History of Sandusky County, Ohio : with portraits and biographies of prominent citizens and pioneers, Part 40

Author: Everett, Homer, 1813-1887
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : H.Z. Williams
Number of Pages: 1040

USA > Ohio > Sandusky County > History of Sandusky County, Ohio : with portraits and biographies of prominent citizens and pioneers > Part 40

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The regiment then moved against Gen- eral Johnson at Jackson, and after the battle pursued the rebels to Brandon, where it had an engagement. After de- stroying a portion of the railroad it re- turned to Big Black to rest and refit.

In the latter part of the summer the regiment moved to Oak Ridge, twenty-one miles distant from Vicksburg and near the Yazoo River, and in September it participated in a four days' scout to Me- chanisville, in which it experienced some very hard marching, and lively skirmishing. On the 15th of October, 1863, it took part in General McPherson's expedition to Can- ton, Mississippi, and on its return went into camp eight miles in the rear of Vicksburg. About the middle of November the regi- ment was ordered with its division to Memphis, to guard the Mississippi and Charleston railroad, and was stationed at Germantown, fourteen miles east of Mem- phis.

On the 2d of January, 1864, the regi- ment re enlisted and soon after moved to Memphis. In February it took part in

the expedition under Colonel McMillen, to the Tallahatchie River, to create a diversion in favor of General W. S. Smith's cavalry expedition, all being part of Gen- eral Sherman's Meridian expedition. This lasted thirteen days, and the regiment marched one hundred and fifty miles.

VETERAN FURLOUGH.

On the 23d of February, at Memphis, it received a veteran furlough and pro- ceeded North. And it is the pleasing duty of the historian to follow the gallant veterans of the Seventy-second regiment, who had re-enlisted, from the scenes of their labors and suffering, their marches, sieges, and battles, back to their homes and friends and dear ones, from whom they parted more than two years before.

On Friday, the 26th day of February, 1864, a telegram to Fremont announced that the regiment was at Cairo the day previous, on its way home. This good news soon put the public mind in the city and county in motion. The brave men we had sent out more than two years be- fore, and who had toiled and suffered, and marched and fought at the front so many weary days, were now coming home to greet those whom they left behind shad- owed with anxiety and tears at their de- parture. It may truly be said that the hearts of the whole county thrilled and throbbed with joyous anticipations at the meeting, and with a desire to honor the veterans on their arrival. The mayor of Fremont at once gave notice of a public meeting of the citizens to make arrange- ments for a proper reception of the regi- ment. A large meeting was held, over which the mayor, Captain John M. Kline, was called to preside, and D. W. Krebs was chosen secretary. On motion the mayor and common council of the city appointed a committee of arrangements, with power to appoint such sub-commit- tees as they might think proper. The sub-

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committees were then promptly announced as follows: The committee on arrange- ments and refreshments were: H. R. Shomo, Isaac E. Amsden, John Flaugher, Captain A. Young, C. H. Burdick, and Isaac M. Keeler. The committee on reception were: Homer Everett, J. L. Greene, sr., John Bell, David Betts, James Justice, Dr. Thomas Stilwell, William N. Morgan, Isaac Knapp, Nathaniel Haynes, and William S. Russell. Dispatches were then sent to Columbus, Ohio, inquiring what time the regiment might be expected in Fremont, and also to Governor Brough, asking that the regiment might be ordered to come here in a body, and be furloughed at Fremont instead of at Columbus. To this the Governor gave his assent, and the information came that it was expected to arrive in Columbus Saturday afternoon, and would leave that night at 10 o'clock, and reach Fremont at 10 o'clock A. M., Sunday morning. This left but a few hours to make arrangements to receive the brave men in a proper manner. The great Daniel Webster once proclaimed at Philadelphia during a great financial cri- sis, that "there are no Sabbaths in revo- lutionary times." All our statutes on the observation of the Sabbath, have an ex- ception from the prohibition of labor on the Sabbath, which says works of neces- sity and charity excepted. Here, in the reception of the brave boys in blue, our people found a work of necessity and charity combined, and notwithstanding the fact that our people loved the Sabbath, and the common, quiet duties of that sacred day as well as any other people, on this occasion they made it a holy duty to feed the hungry and thank the brave defenders of our flag.

