USA > Ohio > History of the Seventeenth regiment, First brigade, Third division, Fourteenth corps, Army of the Cumberland, war of the rebellion, 1861-1865 > Part 18
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George W. Lehman, Company D, writes as Follows.
July 9th, 1864, when our picket line fell back, Francis W. Sanderson, Com- pany D, and myself were not aware of the fact for some little time after. I was behind a log and Sanderson behind a tree. He was killed and I got back to our lines after being shot at many times by the rebels. After therebels were driven back, three Odd Fellows and I, found the body of Sanderson, who was also an Odd Fellow, and buried it.
Again, August 5th, 1864, I was lying in a shallow ditch, about one foot deep, where we were throwing up earthworks, but were compelled to lie flat, to pro- tect ourselves from rebel shells. Elisha E. Standiford lay on top of me, and said "George, flatten out." He was struck by a shell on the hip and knocked clear off of me and died August 9th. 1864 from this wound.
On the "March to the Sea," when provisions were scarce, a bull was run into camp. We had orders not to shoot; so a big negro volunteered to catch the bull, and the boys formed a big ring around the animal. The negro slipped up be- hind him, grabbed him by the tail and at the same time planted his feet on the cords of the bull's hind legs, above the knees. Both went several times around the ring. The boys at last helped the negro to throw the bull down. Then they killed him. The negro had a lively ride of it.
Andrew Bauman, Company I, tells the following:
At Crab Orchard. Kentucky, the boys received many things from friends at home. Some one sent me a nice coverlet. I never knew who sent it, but still
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keep it, and prize it highly. as a memento of war times.
While we lay here. Samuel H. Hurd. assistant Regimental Quartermaster drew from the Government, and receipted for, thirteen wagons, seventy-eight mules and harness for each mule, for our regiment. When an inventory of the stock was taken, however, there were twenty-seven wagons, one hundred and sixty- two mules and one hundred and sixty-two sets of harness. Thus our regiment had more than twice as many teams as it was entitled to, to start with.
The regiment was ordered, later on, to put three days cooked rations into their haversacks, and get ready to move forward. This was done, but instead of each soldier carrying his own knapsack, etc., they were put into the wagons, with many extra blankets, and luxuries from home. When the move was made, the boys did not see the wagons, containing their haversacks etc., for over three days, hence had nothing to eat. About three miles from Wild Cat. Ken- tucky, Colonel Connell bought a nice beef for the starving boys, and I had just killed it and got the hide off, when the long roll beat, and the regiment was double quicked to Wild Cat, leaving the beef. After that the boys always stuck to their haversacks.
After crossing Fishing Creek, Kentucky, the teamster driving the commissary wagon, gave me his canteen to get it filled with applejack. Being mounted, I soon returned with the applejack. In less than half an hour, the driver was lying on the wagon, drunk, and I was driving the six mules, and as the rebels were found in strong force. and our troops thought best to fall back, I had to drive them all night, recrossing Fishing Creek. This sad experience taught me not to furnish applejack to a teamster thereafter.
Alanson L. Gierhart, Co. K, contributes the following;
When our forces were scattered September 20th, 1863, at Chickamauga, Col- onel, Ward, without horse or hat, and swinging his sword shouted "For God's sake, boys, rally on the the colors." After repeating this several times he suc- ceeded in getting seventy-five or one hundred of our regiment together, when he led them on a charge. It was in this battle that Henry Sheets. Company H, had the breath knocked out of him by a rebel bullet striking the brass buckle of his belt.
Henry Myers, Company K. had a chunk shot out of his gun stock, in the af- ternoon. John Price was hit several times; a ball passed through his hat. another through his cartridge box, and still another through his blouse on the shoulder, and had blood drawn on his cheek. I had the hind sight of my gun shot off. Woodson W. Brock. Company K, was hit in the side by a spent ball, and on the elbow by a buckshot.
Christian Flickinger. Company K, was washing his shirt in some water that had rained in the ditch in front of our breastworks, at Chattanooga. Tennessee. when I threw a stone into the mud and water near him, Chris thought it was a piece of a rebel shell, and thinking to save himself, jumped into the water. get- ting wet, and covered with mnd from head to foot. When he found out what had caused the alarm. no one could have been more angry than he was, and I had to keep out of his way for some time afterwards.
At Kenesaw Mountain W. W. Brock had his knapsack shot through near his face, in June. 1864. and on August 5th. 1864, Captain Seth B. Collins, Company K, was struck on the breast, by a piece of a shell, tearing his coat and burning him.
