USA > Ohio > History of the three months' and three years' service from April 16th, 1861, to June 22d, 1864, of the Fourth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry in the war for the Union > Part 11
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Morning was soon at hand; most of us had a late breakfast; happy was the comrade that had not taken off his boots, for it was next to impossible to get the water-soaked "sutler boots" on
123
MEADE APPOINTED COMMANDER IN CHIEF.
one's foot; the ripening grain had been laid out by the mud- bespattered men as effectually as though a cyclone had passed over it; the men were in excellent spirits; "we are again in God's country" was the feeling that found vent in expression. Back of us were the rugged mountains; in front, toward the north, a quite level country, with the "Sugar-Loaf Spur" to the right and the South Mountain Range to the left. By ro o'clock rations were issued, the march resumed at two, and having passed through Poolesville and Barnesville we entered camp, near the "Sugar-Loaf," at eleven at night.
On the next morning, June 28th, we started toward the Monocacy Bridge, where we encamped at 4 o'clock, three miles from Frederick City, at what is now known as Frederick Junc- tion, and on the same spot occupied by the brigade on the 13th of September, just previous to the battle of Antietam; we had hardly stacked arms when mill-race and river were alive with noisy bathers. At this point Colonel Carroll joined us, having been absent nearly two weeks, during which time Colonel Coons, of the gallant Fourteenth Indiana, had command of the brigade; he was loved and much esteemed by all.
On the 29th the corps moved forward at eight, but we were doomed to wait until 1:30 o'clock, when we acted as rear-guard of the wagon train; our course was due north, weather hot, scenery inspiring ; before night it rained, and we were forced, sleepy and weary, to trudge through mud and water until near morning, when we entered camp near Uniontown, Maryland, having passed through Frederick City, Liberty, Jamestown and Union Bridge.
On the morning of the 30th we joined the corps north of the town, remained in camp, rested and mustered for pay. The next morning, July ist, we started northward, toward two moun- tain spurs that were looming up before us; we moved quite briskly for four miles, when the column was halted, an order read notifying us of the resignation of General Hooker and the appointment of General Meade as Commander in Chief of the Army of the Potomac, also urging the duty of defending our homes and driving back the invader. To this order General Carroll only added, " Do as you always have done." The knowl- edge of the change of commanders seemed to have no percepti - ble effect, but the men seemed to think the order too tame, and
124
FOURTH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
that we ought to destroy the invader instead of driving him back. There was an apparent distrust on the part of the men, who had always seemed more anxious for "real business" than their general officers. The column moved rapidly forward; there was no strag. gling, no need of commands, no urging to "close up;" the ripening cherries and apples, and abundance of forage, enticed but few from their places; every man was ready to do his duty, now that he knew it as never before, no difference who was in command. Soon the booming cannon could be heard and the smoke seen rising to the right of the two spurs toward which we were hastening. Little was said; every one was thinking; upon every countenance could be seen a settled conviction of duty, and a fixed determination to win or die. About the middle of the afternoon we met the body of General Reynolds; none were disposed to ask questions; but little could be learned, save that he had been killed early in the action, and that nearly the entire of Lee's force was at Gettysburg. There was pro- founder silence than ever; no more jokes, and as usual before a battle, hundreds of playing cards were strewn along the road. We were passing over a rise of ground, whence the guns could be heard more distinctly and the smoke seen more clearly, when one of the boys, in a sad tone, remarked: "What if they whip us this time ?" Instantly a strong, manly voice replied, "They won't; I'll die first." "Here, I," added another; "So will I," said a third; immediately those in hearing closed up, four abreast, and thus it was through a considerable part of the regi- ment, keeping perfect step, seeming to shake the very earth with their determined tread. The "Old Fourth" was ready to go into the jaws of death and compel a victory. How it stirs our pride, and fires our souls, as in memory we are once more on to the battle with such valiant comrades. Die they did, some of our noblest; multiplied millions will reap the fruits of their heroism.
