History of Medina county and Ohio, Part 51

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Battle, J. H; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926; Baskin & Battey. Chicago. pub
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1014

USA > Ohio > Medina County > History of Medina county and Ohio > Part 51

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).

326

HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

on the 30th, the enemy was encountered, when a brisk skirmish ensued, and the rebels re- treated, and, after passing through Monticello, halted; but the Federal cavalry drove them from the position with considerable loss, and continued the pursuit. On the 5th of May the Union forces were ordered back to the Cumber- land, with the river as a line of defense. The regiment was fired upon, while here, by a " handful" of rebels, and returned the fire with but little result on either side. A report that the enemy was passing to their rear, caused the troops to fall back to Hickman ; but, the "scare" ending, they proceeded to Danville, and became a part of the Twenty-third Army Corps, commanded by Gen. Hartsuff. On the 18th of August, the entire army under Gen. Burnside moved forward. The troops suffered incredible hardships on their march through Stanford, Crab Orchard, the Cumberland, at Burnside's Point, Chitwood, Montgomery. Eme- ry's Iron Works, and Lenoir, to Concord, Tenn. Knoxville, at that time occupied by the enemy, was evacuated, and immediately entered by the national advance. After ma- neuvering for about a month in the neighbor- hood of Knoxville and Greenville, the regiment joined in the general advance which drove the rebels into Jonesboro. The regiment joined in the advance of October 5. near Blue Springs, and, with companies C and D detailed as skir- mishers, was ordered to the front. The two companies were forced back, when four ad- vanced only to find that the enemy had retired. In this engagement, the regiment lost three men killed, four wounded and six taken prisoners. On the 11th, a severe contest was had with the rebels at Blue Springs, and the latter were forced to retire.

On the 4th of November, the regiment. with other troops, was ordered back to Knoxville, and immediately thereafter, the city was in- vested by the rebel force under Gen. Long- street. Great privations from lack of food and

clothing were suffered. On the 25th, six com- panies of the regiment were ordered out to re- lieve a company on picket duty, and, while thus engaged, were charged upon by a large force of rebels. A fearful fire was poured into the ad- vancing enemy, but they continued to advance with yells of the most horrid description, and, rushing upon the Union pickets, struggled des- perately to capture the whole party. But a headlong bayonet-charge broke their lines, when they fled precipitously, leaving their dead and wounded on the field. Thirty-five men in killed and wounded were lost to the regiment by this engagement. The enemy, hearing of Sherman's approach, withdrew on the 2d of December, and, on the following day, proceeded to Straw- berry Plains. The Federal troops, without un- necessary delay, started in pursuit, but the regiment, after reaching Bear Station, was or- dered back to Strawberry Plains. It was ordered to advance on the 12th of March, 1864; but at Morristown, after suffering repeated attacks from rebel cavalry. fell back to Mossy Creek, where it remained until April 1. After advanc- ing to Ball's Gap, the regiment proceeded to Loudon, thence to Charleston, and at the latter place found the other two regiments of its brigade. On the 13th of May, it arrived as part of Sherman's grand army before Resaca and the following day participated in the fear- ful charge on the enemy's lines, losing over one-third of its effective force. The enemy re- treated and was pursued by the whole army. All the way on the march to Atlanta, the regi- ment was on the advance, participating in fre- quent charges and skirmishes, and losing sev- eral men in killed and wounded. At Atlanta, while Gen. Sherman was meditating the best course to pursue, the regiment was engaged in several "demonstrations," and lost a number of men. On the 28th of August, it started south with the army ; but, after destroying the rail- road near Rough and Ready, was ordered back to Jonesboro, arriving too late to participate in

327

HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

the battle fought by Gen. Howard. The Twen- ty-third Corps arrived at Decatur on the 8th of September. When the Atlanta campaign com- menced, the One Hundred and Third had 450 able men; but at its close the regiment could muster only 195.

On the 20th of October, the regiment moved up to Chattanooga, and, on the 19th of Novem- ber, to Pulaski. A divisiou at Spring Hill was drawn up to protect the trains from an impend- ing attaek of the rebels, and to the regiment was assigned the duty of supporting a battery that could sweep the fields in frout of the Na- tional troops. Large forces of the enemy moved out of the woods, and made prepara- tions to dash upon the Union lines, at which the aforesaid division, possibly foreseeing dis- astrous results, fled back, leaving the One Hundred and Third, and the battery, to with- stand the charge. The men fixed bayonets, and bravely waited until the enemy came within range, when a well-directed fire, seconded by the battery, caused them to waver, and, finally, retire into the woods as the re-organized division advanced. On the last day of Novem- ber, the regiment in charge of rebel prisoners started for Nashville, remaining there until the 15th of December, when it assisted in pursuing the enemy routed by Gen. Thomas. Early iu 1865, it joined Sherman's army, and with it " marehed down to the sea," and thence to Raleigh, arriving on the 13th of April. On the 10th of June it started for Cleveland to be mustered out, and, while crossing the Alleghany Mountains, an accident threw three of the cars down an embankment, causing the death of three men and the maiming of many others. A car load of wounded men rent the air with their cries of agony. On the 22d of June the regiment was mustered out of service.