Our people at once took hold of the preparations with a will. Union hall was procured in which to set the tables for re- freshments. Word was immediately sent

through the town and vicinity for provis- ions to be sent in. The Ladies' Aid So- ciety at once began work with an energy only known to the women of Fremont, who know no such word as faint or fail. Their efforts soon put the question of ample provision for the patriots beyond all doubt. Had there been twenty-four hours more time there would have been suffi- cient to feed five times the number.

Eight tables were set, each containing forty plates, besides, in the ante-room ad- joining, about fifty more plates were set. Tables were never more tastefully ar- ranged, nor more bountifully supplied. There were oysters, stewed and raw, hot coffee, turkeys, chickens, ham, beef, sliced tongue, slaw, pickled cabbage, cucumbers, tomatoes, peaches, cherries, bread, biscuit, cakes in quantity, pies, apples, canned peaches, strawberries, cherries, currants, with all other varities of fruits. No such sumptuous tables were ever before spread in Fremont; they were, in short, loaded with the best that could be provided. At half past eight o'clock Sunday morning a telegram announced that the train convey- ing the Seventy-second had passed Ober- lin at 8 o'clock that morning, on its way to Fremont. At Wakeman this train lay on the side track an hour and a half, wait- ing for a freight train to pass. After this delay the train bearing our brave boys came thundering into the depot at Fre- mont, a few minutes after 12 o'clock, Sunday, February 28, 1864. Acres of peo- ple were assembled at the depot, and wel- comed them with well rendered music from the Fremont band, and cheers and shouts from the glad multitude. The soldiers quickly left the cars and promptly took position in the regiment for the march. The reception committee conducted them down in good order, through Croghan street to Main, on Main street down to State, down State to Front, and up Front

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street to Union hall, on the corner of Front and Garrison streets. Here the regiment standing amidst a throng of men, women, and children, were wel- comed on behalf of the citizens by Homer Everett, esq., in a brief speech, which was as follows:

BRAVE MEN, PATRIOTS AND SOLDIERS OF THE ARMY OF THE UNION :- The people of Fremont and vicinity, by the mayor and common council of Fre- mont, desire me to say that during your absence in the field of active military duty for more than two years, they have watched your conduct with intense interest. We have all observed your sacrifices, hardships, suffering, and sympathized in them all. Our best wishes and prayers have been constantly offered in your behalf. We feel that the honor and glory you won on the bloody field of Shiloh, and at the laborious and trying siege of Vicksburg, is in a measure reflected back on us, and we rejoice to share it with you. We thought and believed when we parted with the Seventy-seeond, that we were sending into the field as fine, intelligent and brave a regiment as ever adorned the service of any State or Nation. Now we know it to be so. You left as volunteer eitizens unused to war, you return sol- diers, veteran soldiers, with banners soiled and tat- tered in the storms of battle. It is the Sabbath day ; we hope we do not violate it in discharging our solemn duty to thank you on the only occasion we can have to do so. We remember that on the Sabbath of the 6th of April, 1862, you beat back the assailing foe, that we might enjoy this day in peace. Hence to-day you see this great assemblage of men, women and children here to thank you. You went away a thousand strong, you return with less than half that number. Battles and disease have thinned your ranks. Many dear and once familiar faces no longer answer to the roll call. Many cheering voices, once animating your ranks, are lieard no more. To all those who fell or died of wounds received in bat- tle, as Canfield, Weigstem, Witmer, Wonders, Glass, and many others; to all those who died of disease in the service, as Crocket, Caldwell, and many others of the Seventy-seeond, as well as to all who have perished in this great war, we here pay our grateful tribute of dear remembrance, holding them as priceless offerings on the altar of Freedom and Union. They have not died in vain. Your brave and beloved Colonel Buckland, so devoted to the honor and welfare of the Seventy-second, though not present on this occasion, we rejoice to know still lives to serve the country in another and advanced sphere of service.

Brave men, notwithstanding your sufferings and serviees, with a full knowledge of all the privations and dangers of war, you have further proved your

devotion to the great cause by re-enlisting, by volun- tarily promising to fight the battle through. Th's noble act crowns your merit, proves you worthy of the country's confidence and excites our admiration to the highest point. We thank you! We are proud of you! You are weary and hungry; fathers, mothers, wives and sisters, and other dear ones, are yearning to embrace you; your hearts are bounding to embrace them. It is not the time to hold you here to recount all, all you have done for us.

