USA > Ohio > History of the Seventieth Ohio Regiment : from its organization to its mustering out > Part 4
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On the 13th day of October, 1862. Lieutenant H. L. Phillips was appointed and commissioned Captain, and afterwards appointed Assist- ant Adjutant General of our Division.
During our encampment at Memphis, Tenn., General Sherman required no passes for inland travel, but restricted the travel to the five main roads leading into the city, placing guards on each of the roads for the purpose of inspecting all persons coming in and passing out through our lines. No cotton was allowed to be brought beyond the lines. except on special contracts, to be paid for at the close of the war, so that the enemy could not receive aid therefrom. The exportation of salt was strictly forbidden, because it could be used to cure bacon and beef. A
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HISTORY OF THE SEVENTIETH OHIO REGIMENT.
strict search for arms and ammunition was also enforced. The citizens were prohibited from carrying cotton and other goods beyond the lines. A careful search for quinine was instituted, as that article was not allowed to pass through the lines to the enemy.
During the fall several important expeditions were sent out from Memphis. Early in September General Hurlbut was sent with his Division to Brownsville for the purpose of threatening the flank move- ment of any force of the enemy moving from the line of the Tallahatchie against General Grant's position at Bolivar, while at the same time Gen- erai Morgan L. Smith, with his Brigade, a battery of artillery and four hundred cavalry, under Colonel B. Il. Grierson, moved to Holly Springs, destroyed the road and railroad bridges over Coldwater, and then returned.
Our camp at Memphis was a very pleasant one, being located on tha banks of the Mississippi River and overlooking the Father of Waters. The health of the 70th Ohio boys was excellent, each one observing strictly the laws of health. The streets of our camp were policed each morning and kept as clean and smooth as a parlor floor. The different Companies making up the 70th Ohio Regiment were divided into messes. A detail from each mess would obtain passes each day from the camp to the woods, for the purpose of cutting and hewing logs for building pur- poses. These logs were carried into camp, from which several com- fortable log cabins were built. with a fireplace and chimney attached to each cabin. These were intended for winter quarters. Situated upon the high bluff on which our camp was located were several good build- ings, brick and frame. These were used for Division and Brigade headquarters and for hospital purposes. Under the river bluff, a few feet from the river, was a building in which were found an engine and other machinery of value. There was found in Company F a natural inachinist and mechanic in the person of Comrade Ed Morgan, better known to the boys as "Dad " Morgan, chock-full of life and fun. Ed went to work and resurrected the old engine and put it in good running order. After connecting a long pipe from the river with a large tank arranged on top of the bluff, the machinery was put in motion, thus forcing the water from the river to the tank, and in this way the army was supplied with that needful article, water.
We had one destructive fire in camp at this point. It was the tent and headquarters of Captain R. T. Naylor, commanding Company C of the 70th Ohio. The tent was a total loss, with no insurance. The
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HISTORY OF THE SEVENTIETH OHIO REGIMENT.
origin of the fire was not known. Second Lieutenant W. R. Stewart and John McCutchen, of Company C, had their whiskers badly burned in their attempt to put out the fire. Several destructive fires occurred in Memphis during the months of September, October and November, and it was the same old song: "The 6th and 8th Missouri did it."
Occasionally a detail was ordered from the 7oth to work on the wharf unloading Government stores.
In the latter part of October. 1862, General Grant notified General Sherman to meet him at Columbus, Ky., for the purpose of arranging a plan for the coming campaign. The great work before the Army of the Tennessee was the capture of Vicksburg, the enemy's force at that point being forty thousand strong, and commanded by Lieutenant General Pemberton, a part of whose force must first be dislodged from the line of the Tallahatchie, which they held by having all the bridges strongly fortified. General Grant was to move his main army direct from Jackson via Grand Junction and La Grange, following generally the line of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad. General Sherman was to move out from Memphis with four Brigades of infantry, on the Tchulahoma road, to strike the enemy at Wyatt's in connection with General Grant's arrivai at Waterford, while General C. C. Washburn, with his Division, would cross the Tallahatchie near the Yalabusha.
