USA > Ohio > Itinerary of the Seventh Ohio volunteer infantry, 1861-1864, with roster, portraits and biographies > Part 17
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"The writer was put out of business so early in the fight that he had no opportunity for observation of interesting incidents which never find their way into official reports. His own experience he regarded as thrilling at the time. While I was lying in a depression waiting the hospital stretcher which was to bear me to the rear for surgical oper- ation, a shell struck into the ground perhaps forty feet back of me and then kindly bounded over my head, lighting a few rods beyond; but it left a 'cloud burst' of gravel and red clay behind it which kept falling upon me till I felt sure I was to be buried alive. Loaded on to the stretcher I passed my gun to a third soldier to carry, remarking to him that I would not exchange that gun for any 160 acres of land, for the wood of its stock had received and retained a bullet at Antietam that would have otherwise hit me in the face. We had not proceeded far when a shell came scream- ing along our way. The man with my gun did not do the natural thing. drop it and run, but striking the posture of an athlete, threw the gun fifty to seventy-five feet from him. and then got down and ran. That was my army farewell to my trusty gun. The ambulance eventually landed me in a thicket of brush near the banks of the Potomac, where other soldiers were lying on the ground receiving attention
15
226 SEVENTH REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
from the surgeons. When my turn came I blandly waived the anesthetic offered and boldly told the surgeon to 'sail in and find that rebel bullet.' After he had slashed into me ad libitum he nailed the infernal thing where it was deeply imbedded amid arteries and ligaments, that made me howl with pain; but the instant I recovered my breath and the surgeon handed me the bullet, I exclaimed with deep elo- quence, 'Doctor, you're mine for ninety days!' though why I should have thus limited my great admiration for this servant of Uncle Sam has never been quite clear to my mind.
"Mixed in with memories of fresh mutton, screaming shells, wounds and agonizing yells, Dumfries has still another memory which your honored historian-Dr. Wil- son-shares with this writer, viz: that we were both made sergeants from this headquarters of the Seventh O. V. I.
"E. M. CONDIT."
"HEADQUARTERS SEVENTH REGIMENT O. V. I.,
"DUMFRIES, VA., Dec. 27, 1862. "Col. CHAS. CANDY,
"Candy's Ohio Brigade.
"SIR: I would respectfully submit the following report of the part taken by the Seventh Regiment O. V. I. in the skirmish at Dumfries, Va., December 27, 1862 :
"Orders were received at these Headquarters about I P. M. to 'form the regiment into line, awaiting further orders, which was promptly done. Soon we were ordered to 'move to the front.' Moved off by the right flank to the crest of a hill in the right center of the town, where, forming in line of battle, we moved forward to within one hundred ( 100) yards of a pine grove south of the town. The First Mary- land Cavalry being in front and falling back under the first fire of the enemy, we fixed bayonets and walked promptly forward to the edge of the grove, our left resting on the Telegraph road, at which point the rebels opened fire upon us with a few shots which were quickly responded to,
227
LOUDOUN AND BOLIVAR HEIGHTS
though after the loss of two wounded men. We now changed position by the right flank to the crest of a hill on our right, and soon orders were received to fall back to the support of the Fifth O. V. I., which was supporting the bat- tery in the open field. In pursuance of which orders we took position with our right resting on the wood road which runs parallel with the Telegraph road. After remaining in this position about one hour, we were ordered to support our left with part of the regiment, moving the right wing about the distance of two hundred (200) yards to the right. With the right wing we opened fire by volley on the enemy who were opposing the left center of the main force, and quickly silenced them. We then received orders to throw out heavy pickets to the front and bivouac for the night.
"I have the honor to further report as follows :
Number present in action, 312
Number killed, I
Number wounded, 8
Number missing ( I of whom is prisoner ), 6
Number prisoners,
2
Number stragglers,
2
19
*Total returned from battle, 293 "I have the honor to be
"Your most obedient servant, "WM. R. CREIGHTON. "Col. Comdg. Regt."
*See Casualty List, p. 642.
CHAPTER XXV.
FROM DUMFRIES TO CHANCELLORSVILLE
From December 27, 1862, to April 20, 1863, the troops at Dumfries devoted much time to the strict performance of picket duty with a view to being prepared for every emergency, but they were not again disturbed by the enemy.
