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 13
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The 18th seemed for once like Sunday, quiet prevailing, and the men enjoying the rest. There were present for duty three hundred and fifty-three. O. C. Knode and James McCollum were missing, and Corporal O. H. Barker wounded.
On the next morning, the 10th, tents were struck at an early hour, line of battle formed near Bristoe in the evening, arms stacked and tents put up. Started next morning, the 20th, at seven, made an easy march to within a mile of Greenwich, where we rested until the 22d, when tents were struck at six in the morning, and soon after entered camp near Warrenton. The next day was cold and stormy; although we were to be ready to march at a moment's notice the men began to make themselves as comfortable as the circumstances would permit.
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CHAPTER XXI.
TO KELLY'S FORD-SKIRMISH-TO ROBERTSON'S TAVERN- BATTLE-MINE RUN, BATTLE- EXPECTED FORLORN HOPE-GENERAL WARREN'S SENSIBLE DECISION TO SACRIFICE HIS COMMISSION RATHER THAN HIS MEN - RETURN THROUGH THE WILDERNESS TO CAMP NEAR BRANDY STATION.
We were now in the midst of dull camp life once more, going on picket, drawing supplies for the approaching winter, when at seven in the morning of Saturday, November 7th, we started on a forced march to Kelly's Ford, accompanied by the Third Corps; our batteries soon opened upon Rhodes' Confederates, whilst some of the infantry waded across and captured three hundred and forty prisoners. Sedgwick had still better luck, having, with the Fifth and Sixth Corps, charged the enemy at dark and cap- tured nearly the entire of Hays and Hoke's Brigades, the very men who had confronted us on Cemetery Hill at Gettysburg. The next morning we crossed the river and formed in line of battle; after about an hour we marched some distance toward Rappahannock Station and again formed in line of battle; after two hours we marched toward Brandy Station, halted on the spot occupied by us on our return from New York, moved for- ward a short distance and went into camp at the Station, where we remained during the snowstorm of the next day. On the roth we marched to Mountain Run and encamped on a Mr. Hamilton's farm. About this time an order was issued by the Secretary of War directing the carrying of no more than five days' rations and forty rounds. of ammunition by each man. What a relief! At Centerville we had made the attempt to become veritable camels by loading ourselves with eleven days' rations and sixty rounds of ammunition.
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FOURTH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
The mountains were now covered with snow, the winds raw and piercing; pine trees were felled, great fires built and chim neys erected. On the 18th we received several months' pay. Early on the 23d tents were struck, but as it began to rain they were put up immediately.
Early on Thursday morning, November 26, 1863, we again struck tents, made a rapid march to Germania Ford, crossed the river and bivouacked in the dense thickets of the Wilderness during the night, and resumed our march early on the 27th, taking a blind road until within about two miles of Robertson's Tavern, where about 10 o'clock we were confronted by some "Confederates; the brigade immediately formed in line beyond the Tavern, advanced rapidly with the skirmishers in a field to the left of the pike as well as in the woods on the right; the Seventh West Virginia was on our left, and Carroll's voice could be frequently heard during the firing, "Guide left;" both regi- ments sent a volley into a house swarming with rebels, making the splinters, glass and clapboards fly and the Johnnies "light out" for the rear; their entire line now fell rapidly back, leaving in our hands a number of prisoners belonging to Gordon's Brigade of Early's Division; our brigade followed them down a slope, but was halted, as it was not desired to bring on a regular engagement, because the corps that was to support us had lost its way and was not yet at hand.
At 4 o'clock General Warren, commanding our- corps, ordered an advance from the position held, about a mile from the Tavern. toward Mine Run. The Seventh West Virginia was at once deployed as skirmishers, got into a severe engagement, and they were on the point of being worsted, when our regiment became anxious and requested to go to their assistance, for the boys always felt toward these gallant comrades as if they were broth- ers; the wish was gratified, as the entire brigade was ordered forward and at once made havoc with the rebels, driving them, after a stubborn resistance, until a good position was reached, when another halt was called, as the support was not yet on hand. There was occasional firing during the night, the enemy seeming to be nervous; he withdrew before daylight; our men had orders not to fire a single gun. Our support was now at hand; the brigade was ordered to advance at an early hour ; the skirmishers moved rapidly forward, found no foe until after
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PATTLE OF MINE RUN.
they had gone more than a mile and had started down into the deep ravine of Mine Run, beyond which could be seen abatis and entrenchments. Toward noon it began to rain, when there was considerable cannonading, mostly by our batteries.on the hill back of the brigade, which remained all day and nearly all night on picket. Provisions had become very scarce. We had one man killed and twelve wounded.
