USA > Ohio > History of the Seventieth Ohio Regiment : from its organization to its mustering out > Part 5
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Returning to Big Black River we occupied the camp as above described, until September, 1863, at which time the Fifteenth Corps was reorganized, so as to consist of four Divisions, in the following order: First Division, to be commanded by General P. J. Osterhaus, composed of two Brigades led by Brigadier General C. R Woods and Colonel J. A. Williamson, of the 4th Jowa : the Second Division, to be commanded by Brigadier General Morgan L. Smith, and comprised the Brigades of Brigadier General Giles A. Smith and J. A. Lightburn ; the Third Divis- ion, to be commanded by Brigadier General J. M. Tuttle, consisting of three Brigades commanded by Brigadier General J. A. Mower. Colonel R. P. Buckland and Colonel T. J. Wood, of the 12th Iowa ; the Fourth: Division, to be commanded by Brigadier General Hugh Ewing. and was composed of the Brigades led by General John M. Corse, Colonel Loomis
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HISTORY OF THE SEVENTIETH OHIO REGIMENT.
of the 26th Illinois, and Colonel J. R. Cockerill, of the 70th Ohio Regi- inent.
September 22d, as per order from General Grant, General Sherman ordered Osterhaus' Division to Vicksburg. At four o'clock that after- noon the Division was on the march. The next day, September 23d, embarked on steamers for Memphis. General Sherman was called to Vicksburg on the 23d, and was instructed to follow with his entire Corps. except General Tuttle's Third Division, which was to be left with General McPherson to guard the line of the Big Black, and to be replaced in the Fifteenth Corps by John E. Smith's Division of the Seventeenth Corps, consisting of three Brigades, respectfully commanded by Brigadier Gen- eral Mathias, Colonel G. B. Raum, of the 56th Illinois, and Colonel J. J. Alexander, of the 50th Illinois.
September 27th, at the earliest moment possible to procure steam- boats. General Sherman followed in person, with General Morgan L. Smith's Second Division and our Division (General Ewing's Fourth). The 70th Ohio was sent aboard the steamer Belle of Memphis, en route for Memphis. The low stage of the river, and the scarcity of wood along the banks of the river, caused delay, and the last of the fleet did not reach Memphis until about the 4th day of October, 1863.
While on our way up the Mississippi River, and about half way between Vicksburg and Memphis, and while running through a dense fog. the steamer carrying the 70th Ohio struck a large snag, tearing away the lower starboard guard, killing and drowning six or eight horses belong- ing to our Regimental and Brigade Headquarters. At the same time the snag ran up through and tore a great hole in the starboard guard of the boiler deck, wounding Jesse Ramsay, William Ramsay, and six others whose names I can not now call to mind.
After landing at Memphis we were ordered to Chattanooga. Oster- haus with his Division was already at Corinth. General John E. Smith's Third Division moved from Memphis by rail, but the capacity of the rail- road was so limited that it was soon found that animals and wagons could be more rapidly moved by the common road, so that our entire Division had to march through on foot.
On the 10th day of October, 1863, the 70th Ohio moved out from Memphis on the main road leading to Corinth. the remainder of our Division following the next morning. On the 11th day of October, hav- ing put in motion the rear of the column, General Sherman started to Corinth by rail, in a special train, escorted by his old Regiment, the 13th
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HISTORY OF THE SEVENTIETH OHIO REGIMENT.
Regulars, reaching Collierville Station about noon. Here he found the 69th Indiana, under Colonel D. C. Anthony, gallantly defending the post against the attack of the Rebel General Chalmers, with a force of nearly three thousand cavalry and eight field guns. General Sherman and his escort arrived just in time to assist in defeating the Rebels. The next morning, I believe, the 70th Ohio in advance of Colonel Cockerill's Brigade, passed through Collierville, thence to La Grange and Corinth, with instructions to push forward as rapidly as possible to Iuka, Missis- sippi.
On the second Tuesday of October, 1863, while marching along the road, our Regiment was called to halt in the woods along the road, for the purpose of holding an election, that being the day for holding the State election in Ohio, the contest for Governor being between John Brough, Republican, and C. L. Vallandigham, Democrat. The Election Board was organized in accordance with the laws of Ohio, and the elec- tion conducted the same as at home. Lieutenant John C. Nelson, of Company G, and two others, whose names I can not now remember, were chosen to serve as Judges of Election : while your humble writer was chosen as Clerk of the Election. The polls were opened, ballots cast, and polls closed according to the laws. Every member of the Regiment of lawful age present was allowed to cast his ballot with as much freedom as at home. Out of the whole number of votes cast by the 70th Ohio Regi- ment, twenty-three were cast for C. L. Vallandigham. The result announced, and the returns were immediately forwarded to Columbus, Ohio. It rained nearly all day, and was a kind of a cold, chilly, rainy day for holding an election.