Although this command was isolated and small, offering a tempting bait to Stuart's raiders, yet it passed the winter pleasantly, as it was, as a rule, not only supplied with ordi- nary hardtack, beans, coffee and bacon, and occasionally treated to soft bread and dessicated potatoes and vegetables, but frequently feasted upon Potomac oysters, on the side. while in addition to all this liberal furloughs were granted and taken advantage of by many to visit home and friends once more.
All this, with the return of many who had been absent sick, and wounded, and in prison, reinforced and encour- aged the membership of all their regiments, giving new tone and animation to the entire command.
While at Dumfries, however, the Seventh met with heavy loss in the resignation of Lieut .- Col. Joel F. Asper. Capt. Charles A. Weed, Capt. J. B. Molyneaux, and First Lieuten- ant and Adjutant William D. Shepherd, all of whom had served faithfully since the organization of the regiment at Camp Dennison, and been repeatedly tried in the fire of battle.
While there, Colonel Creighton was for a time in com- mand, as witness the following :
"DUMFRIES COURT-HOUSE, VIRGINIA, "February 25, 1863. "Lieut .- Col. H. C. ROGERS,
"Assistant Adjutant General :
"Our scout brought in information this evening that he was told by a citizen that the enemy's cavalry intended
229
DUMFRIES TO CHANCELLORSVILLE
making a raid on this place, to capture the commissary stores, etc., supposing that the new picket line established last Sunday was simply a ruse, and supposing that we have left.
"From what information he could get in regard to posi- tion of cavalry, the Prince William Cavalry was at White Sulphur Springs, with five light pieces of artillery; the Black Horse Cavalry are at Warrenton. We will be on the alert, and are able to repel any attack of their cavalry.
"W. R. CREIGHTON,
"Colonel, Commanding Brigade and Post."
On March 20 many of the Seventh who were captured at Cross Lanes on August 26, 1861, and had been in prison in Richmond, New Orleans, and Salisbury, having been duly exchanged, rejoined their companies and were given a cordial welcome.
On January 25, 1863, Maj .- Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside was relieved by order of President Lincoln and Maj .- Gen. Joseph Hooker was assigned to the command of the Army of the Potomac, then mainly in the vicinity of Fredericks- burg, where it had recently met a most signal defeat.
The new commanding general had had large experience as a brigade, division and corps commander in the army he was now called upon to lead to victory, and was far and near favorably known as a ready and steady fighter, having been dubbed by his admirers as "Fighting Joe Hooker."
He at once set to work to restore tone and confidence to his men, and to bring back to their places at the front the more than 85,000 officers and men then "absent without leave."
In this he was cordially assisted by President Lincoln, who issued a proclamation extending clemency to every officer and soldier, then so absent, who would report for duty within the next thirty days. On March 21 General Hooker issued an order establishing corps badges, to be worn by officers and men to indicate the corps and division to which they belonged. The Twelfth Corps badge was a
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SEVENTH REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
five-pointed star. First Division, red; Second Division, white; Third Division, blue.
As early as April II the commanding general informed President Lincoln that he intended to move against General Lee to the right, and the cavalry under General Stoneman was directed to move to the enemy's rear on the 13th.
On April 19 orders came for the troops stationed at Dum- fries to be ready to march at 6 A. M. on the morrow.
The next day a short march to the front was made; Hartwood Church reached on the 21st; Stafford Court House passed on the 22d; paid off on the 27th; near Kel- ly's Ford on the 28th; crossed the Rappahannock at Kel- ly's Ford and the Rapidan at Germanna Ford on the 29th, and reached Chancellorsville at 2 P. M. on the 30th.
The troops then up were the Fifth, Eleventh, and Twelfth Corps, with Pleasonton's cavalry; and all under the com- mand of Maj .- Gen. Henry W. Slocum, the commander of the Twelfth Corps.
28TMA
BADGE OF THE SECOND DIVISION 12th and 20th Army Corps
Position of the
Vier Army Corps, May 2.
Munk Road.
Legend. Position of the 2d Div. May L Band &.
Position of the 1" Dir, May land &
Position of the 1et. Die. May 3.
Hawltins.
Church
toi Doudall's.
Farm House &
Position of Birney and Whipple's Divisions, 3d Corps, evening of 2d and morning of 3d May. Taken by the rebels 7 a. m. 3d May, and upon which they planted batteries.
urch.
zdefection of attacky Div. 12 frps, May 2.