In the evening there was "a dispensation of Providence" as one of the boys called it; a sow with a litter of about a dozen good-sized pigs came through the mire over into our skirmishing brigade, and was captured by a captain's cook; hog and shoats were divided among the companies and furnished fresh pork for all. The air was now very chilly and our clothing wet; thoroughly drenched, covered with snow and sleet, did this night on picket find us, so that we had nearly perished before we were relieved early the next morning, Sunday the 29th, just before the break of day.
We were soon with our corps and one division of the Sixth, marching toward the left, reaching Hopewell Church at about two in the afternoon, where our cavalry had a short but spirited contest that in no way hindered our advance, which was con- tinued over two miles; the Second Division had several men wounded in a brief skirmish; turning into the forest and pro- ceeding some distance through underbrush, a position was taken that brought our left to a railroad grade; picks ind shovels were brought into lively requisition throwing up entrenchments; poul- try and fresh pork was soon brought into camp by the foragers. Just at dark we got into a lively skirmish; during the night two divisions of Sykes' Corps joined us. The disposition of the Union forces on the morning of the 30th was as follows: Sedg- wick, with the Sixth Corps, on the extreme right some six miles distant; then Sykes with the Fifth on the immediate right of the turnpike, and Newton with the First on the left; then one division of the Third; then Warren, with the Second Corps, sup- ported by French with two divisions of the Third and one of the Sixth; Sedgwick and Warren were to make a simultaneous attack at 8 o'clock of the 30th.
At an early hour skirmishers were advanced in our front; we followed nearly a quarter of a mile in line of battle. The enemy was now only thirty yards to twenty rods distant on the other
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FOURTH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
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side of Mine Run, with its bogs, abrupt banks and steep slope covered with felled trees, followed by lines of rifle-pits, piles of logs and dirt, batteries, and swarms of Confederates. Jackson's old corps had worked like beavers all night and kept themselves in a sweat "to give the Yanks a warm reception in the morn- ing.". They were in high glee, full of frolic and anxious to have us venture. Our men knew what was expected of them: they had been given the particulars; because of the cold and the serious work before them the faces of many wore a strange pallid blue; hardly anyone expected to come back alive; some wrote their names on slips of paper, pinned on the outer coat or slipped it under the belt, then each one, looking from the direful task before them to the Eternal Father for strength to do his whole duty, awaited orders.
Eight o'clock came, and with it the boom of the gun that signaled the attack; soon followed the roar of musketry on our right; the Confederate cannon on our right could from some points be seen sending forth its fire and smoke; every man was in line, with gun tightly grasped; time wore away, and half an hour had passed, and the painful suspense was soon over when word was passed along the line that our commander, General Warren, noblest of the noble, had said, "The works cannot be taken, and I would sooner sacrifice my commission in the army than to sacrifice my men." Doubtless many lips spoke the "God bless him;" the Second Corps. - the entire army, would follow such a leader to the death. There was to be no more unnecessary slaughtering.
About noon the line fell back a short distance, guns were stacked, knapsacks claimed, fires built and all possible comfort sought for our chilling bodies. The day passed, and the night, and all of Tuesday, December ist, with nothing unusual tran- spiring until at half past eight in the evening; the fires having been replenished, knapsacks packed, the blankets and rubbers folded, we fell into line and moved quietly as possible through the brush to the plank road, then tramp, tramp, over planta- tions, through the seemingly endless Wilderness, passing squads of cavalrymen and smoldering fires, a future battle-field, burning forest, and the spot where was arranged the charge on the Eleventh Corps, reached Culpepper Mine Ford at sunrise, took breakfast, rested until noon, and then started once more for the
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LIST OF LOSSES.
quarters we had left a week previous, and reached them at seven in the evening. General Meade had intended to winter his troops at Fredericksburg, but General Halleck ordered him to remain at the Rapidan. The Roster shows the following list of casualties :
Killed-J. Sinus, of Company B.
