History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 87

Author: Andrews, Martin Register, 1842-; Hathaway, Seymour J
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1490

USA > Ohio > Washington County > Marietta > History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 87

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There are few men that could have handled so large a body of men so well, under such circumstances, as Colonel Putnam did these who came so suddenly upon his hands. They came by the thousands, wholly unarmed, un- disciplined, unequipped and unorganized. His action in this situation was admirable, pre- serving his usual fine equanimity through it all; and superintending the details of the whole camp, he still had time enough to plan for the capture and detention of Morgan. Down the Ohio, out on the line of the Mari- etta & Cincinnati Railroad as far as the Big Hocking, up the Muskingum, up Duck Creek, up the Little Muskingum as far as Woods- field, and up the Ohio, everywhere his regi- ments and companies were prepared to repel and delay the invaders. While we say this of the commandant of Camp Marietta, we must not forget that grand array of militia, 12,000 strong, who sprang to the defense of their in- vaded State, many of them leaving their crops unharvested in the fields, and often compelled to march by their own fields that needed their attention, and doing it without a word of com- plaint : many leaving their stores, their shops. and employments that required hourly atten- tion, to engage in an uncertain enterprise, the danger of which at the time seemed threaten- ing and hazardous.

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It was fully demonstrated by Morgan's raid that no invasion, no matter how well planned or how well carried out, could succeed on Northern soil, and this raid was the last of the kind ever attempted.

CHICKAM.AUG.1.

On September 19th and 20th occurred the battle of Chickamauga, in which the following regiments having Washington County compa- nies in them were engaged: The Ninety-sec- ond, Thirty-sixth, and Eighteenth Infantry, and First Ohio Cavalry. They fought nobly to save the day in this most desperate battle, losing heavily-the Ninety-second seven killed, 78 wounded, including Col. D. B. Fearing, and 20 missing; the Thirty-sixth, 12 killed, including Colonel Jones, 65 wounded, and 18 missing.

The First Ohio Cavalry, in this battle, were ordered to charge, through some mis- take, and had started toward the enemy's line, some 300 in number, with saber's drawn; it would have been a second Balaklava, where the famous "six hundred" composing the Light brigade, made such a hopeless charge, buit for a timely countermand of the order.

The famous charge at Chickamauga, made by Turchin's brigade, in which were the Thir- ty-sixth and Ninety-second regiments, should not be passed without adequate mention. A correspondent of the Cincinnati Commercial says :

After resisting several heavy charges the brigade changed direction by filing to the left, into the woods skirting the road on that side, and were halted and brought to a front, leaving the brigade in columns by companies, forming two lines of battle, the Eleventh Ohio and Eighteenth Kentucky in front, and the Nine- ty-second and Thirty-sixth in the rear. Hardly had this been completed when a Rebel battery opened a per- fect storm of hell and grape-shot into our ranks. This was entirely unexpected to us. It seems a whole di- vision of the enemy had passed entirely around our left. and, coming up in our rear, expected to capture the entire left wing of our army.

Tust at the moment the Rebels opened General Thomas rode up :

"Whose brigade is this?"

"General Turchin's" was promptly answered.

"General, can your brigade break through those lines ?"

"Yes, I guess so, if any brigade can." "Very well, do it at once."

General Turchin had been commanding our brigade but a short time, but long enough to gain the confidence of his men. Rising in his stirrups he gave the command -"About face-forward, double-quick-charge bayonets -mar-c-h!" With a yell. the volume of which was de- creased not a whit by the fact that the men fully real- ized that everything depended on the success of this movement, they did charge.

The enemy were drawn up in three lines in an open field, and as we emerged from the woods delivered a volley that tore through our ranks, but failed to check the onward course of our men, who returned the fire, charged bayonets, and dashed into them before they could reload.

The Rebels broke in the wildest confusion, while cheer upon cheer from our brave boys added swiftness to their fight. A running fight now ensued which baffles description. The smoke arising from the discharge of so many guns, and the thick clouds of dust completely obscured both Rebel and Federal, while the hoarse commands of the officers, endeavoring to keep their men in line, the lurid flash of artillery, and the bursting of shell and rattling of grapeshot, which the Rebels continued to pour into our ranks, at short range, irom three points, made up a picture as nearly resembling Pandemonium as any one need wish to see. * *

On this charge our brigade captured about 600 prisoners and four pieces of cannon, but were so closely pursued that we had to abandon the cannon, and half of our prisoners escaped in the confusion, but 300 hun- dred were marched along and sent safely through to Chattanooga that night.