Mank Houd
Het One Log House. den. Slocum.
North.
"Grave JYard.
thatis
E Chancellor's House.
Hvad to U.S. Pard.
Plank Hond. -
7TH OHIO
BATTLEFIELD OF CHANCELLORSVILLE, VA.
May 1st, 2d and 3d, 1863
CHAPTER XXVI.
THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE.
As a place, Chancellorsville consisted of one stately man- sion with out-buildings, and a blacksmith shop, located twelve miles west of Fredericksburg at the intersection of the Plank and Wilderness roads leading to that point, and in the midst of a densely wooded country.
The cavalry attached to the Fifth Corps, which was com- manded by Gen. George G. Meade, crossed the Rapidan at Ely's Ford, reaching Chancellorsville as early as II A. M. of April 30, while his infantry came up at I P. M. ahead of the Twelfth Corps, which arrived at 2 P. M.
The Twelfth Corps at once took position in the woods, on a line nearly parallel to the Plank road, with the left rest- ing near the Chancellor house and the right near a church about one and a half miles therefrom.
The Eleventh Corps joined the right of the Twelfth, with its right resting on Hunting Creek. The Fifth Corps extended from the left of Geary's division of the Twelfth Corps toward the United States Ford on the Rappahannock.
Knap's and Hampton's batteries were posted at a point about two hundred and fifty yards in front and slightly to the left of the Chancellor house, commanding the approach by the Plank and Wilderness roads, and were supported by the Seventh Ohio and the Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania In- fantry, who thus composed the extreme left of Geary's line, the remainder of the First Brigade forming on the right of the Plank road, the Second on the right of the First, the Third on the extreme right of the division.
In accordance with his usual custom as a careful com- mander, no sooner had his division formed line than Gen- eral Geary ordered his pioneer corps to construct abatis by cutting down the brushwood and trees in front, and in ad-
232 SEVENTH REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
dition barricaded the Plank road by placing large timbers across it.
In this position, with strong pickets out, the command rested during the night, and General Hooker's expressed desire that not a moment be lost until his advance troops were established at Chancellorsville, where he was then in . person and in command of the Second. Fifth, Eleventh and Twelfth Corps, had been realized.
On May 1, by 9 A. M., General Sickles reported the cross- ing of his Third Corps, which was then temporarily posted to strengthen and extend the right of the line, at and beyond the right of the Eleventh Corps.
At II A. M. a general order was issued for an advance toward Fredericksburg, and after the troops had, with great effort, pushed out through the almost impenetrable thickets, a distance of a mile and a half, they were ordered back to their original position.
By way of explanation of this movement it may be stated that in a message to his Chief of Staff, who had been left in charge of general headquarters near Fredericksburg, the Commanding General said :
"CHANCELLORSVILLE, VA., May 1, 1863.
"Maj .- Gen. BUTTERFIELD:
"After having ordered an attack at 2 P. M., and most of the troops in position, I suspended the attack on the receipt of news from the other side of the river.
"Hope the enemy will be emboldened to attack me. I did feel certain of success. If his communications are cut he must attack me.
"I have a strong position.
"JOSEPH HOOKER, "Major-General."
He also, at 6 P. M., instructed his corps commanders to set their pioneers to work in their front to make abatis and clearing for their artillery, and to keep them at work during the entire night.
233
BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE
At about 7.30 P. M. there was supposed to have been a sudden advance of the enemy directly in front of Knap's and Hampton's batteries, reinforced by two sections of Bruen's New York battery and a section of Battery F, Fourth U. S. Regulars, under Lieutenant Muhlenberg. which for a time caused the most spirited artillery and in- fantry firing by the batteries named, supported by the Sev- enth Ohio and Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania. Captain Knap reported that some 300 rounds were fired. During this affair and while the Seventh Ohio was lying down in front of the guns, shots were fired so low by the Regulars as to kill Cheney of Company A and wound several others.
This most lamentable carelessness on the part of the gun- ners caused great sorrow and indignation and nearly caused a riot.
On the morning of May 2 the men of the First Brigade were greatly surprised to see a column of rebel infantry ap- proaching on the Plank road, entirely oblivious of danger, until fired into by infantry and artillery. The following explanation is found in an extract from the official report of Brig .- Gen. Alfred Iverson, C. S. A.
