History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 78

Author: Hopley, John E. (John Edward), 1850-
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago,Ill., Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1302

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About this time the regiment suffered much from sickness, on April 6th there being but 450 men fit for duty. On this day the enemy was encountered near Shiloh Church, where the 57th withstood three Rebel regiments from 6 until 10 o'clock A. M. These regiments left 78 dead on front of the 57th. The regiment was then ordered to fall back on the Hamburg and Purdy road, the line being subsequently

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pressed back three-quarters of a mile further. On the next day the enemy being driven back, the 57th recovered its old position, having lain under arms all night in a drenching rain. After another night in the rain and mud, without tents, the command moved on the 8th about seven miles toward Corinth, and near Pea Ridge had an encounter with For- rest's cavalry and about 1500 Confederate infantry. Here the National cavalry gave way before that of the enemy, and two com- panies of the 57th, who had been thrown out as skirmishers, were captured, along with two companies of the 77th Ohio. The 57th then fixed bayonets and charged the cavalry, which gave way, and the captured companies rushed to their comrades or laid down. The regi- ment then poured a volley into the retreating enemy. In three days the 57th had lost 27 killed, 150 wounded (16 mortally) and ten captured.

The regiment then took part in the advance on Corinth, being employed largely in march- ing, picketing and building breastworks, with an occasional engagement. During this time it was assigned to the Ist Brigade of the 5th Division. After the evacuation it was oc- cupied in repairing the Memphis & Charles- ton Railroad and in making reconnoisances. While at Moscow a detachment of 250 men was sent to accompany a train to Memphis to procure supplies. Near Morning Sun, on the Memphis & Nashville road, the train was attacked by 600 of the enemy's cavalry, who charged three times, but were finally repulsed with heavy loss in killed, wounded and pris- oners. The detachment lost four men wounded. The regiment moved to Memphis on the 18th of July and on the 29th of August was ordered to Raleigh to look after Bur- row's Rebel cavalry. The cavalry fled after exchanging a few shots and the regiment cap- tured a number of horses. Early in Septem- ber the 57th was sent on a four days' scout into Mississippi during which it was en- gaged with the enemy six different times. It was then assigned to guard the Randolph road, north of Memphis and also the bridge over Wolf Creek, and while engaged in this duty, was attacked by Burrows' cavalry, Sept. 23d. The enemy were repulsed without loss to the regiment. On November 12th it was

assigned to the Ist Brigade, Ist Division, 15th Army Corps.

On the 26th the regiment, with quite a large force, moved against General Price, on the Tallahatchie river, near Wyatt, Miss. The enemy evacuated the place and the march was continued to Grenada. The Corps returned to Memphis on the 15th of Decem- ber, and here the 57th now received an addi- tion of 118 volunteers and 205 drafted men, which made its aggregate force 650 men. Soon after, with the 15th Corps, it moved down the Mississippi to Young's point, where the troops proceeded up the Yazoo, disem- barking on Sydney Johnston's plantation. The next day, when attempting to cross Chickasaw Bayou the 15th Corps encountered the enemy and fighting took place, which lasted for five days, the troops finally return- ing to the transports. In this action the regi- ment lost 37 in killed and wounded. Early in January the Corps moved down the Yazoo to the Mississippi, up the Mississippi to White river, thence, through the "cut-off," into the Arkansas and up the Arkansas to within two miles of Arkansas Post, disembarking on the Ioth. Here the Ist Brigade attacked the Rebel pickets and drove them to within 600 yards of Fort Hindman, and subsequently, with the 6th Missouri, drove the enemy from their barracks, in front of their lines, and about half a mile further to the west. In an assault against the works on the next day the 57th led the charge and after a desperate bat- tle of three hours, the enemy surrendered. In this action the regiment lost 37 in killed and wounded.

Ordered to Clay Plantation on the 13th, the 57th here defeated some of the enemy's cavalry and destroyed a large amount of stores, and then moved with the fleet for Vicksburg. In the operation against this place under Grant, the regiment took a very active part, being frequently engaged with the enemy, marching, digging, fighting and capturing large quantities of supplies. In the advance upon the city the regiment particip- ated in the actions at Raymond, Champion Hills, where it lost heavily, and Black River. It took part in the general assault on the 19th of May, advancing to within 70 yards of the enemy's line, and holding its position under

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a terrific fire until two o'clock on the morn- ing of the 20th, when the brigade was with- drawn to a position in the rear. In the ad- vance on the 22d it was in the front line and suffered more than in the previous assault. On the 26th of May it accompanied the divi- sion in a reconnoisance between the Big Black and Yazoo rivers and engaged successfully with the enemy at Mechanicsburg. From the time until the surrender it was continually engaged, either on the picket line or in the trenches.