Firing ceased, and no more smoke was seen to rise; our brig- ade was in advance of the corps; just at dark we met our Corps Commander, General Hancock, in whose generalship and judg- ment all had unbounded confidence; the column was halted a few moments after dark. General Hancock informed Colonel Carroll that the enemy was in force at Gettysburg, and hurrying up the rest of his troops, telling them that they had only militia to fight;
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Union Lines. Confedervite -
Scale of' I Mile
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COA SEMINARY RIDGE
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SHANCOCK
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showing Positions held JULY 19! 2º & 3º 1863.
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SWORT
125
HANCOCK'S CONFIDENCE.
that Reynolds had been killed early in the first onset; that the First Corps had fought hard and lost many men ; that the Eleventh had been driven back and lost about five thousand men in the town; that himself had put the remainder of the two corps into position on this side of town; that the Third and Twelfth were coming up and going into position; that no doubt Lee would attack us with his entire force on the morrow; that we could stack arms, rest for the night and take position early in the morn- ing. Just as the General was riding away Carroll asked: "General, have we a good position?" and received the instant reply, in a firm tone, "If Lee does not attack before all our forces are up, we can hold the position I have selected against the whole Con- federacy."
We immediately marched into a meadow to the right of the road and a patch of woods near the foot of the two mountain , spurs, and stacked arms. The evening was balmy and beautiful, though somewhat hazy, but with sufficient moonlight to enable one to discern any object.
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG.
The next morning, Thursday, July 2d, we were roused from our slumbers at about 3 o'clock, ordered to get breakfast and to be ready to go to the front at quarter past four. We started soon after the hour designated, halted shortly after daylight-to the rear and left of Cemetery Hill-for more than an hour, awaiting orders; in the meantime there was a disposition to get a glimpse across the hill, "to see how the land lay" and the posi- tion of the enemy; not much could be seen that might indicate the presence of an enemy save an occasional shot fired from a wheatfield, half a mile to the front and left of our position. The flanking, with two other companies, were sent across and down the hill, under the direction of Colonel Carroll, and took position near the Emmitsburg Road, where they remained until relieved by G and I and the Eighth Ohio. The firing became now more frequent, but still continued at long range, as it was not desired to bring on an engagement until the troops were all on hand and in position.
About 8 o'clock the brigade was formed in line of regiments, right in front, with the Fourth Ohio in advance; marched for- ward into position between Woodruff's Battery and the Taney- town road, on the brow of the hill in Zeigler's Grove, with a rise of ground to the right toward the Cemetery. From this point but little could be seen in any direction, whilst the occasional crack of a rifle could be heard, and whizzing of a ball through the air. The men soon busied themselves getting their arms in the best possible order, blankets and cartridge-boxes into comfortable position. There were present for duty thirteen officers and three hundred and three men.
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A PICKET LINE THAT WOULD NOT FLY.
The position of the brigade was soon changed by the left- flank, until it was clear of a ravine and in the rear of Wood- ruff's Battery. The skirmishing becoming quite brisk, Com- panies G and I of our regiment, in command of Captain Grubb, were advanced to the front and somewhat to the left; they soon drove the enemy before them, and took position to the left of an old frame house, shielding themselves behind fence rails and ridges. The entire force of the Eighth Ohio was soon sent to their right, when the enemy was again driven a short distance and a new position occupied. During the afternoon the enemy inade a number of unsuccessful attempts to dislodge them. Toward night several Confederate regiments, in their impetuous charge toward the Federal position, swept over our pickets, companies G and I, making increased havoc in their already greatly thinned ranks, and taking several of them prisoners. When night came, and there was a lull, it was found that more than half this heroic band had either been killed or wounded. Among the killed were Lieutenants Shaub and Edgar; Captain Grubb was wounded, and the little band left in command of Ser- geant Longworth, who was determined not to leave the field until he had received orders to do so. For some twelve hours had these noble comrades stood the fire of the enemy's pickets. About eleven the remnants joined the regiment on Cemetery Hill, having probably sustained greater loss in proportion than any two companies of any one regiment in the army ; Company G had eight killed during the three years and three months; six of these fell during the storm of shot and shell and the charge on this fatal afternoon.