The next morning we resumed our march, arriving at Iuka, October 24th, 1863. We remained at this place three days. While here we received a copy of the Cincinnati Commercial, giving us the news of the election from Ohio ; giving the majorities by counties and State for Brough. The boys all being anxious to hear all the news, I was selected as the reader for the Company. Accordingly I undertook the job. but before I had gotten through with reading the election returns, a lively little skirmish, which I shall not mention, suddenly closed the program ; after which we all retired for the night to dream of the great Republican victory in Ohio.
October 25th, as per crders received from the Secretary of War, General George M. Thomas was assigned to the Department of the Cumberland, General Sherman to the Department of the Tennessee,
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MAJOR W. B. BROWN.
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HISTORY OF THE SEVENTIETH OHIO REGIMENT.
with instructions from General Grant to retain personal command of the army in the field. General Frank P. Blair was placed in command of the Fifteenth Army Corps, and Brigadier General George M. Dodge was ordered from Corinth to organize and assume command of a picked column of eight thousand men from the Sixteenth Corps, and with it to follow Sherman eastward as rapidly as possible.
Having made these changes, General Sherman pushed forward with the advance of his army. On the 27th day of October, the 70th Ohio in advance of the Brigade, crossed the Tennessee River at Eastport. thence to Florence, Alabama. On the same day a messenger from General Grant floated down the Tennessee River, over the Muscle Shoals, landing at Tuscumbia ; went immediately to headquarters at Iuka, bearing this short message: "Drop all work on the railroad east of Bear Creek and put your command towards Bridgeport until you meet orders."
Instantly our order of march was countermanded, and all the col- umns directed to Eastpor !- the only place where the crossing of the Tennessee was practicable. On the Ist day of November the 70th Ohio crossed the river and marched to Waterloo and went into camp for the night. November 2d we marched to Grand Springs, Alabama, and camped for the night. November 3d marched to Cyprus Mills, Alabama. November 4th marched to Florence, Alabama. We remained at Flor- ence two days. Florence is a beautiful town on the Tennessee River. about three hundred miles from its mouth, at Paducah, Kentucky. Some of the boys, while at Florence, assisted by a colored man, captured three hundred dollars in coin, found buried under an onion bed. At many places the colored people would fall in line with us and march in search of a happier land.
November 7th we marched to Rogersville, Alabama, a little town on Elk River. This stream was found to be impassable, and there was no time to bridge it, or to cross it in boats, so that no alternative remained but to ascend the Elk to a stone bridge, at Fayettesville, which we did. On the 8th of November we crossed the river and went into camp.
On the oth of November we marched to Winchester and Decherd. Here the Fifteenth Corps was ordered to Bridgeport. Alabama. while General Dodge's detachment of the Sixteenth Corps was to remain at Pulaski and along the railroad from Columbia to Decatur, to protect it. General Sherman instructed General Blair to follow in the order with the Second Division and First Division of Morgan L. Smith and General
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HISTORY OF THE SEVENTIETH OHIO REGIMENT.
Osterhaus, by way of New Market, Larkinsville and Bellefonte, while he himself should conduct the Third and Fourth Divisions of General John E. Smith and General Ewing, from Decherd.
We marched from Decherd to Montgomery's Gap on the 10th and IIth of November, and on the 12th day of November we marched to Stevenson, Alabama, and went into camp for the night. November 13th we marched to Bridgeport and went into camp. November 14th we crossed the Tennessee River, and marched to the foot of Raccoon Mountain. by way of Nicker Jack Cave, and camped for the night. November 15th we crossed over the mountains to Trenton, Ga. Here we surprised a squad of Johnnies and compelled them to beat a hasty retreat.
Our Brigade being in the advance, Colonel Cockerill sent his orderly to notify the inhabitants to take care of the women and children, as he was going to shell the woods for miles around. According to notice given, the Colonel caused a battery to be placed in a position command- ing the principal streets leading through town. The object was to make a demonstration against Lookout Mountain, and at the same time to be prepared to rapidly change direction on Chattanooga.
