USA > Ohio > History of the Seventieth Ohio Regiment : from its organization to its mustering out > Part 2
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HISTORY OF THE SEVENTIETH OHIO REGIMENT.
United States." To which the challenger replied: "The hell you say !" at the same time sending a volley of cold lead toward the Major and his men, who retreated back to the Brigade lines with greater speed than when they advanced ; the Rebels doing the same. Immediately the long roll was heard from the Rebel camps, which told to us for the first time that the Confederate Army was advancing. A short council was held by our officers, resulting in a speedy retreat to our camp at Shiloh Church.
On Friday, April 4th, 1862, the Rebels made a sudden dash upon our picket lines, capturing Lieutenant Hubbard, Jesse Mckinley, George Lowery, J. M. Sutton, Thomas Everton, Samuel Cox, William McClarren and Paul Gaddis from Company H of our Regiment. The alarm was given throughout the camp. Our Regiment was then ordered on double quick to the scene of the capture, to find that the Rebels had made good their escape with their prisoners. On Saturday, April 5th, 1862, while our Brigade was having drill in a field on the right of our camp, the Rebel cavalry came up to the opposite side of the field and sat on their horses and watched us until our drill was over, then rode away without making any further demonstration. In the afternoon of the same day- Saturday, the 5th-a detail from our Regiment, of which this scribe was. a part from my Company, was sent out to repair a bridge across Owl Creek to enable the passage of our artillery and wagon trains, but before we had finished our work the long roll was heard from our lines, and we were immediately ordered back to camp, to find the 70th, 72d and 48th Regiments in line of battle. We now come to the battle of Shiloh. Our next chapter will contain a brief sketch of the part taken by the 7otlu Ohio in that great and terrible battle.
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CHAPTER III.
As we stated in Chapter II, our Regiment was in line of battle on Saturday evening, April 5th, until dark. The enemy had showed himself in our front, but yet there was nothing to indicate a general attack that we were conscious of. As soon as the excitement of the evening had sub- sided, Company K was detailed for picket, and ordered to report to Brigade Headquarters for duty. The picket line was established about one-quarter of a mile from camp. The night was very dark ; not a sound could be heard, or the movement of the enemy detected. At about three o'clock Sunday morning, April 6th, Company K reported back to the Regiment ; called the roll, and then lay down to rest. Here at this hour of the night the Union forces lay in camp, unconscious of the fact that we were on the eve of a terrible conflict, and that soon we were to measure arms and meet face to face a strong and determined foe. But as the rays of Sunday morning's sun, April 6th, 1862, had commenced to peep through the tops of the forest trees, we found that the enemy had advanced under cover of the night, and was forming his forces under cover of underbrush that lined the banks of Owl Creek bottom. About seven o'clock the enemy opened fire from his artillery, while his infantry moved across the open ground and up the slope that separated him from our lines. It now became evident that a general and determined attack had been made. Our Brigade was immediately thrown forward to the bank of Owl Creek, with the left wing of our Regiment still resting near Shiloh Church. Colonel J. A. McDowell formed his Brigade upon our right, while Colonel Hildebrand's Brigade formed upon our left. The enemy was seen to be moving heavy masses to his left to attack Prentiss. At the same time business in our front was getting to be very lively ; the enemy was pressing us heavily, and we soon realized that we had an elephant on our hands. The mettle of the 70th Ohio was being tried in the furnace of shot and shell, but the boys were equal to the occasion and stood their ground like old veterans. About nine o'clock the firing told that Prentiss was giving ground, and in a short time after Colonel Ap- pler's 53d Ohio and Colonel Mungen's 57th Ohio Regiments broke in dis- order, thereby exposing Waterhouse's Battery. General McClernand promptly moved forward a Brigade of his Division to the support of General Sherman's left, which formed the immediate support to this bat- tery, but the enemy advanced with such vigor and determination, keep- ing up all the time such a severe fire, that the Brigade was soon in dis-
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HISTORY OF THE SEVENTIETH OHIO REGIMENT.
order, and the battery lost, McDowell's and Buckland's Brigades, together with the remaining Regiment of Hildebrand's Brigade, holding their positions for one hour longer. The 70th Ohio maintained her posi- tion on the front line at Shiloh Church, under a very heavy fire, for two hours and thirty minutes, killing over three hundred Rebels in our front. No Regiment in Sherman's Division stood their ground better, or did more effective work than did the 70th Ohio Regiment. At the opening of this terrible battle Company G, of our Regiment, lost the first man killed from Adams County. W. J. Ellis, of Company G, was killed, near the church, after the firing of the first or second volley, by a cannon ball tearing off the top part of his head: he was the first man killed in our Regiment.
