USA > Ohio > Itinerary of the Seventh Ohio volunteer infantry, 1861-1864, with roster, portraits and biographies > Part 18
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. "This brigade had been in many well-fought actions, and their coolness and courage were conspicuous on this occa- sion, and told with fearful effect on the rebel lines. When the order was given by me to retire by the left flank, the movement was executed in excellent order, and even at that time the parting volleys of this brigade were given with an
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earnestness of will and purpose that showed their deter- mination to avenge the death of their comrades if they could not avert the issue of the day; but the odds against us were too fearful to render the contest one of long dura- tion, and, finally, after suffering very severe loss, and find- ing the enemy almost entirely enveloping my front, right, and rear, the order of General Slocum to retire was obeyed in a soldierly and masterly manner."
No better illustration of the condition of affairs upon that part of the field can be given than that shown in Gen- eral Geary's report, wherein he admits having left two regi- ments to their fate when his division first retired, and then lost two brigades out of three, without knowing whither they had gone. Pandemonium and wild panic reigned su- preme and the wonder is that any of Candy's brigade and the two New York regiments escaped utter annihilation and . capture. While in the midst of all this seething fire of battle, Colonel Candy paid the Seventh Ohio a high com- pliment. Wishing to retire his brigade gradually and in good order, he said :
"I immediately placed the Seventh Ohio in position to support the remainder of the brigade, and cover them until such time as they could reform, which was done gallantly."
The withdrawal of the Seventh from the trenches and placing it in the open where it was to not only stand fast but do all it could to hold back the enemy then advancing in many directions, was indeed a crucial test. but their brigade commander said that this "was done gallantly."
Colonel Creighton's official report of this battle is as fol- lows :
"HEADQUARTERS, SEVENTH REGT. OHIO VOLUNTEERS, "NEAR AQUIA LANDING, VA., May 9th, 1863. "COL. CHAS. CANDY,
"Comdg. Ist Brig., 2d Div., 12th A. C.
"COLONEL: I have the honor to submit the following re- port of the part taken by the Seventh Regiment O. V. I ..
240 SEVENTH REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
in the late engagement at Chancellorsville, Va. The regi- ment arrived at Chancellorsville Thursday P. M., April 30. and camped for the night on the road leading southeast from Chancellorsville to the south of Fredericksburg Plank road. Friday, the Ist inst., the regiment was unemployed until II A. M. when it advanced with the brigade out on the south and east roads and formed part of the sec- ond line of battle in the open wood-lot facing southeast. From this point it moved east with the brigade through the woods about half a mile, remaining there until or- dered back. It returned to camp about 4 P. M. and in a short time was ordered farther back and formed the second line of battle facing south at the edge of the wood directly south of the large brick house called the Chancellorsville place. Just before dark the regiment was ordered by Gen- eral Geary to move to the left to support Knap's Pennsyl- vania battery against an attack coming from the woods bordering on the southeast road. At this point, while ly- ing on the ground, one man was killed and two severely wounded from Company A, by the carelessness of Battery F, Fourth U. S. Artillery, which was in our rear. The regiment remained near this point during the night and forenoon of the following day. the 2d inst., supporting Knap's battery, but was not actively engaged.