We remained at Trenton until November 17th, I think, marching at that time up Lookout Valley to a bridge at Brown's Ferry, arriving at this place November 2Ist. As soon as our Division had reached the head of the bridge we learned that we were not able to cross by reason of its breakage, until November 23d. The bridge again broke, leaving Genera! Osterhaus still on the left bank at Brown's Ferry. On the same day we were moved up behind the hills to a point between the mouth ot Chicka- mauga Creek and South Chickamauga. Meanwhile Brigadier General Giles A. Smith, with his Second Brigade. marched under cover of the hills to a point opposite the North Chickamauga, where he manned the pontoon boats at midnight and dropped down to a point above the South Chickamauga, landed, and silently moved along the river, capturing all .the Rebel picket posts along the banks. Then he re-embarked and dropped quickly down below the mouth of the Chickamauga, and sent the boats to the other side for re-enforcements ; this done, the remainder of General Morgan L. Smith's Division was rapidly ferried across, fol- lowed by General John L. Smith's Division, and by daylight of the 24th of November, these two Divisions, numbering eight thousand men, were across the Tennessee, and had thrown up a strong line of rifle pits to cover the crossing. Our Division crossed the river about nine o'clock.
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HISTORY OF THE SEVENTIETH OHIO REGIMENT.
At one o'clock P.M., the troops marched in three columns. The left of General Morgan L. Smith following Chickamauga Creek. The cen- ter, General John E. Smith, in column doubled on center at full Brigade intervals to the right and rear. The right, General Ewing's Division, in columns at the same distance to the right and rear, prepared to deploy to the right to meet the enemy in that direction. Each head of column was covered by a line of skirmishers, with supports. A light, drizzling rain prevailed most of the day, while the clouds hung low, cloaking the move- ment from the enemy's tower of observation and Lookout Mountain.
CHAPTER VII.
After we had reached the base of Missionary Ridge the skirmishers continued up the face of the ridge, followed by strong supports, and al half past three P.M., the ridge was gained without loss. It was not until a Brigade from each Division had pushed rapidly up the face of the ridge to the top that the enemy realized our movements, but it was then too late, for we were in possession of the ground sought. The enemy opened a vigorous fire from his artillery, but General Ewing's promptness soon placed in position some of Captain Richardson's guns, which returned the fire, silencing the enemy's guns; while his skirmishers had made one or two ineffectual dashes at General Lightburn, who, with his Brigade, had swept around and gained the real continuation of the ridge. The line of our Brigade extended along the face of the ridge, from the top to its base, our front in line with and overlooking the railroad leading to the tunnel. Up to this time it was supposed that Missionary Ridge was a long, continuous hill, but after we had gained it we found it cut up into high points, with deep ravines. Immediately through the third hill was the tunnel, strongly defended by the enemy. The ground we had won was of so much importance to us that we found that nothing could be left to chance. It was, therefore, fortified during the night. One Brigade from each Division was ordered to remain on the hill, while one of Gen- eral Morgan L. Smith's Brigades closed the gaps to Chickamauga Creek. Two Brigades from General John E. Smith's Division was ordered back to the base, in reserve, and the right of our Division was extended down into the plain, thus crossing the ridge in general line facing southwest.
About four o'clock . P.M., the enemy made an attack upon our right "flank, and after a sharp engagement with artillery and muskets, he fell back. Brigadier General Giles A. Smith was severely wounded, when the command devolved on Colonel Tupper, of the 116th Illinois. At this moment General Howard appeared, bringing with him three Regi- ments from Chattanooga, along the east bank of the Tennessee River, connecting General Sherman's new position with that of the main army at Chattanooga. The three Regiments were temporarily attached to the right of our Division, General Howard returning to Chattanooga. As night closed upon us General Sherman ordered General Jeff C. Davis to keep one Brigade at the bridge. one Brigade close up to the main body of the Fifteenth Corps, and one Brigade between the two. Heavy details 62
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HISTORY OF THE SEVENTIETH OHIO REGIMENT.
were kept at work on the intrenchments until morning. All through the day a light, drizzling rain prevailed.
