USA > Ohio > History of the Seventieth Ohio Regiment : from its organization to its mustering out > Part 6
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up close to Ringgold to assist General Hooker; while our Corps, the Fifteenth, remained at Graysville.
About noon we learned that General Hooker had a hard fight at the mountain pass, just beyond Ringgold, and wanted General Sherman to move forward and turn the position. But General Howard, by passing through Parker's Gap, toward Red Clay, had already done so. The enemy had fallen back to Tunnel Hill, abandoned the Chickamauga Valley and the State of Tennessee, and was descending the southern slopes whose waters flow to the Atlantic and the Gulf.
. On the following day we had effectually destroyed the railroad from a point half way between Graysville and Ringgold back to the State line. General Grant, coming to Graysville, ordered General Sherman to send back his artillery wagons and impediments and make a circuit to the north as far as the Hiawassee River, instead of returning to Chatta- nooga.
November 29th we moved to Cleveland from Parker's Gap, and 'General Davis by way of McDaniel's Gap. Our approach was so rapid .that the enemy evacuated in haste, leaving the bridge but partially damaged, and five carloads of flour and provisions on the north bank of ¡the Hiawassee.
On the Ist day of December, according to report, General Burn- :side was closely beleaguered at Knoxville by General Longstreet, who was steadily pushing his advance. General Grant ordered General :Sherman with the Army of the Tennessee, to move with all possible speed to the relief of the besieged garrison. Our Division had marched from Memphis, had gone into battle immediately on arriving at Chattanooga. and had no rest since. We had carried no luggage nor provisions, and .only a week before we had left our camp on the right bank of the Tennes- sce, with 'only two days' rations and without a change of clothing; stripped for the fight, each officer and man, from the General down, hav- ing but a single blanket or overcoat. We had no provisions, save only what we could forage from the country along the line of march. We were in no condition for such a march, and besides this the weather was extremely cold and very disagreeable ; but there were twelve thousand of our fellow soldiers besieged in a mountain town, eighty-four miles dis- tant from us, who needed assistance and relief, and had to have it in three days. This was enough. Without a murmur, without waiting, we were directed to Knoxville.
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As we have already stated, we had no provisions only what we could forage along the road, and that being scarce, we were compelled to live on parched corn. Each morning, after issuing corn for the horses and mules, the men would receive their share of corn for the day, which. after being shelled and parched, would about fill a teacup; this was all each man would get, and that had to last him for one day's march.
General Howard had repaired and planked the railroad bridge over the Hiawassee River so the army could cross. During the day we marched to Athens, a distance of fifteen miles. December 3d. we moved rapidly north towards Loudon, some twenty-six miles distant. About eleven A.M., the cavalry passed to the head of the column, with orders to push with all speed to Loudon, and if possible, save the pontoon bridge across the Tennessee, held by a brigade of the enemy, commanded by General Vaughn. The cavalry moved with such rapidity and caution that they completely surprised and captured every picket post. But General Vaughn had his artillery all in position and covered by earthworks, dis- playing a force too large to be dislodged by a cavalry force. Darkness closed in before the infantry could arrive on the ground. The enemy Evacuated the place during the night, destroying the pontoons, beside running three locomotives and forty-eight cars into the Tennessee River. and abandoning a large quantity of provisions, four guns and other material.
At Philadelphia General Sherman ordered Colonel Long, command- ing the Brigade of cavalry, to select the best material of his command and start at once, ford the Little Tennessee, and push into Knoxville at what- ever cost. The distance to be traveled was about forty miles ; the road was in a bad condition. Our line of march was turned from Philadelphia to the Little Tennessee, at Morgantown. It was represented that the river at that point was very shallow. But after reaching Morgantown we found it too deep to ford, the water in many places being five feet deep, and freezing cold. The stream was about two hundred and forty yards wide. A bridge had to be built. Brigadier General James H. Wilson superintended the work, with only such tools as axes, picks and spades, working partly with cribs.and partly with trestles, and by night of December 4th, the bridge - was completed.
At daylight on the morning of December 5th, the Fifteenth Corps: crossed over ; General Granger's Corps and General Davis' Division was. to follow, but the bridge broke, which caused further delay. As soon as the bridge was repaired all the troops moved forward. General Howard
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had marched from Loudon. We arrived at Maryville December 6th. Here we were met by an officer of General Burnside's staff, accompanied by one Company of the 7th Ohio Cavalry, bearing the news that the siege at Knoxville was raised, and Longstreet was on the retreat.
