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 5
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Fourteen hours from the time of starting, most of our men were once more in their quarters, weary and footsore with the hardest march which they had yet made. The men were more than ever pleased with their new Colonels, Mason and Carroll. "Now there is no discount on Mason, I tell ye;" "he is just the man ;" "didn't he go for 'em ?" "and Carroll is light- ning, too," "no discount on him either," with other like com- pliments, could be heard from enthusiastic men, who had again met the enemy only to see him run. He had over one thousand men, the choice of position, and could have made our victory dear-bought ; he had thirteen killed, a larger num-
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FOURTH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
1
ber wounded; we had not a man touched. The expedition had the effect of compelling Jackson to fall back toward Winchester, thereby saving to us railroad bridges and towns. It soon became evident that he was determined to punish us for our audacity, that Romney must be retaken and the rebel spirit in and about it fostered by a glorious victory; accord- ingly, a force of sixteen thousand men, twenty-four pieces of artillery, one a thirty-two pounder, moved against us and endeav- ored to get between us and the railroad. At this juncture General Lander took command, with orders from Mcclellan at Washington to evacute Romney and get nearer to our base of supplies, and not hazard any force in a position that was by both armies considered a trap for a less number than twenty thousand men, on account of the many roads that must be guarded and the facility with which supplies could be cut off by a far inferior force.
Company E remained at Fort Pendleton from October 24th until January 15th. Some of the men were quartered in the Pendleton house, others at the Fort in charge of the cannon, and the remainder in Old Tabb's log cabin, where, when the snow was three to ten feet deep and covered with a thick hard crust, a Christmas dinner was had by officers and men, of honey, turkey, venison, oysters and apple-jack. Some wild deer were shot within half a mile of the Fort. Venison was obtained from hunters in exchange for sugar and coffee. Night was ofttimes made hideous by the wails of a catamount. A bear that had come up to the Fort during the night, eluded capture although eagerly pursued for fourteen miles. " Mountain Dew" could readily be had at twenty-five cents a gallon. The singing school at Bush's was especially popular because of the excellent music and the attendance of nearly a dozen girls who had come a dis- tance of three to six miles on foot and must be escorted home ere the early dawn. The occasional " stag dance " and theatrical performance in the old church were considered as never-to-be- forgotten innovations that helped to drive dull care away. In the play of " Romeo and Juliet " all went well until Romeo was shot at with a musket while he was climbing into the balcony, (over the pulpit) the "buck and ball" making a wreck of the wall. Such startling applause was of sufficient effect to arouse the guard at the Fort, who, thinking the pickets had been attacked
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AN EXCITING THEATRICAL PERFORMANCE.
hurried to their support. Actors and audience, hearing the ad- vance of the guard, instantly put out the two candles and vanished into the darkness, save poor "Romeo," who was caught and put into the guard-house for giving a false alarm. In spite of these hilarious times the officers and men frequently requested to be sent to the regiment. On the 15th of January the two twelve- pounder cannon were spiked, the magazine blown up, the sup- plies that could not be removed were destroyed, the march made to Oakland, and for several days quarters were taken in the hotel, and on the 22d the regiment was joined at Camp Kelley.
CHAPTER VIII.
ROMNEY EVACUATED - GENERAL LANDER JOINS HIS TROOPS AT SPRINGFIELD-EXPEDITION TOWARD WIN- CHESTER-DEATH OF LANDER-PAW PAW TUNNEL- SHIELDS IN COMMAND-FOURTH AND EIGHTH AS ARTILLERY BRIGADE - TO BACK CREEK-MARTINS- BURG, WINCHESTER-" CUT UP" TO MAKE PROVOST GUARDS AT HARPER'S FERRY, BERRYVILLE-"FOURTH OHIO TIMES"-ADVANCE OF ARMY TO CEDAR CREEK, WOODSTOCK, EDINBURG, MT. JACKSON, ROOD'S HILL, .NEW MARKET.