The One Hundred and Twenty-fourth con- tained something more than a company of Me- dina boys. Company B was almost wholly from this county, and was officered as follows :

George W. Lewis, Captain ; John Raidaie, First Lieutenant ; Charles M. Stedman, Second Lieu- tenant. The regiment was organized at Camp Taylor, and on the 1st of January, 1863, reached Cleveland. It was ordered to Ken- tucky, and, after remaining at Elizabethtown until March, it was ordered back to Louisville, and finally to Nashville, Tenn., where it arrived February 10. Soon afterward the regiment was sent to Frauklin, where it remained until the 2d of Juue, preparing for the field, and par- ticipating in frequent skirmishes with the rebels, who were in foree close at hand. Gen. Col- burn with four regimeuts of infantry, one of them being the One Hundred and Twenty- fourth, one battery, and a small force of cavalry, moved forward down the Columbia Pike on a reconnaissance, meeting the enemy about four miles from Franklin, and forcing them baek. Flushed with success, the national troops pushed forward, and, at Thompson's Station, eight miles from Franklin, encountered a much larger foree of the enemy, strongly posted behiud stone walls. One of the most hotly contested battles of the war ensued, and for two hours every inch of ground was stub- bornly contested. The commanding officer, with the majority of his command, was cap- tured, and a great many were killed or wounded. Only eleven members of one regiment reached eamp. The One Hundred and Twenty-fourth was not actively engaged, having been detailed to guard the ammunition train. It succeeded in saving the train and artillery. After suffer- ing terribly from fever, measles, diarrhea and other camp diseases, the regimeut, on the 2d of June, proceeded to Triune, Tenn., and a few days later to Readyville, and soon afterward to Manchester. While here the regiment, was as- signed to the Second Brigade, Second Division, of the Twenty-first Army Corps. Abundant, wholesome food and clean, comfortable cloth- ing at Manchester soon almost wholly abolished the sick list, and the troops became strong,

398

HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

well drilled, and ready for the field. On the 16th of August the march over the Cumber- land Mountains began, and the troops en- eamped until the 9th of September in the Sequatehie Valley, having an abundance of ex- eellent provisions. At the latter date. the Ten- nessee River was forded, and the troops ad- vaneed and camped near the Chiekamauga bat- tle-ground. On the 19th of September, the en- emy being in force in front, the troops, early in the morning. prepared for battle. The One Hundred and Twenty-fourth moved forward to the State road, where it stood ready for the fray, until 11 o'clock. The regiment threw out Company B as flankers, and moved in the direetiou of the left, where heavy firing was heard. The line of the left was reached, and the bugle sounded the advanee. Under a severe fire, the regiment deployed, and returned the shots of the enemy until the ammunition was exhausted, when it fell baek to replenish. It again moved to the front, delivering a rapid and destructive fire, and foreing the enemy baek a short distance. Ordered to the right, it took a position at the left of the brigade, and, as the front line of the Federal troops gave way, the full foree of the terrible fire from the rebel lines struek this and other regiments. The regiment, being unsupported. fell back, but stubbornly resisted the advanee of the exultant enemy. During the night, it lay eneamped on the left, in frout of the rebel Joe Johnston's, division. The battle had been fought all day, without food and water, and, as darkness fell, the tired men "had sunk on the ground over- powered, the weary to sleep, and the wounded to die." One hundred men of the regiment were killed, wounded or captured.

The 20th of September dawned bright and beautiful. The battle was renewed with great fury, and the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth, behind a breastwork of logs and rails, poured volley after volley into the enemy's ranks, and repulsed several desperate attempts to gain the

position and capture the battery. At 3 o'eloek P. M., the regiment was ordered to the support of the right, as the enemy on the left had re- tired. Several men were lost in this movement, and, after the position had been gained and the enemy driven baek. the regiment was again moved to the support of the right. Here, again, the rebels fell baek before the murderous fire, and the troops, forming a hollow square, re- mained thns until dark, when a retreat was or- dered. The regiment bivouacked for the night in line of battle near Rossville, and the next morning took a front position on Mission Ridge, remaining there all day under the fire of a rebel battery. The retreat was continued the next night. and on the 22d. the regiment eneamped near Chattanooga. The regiment lost during the battle in killed, wounded and missing, one hundred and forty men, Col. Payne being among the wounded. At Chatta- nooga, forts and breastworks were built, and the men and animals put on half-rations. The regiment was assigned to the Second Brigade, Third Division of the Fourth Army Corps.