Joel J. Hansberger and Henry Rea, Co. K.
They were two of Sherman's Bummers and almost always together.
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The night before we crossed the Chattahoochee River, Georgia. they went courting and stayed all night. In the morning, they found that some of the Twentieth Corps boys had stolen their horses, saddles and everything they had, so they walked to camp, finding . on arrival that the troops had gone. They marched hard all day to catch up, and having had no sleep the night before, nor anything to eat till they overtook the troops, they were much fatigued. However the next morning they had two good horses, saddles: etc., and were ready to forage again. They went about fifteen miles away from the command, but found nothing to eat. Towards evening they were going in the direction the troops were marching and were within six or eight miles of the troops, when they saw about twenty of the Twentieth Corps boys, with a cart drawn by an ox, a wagon drawn by two oxen and a carriage drawn by two mules, all loaded with something to eat. Hansberger suggested to Rea. to take all of it away from the Twentieth Corps boys. Rea asked. "How will you do it?" Hansberger proposed to slip up close to the Twentieth Corps boys. in the woods, which was done. Then he gave the command for the Tenth Alabama Regi- ment to deploy as skirmishers and shortly ordered them to fire. He and Rea began shooting as fast as they could. over the heads of the Twentieth Corps boys. who left everything in their hurry to keep from being killed or captured as they supposed. Hansberger and Rea got the teams straightened up. drove them up a hill, on to another road, and to camp, with all the meat, potatoes etc. They felt that they were even with the Twentieth Corps boys then.
John J. Kumler, Company K, says:
On the Tullahoma Campaign, one morning, we were advancing on the enemy at Hoover's Gap, Company A were deployed as skirmishers, balance of regiment in support. We could see the enemy on the south side of a clover field and we were ordered to load. It had been raining, so the boys first snapped caps to clear the tubes of water. The regiment double quicked across the clover field and drove the rebel piekets onto their reserve. We advanced into a barnyard. Here the "Johnnies" opened fire on us with two pieces of artillery at short range, and musketry. After the rebels finally retreated, we halted and counted sixteen killed and wounded. While standing here in line. waiting for orders, a cavalry man came dashing up to Colonel Walker, Thirty-First Regiment. O. V. I., (who was then in command of our brigade, ) and excitedly said, "Colonel the enemy's cavalry is forming over the hill yonder to charge on you." The Col- onel said in a loud tone, "All right they will find us right here, and we'll freeze to them like a brother." We cheered him, and always liked him after that.
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STRAY SHOTS.
At the Wild Cat, Kentucky. fight, the Seventeenth Regiment, first heard mus- ketry. Lieutenant Aaron P. Ashbrook, Company B, saw the rebels advancing on a charge, and at the first fire from our men. the rebels all fell to the ground. This, led the Lieutenant to suppose they were all killed, but he soon learned better, when they jumped up and continued the charge; but they were finally repulsed, with heavy loss ..
While our army invested Corinth, Mississippi, the camps were overrun with civilians, selling all sorts of things to the soldiers; watches, jewelry, revolvers knives, songs, etc. Among other things, alleged steel, bullet proof vests, which were nothing more than ordinary vests with metal plates between the lining and outside of the front of the vest. They were sold at ten dollars each and Churchill McMullen, Company B. with many others, bought one. He had it on while en- gaged in a skirmish. May 17th, 1862 near Corinth, and was wounded in the big toe. The boys laughed at him considerably, and suggested that he wear the vest on his feet thereafter. The vests were soon thrown away, as they did not prove to be bullet proof, and were of no value.
While we lay here, the flies were so bad that they would blow anything that had the least grease on it. The only water obtainable often, at this place, was from holes dug in the ground, with a barrel or box put into them. These would soon fill with poor water, at the best, and flies would collect on the surface of the water, so that they had to be brushed aside with a tin cup while the water was being dipped out.
When the rebels evacuated Corinth, Lieutenant Wm. H. Pugh. Company B. celebrated the event, by wearing a pair of nice white pantaloons, and while in company with several officers, he and Captain Stinchcomb, of same Company, got to fencing with their swords. Stincheomb watched for an opportunity, and "accidentally on purpose," stuck the point ofhis sword into the fleshy part of Pugh's, thigh, which made the blood run freely for a while, and soon spoiled the white pants.
While we were besieged at Chattanooga, Tennessee, Wm. R. Sain Co. B. shot a peafowl, off the top of a tree, cleaned, boiled and helped to eat it, all who partook of it, pronounced it good. There has been considerable said, about William's appe- tite, but it did not prevent him from being a tip top good soldier.