The evacuation of Romney began on Thursday, January 9th, and at eleven at night of the roth, our regiment brought up the rear, marching toward Springfield and Patterson Creek. The night was still, stars shone dimly, weather quite cold, the mud but little frozen, making progress slow and difficult. Occasion- ally rockets could be seen toward the east, leaving their colored fiery lines high in air. At five in the morning there was a halt near Springfield; fires were built to broil the beef and boil the coffee, but most of the men were so fatigued and sleepy that they snuggled together in squads and slept. Jackson, with twelve thousand men, was only six miles distant, with other thousands in supporting distance. General Lander had just joined us and inspected our position, and concluded in his usual style, "Let him come, we'll whip him like hell." We were not to hazard a battle with our small force, and therefore soon moved toward old dilapidated Frankfort, reaching it at noon, and Patterson Creek Station just at dark, wet to the skin. The entire march had been made along the roadside, through fields, over fences and swollen streams, rain over head and mud under foot. We had just escaped a fair chance of being captured or compelled to fight a much larger force than our own ; on the other
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CAMP KELLEY.
hand Jackson was too far from his base of supplies, and in dan- ger of being intercepted and bagged by forces in the vicinity of Harper's Ferry, and he therefore hastened back to Winchester, and Romney was in a short time reoccupied by Union forces.
Our camp " Kelley" was by nature a beautiful spot, where Washington had encamped in his early days. During the greater part of our month's stay it rained or snowed, the mud was deep, picket and scouting duties very heavy, clothing old, ragged and filthy ; blankets too scarce for comfort, so that many took sick, and some of our best boys died in the hospital at Cumberland. Generous friends in Ohio furnished those in the hospital and some of the most needy in the regiment, through a Mr. A. E. Strickle, 134 blankets, 588 pairs of socks, 24 sheets, 3 bedticks, roo pairs of mittens, 276 pairs of drawers, 24 pillow cases and 24 towels.
The Fourth, Fifth and Eighth Ohio and Thirty-ninth Illinois, composed the Second Brigade, commanded by Colonel Dun- ning. Company inspections were frequent, and on the 17th General Lander inspected the Division.
During the first week in February troops were daily passing us toward the East, and on the 9th we were very glad to ex- change our camp in the mud for a better one at Paw Paw Tun- nel, which we reached by rail on the morning of the roth. Here snow, rain and sunshine continued to alternate. The success of the Eighth Ohio and Seventh West Virginia made us wish that we had enjoyed the sport with them. The surrender of Fort Donelson set the camp wild with excitement, as well as did the exploits in Kentucky and the Burnside expedition. All were in the best possible spirits, having confidence in their commanders. Papers, letters and boxes came from home; new clothing and the free application of soap, blacking and brush brought us to the requirements of the Regulations. The Division had 482 officers, 11,367 men, and 26 pieces of artillery.
Saturday, February 22d, was ushered in by booming cannon, and closed with a grand review by General Lander, who consti- tuted himself the orator of the day by making a "well-seasoned" (with oaths) speech to each regiment. The pallor of his cheeks, tone of voice, and glassy eyeballs, showed that disease was making very rapid progress. Himself feared that the worst might soon come, as was evident from his earnest and frequent
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request to be relieved from duty for awhile, and the fact that although being terribly profane he was now much given to read- ing his Bible and praying. The worst did come, On Saturday March Ist, the troops-with several days' rations-ourselves among the number, had proceeded under his direction as far as Sideling Mountain, distant eleven miles, the beginning of an expedition against Winchester. A cold night was passed, and with the morning came great flakes of snow which adhered to everything and soon melted. In every direction the whack of the ax was heard as the men put up shelter. It was provoking to be ordered back, but murmuring soon ceased when it was learned that "Lander is dead." Eyes were filled with tears as we silently returned to our old quarters in the raw, cold night. We had first known him at Rich Mountain, as the noble, brave, daring and fearless Lander. A great and noble man had fallen. The next day the troops were in line and his remains were con- veyed to the train. In a few days President Lincoln and his Cabinet, Senators, and many others, with tearful eyes bade adieu to one from whom much had been expected.
Colonel Kimball succeeded to the command until General Shields could arrive. The Fourth and Eighth Ohio, with the batteries, constituted the Artillery Brigade, in command of Col- onel Mason.
At 3 p.M. Friday, March 7th, we again boarded the cars and moved eastward, taking in the inspiring influences of high cliffs and pine-covered mountains until dark, and in the morning found ourselves opposite Hancock, three miles from the Penn- sylvania line, with scraggy Round Top in full view toward the north, having just crossed the great Cacapon and Sir John's Run, named after General Braddock's Quartermaster. About a mile to the south were the famous Berkeley Springs, where the Fairfaxs, Washingtons, and others of Colonial days, sought health in drinking the waters, shooting the deer, and baiting the trout and bass. We remained here the greater part of the day awaiting orders; before the middle of the afternoon we were again onward; North Mountain soon greeted us, and before night we were at its foot; crossed Back Creek on a wire bridge and went into camp for the night. At early dawn, north of us about a mile could be seen old Fort Frederick, which was famous in 1755. The trains could proceed no further, since the bridge
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ALONG THE POTOMAC.