We were then ordered into camp. Soon after General Burnside's army had moved out from Knoxville in pursuit of General Longstreet, our command was put in motion to return to Chattanooga. General Howard moved out by way of Davis Ford and Sweetwater to Athens. General Davis moved to Columbus, on the Hiawassee, by way of Madi- sonville. Two Divisions of the Fifteenth Corps moved to Tellico Plains, in order to cover a movement of cavalry across the mountains of Georgia, to overtake a wagon train of the enemy's which had escaped by way of Murphy. Our Division was ordered direct to Athens, while General Sherman accompanied General Morgan L. Smith's Division to Tellico. On December Luth, all of Sherman's army met at the Hiawassee and went into camp on its banks.
On the 15th of December we took up our line of march to Chatta- nooga. The march of the 70th Ohio was by way of Calhoun, Riceville, Sweetwater, Clinch River, Ultimo Station to Chattanooga, arriving at Chattanooga about December 22d, going into camp for the night along the railroad near the city. The night was very cold-in fact, too cold for comfort. Our Company built up a large fire against a large log, and the only way we could rest and keep but partially warm was on our feet, turn one side to the fire at a time, and then turn the other ; almost freez- ing during the night.
December 23d we marched to Stevenson and went into camp for the night. December 24th we marched to Belfont Station and went into camp. Early in the morning we passed Whiteside Station. Here we found the 24th Ohio in camp. It was like getting home once more to meet our old Manchester boys of Company D. The boys were all in their quarters keeping up good warm fires, as it was a very cold day, and considerable snow on the ground, yet they all seemed to be in the best condition that could be expected under such circumstances.
A short distance below Whiteside we found a carload of bread, guarded by one sentinel, with whom the boys had considerable fun. After deviling him for some time, running him from one end of the car to the other, the boys of the roth Ohio made a desperate charge upon the works, capturing the car, bread and all.
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At another place during this march we captured a grist mill, with a lot of corn. " A detail was ordered, with Captain J. F. Summers, of Com- pany B. of our Regiment, in command. This detail took charge of the mill, went to work and ground up a lot of mcal for the boys. Oh ! I tell you she was fine; it was good eating when baked, no matter how mixed. Several other incidents occurred during the campaign, which we shall mention further on.
We arrived at Scottsboro, Alabama, December 25th, 1863, and went into regular camp; December 26th began putting up winter quarters. General Harrow was assigned to duty as commander of our Division. The General was a very strict disciplinarian ; his manner of punishment for all offenders was to compel them to ride a large wooden horse, which he had prepared for such occasions. Finally the General moved his head- quarters to a little town on the railroad, five miles from Scottsboro, for- getting to saddle his wooden horse and take it with him. Shortly after this the boys arranged a dissecting table. and the old horse was brought in and put in charge of the various professors and students, who, in a very short time, had the poor wooden animal carved to pieces, and care- fully placed in a box, niccly labeled, and shipped by express to the Gen- eral's Headquarters, at his expense. That was the end of the wooden horse. Of course, this was only done to pass away the time.
Scottsboro is a small railroad town, located on the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, in Alabama, and about twenty miles from Stevenson, Alabama. The camp of the 7eth Ohio was located at the base of a large mountain, about three hundred yards from the depct. Our quarters were not as comfortable as we had had them in other camps. The Company and parade grounds became very muddy and disagreeable. In addition to our tents in use, we built several log cabins, with large fireplaces, so they could be made comfortable and warm. We were supplied with water from a creek flowing down the valley across the railroad. The weather was cold and disagreeable January Ist, 1864; remembered by the people of this country as the cold New Year's day of 1864. We suffered greatly from its effects ; causing several feet to be frozen.
At this period of the war a call was issued by the President for veteran volunteers, whose term of three years was about to expire. The experience and services of the old soldiers were still needed in the field. The matter of re-enlistment was thoroughly discussed by each member of the Regiment. Speeches were made by Colonel Loudon, Major Brown, of the Regiment, and Captain H. L. Phillips, of the Division staff,
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urging the importance of remaining in the field. It was a trying hour to us all. Our time was about to expire ; we could return on our final dis- charge, but our country still had use for us. The old flag was still in danger. To us it was the darkest hour of the Rebellion. Our homes were in danger. Our Government was trembling, as it were, on the very verge of ruin. We all said to our faithful officers: "Lead the way and we will follow." We signed anew the enlistment roll, was examined by the surgeons, and passed.