James H. Bogle, Company B, was helping to guard a wagon train of supplies for us, while we lay here, when the rebel cavalry captured it. Jim got a box of cheese out of one of the wagons, put it on his shoulder, and started to run to camp with it, but finding he could not travel fast enough with it, to escape cap- ture, threw it away much to his regret, and made good his escape.
The rebels had a thirty-two pound gun on Orchard Knob, near the foot of Mission Ridge, which our boys called the "Swamp Angel."
One day one of the Seventeenth boys was sitting at the edge of a ditch, in front of the breastworks, when a shell from this gun struck the ground very close to him. He merely turned his head to look at the furrow the shell ploughed in the ground by his side. and cooly went on with what he was doing. The boys cheered him lustily. The gun finally burst.
The rebel pickets were on one bank of Chickamauga Creek, and ours on the other bank, and often, at night the Johnnies would whistle Chic-a-mau-ga, which aggravated our boys considerably.
At Thanksgiving 1863, some of the boys made doughnuts out of flour and corn meal mixed. frying them in bacon grease. Although not as toothsome as those our mothers made, they were eaten with quite as much relish.
After the battle of Mission Ridge, the cold New Years of 1864, found the boys getting ready to go home on a thirty days, veteran furlough, They started on
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January 17th, 1864. arriving at home January 25th.
The boys allrespected and had faith in the American Eagle as a national em- blem, in fact they had staked their lives and all on maintaining its supremacy, bnt with regardto the "*Ohio Eagle," hatched and reared at Lancaster, Ohio, they were of the opinion that it was not an eagle at all, but a buzzard in disguise. They ar- irved at this conclusion after viewing it from a distance, hearing its notes, and from the disagreeable odor pervading the bird. Several of the boys made up their minds to investigate the matter when they got home; so one day in February, 1864, they hunted up the nest of the " Ohio Eagle" and finding it in the third story of Sifford's building, they became at once satisfied that it was a buzzard, and in less time than it takes to write this, there was a fine stock of buzzard "pie." lay- ing around in the street. for the boys dumped the whole nest into the street from the third story windows.
There was a very sad occurrence that took place at Lancaster. Ohio. also, while the boys were at home during the thirty days, veteran furlough. An altercation occurred between some of the boys and one George See, and during the melee, that followed, John See, George's father, shot and killed John N. Little, Com- pany A. Great indignation and much excitement prevailed for awhile regarding this matter, and Geo. See came near being killed, by the enraged friends of Lit- tle.
While in camp at Ringgold. Georgia, the boys organized a show, giving ex- hibitions of agility, pantomime, etc, in a building in the town. They would post written notices of the exhibitions, on the trees through the camps surrounding the town. One of these notices spoke of the coming performances as a Pan- tomime of the " Derel." etc. Chaplain Gardner, of our Regiment, read the notice, and turning to Charles T. De Velling, Company B, who was standing near, said "Charlie the fellow who wrote that notice, is smarter than the Devil," Charlie asked why? when the Chaplain replied that the writer of the notice. had cheat- ed the Devil out of his eye (i). Charlie thought that was not a bad one for a preacher to get off.
At the battle of Resaca, Georgia, our regiment charged down a hill, on the rebels, who were fortified, when our boys got to the foot of the hill, where there was a small creek, the rebels made it too hot, for them to advance, or retreat, so they lay down in the water and mud. While lying there George Burnsides, Company B, said to Jacob Freizner, who lay near him, "Jacob if you want to save yourself, get on top of me." George heard about that saring clause, until he finally "took French leave" of us, near Kingston, Georgia, in 1864.
While lying in front of Kenesaw Mt., Georgia, in June 1864, the boys were obliged to stay in the ditch in daytime, or if they got out, run the risk of being shot by the rebel sharpshooters posted on the mountain. Samuel Spencer, Com- pany C, being quite tall. got cramped up lying in the ditch, and stepped out occasionally to stretch himself. The boys cautioned him about the danger but he would say each time "A rebel bullet has not been made for me yet;" but while barefoot and stretching himself one afternoon, a rebel bullet, that must have been made just for him, struck the calf of his leg. which made him grab that member and howl with pain. The wound never entirely healed, finally killing him in 1880.
