USA > Ohio > History of the Seventieth Ohio Regiment : from its organization to its mustering out > Part 12
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abundance, without money and without price. In fact, the soldiers them- selves did not wish to be delayed.
As we approached Savannah the country became more marshy and difficult, and more obstructions were met in the way of felled trees where the roads crossed the creeks, swamps or narrow causeways. But our pioneer companies were well organized; and removed these obstructions in a very short time. No opposition from the enemy worthy speaking of was encountered until the hea.Is of the columns were within fifteen miles of Savannah, where all the roads leading to the city were obstructed more or less by felled timber, with earthworks and artillery.
December 6th .- For two days past our army has been concentrated at this point, which is the narrowest part of the peninsula. Our command is still on the west side of the Ogeechee, but within supporting distance, and have ample means of crossing the river, should it be necessary, which is not at all probable.
December 8th .- The army has been advancing slowly and surely, but as cautiously as if a strong army were in our front. The relative position of the troops has not changed during the past few days, except that we are all farther south. From fifteen to twenty miles distant lies Savannah, a city which is probably in some perturbation at the certainty of our approach.
December 9th .-- We are gradually closing in upon the city. Portions of our army are now within eight miles of the city.
December 10th .- The army has advanced six miles to-day. We have now connected our lines, so that the Corps are within supporting distance of each other. The soldiers are meanwhile in most cheerful spirits, dis- playing the unconcern which is the most characteristic feature of our troops. The necessity of an open communication with the fleet is becom- ing apparent, for the army is rapidly consuming its supplies, and replen- ishment is vitally important. Away in the distance, across the rice fields. as far as the Ogeechee, our signal officers were stationed, scanning the seaward horizon in search of indications of the presence of the fleet, but thus far unsuccessfully. On the other side of the river. within cannon range, stand the frowning parapets of Fort McAllister, its ponderous guns and Rebel garrison guarding the only avenue open to our approach.
On the morning of December 13th our Second Division of the Fif- teenth Corps, under command of General Hazen, crossed the bridge to . the west bank of the Ogeechee, and marched down with orders to carry :by assault Fort McAllister, a strong, inclosed redoubt, manned by two
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companies of artillery and three of infantry ; in all, about two hundred men, and mounting twenty-three guns en barbette, and one mortar. We reached the vicinity of Fort McAllister about one o'clock P.M. General Hazen deployed our Division about the place, with both flanks resting upon the river ; our skiririshers were posted judiciously behind une trunks of trees whose branches had been used for abattis, and abut five P.M. assaulted the place, with nine Regiments, at three points, all of them successfully. About the middle of the afternoon a light column of smoke made its appearance, and soon after the spars of a steamer were visible. and then the flag of our Union floated out. What a thrilling, joyful sight ! when, answering the signal waved above us, we saw that the brave tars had recognized us, and knew that our General was here with his army. The sun was now fast going down behind a grove of water- oaks ; all eves once more turned toward the Rebel fort. General Hazen, with our Division, was closing in. ready for the final rush of his columns directly upon the fort. General Sherman, from his position at the rice mill on the opposite side of the river, walked nervously to and fro, turn- ing quickly now and then from viewing the scene of conflict, to observe the sun sinking slowly behind the tree tops. No longer willing to bear the suspense, he said: "Signal General Hazen that he must carry the fort by assault to-night. if possible." The little flag waved and fluttered in the evening air, and the answer came: "I am ready and will assault at once !" Our lines were formed as the bugle sounded softly the assembly. Colonel Phillips, of the 70th Ohio, said to us, in his cool, deliberate man- ner: "Boys, do you see that pile of dirt off vonder?" Answer: "Yes." "When we capture that we will get something to eat." We had been living on rice, cooked without salt or sugar, for about nine days, and, of course, we were hungry. A warning answer came from the enemy in the roar of heavy artillery-and so the battle opened. Out from the encircling woods our lines moved, with bright bayonets, and our flag waving proudly to the breeze. Then the fort seemed alive with flame ; quick, thick jets of fire shooting out from all its sides, while the white smoke first covered the place and then rolled away over the glacis. Our line moved steadily on with measured steps, unfaltering. Now the flag goes down. David Roderick fell mortally wounded, with the colors in his hand; they are quickly gathered up, and a moment longer and our flag again is in the front ; the line does not halt ; while Sherman stood watching with anxious air, awaiting the decisive movement. The enemy's fire redoubled in rapidity and violence ; on and on we moved across the