It then took part in the movement against Jackson, where Johnston's army lay, and after the evacuation of the place aided in the pursuit of the enemy to Pearl River, losing several men. Subsequently returning to Vicksburg, it went into camp at Camp Sher- man, four miles west of Big Black River, where it remained until the 27th of Septem- ber. In the latter part of September it started by steamer for Memphis, arriving there Oc- tober 4th, and thence on the 8th marched for Chattanooga, arriving November 22d at the mouth of North Chickamauga Creek, ten miles northeast of Chattanooga. During this march, which was long and fatiguing, there was frequent skirmishing with the enemy's cavalry. The regiment now formed a part of the Ist Brigade, 2d Division, 15th Corps. After some further operations the regiment participated in the battle at Mission Ridge, sustaining heavy loss. After pursuing the enemy to Ringgold, it started with the Corps to the relief of Burnside at Knoxville, march- ing 104 miles in four days. Returning, it arrived again at Chattanooga on December 18th and drew "hardtack" for the first time in 15 days. On the following day it started for Bellefonte, Ala., where it arrived on the 29th, the men being by this time almost ex- hausted by fatigue, hunger and privation, be- sides being hatless, shoeless and half naked. In spite of this experience, however, the men of the 57th were the first to reenlist as vet- erans on the Ist of January, 1864.

After the usual furlough the regiment, with 207 recruits, rendezvoused at Camp Chase on March 16th. On April 17th it rejoined its brigade at Larkinsville, Ala., and on the Ist of May moved on the Atlanta campaign. It participated in the battle of Resaca on May

13th and 14th, holding its ground on the 14th against three successive charges of the enemy. Its loss in this battle was 57 killed and wound- ed. The enemy were again encountered at Dallas, the regiment losing 15 men in three days' fighting. Accompanying the army in the pursuit of the retreating enemy, the 57th took part in the actions at New Hope Church, Kenesaw Mountain, where it lost 57 killed and wounded, and skirmished almost inces- santly both before and after crossing the Chattahoochie. Atlanta was reached on the 20th and two days later the enemy made a furious assault. The works in front of the 57th were captured by the enemy and recap- tured by the regiment three separate times, the regiment finally holding its position. In this engagement the regiment lost 92 men. The 57th was then moved to the extreme right of the army and on the 28th again encoun- tered the enemy, the Rebels being repulsed after a seven hours' fight. The regiment had 12 men killed and 55 wounded, the enemy leaving 458 of their number dead in front of the brigade. The enemy was also repulsed with fearful slaughter at the battle of Jones- boro, the National troops occupying that place after its evacuation by the Rebels. On the 7th of September the 57th went into camp at Eastport.

Here it remained until the 4th of October, when it started after Hood, having an en- counter with the enemy at Snake Creek Gap. At Taylor's Ridge another fight occurred, the enemy being repulsed. The time after this was spent in marching, countermarching, skirmishing and fighting until Atlanta was reached again on November 13th.

On the 15th the 57th left with Sherman's army on the march to the sea. On the 21st it encountered Rebel cavalry near Clinton, and on the 28th had quite a fight at the cross- ing of the Oconee river. On December 3d some of the regiment's foragers were cap- tured and on the 4th it lost heavily in an en- gagement at Statesboro. It engaged in the assault on Ft. McAllister on the 13th, losing ten killed and 80 wounded. On the 17th it moved with its expedition on an expedition to the Gulf Railroad and, after destroying about 50 miles of track, returned to camp.

On the Ist of January the 57th moved two

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miles southeast of Savannah, and on the 14th left camp for Beaufort, South Carolina, where it overtook the remainder of the force. On the 30th it started on the campaign through the Carolinas, and reached Columbia, after heavy skirmishing on the 17th. When with- in 25 miles of Goldsboro, it was ordered back to re-enforce the left wing of the army, then menaced by Johnston. It was engaged se- verely on the 19th and was engaged in sharp skirmishing for two days after. Later it moved by way of Goldsboro to Raleigh, and after the surrender of Johnston, the march was continued through Petersburg and Rich- mond to Washington City.

