History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 91

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 91

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Morning at length dawned and brought with it prospects of a more sanguinary conflict than had been fought on the day and night previous.

We were encouraged as if ten thousand men had been captured by the report of "Stonewall" Jackson's death, as his name alone was sufficient to carry fear into the northern ranks.

I said the morning of the 3rd gave prospects of a terrible engagement, nor were they unverified, for with the early dawn began the battle in front of the Third Corps, and such musketry I never heard before or since. I was actually glad when our guns began their continuous roar so as to deafen me and prevent me from hcaring the noise. I am safe in saying that at times from one hundred to one hundred and twenty- five thousand muskets would be going off at once, fairly making the ground shake with each discharge, and the battle in the woods made the noise doubly great. Little by little the Rebels gained ground, until at last the Chancellor house was reached. The brave' Hooker refused to relinquish his headquarters, although surrounded by danger. At length it had to be aban-

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doned. Inch by inch we fell back, and every inch was hotly contested. At last night set in, and as if by mutual consent both armies wearied and worn rested from the contest.

On the morning of the 4th the Rappahannock was discovered to be rapidly rising and our provisions were nearly exhausted, with all of our trains on the other side. Hooker, fearful that the pontoons would be swept away, ordered the army to recross. We retired very reluctantly ; to many of u, it was the most re- luctant thing we ever did, for we all went over confi- dent of success.

Our boys behaved nobly throughout the whole engagement. Captain Il:ll. usually brave. surpassed himself. Lieutenant Miner acted in such a way as to receive the commendation of all, but were I to mention all who distinguished themselves, I should have to begin at the top of the battery roll and enumer- ate every one. Our causalties were as follows : Regnier, Smith Miner, Louis Fougeres, Henry Hutch- inson, wounded, and Wiley Reeves captured; 20 horses lost, three caissons and one gun captured; the latter, however, was recaptured the ensuing fall. By the even- ing of the 4th the whole army had recrossed and were ordered to Brook's station.

About the last of May, 1863, the battery was transferred from the Eleventh Corps to the artillery reserve, under Gen. R. O. Tyler. and they remained in that splendid organiza- tion ever afterward.

The following is an account by William Jenvey :

GETTYSBURG.

We at length reached Taneytown, Pennsylvania, just one day's march from Gettysburg. All of June 30, 1863. we remained here to allow the artillery t. concentrate. All July Ist we heard the heavy and incessant cannonading. but could gain no tidings, until toward evening reports came in announcing the dis- aster to the First and Eleventh corps, and the death of General Reynolds. All this dampened our enthus- iasm considerably, for we all perceived that our duties would be doubly severe to recover the lost ground and restore confidence. The morning of the 2nd we broke camp early and started briskly toward the con- tested ground, which we reached early, halted long enough to make coffee, when we were ordered into position on Cemetery Hill. Those who are familiar with the history of that memorable day, will remember that Cemetery Hill, situated as it was in the center, and being the most advanced position of the line, was, as a consequence, the most hotly contested part of the field. Directly in our rear lay the Baltimore pike, a most tempting bait, leading as it did to Baltimore.

On a gallop under a heavy fire we dashed up the hill. unlimbered and prepared for act'on. Soon the conflict raged with redoubled fury, reinforcements were coming up and rapidly taking position, and by noon both lines were completed.

Stretching off to our left in a valley intervening between the two lines, lay a long dark line of blue- coated men with gleaming bayonet -. By their battle- flags we recognized the Third Corps, always on hand and always bearing their banners where death flies thick and fast. Their line was fully a quarter of a mile in advance of the Second Corps, on their right, thus leaving an interval between the two flanks. Gen- eral Meade was explaining to General Sickles the langer of his position, when the enemy made a furious assault upon his lines. The moment the Rebel host appeared they discharged such a volley as to make the i earth quake; their whole line blazed with a sulphurous light. their guns hurled death and destruction into the surprised ranks of our men. Gallantly the brave Third Corps held its position. Sickles, dashing into the thick- est of the fight, sought to retrieve the fortunes of the day, but was soon brought off bleeding and mangled, almost lifeless, a ball having broken his leg .*

