History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 96

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 96

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

There was but little intercourse with the people ; only a few were loyal to the flag ; but we respected both person and property where they showed no open acts of disloyalty. Thus the winter passed. Our numbers were kept full by recruits. May 12, 1862, the regiment -1.000 strong-with cheerful hearts, took up its line of march in the direction of real busi- ness. Company B alone remained in charge of the train to come by another route. Forded Gauley River and marched much of the way by bridle paths. The march was a forced one,

and the first two days were intensely hot, so that many gave out. The way led via Cold Knob and Frankfort, the object being to get in the rear of a Confederate force under Gen- eral Heath, at Lewisburg. At the same time a force under Colonel Gilbert approached from Gauley Bridge. General Heath was too wary and eluded the trap. The Union forces unit- ed at Lewisburg, and consisted of the Thirty- sixth and Forty-fourth regiments and a battal- ion of the Second Virginia Cavalry, all under command of Colonel Crook-about 1,200 strong. From Lewisburg. Colonel Crook, with this small force, marched through the mountains to White Sulphur Springs and Cov- ington, to Jackson River depot, and destroyed the bridge at that point. The movement was so bold and rapid, and the enemy so surprised, they dare not leave their mountain fastnesse- to essay an attack.

A few days after the return of the expedi- tion to Lewisburg, May 23rd, early in the morning, General Heath, with from 2,500 to 3,000 men, drove in the pickets and took a strong position on a hill on the opposite side of the town from where the Union forces were encamped, and commenced shelling the camp. The Thirty-sixth, under Colonel Clarke, and the Forty-fourth, under Colonel Gilbert, were ordered to charge the enemy in their position. Disappearing for a few moments in the streets of the town, the National forces suddenly emerged upon the rising ground in front of the Rebels-the Thirty-sixth on the left and the Forty-fourth on the right of the line of battle. The Rebel infantry was posted be- hind a rail fence, and between the lines was an open, clear field. Over this ground the Thirty-sixth charged with a vell, receiving a volley from the enemy.

Reserving fire until at close range, and giving the Rebels scarcely time to reload, the men were upon them, and they broke in com- plete rout. They escaped down the mountain, and firing the bridge over the Greenbrier Ri- ver rendered further pursuit impossible. In this the maiden battle of the Thirty-sixth Regiment, it was pitted against the Twenty-

653

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

second Virginia, which was recruited in the rich country of Greenbrier County and the Kanawha Valley, and was armed with Missis- sippi rifles. The result of this victory was a Joss to the Thirty-sixth of seven killed. 44 wounded, and five captured on picket. The Forty-fourth lost much less. Rebel loss, 60 killed and left on the field, 175 prisoners, four pieces of artillery and 300 stand of small arms. They carried off many of their slightly wounded.

This being a fair stand-up fight, on ground of the Rebels' own choosing, the plan of attack also their own, it increased the men's confi- dence in the future. It being a Rebel town, the wounded who were straggling back were ill-treated: one was shot dead by a citizen. The Union dead were buried in a beautiful grove, and their graves surrounded by a picket fence by their comrades.

This battle occurring near the homes of many of the Confederate soldiers, their friends came in to care for both dead and wounded. The scenes there witnessed were very affect- ing. Mothers with their dead or wounded sons, sisters with their brothers, wives with husbands. It was truly a sad picture of the realities of war. Added to this was the morti- fication of defeat in their own country. The Union wounded were sent to Charleston in ambulances. Some were met there by rela- tives and taken home. Dvar B. McClure, of Warren, Washington County, badly wounded. died soon after reaching home.

After clearing up the wreck of battle and paroling the Rebel wounded, May 20th, the regiment took up the line of march to Meadow Bluffs to be more accessible to supplies. They were joined here by the Forty-seventh Ohio. and on June 22d the entire force, under com- mand of Colonel Crook, started to return Gen- cral Heath's early call on them at Lewisburg. by a visit to his camps at Union, Monroe County. Marched via Salt Sulphur Springs. forded the Greenbrier River the second day, and reached Union in the afternoon. The general, not caring for further acquaintance. had left for the mountains. The command

then leisurely retraced its steps, and as it was a very fine country foraged its way back by another route. At Meadow Blufts, drilling occupied most of the time until August 14th, when the regiment started for Camp Piatt, on the Kanawha River. Here, with most of the force under General Cox, they embarked on transports for Parkersburg, en route to Wash- ington and the army of the Potomac.