The 57th participated in the grand review on May 24th and was then ordered to Louis- ville, Ky., where it arrived June 7th. On the 25th it started for Little Rock, Arkansas, arriving there August 6th. On the 14th it was mustered out of the service and on the 25th was paid and discharged at Camp Chase, Ohio. The 57th traveled by railroad, steam- boat and on foot more than 28,000 miles. The names of 1,584 men had been on its mus- ter rolls and of that number only 481 were alive at its muster out.

The 64th Infantry, O. V. I., drew from Crawford county, Company H, and furnished also recruits to Company K. Company H was organized with E. B. Finley, captain; William Starr, of Crestline, first lieutenant, and Pinkney Lewis, second lieutenant.

The regiment was recruited and organized at Mansfield, Ohio, and went into Camp Buck- ingham, at that place, Nov. 9, 1861. Ordered to Cincinnati about the middle of December, it went thence by steamer to Louisville, Ky., marching from Louisville, Dec. 26th, to Bardstown, Ky. It was then brigaded and then moved to Danville and Hall's Gap. Here it engaged in road building to facilitate the movement of supplies to Thomas's army. Soon after the battle of Mill Springs, it joined the National forces at Munfordsville and moved with them to Nashville, Tenn. A week later it accompanied General T. J. Wood's Division to Pittsburg Landing, by way of Columbia. Taking steamer at Savan- nah. it arrived at the battlefield of Shiloh at II A. M. on the 7th of April, and was hur- ried to the scene of conflict. The battle was

nearly over, however, and only Company A, Capt. Alex. McIlvaine, succeeded in getting into action. It took part in the subsequent movement on Corinth and was afterward sent to Iuka, Tuscumbia, Decatur, Huntsville and Stevenson. Here it erected Fort Harker, in honor of its brigade commander.

About the first of August the regiment with its brigade moved with the National forces toward Nashville, and from there engaged in a race with Bragg's forces to Louisville, Ky., on the way driving the enemy out of Munfordsville and across Green river.

About ten days after arriving at Louisville the regiment moved out with National forces to the vicinity of Perryville, and had the mor- tification of witnessing the battle at that place, without the permission to help their hard- pressed comrades. After taking part in the retrograde movement of the National forces, the regiment with its brigade, marched through Stamford, Scottsville and Gallatin to the vicinity of Nashville, going into camp on the Nolinsville Turnpike.

In the battle of Stone River, the 64th was in Crittenden's Corps, Wood's Division, on the left wing. At dusk, on Tuesday evening, it crossed the river, but meeting overwhelm- ing forces, was recalled and withdrew with slight loss. At seven o'clock the next morn- ing it was hurried to the relief of the right wing, General R. W Johnson's line having been forced. On its arrival it held the enemy in check until the scattered National forces were rallied. It then fell back on the main line, drawing the Rebels until within reach of a strong force of Nationals, who were lying in wait for them, and who poured into them a murderous fire, which drove them staggering back to the point they had started from. The regiment then returned to its former position on the left. On the last day of the battle, Friday, Jan. 2, 1863, the regi- ment participated in all the movements of its brigade. It lost in this battle 75 men killed and wounded, out of about 300 engaged.

The 64th was then located at Murfrees- boro until June 7, 1863, when it moved with the National army under Rosecrans on the Tullahoma campaign, stopping at Chattanoo- ga over night and proceeding on to Chicka- mauga Creek. On September there was

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skirmishing at Lee & Gordon's Mills, the skirmish at Lovejoy's Station, losing one man, enemy being driven, and on the 18th another Sergeant Towsley, of Company G. skirmish took place. The bloody battle of After the taking of Atlanta the regiment, with its brigade and division, returned to that place and went into camp, remaining two weeks. It then moved with the 4th Army Corps in the pursuit of Hood to Chatta- nooga. It also received 400 new recruits from Ohio and was then sent on a reconnois- ance in pursuit of Hoods' forces to Alpine, Georgia, 50 miles south of Chattanooga. Chickamauga opened on the 19th, the 64th being closely engaged during the whole day, also on Sunday, the 20th, until after dark. They lost in this battle over 100 men in killed, wounded and missing. Subsequently the regi- ment was employed in building fortifications and in picket duty at Chattanooga, until the arrival of Hooker's Corps and the relief of the National forces. On November 25th the Returning to Chattanooga the regiment was sent by rail to Athens, Alabama, and from that point marched to Pulaski, Tenn., and to Spring Hill, passing through Colum- bia. In an engagement at Spring Hill the regiment lost a few men killed and wounded. At the battle of Franklin, Tenn., it sustained a severe loss in killed, wounded and missing. It was subsequently engaged in the fighting before Nashville, where, however, its losses were slight. regiment, with its brigade participated in the taking of Mission Ridge, losing but few men. Captain King and a private were killed. After the battle of Chickamauga the regiment moved with the expedition for the relief of Knoxville, marching as far as Strawberry Plains, but the siege of that place being raised it returned to Chattanooga. About January, 1864, the subject of re-enlistment came up, and most of the men consenting to re-enlist for three years, they were granted a furlough for thirty days, being warmly received at Mansfield by the citizens, and honored with a grand supper.