Mortal men could not stand such a fire. They wavered. then rallied, then wavered again, then broke, and with terrific and appalling yells the Rebel infantry pursued. Back fell our men, and still back until they were directly in our rear, until we thought our line was broken and all was lost, when lo! a long bright line of bayonets appear, quickly the men are deployed in the field, their knapsacks are unslung, their line formed and all are in readiness for the fray. By their battle-flags we discern that the Fifth Corps has op- portunely come up, by the exultant and confident cheers they charged. A long bright flash burst from their ranks and havoc and dismay were sent into the enemy's ranks. Their line staggered. Another volley from our hoys and they fell hack. Just then a battery of 20-pound Parrotts secreted on Sugar Loaf Hill. opened on them and cut swaths in their retreating ranks, and the orderly retreat was turned to a mob, all organiza- tion was lost, and with it all hope.

Many a Southern hearthstone was minus a mem- ber, and many a sorrowing family can tell how their joy and pride was cut down in that fatal charge. Our lines were firmly re-established.

All this time we had been actively engaged with the Rebel artillery in our front. They were strong in force, and had been tasking us pretty severely. The sharpshooters, too, secreted behind a stone wall but a short distance away in our front, had been annoying us terribly, but as yet no casuality had taken place. All were congratulating themselves when a shell too surely aimed. came crashing through the air. Louis Fourgeres saw and avoided it, but poor Stephen Brad- clock, more unfortunate, was struck fair in the head, the shell taking as it went a portion off the top part of his head. If his body had been made of stone. he could not have fallen more rigidly. He threw out his arms. and with a gentle oh! returned his soul to Him who

*This wound necessitated amputation, and we find it recorded in another place by one who saw him borne from the field, that after his leg had been taken off and the wound dressed, this impetuous leader was borne from the field on a stretcher, lying with his hat drawn down over his eyes, his arms folded tightly on his breast and a cigar in his mouth.

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gave it. His death for a time threw a gloom over all, for no one knew but he would be the next. I am con- vinced from the suddenness of the blow that he never knew the cause of his death.

So hotly were we engaged that no one had a leisure moment to remove him : there he lay grim and ghastly. Although I was commanding the gun next to the one on which Braddock was killed, and was but a few feet from him, still I was ignorant of the fact until quite a time afterward, when Lieutenant Thies informed me. So you may imagine how actively we were engaged. A lull soon occurred in the firing when Braddock's remains were carried off, and laid in their last resting place. Truly a soldier's burial was his. the noise of war was resounding on all sides when we laid him in his grave. He was wrapped in his blanket, a good deep grave dug. and a head board with his name carved on by a comrade, placed at the head. We left his body. but carried away a just appreciation of his worth as a man and a soldier.

Soon, however, under the renewed energy of the battle all else was forgotten, and little by little acci- dents happened; two of my horses had their forelegs cut off by one shell, and so close did it strike to Charley Boyce, their driver, that it knocked the dust over him. and stunned him for a time. Supposing him killed, I ran to his assistance, hut found him safe and cool as if nothing had happened. I ordered to unharness his crippled horses, take them to the rear, and have them shot. and am not positive that I did not see a glisten- ing in the poor fellow's eyes, very much like a tear, when he received the order.

John Lehnhard and Martin Wendelkin, both cannon- eers on my gun, were standing side by side, taking ammunition out of the chest, when a shell came thun- dering between them, tearing off half the axle, and burying itself in the ground. Each looked at the other, and grasped their legs, thinking one at least was gone. so close did the shell pass, but finding themselves in- tact, they laughed and went on with their work. An- other of my boys, whilst leaning against a wheel, heard a dull thud: on looking around, he found a musket ball. half buried in the wheel close by his head. Sergeant Dow seeing a shell coming too friendly a course, leaped aside and escaped death. Captain Hill, while walking up and down the line, encouraging all, nearly lost both his legs by a shell.

Sceing a shell coming hent on mischief, I called out "Look ont." L. R. Moore on my right hearing me, fell to the ground. and the shell passed so close to him across his back. that he thought he was wound- ed. and placed his hands on his back like one in intense agony : he looked towards me, and seeing me laugh- ing, found himself uninjured. He laughed also, and went on with his duty. It was now getting dark, and the fire of the artillery was beginning to die away, but still the sharpshooters kept up an incessant fire. I was standing by my gun when I felt a sharp stinging sensation in my throat. I clapped my hand to the spot, imagining myself badly wounded. I felt a second time, but found no blood, and came to the conclusion that it was nothing. The next morning, on mention- ing the fact. I was told that there was a red streak across my throat.