At Parkersburg recruits were added to the regiment, increasing its numbers to 1,020. . \ happy day was spent here, the regiment ming- ling with their friends, who came to meet them, and to many it was the last meeting on earth. Left Parkersburg on stock and freight cars, and went through without change. Through Washington, over the long bridge, through Alexandria, arriving at Warrenton junction August 25th, in advance of the rest of the Kanawha division, and were assigned by General Pope to duty at his headquarters. General "Stonewall" Jackson having broken in upon General Pope's rear prevented any more of the division coming forward.

August 27th, in charge of headquarters. train fell back with the rest of the army, and encamped that night near the battle ground of Bristow Station. Marched through Ma- massas to Centreville, overlooking the second Bull Run battle. Company F was sent back to Bristow on special duty, joining the regi- ment next day.

In the succeeding battle of Bull Run, the Thirty-sixth was held in reserve by General Pope, and on the evening of that defeat, per- formed signal service in arresting stragglers and fugitives from the battle, thus preventing thousands from hurrying back to Washing- ton and creating a panic of dismay similar to that after the first battle of Bull Run.

September 2nd the regiment fell back to Arlington heights, remaining there a few days. September 7th, marched through Washington ; were reviewed by Secretary Chase and others from the balcony of the treasury department. The men were proud of their regiment, as compared with any they had seen in the East- ern Army, not merely because of their nam-

654

HISTORY OF MARIETTA AND WASHINGTON COUNTY,

bers (for they were often hailed with "What brigade is that?") but in their marching and drill they knew they were second to none. Colonel Strother, better known as "Porte Crayon," said of the regiment. after witness- ing one of its dress parades, that it executed the most perfect manual of arms he had ever seen in his army experience.

September 7th, after being joined by the rest of the Kanawha division, left Washing- ton. the object being to repel Lee's invasion of Maryland. The Kanawha division had the advance of the entire Federal force, now com- manded again by General Mcclellan: met the advance of Lee's army (General Stewart's cavalry ) on the 2nd, at Frederick, Maryland. They occupied the town. The Thirty-sixth marched to the attack in line of battle on the left of the pike, the Twenty-eighth Ohio on the right. Colonel Moore, of the Twenty- eighth, commanding brigade, kept the pike leading directly into the town with a section of artillery. The moment he reached the town a rush by the enemy's cavalry captured the brave colonel and a few others ; then fell back without fighting. The command of the brigade de- volved on Colonel Crook, and that of the regi- ment on Lieutenant-Colonel Clarke. The regiment never afterward had its old colonel as its commander. Reached Middletown the 13th ; here opened the battle of South Moun- tain.

Early on the morning of the 14th, Gen. J. D. Cox, commanding the division, was ordere i to storm the mountain. The Thirty-sixth had position in the center and its march lay through the only open ground, without cover of any kind. The enemy, first with shell, and, as the line advanced, with canister and grape, poure.1 into them a destructive fire. The musketry followed. The line never wavered, although subjected to an enfilading fire from artillery, and musketry in front, posted behind a stone wall on the crest of the mountain. The regi- ment held its fire, the Rebels cursing and yell- ing "You can't come over here." With loaded guns and fixed bayonets they reached the wall. then over it rattled the brave lads with a yell.

Then followed a hand-to-hand fight with those who would not surrender or run away. Among the former was a Confederate surgeon, who kept firing with his revolver until pierced with a bayonet. The regiment pursued the enemy into the woods beyond, killing and capturing a number, until ordered back in line with the right of our forces, who had not been quite so fortunate. The rest of the day was spent in repelling the efforts of the enemy to retake that line.