On March 14th they left again for the front and arrived at Chattanooga April Ist, having marched from Nashville to Cleveland, Tenn.

Accompanying Sherman in his march on Atlanta, which began May 3d, the regiment with its brigade participated in the charge on Rocky Face Ridge. Colonel Alexander Mc- Ilvaine, then in command, and Lieutenant Thomas H. Ehlers were killed with nineteen men, sixty-five being wounded. Captain Chamberlain, commanding Company C, was severely wounded.

At Resaca, June 14th the 64th lost several men killed and wounded. It sustained a slight loss at Muddy Creek on the 18th. During this time it was daily skirmishing with the enemy, and on July 20th it lost Sergeant Ma- rion Trage, of Company H, in the battle of Peachtree Creek. On June 2Ist it moved to the front of Atlanta and from this time until August 26th was almost constantly under fire. General Sherman then began his flanking movement on Jonesboro, and on September 3d the fight at Jonesboro took place, where the 64th sustained but slight loss. In the evening of the 6th the regiment was engaged in a

It then joined in the pursuit of Hood's scat- tered and demoralized forces across the Ten- nessee river, subsequently going into camp at Huntsville. From there it moved to De- catur and Athens, where it remained two months and then returned to Huntsville. It was next sent into East Tennessee, going as far as Strawberry Plains, where it remained a week and then returned to Nashville.

From Nashville the regiment was sent on board transports to New Orleans, where it lay three months and suffered severely from sickness. From the middle of September un- til the 3d of December, 1865, it was stationed at Victoria, Texas. It was then mustered out at Victoria and was sent to Camp Chase, Ohio, where the men were paid off and discharged.

The 8Ist Regiment, O. V. I., had one com- pany from Crawford county-Company K. By order of the War Department, during the summer of 1861 it was permissable for any- one to enlist men, either singly, in squads or in companies, to recruit General Fremont's command, and to have them forwarded to his headquarters at St. Louis. Thomas Morton, formerly colonel of the 20th Ohio, set out to raise a full regiment under this order, which was to be known as "Morton's Independent Rifle Regiment." One company, having been raised, was sent to St. Louis, and by mistake

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or mismanagement, was incorporated into an- other regiment, while one or two other com- panies, which it was expected would join this regiment were prevailed upon to become a part of other organizations, thus greatly de- laying the formation of the regiment. But at last the state came to the rescue by taking the independent regiment into its fold. It was denominated the 8Ist O. V. I., the state undertook the work of recruiting and it was agreed that the officers already appointed should be commissioned by the governor.

The regiment rendezvoused at Benton Bar- racks and there entered upon its first military duties, which it continued susbequently at Franklin and Herman, Missouri. It now numbered eight companies with an aggregate of nearly 600 men, which was as high a num- ber as it seemed possible to attain. In No- vember it moved against the enemy in Callo- way county, but failed to find him. In the following month it chased a force of rebels who were destroying a portion of the North- ern Missouri Railroad, but the enemy, being mounted, escaped. During the winter it oc- cupied various places on the Northern Mis- souri Railroad, with headquarters at Danville, and accomplished a great amount of useful work in protecting the railroad, pursuing guerilla bands and arresting Rebels engaged in the work of destruction.

