USA > Ohio > In the 50th Ohio serving Uncle Sam : memoirs of one who wore the blue > Part 11
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"We got plenty of green corn and sweet potatoes on our way here, so we did fine on our rations.
"It appears as though we always get shelled on the 3rd of the month. On the 3rd of July we got shelled, and on the 3rd of August we got shelled, and yesterday, the 3rd of September, we got shelled, but no one got hurt in our regiment yesterday.
"Our brigade now consists of the 123rd and 91st Indiana, 20th and 27th Kentucky, and the 50th Ohio. It is claimed that we have built forty lines of entrenchments since we came to the front.
"This is Sunday, and we are all taking a much-needed rest; the sun is shining very warm and pleasant ; the days are warm, but the nights are cool. Will write you again in a few days. This leaves me in good health and spirits. Trusting it may find you all enjoying the same, I close for this time."
"Decatur, Ga., September 21st, 1864.
"Our corps has fallen back to this place, which is six miles east of Atlanta.
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"We are strongly entrenched, and ready for the Johnnies if they wish to call on us. We have all been up to Atlanta, and must say we found it a pretty badly used-up town. It is safe to say hardly a house in the place has escaped being hit by shells or bullets; the depot is completely riddled. What few citizens re- mained in town had holes dug in the ground for refuge, when the batteries would be throwing shells into the town.
"Now, as to Hood's night retreat from Atlanta, it must have been a hasty one.
"We marched over part of their line of retreat as we came from Lovejoy here, and all along the route they had thrown away anything and everything that would impede their progress: bake- ovens, cornmeal, stretchers, wagons and ambulances were scattered all along the road that they marched over. It looks as though they almost fell over one another in their haste to get away.
"We passed several field hospitals coming from Lovejoy or Jonesborough here, and there we could see the horrors of war- men lying in the woods and fields all around Jonesborough, where the fighting was done; some dead, some dying, some with their arms and legs cut off, and lying by their sides ; here you could see three or four fingers, and there three or four toes, that had been cut off by the doctor and flung aside. It looked hard, but such is war.
"All the enemy's dead and wounded fell into the hands of our troops, who are caring for them as fast as they can.
"We are having a very good time here. It is certainly a relief to us to be out of hearing of the whistling of bullets and the crash- ing of bursting shells. Picket duty here is very light.
"Our duty from day to day is brigade, battalion, company and squad drill. We are playing soldiers again now, but coming down through Georgia we saw soldiering in reality. The paymaster made us a visit the other day and paid us six months' pay. We appreciated his visit very much.
"Now, I must close, so, dear parents, be of good cheer-the world goes well with me, and may its cares rest lightly upon you all, is my best wish and prayer."
While at Jonesborough, on the line one evening, our brass band came up near the breastworks and were giving us some very good music. They had candles lit so they could see their music, and we were all enjoying the concert very much, but the rebs did not enjoy it so well, and they pitched a shell or two at the light, and that ended the concert.
The rebs were mad anyhow, and did not feel like listening to Yankee music.
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CHAPTER XVI.
Camp at Decatur, Ga .- Foraging Trip Towards Stone Moun- tain-Hood Tries To Cut Our Haversack Strings.
"Decatur, Ga., September 28th, 1864.
"Dear Parents :
"Your kind letter received a few days ago reminds me of my duty of writing to you and acknowledging my negligence. With duty pressing me, I am too apt to forget that you may feel anxious about me, but rest assured that I never cease in my affection nor forget for a moment how much I am indebted to the best of parents.
"I am happy to tell you I am in the best of health at this time. We all feel proud for what has been accomplished since the 1st of May-not only in our own department, but also in the others.
"Grant on the Weldon Railroad, Farragut at Mobile, and Sheridan and Averill in the Shenandoah Valley-all these splendid victories are enough to rejoice the hearts of all who love the old flag, and especially those who are fighting to keep it from being trailed in the dust.
"Yes, we feel very much encouraged and think that another year will see the close of the war. The Confederates are losing ground everywhere, and sooner or later they will be compelled to lay down their arms, and then victory will perch on the banner of the Union.
"I enclose in this letter General Sherman's official details of the capture of Atlanta. I think it will interest you.