About 10 o'clock P. M .. the firing ceased, and every man laid down by his gun and slept.

The next morning. July 3d. we awoke refreshed and ready for the attack, nor had we long to wait, for with the break of day began the engagement. and we kept up a brisk fire until about noon, when a deadly calm fell on the whole field.

Early in the morning a general officer rode up to Captain Hill and told him that they had learned that the Rebels had designed concentrating all their artillery on our front, to be supported by ten thou- sand picked men under Rhodes. The artillery was to destroy our lines, when the infantry was to charge and occupy them. He further said that General Meade could not afford us any support, and that we must defend ourselves to keep clear our front, and asked the captain if he could do it. Captain Hill answered, "If any men can, mine can," or words to that effect. The general replied that our position must be held at all hazards, or the day was lost. Knowing as we did the immense responsibility resting upon us, we shut our teeth and vowed we would hold our posi- tion.

The intetise calm over the whole field we knew portended the anticipated attack, nor were we long in anticipation, for at a signal from a gun on the Rebel right. the whole field was as convulsed as if an earthquake had occurred. The whole of the Rebel artillery, estimated at from two hundred and twenty- five to two hundred and fifty guns, by General Meade in his official report, had opened on us at once. Mortal pen cannot describe the horrors of that unparalleled cannonade. Nearly five hundred guns were going all at once. The air was alive with shrieking and burst- ing shells, guns discharging, men shouting, and many crying out in pain, horses rearing and neighing as they were being horribly mangled, caissons bursting, sar- rying death and dismay to their possessors. until it appeared as if it was impossible for man to survive the destructive missiles, For four long hours did this continue. Men by scores and hundreds had been killed. In the first battery to our left forty men had been killed and wounded, and nearly all their horses. Four pieces had been disabled, and at one time we saw three of their limber chests blown up. I rode over their position the next morning, and the sight fairly sick- ened me. Their guns had to b> hauled off in baggage wagons. Still, although our position was higher and more exposed. it appeared as though some guardian angel was watching over us, for our losses were but few. Charles Lacey, a driver on Sergeant O'Neil's gun, while keeping his horses still, was struck by half of a light 12-pounder shell above the right eye, killing him the same way as Braddock, but there he had to lay until after the battle, when we gave him a decent burial. James Loufman was struck in the breast with a piece of shell, but its force had been spent, causing no injury.

The battle still raged hotter and hotter. Our am- munition having given out, we fired back a few of the Rebel shells, hot as they were, literally paying them back in their own co'n. Our ammunition being ex- hausted. we were compelled to withdraw.

Our journey down the Chambersburg pike was. if

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anything, hotter than the field itself, for it is proverbial that the rear is the most dangerous place, for on it is concentrated all the shot and shell that have passed over the front. We had no sooner got out of harm's way than the firing ceased. The artillery having failed to break our line, the Rebel infantry was drawn up in line to attempt it. Right nobly they came, but it was to their death, for our whole line opened on them with full force, and sent such a deadly storm of can- nister into their ranks that it appeared as if the whole line was doomed. Fully one-third fell. as many more threw down their arms and surrendered. and the rest. demoralized and scattered. sought the shelter of the woods. Thus ended this memorable engagement. Skir- mishing, it is true, was still kept up, but the heavy fighting was over. Some of the boys, on going over the field to our front and left. said that fully three acres could be traversed without touching the ground. so thickly were the bodies strewn. 1 was content to take a view from our position. It was too horrible to take a nearer look at. We remained in position until noon of the 5th. when it was fully known that the Rebels were retreating.

The battle being over and the Rebels in full re- treat, we started after them. nor were we loth to leave the place. For four days and nights had we been there almost without food. water or sleep. Is it any wonder that the place had no fascination ?

Men blame Meade for not following Lee more closely. and preventing his escape across the Potomac, but had they been there they could readily have seen the reason.

THE LAST BATTLE.