During the Atlanta Campaign, the opposing armies often agreed on a cessa- tion of hostilities for a time, and during these periods, many from both armies would meet. on half way ground unarmed, talk.exchange newspapers, trade knives, or coffee for tobacco, or what ever they happened to have to trade. While near the Chattahoochee River, the pickets of both armies, occupied its banks. There was a large rock about midway in the stream, and the pickets from both armies would swim out to the rock. and enjoy a chat thereon, until duty called them away.
At one time some of our boys were afflicted with a peculiar disease of the eyes. called "night, or moon blindness." Those afflicted, went blind at sun down, and
*A Weekly Newspaper.
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remained so until daylight, when they could again see. First Sergeant John E Lane, Company B, was thus afflicted, and he with Charles T. De Velling, of same Company, came near being captured by reason of it. August 27th, 1864. The night our troops started for Jonesborough, Georgia, Charlie was left to take care of John, who could not see to keep up with the troops. The two slept on a pole bed, abandoned by some officer, who had as a protection to his quarters, a small breastworks made of logs and earth. In the morning the rebels discovered that our troops had left, and came swarming over our deserted camps, picking up clothing and such things as our troops had thrown away. Some of them got pretty close to John and Charlie, who were eating crackers and raw pork for breakfast, withont seeing them, or being seen. The boys, supposing that a strong picket line had been left by our troops, as had been done on several nights before, when similar movements were made, were taken much by surprise, to see the rebels. John was about to shoot the nearest one, but Charlie prevented. by whispering to him not to shoot, for it would attract the rebels to their hiding place, and capture, or death would be inevitable, while escape was possible if he did not shoot. John saw the point, and the rebel's life wasspared. The fright- ened boys made their escape, and after a very forced march, overtook our troops, much exhausted, but happy to join their comrades.
James Hickman, Sergeant Company I, had a Henry repeating rifle, and on August 30th, 1864, while we were near Rough and Ready Station, Georgia, on our way to Jonesborough, he captured eleven rebels; four of them in one squad. Three of this squad were armed, the fourth one was an artillery man. Nearly all that he captured belonged to the 54th Tennessee regiment. Colonel Ward hearing about this daring feat, took "Poke," as Hickman was called, with his Henry rifle, to see General Stanley, who asked "Poke" all about capturing the reb- els, and examined the rifle.
While on the "March to the Sea," the boys found many things that had been buried, to prevent the "Yanks" getting them; medicines, jewelry and valuables of different kinds. If the boys saw fresh dirt any place, they at once went to jobbing their iron ramrods down into the ground where the fresh dirt was, and generally they brought to light some hidden treasure. At Louisville, Georgia. they found an abandoned cistern full of silk dresses and other wearing apparel: and to see the boys rigged out in all sorts of finery, was enough to make any one but the former owners thereof. laugh. Meat was found hanging in the tops of tall pine trees, and many other things, in all sorts of places.
At Savannah, Georgia, December 24th, 1864, the boys went about six miles to the oyster beds down the Savannah river at Thunderbolt, after oysters. of which they brought to camp two wagon loads in the shell. Being called out on picket duty next day, they did not have the Christmas feast expected. Not knowing much about oysters, some of the boys continued to eat them after they were untit to eat, and were made sick by doing so. Rice in the sheaf, much the same as wheat is in the North, was also brought to camp, and with a club the grains were beaten ont, in a hole chopped in a log, for the purpose. It was then put into a rubber blanket and tossed up many times, so the wind could blow the chaffaway. leaving the grain. After boiling it with fresh beef, in swamp water colored red by the straw from pine trees falling into it, the rice was freely eaten, regular rations being very scarce at that time.
About this time Jerry Howard, colored cook for Company B, drew his first blouse. Some of the boys treated him several times, so he began to feel good, danced and shonted. After carrying on in this way for a while, he happened to think of his new blouse. and said excitedly, "where's my new brouse?" Cap- tain James T. Weakley, Company B. said, "Jerry you've got it on." Jerry look- ed, found it so, then said "Bress God," and then went on with his dancing.
The members of Company B presented a nice photograph album to their Cap- tain, James T. Weakley, on July 20th, 1865, at camp Chase, Ohio, as a farewell memento of their respect for him,
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William R. McGuire, Company G, was regimental bugler, and became quite expert at sounding the calls.
Captain Stincheomb. Company B, required Simon Mast of his company to sit on a log, and pound on it, with the pole of an axe, for an hour or so, as a punish- ment for some infraction of discipline.
Doctor David D. Benedict extracted teeth for the boys. He extracted one for Lucas Gafell, Company A, who said the Doctor pulled him all over the parade grounds before getting it out.