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IN BANKS' DEPARTMENT.
had not yet been rebuilt; leaving the baggage behind we marched for ten miles over a mud road, then six more on a hard pike to Martinsburg, on the 9th, where we remained a few days await- ing the arrival of additional troops. The country was more like a plain, with high ridges in the distance, and the houses looked different from those in the mountains.
We were now in General Banks' department; he was moving on Jackson at Winchester, whither we proceeded on the 10th, and on the morning of the 11th formed in line of battle, and thus marched in rear of Banks' force, that now moved to the attack by brigades. It was a magnificent sight. The enemy had gone-Winchester was ours without a battle. On the west of the town we camped. Our brigade was now composed of the Fourth, Eighth and Sixty-seventh Ohio, Fourteenth Indiana and Seventh West Virginia, commanded by Colonel Kimball; with the exception of the Sixty-seventh Ohio these regiments marched and fought together, under different commanders, sharing the same vicissitudes, fortunes, hardships and glories until they were each mustered out of service, in June, 1864.
On Friday, March 14th, came the provoking order that broke the regiment into scouting parties and.provost guards, serving a like fate with the Seventh West Virginia. Companies F and C went to Harper's Ferry, in charge of Captain Crawford as pro- vost marshal; A, D, H and K went to Berryville, and B and I were provost guards at Winchester; E and G were scattered along the Winchester and Potomac Railroad, in charge of Major Weaver. Colonel Mason had charge of the artillery of Shields' division, with headquarters at Winchester, and aided materially in the battle of the 23d, directing the batteries personally. He had also made a reconnaisance at 9 A. M. General Kimball says in his report: "To Colonel John S. Mason and his adjutant, Lieutenant Green, I am deeply indebted for valuable assistance rendered."
The boys at Berryville must have had an excellent time. On Sabbath Dr. Warner preached in the Methodist church. Cap- tain Olmstead edited, and Sergeant Ustick and W. T. Hutchin- son published, the first number of the Fourth Ohio Times, on the 21st, having the motto: "Equal Justice to All." It was of quarto size, and spicy. The following is one of the four poetic effusions "How Goes the Day ?" by Lieutenant Straub:
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FOURTH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
They're falling back, the rebel pack, They falter and they fly; While after them the loyal men Of Union onward hie. The lines of fate, drawn not by hate, But Justice and The Right,
Are circling close the traitor host Who've darkened Truth and Light.
Potomac, famed, whose shores are stained By fratricidal strife,
Is rid at last of lawless mass That shook the vengeful knife.
The hero, dead, now rests his head In peace on Vernon's clay ; For valiant sons and loyal guns Have driven foes away.
All o'er the land the Union band Is claiming back its own ; Kentucky's free, and Tennessee To her first love has flown; Missouri's ours, while fortune lowers On traitors everywhere- Our starry flag towers o'er the rag Of treason in the air.
Brave boys, let's on-'tis only dawn Of glory dazzling day ; Up, stripes and stars-down, stars and bars, On, onward leads the way. We'll show the world ne'er can be furled Our banner, or be trailed By mortal foes or civil throes; Though by dark powers assailed.
Also, from the same pen :
TO KING JEFF.
You're played out, Jeff, you've fizzled ; Secession's proved a bore ; The cloud that long but drizzled Commences now to pour. Your unstable throne is tottering, Your dazzling crown has paled; You'd better be "a-pottering," For your wicked schemes have failed.
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JOURNALISM AS RECREATION.
From Captain Stewart's pen the following is taken :
Then were changes, dark and sudden, Like the swoop of stormy skies; Broken households, tender partings Sad with love's delicious sighs.
May the strong arm of our Union, And its true and holy cause, Bring the erring back to Justice And restore its broken laws.
Then will summers come as lovely And as peaceful as before, To the village in the valley Of the flowing Shenandoah.