Wounded-R. Kimball of A, T. Beach of B, Captain Jones of C, E. Shannon of D, J. Austin of F, E. T.
Shull of G, H. Wilson of H, J. B. Fisher and F. Kopp of K.
John Crawford, of Company C, was killed, and W. G. Morton of F wounded, at Robertson's Tavern.
CHAPTER XXII.
OUR LAST WINTER QUARTERS-LOG HUTS BUILT-TO MOR. TON'S FORD - FORDING THE RIVER - BATTLE - CAR- ROLL ON HIS OWN RESPONSIBILITY CHARGES THE CONFEDERATES-ACCOUNT OF CAPTAIN STROUB.
On the 5th of December camp was moved several miles to the southwest, where there was a better location and greater abund- ance of timber. On the 7th we again changed about one-half mile, at Colonel Carroll's request ; went into winter quarters on Cole's Hill, on a branch of Mountain Run, with Brandy Station north of us, Stevensburg two miles south, and Culpepper Court House six miles west. The brigade lay between two hills, shel- tered from eastern storms and western gales; streets were laid in regular order, and huts put up in the lines of companies, of sufficient size to hold ten to sixteen men; most of the officers remained in wall tents; for both tents and huts chimneys were built with sticks and clay. On the with an order was received granting furloughs and leave of absence, on the same plan as that pursued at Falmouth the year previous. On the 21st there was considerable excitement in reference to re-enlisting, which soon extended to the remaining regiments, and quite a number re-enlisted. A furlough of some sixty days, considerable bounty, with good chance of promotion, were the inducements held out. and thereby retarded as many as it influenced, since many ex- pressed their contempt of re-enlisting from such unworthy motives after having served their country out of pure patriotism for nearly three years. It is probable that numbers would have fallen once more into line if the matter had only been presented in the light of duty.
Christmas came and passed with nothing unusual transpiring. save the imbibing an extra amount of "commissary" by some
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MENACING LEE TO AID BUTLER'S SCHEME.
made camp rather lively, especially on New Year's eve. Cold and blustering weather had thus far prevailed, but Friday, Janu- ary Ist, 1864, capped the climax, with howling winds that bulged the tents, tore off roofs from the huts and made the chimneys smoke; late in the afternoon it turned to a bitter cold, that caused some who had not a sufficient supply of covering to nearly perish, in spite of roaring fires. Many made themselves comfortable by placing Muster Rolls and other paper between their blankets. The duties during the winter months were not as heavy as the previous winter, since there were more men to perform them. There were occasional drills, the usual brigade and picket guard, chopping and hauling firewood, building roads, and thorough enforcement of police regulations in and . about company quarters. Soon neither officers nor men could obtain commissary whisky, save through an order countersigned by regimental and brigade commander.
The greater part of the Seventh Virginia having re-enlisted, the regiment presented Colonel Lockwood, of Moundsville, West Virginia, their commander, with a fine sword and watch on Wednesday, February 3d, in the presence of a number of ladies and a large number of the members of the brigade, and it was made the occasion of witty speeches and a merry time without the help of " commissary."
On the same day General Butler, at Old Point Comfort, sent a telegram to General Sedgwick, who commanded the army in the absence of General Meade, asking him to make a demon- stration against Lee, whilst he would with his forces proceed against Richmond. Accordingly, Kilpatrick moved against the enemy at Culpepper Mine Ford, Merritt at Barnett's Ford, Warren with the Second Corps at Morton's Ford, and Newton, with the First Corps, at Raccoon Ford. Caldwell, in the absence of Warren, who was not well enough to take command until late in the day, through some misapprehension of orders, sent a part of his troops wading to their armpits across the river, which captured the enemy's outpost and then pushed forward toward his entrenchments.