The Thirty-sixth lost a number in killed and wounded. Corporal Courtland Shepherd, from Washington County, one of the colored guard, was killed. That night the regiment bivouacked among the Rebel dead on their chosen ground. \ detail rudely buried the Union dead at the rear near where they fell. In this, the second battle of the regiment. not a man was known to have failed in his duty. That night the enemy left the mountain, fall- ing back and across Antietam Creek. Early in the morning the Union Army was in pursuit. That day ( the 15th ) and the 16th little else was done, but as the army came on to take up position, driving in the Rebel skirmishers, the Rebels from the heights about Sharpsburg commenced throwing with their cannon pieces of iron rails and sledge hammers as far as our line. General Burnside, the corps commander, gave his command to understand that it was to have an easy victory, as the enemy was out of ammunition. Alas, how fatal the delusion ! About 10 A. M. on the 17th the Kanawha division was ordered to assault the stone bridge and carry it at all hazard. It could not be done till Colonel Crook by a skillful manœuvre with a battery cleared the heights of the ene- my at the opposite end. When a crossing was effected the division was rapidly deployed in line of battle and a charge at once ordered. The ground being clear, excepting fences, and the regiment about the center of the line. it drew a terrible fire from the enemy's artillery. In this charge Colonel Clarke fell, shot through the body by a large shell. The regiment drove the Rebel infantry from their first line and was then halted. This part of the field

655

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

being vital to the enemy they massed a heavy force on the left of the Union line and doubled it back. Colonel Crook drew his brigade with the rest of the division a short distance back under cover of rolling ground. In this move- ment the regiment did not forget its beloved commander, Colonel Clarke, but carried his remains with them in a blanket. It is but just to say here that Colonel Clarke, by unexam- pled bearing, even temper and gentlemanly de- portment, had steadily won for himself the confidence and a warm place in the hearts of the entire regiment. His remains were for- warded to his home at Marietta, where they now rest in the beautiful cemetery, and his grave is marked by a monument erected by his fellow officers.

The command of the regiment now de- volved upon Major Andrews. That night the groans and cries of the helpless wounded of both armies between the two lines could be heard, but no help could safely reach them. The 18th passed with an occasional shot, but a vigilant watch was kept over the enemy. The following night Lee with his entire army escaped, fording the Potomac. After the bat- tle the regiment was moved down near the mouth of Antietam Creek, where it remained until October 6th, when the Kanawha division was ordered back to West Virginia. The march lay via Hagerstown to Hancock, then over the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad to Clarks- burg. The regiment and brigade left this town the last of October for Charleston. The march lay through Summerville, the old fa- miliar quarters of the regiment. Reached Charleston about the middle of November. After the active work of the summer and fall it was supposed that here on the lower bank of the Elk River the regiment would winter. Accordingly all actively set about making quarters out of such material as was at hand. Some were completed and all nearly so when, January 25th, transports came up the Kana- wha River to convey General Crook with his command to the Army of the Cumberland at Nashville, Tennessee. The men regretted to leave their newly constructed quarters, but

such are the uncertainties of army life. Crowded on steamers the trip was exceedingly uncomfortable. Remained near Nashville till February 22nd, when the Thirty-sixth. Elev- enth, Eighty-ninth and Ninety-second Ohio. and Eighteenth Kentucky regiments, and Twenty-first Indiana Battery, under command of General Crook, re-embarked for Carthage. Tennessee. At this place a good deal of im- portant scouting occupied the time till early in June, when General Crook with his com- mand marched to Murfreesborough. In the meantime Colonel Andrews resigned and Will- iam G. Jones was commissioned colonel of the regiment. General Crook's brigade was as- signed to Major-General Reynolds's division, Fourteenth Army Corps, commanded by Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas. June 24th, General Crook with his ( Third) brigade, in advance of the corps, took up the line of march on the Manchester pike southward. Late in the day the Thirty-sixth had a few men wounded at Hoover's Gap. Next day moved to the left, to flank the enemy's position at Tullahoma. Found him gone in the direction of Bridge- port, the railroad crossing over the Tennessee River.

The pursuit was necessarily and aggravat- ingly slow, owing to the wretched condition of the roads, it having rained incessantly since the command left Murfreesborough. At Big Springs, a day's march further on, General Crook was relieved of the command of the bri- gade and given a division of cavalry, Gen. J. B. Turchin taking his place.

In July moved up to University Place, a beautiful place on a mountain, remained there some two weeks, with little else to do but fight jiggers ( a little insect thick on the bushes ) and look out for rattlesnakes. In August moved down the southeastern slope into Sweeden's Cove: stopped a few days at Blue Springs, on Battle Creek; marched on through the Se- quatchie Valley to Jasper. Tennessee. This land abounded in very delicious peaches, of which many a heaping hatful was appropri- ated by the soldiers. September 2nd, crossed the river at Shell Mound in Flats. From this

656

HISTORY OF MARIETTA AND WASHINGTON COUNTY,

point the march lay over Sand Mountain into Lockout Valley ; moved on in the direction of Trenton, Georgia. Further up the regiment and command performed the task of pulling both artillery and baggage train to the top of Lookout Mountain, crossing immediately down the other side into Mclemore's Cove. Here, on the 17th, the enemy made some dem- onstrations from Catlett's Gap. Some ma- nœuvring was done to mystify the enemy, and on the night of the 18th, after issuing a few rations, the entire command moved.