William C. Williams. Company B, cut his thumb while whittling one day in camp, and he said ."Blame it. that is my mother's fault." Some one asked him how that could be, and he said, "Because she always told me to take care of my fingers, but never said a word about my thumbs."
.; At one time Captain O. W. Brown. Company B, felt called upon to inflict a slight punishment upon Peter G. Shoemaker and Thomas D. Osborn, of his company, for some rules broken by them. so ordered that each carry a rail on his shoulder for an hour or two, which they manfully did; but they both declared at the end, of the time, that the rails had grown to be as heavy as saw logs.
The twins Abner and Ezra Cadwallader, Company E, attracted much atten- tion. John Duff, Company E, truly said of them that "One looks so much like both, that you can't tell tother from which." They had very large noses, were always together. and one, (but we don't know which,) followed closely behind the other, where ever he went. They enlisted together and were dis- charged together on the Surgeon's certificate of disability, and it is supposed they both suffered, from the same disease. They were quiet, inoffensive, childlike, good soldiers. The first time paymaster Major Cook paid our regiment, he had giv- en Abner his money, and called for Ezra, who presented himself. The Major said "I just paid you, I want Ezra Cadwallader ;" Ezra said, "I am the one ;" but the Major replied. "I just paid you, now step to one side," and he could not be otherwise convinced until Abner and Ezra were together presented to him.
It was a long time after Frank Demming, Company A, enlisted, performed picket and other duties, played cards, chewed and smoked tobacco, ate, slept and mingled, with the other members of the company, before her sex was discov- ered. She was put in the guard house, for being drunk, looked and acted more like a boy than a woman, and played her part as a soldier so well, that even Seymour Kinney with whom she messed, did not mistrust that she was other than what she appeared. She was discharged, but refused to leave the regi- ment, or wear female attire; she stayed at the quarters of Surgeon Washington L. Schenck, until an order was finally issued to send her to Nashville, Tennessee. The night before she was to start, she took a dose of poison, with suicidal in- tentions, and was only prevented from accomplishing this end, by prompt, hero- ic treatment, at the hands of Dr. Schenck, who undoubtedly saved her life. When she was able to travel, she was sent away and we lost sight of her.
Company F had a few very unruly men in it. Captain Daniel P. Sulli- van had George Auman bucked and gagged, for getting drunk and abusing him, and he was a good soldier too, when sober. Jessie Weeks and Joseph Dial, Company F, while drunk, abused Jacob Hinebarger, Company F, and others, Captain Ezra Ricketts, Company F, told John Jarvis, Company F, to quiet this disturbing element, which John did with a club, so effectually, that Weeks and Dial were laid up for some time thereafter. in fact they were nearly killed.
Whenever the regiment lay in camp for a while, nearly all kinds of sport were indulged in to while away the time; card and checker playing, dice throwing, pitching horse shoes, jumping, running foot races, wrestling, foot ball, singing, telling stories, reading, writing letters; etc. Dancing was a pleasant way of pas- sing the time, when the weather was suitable; the boys acting the ladies part in a dance would often tie a rag on the left arm, to designate them. There were several violins in the regiment. John Duff, Company E, and David Binkley, Company B, each owned one, and could perform on it very well. John Duff also
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repaired watches for the boys. Dave Binkley could also use a razor or a pair of shears to advantage. He cut the hair and shaved the face of many a soldier. He was also quite an expert at tatooing with India ink, and a good soldier be- sides.
When the regiment first went to the front, it had twenty-seven six-mule wagons to haul tents, cooking utensils, extra clothing etc. Each company was provided with Sibley tents, in which quite a number could sleep. There was a brass band belonging to the regiment, in addition to the drummers and fifers be- longing to the companies. Toward the last this was all changed. In place of twenty-seven wagons, one only was allowed. In place of large tents, the dog, or shelter tent, carried by each soldier was the only shelter; and the brass band was dispensed with in Sept., 1862. The boys were obliged to carry in and on their knapsacks, all their bedding, tents, extra clothing, cooking utensils, and whatever else they wanted. and in their haversacks from one to five days ra- tion; water in their tin or wooden canteens, from forty to one hundred rouuds of ammunition in their cartridge boxes and pockets, besides their gun and bayonet; all of which made a load that many would think a man could not car- ry; but with all this load, through dust and in the hot Summer sun, or through mud and rain, the boys would march often from twenty to thirty miles a day; some times go double quick and even charge on the enemy.
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