The following are the details, as given by the lamented Cap- tain Stroub, in the " Marsonian Literary Casket:" "No body of troops, probably, were ever more surprised at receiving that familiar order-' The command will move at six o'clock, with
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three day's rations in the haversack'-than we of the Second Corps were, as we lay unconsciously snoring in our bunks about 3 o'clock on the cold morning of February 6th, 1864. There had been neither the faintest intimation nor slightest indication of a move of any kind, and hence our surprise. And our sur- prise was not of the most agreeable nature, either, coming as it did in the 'wee sma' hours ayout the twal,' on a cold, bleak wintry morning, rousing us from our warm bunks, and the enjoy- ment of a good sleep-which our duties allow us to enjoy not too often at best-and indicating as it did a winter campaign of three days' duration at least. Nevertheless, we 'hustled' out with that prompt obedience that characterizes the gallant soldier, smothering our half-ejaculations of displeasure with the best possible grace, and at the appointed time were ready for the road and the fray. About 8 o'clock we formed a column and moved forward, the Third Brigade of our division in advance, ours (First Brigade) following.
" By 10 o'clock we reached the Rapidan River, and were in the immediate front of the enemy. The whole force, with the exception of the Third Brigade, which was thrown forward, with skirmishers in advance, toward the river, was halted an hour or so under friendly cover of an adjacent wood, and then the artillery was hurried forward to take position so as to cover the crossing of the river, while our brigade pushed rapidly for- ward to its support, followed promptly by the Second Brigade. As soon as our supporting column emerged from the wood the enemy opened their batteries upon us, and sent shell scream- ing at and over us, but our brave veteran column moved steadily and unconcernedly along, and took up its position without the loss of a man.
"But we were not allowed to remain here long. In a few minutes we were ordered to forward and cross the river to the support of the Second Brigade, which had forded the river above by wading, under the leadership of its immediate commander, Brigadier General Owen, and our division commander, Briga- dier General Hays. The latter brave general dismounted and was the first to wade the river, which was broad and deep, taking a man to the armpits, and ordered his staff to dismount and wade also. It was a brave example for brave men, and it ,was right bravely followed. After crossing, that brigade made
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BATTLE OF MORTON'S FORD.
a slight detour to the right, capturing a rebel picket-post of twenty-five men, including two commissioned officers, and then moved to the left and engaged the enemy's skirmishers.
"It was at this stage of the movement that our brave brigade commander, Colonel Carroll, rode along the brigade and inti- mated the part we were to play, by the laconic words, " Boys, you've got to take water." Cæsar ! how our under lip dropped and teeth chattered, and how the cold chills ran through us at the bare prospect of crossing that broad, deep river on a cold wintry day, and without the certainty of being able to dry our clothes when once across. But, notwithstanding, we 'grinned and bore it,' though with many a shiver, and with more than one ejaculation smothered and outspoken.
"Once over the river we moved directly forward over the rolling plain, cut by ravines, which spread out before us for per- haps a mile, and then rose in a succession of wooded and cleared elevations, upon which the enemy was almost impregnably entrenched. About midway of the river and the enemy's posi- tion, was an elevated ridge which stretched across the plain and partially covered our advance from the fire of the rebel batteries, directed furiously at us. But in crossing this ridge, and a ravine that cut it transversely and which was completely enfiladed by the guns of the enemy, we were exposed to a terrible fire of artil- lery, which, however, fortunately for us, went wide of the mark, though. close enough for comfort. All the regiments of the division successively ran this furious fire, with the loss of but two or three men. Gaining a cover offered by an advanced knoll, the division was halted and massed, while skirmishers were thrown out to the front, who soon opened a spirited fight, charging and driving the line of rebel skirmishers almost to their works.
" Meanwhile those famous sharp-shooting batteries, Arnold's and Rickett's, directed occasional volleys at the rebel works. Their shells burst, every one, apparently, on the very parapets, and every time scattered the rebel masses that swarmed the works to witness the skirmishing in the valley below. The division lay massed behind the knoll, disturbed only by the whizzing of balls from the skirmish line, and the near bursting of an occasional shell, until about sundown, when all of a sudden the enemy opened upon our masses with all their batteries, while their
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FOURTH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
infantry attacked us heavily along the line, driving back our skirmishers on the right, with the evident intention of getting between us and the ford, and thereby cutting us off from the river.