On the morning of January 5th, 1864, we. as members of the 70th Ohio Regiment, were mustered out of original service by reason of re-enlistment as veteran volunteers. The same day we were sworn in for the second term of three years, or during the war, still retaining our original organization. As soon as our discharges were made out and delivered we began cur preparations for a thirty days' furlough to our homes, as was promised to all who would re-enlist.
Meanwhile Colonel J. R. Cockerill resigned his commission as Colonel of the 70th Ohio, thereby relinquishing his command of our Brigade. After the acceptance of his resignation he caused the Brigade to form in close column, our Regiment first in front of Brigade Head- quarters, when he delivered his farewell address to his command. Thus closed the faithful services of a gallant and brave officer. No field officer" was ever held in greater esteem than Colonel J. R. Cockerill ; no officer was ever respected more by his men than was the Colonel ; no officer stood higher in the estimation of his Commanding General than did Colonel J. R. Cockerill.
Listen, again, to what General Sherman says of him: "I must say that it is but justice to Colonel J. R. Cockerill, who has so long and so well commanded his Brigade, that he should be commissioned to the grade which he has filled with so much usefulness and credit to the public service. I have always found in him a thoroughly polished gentleman, exhibiting the highest and most chivalrous traits of the soldier."
Many on that day shook the hand of Colonel Cockerill for the last time, and listened to the farewell words of the Colonel. The farewell was said and Colonel J. R. Cockerill retired from the service with the highest honors of a soldier and patriot.
We were all anxious to again greet our friends at home, and longed for the time for us to go. The final arrangements were at last announced, when Captain N. W. Foster, of Company G, of the 70th Ohio, was left
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in command of all remaining soldiers of our Division who did not re-eniist, and who still occupied our camp at Scottsboro
January 26th. 186.1, we boarded the train for Stevenson, Alabama. thence to Nashville. Tennessee, and Louisville, Kentucky; where we embarked on board of steamers St. Charles and St. Nicholas for Cincin- nati, at which point we arrived January 30th, 1864. and at Manchester January 3Ist. 1864.
At Cincinnati, before coming home. our Regiment received a new suit made of navy blue, trimmed in front with light sky blue, with the veteran badge diagonally across each arm, half way between the cuff and the elbow. We also received new hats of the Burnside style, with bugle. cord and regimental number in front, and, of course, adding new neck- ties and the stand-up collar, gave the Regiment a very fine appearance. I need not stop to inform you that we were very proud of this new out- fit ; of course we were. It is also not necessary for me to tell you how our hearts were filled with joy better imagined than explained.
After arriving at our respective homes we were met by loving friends, who extended to us a warm and cordial welcome to the old home again. Everything was done that could be to make our short visit pleas- ant and enjoyable. Here and there preparations had been made and invitations extended to do honor to the visiting soldiers. It was indeed a feast to the soul and rest to the body. It would be proper. and in place, had we the time and space, to make special mention of every citizen who so kindly threw open their doors and bade us welcome to their homes. We can only mention a few of our immediate neighborhood. who took special interest in honoring the soldiers with a grand time. I refer to such men, and their families, as the old pioneer veteran, A. B. Ellison, commonly called Uncle Andy. No soldier was ever turned away hungry from the home of A. B. Ellison ; no one had greater respect for the soldier and the old flag than did Uncle Andy. Every time a company of soldiers passed through or by Manchester, the Ellison Artillery was brought for- ward to gladden the hearts of the soldiers with its thundering notes of welcome to the boys. Then we remember with pleasure the old war horse, Abram Perry, whose nerve for the Union was as steady as the rocks of Gibraltar, and whose bravery and devotion to the cause no one dared to question. The home of Abram Perry and family was the home for a soldier. In hint the boys in blue had a true and tried friend. Then there was Uncle Jinimy Little, the pioneer of the country, within whose body not one drop of disloyal blood was allowed to flow, and whose
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loyalty to the soldier and his country was always above par. Then, again, we remember the noble and large-hearted Captain George S. Kirker, whose cheering voice is stilled in death. We shall ever remember with gratitude the many kind deeds of himself and family. Then we call to mind the pleasant homes of Dr. D. M. McConaughy, David Dunbar, Lacy Peyton, W. R. Rape, Drs. D. W. and Joseph Stableton. P. T. Con- nelly, Uncle Billy Ellison (as we always called him). Elijah Baldwin, Mr. and Mrs. Gates, Mrs. James Kirker and family, Uncle Tommy McClel- land, L. Pierce, Uncle Johnny Parks, Sr .. Oliver Edgington, Morris Hayslip and Joseph Connell, whose acts of kindness can never be forgot- ten by the boys in blue. A large majority, in fact all but three, of those mentioned have passed to their reward, while a large majority of the soldiers then at home have swelled the number in the spirit land. A few of us still linger on this side to honor and respect the memory of our departed comrades and friends, and drop the tear of sympathy for the living members of their families yet remaining. We shall always remem- ber the month of February, 186.1, as one of the grandest months of our lives. But these things, though pleasant they were, had an end. Our time was limited to only thirty days.