At ten o'clock the enemy was pressing hard upon our front, their artillery supported by a heavy force of infantry. Their advance seemed for a time to be irresistible, so that it was found necessary to change position. At once General Sherman gave orders to retire our lines to the Purdy and Hamburg road: Taylor's Battery was sent to the rear to at once take up the new position, to hold the enemy in check. While this movement was in progress, the Rebels raised their cornbread yelp, and making a desperate charge, captured our camp: taking full possession of our tents, our blankets, knapsacks and all of our love letters. Our sick had all been sent to the rear. I believe that all of our Company and Regimental officers were in line on duty, except First Lieutenant John K. Truitt. of Company G, who was a very sick mian at that time. The Rebels still pressed us heavily, singing the song of "Bull Run, Bull Run," "Get up There, You Damn Yankee S-s of B-s, and Fight Like Men": while their artillery, from the opposite bank of Owl Creek, con- tinued to pour in a heavy fire of shot and shell. Captain Behr, of McDowell's Brigade, was trying to get his battery in position when he was struck by a musket ball. and fell from his horse. The drivers and gunners became panic stricken and fled without firing a shot, taking with them the caissons and one gun, leaving the other six in the hands of the enemy. Our Regiment was still hotly engaged and stubbornly contested every inch of ground, only yielding when overpowered by superior numbers.
At this point it became evident to General Sherman that he would again be compelled to select a new line and abandon the attempt to hold the old one. He at once ordered Colonel McDowell's and Colonel Buckland's Brigades, Captain Taylor's Battery, and three guns of Cap-
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HISTORY OF THE SEVENTIETH OHIO REGIMENT.
tain Waterhouse's Battery to the support of General McClernand's right -where the enemy seemed to be massing his forces. At half past ten o'clock the battle became furious all along the entire line. Colonel McDowell's Brigade was thrown against the enemy's left, forcing him back, thus for a tinie relieving the pressure. There was a large amount of felled timber, undergrowth and wooded ravines that enabled our Division to hold its ground for four hours; stubbornly contesting it with the enemy, who seemed determined to drive us back to the Tennessee River.
I think it was near twelve o'clock, Sunday, when General Grant visited our lines. Again at three o'clock P.M., Sunday. he visited our Division, holding a short conversation with General Sherman. An hour later revealed the fact that General Hurlbut had fallen back toward the river. General Lew Wallace, with his entire Division, was on their road from Crump's Landing. A new line of defense had been agreed upon, and the retirement to the new position was executed deliberately and in good order ; many stragglers joining in with the two Divisions. The enemy's cavalry made several charges, and was successfully repulsed each time. During the day the two wings of the 70th Ohio Regiment were separated ; one wing remaining with Colonel Cockerill. the other wing, I think, if I remember correctly, remained with Lieutenant H. L. Phillips, the Adjutant of our Regiment, who joined in with McClernand's Division. There was no confusion in the ranks of the 70th Ohio with either men or officers ; one part became separated from the other, vet al! stood fire like men.
At four o'clock a new line of defense had been formed ; this line was held firmly until five o'clock, when our lines were formed in a semi- circle, each wing resting on the bank of the Tennessee River. General Nelson's Division of General Buell's Army crossed the river and re- enforced us about four o'clock on Sunday evening. At six o'clock we still held our ground, with the gunboats Tyler and Lexington stationed at either flank, doing effective work. The battle had lasted twelve hours. We had been driven from all our camps in the morning. The enemy gathered up his forces and made a last desperate effort to gain this position, but was repulsed with heavy loss. A destructive fire was poured into them by the gunboats Tyler and Lexington, sweeping the enemy's flanks with their sixty-four-inch shells. At last night closed in; darkness fell upon the two tired, hungry, disordered and confused armies. In each the loss through the day was fearfully heavy. Thus closed the first day's battle of Shiloh. The loss to our Company (G)
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HISTORY OF THE SEVENTIETH OHIO REGIMENT.
through this day's battle was: Killed-W. J. Ellis, Joseph R. Shively ; Wounded-Henry Kress, Alexander Little and Robert W Jennings ; Missing-Peter Popst. The loss to the other Companies of our Regi- ment I am not able to give at this time, but hope to be able to do so before . concluding this history.