Brave men, veteran soldiers of the Grand Army of the Union! The people with open arms gratefully, thankfully welcome you to our hearts, our homes, and the best cheer we can give.

After heartily cheering the welcome, the regiment marched in order into the hall for refreshments. The men had eaten nothing since 8 o'clock the Saturday night previous to their arrival. They were, as may be properly supposed, in a condi- tion to appreciate the repast prepared for them. Never did men eat with a better relish, or with more earnest, heartfelt thankfulness take a feast of good things amidst smiling and grateful faces of beau- tiful and good women than did the veter- ans of the Seventy-second on that mem- orable day. Such expressions of gratitude by both the entertained and the entertainers were never heard before in the county. The hearts of all the soldiers, and all the citizens, were never before so manifestly sympathetic and tender. It was a scene and a time long to be remembered in Fre- mont, and in fact throughout the county of Sandusky.

In two hours after the men had sur- feited on the good things, all but forty or fifty had left town for their homes in the country. The remaining ones took sup per at the hall, and about thirty were present at breakfast on Monday morning. There were three hundred and fifteen men who re-enlisted. About one hundred were left behind who had not re-enlisted, and were, of course, not entitled to the veteran furlough. No accident occurred to mar the joys of the occasion, and no impropriety was manifested during the day.

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As the men marched along their way from the depot to the front of the hall, between lines of cheering citizens, they appeared grave, silent, and almost sad. In fact, they were travel-worn, weary, and hungry. Their march was not a holiday parade; they moved steadily and slowly along, without noise or demonstration of emotion whatever. As they took position in front of the hall, and listened to the words of welcome, some countenances in the ranks were momentarily lighted by an expression of satisfaction. There was a total absence of everything gay, or gaudy, or frivolous about them. But behind those bronzed faces could be seen the deep determination of brave, patriotic men, who had tasted war and knew its perils, and were still determined to en- dure more for the flag and the Union. Beneath the soiled and battered caps on their heads there were brains sufficient to organize and conduct the affairs of a State; underneath the ragged blouses were big, brave, noble hearts, ready to dare and to do for their country. And, al- though the external appearance of the men as they stood plainly indicated that they were in want of the bath, the barber, and the tailor to fit them for parlor enter- tainments in the lives they had led in the homes they had left for the tented field, there were thousands present who knew that each man was a precious jewel, whether placed in the storm of battle for his country, or in the discharge of civic duties in social or political life. "God bless the boys," was the heartfelt utter- ance of thousands on that day.

No doubt equal merit should be awarded to hundreds of thousands of our volun- teers from other localities, but as we are writing the history of Sandusky county, of course it is our special duty to mention our own soldiers.

AGAIN TO THE FRONT.

On the 5th of April, 1864, the regiment reassembled at Fremont and moved to Cleveland, Ohio. During the furlough considerable recruiting was done, and the regiment returned to the front with nearly five hundred men. It next moved, April 8th, to Cairo, by railroad, and arrived there on the 10th of the same month; and while there, awaiting river transportation, it was ordered to Paducah, Kentucky, to assist in the defence of that place against Forrest, whose forces made a slight attack on the place, which was repulsed. It re- mained at Paducah until the 22d of April, 1864, when it embarked for Memphis, and arrived there the next day. The regiment here remained quietly in camp, drilling the new recruits, until the 30th of April, when it joined an expedition under General Sturgis, against Forrest. They moved by rail nearly to Wolf River, thirty- eight miles from Memphis, and from there marched to Bolivar, arriving just in time to see the place evacuated. From there the regiment marched with the expedition southward, toward Ripley, Mississippi, but finding no enemy, turned back, and on the 9th of May reached Memphis. The regiment formed part of an expedi- tion which started June 1, 1864, against Forrest. The forces sent on this expedi- tion consisted of twelve regiments of in- fantry and a division of cavalry. The force encountered Forrest's men at Brice's Cross Roads, Mississippi, and the cavalry began skirmishing. The enemy was in a well chosen position at and behind Tisho- mingo Creek. The infantry was brought up on the double-quick for several miles, and at once went into action. No attempt was made to establish a line, and the regi- ments were hurled against the enemy one at a time, and thus each regiment was sub- jected to great odds, and was badly cut up. To make matters worse, an attempt