About the Ist of March it was ordered to St. Louis. It was armed with short Enfield rifles, and on the 17th disembarked from the steamboat at Pittsburg Landing. Soon after it was assigned to the 2d Brigade, 2d Divi- sion, Army of the Tennessee. The brigade was commanded by Colonel McArthur and the division by General C. F. Smith. The regiment soon made great proficiency in drill. When the battle of Pittsburg Landing (or Shiloh) opened Sunday morning, April 6th, it was ordered across Snake Creek, and re- mained in position until nearly noon when it was withdrawn to its own color line. A small cavalry force of the enemy approached about one o'clock, but was driven off by two com- panies. After two o'clock General Grant or- dered Colonel Morton to take position near the center of the line and then move forward until he found the enemy. Advancing toward the front and left the colonel soon found his

little regiment alone, far ahead of the main line and out of sight of it. While marching by the flank, left in front, it emerged into a clear piece of ground and was suddenly greeted with a discharge of cannister from a battery not more than 200 yards away. Form- ing line, the regiment faced to the rear and, lying down, delivered a volley or two which silenced the enemy's fire. A movement was then made to a ravine a little further to the left. In making this movement a road had to be crossed which was commanded by the en- emy's battery. The regiment ran the gauntlet a company at a time and got safely across. Soon after, being threatened by some Rebel cavalry, it was ordered back to the main lines, and just as the order was given, Captain Arm- strong, who commanded the right company, was killed by a grape shot. During the des- perate fighting on the 6th, some of the bri- gades and divisions had become broken up and the regiments scattered, and on the morn- ing of the 7th when Grant took the initiative, there was no time for reorganization. Pro- visional brigades were hastily appointed, to one of which the 8Ist was assigned. The regiment advanced and after crossing an open field, were met by a heavy fire from the en- emy who were posted behind a breastwork of logs, while at the same time the shot and shell from two opposite batteries plowed through the ranks. The regiment therefore withdrew to a less exposed situation, and after taking up their new ground, found them- selves without support and confronting a Rebel force. A furious fire ensued, in which the 8Ist boys had the best of it and the enemy broke and fled. Encouraged by this success they started up and dashed after the flying foe, not halting until they found themselves far in advance of any supports and flanked both by infantry and artillery. Such was their enthusiasm that even then they were withdrawn with difficulty. In this charge the regiment captured a number of prisoners and also a battery.

The 8Ist took part in the subsequent slow advance on Corinth, having several men wounded in a skirmish on the 3Ist of May. After finding the place evacuated the regiment joined in the pursuit as far as Boonville, this service being severe on account of the intense

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heat. In July means were taken to recruit the regiment. Companies H and G were con- solidated with other companies, and this made five minimum companies in the regiment. From the middle of August to the middle of September the 8Ist was engaged in protecting public stores and performing post duty at Hamburg, on the Tennessee river, subse- quently returning to Corinth. A few days later it marched under General Ord against Iuka, which point General Rosecrans was also approaching from the rear. Ord waited at Burnsville, to allow time for Rosecrans to come up, but the latter pressed on and made the attack alone, after which Ord's column returned to Corinth, the brigade taking up po- sition two miles south on the Mobile railroad.

On the 3d of October the regiment moved toward Corinth, the brigade commanded by General Oglesby, and the division by General Davis. This division was marched out a short distance into the woods where it was halted. The Third Brigade occupied the old Confed- erate works on the left, while the 2d (Ogles- by's) took position half a mile further to the right, with the Ist Brigade on its right. The 8Ist was widely extended on the left of its brigade. This weak line was hardly in posi- tion ere it was attacked by the enemy. It gave way at first, but being rallied it assumed a more compact formation and held its posi- tion during the remainder of the day. The brunt of the battle fell upon Davis's Division and soon the hospital was filled with the wounded. Among them were Gen. Davis's three brigade commanders-Col. Baldwin. Gen. Oglesby and Gen. Heckelman, the last mentioned being in a dying condition. Dur- ing the night the division changed position and in the morning was stretched out in a single line, without intrenchments or reserves, with its left resting on Battery Powell and its right covering Battery Richardson. About nine or ten o'clock it was again attacked by the enemy, and at first gave way, but being sup- ported by Hamilton's artillery and Batteries Williams and Robinett, the division rallied and killed or captured most of the assaulting column. The loss of the 8Ist in this battle was II men killed, 44 wounded and three miss- ing. Among those to fall was Sergeant

David McCall, the color bearer, who had left a sick bed to join his comrades in the fight.

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History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 78

Author: Hopley, John E. (John Edward), 1850- Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Chicago,Ill., Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1302

Author: Hopley, John E. (John Edward), 1850-
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago,Ill., Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1302