, to. Camp Piatt, West Virginia. On the morning of the 19th, having reached its destination, the regi- ment disembarked and pitched its tents for the first time on disputed ground. Two weeks after its arrival, five companies were ordered to Gauley Bridge and assisted in driving Floyd from his camp, and engaged in all the skirmishes during his retreat. Before their return two hundred men from the regiment crossed the Kanawha, marched to Platona, captured the place and moved on against Colonel Jenkins at Logan C. HI .; but the Colonel decamped before their arrival. After be- ing absent six . days they returned, bringing in seven prisoners, some horses, and one hundred head of cattle.
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