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was made to advance the wagon train across the creek, directly under the en- emy's fire. This attempt brought great confusion ; a retreat was ordered, and the retreat became a panic. A portion of the train was destroyed, and the remainder fell into the hands of the enemy, and the National troops were left without ammuni- tion and without rations. No attempt was made to cover the rear or to secure an orderly retreat. It was a regular stam- pede, and on the same day of the fight the expedition fell back twenty-three miles, to Ripley. Here an attempt was made to reorganize, but to no purpose. . The Seventy-second was the last to retreat from the fight at Guntown or Tishomingo Creek, and the last to reach Ripley. Whitelaw Reid's History of Ohio in the War, says the officer in command of the expedition surrounded himself with cav- alry and started for Memphis, leaving the infantry, as he expressively said, "to go to the devil." Why any historian could sup- press the name of the wretch who would so imprudently lead -- no, not lead, but order-his men to certain destruction, and coward-like ride away and leave them to their fate, seems to be an emphatic omission. The name of the miserable mismanager of this expedition was General Sturgis, and his name should always be connected with that terrible disaster, to shut out all chance for inference that some worthy man who was there might be charged with the slaughter and terrible imprisonment of the brave men who were there sacrificed. In this expedition Gen- eral Buckland took no part, but was at the time post commander in Memphis, and faithfully doing duty as such, while the immediate command of the Seventy- second devolved on Lieutenant-Colonel Charles G. Eaton, a brave man and noble commander.

The only safety to the infantry from

death or rebel prison lay in reaching Memphis, and to do this the men on foot must outmarch the rebel cavalry. In- credible as it may seem, nine officers and one hundred and forty men of the Seven- ty-second, reached Germantown on the morning of the 12th; thus marching at the close of a battle without a morsel of food, one hundred miles in forty-one hours. Eleven officers and two hundred and thirty-seven men of the Seventy-second were killed, wounded, or captured. The greater portion were captured, and of these very few returned to the regiment. Many of those who reached Germantown were broken down completely, and on reaching Memphis, where the regiment was trans- ported by rail, many of the men were ut- terly helpless and could neither walk nor stand.

On the 15th day of June, 1864, five days after the sad affair, Captain Leroy Moore, of Company F, wrote from Meri- dian, Mississippi, to the Fremont Journal, as follows:

MERIDIAN, MISSISSIPPI, June 15, 1864.

MR. KEELER, SIR :- The following is a list of prisoners from the Seventy-second regiment Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, now at this place. We arrived here this (Wednesday) morning, June 15. The greater number of these men were taken on the trth and 12th of June. Quite a number have un- doubtedly been since taken, and perhaps some have been killed and wounded, but I have no account of any but the above named. The health of the men is good and they are in excellent spirits, but are very hard up for clothing-about one-half being without shoes, and a less number without blankets or coats.

Knowing the anxiety which our friends feel for our welfare, I have concluded to send this to you for publication.

Very respectfully, LEROY MOORE,

Captain Company F, Seventy-second Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry.

A more complete list was furnished a few days later by Captain J. M. Lemmon, which is published below:

On the 18th of June, 1864, Lieutenant Colonel C. G. Eaton, who commanded

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the Seventy-second regiment in this ex- pedition, made the following report to his superior officer. Of course military dis- cipline would not allow him to criticise General Sturgis' conduct, but the facts stated in the report are sufficient for the purpose.

HEADQUARTERS SEVENTY-SECOND REGIMENT, OHIO VETERAN VOLUNTEER INFANTRY, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, June 18, 1864.

LIEUTENANT O. H. ABLE, Acting Assistant Adju- tant-General First Brigade, First Division, Six- teenth Army Corps :