On the evening of March Ist. 1864, we again.bid adieu to home and friends to return to active duty on the field. We embarked on board the steamer Bostona for Cincinnati: March 2d found us sailing down the Ohio for the city of Louisville, Kentucky, arriving at that point March 3d. 1864. March 4th we boarded the L. & N. train for Nashville, Tennes- see. After reaching Nashville we found a shortage in transportation, thus compelling our Regiment to march through to Scottsboro. Ala- bama. It was pretty rough on the boys, but they had learned to endure hardships and disappointments as well as to obey orders. March Ioth, after a hard march, we occupied our old quarters at Scottsboro, where we remained until the Ist day of May, 1864, at which time General Sher- man reorganized his army in the following order: The Army of the Cum- berland, to be commanded by Major General George H. Thomas, consist- ing of infantry numbering 54.568 : artillery, 2,377 ; cavalry, 3,828; total. 60,773; with 130 field guns. The Army of the Tennessee, to be com- manded by Major General J. B. McPherson ; infantry numbering 22.437 ; artillery, 1.404 : cavalry, 624 : total, 24.465 ; with 96 fieldl guns. The Army of Ohio, to be commanded by Major General John M. Schofield ; infan- try, 11, 183 ; artillery, 679 ; cavalry, 1,697 ; total, 13,559 ; with 28 field guns ;
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making the grand total of General Sherman's available force at 98.797, with 254 field guns.
The enemy's force under General Jos Johnston, was reported to be . forty thousand nine hundred infantry, divided into three Corps, com- manded by Generals Hardee, Hood and Polk, with four thousand cavalry under General Wheeler. General Bragg was then stationed at Richmond as the General-in-Chief of the Confederate armies.
On the 10th day of April General Sherman had received final instruc- tions from General Grant that he would march with the Army of the Poto- mac, from Culpeper, on the 5th day of May, while he (Sherman) would move against Johnston with the capture of Atlanta in view. April 27th General Sherman issued orders to all the troops of his command to con- centrate towards Chattanooga. May 5th Sherman's entire force was on the march.
The two hostile armies were separated by a long spur of the Alle- ghenies, called Rocky Face Ridge, cloven by Buzzard's Roost Gap, through which ran the railway and Mill Creek. This narrow pass was strongly fortified. and was flooded by the waters of the creek artificially raised by use of a dam, and was swept by strong batteries on the project- ing spurs, and on a ridge at the southern extremity. To assault the enemy in this almost unapproachable position formed no part of Sher- man's plan. He decided to turn the enemy's flank or left. General Mc Pherson was ordered to move rapidly to Ship's Gap, on the railway at Resaca, eighteen miles below Dalton. or at a point nearer than that place, make a bold attack, and after breaking the railway, to return to a strong defensive position near Snake Creek Gap, ready to fall on the enemy's flank when he retreated. as it was thought he would do.
May 7th, with but slight opposition. General Thomas occupied Tunnel Hill. directly in front of Buzzard's Roost Gap. On the 9th Gen- eral Schofield moved down close to Dalton from camps at Red Clay, when General Thomas renewed his demonstrations against Buzzard's Roost and Rocky Face Ridge. General Geary's Division of General Hooker's Corps made a bold dash for the summit, but the narrow road was strongly held by the enemy, and could not be carried. Meanwhile General Mc Pherson had reached Snake Creek Gap, completely surpris- ing a Brigade of Confederate cavalry which was coming to watch and hold it. The next day we approached within one mile of Resaca. Finding that place strongly fortified we retired to Snake Creek Gap, and there took up a strong position. General Howard's Fourth Corps, together with a
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MAJOR J. W. McFERREN.