During the month of November, 1862, our Division was reorganized in the following order: First Brigade to be made up from the 6th and 8th Missouri, 54th Ohio, 113th Illinois and the 120th Illinois, to be con- manded by Brigadier General Morgan L. Smith; the Second Brigade being made up from the 6th Towa, 40th Illinois, 46th Ohio, 13th United States Infantry and 100th Indiana, commanded by Colonel John A. McDowell; our Third Brigade was made up from the 48th Ohio, 53d Ohio, 70th Ohio, 97th Indiana and goth Indiana, commanded by Colonel J. R. Cockerill; the Fourth Brigade being composed of the 55th Illinois, 51st Illinois, 83d Indiana, 116th Illinois and 120th Illinois, to be com- manded by Colonel David Stewart; the Fifth Brigade, 72d Ohio, 32d Wisconsin, 93d Illinois and Hath Illinois, commanded by Colonel R. P. Buckland. Besides these Regiments of Infantry, there were attached to the Division seven Batteries of Light Artillery and the Sixth Illinois Cavalry.
On the 24th day of November, 1862, we received orders to cook so many days' rations. pack our knapsacks and be ready to march at a moment's warning. November 26th, 1862, we bid adieu to our camp at
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HISTORY OF THE SEVENTIETH OHIO REGIMENT.
Fort Pickering and Memphis. All of the sick of our Regiment who were not able to march were left in charge of the Post Surgeon at the Overton Hospital in Memphis. We marched ten miles the first day. November 27th we marched to Coldwater, a distance of eighteen miles. The third day (November 28th) we marched nineteen miles, going into camp at night on the banks of the same stream (Coldwater). On the 20th of November we remained in camp. November 30th we made eight miles to a little town by the name of Tchulahoma and camped for the night. December Ist we remained in camp all day and night. Here General Grant met General Sherman, at the latter's headquarters, on official * business. December 2d we marched thirteen miles and went into camp for the night at Wyatt's, a small town of one or two hundred inhabitants, near the Tallahatchie River. We remained in camp at this place until December 6th, when we marched to College Hill, a distance of twelve miles, making the sixth encampment since leaving Memphis, a distance of eighty-four miles.
Our camp at College Hill was beautifully located. The scenery around it brought vividly to our minds some of our old church settle- ments at our Northern homes. In fact, it reminded us more of home than any place we had yet found since leaving the Ohio shore. It was evident that prior to the war there lived at this place a religious and enterprising people. There were marks of industry and prosperity, and, from the best information we have at command, there was, some time during the year 1859. a church organization perfected here by the M. E. . Church, South, which afterward succeeded in erecting a very handsome brick church building, neatly finished and furnished, afterwards adopting the name of College Hill Church. This church was built on Buford's piantation. in the center of an elevated piece of ground. and presented a very beautiful appearance. We remained in camp at this place until December 10th, 1862. During this time we had religious services in the church each morning and night. These services were conducted by Rev. John M. Sullivan, Chaplain of the 70th Ohio Regiment: Rev. F. J. Griffith, Chaplain of the 534 Ohio Regiment, and one or two other Chaplains whose names I can not call to mind at this time. These meet- ings were very interesting and profitable, but, like all other good things, they had an end. We had to bid adient to the pleasures of this camp and resume our line of march again.
During the month of December, 1862, General Grant subdivided his command, designating his troops in the district of Memphis as the right
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HISTORY OF THE SEVENTIETH OHIO REGIMENT.
wing, to be commanded by General Sherman, and to be organized for active service in three Divisions. General Grant then directed General Sherman to proceed with the right wing of the Thirteenth Corps to the mouth of the Yazoo River, and there disembark and attempt the capture of Vicksburg from the north side, while he himself, with the left wing, should move on Jackson against the enemy from the rear, and, uniting the two columns, proceed to investigate the strength of the place. In obedience to said order: General Sherman on the 9th day of December, IS62, reviewed our Division at College Hill, halting long enough in front of each Regiment to make them a short speech and say good-bye to the boys. This done, he departed for his new command.