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open field, and through their netted abattis work. The darting streams of fire alone told the position of the fort. On and on, down into the great deep ditch and up the walls of the fort, not a man in retreat, not a strag- gler in the line of blue. The firing ceased : the wind lifted the smoke; a few scattering musket shots, and the sounds of battle ceased, with the flag of the 70th Ohio Regiment flying from the highest parapet of the fort. The 70th Ohio was the first to plant her flag on the bomb-proofs of the fort, which was done in seven minutes after our lines began the charge upon the fort. The parapets were soon covered with the boys in blue, who fired their pieces in the air over our victory! The fort was won; Fort McAllister is ours ; it has been gallantly and bravely won. Then all of us who had taken part in the charge exulted in the triumph. grasped each other's hand, embraced, and were glad, and some of us found the water in our eyes. In half an hour we were congratulating General Hazen, and in an hour more Generals Sherman and Howard were pulling down the stream, regardless of torpedoes, in search of the signaled vessel of the navy. General Sherman opened the communica- tion in person, sending a message home, and appointing an hour of meet- ing, for the next morning, with Admiral Dahlgren and General Foster.
This evening we have enjoyed unrestricted opportunities of examin- ing Fort McAllister. It is a large inclosure, with wide parapets, a deep ditch, and thickly planted palisades, which latter are broken in several places where our men passed through. The dead and wounded are lying where they fell. Groups of soldiers are gathered here and there, laughing and talking of the proud deed that had been done. One said: "If they had had embrasures for these guns," pointing to them. "we should have got hurt." "It's of no use; you can't defend a work of this sort with guns en barbette," said another. This soldier was right. There were twenty- one guns, large and small, in the fort, all mounted en barbette, and the deadly aim of our sharpshooters had killed many of the garrison at their pieces. The artillery did very little execution, for we have lost only ninety men killed and wounded in our Division, and many of these were killed and wounded by the explosion of the torpedoes which the Rebeis had planted around and near the fort. Major Anderson, who commanded the fort, says he did not anticipate an assault so soon, and was hardly prepared for it when it came. In the history of war there will scarcely be found a more striking example of the wisdom of quick and determined action than this assault. Had we waited, built intrenchments and rifle- pits, and made the approaches which attend siege operations, we would
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have lost many men and much time, and time at this crisis of the campaign was invaluable.
The victory of Fort McAllister, and the way it was done, is a grand ending to this most adventurous campaign. It is in reality the end, for here terminates our march. We set out for a new base, and we have found it. The capture of Savannah is another matter, and with its siege will begin a new campaign. Our soldiers were electrified by the brilliant episode just enacted, and are eager to go wherever the General directs. General Hazen, our Division commander, and the hero of Fort McAllis- ter, is a West Point graduate, and not yet thirty-five years of age at this time. In person he was rather squareiy built, was above the medium height, and had a fine, open, manly face; resolute withal, but that kind of resolution which does not seem to need constant assertion. You were impressed with it at the first glance, and rest there always after with confidence. His manner was that of an accomplished and refined gentle- man. On the field of battle he was alert, self assured, concentrated, brave, and capable. He performed noble service during the war, from the bloody field of Shiloh until his death. He never failed when the honor of the nation demanded his presence in the front of the battle; but we can add but few brighter leaves to his chaplet of fame than those of the storm- ing of Fort McAllister.