Company G, of the 70th Ohio, was detailed out on the skirmish line that night. As dark came on the rain increased, completely drench- ing the army. About ten o'clock it turned colder, and began sleeting. Company G, being posted on the picket line that night, was not allowed fire on account of being so near the enemy's lines ; we were compelled to be on our feet the entire night. The rainfall was heavy, and froze almost as fast as it fell; our clothing was covered all over with a perfect glare of ice. Some time during the latter part of the night the sky became clear, and beautiful, and bright. A cold frost filled the air. The camp- fires back in the rear of the skirmish line revealed to the enemy, and to the army in front of Chattanooga, our position at Missionary Ridge
About midnight orders came from General Grant to attack the enemy at daybreak, and that General Thomas would attack in force carly in the morning. General Sherman was in his saddle before day- light, his entire staff accompanying him; he rode to the extreme of our position near Chickamauga, thence up to the face of the hill held by Gen- eral Lightburn, then came around to the extreme right of our Division, getting as accurate an idea of the ground as was possible by the dim light of the morning. He saw that our line of attack was in the direc- tion of Missionary Ridge, with wings supporting on either flank. A deep valley lay between us and the next hill of the series, each one presenting steep sides. The one to the west was partially cleared. The other one was covered with heavy forest. The crest of the ridge was narrow and wooded still farther on. The point of the hill was held by the enemy with a breastwork of logs and fresh earth, filled with men and two field guns. The enemy was also seen in great force on a still higher hill beyond the tunnel, fiercely defending the ground in dispute. The gorge between, through which several roads and the railway tunnel pass, could not be seen from our position, but formed the natural citadel where the enemy covered his masses to resist the contemplated movement to turn his right and endanger his communications with the depot at Chicka- mauga.
Colonel Cockerill, with our Brigade; Colonel Alexander, with a Brigade from General John F. Smith's Division, and General Lightburn; with his Brigade of General Morgan L. Smith's Division, was ordered to hold their lines on the face of the hill occupied by each Brigade, as the key point. General John M. Corse was to use as much of his Brigade
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HISTORY OF THE SEVENTIETH OHIO REGIMENT.
of our Division as he could operate along the narrow ridge, and was to attack from the right to the center. General Lightburn was to send a Regiment from his position to co-operate with General Corse. General Morgan L. Smith moved along the east base of Missionary Ridge, con- necting with General Corse. Colonel Loomis, with his Brigade of our Division, moved along the west base, supported by General Mathias' and General Raum's Brigades of General John E. Smith's Division in reserve.
By the time the sun was beginning to show its light on the morning of November 25th, General Corse had completed all of his arrangements and his bugle sounded the forward, when the 40th Iilinois, supported by the 46th Ohio on the right center, with the 20th Ohio, Colonel Jones, moved down the face of the hill and up that held by the enemy. After advancing to within eighty yards of the intrenchments, General Corse found a secondary crest, which he gained and held. To this point he called his reserves, and asked for reinforcements. which were promptly sent ; but the space was narrow, and it was not well to crowd the men, as the enemy's artillery and musketry fire swept the approach. As soon as General Corse had made his preparations he assaulted, when a close and severe contest ensued lasting more than an hour, giving and losing ground. General Morgan L. Smith steadily gained ground on the left spur of Missionary ; Colonel Loomis, with his Brigade, reached a point abreast of the tunnel and the railroad embankment on his side, drawing the enemy's fire to such an extent that his Brigade suffered terribly ; his loss was heavy. Meanwhile the 70th Ohio was sent forward to the crest of a small open ridge overlooking the railroad and the tunnel, to support Captain Callander's battery of four guns, the enemy's fire being so hot that the 70th Ohio was compelled to lay flat on the ground a good part of the time. Just in front of the battery heavy columns of the enemy could be seen moving along the ridge toward the tunnel. At ten A.M. the battle was raging furiously. The position of the 70th Ohio was a very important one, but dangerous, yet the boys stood square to the work. General Corse received a very severe wound and was carried from the field. Immediately after, Colonel Charles Wolcott assumed command of this Brigade, and continued to press forward at all points. Colonel Loomis had made good progress to the right. At two o'clock the fighting was severe. An eastern German Regiment, belonging to the Ninth Corps, became panic stricken and fled in utter confusion, and but for the coolness of our officers might have resulted seriously. Gen- era! John E. Smith's Division supported our Division. The fire from
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HISTORY OF THE SEVENTIETH OHIO REGIMENT.
the artillery and musketry was very heavy. The enemy had massed in great strength in the tunnel gorge, and the right of possession was hotly contested .. At about three o'clock P.M. a white line of smoke from musketry was seen in front of Orchard Knoll, disappeared behind a spur of the hill and could no longer be seen. General Thomas had victoriously swept across Missionary Ridge and broken. the enemy's cen- ter. Night closed in, and the great battle of the day closed, and the two great armies withdrew for the night.