About 9 o'clock on the evening of October 26, 1863, the regiment, with a carefully selected detachment of about 1,700 men, equipped with 100 rounds of cartridges per man, embarked on boats and floated eautiously down the Ten- nessee, past Lookout Mountain, passing the enemy's piekets without discovery. A short distance below the mountain, the boats pulled ashore, the troops landed, and rushed up the bank, and, though met by a heavy fire, drove the rebels back, and captured Raecoon Ridge. Company I, under Lieut. Galbraith, was de- ployed as skirmishers, and the remainder of the regiment began hastily throwing up breast- works. At daylight, the enemy made several desperate attempts to retake the position ; but were severely repulsed, and, finally, driven from that portion of the valley. A ponton- bridge was thrown aeross the river, enabling Gen. Hooker's army to cross, and virtually

329

HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

raise the siege of Chattanooga. The regiment remained on Raecoon Ridge several days, sub- sisting on parched corn and boiled wheat, and then returned to its old camp in the suburbs of Chattanooga.

November 23, in the struggle for the occu- pation of Mission Ridge, the regiment was as- signed a position on the left. It advaneed and carried the enemy's rifle-pits on a range of hills between Fort Wood and Mission Ridge, and. moving on, took the rebel works on the summit. Here, exposed to a heavy artillery fire, the men threw up rude breastworks. The next day was passed at work and on picket duty. On the afternoon of the 25th, it was ad- vanced on the skirmish lines with orders to charge at the signal of six guns, and take the en- emy's works at the foot of Mission Ridge. Six hundred yards of open ground lay before the regiment, and, as the ehosen signal rever- berated along the hills, the troops advaneed with steady fire, and, as the rebels began to retreat, they swept forward with cheers, carried the works, and turned the guns upon the re- treating foe. Orders to advanee had not been received, and the men, exposed to a murderous artillery fire, were wavering, when a tremen- dous shout swept along the lines, and the whole advance began scaling the mountain. A fear- ful fire of grape and canister poured down upon them ; but the brave men dashed on and on, reached the summit, carried the works, planted the stars and stripes on the highest point, and sent showers of deadly missiles after the routed enemy. The One Hundred and Twenty-fourth captured seven pieces of artil- lery, two caissons, eighty stand of arms, and a wagon-load of ammunition.

On the 26th, the regiment was ordered to the relief of Knoxville, arriving opposite the city on the 10th of December. The besieging reb- els, anticipating that re-enforcements would be sent to the distressed city, made a last and furious assault on the works, but were repulsed,

when they fell back and withdrew. After a few days the regiment went into camp at Clinch Mountain. The weather became very cold, and the men, poorly clad, with but few tents, kept busy cutting wood and lighting huge fires. In January, the regiment began erecting rude log houses at Dandridge, but was driven away by a superior force of the enemy.

The regiment was kept constantly on the mareh in East Tennessee for the next two months, thus preventing the men from drawing their elothing. As a consequence, they became ragged, dirty and unseemly in appearance. One of the officers went to work and manu- factured a limited quantity of soap, and the clean faees and persons of his portion of the regiment, excited surprise, envy, and, at the same time, no little pleasantry. It was wag- gishly remarked that these men were clearly entitled to the right of elective franchise, but that considerable doubt existed regarding the remainder. The only hope for them was to be- gin an exploration with pick and shovel. The men, generally, were without shoes, stockings, and a few were in their drawers, and all were ashamed of being seen. About this time, they received a limited quantity of necessary cloth- ing from the Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society, of Green Springs, Ohio, and about the middle of April, 1864, they were thoroughly clothed and equipped by the Government. Soon after this, the regimeut started on the Atlanta campaign, engaging the enemy at Rocky Face Ridge, where it suffered severely, and again at New Hope Chureh, where, in a charge, it lost many brave men and officers. It participated in the flanking movement at Jonesboro, and the con- sequent evacuation of Atlanta. The regiment turned back in pursuit of Hood, passing through Gaylesville, Athens, Pulaski, Columbia, Frank- lin ; and, reaching Nashville in advance of the main forces, it participated in the battle of Nashville, and, at its close, joined in pursuing the demoralized rebel army, but, at Huntsville,

330

HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

Ala., gave up the chase, and went into camp. It was at the battle of Nashville that Capt. George W. Lewis, of Medina, then acting Major, lost his arm. Nothing further of importance transpired, and the regiment was mustered out of service at Nashville on the 9th of July, 1865. The troops were paid at Camp Taylor, and seut home-all that remained of them.