"I have no idea how long we will remain here; it is hard to tell what the next move will be. Everything appears to be very quiet at present, but it would not take long for either side to kick up a rumpus, if they would decide to do so. And it may be that Sherman or Hood, one or the other, will start the ball rolling again before long.
"Decatur has been a nice little place. I say 'has been,' for now it shows it has had rough treatment. Soldiers have been around and through it so much, it is pretty badly battered up, the same as Atlanta. It seems like a shame to see so much property de- stroyed, but such is war.
"The country that the armies have marched and fought over will show the effects of it for years after the war is over."
While camped at Decatur, the Fiftieth Ohio was detailed to go out with some wagons one day after forage. We went out in the direction of Stone Mountain. I do not remember if there were any other troops with us or not, except a few cavalrymen for advance and rear guards. We got our forage all right, and the boys as well as the wagons were all loaded down.
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We found plenty of sweet potatoes, and some one in my squad found a hog running loose and confiscated it. I had one of the hams on my bayonet, and my haversack full of sweet potatoes. Everything passed off nicely until we started back toward the camp. Not a reb had shown themselves all day, and naturally our boys got a little careless.
In going out in the morning, we had passed a good well of water in the corner of a piece of woods, close beside the road, and nearby on the same side of the road was a house. We noticed no one at the house as we went out, but when we came back, there were four or five young ladies in the yard. The Fiftieth Ohio had just got a new flag, and those ladies went into ecstacy over that new flag. They said it was the prettiest thing they ever saw in their lives.
They seemingly did their best to get some of the boys or officers to stop in, but as good luck would have it, none of them halted, though I must admit the ladies looked charming.
We all passed on to the well, and quite a number of the boys stopped to get water. Our squad of cavalry rear guards closed up and stopped also.
Just about this time, a squad of rebel cavalry from somewhere charged into the boys at the well, and also into our rear, took a few prisoners, and I think, wounded a man or two, as a good many shots were fired on both sides, and then the Johnnies dashed away again.
The road was narrow after passing the well, and was lined on either side with heavy pine underbrush, and all we could do when the firing commenced, was to form a line of battle along the road.
I had my ham on my bayonet, and I did not know what to do, but concluded I would hang to it for awhile, until I saw how mat- ters went. Fortunately, I was permitted to get it into camp safely.
The rebs followed us for quite a distance, and made two or three more dashes at our rear, but our cavalry guards did not per- mit them to reach the infantry boys any more ; and what prisoners they took at first, I think all got away by dodging into the thickets.
Now, I believe those young ladies knew what was going to hap- pen, and were trying to decoy some of the officers or men into that house to have them captured. It was lucky none of them went in, for if they had, they would have been very likely to have taken a trip to Andersonville.
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I will just add there was no more straggling done that night after the rebs made their first dash.
A little incident that happened on the Atlanta campaign has been. so well described by comrade Edward Caldwell of company "H" Fiftieth Ohio, that I don't think I can do better than insert his- version of it; he has it entitled : "Grit In The Night Charge".
"We had skirmished all day through a forest, Where the underbrush grew thick and rank, And strongly entrenched in the timber At night, we wearily sank ; We slept on our rifles that evening, Each man with his bayonet set, And we, like all Sherman's army, Were tired and hungry and wet.
"Not a sound down the long line disturbed us, As the dawn was breaking so cool,
Save a shot now and then from the pickets, Or the bray of a government mule ; The mist hung low in the valley, Which hid our opponents from view, And we slept the sleep of the weary, The whole great army in blue.
"Then a crash and a flash from the pickets, Which broke in a rattle and roar,
Recalled each soldier from Dreamland To his senses and duties once more. We hastily formed in the trenches, And stood there, chilled with the cold, Each grasping his old Springfield rifle, Determined and grim as of old.
"On came the gray charging column, Out from the fog and the mist, And bravely assaulted our center, Till our volleys made them desist. They broke through the brush in their frenzy And charged with their fierce rebel yell, But we cut great gaps in their forces, As we poured out our shot and our shell.