"Immediately after daylight on the morning of May 2 I was directed by General Rodes to relieve the brigade of General Ramseur, then posted in front and to the right of the Plank road leading into Chancellorsville. I passed the point occupied by General Ramseur without perceiving it. owing to his being posted in dense woods and the courier who had been directed to show me the position not being on the spot where I expected to find him, and came in sight of the enemy about 400 yards distant, whom I mistook for General Ramseur's troops till they saluted me with a shower of Minie balls, followed by canister, wounding four or five men of the Twenty-third North Carolina troops. The bri- gade was moved by the right flank into the woods, and by the rear of column back to the position of General Ram- seur."
The comrades present will readily recall the spirited duel
234 SEVENTH REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
which also took place in the early morning of that date between a rebel battery which attempted to locate in an open space more than a mile distant but was greeted with such a warm reception by the expert gunners of Knap's battery, as to cause it to hurriedly move out of range. Captain Knap said :
"On the morning of the 2d a battery was brought to bear on our flank, and four guns of Knap's were placed in posi- tion, which in about forty-five minutes succeeded in silencing the enemy, exploding two of his caissons and dis- mounting one of his pieces. Two hundred rounds were fired, and three men and three horses of Knap's wounded."
Early on the morning of May 2d General Hooker rode the line, when he was greeted most enthusiastically by his troops, and upon his return to the Chancellorsville house the following order was issued:
"CHANCELLORSVILLE, VA., May 2, 1863-9.30 A. M. "Major-Generals HOWARD and SLOCUM :
"I am directed by the Major-General commanding to say that the disposition you have made of your corps has been with a view to a front attack by the enemy. If he should throw himself upon your flank, he wishes you to examine the ground and determine upon the positions you would take in that event, in order that you may be prepared for him in whatever direction he advances. He suggests that you have heavy reserves well in hand to meet this contingency. The right of your line does not appear to be strong enoughi. No artificial defenses worth naming have been thrown up, and there appears to be a scarcity of troops at that point, and not, in the General's opinion, as favorably posted as might be. We have good reason to suppose that the enemy is moving to our right. Please advance your pickets for purposes of observation as far as may be safe, in order to obtain timely information of their approach.
"J. H. VAN ALAN, "Brigadier-General and Aide-de-Camp."
235
BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE
With such a correct and comprehensive view of the situ- ation on the right of his line at that early hour, without ex- planation it seems utterly impossible that within a few hours Stonewall Jackson could appear unheralded with 25,000 men and without any semblance of serious opposition sweep every vestige of the right of Hooker's line from the field. But to go back a little. As early as April II, in a message from General Hooker to President Lincoln, he said in reference to this Chancellorsville movement :
"I am apprehensive that the enemy will retire from before me the moment I should succeed in crossing the river, and over the shortest line to Richmond, and thus escape being seriously crippled. I hope however that when the cavalry have established themselves on the line between him and Richmond, they will be able to hold him and check his re- treat till I can fall on his rear, or if not that, I will compel him to fall back by the way of Culpeper and Gordonsville, over a longer line than my own, with his supplies cut off."
So here we find General Hooker, with all his experience in fighting the troops under General Lee and Stonewall Jackson, on the Peninsula, under General Pope, and at Antietam and Fredericksburg, stating to his chief he feared that as soon as he crossed the Rappahannock they would in- gloriously fly the field and hasten to Richmond, without stopping to measure swords with him, unless his little hand- ful of cavalry could head them off and hold them up until he could "fall upon their rear."
It therefore appears that when in the afternoon of May 2 the troops in Sickles's corps ( which had been brought up from the extreme right and placed between the Eleventh and Twelfth corps) discovered the enemy in the distance crossing their front in the direction of Culpeper, this hal- lucination of the Commanding General took possession of other prominent officers until it was noised about, and by some believed, that the enemy was in full retreat.
Nor was this all: with the consent of General Hooker. General Sickles with the Third Corps, supported by Wil-
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SEVENTH REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
liams's division of the Twelfth, and Barlow's brigade (the only reserve which General Howard had) of the Eleventh Corps, moved out of line toward the supposed retreating foe and were in that position at about 6 P. M., when Stonewall Jackson, having during the day passed his command from the Plank road to the left front of Chancellorsville, to and beyond the extreme right of the Eleventh Corps, bore down upon the thin and unsupported line, like an avalanche, where blind panic and great confusion reigned supreme. Officers were hastily sent to recall Generals Sickles, Williams, and Barlow, who were so much needed to stem the tide of bat- tle going against the Union forces, but of little avail that night, as the enemy virtually had their own way until Stone- wall Jackson was wounded at about 9 P. M.