The two armies, after the first day's battle was over, lay on their arms, facing each other, during the night. About eight o'clock Sunday night it began to thunder and lightning with terrific force; the rain fell in torrents, and so continued all through the night, thoroughly drenching both armies. Our condition was everything else but comfortable or pleasant-hungry, wet and tired. The night was dark and gloomy ; tlie groans and cries that greeted our ears from the wounded and dying on the field were very distressing indeed. The gunboat Lexington stood picket duty during the first part of the night, and every ten minutes would drop a shell into the enemy's ranks. At one o'clock the Lexing- ton was relieved by the Tyler, who took her turn at the wheel, throwing a hissing shell over to the enemy every quarter of an hour until daylight. The terrible shrieking of the large navy shells had a demoralizing effect upon the enemy, causing him to change his position several times during the night, besides robbing him of much needed sleep and rest ; while it was soul-stirring music to our ears. Our lines were being strengthened dur- ing the night with re-enforcements from Buell's Army. A part of Gen- eral Nelson's had come on the field during the afternoon. Crittenden and McCook extended their lines to the right, coming in position on Sherman's right. Our Regiment held the most important position in our Brigade, doing effective work in every movement.
Daybreak on Monday morning, April 7th, 1862, found the enemy still in our front, as stubborn as ever. As soon as it was fully daylight the order promised by Gencral Grant the evening before was received, and near the six o'clock hour, our battery opened a deadly fire on the left, as Generals Nelson, McCook and Crittenden moved forward and engaged the enemy in a sharp contest for the possession of our old camp, while Generals Hurlbut, McClernend, Sherman and Wallace pushed forward to a position in the direction of Shiloh Church. Here the enemy made a strong and determined stand, holding his ground in the scrub oak thicket for more than three hours. During all of this time our Regiment was in the hottest of the fight; and General Sherman truthfully said that the 70th Ohio was the best Regiment in his Division. About one o'clock in the afternoon of Monday it became evident that the enemy was weaken-
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HISTORY OF THE SEVENTIETH OHIO REGIMENT.
ing and was yielding here and there, showing signs of exhaustion. At about two o'clock his right had fallen back considerable distance. At about four o'clock the entire Confederate Army was on the retreat, until finally they broke in disorder, was on the go, every man for himself, leav- ing many of their dead and wounded in our hands. After pursuing them until nightfall, we fell back to again occupy our old camps, which we found to be in a demoralized condition - our tents, some of them, full of bullet holes; our knapsacks torn up and robbed; our blankets were gone and camp kettles destroyed : our old letters torn up and scattered in every direction. During the night we were completely drenched with another heavy rain storm, accompanied by terrific thunder and lightning.
There were many wounded and dying of both armies that lay on the field for two days and nights, exposed to these heavy, drenching rains.
On Tuesday morning, April 8th, 1862, we had an alarm in camp, causing a small stampede, which, by the good judgment and coolness of our Company and Regimental officers, was soon quieted down; and Sherman, with our Brigade, followed the confused and disorganized army of General Beauregard for about five miles, and returned to camp, and the great battle of Shiloh, or Pittsburg Landing, was ended, with the exception of burying the dead and caring for the wounded. We were worn out, disorganized, out of supplies, and in no condition to enter immediately upon another campaign.
During the two days' battle just closed the 70th Ohio Regiment was continually in the thickest and hottest part of the fight. Colonel Cockerill displayed great military skill during the battle. He was cool and calm and remained firmly at his post all the time, looking well to the interest of his Regiment. Listen to what General Sherman says in his official report: "Colonel Cockerill held a larger portion of his command together than any Colonel in my Division, and was with me from first to last." . Lieutenant Colonel D. W. C. Loudon, Major J. W. McFerren and Lieutenant HI. L. Phillips, our Adjutant, deserve great praise for their coolness and bravery and-skill all through the fight. There were no braver or better set of officers than the field and staff of the 70th Ohio Regiment. Our Company officers of the Regiment, both commissioned and non-commissioned. proved themselves to be the right men in the right place. The private soldiers that made up the Companies of the 70th Ohio Regiment showed that they could fight and would fight. show- ing themselves superior to defeat. The loss sustained in our Regiment during the two days was nine (9) killed, sixty (60) wounded and thirty
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HISTORY OF THE SEVENTIETH OHIO REGIMENT.