Lee having got fairly away. we started by easy and pleasant marches towards our old haunts. We camped at Warrenton, then at Culpeper. and when in the fall Lee slipped by us and again made demonstra- tions on Washington, we again took part in that "mas- terly fall-back." Although the Rebels had the start, and the inside track, still. Meade honed that by strate- gem he might defeat them. He placed the army in three columns. and marched them by three different roads, keeping each column in sight of the other nearly constantly, and the race became so close that when the head of our column reached and occupied Centre- ville Heights, the head of the Rebel Hill's column could be seen crossing the old Bull Run bridge. Lee maneuvered around a good deal. hoping to find an assailable point, but not finding any. he again fell back. We in this campaign fought our last battle. The Second Corps had been warmly engaged, their artillery had run out of ammunition, and it became necessary to relieve them. We were sent up to their relief. and hardly had we reached the front when a Rebel battery of four guns opened on us from Mitchell's ford. We asked no better fun than to engage them. Dashing into position we soon exchanged cards, and opened an intimate acquaintance. A short time was sufficient. They tired of our acquaintance and very unceremoniously withdrew. leaving us exulting over our ensy, and on our part bloodless victory. We fol- lowed Lee to the Rappahannock, where a part of our

troops made such a gallant assault on his works, at Rappahannock station. Here the gun captured from us at Chancellorsville was, to our great joy. recap- tured.

Our battery re-enlisted and came home on a vet- eran furlough, and returned expecting to take part in the anticipated engagements under Grant, but that gen- eral, having more artillery than he needed, sent us. in connection with a number of other batteries, to man the defenses of Washington, where we remained until peace was declared and we were allowed to return to our homes, proud that we should never have canse to blush at our record.

BATTLE RECORD OF THE BATTERY.

Strasburg. Virginia, June 2. 1862; Tom Brook, Virginia. June 3, 1862: Mount Jackson, Virginia, June 4. 1862: Cross Keys, Virginia. June 8, 1862: Port Re- public. Virginia, June 9, 1862; Luray, Virginia, July 11. 1862; Cedar Mountain, Virginia, August 9. 1862; Freeman's Ford. Virginia, August 22, 1862: Sulphur Springs, Virginia. August 23, 1862: Waterloo Bridge, Virginia. August 24, 1862: Bull Run. Virginia, Au- gust 29, 1862; Bull Run, Virginia, August 30. 1862 : Leesburg, Virginia. September 17, 1862: Catlett's Sta- tion, Virginia, September 25, 1862: Chancellorsville, May 2. 1863: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, July 2 and 3, 1863; Mitchell's Ford, October 15, 1863.

Battery H. First Ohio Volunteer Light Ar- tillery.

COM MISSIONED OFFICERS.

Captain James F. Huntington, mustered Novem- ber 7. 1861, resigned on surgeon's certificate of disabil- ity October 26, 1863: Captain George W. Norton, mus- tered October 26. 1863, resigned March 21. 1864: Cap- tain Stephen W. Dorsey, mustered April 13. 1864. mus- tered out with battery; First Lieutenant George W. Norton. mustered November 7. 1861. promoted to cap- tain : First Lieutenant George Davenport. mustered No- vember 7. 1861, resigned January 7. 1863: First Lieu- tenant Charles G. Mason, mustered March 12. 1862. resigned April 26. 1862: First Lieutenant William A. Ewing, mustered June 4. 1863. mustered ont October 24. 1864: First Lieutenant Albert G. Merrill, mustered March 3. 1864, resigned October 12. 1864: First Lieu- tenant James Harris, mustered February 8, 1865, mus- tered out with battery: First Lieutenant William H. Perrigo, mustered February 8. 1865, mustered out with battery : Second Lieutenant Thomas M. Bartlett, mus- tered November 7. 1862, promoted ; Second Lieutenant Martin B. Ewing, mustered November 7. 1862, pro- moted : Second Lieutenant Albert G Merrill, mustered September 15. 1862, promoted: Second Lieutenant Frank B. Reckard, mustered January 7. 1863. promoted ; Second Lieutenant Albert Reagler, mustered May 9. 1864, mustered out with battery: Second Lieutenant Lewis B. Maxwell. mustered May 2. 1855, mustered out with battery: Second Lieutenant Silas H. Judson. mustered May 2. 1865. mustered out with battery ;

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HISTORY OF MARIETTA AND WASHINGTON COUNTY,

Second Lieutenant Wallace W. Pixley, mustered Oc- tober 20, 1864, mustered out July 1, 1865; Second Lieutenant William E. Parmalee, mustered February 8, 1865, mustered out July 1, 1865.