At about 5 P. M. of the 2d, when General Williams moved out of line in support of General Sickles, General Slocum directed General Geary to advance his division and feel the enemy. General Geary said: "I was ordered by the Gen- eral Commanding to move out on the Plank road with a por- tion of the command, for the purpose of cutting off the train of the enemy, who was supposed to be retreating toward Gordonsville." The Seventh Ohio and Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania Regiments moved out along the Plank road. where they found the enemy in force, and while advancing to the attack were fired into by troops in their rear, it was believed, with fatal effect. to members of the Seventh, who were on the right of the Plank road.
Orders were sent for these regiments to fall back, but failing to reach them, they held on hotly engaged until their ammunition became exhausted. That night, when the en- tire force which had been occupying the Eleventh Corps line had been swept away and rapidly pursued some miles by Stonewall Jackson's noisy and defiant fighters, Geary's di- vision was sorely tried by the fleeing host, who in many in- stances plunged througli their line of battle regardless of en- treaty or command.
At early dawn on the 3d Stonewall Jackson's troops, then marshaled under that famous cavalry commander, Gen. J.
237
BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE
E. B. Stuart, made prompt and vigorous attack upon the Third Corps and Williams's division of the Twelfth Corps, now lined up on the right, and were most successfully held at bay until about 8.30 A. M., when, having exhausted their ammunition and no response having been made to their urgent calls for both ammunition and reinforcements, they reluctantly yielded the field and took position near the Chancellor house. Geary's division, still holding its line from the Chancellor house to the right, had been hotly en- gaged, holding its own, but when that sturdy fighter Gen- eral Williams with his gallant men retired, with loud shouts the enemy came bearing down, to close the contest. Gen- eral Geary said :
"About 8 o'clock the division was in the trenches, ex- posed to a terribly raking and enfilading fire from the enemy, who had succeeded in turning the right flank of the army, leaving us exposed to the full fury of his artillery, while at the same time attacks were made upon us in front and flank by his infantry.
"Thus hemmed in, and apparently in danger of being cut off, I obeyed an order to retire and form my command at right angles with the former line of battle, the right rest- ing at or near the brick house, the headquarters of General Hooker.
"While in the execution of this order, and having with- drawn the command and in the act of forming my new front, General Hooker came up and in person directed me to resume my original position and hold it at all hazards.
"I accordingly advanced again into the trenches with the First Brigade, Greene's and Kane's having, in the confusion of the moment and conflict of orders, become separated from the command and retired to a line of defense in a woods to the north of the Chancellor house. Upon regaining the breastworks I found that the Sixtieth and One Hundred and Second New York Volunteers. of Greene's brigade, had been left behind when the command had retired, and were now hotly engaged with the enemy, who were attempting breaches throughout the whole length of my line, and in
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SEVENTH REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
many places actually occupied it. These two regiments had captured some thirty prisoners and a battle-flag of the enemy, the One Hundred and Second having captured that of the Twelfth Georgia.
"Our men here, after a fierce struggle, took a number of prisoners, who had advanced into our works under the im- pression that we had abandoned them.
"The fire upon our lines was now of the most terrific character I ever remember to have witnessed. Knap's and Hampton's batteries had been ordered to take part in the en- gagement in another part of the field. Two brigades of my command were separated from me, and, had I even known their locality, could not hope to have them reach my posi- tion. I was thus left with but Candy's brigade and two regiments of Greene's, and Lieutenant Muhlenberg with two sections of Bruen's battery and one of Best's. Against this comparatively small body the whole fury and force of the enemy's fire seemed to be concentrated. Three of his batteries engaged Lieutenant Muhlenberg in direct fire at about one mile range. A heavy battery completely enfi- laded our works from the right; while one in front played upon us at short range with destructive effect, and under cover of these guns the infantry, becoming emboldened by the near approach of what seemed to them our utter and total annihilation, charged upon us repeatedly and were as often repulsed.
"At this stage of the action the enemy suffered severely at our hands.
"Candy's brigade seemed animated by a desire to contest single-handed the possession of the field, and before the deadly aim of our rifles rank after rank of the rebel in- fantry went down, never to rise again.
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