USA > Ohio > Columbiana County > History of Columbiana County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 17
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Sherman to Clinton and Jackson, and a second campaign to Monroe, La.
Feb. 1, 1864, it commenced the long and most destruc- tive campaign of the war,-through Central Mississippi to its extreme eastern boundary. March 20, 1864, the regiment started from Vicksburg for home on veteran furlough, having re-enlisted as veterans Jan. 5, 1864. May 7th it left Columbus, Ohio, for Georgia, marching from Clifton, Tenn., to Rome, Ga., via Huntsville, Ala., thence to Big Shanty, where it took an important part in all the hard- fought conflicts of the Atlanta campaign.
After three weeks' rest the regiment started on the cam- paign in Northern Alabama in pursuit of the rebel Gen. Hood. It returned to Atlanta, and on the 13th day of November, 1864, entered on the greatest campaign on record,-through Georgia to Savannah, a march of thirty- seven days, thence to Beaufort, S. C., Columbia, Washing- ton, D. C., and Louisville, Ky. The distance traveled in this campaign was more than four thousand miles on foot, three thousand by railroad, and twenty-six hundred by water, making a total of nine thousand six hundred miles. During the service the regiment lost one hundred and twenty killed in battle, three hundred wounded, seventy missing in action, two hundred and ninety-five discharged for disability, thirty-one transferred to the Invalid Corps,- a total of eight hundred and sixteen. The company's losses during same period were-five killed in battle, ten wounded, ten died from disease, thirty discharged for disability, and seven transferred to the Invalid Corps.
The regiment was engaged in the following battles : Fort Donelson, Shiloh, siege of Corinth, Matamora, Thompson's Hill, Raymond, Jackson, Champion's Hill, Fort Hill, siege of Vicksburg (forty-two days), Fort Beauregard, Bocachita, Meridian raid, Big Shanty, Bushy Mountain, Kenesaw, Nickojack, siege of Atlanta, battles at Atlanta, July 21st, 22d, and 28th, Jonesboro', Lovejoy, Milledgeville, Savannah, Pocotaligo, Charleston, Columbia, and Bentonville,-thirty-four in all,-and almost numberless minor affairs and skirmishes. Its entire term was one of extreme exposure and arduous service. Suid the corps commander in his farewell address, " Your history may truly be said to have been written in sweat and blood." On account of the arduous service, the company suffered much from disease and in battle; its very best young men fell in the prolonged struggle. Especially has it been true of Com- pany I-a fact observed by so many-that "the arrow of Death is mysteriously select in the choice of its victims." Its death-list includes those who were regretted most and could be spared least,-men the most upright, most useful, and the best loved in the company and at home. Some of the men of Company I have filled important positions in the regiment, at division, corps, and department head- quarters.
The limited space allowed for the military history of the company does not admit of a detailed history of the com- pany, but the account of the terrible battle of Atlanta, July 22, 1864, in which Gen. McPherson was killed, and where the 17th Corps did the most terrible fighting, en- countering the greater part of the rebel army, is of great interest to the friends and relatives of those of the com-
ยท Prepared by HI. W. Brown, New Lizbon, whose notices of indi- viduals are confined to those who were from Columbiana County.
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pany who took part in the bloody drama. During the earlier part of this campaign the soldiers endured great privation on account of scarcity of rations. At one time the men were three days without anything to eat, and all the time, night and day, under fire, gradually driving the enemy. While advancing and making a charge upon the enemy's works at Kenesaw Mountain, June 15, 1864, Sergt. T. C. Starr of the company,-a young man of sterling worth and integrity,-was killed.
On the 20th of July the Army of the Tennessee advanced towards Atlanta from near Decatur,-the 15th Corps, com- manded by Gen. Logan, on the line of the Augusta Rail- road ; the 17th Corps, communded by Gen. Frank Blair, on the left of the railroad; and the 16th Corps, commanded by Gen. Dodge, in reserve. When the day closed Company I Wus in front of a high hill strongly occupied by the enemy. From citizens it was learned that this hill overlooked At- lanta und was in short runge of that coveted city. Mc- Pherson said, " We must have that hill." Gen. Blair di- rected Gen. Leggett to charge and take the hill in the morning. Gen. Leggett did as commanded. At six o'clock A.M. of the 21st he made a magnificent charge in the face of a deadly fire of musketry and artillery and took the hill, with many prisoners. He soon had artillery in position playing upon Atlanta. The rebels made several vigorous charges during the day to retake the hill, but without suc- cess. Gen. Leggett lost about four hundred men in this charge.