It is a fitting compliment to the 70th Ohio Regiment to say in this connection that for the bravery of this Regiment in the storming of Fort McAllister, being first to plant her colors upon the fort in seven minutes from the commencement of the assault (Colonel H. L. Phillips, of our Regiment, was the first commissioned officer of our Division to reach the top of the fort, in advance of his Regiment), as a just recogni- tion of the splendid work done by both officers and men, General Sherman placed the 70th Ohio in charge of the fort as guardians of the castle, including all the captured siege guns, arms and munitions. Our duty was light and pleasant, except at times, when we were fighting the giant sea gnats. Occasionally we were permitted to obtain a pass and enjoy an excursion to some of the near-by islands. We remained in charge of the Fort for some time. The fall of Fort McAllister was quickly followed by the evacuation of the city of Savannah, which we gained without a battle. We have won a magnificent prize -- the city of Savannah, more than two hundred guns, magazines filled with ammu- nition, thirty-five thousand hales of cotton, three steamboats, several locomotives, and one hundred and fifty cars, and stores of all kinds. We
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had not been in occupation forty-eight hours before the transport steamer Canonicus, with General Foster on board, lay alongside the pier, and our new line of supplies was formed. Before the evacuation of the city, Gen- eral Sherman had been busily engaged in planning a new flank move- ment ; visiting Hilton Head in person for this purpose, and traveling night and day during his journey to that place and back. For a part of the way he was conveyed by steamboats, but when that mode of conveyance failed him, he pushed through swamps and creeks in rowboats and "dug-outs." And here I may properly bear witness to that faithful indefatigability which was one of the elements of greatness in this man. He was never idle in camp, and while he had the highest confidence in his Generals, he always examined the situation with his own eyes. I do not know a man more indifferent to danger than he, although he never foolishly exposed himself; and there could not be a Captain who, never hesitating in an emergency where bloody sacrifice is essential, vet guards so well the lives of his soldiers. I know that it was his constant aim to gain grand results without paying the costly penalties of war. Certainly this campaign has been a signal illustration of this quality in the General's character.
The early colonists, when navigating the waters of Tybee, Ossa- baw and Warsaw Sounds, must have rejoiced greatly when they came to the high bluff where the substantial city of Savannah now stands. No matter how great the flood which descended the mighty river. overflow- ing the widely extended swamp lands, it could never encroach upon the site they had chosen for their new settlement.
In a military point of view there is no precedent to the campaign through Georgia, for the history of war records no similar conditions. The uninterrupted success of twenty seven days of marching was not due to the lack of an enemy to oppose sur progress, for there were garrisons at Augusta, Charleston, and Savannah, which. had they been concentrated under the lead of a man like Johnston, might have stayed our steps for a while. But the direction of columns, the disposition of troops, the selec- tion of lines of operations, so confused and deceived Beauregard that no concentration or effective opposition was made until the last moment, when it was too late.
In closing this brief review of the March to the Sca, I can not refrain from noting one or two incidents of the campaign, which naturally belong to this division of our history. As rumors of the approach of our army reached the frightened inhabitants, frantic efforts were made to conceal not only their valuable personal effects, plate, jewelry and other rich
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goods, but also articles of food, such as hams, sugar, flour, etc. A large part of these supplies were carried to the neighboring swamps ; but the favorite method of concealment was the burial of the treasures in the pathways and gardens adjoining the dwelling houses. Sometimes, also, the graveyards were selected as the best place of security from the "van- dal hands of the invaders." Unfortunately for these people, the negroes betrayed them, and in the early part of the march the soldiers learned the secret. It is possible that supplies thus hidden may have escaped the search of our men, but if so, it was not for want of diligent exploration. With untiring zeal the soldiers hunted for concealed treasures. Wherever the army halted almost every inch of ground in the vicinity of the dwell- ings was poked by ramrods, pierced with sabers, or upturned with spades. The universal digging was good for the garden land, but its results were distressing to the Rebel owners of exhumed property, who saw it rapidly and irretrievably confiscated. It was comical to see a group of these red- bearded, bare-footed, ragged veterans punching the unoffending earth in an apparently idiotic, but certainly most energetic way. . If they "struck a vein" a spade was instantly put in requisition, and the coveted wealth was speedily unearthed. Nothing escaped the observation of these sharp- witted soldiers. A woman standing upon the porch of a house, appar - ently watching their proceedings, instantly became an object of suspi- cion, and she was watched until some movement betrayed a place of con- ceaiment. The fresh earth recently thrown up, a bed of flowers just set out, the slightest indication of a change in appearance or position, all attracted the gaze of these military agriculturists. It was all fair spoil of war, and the search made one of the excitements of the march.
CHAPTER XIII.