It began to freeze just after dark. About ten o'clock two wounded men in front of our Regiment were heard calling for help. Myself and two other comrades volunteered to go out to the front in search of them. It was very dark and cold. We took a stretcher and went to the men. Found they were members of the goth Illinois, and badly wounded. We brought them in to our Regimental hospital and thus saved their lives. No doubt they would have frozen to death.
On the morning of November 26th, 1863, after the close of the battle. the reveille sounded at five o'clock, calling up the slumbering army from their places of rest, to engage in the active duties of the day. The camp- fires soon illuminated each Regimental camp, and preparations for an early breakfast was made. Folding our blankets and packing our knap- sacks was the order of the hour. Every soldier was busy. Active prepa- rations with our officers were noticed all this time. Finally daylight came, and with it the news that the Rebels were gone, and Missionary Ridge was ours. The victory was complete. General Morgan L. Smith reported the tunnel evacuated, and only the dead and wounded of the army left.
Our next duty was the pursuit. General Jeff C. Davis was the first to move, marching by the pontoon bridge across the Chickamauga at it; inouth, with instructions to push rapidly for the depot. Our Corps, the Fifteenth, began to move at daylight. General Howard, who had reported to General Sherman the day before with the remainder of his Corps, the Eleventh, was ordered to follow at four P.M. Our Division moved out at sunrise, with our Brigade in the advance. At eleven A.M. the advance of Jeff C. Davis' Division appeared at the depot just in time to find it in flames. He entered with one Brigade, and found the enemy occupying two hills, partially intrenched. just beyond the depot. These he soon dislodged. Our Division followed General Davis, the 70th Ohio being in the advance. During the greater part of the afternoon Davis' guns could be distinctly heard as he pressed hard upon the retreat-
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HISTORY OF THE SEVENTIETH OHIO REGIMENT.
ing columns of the enemy. About four P.M. the roth Ohio reached the burning depot, where we found corn and cornmeal in large piles, and burning, broken wagons, abandoned caissons, two thirty-two-pound rifle guns, carriages, burned pieces of pontoons, balks, chesses. etc., destined for the invasion of Kentucky. Many other things were found burning and broken. A good supply of forage for the horses, and meal and beans for the men, were discovered to be in good condition. Every man of us filled our haversacks with meal and his pockets with beans. Some of the boys found sacks and filled them as full as they could con- veniently carry. We only halted for a short time, then moved on to find the road lined with broken wagons and abandoned caissons ; we marche .! until about eleven o'clock that night, when General Grant and staff rode up to the head of our column, and said, "Boys, are you tired?" "Yes, sir, we are," was the prompt response from the boys. "Well," said the Gen- eral, "just file right, march out there in the woods and go into camp for the night." That was General Grant's order, and General Sherman's, too, he said. Of course we did not wait for the second command; we just marched out into the woods and stacked arms like good boys; ail very tired and hungry, as any soldier could be. Our campfires were soon kindled and water found for coffee.
Next thing was our desire to try the virtue of our cornmeal. The query with us was, how shall we fix it up? We had no salt to season it with, and no grease, soda or milk to mix it with, and no skillet of pans to cook it in. So the best we could do was to mix it up with water and spread the dough on chips we were lucky enough to find, turn it up before the fire, and bake after the manner of ye olden time, when our mothers used to bake long Johnny Cakes before the fire on a long, old fashioned Johnny Cake board. After enjoying our cornbread and coffee we lay down on the soft side of the ground to rest for an hour or two.
Promptly at daylight the next morning our march was resumed. Marching to Graysville, we found a good bridge spanning the Chicka- mauga ; General Palmer, with his Fourteenth Corps, met us on the south bank. From this Corps we learned that General Hooker was moving on a road still farther south. His guns could be heard near Ringgold.
At this point our line of march was turned to the east to fulfil another part of the general plan of breaking up all communications between Bragg and Longstreet. General Howard was ordered to Parker's Gap, thence to Red Clay or Council Ground, to destroy a sec- tion of railway connecting Dalton and Cleveland. General Davis moved
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