The 4th Division, commanded by Gen. G. A. Smith, at- tempted also to advance with Gen. Leggett, but met such a murderous fire as to compel him to fall back. During the day the 4th Divisiou was placed in position to the left of Gen. Leggett. The enemy was discovered moving towards our extreme left, and the 16th Corps was directed to tuke posi- tion so as to protect our left flank. The 16th Corps wus moving to this position on the 22d, but had not reached the left of the 4th Division by three-fourths of a mile when the enemy fell upon it from the rear in heavy force. Gen. Dodge met this unexpected onslaught with a resistance so vigorous and persistent as to cause the rebels to retire.
The enemy were as much surprised to find Gen. Dodge upon their flank as was Gen. Dodge at being attacked. The rebels expected to meet no obstruction from the rear ex- cept the pickets of the 17th Corps, and did not meet any- thing else in the gap of three-fourths of a mile between the left of the 17th and right of the 16th Corps. Through this gup the whole of Claiborne's division of Hardee's corps passed undiscovered, the ground being cov- ered by a dense forest. The pickets, many of them, were killed or captured, and the rest followed in so closely as to be able to give but little alarm. The enemy advanced rapidly upon the rear of the forces of Gens. Smith and Leggett,-a terrible situation for the great Army of the Ten- nessee, when the result of a battle might determine the fate of the Western armies. It was the advance of this force that shot the gallant and greatly-beloved McPherson. When the news spread along the line that he had been killed, strong men wept, and, brushing away the tears, swore to be avenged. Gen. Grant wept like a child when he received the news, as he called McPherson the " hero of the war."
Gens. Leggett and Smith both put their men over their works (having intrenched themselves), and met the enemy's mad charge with a terrible volley of musketry. The enemy, however, pushed up to within a few feet of the works, but were finally repulsed with a slaughter almost unparalleled. They fell back, reformed, and soon came up again in the same direction, and the conflict for some time was a hand- to-hand combat, in which the bayonet and the clubbed musket were freely used. The enemy were again repulsed, leaving the ground literally carpeted with the dead and wounded.
During this hand-to-hand fight the enemy seemed de- termined to carry away the colors of the 78th Regiment ; but the companies rallied around them, and, with bayonets and clubbed muskets, saved them. They were torn from the staff by a rebel, but Captain Orr, of Company H, plunged his sword through him, recaptured them, and, placing them around his body, kept them secure. What was once a flag was now only ribbons. After a few moments' quiet, the enemy-a part of Hood's corps-was discovered moving upon the division from the front. Gen. Leggett placed his men to the rear of the works, and met the charge with the same determined spirit of the former onslaught. The enemy came with deafening yells, and were met with murderous volleys and again successfully driven back. Again they rallied and forced their way up to the works, and again were repulsed with great slaughter.
In their several attacks from the front and rear the enemy seemed fully impressed with the belief that they would not only repossess themselves of Leggett's hill, but would cap- ture his division. After the fourth repulse the rebels concluded that the 17th Corps could not be taken.
They then turned their attention to retaking the hill. For this purpose they brought in a fresh division-Cheat- ham's of Hardee's corps-und massed upon Gen. Smith's left flank. This, of course, compelled Gen. Smith to change his front.
Gen. Blair several times sene word to Leggett that it Was all-important to hold the hill, and Gen. Leggett as often replied " that if the 3d Division were driven from the hill, there would not be enough of it left to ever fight another battle." He was constantly passing up and down the line, cheering his men, exhorting them to hold the hill at all hazards. He was greeted with loud cheers. In the change of front it was necessary to take the 4th Division and the 2d Brigade of the 3d Division out of their works, and, although greatly fatigued with previous fighting, they were obliged to meet, without protection, the advancing column of the enemy's fresh troops. All who witnessed the fighting at this time pronounce it the most desperate they ever saw. The battle became almost immediately a hand-to-hand conflict. The officers became engaged with their swords and the men with their bayonets, and in many cases with their fists. The heaviest part of this engage- ment fell on the 78th and 68th Ohio Regiments ; but they stood like rocks, remembering McPherson, determined to conquer or die. The enemy were at last repulsed, leaving the ground covered with their slain.
The commanding general walked back and forth, anxiously awaiting the result, and sending messengers to Leggett to
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know if he could hold the hill,-that the fate of the army depended on him. Leggett replied, "The hill is safe ; the 3d Division holds it." Had either the 78th or 68th given way at a single point, the Army of the Tennessee would have been lost. The next day the rebels sent in a flag of truce, desiring to get their dead.