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small force of cavalry, was left to occupy the attention of the enemy in front. On the 10th of May we were reinforced at Snake Creek Gap by General Hooker's Twentieth Corps. May 12th we moved through Snake Creek Gap, our Division in the advance, by the direct road, preceded by General Kilpatrick's Division of cavalry, while General Thomas marched to the left. and General Schofield to the right. We drove the enemy's cavalry from the crossroad to within one mile of Resaca: striking the · enemy's infantry pickets, we drove them within their fortified lines and occupied a ridge of bold hills with our right resting on the Oostanaula, about two miles below the railway bridge, while our left lay opposite. the town. General Thomas had come up with his left facing on Camp Creek, while at the same time General Schofield had broken his way through a dense forest to General Thomas's left. General Joe Johnston had left Dalton on the night of the 12th and the morning of the 13th. In the afternoon General Howard's Corps came thundering down the railroad toward Resaca. pressing hard upon the enemy. At five o'clock P.M. Howard's Artillery was doing fearful execution at every point in his front. Rocky Face Mountain and the southern extremity of Snake Creek Gap effectually concealed the flank movements of our army, so that nothing could save Johnston's army at Resaca but the impracticable nature of the country, making the passage of troops across the valley almost impossible. This enabled him to reach Resaca from Dalton along the comparatively good roads constructed beforehand by his own foresight.
I wish to say right here, and to save repetition, and that all may understand the position of the 70th Ohio. in these movements our Regiment occupied the advance, and in every movement mentioned the 70th Ohio Regiment never failed to do her duty, but was on the front line all the time.
On the morning of May 14th, 1864, the entire Rebel army was occupying a strong position behind Camp Creek, and occupying the forts at Resaca. A pontoon bridge was at once laid across the Oostanaula at Lay's Ferry, in the direction of Calhoun. General Sweeney's Division of the Sixteenth Corps was ordered to cross and threaten Calhoun, while General Garrard's Division of cavalry would move out from its position at Villanow towards Rome, Georgia, and cross Oostanaula and break the railway below Calhoun, and above Kings- ton, if possible ; while at the same time the main army would press hard against the works at Resaca. Finally we pushed our way across Camp Creek, near its mouth, made lodgment close up to the enemy's works,
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driving General Polk's Corps from the hills commanding the railroad and trestle bridges. General Thomas was at the same time pressing close along Camp Creek valley, when General Hooker's Corps moved across the head of the creek to the main Dalton road, and down it close to Resaca.
In the meantime General Schofield came up on the left, bringing on a heavy battle during the afternoon and evening of the 15th, during which time General Hooker drove the enemy from several strong posi- tions, capturing a four-gun battery and several prisoners. During the night General Johnston concluded that it was getting too warm for his health, and not wishing to form any new acquaintance with the Yankees, he made good his escape, retreating south across the Oostanaula, and the next morning we entered the town in time to save the road bridge. but not the railroad bridge, which was burned. Our entire army started immediately in pursuit ; General Thomas moving close on the heels of General Hardee, who was looking after the interests of the Confederate rear. General McPherson moved by Lay's Ferry, and General Schofield by blind roads to the left. In Resaca it was our good pleasure to capture another four-gun battery and a large quantity of stores.
During May 16th General Sherman's army had all crossed the Oostanaula, and on the 17th marched south by and on as many different roads as practicable. General Jeff C. Davis was ordered with his Divis- ion to move along the west bank of the Oostanaula to Rome. At Adairs- ville the rear of the Rebel army was again encountered. When just about sunset of that day it was reported that General Newton's Division, in the advance, had a sharp skirmish with his rear guard, but the next morn- ing we were agreeably surprised to learn that the Rebels were gone. We pushed on through to Kingston to a point four miles beyond, where the enemy again made a stand, forming their lines on a piece of ground com- paratively open and well adapted for a great battle. Soon we were informed that General Schofield had approached Cassville from the north. to which point General Thomas had also directed General Hooker's Corps, and General McPherson's army had moved from Woodland to Kingston, in order to be in close support.
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