The first page begins with an original poem by Captain Stewart, entitled " Battletown," a name sometimes applied to Berryville. From this poem the above extract is taken. This is followed by the latest news, "Our Chair," an editorial on the secesh senti- ments of the publisher of Clark Journal, who had the year previous occupied the office, and said, " Pennsylvania may be as well adapted to slavery as Maryland, but not being there, there is no slave order or civilization." The last article is a description of the people and things of the country. On second page is the "Salutatory," followed by "Our Marches Since March First," then a poem, " Our Thoughts Turn Homeward," with a card of thanks to the ladies for the "nice meals donated." The page closes with "An Imprudent Stamp Act: The imprudent soldier carries postage stamps in his pocket-book; the prudent soldier never does, for he knows that he can always borrow of the one that has them." Page three has a statement concerning " Battletown," that General Morgan, the "prince of cock-fight- ing," had lived and died near here, was buried in Winchester, and that Washington's office was still standing near town. "Ex- planation" follows, and is a defense of our conduct at Blue's Gap. In the second column are the poems, "How Goes the Day?" and "To King Jeff." The last column states that "at the fight near Bloomery Gap a Dutch Secesh Colonel, Sencendiver, called to his men: "Poys, te enemy's comin'-take care of yourselves. I'se got te rheumatis-I starts now;" and away he went, never halting until he got to Winchester. The fourth page
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FOURTH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
has "Later from Jackson's Army," "Berryville," and a grumble that the regiment is fated to act as provost guards.
On the afternoons of the 22d and 23d firing was heard in the direction of Winchester, where the remainder of Shields' Division was watching Jackson, Banks having removed his forces toward Harper's Ferry. On the morning of the 24th six companies, having marched during the night, joined the two at Winchester, and now in command of Colonel Mason after having helped to bury the dead slain in the battle of the 23d took the advance on the morning of the 25th, marched beyond Cedar Run toward Woodstock, following Jackson's whipped army. Ten men were now detailed from each regiment of the division to constitute the Pioneer Corps, and were commanded by Captain Olmstead.
On Thursday morning, March 28th, the Fourth and Eighth Ohio and one company of the First West Virginia, started in the fog to made a reconnaisance toward Woodstock, by the way of Barb's Tannery. Banks' forces were kept on the front for several days; there was considerable picket firing, and an occasional artillery duel.
On Monday evening, the 31st, the Fourth took the advance toward Woodstock several miles, went on picket until the next morning, then again led the advance on the pike, supported by a company of cavalry, Clarke's Battery and the remainder of the division. Progress was slow, on account of the burnt bridges and occasional skirmishes with Ashby's cavalry and three guns. Woodstock was reached at noon and Edenburg about 4 o'clock, and camp entered near a high bridge over Stony Creek, where coffee, bacon and tack, in a beautiful country, with blooming fruit trees and a fleeing enemy, were greatly enjoyed. The artillery firing as we entered camp, and the slight skirmish and artillery practice of the next day, added zest.
In this camp we now had two weeks of rest and comfort. The slight fall of snow reminded us of the winter of snow, mud and discontent just passed. The artillery practice of the 15th was witnessed by many of the boys as they stood near and back of the guns, and imagined they could see the missiles flying through the air, making the Johnnies play "hide and seek."
On the 16th Colonel Godman, with three hundred of the Fourth, joined an expedition led by Colonel Carroll; started at four in the evening, marched all night through mud and water
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HARPER'S FERRY-LOOKING EAST.
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SKIRMISH NEAR MOUNT JACKSON.
for twenty-three miles, and came in sight of Mount Jackson just as the rebels had fled; while the remainder of the regiment, the left flank, having started at midnight and led the advance, also came in sight of the town about the same time, drove in the enemy's picket, followed rapidly, coming into close quarters with his rear guard at eight o'clock. The skirmisher on the extreme left, seeing a man to the left of an orchard some two hundred yards distant looking through a field-glass, observing our forces, raised the sight on his rifle and fired; down upon his horse squatted the observer, whirled his steed, plied spurs vehemently, "lit out, lickety cut," for his comrades at the road, who had just unlimbered a gun ; but before they could load the order was given to limber up, which was hurried by a volley from our entire skirmish line; an immediate charge by our cavalry, who secured several prisoners but failed to capture the gun.