General Crittenden was being pressed in the direction of Rossville, northeast. This compelled a wearisome all-night march. At daylight, on the 19th, the regiment was at Crawfish Springs, and a little further on went into its place in line of battle. Soon the work of death commenced-the terrific battle of Chickamauga. Fierce cannonading for miles up and down the valley-a short lull-then the murderous work of the infantry began. The battlefield being largely in the woods seemed to impart a sentiment of awe to the work that was going on. The Thirty-sixth in position seemed a little to the left center. Sud- denly on the right the firing grew nearer and nearer. Many wounded were passing to the rear, the front holding its ground. General Reynolds, division commander, ordered the brigade to change front to the right. Barely was this manœuvre accomplished when through the ranks rushed some National troops closely pursued by the enemy. The solid front pre- sented checked them, and their broken masses took cover behind trees and logs, giving them great advantage. Not a man of the regiment was known to have turned back unless wound- ed. The slaughter was fearful, especially on the right of the regiment. The brave Capt. James Stanley's men, Company D, were fall- ing right and left. Something must be done. General Turchin was not there. Colonel Jones was mortally wounded: Major Adney was wounded. At this critical moment Lieu- tenant-Colonel Devol ordered a charge. With an inspiring yell the men rushed forward and drove the enemy back and be-

yond their artillery. They had driven them several hundred yards when an aide was dis- patched ordering the brigade back. Had the enemy closed that gap in the rear, the subse- quent history of the Thirty-sixth and Eleventh Ohio and Eighteenth Kentucky Regiments would have had a different reading. There was but little fighting on that part of the line the rest of the day. Exhausted, the regiment lay on its arms, keeping a skirmish line in front. Early the next morning, the 20th, Gen- eral Rosecrans caused word to be passed along the line that as it was the Sabbath fighting should not be provoked.

General Bragg, being reinforced by Long- street's corps, was confident, and early opened the battle. The regiment was moved to the left and front. The enemy made repeated charges and as often were repulsed. Major General Thomas, in his official report of these charges, says: "The enemy attacked John- son, Palmer, and Reynolds with fierceness which was continued at least two hours, making assault after assault with fresh troops, which was met by our troops with a most determined coolness and deliberation. Having exhausted his utmost energies to dislodge us, he appar- ently fell back entirely from our front, and we were not disturbed again till towards night." About four o'clock the enemy made a desper- ate effort and succeeded in forcing the lines back on the right and left of Reynolds' di- vision, where, from the front and both flanks, the enemy poured their missiles of death. General Reynolds and other officers thought the entire division would have to surrender, and as evidence of their fears took off their shoulderstraps to conceal their rank. At this moment General Thomas, the "Rock of Chick- amanga," ran the gauntlet and ordered a "change of front to the left of the enemy's flank, and get out, if possible." Like a statue he coolly sat on his horse, witnessed the execu- tion of his order and then galloped back. The charge was a success. Many prisoners and a battery of artillery were captured. The latter could not be brought off.

The day closed with 70 dead officers and

657

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

men of the Thirty-sixth Regiment lying in those woods. The night was spent in with- drawing to Rossville, next day ( 21st) held the gap through the ridge covering Chatta- nooga. The 22nd of September fell back into Chattanooga, and with the rest of the army vigorously set about fortifying. From this time to the first of November the army was in a state of siege on half rations. Early during the siege lost a dozen men on a reconnoisance. October 26th, Turchin's and Hayen's brigades were elected to take Brown's Ferry below Lookout Mountain and thus co-operate with General Hooker in relieving the beleaguered army. This was successfully accomplished by selecting experienced boatmen from the Thirty- sixth and Ninety-second Regiments. Quietly in the darkness of night they floated down in pontoons past the Rebel pickets, landing and storming the heights at the ferry. Hooker's arrival brought the first sound crackers and meat the regiment had had for a month. Parched corn had been the only good diet that could be had. The regiment returned to Chat- tanooga in a few days, Hooker holding the ferry and starting from it on his famous charge up Lookout Mountain.