"Then with shout and with cheer we were on them, Loading our guns as we ran, And we drove them clear out of the timber, In a quarter of an hour's brief span ; Then we slowly retired to our earthworks And calmly awaited the day. But when the pale sky became brighter We saw they had stolen away.
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"Sometimes in hours of great danger Some things very funny are found, That will cause the staid and the serious To break in a laugh all around ; And so it happened that morning, As soon as the dawn had grown light, A scene that we saw set us all in a roar, It was such a comical sight.
"'Way up on the right of the regiment Was a man in Company 'A,' Who was awkward, tall and slender, But was a good soldier, they say. He had broken the orders that morning, As was evident, when we could see He was covered with mud and scratches- A ridiculous object was he.
"Our orders were strict on retiring, Before this excitement arose, To sleep on our arms; that meant plainly To keep on our shoes and our clothes ; But he, thinking more of his comfort, And trying to sleep snug and warm, Had slyly when under his blanket Cast off his wet uniform.
"But when we were called into battle, Before the first gleam of the sun, He could find no stitch of his clothing, But did find his belt and his gun. He fell in with the rest of us fellows, And his part bravely shared in the fight; He must have felt cold, as the rest of us did, His apparel was decidedly light.
"He had gone through the fight without trousers, But managed to get on his shoes ; He had no coat or suspenders, Or clothes that the rest of us use. He had fought it all through without flinching, And came out of it not badly hurt, And the only garment he had on his back Was a very short government shirt."
Comrade Caldwell entered the service as a drummer, while he was very young, and remained till the close of the war.
I remember one day while we were on the Atlanta Campaign
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that a comrade was shot out on the skirmish line, and a squad volunteered to go out, and bring in the body.
Comrade Caldwell took the hospital flag, and went with them. The body lay in a clear space in the woods in full view and close rifle range of the rebel skirmishers.
Caldwell waved his flag, but the rebs would not respect it, but instead sent a perfect storm of lead that direction; another of the squad fell mortally wounded, and they picked him up instead of the dead comrade, and ran in with him.
In the meantime, Comrade Caldwell remained at his post, wav- ing his flag, even after the other comrades had left him, while the balls were kicking up the leaves all around him. He had to be called before he would leave his position ; this shows he had grit, as well as the comrade he describes in his verses.
Now, kind reader, go back to Decatur, where you left me with a haversack full of sweet potatoes, and a ham of fresh meat on my bayonet.
When we got into camp that night, we received the news that General Hood had played a joke on us; he was on our railroad in our rear, cutting up high jinks. Next morning, October 4th, we broke camp, and started after him.
"Yalesville, Alabama, October 22nd, 1864.
"Sherman's army is all here except the 20th Corps, which is holding on to Atlanta. We have been on the move almost daily since the 4th of October.
"No general engagement has taken place, but there have been several small scraps by different detachments.
"I suppose you have learned ere this that General Hood moved his army to our rear and tore up the railroad in different places, but as he doesn't appear able to hold it, I don't see as it will do us very much harm.
"I have no time to write any particulars, as the mail leaves in a few minutes. Wish Hood had remained quiet a while longer. We were situated very comfortably at Decatur, but I suppose the harder the storm the sooner it will be over. Hope to let you hear from me again soon."
"Cedar Bluff, Alabama, October 27, 1864.
"Am still on the land, and among the living, and in the best of health.
. "The 23rd Corps has been dodging around quite lively since leaving Decatur, but have not been able to see many rebs ; only a few dead ones at Allatoona Pass, where General Corse had a
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fight with them, and held his ground, thereby saving a large amount of commissary stores for the use of Sherman's army.
"Then we saw also a few prisoners down at Rome that our cavalry captured. I am not able to say just where General Hood's army is, but it is down in here somewhere. Don't know whether General Sherman will be able to bring him to bay or not.
"I will name some of the most important places we have passed through, since we have been on this march: Decatur, Atlanta, Marietta, Acworth, Allatoona, Cartersville, Cass Station, Cassville, Kingston, Rome, Calhoun, Resaca, Villanow, Somerville, Melville, Georgia ; Yalesville, Alabama, and thence to Cedar Bluff, where we are at the present time. We have been resting for a few days.