December. IIth we broke camp at College Hill and marched to Gleese Creek Church, nine miles from College Hill, where we went into camp for the night. The next day (December 12th) we marched four- teen miles, going into camp on the banks of the Yacnapatafa River, Mississippi. We remained at this camp for nine days. December 14th Company D of our Regiment was sent out as pickets. Our base of supplies was established at Holly Springs, Miss., from which point our army was intended to be supplied while moving on to Jackson, I think. If I remember correctly, on or about the 17th or 18th day of December the enemy made a sudden dash upon Holly Springs, cutting our line of communication, capturing and destroying all of our Government stores at that place. Thomas Ellison, the sutler for the 70th Ohio, narrowly escaped capture, being compelled to flee in his night clothes. In conse- quence of this sudden raid by the enemy, General Grant was forced to countermand his order, change front and march to Holly Springs.
December 21st we burned the bridge leading over the Yacnapatafa River, withdrew our pickets, and on December 22d marched twenty miles and went into camp on Blue Creek for the night. Company F of the 70th Ohio was detailed for picket. December 23d, our pickets being called in, we marched to Tallahatchie River. a distance of twenty miles, and went into camp. We remained in this camp four days.
December 25th, 1862, it being Christmas Day, our Brigade head- quarters were handsomely decorated with flags. The Brigade was massed in solid column in front of brigade headquarters, when Colonel J. R. Cockerill, our Brigade Commander, delivered to the boys a nice Christmas speech. In connection with the many good things said upon that occasion, the Colonel got off the following: "With the bold 70th Ohio Regiment, the fearless goth Illinois and 53d Ohio, the never flinch-
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HISTORY OF THE SEVENTIETH OHIO REGIMENT.
ing Bouton Battery and the daring Chicago Battery, he would follow the Rebels to the gates of hell and there give them battle." That was a happy Christmas to all of us ; we enjoyed it well.
On the 28th day of December broke camp and marched eight miles, going into camp for the night at Waterford. December 29th we marched 10 Holly Springs, a distance of eight miles. We remained at this place four days.
We have now closed up our first year since breaking camp at old Camp Hamer. The year's record of the 70th Ohio is an honorable one, a record earned by toils and hardships. The 70th Ohio Regiment has marched during the year 850 miles. Number of battles and skirmishes engaged in, 8; number killed in battle, 9; number wounded, 50; num- ber died from disease and effects of wounds, 15; number killed by care- less discharge of gun, I; number captured and taken prisoner, 8; num- ber discharged, 114: number of deserters, 5. Total loss to the Regiment during the year, 152. In addition to the above, the 70th Ohio con- structed eight lines of works, built and repaired several miles of railroad, and doing her share of garrison and picket duty. Truly we may say that the first year's record of the 70th Ohio Regiment is a grand one; a record that every member can look back upon with pride; a record that will live as a monument of heroic service and honor long after the last member of the Regiment has fallen and passed to his reward; and then, in that morning when the great Reveille shall sound, we shall awake and come forth to receive from the lips of the Great Commander himself the welcome plaudit, " Well done, good and faithful; enter into the joys of thy Lord."
On the 5th day of January, 1863, we broke camp at Holly Springs and marched to La Grange, Tenn., where we went into winter quarters. We have completed a circuit of 360 miles since marching through this place June 25th, 1862.
CHAPTER VI.
As we have already stated, La Grange is located on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, fifty-five miles from Memphis, and contains a population of about six hundred inhabitants. The streets were nicely laid off, with good gravel sidewalks, and presented a very nice appearance. The school and church buildings were neat and comfortable. The forest was grown up with the scrub oak. The land was generally level, and in many places swampy. The soil was not the finest in the world - more like the scrub-oak land of some portions of Adams County. The citizens in a general way were sociable, clever and kind to the soldiers, yet firm: in their convictions and free to speak their sentiments in regard to the. unpleasant trouble between the North and the South. The camp of the 70th Ohio was situated along the railroad, not far from the depot, in full: ' view of the long trains as they would come and go. Each day our camp, duties were strictly observed. Our quarters were made as comfortable as it was possible for them to be. The health of the Regiment, with but a few exceptions, was good. Our officers were always very prompt in: enforcing the rules of health while in camp or on the march. The winter was unusually disagreeable for that climate, having experienced consid- erable rain and snow. While at this place the writer of this history was. the chosen one detailed as a safe guard at the pleasant home of Dr. Harris, where I had comfortable quarters all winter. Thanks to Captain H. L. Phillips for this favor. At the depot a strong detail was almost constantly employed, as there was a large amount of Government stores. stowed away at this point. A large number of colored refugees came. within our lines who had to be provided for in some way by the Govern- ment. As the warm spring began to open up. disease and death began to do their office work in the ranks of the soldiers in other parts of the camp. Scarcely a day passed but there were at least six or seven funeral marches. The sound of the muffled drum could be heard as many times. through the day. A detail was constantly employed cach day digging graves and making boxes for the dead. The material used for making these coffins was rough plank (not planed), roughly nailed together, and the only lining used for them was the soldier's own blanket. But the saddest part of this solemn scene was the funeral march and roll of the muffled drum at midnight. Such was our experience at La Grange.