A truce of one hour was granted on Gen. Leggett's front, but the time was insufficient. Gen. Leggett delivered to the enemy and buried one thousand dead. Gen. Smith's division was occupying a new line, and the number killed by his division was not estimated, as they were in the enemy's hands. The 17th Corps was fully avenged for the killing of McPherson. The 78th Regiment suffered se- verely, having one hundred and twenty-seven killed and wounded and twenty taken prisoner. Company I received its full share of work that day, and several of the company carry scars which remind them of that terrible battle. Daniel H. Watt was killed ; Morrison Powers fell mortally wounded, and died shortly afterwards; George Hanna, Thos. G. Hawkins, J. B. Mills, Lieut. Wm. H. Hessin, of Gen. Leggett's staff, Sergt. Isaac Burbeck, and John Baker were wounded. Lieut. Hessin was wounded severely, and fell from his horse while in the act of carrying ammu -- uition to his regiment.
While home on veteran furlough, Lieut. Mills was pro- moted to captain and assigned to Company C, May 10, 1864. He acted as major in the Carolina campaign, and was commissioned as such, but, it not being his place by regular promotion by rank, he refused to muster, and re- turned to the command of his company,-an exhibition of generosity rare in military life. He was popular with his men, and influenced many to enlist. At the burning of Columbia, S. C., he was busy until near morning carry- ing women and children upon his horse outside the burn- ing city. In supporting Col. Robinson he led the regi- ment with acceptance, and proved himself an efficient com- mander. Entering the army a private, he earned his pro- motion to major by merit.
ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTH REGIMENT .*
This regiment was recruited almost exclusively from Stark, Columbiana, Summit, and Portage Counties. Four companies of the regiment were composed of Columbiana County men, viz. : Company G, known as the Salem com- pany; F, known as the Wellsville company; C, known as the Palestine company ; and Company K, known as the New Lisbon company. These companies were recruited in the mouth of August, 1362, and organized at Camp Massil- lon as a part of the 104th Regiment, and mustered into the service with it on the 30th day of August, 1862, by Capt. J. R. Paxton, of the 15th United States Infantry. About the 1st of September the regiment was hurried to Cincin- nuti, then besieged by Kirby Smith. On the 11th of Sep- tember the advanced pickets of the rebel forces were met by the 104th, and skirmished with all day, the regiment losing one man killed and five wounded. This was the first and only blood spilled in defense of Cincinnati. Alexander Lowrie, of Company G, was wounded in the leg, and it was found necessary to amputate the limb above the knee. Soon
after the skirmish the rebel army retreated towards Lexing- ton, and the regiment marched in pursuit. This, being its first march, was very severe on the men. The roads were dusty, the springs dried up, and the men, all undieciplinod and unused to exposure, suffered intensely, and many cases of sickness resulted from this march, and many deaths fol- lowed. The regiment reached Lexington at daylight on the 15th of October, a few hours after the rear guard of the rebel army had evacuated the place. The regiment remained in Lexington until the 6th of December. While here the drill and discipline of the regiment were attended to with such success as to carry off the palm in a review of the forces at that place, the commanding officer deciding that the 104th Ohio had attained the highest state of discipline of any regiment in his command. On the morning of the 6th of December the regiment struck tents and took up the line of march, leaving their beautiful camp at Lexington behind, and that day's march brought it to the Kentucky River, at Clay's Ferry. The next day it reached Richmond, Ky.
The brigade consisted of the 100th, 44th and 104th, and the 19th Ohio Battery, under command of Col. S. A. Gil- bert, of the 44th Ohio. At Richmond the command built formidable works. The regiment remained here until the 27th of December, when the line of march was again re- sumed, and, on the evening of the 28th, Danville, Ky., was reached. John Morgan's guerrilla forces were at this time operating in the vicinity of Danville, and this move- ment was for the purpose of intercepting him. Beyond slight skirmishing, nothing important occurred here. From Danville the regiment went to Frankfurt, and there re- mained, performing provost-duty, until Feb. 21, 1863. While in camp at this place, the 44th Ohio was mounted. On the evening of February 21st the regiment took up the line of march towards Danville. This march was made very hard and disagreeable by a furious snow-storm, through which it with difficulty made its way, reaching, late at night, the Kentucky Military Institute, in which it quar- tered for the night. The next day's march brought it to Harrodsburg late at night. The next morning the regi- ment went to Danville, expecting to engage Morgan's cav- alry, but no enemy was found.