"I can give you no idea when we will move, or where we will go when we do move. We had fine weather for marching; it is getting stormy now, but still remains warm, but stormy weather is not very agreeable to soldiers in the field.
"We are guarding a pontoon bridge at present over the Coosa River. A rumor is circulating in camp that Colonel Strickland is to be placed in command at Lexington, Ky., but as it came in over the grapevine 'Telalicgraph,' of course it is a fake.
"I believe I have told you all that would interest you this time, so will close for the present."
"Chattanooga, Tennessee, November 5th, 1864.
"Well, we are back in Tennessee once more. When I wrote you last we were in Cedar Bluff, Alabama, but we left there in great haste and came here. Our brigade had to guard the wagon train through, while the balance of the Corps came through by rail.
"We are resting, and drawing clothing and rations today.
"It is claimed we have marched four hundred and twenty miles since leaving Decatur a month ago; that would be an average of fourteen miles a day, but there were several days we rested by the way. Those who are supposed to know say we are going somewhere to the left of Nashville to meet General Hood, as he is down in there with his army threatening Nashville. I don't think any of his army will see Nashville, except as prisoners of war.
"Well, three more days, and we are going to elect 'Uncle Abe' for four years more. I am going to give him my vote, and best wishes.
"We came through some very pretty country on the way here. I stood the marching first-rate. When they came to stack arms at night, I was always in my place. I am proud to say I have never given my officers the opportunity of calling me a straggler since I came into the service; never missed but twice being on the firing line with them in the Atlanta Campaign, and then I was lawfully excused by my commanding officer.
"Will try to come home, the Lord willing, with a clean record. Will write you again in a few days, if I am permitted the oppor- tunity."
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"Chattanooga, November 6th, 1864.
"We are still lying here in camp this morning. Would love to take a trip onto Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, but as we don't know what minute we will be called on to move, I dare not leave camp.
"Lookout Mountain is where 'Fighting Joe' fought the rebs above the clouds. The rebs had a strong position on Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge ; it hardly looks possible that they could have been driven away so easily, but the boys in blue got them just the same. But here is Billy calling for the mail, so I must say good-bye for this time."
While General Corse was fighting the battle of Allatoona Pass, we were on our way there, and could hear the guns, but when we arrived there the battle was. over. We saw a good many dead Johnnies lying on the field, where they fell.
General Sherman sent that celebrated dispatch from Pine Mountain to General Corse to hold the fort over our heads, as we were marching along in the valley between the two.
While we were at Rome, our second division was sent out to support the cavalry one morning. We went out, I think in the direction of what is called the Smoky Mountains. The cavalry soon ran into a force of the Johnnies camped in the woods, and routed them before they had their breakfast cooked and eaten.
The rebs had two pieces of artillery with them, which they put in position on a small ridge in the road, and began to fire on the cavalry. On either side of the road, where the artillery was posted, was a ravine running parallel with the road, which was well hid- den by the thick underbrush that grew on the bank.
Some of the cavalry, as I was told, dismounted, and flanked up those ravines, while a heavy force made a strong demonstration on the road in front; this movement in front drew the attention of the rebs, and they never saw the flankers till they rushed for the guns, and captured them.
Word came back to us infantry that the guns were captured, but we thought the news too good to be true, but we soon came to where the guns had been limbered up, and were standing in a field with the rebel drivers sitting on their horses. As I under- stood, they wished to drive into Rome.
Some of our boys in passing made the remark that the Johnnies looked pretty hard; the Johnnies overheard them, and replied, "You would look hard too, if you had been on the go as we have the last month."
The cavalry did not need any supporting that day; they kept
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up a running fight with the Johnnies, and ran them out into the Smoky Mountains. I do not remember whether there was any loss on our side or not, but it is quite likely there was. I remember seeing several dead Johnnies along the road.
We started on our return shortly after noon. Before crossing the river into Rome, we had quite a long hill to descend, and quite a stretch of bottom to cross. The 50th Ohio Regiment was pretty well in the rear, so I got a good view of nearly all the second division on the move.
The magnificent spectacle they presented to my sight that even- ing lingers in my memory yet. Each regiment, as they trailed down the long hill, and across the bottom to the river, had their flags unfurled to the breeze, and their bands playing.