(30) missing. William H. Greenlee, of Company H, died in camp, March 31st, 1862, and was buried not far from the Shiloh Church. The loss to Sherman's Division, as we learn, was 318 killed, 1,275 wounded and 441 missing : total, 2,034. while the entire Rebel loss, as we gather from reports, is reported to be 10,699.
· After the wounded had all been gathered up and cared for, the dead of both armies all buried, the relics all laid away, and our army once more settled down in camp, we instantly discovered another enemy had advanced upon our lines, and that we had been attacked by a large, stubborn army made up of different kinds of troops, small in stature but terrible in its work. They, too, were called by the familiar name of "Graybacks." This army gave the Union forces more trouble than all the combined forces of the Confederate Army, or the larger size of Gray backs. They, too, invaded some portions of our Northern States. While we were again enjoying the quiet of camp life. our Regiment was visited by our old friend and neighbor, Mr. John Jarvis, an old dry goods merchant of Manchester. Our next chapter will begin with the opening of the Corinth campaign.
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COL. H. L. PHILLIPS.
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CHAPTER IV.
Soon after the close of the battle of Shiloh Major General Halleck arrived from St. Louis and assumed personal command of our army, which he caused to be reinforced from other parts of the Department and reorganized, with the following named Major Generals as his sub- ordinates in command of positions assigned them: Major General Pope, to command the left wing; Major General Thomas, the right; Major General Buell, the center; Major General McClernand, to hold the reserve, while Major General Grant was assigned to duty as second in command. This done, active preparations were at once inaugurated for an advance movement to Corinth, Miss.
As we have stated, Corinth is about twenty or twenty-five miles from Pittsburg Landing, on the Tennessee River, and ninety-three miles from Memphis, Tenn .. and is the junction of the Mobile and Ohio and the Memphis and Charleston Railroads. Those familiar with the map of the country can understand that these two great lines intersect each other at right angles, connecting the Mississippi with the Atlantic and the Ohio with the Gulf. On the 28th of April, 1862, the opening of the Corinth campaign was announced, and orders issued for the Regiments, Brigades and Divisions to be ready, with four days' rations in haversacks, to move at a moment's notice. The officers and men of the 70th Ohio were ail in good spirits and in fine trim for the campaign. Our sick and wounded of the Regiment had all been sent to the rear. Our Regimental hospital was thoroughly reorganized and the proper detail made to assist in the hospital work. Dr. Thomas J. Farrell. a large, fine-looking man, was our Regimental Assistant Surgeon. Captain I. H. de Bruin, our Regi- mental Quartermaster, left nothing undone to complete arrangements for active service in the field. Our Commissary Department was all ready to keep supplies well up with the Regiment. We were all supplied with new blankets, shoes, shirts, pants and blouses, knapsacks, haversacks and canteens, thus thoroughly equipping us for an active, hard campaign. Our supply of ammunition was recruited, and our cartridge boxes, capable of holding forty rounds, were all filled. Everything was now ready for the command, "Fall in! fall in! Attention! Forward march !"
On the morning of April 29th, 1862, the expected order came. At seven o'clock the 70th Ohio was moving out upon the Corinth road, all the other Regiments following in turn, and by noon the entire army was moving to the front. The roads were not in the best condition to
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HISTORY OF THE SEVENTIETH OHIO REGIMENT.
move an army over, and some corduroying had to be done to enable the passage of our artillery and wagon trains. When night closed upon us we had only marched about four miles. After going into camp we built our fires, made our coffee and eat our supper. The regular detail for guard and picket duty made, we retired to l'est on the soft ground of mother earth for the night. About midnight a heavy rain-storm com- menced pouring down upon us, making it very disagreeable for us to sleep, as we had not put up our tents ; but after the rain began to fall we were not long in putting up a few tents.
April 30th we advanced in line to Pea Ridge, a distance of about six miles, and went into Camp No. 2, remaining at this point about four days. May 4th, 1862, we advanced two miles, halted in the roads and put up a few tents. About twelve o'clock M. it commenced raining, and continued to rain until after nightfall. May 5th we threw up our first line of breastworks, and rested on the 6th. May 7th we advanced our lines two miles along the Corinth road, halted and constructed our second line of works. Our advanced picket lines encountered the pickets of the enemy, resulting in a lively little skirmish, which continued at intervals the greater part of the day. May 8th we marched to Gravel Hill and went into camp.