"About noon of this day we were ordered to move out on each side of the woods leading southeast to support skir- mishers from the Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and to clear the woods of the enemy's skirmishers and sharpshooters. * * During the early part of this en- gagement some of the regiments in our rear, believed to be from General Kane's brigade, commenced firing over us and to our right and left, supposing that we were outflanked, and thereby creating some confusion, but which was soon remedied. On the right wing several men were believed to have been killed by this fire. The Twenty-eighth Pennsyl- vania skirmishers soon fell back and our regiment took the advance, moving steadily forward on both sides of the road. with flankers out, and driving the enemy back and holding
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him for two hours. We then retired without confusion, and when clear of the woods halted until ordered back to the entrenchments. During this engagement the loss in the left wing was very slight, a few being wounded only. but the right wing lost severely considering the nature of the en- gagements. After arriving at camp the regiment again formed part of the second line of battle in its old position at the edge of the woods opposite the brick house, and re- mained there during the night. At daylight, Sunday morn- ing, May 3, we were ordered to the left of Best's battery, situated at the left of the old rifle-pit, which is south of the Fredericksburg road, and remained there until 8 o'clock. At this time the regiment was sent to occupy the rifle-pit and remained in it while the troops were falling back across the cleared field south of the Plank road. It then left the pit, formed under the fire of the batteries at the west end of the field, and moved back to the left and rear of Best's bat- tery and lay there while the brigade occupied the breast- works and wood opposite the brick house. During all this time the regiment was under a severe fire from both front and rear, and a portion of the time receiving also musketry fire of the enemy with whom the brigade was engaged. The brigade finally being forced from the woods, passed over the regiment and formed in its rear, and the order was then given to advance and if possible clear the woods. The order was obeyed with alacrity, and the Seventh Ohio led the way, supported by the other regiments to the left and rear and driving back the enemy for a considerable distance, until seeing no support for the brigade it fell back to the left of the battery again, lying down in the road until the shell- ing became too heavy. At about II o'clock A. M. the regi- ment and the brigade withdrew across the cleared field east of the brick house, turning through the woods on the north side of the road and losing a number of men from the enemy's guns shelling the woods as we retired. About two
16
242 SEVENTH REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
miles from the battlefield on the road to the U. S. Ford, the regiment was halted and rested some time in the afternoon, when it moved up the road a mile. Here it remained until II o'clock at night, when it was ordered back down the road, where it occupied a rifle-pit on the left of the line and about one-half mile from the river. It remained here through the night and until 4 P. M. of Monday the 4th inst .. when it was relieved by the Fifth Ohio, and ordered to move by a circuit to the left, where it encamped for the night in the ravine near the river. During the afternoon of the 5th inst. it was employed in the entrenchments on the left until dark. At half past ten o'clock Tuesday night the order to be ready to move was received, but the regiment did not leave its position until twenty minutes before four Wednesday morning, the 6th inst. At a quarter before five the same morning it crossed the pontoon at U. S. Ford to the north side of the Rappahannock and arrived at its old camp near Aquia Landing, Va., early Thursday afternoon, the 7th inst.
"I cannot close this report without mentioning the offi- cers under my command. Lieut .- Col. O. J. Crane, Capt. Samuel McClelland (the bravest of the brave), Captains Kreiger and Wilcox, Adjutant Lockwood, Lieutenants Clark, Howe, Braden, Mckay, Spencer, Bohm, Dean, and Cryne, all exhibited the most daring bravery, obeying every order promptly. The same can be said of privates as well as officers ; not a man wavered, but all performed their du- ties bravely.
"I remain, Colonel, very respectfully your obedient ser- vant,
"WILLIAM R. CREIGHTON, "Col. Comdg. Seventh Ohio."
The Rebellion Records accredit the Seventh Ohio with the capture of a flag at the battle of Chancellorsville, as shown by the following :
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BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLĘ
"HEADQUARTERS, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
"CAMP NEAR FALMOUTH, VA., June 1, 1863. "Circular.
"But five only of the fifteen colors captured during the recent battles have been received, to wit, those taken by the Forty-ninth, Seventy-seventh, and One Hundred and Sec- ond New York, the One Hundred and Eleventh Pennsyl- vania, and the Seventh Ohio Regiments. Corps and other independent commanders will forward forthwith to these headquarters any flags captured by their respective com- mands not already sent in.
"By command of Maj .- Gen. Hooker.
"S. WILLIAMS,
"Assistant Adjutant-General."
(Series 1, Vol. XXV, Part II, Correspondence, etc., Re- bellion Official Records.)
On the night of May 3 Geary's division formed along the new line of battle back toward the Rappahannock, where it remained without further incident until the morning of the 6th, when it crossed the river at the U. S. Ford, and on the 7th again encamped near Aquia Creek, where it was before the battle.
General Hooker's losses in the Chancellorsville campaign are placed at 17.287, while those of General Lee were 10,- 281. The loss in the Seventh Ohio is given in the Official Records as 16 killed, 62 wounded, and 21 missing; total, 99. Its loss in killed and wounded exceeded that of any other regiment in the First Brigade, and was only excelled by one regiment in the division .*
INCIDENTS OF THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE.
While the Seventh Ohio was at Dumfries, Sergt. Wil- lard P. Tisdel of Company D obtained a furlough and vis- ited his relatives and friends in Painesville, Ohio, but when
*See Casualty List, p. 642.