In October, 1861, about 60 men were raised for the field artillery service, in Wash- ington and Monroe counties. An arrange- ment was made to complete a battery by unit- ing them with about the same number of re- cruits from the vicinity of Toledo.

On November 6th the organization was perfected at Camp Dennison, and Battery H, of the First Light Artillery, came into exist- ence. The following was the roster of com- missioned officers at that date: J. F. Hunt- ington, of Marietta, captain: G. W. Norton. of Toledo, senior first lieutenant; George Davenport, of Salem, junior first lieutenant ; M. B. Ewing, of Cincinnati, senior second lieutenant ; T. M. Bartlett, of Cleveland, junior second lieutenant.

The junior subaltern never reported for duty with the battery, and was afterward trans- ferred. Private W. A. Ewing was promoted to the vacancy. Of the men thus brought to- gether from opposite frontiers of the State, it is but justice to say, that in character and intelligence they were above the average.

The battery was armed with six James' guns-the old bronze six-pounder rifled to throw a 13-pound conical shot. It was ad- mirably horsed-better than at any subsequent period.

In January, the battery being reported as ready for the field, it was sent to join Gen- eral Landers' afterward Shields' division, near Cumberland, Maryland. It was first en- gaged at the battle of Winchester, March 22, 1862; losing one man, Private Jacob Tager, and one horse killed by the same shot. Gen- eral Shields was wounded while sitting on his horse near the pieces watching the fire. The battery took part in the various operations in Shenandoah Valley for the next two months. In May the division was ordered to march for Fredricksburg and join McDowell's corps, | then about to unite with the right wing of Mc- Dowell's army in an attack on Richmond.

When Shields' division was fairly out of the way, "Stonewall" Jackson returned and drove General Banks' small command out of the valley. The advance on Richmond was postponed, and Shields' division, followed by the bulk of McDowell's corps, was started post haste towards the valley. In combination with Fremont, who was to come in from Franklin, they were to "bag Jackson."

As usual, the string slipped-McDowell gave it up at Front Royal, and left Shields to follow Jackson on his own hook. The bridges of the Shenandoah had been burnt, and the stream unfordable. Shields had sent two bri- gades and three battalions, "H" among them, up the north bank to the village of Port Re- public, where a bridge was standing.

Jackson proposed to cross at this point. He found these two brigades under General Tyler, of Ohio, likely to interfere with him. Fremont pressed him south of the river. On Sun- day, June 8th, he checked that general at Cross Keys, and, crossing at Port Republic early the next morning, attacked Tyler's small com- mand, expecting to wipe him out in season and return and join with Fremont. In this action Battery H was severely handled. Posted on the left flank, without infantry support, a thick wood sheltered the enemy within pistol-shot of the guns. It was charged in front and flanked by the "Louisiana Tigers," and forced to retire, leaving two pieces on the field, having several men killed and wounded, with a large number of horses. Tyler's command made a gallant fight, and the enemy made no serious attempt to follow their retreat. Shields' di- vision retired to Front Royal; the general re- signed his command, and the division was broken up.

In July Battery H arrived at Alexandria much reduced in strength by the casualties of service. Before the losses in men and material could be repaired, the battery was ordered to Marietta to join General Pike's army. At this place it was inspected and ordered back to Alexandria. Recruiting officers were sent to Toledo and Marietta who soon raised men to fill the attenuated ranks. The James' guns

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were turned in and replaced by six ordnance guns, three-inch wrought iron rifles. By this time General Pope was falling back on the defenses of Washington. The battery joined him in time for the battle of Chantilly. After various marches and counter marches the bat- tery, permanently assigned to General Whip- ple's division, proceeded by rail from Wash- ington to join Mcclellan in Maryland. Thenceforward it belonged to the army of the Potomac. The battery next came in contact with the enemy during a reconnoisance in Ma- nassas Gap with Piatt's brigade early in No- vember, 1862.

After General Burnside succeeded to the command, the battery marched to Fredricks- burg and was detailed with others to cover the laying of the center pontoon preparatory to the bloody and disastrous battle of Fredericks- burg. It took part in shelling the city, but did not cross the river. In Burnside's next at- tempt, known as the "mud march," Battery H was one of those assigned to cover the cross- ing at Banks' Ford. It reached the designated position and got back to the old camp by one of the hardest marches in its history.

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History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 91

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