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We remained in camp at La Grange until about the Ist of April, 1863, when we were ordered to Grand Junction, where we remained in camp until June. .
On the 3d day of June, 1863, we received orders to prepare to march at a moment's warning. On the 4th day of June we began packing our knapsacks and preparing so many days' cooked rations. On the morning of the 5th day of June broke camp and started on our march, for the sec- ond time, to Memphis, arriving at that city June 9th, 1863. On the morn- ing of June 10th, the 70th Ohio embarked on the steamer Luminary, and was soon plowing our way down the great Father of Waters-the Missis- `sippi. Arriving at Millikin's Bend we halted to await the arrival of the remainder of our Division. At this point we could see. in the distance about five miles. the besieged city of Vicksburg. Upon the arrival of the remainder of our Division General Grant ordered us up the Yazoo River to Hane's Bluff, where we disembarked and went into camp on the side of the bluff fronting the river. We are now again placed in the immedi- ate command of our old commander, General W. T. Sherman.
We did not remain in this camp very long before being ordered farther out on the bluff. Here we entered a very rough country, it being cut up with very deep, rugged ravines and bluffs. Along the brow of each bluff, overlooking these deep ravines, we constructed rifle pits. In the meantime we were re-enforced by Landrum's Division, and one other Division coming from the Thirteenth and Seventeenth Corps.
We were assigned to the duty of watching the movements of the Con- federate General Johnston, who had collected a large army at Jackson, Mississippi, and was apparently about to attack the rear of our army at Vicksburg with the design of raising the siege.
Our position was a strong one ; the Big Black River covered us from! attack and would render Johnston's escape impossible in case of defeat. We occupied this position for several days, fortifying and strengthening our lines each day.
On the evening of July 3d, 1863, we received orders to cook one day's rations, and have the same in our haversacks, and be ready to move at six o'clock the next morning. with forty rounds of cartridges in our cartridge boxes. General Grant had decided to make a final assault upon the enemy's works and capture Vicksburg by storm.
In the meantime General Johnston had moved out from Jackson, Mississippi, and was reconnoitering on the opposite side of Big Black River, to ascertain the best point for crossing the river, but before he
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could make the crossing with his army, General Pemberton, on the morning of July 4th, 1863, made an unconditional surrender of Vicks- burg, with its garrison, arms, ammunition, and about thirty thousand men.
Immediately upon the receipt of the news of the surrender, General Sherman, without pausing to share the general outbreak of joy for the national triumph which had crowned the labors of the Union arms at Vicksburg, started us in pursuit of Johnston's forces, who at once fell back upon Jackson. After we had marched five miles we reached the banks of the Big Black River on the evening of July 4th, where our advance became engaged with the enemy's rear. We went into camp for. the night.
July 5th we crossed the river and started in hot pursuit of the enemy. After a hot, dusty march of about fifty miles, through a country almost destitute of water, we appeared before the enemy's works in front of Jack- son, on the 9th day of July, and on the 12th we invested the place until our right and left wings rested on the banks of Pearl River ; the 70th Ohio occupying the center-the most important position of the army. A vigorous skirmish was kept up on our front, while a cavalry expedition was sent off to the east of Jackson to destroy the railroads.
The night of the 16th of July our artillery was all in position. Oui ammunition train, for which we had been waiting, arrived during the day. Learning this fact, and perceiving the impossibility of longer maintaining his position, Johnston, having previously removed the greater portion of his stores, marched out of Jackson the same night, destroying the Hoating bridges over Pearl River.