SIR :- In compliance with special order No. 39, headquarters First Brigade, First Division, Sixteenth Army Corps, dated Memphis, Tennessee, May 31st, 1864, this regiment, as part of the infantry force com- manded by Colonel W. L. McMillen, reported at the Memphis & Charleston depot, at 6 o'clock A. M., June Ist, 1864. From the depot we were transported by rail to a point about three miles east of Colliers- ville, from whence we proceeded, by slow and easy marches, to our camp on the side-hill, about four miles north of the Hatchie bottom, where we arrived the evening of June 9. The march of the command of which the Seventy-second Ohio formed a part, from Colliersville to this camp, was slow, on account of rainy weather, muddy roads, and being encum- bered with a train of some two hundred and fifty wagons. At 6 A. M., June 10, we moved from this camp, marching at a good pace for about nine miles, when I was notified by Captain Buckland, of Colonel McMillen's staff, that the cavalry command was en- gaged with the enemy in front, and that it would be necessary for me to hurry up my regiment. Accord- ingly, I moved my regiment at a very rapid pace, some three miles, to the battlefield, where we arrived between 2 and 3 P. M. The day being extremely hot and sultry, quite a number of my men fell out before we arrived there, being overcome with heat and fatigue. Upon arriving at the battlefield, by order of Colonel W. L. McMillen, commanding in- fantry division, the Seventy-second regiment was stationed on the left of the line, to support Miller's battery-which was immediately on its right-and cover the road to the rear. The battery was sta- tioned on a hill in front of a log house, the right of the Seventy-second resting near the battery, and the regiment extending to the left nearly to the foot of the hill. In front of the Seventy-second, about two hundred and fifty yards, was another lıill, on top of which werc stationed a few rebels, concealed by bushes and a rail fence. The space between the Seventy-second and the rebel line was an open field, giving us a good opportunity to see any advance on the part of the enemy. I had five companies deploy as skirmishers to the front, and to the right. They

kept up a little skirmishing with the enemy for about an hour and a half, when Colonel Wilkins, com- manding brigade, ordered me to withdraw my regi- ment from the position on the left of the line, and to form it in line, so that the left would rest about one hundred yards to the right of Miller's battery. Col- onel Wilkins informed me that the object of this movement was to protect the cavalry while they should retreat across the bridge to the rear. Accord- ingly, I withdrew my regiment, with the exception of the five companies which had previously been de- ployed as skirmishers, but had not arrived at the po- sition where I was ordered to establish my regiment, before the five companies deployed as skirmishers were heavily engaged with the skirmishers of the enemy. I suggested to Colonel Wilkins the propriety of moving my regiment back to its former position, for the reason that, if the enemy should drive back my five skirmish companies, it would enable him to pass up the road to our rear, thereby cutting us off from retreat in case of disaster, and also enable him to destroy the large train of ammunition and com- missary stores. Colonel Wilkins, seeing how much damage the enemy could do by forcing back the left of our line, consented to my returning to my first po- sition.

As soon as my regiment arrived at the first posi- tion, a heavy line of the enemy's skirmishers, which extended quite a distance beyond the left of my skirmish line, was seen advancing across the open field. I formed my command so as to give my men a good range of that part of the enemy's line of skirmishers which extended beyond the left of my line of skirmishers. A few volleys fired by my com- mand caused the enemy to withdraw. Just at this nioment I discovered that the whole infantry com- mand, with the exception of my regiment, was re- treating. In a very few minutes, Colonel McMillen, in person, ordered me to hold my position until all of the other regiments should have crossed a creek and swamp to our rear, to the end that they might have time to form a new line of battle about half a mile in the rear. By the time the last regiment had crossed, the enemy was advancing from the right, left, and front of my position, and it was almost by chance that my regiment escaped being captured. After crossing the creek and swamp, Colonel McMil- in ordered me to march my regiment along with the train, keeping the right hand side of the road, This I did until I arrived at a house on a ridge about half a mile to the rear of the battlefield, where General Grierson suggested that I should station my regiment behind a rail fence, to protect the train until it should all have passed this point. This suggestion I con- sidered a good one, and immediately formed my regiment in line on the right hand side of the road, where I remained until the last wagon passed. Again I moved my command to the rear, keeping the right hand side of the road, as directed. We had gone

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but a few rods when the teamsters near the middle of the train began to destroy their wagons by setting them on fire, thus blockading the road so that all the wagons in the rear of those destroyed had to be abandoned. Seeing that no new line of battle was established, and that all the rest of the command were continuing to retreat, and receiving no order from my superiors in command, I continued to march to the rear, until I arrived on the hill on the north side of the Hatchie bottoms, where I ordered my regiment to halt, intending to allow the men a rest of about an hour, as they were getting very much fatigued, having marched about eight miles from the battlefield without rest. The regiment had hardly halted when an aide to General Sturgis, in the name of the General, ordered me to keep up the retreat still further to the rear.

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History of Sandusky County, Ohio : with portraits and biographies of prominent citizens and pioneers, Part 40

Author: Everett, Homer, 1813-1887 Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : H.Z. Williams Number of Pages: 1040

Author: Everett, Homer, 1813-1887
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : H.Z. Williams
Number of Pages: 1040