The skirmishers were hurried forward rapidly, and soon smoke was emerging from a bridge, when Lieutenant Jones, Aide de Camp on Shields' Staff, with an orderly, rode forward at a gal- lop, captured two prisoners on the bridge, and extinguished the flames by the time the skirmishers arrived. This daring was highly complimented by the General. In a few moments Mount Jackson was entered, just as the rebel rear was leaving the town. The entire division was now formed in line of battle, with our brigade occupying the center; the skirmish. rs in the meantime continued to advance, and had a lively brush at Rood's Hill, the artillery also joining in giving the enemy a parting salute. Camp was soon entered at New Market, and occupied until the 25th, when a march of six miles toward Harrisonburg was made; on the 26th the forces remained in camp; on the 27th another advance of ten miles, to Camp Cave, was made, and on the 28th Wier's Cave was explored by some five hundred, accom- panied by the band, which played several tunes while the boys were examining the monster "icicles," as they called the stalactites.
News of the fall of New Orleans reached us. On the 30th we were mustered for pay; there were over eight hundred present for duty, who the next day drew four months' pay. On the 4th of May, there was inspection of arms. Late in the evening of the 6th the camp of the regiment was changed to the foot of
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FOURTH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
the Massanuten Mountains, one mile east of town, near to a large bridge, where it remained about one week.
The nights were cool, the health of the troops excellent; wheat was about knee high. Here a "good Union (?) man," harangued such as would listen, and sang, "From Maine to the Rio Grande Treason Must Go Down." The boys suspected him of being a "Secesh spy," and endeavored to swear him in, which so hurt his feelings that he suddenly left camp. Some are certain that we saw the same "chap" after the battle of Gettysburg, hanging by his neck, near Frederick City.
Here, too, some less than a thousand hounds scampering over the forest-covered mountain slope, made night hideous with their ye'lep, ye'lep, mixing their "infernal music" with the delightful dreams of the sweet soldier, wooed and won by snoring sleep.
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CHAPTER IX.
TO FREDERICKSBURG AND RETURN - FRONT ROYAL SKIRMISH - PORT REPUBLIC - FRONT ROYAL - LURAY - BRISTOE STATION - READY TO GO TO PENINSUI.A.
On Monday, May 12th, tents were turned over into the care of the Quartermaster, and wagons toward the rear; everything that belonged to a soldier must be carried. Men with huge packs upon their backs accosted each other with, "Good morn- ing, mule!" "Bring along your howitzers;" "There is still room on top for a howitzer." Nor had the deep shadows over bridge and meadows shortened much when, all in the best spirits, started through Brook's Gap, over the Massanuten Mountains, "on to Richmond," down the South Fork Valley, with its mag- nificent scenery, stony roads, fields of wild onions and garlic, passing through Luray, camped, after having marched sixteen miles. The next morning we were in the advance, marched nineteen miles, and were again onward at five on the morning of the 14th, and after six more miles reached Front Royal, just as the railroad whistle was heard for the first time since we left Winchester, and answered by lusty cheers. It had begun to rain in the night, and now it came in torrents, nor did the sun again appear until the 16th, after we had started out once more during a heavy shower, the clouds parting as we reached Chester Gap.
We leave Manassas Gap at 6:30 A.M., pass Gaines' Cross Roads, march seventeen miles, and camp; then push forward the next morning to Warrenton, eleven miles. On Monday, the 19th of May, we reached Catlett's Station, remain in camp dur- ing the 20th, with scarcity of food, and an opportunity to see Duryea's men, in full regimentals, sleek and clean, fight a sham battle, while we in rags and tatters are onward for sixteen more miles on the 21st, and fifteen on the 22d; two days of heat through pine barrens, nothing stopping us but the Rappahan-
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FOURTHI OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
nock River at Falmouth, a thunderstorm, and the mercy of General King, who ordered us to camp in a plowed field, where after the storm our beds would be soft enough in mud nearly a foot deep. King might go where he pleased, we "went to grass" and camped on it, and as usual took only the top rails to make coffee. King wanted us to move our quarters to the plowed field, and replace the top rails. We did neither; again did he send orders, by a headquarter understrapper, with no better result; then he sent a lot of guards to arrest us. The brigade was just as ready to pitch into King and his " gin- gerbread," "band-box fellows," under such circumstances, as into the Johnnies. The boys stayed "in clover," and King kept himself, aide and guard in comfortable quarters at a man- sion fair.
Matters were not mended the next day, when it was learned that McDowell, in whose Department we now were, had given orders that the men should carry their knapsacks, blankets, five .days' rations and forty rounds of ammunition. This produced general discontent, and serious threats on the part of some officers that they would resign if the order was enforced, and some of the men vowed that they would not obey. There were some things our brigade would not do for any man. This was one of them. Yet the men who stood for their own rights could ever be depended upon to contend to the death for the rights of their country.
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