We now return to the regiment, which had retained its position ; some were sleeping near the stacked guns, others writing, some wandering away a few rods to get a better view of what was im- pending. The middle of the afternoon had passed; the pickets had become remarkably quiet; camp followers, clerks, orderlies, aides, colonels and generals, were becoming quite bold-taking observations, watching the smoke of the firing on the picket line and of the occasional booming of a gun on the extreme left, and closely scanning objects a mile or so west of them moving in the deepening shade of the trees; before 6 o'clock the firing on the left was more rapid, accompanied by the whirr of musketry, while troops could be seen hurrying forward over the plain from our side; in a few minutes more there was unusual activity
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FOURTH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
among the strange spectres in the shadow of the trees on our front, then a puff of smoke, a shot went over our heads, then came another, and a third scattered a stack of guns of the rear regiment, the Seventh Virginia, plunging a bayonet into a. com- rade's side and another cut a comrade of the Fourth in twain ; now there was hurrying to and fro, men for their companies and their guns, disinterested eye-witnesses, generals and staff for shelter over the brow of the hill, until each could gain the requi- site composure to make his peace with his Maker, comprehend the situation, obtain orders and face the music. There was meager chance for shelter; General Hays and Staff had just dismounted back of us, but across the brow of the hill, when a solid shot plowed through an orderly's horse. The batteries in front of us were now replying vigorously; the enemy's skir- mishers were making it hot for our pickets; whizzing shot and whirring shell, plunging and ricocheting among and over us for more than an hour, were making our position uncomfortable ; barely a word was spoken. To the direful roar of cannon was added the whirr of musketry, hissing minies, shrieking shell and screaming shot, whilst the air was darkening with clouds of sulphurous smoke, obscuring the hiding sun, lifting occasionally and giving a view of the appalling carnage going on, toward and in front of Round Top, which seemed to draw nearer as daylight hastened away, and threatened to draw us into the fray ere darkness came. We were no longer kept in painful suspense, when there rang out the well known "Attention !" and the three remaining regiments, under a heavy fire, moved rapidly to the left and took position to the left of the Second and Third Brigades of our division, whose position was threatened by a charging column ; the charge failing to effect anything save to nearly anni- hilate our pickets companies G and I. The Fourth retained its place, whilst the Seventh Virginia and Fourteenth Indiana returned to their old position.
As night was lowering its sable curtains over the bloody scene word was received that part of the Eleventh Corps, being taken in front and flank, was compelled to fall back from their support of two batteries on Cemetery Hill. "Attention! Right Face- Double Quick-March !" was instantly obeyed, with Carroll at the head of the Fourteenth Indiana in the lead, the Seventh West Virginia next; a squad of anxious general officers was soon
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129
GRAND CHARGE ON CEMETERY HILL.
passed, while we hurried by gravestones struck by the spiteful minie ball-toward the cannon's vivid flash and thundering roar ; Baltimore Turnpike was crossed, the position of the rebels determined only by their fire; hastening toward them, now by the left flank, the Fourth on the right flank of the brigade, through tanglements of retreating men, caissons and horses, up and along a slope, where maddened gunners of captured bat- teries raved and swore, or cried in very madness, vowing death to meet rather than give up their guns, striking the rebels with fist, rammer, ammunition and stones; greeting, echoing and re-echoing our cheer upon cheer, saying "It's Carroll's brigade, there'll be no more running; give 'em hell, boys." Bayonets and butts of guns at once joined the efforts of the heroic gunners. then infantry and gunner in a general melee, with flanks of regi- ments overlaping and every-man-in as-you-can sort of way, drove the enemy from unhitching horses and spiking guns, down over the hill, under the cross-fire of Stevens' battery on our right, and captured a number of prisoners. Weiderick's and Rickett's batteries were recaptured. Company G of our Seventh West Virginia made sad havoc with their old rebel neighbors. We soon took position by a stone wall, a short dis- tance from the guns toward our right and front, sent out skir- mishers and brought in several prisoners; to our right, on Culp's Hill, the terrible racket of musketry continued until near II o'clock, by which time the enemy seemed to have withdrawn from our front; having stationed our pickets, those that could endeavored to sleep in spite of the rumbling sounds to our rear, which caused us to fear that our army was falling back, produc_ ing much dissatisfaction until it was known that it was the deter- mination of our commanders to fight it out there and then. Aside from this fear the brigade was in the happiest mood, for it knew that it had turned defeat into victory, saved the key to the entire position, thereby averting disaster in compelling us to fall back in confusion, discouraged and disheartened, in case the enemy had held the hill and turned our guns upon us.