"'Fall in-Take arms,' was the order that now passed hurriedly from battalion to battalion. The brave boys of our brigade fell in and took arms under that heavy fire as coolly as if from a rest on drill, and with many a hearty laugh and witticism given be cause of the timidity and momentary demoralization of the recruits and conscripts, who comprised a considerable propor- tion of many of the regiments of the division. "They are flank ing us on the right; they are getting between us and the river, was now the startling cry. 'Have you any orders for me?' coolly asked Colonel Carroll, of one of the aids. 'No, Colonel, but they are flanking us on the right.' 'Then I'll take the responsibility to drive them back,' replied the doughty Colonel, and then commanded, 'Battalion ! Right Face !! Forward- March !!! ' in those stentorian tones of his, which alone, seem- ingly, are enough to strike terror into a foe of usual stoicism.
"And forward went our veteran brigade, with the steadiest step and most composed mien imaginable, elbow to elbow, and with guns at right-shoulder-shift, onward to the right where lay the point of danger, not a man dodging or faltering while missiles of death from the enemy's cannon plowed the very ground they trod-screaming, howling and bursting over them, through them, and all around them-and while a deadly musketry-fire poured through their ranks, like swarms of bees and storm of hail com- bined. Men were struck, fell dead and wounded, but the brave files closed up, and the brave column moved steadily on, men having to be ordered out of the ranks to take care of the wounded. Oh! it was magnificent to behold, and certainly it should be hard to forget, and it would be a gross wrong not to record the sublime behavior of our gallant brigade on that occasion, under that galling fire. Yet we moved down steadily, under that gall- ing fire, toward the river, flanking, moving to the right-about, halting and dressing, until a position was found and taken to counteract the flank movement of the enemy, when skirmishers were thrown out, the rebels driven back, and the old line re- sumed. Thus our gallant conduct most probably prevented a second Ball's Bluff disaster. But how are your newspaper
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SUMMING UP OF GOOD WORK.
reports? The First Brigade might as well have been back in camp for all mention it received. Towards midnight we were relieved by parts of the First Division, and withdrawn across the river on an improvised bridge. We were moved back a short distance, and permitted to build fires, dry our wet clothing, warm our chilled frames, and make coffee. Until the evening of the 7th we lay there undisturbed, when we returned to camp. The loss in the brigade was about fifty killed and wounded, out of some five hundred that went into the fight.
"I have ever felt pride at the behavior of our gallant men in every one of the many battles and engagements in which they have participated, but I fairly idolized them on this occasion. 'One should not blow his own horn,' and 'self-praise is no praise,' it is said; but as a faithful chronicler, I feel compelled to tell 'the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,' even though it should sound like big I and we, and little you. Besides, I find that if we of the First Brigade do not blow our own horn, it won't be blown for some reason, I don't know what, without it's because we're the clodhoppers of the Army of the Potomac. Never but once, at Antietam, it seems, since our connection with the Army of the Potomac, have we received proper mention for distinguished services; and this, too, although our little brigade was resolved into a forlorn hope at Fredericks- burg, first took the line and drew the murderous fire of their concentrated batteries, and kept that line for five long hours, losing half our gallant men; and this, too, although at Chancel- lorsville, when all were faltering and many had been driven, and the flushed foe was surging upon and threatening to annihilate our disorganized masses, our little brigade of seven hundred, unsupported, with serried ranks charged forward through the tangled .woods, over enfiladed roads and ravines, fairly driving whole divisions of the enemy from their strong works, and really checking, as it were, the advance of the whole flushed army of treason, thus enabling our broken, shattered line to be re- formed, and thus probably saving the entire army; and this, too, although at Gettysburg, when our very center-heart, as it were, was all driven, shattered, pierced, and the guns on Cemetery Hill silenced and taken, our little brigade again saved the day by gallantly charging forward, recapturing the batteries, and driving back the rebel host. We might mention other instances
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·FOURTH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
of our gallant conduct; in fact we have borne a prominent part in every engagement in which we have participated. Our con duct has ever been a theme of praise; but somehow it has always been accorded to somebody else; never but once to us. On our first advent into the Army of the Potomac we pushed to the front, and drove back the batteries and advance of the enemy, who were harassing the weary and fatigued-but still gallant and organized-Army of the Potomac, which had just stood the ordeal of the seven days' battles. Our conduct was glowingly mentioned in the newspaper reports, but ascribed to the praise of some other brigade. I am neither a grumbler nor the son of grumbler, but I do claim to be a lover of justice and fair dealing. But pardon my lengthy digression. WM. S. STROUB, Captain Fourth O. V. I."
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