The regiment continued in this part of Kentucky, watch- ing and checkmating the movements of the rebel forces under Morgan, Pegram, and Cluke, until the following summer, when it joined Gen. Burnside's army in East Tennessee, arriving at Knoxville on the 4th day of Sep- tember, 1863, and being the first Federal infantry in the place.
The duties performed by the 104th while in Kentucky were arduous and harassing, it being obliged to march and countermarch continually up and down and through almost the entire country. Owing to the exposure and the fa- tigue of hard and forced marches, many fell out of the ranks and died from diseases contracted during these marches. Up to this time Company C .had lost ten of its. number, and Company K seven, by death. The other companies, doubtless, lost proportionately. During the retreat of the national forces, under Gen. S. P. Carter from Danville to Lexington, in March, 1863, the regiment
. Prepared for this work by A. R. Martin, of New Lisbon.
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lost twenty-five men captured, all of whom were paroled by their rebel captors in a few days after their capture.
The most important places occupied by the regiment during its memorable Kentucky campaign were Lexington, Richmond, Danville, Frankfort, Lancaster, Crab Orchard, Mount Vernon, Somerset, and Stanford. Before leaving Kentucky the regiment was placed in the 1st Brigade, 3d Division, 23d Army Corps, under Gen. Hartsuff.
After a brief rest at Knoxville the regiment, with its brigade, was ordered to Cumberland Gap. The Gap was reached on the 7th day of November. This march was made with such rapidity as to merit and receive from Presi- dent Lincoln a highly complimentary telegram, sent to Gen. Burnside. Immediately upon its arrival at the Gap a de- mand for surrender was made by Gen. Burnside, which was as promptly refused. The national troops then made preparations to carry it at the point of the bayonet, but before the movement was made the rebel leader, Gen. Frazier, had found good reason to change his mind, and surrendered his entire command as prisoners of war. The 104th was the first regiment to enter the works, and it re- ceived the surrender of the rebel army and stores. The rebel command consisted of about three thousand men and fourteen guns. This surrender was made Nov. 9, 1863. Remaining at the Gap a few days, the regiment returned to Knoxville. After this the regiment accompanied Gen. Burnside on an expedition to Carter's Station, on the East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad, and on returning to Knoxville it did provost-duty for some weeks. It was pres- ent at. and took an active part in, the defense of Knoxville when besieged for twenty-two days by the rebel Gen. Long- street. During the siege the regiment occupied various important positions under fire up to the raising of the siege, losing some men killed and wounded.
During the siege the exposures and privations endured by the regiment were very great, its rations being limited and inferior in quality, and the weather cold, drizzly, and disagreeable. The men were without tents, and compelled to take their rest on the muddy ground. The result of this was that many sickened and died from camp-fever and diseases contracted while enduring these privations and ex- posures. The 104th left many of its representatives in the Knoxville cemetery.
The regiment, with the national army, joined in the pursuit of Longstreet, and followed him as far as Blain's Cross-Roads, participating in the various skirmishes of that pursuit. The regiment wintered in this inhospitable region, and there was much suffering for want of sufficient food and clothing; yet, amid all their sufferings, half starved, half clad, these brave men never for a moment lost their love for the old flag, and there declared a willing- ness to enter on another three years' term of service; but, their enlistment not expiring within the time specified, they were not permitted to "veteranize." Early in April, 1864, the regiment was ordered to Cleveland, Tenn., where troops were assembling preparatory to the Atlanta cam- paign. The regiment formed a part of that campaign, and participated in all its general engagements, being under fire for one hundred and twenty days. It was engaged in the sanguinary battle of Resaca, May 14th and 15th, and on
the 6th of August in the desperate assault at Utoy Creek, in which the loss to the regiment was twenty-six officers and men killed and wounded. After sharing in the suc- cesses that compelled the evacuation of Atlanta, Sept. 1 and 2, 1864, it went into camp at Decatur, Ga., and there remained until Oct. 4, 1864, when it left Decatur and crossed the Chattahoochie River fifteen miles from Decatur. After marching about four hundred miles in Northern Georgia and Alabama, passing through Marietta, Acworth, Alatoona, Cassville, Kingston, Rome, Calhoun, Resaca, and Snake Creek Gap into Alabama at Gaylorsville, it finally reached Cedar Bluff, Ala.