It is worthy of notice here that the tremendous cheering of the gunners and the boys had the unintentional effect of keeping Hays' Brigade from joining Hoke's Louisiana Tigers-composed of the Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Louisiana regi- ments, which our three small regiments had just routed-and
1 30 FOURTH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
. .
thereby taken us in left and rear before we could have realized our situation. Possibly, in a fit of desperation, we might have changed front in a moment, for above all tumult Carroll's voice could be heard and understood, and charged and driven Hays' force with greater ease than the "Tigers," whom we had just routed more easily than at Chancellorsville. Yet it is well to remember that we should not have had an enemy under cross-fire of Culp's Hill. Possibly the cheering and Carroll's mighty voice saved us, yet the writer has the conviction that most of the men and officers, like their commander of the "Gibraltar Brigade," would sooner have died than have given up this key to the situation. In this affair the loss of the Fourth and Fourteenth Indiana was about the same, but that of the Seventh West Virginia was equal to both in wounded, possibly because they at once recog- nized their old neighbors and neither showed nor obtained quar- ter. When all was quiet, some of companies G and I, that had joined us at about 11 o'clock, returned, with several of the Pioneer Corps, to bring off their wounded, bury their dead comtrades, and mark their graves.
On Friday, July 3d, at about four in the morning, we were roused by the effort our men were making to dislodge the ene- my beyond Culp's Hill. Before nine the sound of cannon and musketry grew fainter, assuring us that our help would not be needed, and that another victory had been scored for the Union. Rations were now getting very short, and many could be seen calculating their allowance for breakfast. Some foraged flour, supplementing by the way of "slap-jacks" the meager store on hand. Rifles and muskets were gathered together, many of them loaded to the muzzle, capped and stood against the stone wall, for use as "grape and canister" into the ranks of any rebels that might make an attempt to climb the hill with bellig- erent intent. Some time after, this fact of guns loaded to the muzzle was blazed abroad through the dailies, to show that the men who had handled them were so excited during action that they did not know whether their guns had gone off or not, and did not even know whether the ramrod, in loading, extended a few inches or its entire length into the gun. To this nonsense the writer immediately sent a rejoinder setting forth the facts, to which were added short editorials, placing the correspondent in a ridiculous attitude.
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GETTYSBURG
Honnaughtown
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Millers town Road
SEMINARY RIDGE IM
Stevens Run
EARLY
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NEWTON IST CORPS.X
WIHRTOGE
Wolf Hills
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MAP OF THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG
showing Positions held JULY 2º 1863
Prepared by Col. W. H. Pavite. for "Campaigns of the Army of the l'otunnel
Scale of 1 mile
References
3 4
Union Lines.
A. Position occupied successively by
Contedesuite "
Gente Barnes, Caldwell, Avers & Crawford.
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HILL'S CORPS
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HANCOCK
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Harrisquy Road
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131
THIRD DAY AT GETTYSBURG.