The Second Ohio Cavalry rendezvoused at Camp Wade, and contained a little more than a compauy from Medina County. The regi- ment was raised during the summer and early autumn of 1861, and was mustered into the service on the 10th of October, 1861. Com- pany I, raised almost wholly iu this county, was officered as follows : Allen P. Steele, Cap- tain; David E. Welch, First Lieutenant; Will- iam B. Shattuc, Second Lieutenant. The men from Medina, who went out in the Secoud Cav- alry. were mostly recruited by Hou. H. G. Blake, a prominent citizen of Medina. Quartermaster J. J. Elwell, on the 12th of September, 1861, bought fifty horses at Medina for this regiment, paying an average price of $80 each. This was the first cavalry regiment raised in the northern part of the State, and the men com- posing it represented almost every trade and profession. It was ordered to Camp Dennison in the latter part of November, 1861, where it received sabers, aud continued drilling duriug the month of December. On the 20th of De- cember, a detachment of twenty men nuder Lieut. Nettleton, was ordered into Kentucky on scouting-duty, where it remained until the regi- ment received marching orders. Early in Janu- ary, 1862, the regiment was ordered to Platte City, Mo., where it reported for duty to Gen. Hunter, and, for the next three weeks, was en- gaged in scouting on the Missouri border. On the 18th of February, 1862, Doubleday's bri- gade, of which the Second was a part, was or- dered to Fort Scott, Kau .; aud, during the march, ou the 22d, as a detachment of 120 men of the Second was passing through Indepeud-

ence, Mo., it was attacked by an equal force under the subsequently infamous Quantrell, but, after fifteen minutes of severe fighting, the enemy were routed, losing five killed, four wounded, and five captured, including an offi- cer. The Second lost one killed and three wounded. Fort Scott was reached on the 1st of March. The Second, at this time, was armed with sabers, navy pistols and Austrian car- bines. The most of the regiment remained in this portion of the State, at Carthage, Mo., at Sola, Kan., breaking up guerrilla bands until June. when it moved into the Indian Territory by different roads, conceutrating at Spring River. A detachment of cavalry and artillery drove the Indian rebel Standwaitie from his camp on Cowskin Prairie. The command moved to Baxter Springs, Kan., where it was joined by three regiments of mounted loyal Indians. armed with squirrel-rifles. Later in June, the column moved south- ward, the animals living on grass, aud the members of the Second seeing nothing but wild country, burning prairie, and the powwows of their red-skinned companions.

On the 8th of July, the column went into camp at Flat Rock Creek, Indian Territory, and later in the month Fort Gibson was cap- tured aud a small detachment of rebels driveu across the Arkansas River. The troops moved to Fort Scott ou the 15th, having at that time less than two hundred and fifty serviceable horses in the Secoud. Many of the men were sick, and many had died from the effects of a peculiar and distressing braiu fever, evidently caused by the excessive heat. In August, the regiment shared in a forced march for ten days and nights against a raiding party of rebels, skirmishing continually but without loss. Dur- ing the next three or four months, the Second participated in the campaign of Prairie Grove, Ark., and fought at Carthage, Newtonia, Cow Hill, Wolf Creek, White River and Prairie Grove. Charles Doubleday had been Colonel

HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY

331

of the Second. but. in September, 1862, August V. Kautz took his place. In November, the Second was ordered to Camp Chase. Olio, to remount and refit for the Eastern army. In February, 1863, the original twelve companies were consolidated into eight, and a battalion of four companies raised for the Eighth Cav- alry. was added. Early in April, the regiment was ordered to Somerset, Ky., where it re- mained until the 27th of June, fighting in the meantime at Steubenville, Monticello and Co- lumbia. In the early part of Jnne, four com- panies of the Second formed a part of a raid- ing foree against Knoxville, where a large amount of supplies and several railroad bridges were destroyed. The Second, with its brigade, joined in the pursuit of John Morgan, and fol- lowed him twelve hundred miles, through three States, marching twenty hours out of the twenty- fonr, and living upon the gifts of the people. It finally shared in the capture of the raiders at Buffington Island, after which it was ordered to Cincinuati, where nearly the whole regiment was furloughed by Gen. Burnside. It re-assem- bled at Stanford, Ky., and in August moved with the Uuion troops into East Teunessee. There it was brigaded with three other regiments of cavalry, all under the command of Col. Car- ter. After a variety of movements and some skirmishing, the regiment reached Henderson Station on the 25th of September, 1863; but received immediate orders to join Gen. Rose- crans. While ou the way, it was ordered back to the front, and participated in the engage- ment in progress there. The next morning, the Second assisted in pursuing the enemy, and one battalion engaged in a subsequent skirmish. The brigade, after being re-enforced, advanced and fonght the battle of Blue Springs, the Second participating. The Second shared in the engagement at Blonntsville, Bristol, and with Wheeler's cavalry, near Cumberland Gap, During the siege of Knoxville, it annoyed the enemy's flank, and, after the siege was raised,