244 SEVENTH REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
he returned the Chancellorsville campaign was on, with his regiment south of the Rappahannock, and its exact location not definitely known at Aquia Creek, where he could with every propriety have remained in safety; but disdaining to do so while his conirades were exposed to danger, he ob- tained permission to go to the front and joined them while in line of battle near the Chancellor house. His appear- ance and jovial and breezy greeting caused a shout to go up, while he proceeded to distribute the small packages, letters, and verbal messages he had brought with him.
This manly exhibition of true courage and high sense of duty won for Sergeant Tisdel the soldierly regard and re- spect of all his associates. That night, however, he ap- peared in something of a comical role. When the Eleventh Corps had passed to a place of safety and Stonewall Jack- son had been placed hors de combat and matters had quieted down for the night, a few men at a time were permitted to go to the rear, where fires would not draw the shots of the enemy, to make coffee, and among them Sergeant Tisdel. Stepping back some distance he came near a cheerful and inviting camp-fire, and at once proceeded to hold his little coffee pail over the flames, but had not been long thus en- gaged when a somewhat distinguished individual ap- proached and said, "Who you vos?" Now in those days if Sergeant Tisdel lacked anything, it was not a spirit of inde- pendence and assurance, so he promptly replied, "I am Ser- geant Tisdel, of the Seventh Ohio Infantry." The other party observed him for a moment, until the little coffee pail began to simmer, and then drawing himself up to fullest regulation height. he said in tones of suppressed emotion, "Vell, Sergeant Tisdel of der Sevent Ohio, I vos Prigadier- Sheneral Von Steinwehr of der Eleventh Corps, und I nitz vont you to make coffee mit my headquatters." At this positive and emphatic announcement, notwithstanding his independence, Sergeant 'Tisdel deemed it expedient to heed the General's remonstrance, and at once proceeded to find a camp-fire where a more democratic spirit prevailed. where he finished the preparation of his frugal meal; but was not
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long in telling of this occurrence, and expressing his private opinion of brigadier-generals, and this one in particular, when he rejoined the company.
ORDERS FOR THE CHANCELLORSVILLE CAMPAIGN.
"CAMP NEAR FALMOUTH, VA., "April 13, 1863. "Circular.
"The Major-General Commanding directs that your com- mand have packed in their knapsacks, by to-morrow night, five days' rations of hard bread, coffee, sugar, and salt.
"That you have in readiness, so that it may be issued and cooked at short notice, three days' rations of pork or bacon, with hard bread, coffee, and sugar, to be placed in the hav- ersacks.
"That your command have drawn and ready for move- ment, five days' fresh beef on the hoof, making complete eight days' rations to be carried with the troops.
"That each officer, by the use of his servant and his hav- ersack, provide himself with eight days' rations.
"That the small-arm ammunition to be carried will be 150 rounds, 60 rounds on the person, the full complement of the pack-train, and the balance to be in the train, ready to start first when the trains move.
"The supply-trains will be in readiness for such move- ments as may be ordered. Each teamster must have with him the forage for his own team. The batteries will carry eight days' subsistence for the troops and their full capacity of forage, at least six days' grain, as much as possible on the guns.
"The general hospital for those unable to move will be designated by the medical director. who will give all the necessary directions in the premises.
"The surplus clothing of the troops, beyond the extra shirt, pair of socks and drawers, should be stored under the supervision of the Quartermaster's department.
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"Corps commanders will require every serviceable man to march with the column.
"By command of Maj .- Gen. Hooker.
"S. WILLIAMS, "Assistant Adjutant-General."
THE ONLY REPORT GENERAL HOOKER EVER MADE OF THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE.
"(1.15 P. M. by Orderly to United States Ford; thence by telegraph.)
"HEADQUARTERS, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, "May 3, 1863-3-30 P. M.
"HIS EXCELLENCY ABRAHAM LINCOLN,
"President of the United States :
"We have had a desperate fight yesterday and to-day, which has resulted in no success to us, having lost a position of two lines, which had been selected for our defense. It is now 1.30 o'clock, and there is still some firing of artillery.
"We may have another turn at it this P. M. I do not despair of success. If Sedgwick could have gotten up, there could have been but one result. As it is impossible for me to know the exact position of Sedgwick as regards his abil- ity to advance and take part in the engagement, I cannot tell when it will end. We will endeavor to do our best. My troops are in good spirits. We have fought desperately to- day.
"No general ever commanded a more devoted army. "JOSEPH HOOKER, "Major-General."