Officers of the reserve, who had a fair view of the whole charge, describe it as the grandest spectacle imaginable.

MISSIONARY RIDGE.

The next great battle in which Washington County figured was Missionary Ridge. Rose- crans had planned to carry the enemy's posi- tion on the ridge and on Lookout Mountain, and when Grant relieved bim, everything was ready to his hand. Bragg, with his Rebel legions, 40,000 strong, held high Lookout and Missionary Ridge fully fortified and bristling with cannon ; but Sherman, with the Army of the Mississippi, had re-enforced Grant, and now everything, by November 23rd, was ready. Sherman, by a detour, had quietly taken position to the northeast unknown to the enemy, and was now ready to cross the Tennessee River and attack the northern for- tifications on the ridge. Hooker had crossed

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the Tennessee by a pontoon bridge at Bridge- port, southwest of Chattanooga, and was ready to storm Lookout Mountain. Meanwile "Pap" Thomas, with the army that had fought its way from Stone River to the Chattanooga, moved out from the center. Let an eye-wit- ness relate the story :*

The day was bright and beautiful; the rays of the sin. reflect from ten thousand bayonets, dazzled the beholder's eyes : the men were dressed as if for holiday; proud steeds, bearing gallant riders, galloped along the lines: every eminence about the city was crowded with spectators; and for the first time in my experience I saw soldiers of the Union march to battle to the beat of the spirit-stirring drum. This was indeed the "pomp and circumstance" of war; and it is no wonder that the Rebel- whom we afterward captured declared they did not think we were going to make an attack upon them. but had our troops our for a review or dress parade.

* On the eventful day of which I write, I -aw an exaultant and lofty pride, a high and patriotic hope, a firm and deep resolve expressed in the counten- ance of each soldier as I had never seen them expressed before, and no one could doubt, as he looked upon them. that they would go that day wherever they were bidden, even should they be compelled to pass through surges of vindictive fire.

Thomas' men moved out swiftly, drove in the enemy's pickets, and captured his first line, known as Orchard Ridge, where they intrenched. The next day, the 24th Hooker attacked Lookout, and fought his cel- ebrated "battle among the clouds," driving the Rebels from their position : and Sherman, hay- ing constructed a pontoon bridge across the Tennessee, above, had attacked and carried the north end of Missionary Ridge. Accord- ingly, on November 25th, everything was ready for the final grand assault on the strong- hold of the enemy on Missionary Ridge. The Rebel General Bragg, trusting to the natural strength of his position, had sent off part of his command. under Longstreet, to capture Burnside at Knoxville. and from his eyrie on the ridge surveyed with complacency the prep- arations of his foe for the attack. At last Grant was ready, and at the preconcerted sig- nal of six guns, fired at intervals of two sec- onds. the assault began, all along the line. up the steep side of the mountain. Soon the

*W. S. Furty, correspondent Cincinnati Gascette. 35

grand roll of musketry, and a line of smoke encircling the mountain, told that they had started the enemy from his lair. A long line of blue, broken into triangles, with their points toward the erest of the mountain ( 15 of them ) and at each apex a stand of colors marks the center of the regiment. Upward they rush. Anon, a standard goes down, which means that the entire color guard have been shot.

Mr. Furay continues :

And still the Union troops pressed on, scaling un- waveringly the sides of Missionary Ridge; the blood of their comrades renders their footsteps slippery : the toil of the ascent almost takes away their breath: the Rebel musketry and artillery mow down their thinned ranks-but still they press on! Not once do they even scom to waver. The color-bearers press ahead, and plant their flags far in advance of the troops: and at last-O, moment of supreme triumph !- they reach the crest and rush like an avalanche upon the astonished foe. Whole regiments throw down their arms and sur- render : the Rebel artillerists are bayonetted at their guns : and the cannon which had a moment before been thundering on the Union ranks, are now turned about, pouring death into the midst of the mass of miserable fugitives who are rushing down the eastern slope of the ridge.