On October 28th it crossed the Coosa River, and, taking the cars ut Dalton, Ga., it passed through Nashville to Pulaski, Tenn. At Nashville the regiment cast its vote in favor of " veteranizing Abraham Lincoln." On November 8th it took the cars and went to Spring Hill, Tenn. No- vember 13th it marched to Columbia, and thence to Pulaski. From Pulaski it fell back to Columbia. The regiment was engaged in sharp fighting and skirmishing here from No- vember 25th to November 29th, losing several men killed and wounded. On the night of the 29th of November it moved towards Franklin, making a severe march of twenty- five miles, reaching that place at daylight the next day. At Franklin the regiment, with its brigade, built breast- works. The fight at Franklin began on the 30th of No- vember, at five o'clock in the afternoon, and lasted till ten in the evening. This was the most severe engagement in which the regiment had ever participated, and it lost sixty killed and wounded. Capt. Win. F. Kemble, of Company C, and Capt. Burd, of Company I, were killed in this battle. The men went into the battle with the avowed intention of revenging the loss of their comrades at Utoy Creek, and used " Utoy" as their battle-cry. The rebel Gen. Adams was killed in front of the 104th, the general and his horse both rolling over in front of the regiment. Capt. Kemble, who lost his life in this battle, fought desperately, throwing hatchets and axes into the seething mass of rebels in his front, until he fell pierced in the breast by a bullet. He fell as he lived, a brave soldier and a patriotic citizen, and as an officer beloved by all his men. Lieut. Cope, of Com- pany F, was severely wounded through the arm during the battle, but wrapped a handkerchief around his arm and bravely stood his ground until the battle closed. After the battle the regiment, with the national forces, marched to Nashville, which was reached on the 1st of December.
The regiment occupied an important position in the main line in front of Nashville. Here the men were again con- fronted by intensely cold, disagreeable weather, and in conse- quence suffered severely. On the 15th of December the regi- went lost three men, wounded in a skirmish. On the 16th it was engaged in a charge with its brigade, capturing the works of the enemy, with eight pieces of artillery and a number of prisoners, not losing a man. Resting on the enemy's works that night, the regiment moved the next morning in pursuit of the enemy, made a short halt at Co- lumbia, and reached Clifton, Tenn., Jan. 6, 1865. It re- mained in camp at this point until the 16th of January, when it embarked on the steamner "Swallow," and, landing at Cincinnati, took the cars, January 22d, for Washington
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City. Many pleasing reminiscences of this trip through Ohio might be recalled if space in this brief history would permit such a digression from the stern facts of a bloody record. After an absence of two years and a half from their native State, away from the refined associations of friends, it cannot be wondered at that at the sight of their noble State-very appropriately appellated by them " God's Country"-and of the noble and patriotic people, they should burst forth in shouts of joy.
Arriving at Washington City, it was from thence carried by the steamer " Star of the South" to Fort Fisher, at which place it landed Feb. 9, 1865. It took an active part in the operations which compelled the evacuation of Fort Anderson, Feb. 18, 1865. In the skirmishing at Fort Anderson the regiment lost oue killed and several wounded. The regiment was engaged in the assault upon the rebel works at Old Town Creek, Feb. 20, 1865, which involved the capture of Wilmington, February 22d. The loss of the regiment in the charge upon the enemy at Old Town Creek was two killed and twenty wounded.
On the 22d of February the regiment, with its brigade, entered the city of Wilmington. On the capture of Wil- mington, the colonel of the 104th Regiment was appointed to command the post of Wilmington, the lieutenant-colonel Was appointed as provost-marshal of the city, and the regi- ment as provost-guard, and so continued to serve until the 23d Army Corps marched towards Goldsboro'. The regi- ment then marched to Kingston to the support of Gen. Cox, who was threatened by overpowering numbers. On March 20th the regiment left Kingston, and arrived at Goldsboro' the next day. It remained here until the 11th of April, when it started for Raleigh, N. C., arriving at the latter place April 15th. A grand review of the troops was had at Raleigh, and the regiment received some high com- pliments from Gen. Sherman and others for its efficiency of drill and the soldierly bearing of its men. On May 1, 1865, the regiment was ordered to proceed next day to Greens- boro', N. C., to receive and guard property turned over by the army of Gen. Joe Johnson, and remained stationed there until June 17, 1865, when it was mustered out of service and ordered to report to Camp Taylor, near Cleve- land, Ohio, for final pay and discharge. It arrived at Cleveland on the 24th day of June, and was paid off June 27th and discharged. Companies C, F, G, and K were with the regiment in all its marches, and participated in all its battles and skirmishes from Fort Mitchel to Old Town Creek. They all made a noble record in the service, and their losses by death from casualty and disease were : Com- pany C, 21 ; Company F. 22; Company G, 15; and Com- pany K, 12.
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