The capture of Savannah was but a pivot upon which the army would swing ; this campaign was but a part of the grand idea. The 15th day of January saw the troops actually in motion for the new campaign, and it was soon known that South Carolina was to be the next field of opera- tions. The Fifteenth Corps moved by water from Thunderbolt round to Beaufort, and from there to the mainland. The 70th Ohio was trans- ported from Thunderbolt to Beaufort by the steamer Sherman. The Fif- teenth Corps was somewhat scattered-Wood's and Hazen's Divisions at Beaufort, John E. Smith marching from Savannah by the Coast road, and General Corse still at Savannah, cut off by the storms and freshets in the rivers. The heavy rains had swollen the river so that water stood in the swamps for a breadth of more than a mile. Toward the latter part of January it was learned that the roads back of Savannah had at last become sufficiently free of the flood to admit of General Slocum putting his wing in motion, and that he was already approaching Sister's Ferry. where a gunboat, the Pontiac, Captain Luce, kindly furnished by Admiral Dahlgren, had preceded him to cover the crossing. In the meantime three Divisions of the Fifteenth Corps had closed up at Pocotaligo, and the right wing had loaded its wagons and was ready to start. General Howard was directed to move one Corps, the Seventeenth, along the Salkahatchie, as high up as Rivers' bridge, and the other, the Fifteenth Corps, by Hickory Hill. Loper's cross-roads, Anglesey Postoffice, and Beaufort's bridge. Hatch's Division was ordered to remain at Pocota- ligo, feinting at the Salkahatchie railroad bridge and ferry, until our movement turned the enemy's position and forced him to fall behind the Edisto.
The Seventeenth and Fifteenth Corps drew out of camp on the 31st of January, but the real march began on the Ist of February. All the roads northward had for weeks been held by Wheeler's Cavalry, who had. by details of negro laborers, felled trees, burned bridges, and made obstructions to impede our march. But so well organized were our pioneer battalions, and so strong and intelligent our men, that obstruc- tions seemed only to quicken our progress. Felled trees were removed and bridges rebuilt by the heads of columns before the rear could close up. On the 2d of February the Fifteenth Corps reached Loper's cross- roads, and the Seventeenth was at Rivers' bridge. General Howard, with the right wing, was directed to cross the Salkahatchie and push rapidly 142
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for the South Carolina Railroad, at or near Midway. The enemy held the line of. the Salkahatchie in force, having infantry and artillery in- trenched at Rivers' and Beaufort's bridges. The Seventeenth Corps was ordered to carry Rivers' bridge, and the Fifteenth Corps Beaufort's bridge. The former position was carried promptly and skillfully by Mower's and Giles A. Smith's Divisions of the Seventeenth Corps on the 3d of February, by crossing the swamps, nearly three miles wide, with water varying from knee to shoulder deep. The weather was bitter cold. and Generals Mower and Smith led their Divisions in person on foot, waded the swamps, made a lodgment below the bridge, and turned on the Rebel Brigade which guarded it, driving it in confusion and disorder toward Branchville. The line of the Salkahatchie being thus broken, the enemy retreated at once behind the Edisto at Branchville, and the whole army was pushed rapidly to the South Carolina Railroad at Midway, Bamberg or Lowry's Station, and Graham's Station. All hands were at once set to work to destroy the railroad track. From the 7th to the 10th of February this work was thoroughly prosecuted by the Seventeenth Corps from the Edisto up to Bamberg, and by the Fifteenth Corps from Bamberg up to Blackville. We then began the movement on Orange- burg. The Seventeenth Corps crossed the south fork of Edisto River at Buinaker's bridge, and moved straight for Orangeburg, while the Fif- teenth Corps crossed at Holman's bridge and moved to Poplar Springs in support. The Seventeenth Corps followed the State road, and the Fif- teenth Corps crossed the North Edisto from Poplar Springs, at Schil- ling's bridge, above the mouth of Cawcaw Swamp Creek, and took a country road which came into the State road at Zeigler's.