Lieut .- Col. H. F. Devol, commanding the. Thirty-sixth Regiment in this battle, in his of- ficial report, says :

My regiment was assigned to the center of the first line. the Eleventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry on my right. and the Ninety-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry on the left. Two companies. B and H. were thrown forward as skirmishers, Remaining there until three o'clock. we moved forward a short distance. halted. deployed. and immediately again moved in line of battle through a skirt of woods. As soon is we reached the open ground, the enemy opened on us with artillery from the top of Missionary Ridge. We were then ordered to double-quick, which we did, passing the second line of the enemy's breastworks, which were occupied by Gen- eral Beatty's brigade: reached the base of the ridge. where also were some troops unler cover. We rushed up the ridge as fast as possible, under a terrible en- filading fire from bech right, left and front Near the top, and about six rods from the enemy's breastworks. we passed over (I think) the Ninth Kentucky Volum- teer Infantry. Reaching the breastworks, where the enemy lay. a terrible. almost hand-to-hand fight en- sned. Stubbornly did the enemy contest the work- There we took a number of prisoners, which I passed to the rear without a guard. Those of the enemy who es- caped made a second stand on the crest, from four t. six rods beyond : but they were at once killed, captured or routed. On our left was a heavy force of the enemy's infantry. and two pieces of artillery. The infantry

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kept up a constant fire. The artillery fired two rounds, when we made a charge on it and captured two pieces, but not until they had succeeded in getting them some distance down the eastern slope of the ridge to the rear. They were unlimbered and immediately hauled back to the top of the ridge by the men, and placed in position. The taking of the artillery was done, mainly, under the superintendence of Sergeant Adney, of com- pany B. and Sergeant Holliday, of Company H. Some men from the Eleventh and Ninety-second Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry assisted in hauling the guns back. * * * Capt. J. C. Selby, Company K, was wounded in the right arm ( which has since been amputated) near a log cabin, to the left of where we went up the ridge. First Lient. O. J. Wood, Company B, when in com- mand of the company, was seriously wounded, the ball passing in command of the company, was seriously wounded, the ball passing through from left to right side and through the right lung. Second Lieut. J. W. Hanlin, Company H, was slightly wounded in the leg. It would be in vain for me to try to express how nobly and with what daring both officers and men con- ducted themselves, in this their fifth great battle. Never as yet have they fallen back under fire in the face of the enemy. In this all seemed eager to fight, and under the leadership of their general, felt confident of snc- cess. I would partienlarize, did 1 not have to mention the whole.

The Thirty-sixth lost nine killed, 65 wounded and five missing, and the Ninety- second, 12 killed and 42 wounded. Among the former killed were Capt .. W. Beale Whit- tlesey and Adjutant George B. Turner, both promising young officers, from Marietta, a fuller account of whose lives will be found further on. Lieut .- Col. Douglas Putnam, Jr., received a severe wound in the ankle. Mis- sionary Ridge was the most peculiar battle of the war. No other presented such natural obstacles to be overcome at stich high altitudes. Bragg had 40,000 men, and Grant 75,000, but the advantages of position in Bragg's favor fully made up for the disparity of numbers. Grant went to Chattanooga on crutches to re- lieve Rosecrans, but now his fame traveled on the wings of the wind. To Vicksburg, through a fortunate turn of affairs, he added Missionary Ridge, and the country went wild with enthusiasm for Grant. He was made lieutenant-general, and Sherman taking com- mand of the army at Chattanooga, soon began his march on Atlanta.

The year 1863 closed without any further great battles, and the Union armies generally

went into winter quarters. Nearly all of the three-years' men re-enlisted as veterans, show- ing their devotion to country and the flag, and their great interest in carrying the conflict to a successful close.

The regiments having companies from Washington County, who re-enlisted, fur- nished veterans as follows: Eighteenth Reg . iment, 62; Thirty-sixth Regiment, 364; This- ty-ninth Regiment, 534; Sixty-third Regiment. 455; Seventy-seventh Regiment, 304; First Cavalry, 285: Second West

Virginia Cavalry, 353: First Light Artillery, 515: and also Pierpont Battery, 80. The Thirty- ninth Ohio furnished more veterans than any other regiment from Ohio, and Washington County more veterans than any other county in the State, except Hamilton.

Upon the return of the veterans from the front on 30 days' furlough, they were met with a continuous ovation. The citizens of Washington County greeted them with grati- tude and respect.

The roll of dead officers and soldiers for the year 1863 includes many good names, none, however, more lamented than Col. Jesse Hildebrand, a fuller notice of whose life will be found in another part of this work.