The guns of the troops were carried at a right shoulder shift, and they shone in the bright evening sunshine like burnished sil- ver. The scene was an inspiring one, and made such an impres- sion on my mind, I have never forgotten it.
I was not the only one to admire it; the citizens of Rome were all out to view it, men women and children; they had heard of the capture of the two guns, and were very anxious to see if it was true.
The cavalry deserved great credit for their work that day, for they hustled the Johnnies from start to finish.
CHAPTER XVII.
Trip to Spring Hill - Cast My First Vote for President- March to Columbia-Face Hood's Army Once More- A Night's March to Franklin- Giving Hood the Go-By at Spring Hill.
"Spring Hill, Tennessee, November 10th, 1864. "My Dear Parents :
"I seat myself this beautiful, bright morning to let you know my present whereabouts.
The last letter I wrote you I was at Chattanooga. We boarded the cars there the same day I wrote you, and came to Nashville, and from there to this place, which is about twenty-five miles south of Nashville.
"This is as far as we could go by rail at present, as there is a bridge washed away.
"We were glad to get out of the cars. We were on them two days and nights and had gotten very tired of them. It rained all
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the time we were on board, so our trip here was not a very agree- able one. The weather has cleared up now, and we feel like our- selves once more.
"This is a fine country here; a lovely farming country, from what I can see. It does not seem to be hurt by the war so far.
"I see plenty of fat cattle, hogs, chickens, turkeys, geese and ducks. There ought not to be any danger of starving in a country where eatables are as plentiful as they appear to be here.
"It is a little hard just now to keep trace of the 23rd. Corps. I understand the balance of our division is at Johnsonville. I don't know where the Corps headquarters is at present ; neither do I know where Sherman's headquarters are, but I judge he is some- where near Atlanta, Ga.
"It is rumored here that Sherman intends marching the troops he has with him farther south somewhere. I can't say how true it is, but think it quite likely he has some scheme that he wishes to try. I trust he may succeed wherever he goes.
"Well, election day is past, and I cast my first vote for Presi- dent. I voted for Abraham Lincoln. There were some few in the 50th Ohio that voted for George B. McClellan, but not a great many. I suppose we will know in a few days who has won, but I have not the least doubt but 'Uncle Abe' will draw the prize. I think he is the man that ought to have it. He was in at the beginning of the trouble, and I would like to see him remain until it is ended.
"This makes the fourth letter I have written without receiving an answer, but am looking for a letter now every day.
"I think we will move farther south in a few days, as the 23rd Corps and the 4th Corps has been sent into this State to look after General Hood, so we will be very likely to get down to business in a few days, as I learn Hood is headed this way. This leaves me in good health."
One little incident that happened election day in Company "K" might be worth relating: Comrade Joseph Stagmire, a German, whom I have mentioned once before in these reminiscences, was a McClellan man, and by some means, he managed to get hold of some whiskey, and got pretty full. The boys got to plaguing him about voting for. McClellan, and he got very angry. Finally he exclaimed in his broken English, "He who not vote for McClel- lan been a God for d-m sunver b-h." This added fuel to the flames; the boys ran him still higher now, and had their own fun with him. Poor Stagmire! Of course he was ashamed of it when he got sober, but the boys did not let him forget election day very soon.
I am proud to put it on record that I cast my first Presidential vote for that noble patriot, Abraham Lincoln. It is sad to think
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that the assassin's bullet should have cut him down just when he was about to see his great desire accomplished-the preservation of the Union and the restoration of the Government.
Had the enemies let him live, matters would have been adjusted a great deal better than they were. Poor, martyred President- he died with a broken heart.
"Columbia, Tennessee, November 18th, 1864.
"Dear Parents, Brothers and Sisters:
"It is my pleasant task this delightful morning to seat myself to answer your kind message, which has just come to hand.
"I can assure you I was pleased to hear from you all and learn you were well and doing well. We received our mail this morning, the first for fifteen days.
"We have been on the move so much, it was hard for our mail to catch us; perhaps we will stop here a few days, at least that is what Colonel Strickland told us when he brought us into this camp, but I do not know that he can tell anything more about it than the rest of us.
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