joined in the pursnit. It fought the rebels at Morristown on the 2d of December, and two days later assisted in the bloody two-hours' fight at Russellville, losing forty men killed and wounded. On the 6th, at Bean Station, it was at the front five hours, and for the five succeeding days was almost constantly under fire. Most of the time, then, until January 1, 1864, was spent in maneuvering and fighting near Mossy Creek; but at this date four hun- dred and twenty men out of four hundred and seventy, re-enlisted, and were furloughed Feb- ruary 16, for thirty days.

On the 20th of March, the Second re-assem- bled at Cleveland. It was first ordered to Ken- tucky, bnt, upon reachiug Mount Sterling, was instrneted to proceed to Annapolis, Md., where it arrived on the 29th of March. On the 13th of April, while at its camp on an arm of the Chesapeake, it was reviewed by Gens. Grant, Burnside, Washburne and Meigs. On the 22d, the regiment moved from Camp Stoneman to Warrentou Junction, reporting to Gen. Burn- side May 3. It crossed the Rapidan, and went into line on the extreme right, engaging with Rosser's cavalry on the 7th, with slight loss. It was coustantly employed during the Wilder- ness campaign to eover the right flank of the infantry. Soon afterward, it was assigned to the First Brigade, under the command of Col. J. B. McIntosh, and thus became attached to Sheridan's Cavalry Corps, Army of the Poto- mac. The Third Cavalry Division, of which the Second was a part, erossed the Pamunky on the 31st, and the First Brigade advanced on Hanover Conrt House. The brigade dismounted, the Second ocenpying the center, and in the fierce charge which followed the enemy was driven back, and the crest and conrt house were captured. The next day the Second and other troops were surrounded at Ashland, by the enemy nnder Fitzhugh Lee, and after fight- ing until night, succeeded in withdrawing and regaining the main army. The regiment par-

332

HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY.

ticipated in skirmishes and battles, from Han- over Court House to Cold Harbor, fought at Nottaway Court House, Stormy Creek and Ream's Station, losing one hundred men and five offieers killed, wounded and missing. On the 13th of Angust it moved to Wiuehester, arriv- ing on the 17th. Gen. Early made an attack, and at sundown the regiment and its division fell back, while the second battalion and two companies of the third battalion of the Second Cavalry aeted as rear-guard for the whole eom- mand, fighting an hour in the dark in the streets of Winchester, then joining the main column, which retreated to Summit Point. The Second was engaged on the 19th and 22d, and soon afterward crossed the Potomac at Shepherds- town. On the 30th of August the regiment as- sisted in driving the enemy from Berryville, Va., and, on the 13th of September, it and its brigade advanced on Early, at Winehester, to aseertain his strength. The Second Ohio and the Third New Jersey captured an entire regi- ment of rebel infantry, and took it to Berry- ville, and for this gallant exploit received special mention from the Secretary of War. It was present at the battle of Opequon, and soon afterward assisted in driving Wickham's cavalry through Front Royal, marching and skirmish- ing iu Luray Valley, until the 25th of Septem- ber. It assisted in resisting the attack of Fitz- hugh Lee on the 29tl, dismounting for that purpose, and remaining on the field until all the other troops were withdrawn, when it pre- pared to retire as rear-guard, but found that its retreat was cut off by a line of rebel infantry. In columns of fours the regiment charged through, and continued as rear-guard until the command reached Bridgewater. When Rosser was defeated by Gen. Torbort, the Second fought from 8 o'eloek A. M. until 11, and pur- sued until 3 P. M., when it went into position on the right of Sheridan's line. In the battle of Cedar Creek, from daybreak until 9 o'clock at night, the regiment was in the saddle. It

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 Medina county and Ohio, Part 51

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Battle, J. H; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926; Baskin & Battey. Chicago. pub Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago : Baskin & Battey Number of Pages: 1014

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Battle, J. H; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926; Baskin & Battey. Chicago. pub
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1014