Governor Brough entered upon his term with a more emphatic endorsement than any former governor ever had in the State, receiv- ing over 100,000 majority, of which Washing- ton County contributed as follows: Home majority, 865; soldiers' majority, 804; total majority, 1,669. This was a very decided endorsement of the war policy and was an em- phatic pledge to devote the resources of the county to the prosecution of the war, not only by furnishing additional soldiers, but money through taxes and voluntary contributions to support the families of the soldiers left behind as the wards of the nation, and the history of 1863, 1864 and 1865 shows how fully the county came up to the work The whole amount of money thus furnished can never be known. The value of the service rendered could not be measured by money because it in- volved the expenditure of the best energies,

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finest talent and noblest courage, involving loss of life and all that men hold most dear : but the feeling was benevolent and deep seated in the hearts of the people, that no sacri- fice was too costly to serve the Union, for without union all the rest was worthless. Now the fine theories of other days, the high periods and eloquence of the statesmen and patriots of the illustrious past were being forged into the life and experience of the nation. Men were living what before they had only dreamed. The great battle year of 1863 had developed he- roes and leaders. A nation had grappled with and worstetd the foe, and it was now only a question of time as to how long the Rebellion would hold out.

OHIO NATIONAL GUARD.

In the spring of 1864 the Legislature passed a new militia law, repealing the one enacted the previous year requiring military encampments. The new body of State soldiery thus summoned into existence was the Ohio National Guards that was soon to become so famous in the annals of the States.

From the time Governor Brough was in- augurated a new impetus was given to all the miltary affairs of the State, which in no way reflected on the able administration of his illus- trious predecessor, David Tod. Governor Brough was a man of strong feelings and con- victions, and he greatly desired to see the war end in an honorable peace. He was anxious to help the President and vigilant in watching for opportunities to help on the good work. The invasion of the State during the last year had induced the Governor and Legislature to favor a thorough militia organization, and Governor Brough, fearing incursions by the enemy along the southern border of the State. sent Ex-Governor Dennison to Washington to urge upon the Secretary of War the neces- sity of putting State regiments into the service along the border and on the Northern line at proper posts, to discourage any invasion from Canada which was feared, but the Secretary (lenied the necessity. Failing in this, and the

circumstances of the situation showing that soon all must either be gained or lost by strik- ing heavy blows, thick and fast, Governor Brough adopted the theory that the next best way to prevent invasion was to keep the en- emy busy at home. He, therefore, argued that all veterans and volunteers should be in the field in the immediate presence of the en- emy, ready to push him to the wall, and that all soldiers on guard duty should be relieved and sent to the front. The National guards offered a partial solution of the problem, and seeking the co-operation and counsel of the governors of other States, he arranged for a meeting of the governors of Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin, to be held at Washing- ton, where it was decided to offer the President the services of the militia of the States named for 100 days. The offer was couched in the following terms :

WAR DEPARTMENT. WASHINGTON CITY, April 21. 1864. To the President of the Umted States:

1. The governors of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin, offer to the President infantry troops for the approaching campaign. as follows: Ohio, thirty thousand; Indiana, twenty thousand ; Illinois, twenty thousand; Iowa, ten thousand: Wisconsin, five thousand.

II. The term of service to be one hundred days, reckoning from the date of muster into the service of the United States, unless sooner discharged.

IT1. The troops to be mustered into the service of the United States by regiments, when the regiments are filled up. according to regulations of the War De- partment : the whole number to be furnished within twenty days from date of notice of the acceptance of this proposition.

IV. The troops to be clothed. armed, equipped. subsi ted, transported, and paid as other United States infantry volunteers, and to serve in fortifications, or wherever their services may be required. within or without their respective States.

V. No bounty to be paid the troops, nor the ser- vice- charged or credited on any drait.

VI. The draft for three-years' service to go on in any State or district where the quota is not filled up. but if any officer or sol lier in this special service should be drafted, he shall be credited for the service rendered. FORTY BROUGH, Governor of Ohio.

( P. MORTON, Governor of Indiana. RICHARD YATES, Governor of Illinois. W M. STONE, Governor of Iowa.