May 9th, 1862, our Regiment was visited by the Paymaster. This was an important official to us; of course, we could extend to him a hearty welcome. We had waited long and patiently for the visit of the Paymaster, as our army Paymaster was a new thing to us, and was something of a curiosity. All eyes were steadily fixed upon the man in official uniform as he sat in Colonel Cockerill's tent counting out the little change due each man ; and when one by one our names were called we answered "here" and stepped forward and received our first install- ment in gold and silver and paper, oh, how good it made us feel, as some of us that day could count more money of our own than we ever could before.
On the evening of May oth Company G of the 70th Ohio was detailed for picket duty, and during the night it rained and fogged, making it very disagreeable for us to do picket duty. At this place Lieutenant John K. Truitt, of Company G, was again taken very sick, and was compelled to return to the hospital. Matthew Tucker, of the same Company, was also sick. I will here mention that Lieutenant John Taylor, of Company .H, lost his arm during the battle of Shiloh.
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HISTORY OF THE SEVENTIETH OHIO REGIMENT.
We remained in camp at Gravel Hill, I think. three days after we were paid off. Our Division was reorganized in three Brigades. The 8th Missouri, 55th Illinois, 54th Ohio and 57th Ohio were assigned to the First Brigade, to be commanded by General Morgan L. Smith. The 6th Iowa, 46th Ohio, 40th Illinois and 77th Ohio were assigned to the Second Brigade. The Third Brigade was made up of the 70th Ohio, 72d Ohio, 48th Ohio and 53d Ohio, commanded by Colonel R. P. Buek- land. But on the following day of May General J. W. Denver arrived and reported to General Sherman for duty, and was assigned to the com- mand of our Brigade, relieving Colonel Buckland.
Our advance was very cautious and executed by slow marches and throwing up a line of works at every camp. On the afternoon of May 17th, 1862, General Sherman was ordered to drive the enemy from his position at the Russell House, situated on a little hill about one mile and a half from the outer works of Corinth, and about two miles in advance of our lines. At two o'clock General Hurlbut advanced with two Regi- ments and a Battery out the road which passes the front of the Russell House. General Denver sent the 70th Ohio and 72d Ohio, with Bar- rett's Artillery, out the right-hand road, while General Morgan L. Smith, with his Brigade, moved on the main road. All these forces were in motion by three o'clock. The 70th Ohio, of our Brigade, was thrown in the lead. On the right-hand road skirmishers were deployed. The . column advanced and soon engaged. The firing was brisk, and the enemy's pickets were driven steadily back until they reached their Bri- gade at the Russell House, where they made a stubborn resistance. Our artillery was unable to gain a very favorable position until the skir- mishers had reached and cleared the hill beyond As soon as this was done Major Taylor, Chief of Artillery of Sherman's Division, moved forward one gun of Bouton's Battery to the top of the hill and opened fire on the Russell House and other outbuildings in which the enemy bad taken shelter. Soon after this gun had gained a position and com- menced firing, the other three guns of the Battery came up and opened a vigorous fire, causing the enemy to give way and fall back, leaving the Russell House and the ground for several hundred yards in our pos- session. The 70th Ohio and 72d Ohio reached their position as the enemy began to retreat. This indeed was a very successful flank move- ment, executed with but very little loss of life. The loss in Morgan L. Smith's Brigade was ten killed and thirty-one wounded; no loss in either Denver's or Hurlbut's Brigade.
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HISTORY OF THE SEVENTIETHI OIIIO REGIMENT.
The position thus gained proved to be of great value and strength, and we at once fortified our line. The engineers were on hand to lay off the lines and instruct .in the prosecution of the work - our first experience with intrenchment tools since the opening of the Corinth campaign ; but, as the major part of our Regiment was familiar with the use of all kinds of farming tools, we experienced no trouble in handling these tools. We succeeded in constructing a parapet that met the approval of the critical eye of the Commander-in-Chief. We cleared away the woods and undergrowth in our front, so as to give a good range for our artillery and infantry. And now, while we are secure behind our intrenchments, I will give the reader a short description of the Russell House.
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