From the top of our hill we had an excellent view of the greater part of the position of both armies. The Union line was in the shape of a fish-hook, of which our brigade occupied part of the bend. From Benner's Hill, on our front and right, Confederate troops could frequently be seen, from half a mile to a mile distant. At about noon there was but little apparent activity on either side. In the edge of the woods to the rear and right of town groups of horsemen could occasionally be seen, as if they were taking a view of our position through spy-glasses ; it was evident that some important movement was on foot. The day was lovely; an ominous silence reigned from twelve until one, when a cannon's boom greeted our ears, followed in quick succession by others, so that in a short time it seemed as if pandemonium itself had been turned loose in our very midst, as the two hundred and twenty-five cannon belched forth death and destruction for more than an hour. Occasionally a shell or solid shot found its way into our midst, and many went shrieking and screaming over us, whilst we hugged the earth and kept a look- out for the appearance of the enemy on our front. The firing having mostly ceased, the artillery on the hill had their attention called to the large masses of infantry coming from the woods to left of the town and moving in the direction of the position we had occupied the previous day; it was with difficulty that many of the men could restrain themselves from going to the top of the hill, with the hope of seeing the rebels make their charge; in every direction the skirmishing became very lively, whilst the batteries on our hill began to send shell and canister toward the seminary building; to our left there seemed a lull, then the whirr of musketry told the story of a deadly life or death contest. Now came a time when men held their breath and listened in painful suspense, which was relieved only by the cheering of gunners and comrades on the hill and beyond, as they learned that the enemy was flying toward the rear; the whirring of musketry was terrific, but in a brief time died away; the guns sent only an occasional shot, and hosts of prisoners were seen going to the rear. Everybody was jubilant, and there was many an expressed wish to follow the Confederates in a general charge and put an end to Lee's army. The Eighth Ohio soon made its appearance from the skirmish line-where it had just passed a terrible ordeal-with its trophies of two battle-flags
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FOURTH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
and a large number of prisoners, and was greeted with rousing cheers by their comrades. 'The contest was ended, and the boys had considerable liberty, yet dared not go any distance, fearing that they might possibly be needed in making a general onset. There began now also a looking after rations, which had entirely given out, and the men were very hungry.
Saturday, July 4th. The Glorious Fourth, and we are still a Nation, and shall most likely continue to be for centuries to come. The old and effete monarchies of Europe dare not recog- nize the so-called Southern Confederacy, for the "high-water mark of the rebellion" has been reached. Lee has been badly whipped, and is on his way toward Dixie. Just before the break of day a partridge set up a lively "bob-white," which was con- sidered a good omen by the men on picket, who responded with cheering and a sharp lookout for the Johnnies, but could see none; they now urged their way onward into the town, in spite of rain, and found that the enemy had just left. By nine the rain ceased. Special details assisted the Pioneer Corps in burying the dead and removing the wounded to the hospital, in a large barn several miles to the rear, and near Large Round Top. Officers and men wandered over the fields and looked after wounded and fallen comrades, and at the terrible carnage manifest on every hand. The eight companies that had thus far been armed with Springfield muskets now exchanged them for Springfield rifles, which they had gathered from the field. Officers made their report of losses and action. Colonel Carroll said in his report: "Too much praise cannot be given the officers and men."
The loss in the regiment was: Two officers and eight men killed, one officer and sixteen men wounded, and five men miss- ing. In the brigade there were: Three officers and thirty-five men killed, one hundred and forty-seven men wounded, and seven missing.
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LIST OF LOSSES.
The following is the list as shown by the Roster: Killed-Company A-J. W. Harl.
G-Lieutenant Edgar, W. Bain, D. W. Collins, A. O. Davis, G. H. Mar- tin, A. Myers, G. W. Wilcox. I -Lieutenant Shoub, S. Roloson, J. Sheak, H. C. Stark.
Wounded-Company C-S. Wells. F-L. S. Ensign. G-Captain Grubb, F. Bain, M. Har- man, M. V. B. Longworth, H. Pfeiffer, W. Shinderwolf, J, Winstead. K-J. Boyer, J. Short.
CHAPTER XIX.
THE CONFEDERATE RETREAT-THE PURSUIT-MARCH TO FREDERICK CITY-THE HUNG SPY- BIVOUAC AT CRAMPTON'S GAP-PASS ANTIETAM-TO WIL- LIAMSPORT - HARPER'S FERRY - BLACKBERRIES ABUNDANT-TO GREGORY, MANASSAS AND THOR- OUHFARE GAP-WARRENTON, KELLY'S FORD AND ELK RUN-ACT AS RAILROAD GUARD.
Sunday, July 5th. Officers and men were dissatisfied with our inactivity the previous day, "lying around and doing nothing but see the sickening sights and smelling the miserable smells." But it was soon understood that Sedgwick had pursued and found the enemy entrenched. Rumors of the fall of Vicksburg and the bold utterances of the peace faction in the North, made us anxious to annihilate Lee's forces, cost what it would, and it was a matter of great rejoicing when the order came at two in the afternoon to fall in, although the direction, toward the Two Taverns, did not suit, for it seemed to take us away from the enemy, so that we were glad to halt at ten at night, and cease our wading through the mud.
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