GENERAL R. E. LEE'S INITIAL REPORT OF THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE.
"MILFORD, May 3, 1863.
"PRESIDENT DAVIS :
"Yesterday General Jackson, with three of his divisions. penetrated to the rear of the enemy, and drove him from all
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his positions from the Wilderness to within one mile of Chancellorsville. He was engaged at the same time in front by two of Longstreet's divisions. This morning the battle was renewed. He was dislodged from all his positions around Chancellorsville, and driven back toward the Rap- pahannock, over which he is now retreating. Many prison- ers were taken, and the enemy's loss in killed and wounded large.
"We have again to thank Almighty God for a great vic- tory.
"I regret to state that General Paxton was killed, Gen- eral Jackson severely wounded, and Generals Heth and A. P. Hill slightly wounded.
"R. E. LEE, "General Commanding."
The following is self-explanatory :
"HEADQUARTERS, ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
"May 3, 1863.
"GEN. THOMAS J. JACKSON, "Commanding Corps.
"GENERAL: I have just received your note informing me that you were wounded.
"I cannot express my regret at the occurrence.
"Could I have directed events, I should have chosen for the good of the country, to be disabled in your stead. I congratulate you upon the victory which is due to your skill and energy.
"Very respectfully, "R. E. LEE, "General."
On May 1I, 1863, in a message to General Stuart, Gen- eral Lee said :
"I regret to inform you that the great and good Jackson is no more. He died yesterday at 3.15 P. M. of pneumonia : calm, serene, and happy. May his spirit pervade our whole army : Our country will then be secure.
"R. E. LEE. "General."
CHAPTER XXVII.
THE GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN.
After the battle of Chancellorsville, until June 13, the Seventh Ohio remained in camp near Aquia Creek perform- ing light duty, the most important occurrence having taken place on the 6th, when again paid off.
The usual camp rumors as to the probable movements of the enemy prevailed until June 3, when the following com- munication came to General Hooker's headquarters :
"WASHINGTON, D. C., June 1, 1863.
"GENERAL PLEASONTON.
"DEAR SIR: There is one thing that looks very apparent to me, and that is, that this movement of General Lee's is not intended to menace Washington, but to try his hand again toward Maryland, or to call off your attention while General Stuart goes there. I have every reason for believ- ing that Stuart is on his way toward Maryland. I do not positively know it, but there is the best of reasons for be- lieving it.
"Very respectfully, "G. S. SMITH."
So much credence was attached to this statement that the Commanding General as late as 10.15 P. M. of June 3 issued orders to his entire command to be prepared with rations and ammunition to move at a moment's notice, which was well, as this was in fact the date upon which Gen. Robert E. Lee began to withdraw his troops from about Fredericks- burg and set the Army of Northern Virginia in motion for the Gettysburg campaign. This was detected in his evac- uated camps the next morning, when General Hooker or- dered pontoon bridges thrown across the Rappahannock be- low Fredericksburg and crossed a part of the Sixth Corps
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under General Sedgwick, to make a demonstration, but found the enemy in such force as to cause him to withhold aggressive action.
On June 5, 1863, 11.30 A. M., General Hooker in a mes- sage to President Lincoln in reference to the probable in- tention of General Lee to cross the upper Potomac, or throw his army between the Army of the Potomac and Washing- ton, said in part :
"After giving the subject my best reflection, I am of the opinion that it is my duty to pitch into his rear, although in so doing the head of his column may reach Warrenton be- fore I can return. Will it be within the spirit of my in- structions to do so?"
To this he received the following characteristic reply :
"WASHINGTON, June 5, 1863-4 P. M.
"MAJ .- GEN. HOOKER: Yours of to-day was received an hour ago. So much of professional skill is requisite to an- swer it, that I have turned the task over to General Halleck. He promises to perform it with his utmost care. I have but one idea which I think worth suggesting to you, and that is, in case you find Lee coming to the north of the Rappahan- nock, I would by no means cross to the south of it. If he should leave a rear force at Fredericksburg, tempting you to fall upon it, it would fight you in entrenchments and have you at disadvantage, and so, man for man, worst you at that point, while his main force would in some way be get- ting an advantage of you northward. In one word, I would not take any risk of being entangled upon the river, like an ox jumped half over a fence and liable to be torn by dogs front and rear, without a fair chance to gore one way or kick the other.
"If Lee would come to my side of the river, I would keep on the same side, and fight him or act on the defense, ac- cording as my estimate of his strength relatively to my own.