November 25th, on the extreme left of the Fourteenth Corps and army, the Thirty-sixth and Ninety-second, side by side, with the battle cry of "Chickamauga," charged Missionary Ridge. The miles in length of the charging line of the blue, dotted here and there with the soldier's pride-his country's flag-was an in- spiring sight, though the belching line of can- non and musketry from the enemy on the crest told fearfully on that column. The erest was reached, the breastworks taken-in many in- stances by a hand-to-hand fight. The regi- ment captured two pieces of artillery and many prisoners. Generals Grant and Thomas hay- ing followed closely, were cheered by the men as they passed by. The regiment lost in this charge 83 of its brave members. The follow- ing day pursued the enemy to Ringgold, Georgia, after which it returned to its tents in Chattanooga. Thus ended what commenced

in the forests of Chickamauga and might be termed a continuation of the same battle.

AAs soon as possible the regiment made coffins and went out to Chickamauga (eight miles ) to bring in its dead; only 37 could be recognized, however-they having been cov- ered with a shovelful of earth where they fell. The rest had been gathered promiscuously with others and buried in rows, with only earth enough to partially cover them ; near the widow Glen's house were long rows of the dead of both armies.

How the nation's destroyers gloated over their temporary success at Chickamauga, while like vultures they looked down from Mission- ary Ridge and Lookout Mountain, on its de- fenders! The men of the Thirty-sixth killed in these battles now rest in a lot selected by their comrades in the beautiful National Ceme- tery at Chattanooga.

In February, 1864, the regiment re-enlisted, and March ioth started for home on veteran furlough. At Cincinnati they separated for 30 days. At the expiration of that time were ordered to General Crook at Charleston, West Virginia-he having been sent there to take command of the Third Division, department of West Virginia. On reaching Charleston the regiment was assigned to the First brigade, commanded by Col. R. B. Hayes.

May Ist General Crook with his division started on a raid to the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad. Several attempts on it had been made, but had failed. The march lay via Falls of Kanawha, Raleigh and Princeton. Had a slight skirmish at Princeton, and a few miles further on found the enemy in strong position at Cloyd's farm. Their position was at once charged and a severe engagement ensued, which resulted in driving the enemy from their works, capturing two pieces of artillery and mortally wounding and capturing the no- torions Rebel general, Jenkins. Being rein- forced, they made a stand a mile to the rear of their first position, but were easily routed. They retreated through Dublin depot and across New River. At the depot a large

658

HISTORY OF MARIETTA AND WASHINGTON COUNTY,

amount of wagons and other quartermaster and commissary stores were captured. De- stroyed all that were not available, and burned the railroad bridge. This severed the railroad connection of Richmond with the Tennessee Rebel forces.

Being so far from the base of his supplies, General Crook was obliged to return-over Salt Pond Mountain, through Union to Mea- dow Bluffs. Near Union, Lyman Perrin, from Rainbow, Washington County, was shot dead in the road by a bushwhacker.

On reaching Meadow Bluffs, orders were received to join General Hunter in the Shenan- doah Valley. . As soon as the bare and foot- sore men could be cared for, and the expedition otherwise fitted up, the march began. It lay over old familiar ground in part-through Lewisburg, White and Warm Sulphur Springs, and Goshen. At the latter place, a bridge spanning Calf Pasture River was burned and the railroad track destroyed nearly to Cranes- ville, where the mountain was crossed and a junction effected with General Hunter at Staunton. The march had been opposed by "Mudwall" Jackson, with a small force, which caused but little delay. . June 10th the Na- tional forces left Staunton for Lynchburg, skirmishing most of the way. "Mudwall" Jackson retreating across the North River into Lexington. After firing the bridge he took courage and with the help of the students at the military institute delivered himself of a brisk little fight. He soon gave way.

On entering Lexington, by order of Gen- eral Hunter, the military institute and ex-Gov- ernor Letcher's house were burned. The loss of the Thirty-sixth was three killed and five wounded. From Lexington the army moved by way of Buchanan, thence across the Blue Ridge, between the Peaks of Otter, to Liberty. From this place bridges were burned and the railroad destroyed to within a short distance of Lynchburg. At the old stone church, on the Liberty pike, the Rebels were encountered and driven inside their fortifications. Night coming on, operations were suspended. By morning, June 18th, affairs had assumed a

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 96

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