The President accepted the offer two days after, and on the same day the adjutant gen-

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HISTORY OF MARIETTA AND WASHINGTON COUNTY.

of Ohio received a dispatch from Govenor Brough to call out 30,000 of the Ohio Na- tional Guard for 100 days' service. They were to rendezvous at the nearest practicable point in their respective counties. A week was given for the muster, and by sundown of May 2, 1864, over 30,000 of Ohio's substan- tial citizens reported for duty, and demanded to be sent on to the post of duty. Such an up- rising had not been seen since the first alarmı of Sumter. Governor Brough at one stroke, like that of a magician's wand, had summoned an army into existence. Over 40 regiments. containing 34,000 men, responded to the call and were accepted, thus relieving 30,000 vet- erans to go to the front.

The situation in Washington County as to the draft at this time was very encouraging. Under all the calls of 1863. and the calls of Maich 14. 1804. for 200,000 more, there was an excess of 192 to the credit of different town- ships, but as the credit of one township would not help the deficiency of another, it so hap- pened that 54 men were drafted as follows : Belpre, 10: Decatur, 21; Dunham, I; Law- rence, 4 : Liberty, 15 : Ludlow, 3.

The draft, therefore, had nothing to do with the great uprising of the National Guard. although the guards were, by a subsequent ar- rangement, credited to Ohio on her quota.

The Washington County regiment of the National Guard, organized under the militia law of 1863, remained substantially the same under the new law creating the Ohio National Guard. It was the Forty-sixth Regiment but the number was changed to One Hundred and Forty-eighth. The regiment was commanded by Col. Thomas W. Moore, of Warren town- ship, and all but two companies were from Washington County. Three companies hav- ing come from Vinton County, they were con- solidated with the eight from Washington County, and on May 22, 1864, they left Mari- etta for Harper's Ferry. A fuller account of the services of the regiment will be found fur- ther on in this work.

RED RIVER-MARKS MILLS.

General Banks, supported by Commodore Porter, with a fleet of gunboats, 'during the month of March, 1864, started up the Red River, and General Steele with the army un- der his command from Little Rock, Arkan- sas, to effect a junction with Banks, but the Rebels, having driven Banks back, turned their whole force upon Steele. On April 25, the brigade, consisting of the Thirty-sixth lowa, Forty-third Indiana, and Seventy-seventh Ohio regiments, under command of Lieuten- ant-Colonel Drake, of the Thirty-sixth lowa, was sent from General Steele's army to guard. an empty train of 270 wagons returning to Pine Bluffs. The whole force numbered about 1,500, with a battery of four guns. When the train reached Marks Mills it was attacked by Shelby's cavalry, estimated at 7,000, and the Thirty-sixth and Forty-third, after a gal- lant fight were driven back; the Seventy-sey- enth guarding the rear hurried up on the double quick, to the help of the Forty-third and Thirty-sixth, running over five miles. They charged the enemy with a yell, and killed them by the score, but found an overpowering force of Rebels closing in on them from every side. "They fought desperately hand-to-hand and foot to foot." says an eye witness, but all. in vain: they were all taken prisoners except one lieutenant and 40 men, who cut their way out and escaped to the Union lines after trav- eling over 100 miles, swimming many streams and eating nothing for 48 hours. Captain Mc- Cormick and Lieutenant Smithson were taken prisoners with the rest, and marchedl from the battle-field to the prison pen at Tyler, Texas, marching 52 miles in 24 hours. The negro servants of the officers were shot at once after the surrender.

This was the second term in Rebel prisons for Captain McCormick, he having been rode. down, shot and captured at Shiloh, by the- Texan cavalry.

One of the men of Company: C. Seventy -.

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seventh, tore the colors from the staff and wrapped it around him, when the Rebels were within 20 yards of it, eut his way through the Rebel lines and brought the colors into the camp. in triumph. The flag has nineteen holes in it.

The Union loss in killed and wounded was abut 250, the Rebel loss was much larger, esti- mated at the time by Union officers at 1,000. The Seventy-seventh lost as follows: Killed, seven : mortally wounded, one; severely wounded, 14; slightly wounded, 17; wounded prisoners, six ; prisoners, 300; paroled, seven ; missing, 18; total, 370.

In June the great raid of Generals Hunter. Crook, and Averill, took place. They de- stroyed the military institute at Lexington. Virginia, and did great damage to the enemy. The Second Virginia Cavalry and Thirty-sixth Regiment took a gallant part in this expedi- tion.

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History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 87

Author: Andrews, Martin Register, 1842-; Hathaway, Seymour J Publication date: 1902 Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1490

Author: Andrews, Martin Register, 1842-; Hathaway, Seymour J
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1490