The reader will bear in mind that the 70th Ohio Regiment was at- tached to the Second Division of the Fifteenth Corps, and wherever the Fifteenth Corps went the 70th Ohio was always there ready for duty. On the 15th of February we found the enemy in a strong position at little Congaree bridge, across Congaree Creek, with a well-constructed fort on the north side, commanding the bridge with artillery. The ground in front was very bad. level and clear, with a fresh deposit of mud from a recent overflow. The bridge had been partially damaged by fire, and had to be repaired for the passage of artillery, so that night closed in before the head of the column could reach the bridge across Congaree River in front of Columbia. That night the enemy shelled our camps from a battery on the cast side of the Congaree above Granby. Early next morning, February 16th, the head of the column reached the bank of
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the Congaree, opposite Columbia, but too late to save the fine bridge which spanned the river at that point. It was burned by the . enemy. While waiting for the pontoons to come to the front, we could see people running about the streets of Columbia, and occasionally small bodies of . cavalry, but no masses. There was no white flag or manifestation of sur- render. General Howard was directed not to cross directly in front of Columbia, but to cross the Saluda at the factory, three miles above, and afterward Broad River, so as to approach Columbia from the north. General Howard effected the crossing of the Saluda, near the factory, on the 16th of February, skirmishing with cavalry, and the same night made a flying bridge across Broad River, about three miles above Columbia, by which he crossed over a strong Brigade of Wood's Division of the Fifteenth Corps. Under cover of this Prigade a pontcon bridge was laid on the morning of the 17th. It was soon learned that the Mayor of Colum- bia had come out in a carriage and made formal surrender of the city to Colonel Stone of the Twenty-fifth Iowa Infantry, commanding the Third Brigade, First Division, Fifteenth Corps. Of course a surrender under such circumstances. as at Savannah, did not entitle the citizens to protec- tion, for Beauregard had contested the possession of the city in its streets. General Sherman and General Howard were the first to cross the bridge, and entered the city, followed by their staffs. The welcome given to Gen- eral Sherman by the negroes was singular and touching. They greeted his arrival with exclamations of unbounded joy. "Tank de Almighty God," they said, "Mister Sherman has come at last. We knew it; we prayed for de day, and de Lord Jesus heard our prayers. Mr. Sherman has come wid his company."
The outward appearance of Columbia is superior to that of most State capitals I have seen. The private residences are large and roomy, and are surrounded with gardens, which, even at this wintry season of the year, are filled with hedges. flowering shrubs, and bordered walks, all in summer green. The three or four days' notice of our approach enabled the government officials to remove most of the material belonging to the poranch of the Treasury Department which was located at this point ; yet arge quantities of paper for printing Confederate notes and bonds, with ype, printing presses, etc., had fallen into our hands. The arsenal was found well stocked with shot, sheli, fixed ammunition, powder. Enfield rifles, carbines, and other material of war. In front of the arsenal barracks were fifteen light brass field pieces, which had the crown of England marked upon the back, with the date of. 1776. The storehouses were all
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filled with all sorts of supplies-flour, meal, bacon, corn, harness, hard- ware, etc., while cotton was found in every direction. The capitol build- ing was far from compietion, but if ever finished, would be the most beau- tiful architectural creation in this country, as well as the most costly. It is very large, covering an open space in the high ridge which runs through the entire city. It is built of a light colored granite, with the sur- face smooth from base to roof. Early in the evening, while at supper, we noticed an unusual glare in the sky, and beard a sound of running to and fro in the streets, it was soon learned that the central part of the city, including the main business street, was in flames, while the wind, which had been blowing a hurricane all day, was driving the sparks and cinders in heavy masses over the eastern part of the city, where the finest resi- dences were situated. These bui lings, all wooden, were instantly ignited by the flying sparks. In half an hour the conflagration was raging in every direction, and but for a providential change of the wind to the south and west, the whole city would in a few hours have been laid in ashes. As it is, several hundred buildings, including the old State House, one or two churches, most of the carved work stored in the sheds around about the new capitol, and a large number of public storehouses, have been destroyed. In some of the buildings the Rebels had stored shot, shell, and other ammunition, and when the flames reached these maga- zines we had the Atlanta experience over again-the smothered boom, the huge columns of fire shooting heavenward, the redhot iron flying here and there. But there was one feature, pitiable indeed, which we did not experience at Atlanta. Groups of men, women and children were gathered in the streets and squares, huddled together over a trunk, a mattress, or bundle of clothes. Our soldiers all worked with a will, removing house- hold goods from the dwellings which were in the track of the flames, and here and there extinguishing the flames when there was hope of sav- ing a building. General Sherman and his officers worked with their own hands until long after midnight, trying to save life and property. About one or two o'clock Colonel Phillips was prt in command of a Brigade of men for police duty, with orders to compel all straggling soldiers to report to their camps.
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