250 SEVENTH REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
"But these are mere suggestions, which I desire to be controlled by the judgment of yourself and General Halleck. "A. LINCOLN."
On the 9th, with a view to securing information as to the designs of General Lee, General Pleasonton, then in com- mand of the cavalry of the Army of the Potomac, crossed the Rappahannock at Kelly's and Beverly Fords with his cavalry, supported by some 2,500 picked infantry, and mov- ing in the direction of Culpeper, engaged the enemy's cav- alry under Gen. J. E. B. Stuart about Brandy Station, Ste- vensburg, and Fleetwood, in one of the most memorable cavalry contests of the war. The battle lasted nearly the whole day, and although forced back across the river, with his dead and severely wounded left in the hands of the enemy. General Pleasonton captured despatches which clearly indicated plans for a Northern invasion, and to this extent, at least, he was successful.
On the roth General Ewell left Culpeper with his corps, for the Shenandoah Valley, via Front Royal, to be followed later on by Longstreet and Hill, while on the IIth General Hooker strongly picketed the Rappahannock as far up as Beverly's Ford with infantry, while his cavalry kept a sharp lookout beyond.
On the 13th a part of Ewell's corps invested Winchester and the last of Hill's corps left Fredericksburg, while Gen- eral Hooker, maneuvering to protect Washington, ordered the First, Third, Fifth, and Eleventh Corps to move toward Manassas, and the Second, Sixth and Twelfth to Dumfries.
The Seventh Ohio left camp on the 13th at 8 P. M., and after an all-night march reached Dumfries early the next morning and remained during the day. Getting off very early on the morning of the 15th, the corps marched to Fair- fax Court House, a long, hot, and exhaustive march, as was shown by the death of fifteen men of Geary's division alone, having died along the road from fatigue and sunstroke.
Rested on the 16th.
On the 17th the Twelfth Corps marched to Dranesville.
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THE GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN
Also on June 17th General Pleasonton successfully engaged the enemy's cavalry under Gen. Fitzhugh Lee at Aldie, and Capt. William R. Sterling of Company I, Seventh Ohio, then on staff duty . at General Hooker's headquarters at Fairfax Court House, with a Captain Fisher of the Signal Corps, and an orderly, were sent with despatches to General Pleasonton, but were captured while en route, by Mosby's guerrillas. It is said that when they learned into whose hands they had fallen Captain Sterling said :
"We have laughed so much at our men for being gob- bled up by Mosby, that we cannot help laughing at being caught ourselves."
The following report is self-explanatory :
"HEADQUARTERS PICKET RESERVE.
"June 18, 1863-12 M.
"LIEUT. JOHN M. CLARK, Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen- eral.
"LIEUTENANT: In accordance with directions from the commanding officer of the brigade, I report the facts in re- gard to the capture of Maj. William R. Sterling and Cap- tain Fisher, as related to me by the people of the house where they were taken. Major Sterling and Captain Fisher were on their way to communicate with General Pleasonton, when they halted at the residence of Mr. Almond Birch for supper and to inquire how far it was to Aldie. Having fin- ished their supper, they started for their horses, which were left with their orderly at the yard gate. The horses and orderly had been removed, and before Major Sterling and Captain Fisher had reached the gate, 10 or 12 cavalrymen seized them, and hurriedly mounted them and bore them off. This took place last evening at 10 o'clock about 400 yards from the picket outpost, at the house of Mr. Birch on the Little River turnpike. Mr. Birch and family are from Clifton Park. Saratoga County, N. Y. They are Union people, known to some of the officers of our regiment. I am satisfied that these people had no complicity with this
252 SEVENTH REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
affair, and had no knowledge of the enemy being anywhere near their house.
"The capture of these officers appears to have been as unexpected to the enemy as it was to the officers captured, since the enemy was unaware of our forces being so near.
"I also report that I have reestablished the picket line, in some respects, since coming on duty this morning, so as among other points to include the house of Mr. Birch.
"All is quiet upon the line.
"I am most respectfully, your obedient servant,
"JAMES C. RICE,
"Colonel, Commanding Outposts."
On the 18th the command reached Leesburg. As early as June 15 a part of Ewell's infantry crossed the Potomac at Williamsport, while his cavalry were as far north as Chambersburg. It was about this time that President Lin- coln said to General Hooker :
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