On the 19th General Sherman sent out expeditions in every direc- tion for the purpose of destroying the bridges, culverts, embankments, watertanks, rails, ties and rolling stock of the railways centering into Jack son. From the time we left the Big Black until the evacuation of Jackson, we captured seven hundred and sixty-four prisoners.
Leaving a small garrison at Jackson we returned to the northern bank of the Big Black River and went into camp. Thus terminated, in one hundred and nine days from its first organization, a campaign which resulted in the surrender of an entire army of thirty-seven thousand men as prisoners of war, including fifteen general officers; the capture of Vicksburg and Jackson; and the opening of the Mississippi River and the division of the rebellion in twain.
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We went into summer quarters a short distance from the west bank of the Big Black River, in the midst of a heavy forest of timber, with here and there a deep ravine. The river is about five miles in the rear of Vicksburg, and empties into the Mississippi a short distance below Vicks- burg. The Big Black River is a very crooked stream, and in many places is very little wider than Brush Creek in Adams County, Ohio. Its banks are bluff and lined with heavy undergrowth of timber, forming a natural ambuscade or a place of surprise.
The location of camp was on a high piece of ground, and well drained. Major W. B. Brown was at this time commanding the 70th Ohio Regiment, and no officer or soldier ever observed the laws of health more perfectly than did Major Brown. No officer could enlist greater interest in protecting the health of our camp than did the Major. Each morning, during the hot months, a regular police detail was ordered. and everything from a.straw to a log had to be removed. Every old stump was taken out and burned. There was not a Regiment in the Fifteenth Army Corps that enjoyed better health than did the 70th Ohio Regiment at this camp. Our camp took the name of Camp Sherman, in honor of General Sherman. Shortly after locating in this camp, Colonel Cockerill was granted a leave of absence and returned to his home at West Union, Ohio, for a few days.
During the months of August and September, 1863, the various Chaplains of our Brigade joined Chaplain John M. Sullivan of the 70th Ohio, and erected a large tabernacle, and at once organized a series of meetings, continning from day to day for about six weeks. Quite a religious interest was awakened throughout the camp. Between seventy- five and one hundred conversions was the result of the meeting. About twenty received the ordinance of baptism by immersion, and a goodly number by sprinkling.
I wish now, before proceeding further, to refer again to our advance upon Jackson, in order to give some points of interest we have omitted. The 4th day of July, 1863, came in on Saturday. Immediately after receiving the news of the surrender of Vicksburg that morning, we marched to within two miles of Black River and went into camp for the night, at about three o'clock in the afternoon. The next morning, the 5th day of July, was Sunday : we advanced toward the river, and were soon engaged in a sharp skirmish with the enemy, continuing at intervals all through the day. At night we moved down to the bank of the river and slept on our arms during the night. Monday morning, July 6th.
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1863, dawned upon us with heavy skirmishing in our front. Our artillery had gained a good position and was making things pretty lively for Mr. Johnnies. About three o'clock in the afternoon of Monday. the 70th Ohio Regiment crossed the river under cover of our artillery. The enemy see- ing they could hold out no longer against us, fell back somewhat in a demoralized condition.
Tuesday morning, July 7th, our advance was again renewed, striking the enemy's retreating column about noon. The 70th Ohio formed line and charged through a hot, dusty, rough cornfield; the sun pouring down upon us about as hot as it could, and the air was full of flying dust, thus making our condition everything else but pleasant.
July 8th we moved out quite early, marched hard all day, pressing closely the rear of the enemy's columns until we came to within . one hundred yards of the State Lunatic Asylum, located about two miles from Jackson. Here the enemy made a stand, and having an advantage super- ior to ours. we were compelled to deploy skirmishers from the main column into three lines of battle upon the right and left of center. Our advance was across a large open field ; the Rebel line in plain view. The skirmishers were hotly contesting every inch of ground, and a battle now seemed determined upon. Our advance was steady, and before reaching the central part of the field the Rebels gave way, retreating to their main line of defense. We moved up to within two hundred yards of the Rebel works, where we constructed a strong line of rifle pits, and remained in this position, under a steady fire, until after the evacuation and our possession of Jackson.
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