USA > Ohio > Itinerary of the Seventh Ohio volunteer infantry, 1861-1864, with roster, portraits and biographies > Part 19
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"If the head of Lee's army is at Martinsburg and the tail of it on the Plank road between Fredericksburg and Chan- cellorsville, the animal must be very thin somewhere. Could you not break him?"
On the 19th the Twelfth Corps was ordered out to wit- ness the execution of three soldiers who had been tried by military court martial, convicted, and sentenced to be shot to death, by musketry, for desertion, and then marched past their lifeless bodies, in order that the enormity of their crime might be more emphatically and indelibly stamped upon our minds and consciences.
On June 24 Longstreet and Hill crossed the Potomac at Shepherdstown and Williamsport, and reached Chambers- burg on the 27th1.
On the 26th the Twelfth Corps crossed the Potomac at Edward's Ferry. The Seventh marched through Pooles- ville to the Monocacy; on the 27th by Point of Rocks to Petersville, and on the 28th to near Frederick City. As the regiment filed off the pike into a field to bivouac for the
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night, Colonel Creighton announced to his men that Maj .- Gen. Joseph Hooker had been relieved of the command of the Army of the Potomac. and had been succeeded by Maj .- Gen. George Gordon Meade, which to many suggested that this was like swapping horses while crossing a river. On the 29th the Twelfth Corps moved through Frederick, Walkersville, Woodsboro, and Bruceville, toward Taney- town, and passed that point the next day, reaching Littles- town that afternoon while J. E. B. Stuart's raiders were hurrying by on the road to York.
On July I, under instructions from the Commanding General, General Slocum moved his corps from Littlestown to Two Taverns, there to await further orders, and was at this point about I o'clock when informed by a civilian pass- ing that way that a battle was in progress beyond Gettys- burg. Major Guindon, of his staff, with an escort of mounted orderlies, was sent to ascertain the truth of the story, but before he returned a message from General How- ard confirmed the report, when orders were given to push forward. General Geary having the advance reached Ceme- tery Hill in person by 4 P. M., when he was ordered by Gen- eral Hancock to take position on the extreme left, to the right of and near Little Round Top, and General Geary states this movement was consummated at 5 P. M .. and that night Little Round Top was occupied by the Fifth Ohio and One Hundred and Forty-seventh Pennsylvania of Can- dy's brigade while the other regiments bivouacked near by. Early on the morning of the 2d Geary's division was re- lieved by Birney's division of the Third Corps, and crossing to the right, went into position on Culp's Hill, where sub- stantial breastworks were constructed during the day. At 6 P. M. the Twelfth Corps, excepting Greene's brigade, was ordered to the left to assist in the repulse of Longstreet's corps, which had made successful aggressive battle against all the troops on that part of the line. Here General Geary mistook direction and moved back along the Baltimore pike across Rock Creek, where he remained until after midnight. when ordered to return to his former position, which had been occupied and was then held by the enemy.
254 SEVENTH REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
At early dawn the battle opened strong, about Culp's Hill, and did not end until well on to HI o'clock A. M., when the Twelfth Corps was again in full possession of its original line. That afternoon the attack of the troops under General Longstreet, in what is known as "Pickett's charge," was made against the center of the Union line, where after des- perate fighting the enemy was repulsed with heavy loss and the battle of Gettysburg had ended.
It is said that upon no part of the field were more men killed than about Culp's Hill, where repeated charges were made, and repulsed by Geary's division and others engaged there.
On July 4, 1863, by mutual consent the whole day was given to the burial of the dead and care of the wounded. while on the 5th it was learned that the Army of Northern Virgina had retreated.
General Longstreet said :
"The armies rested on the Fourth of July, one under the bright laurels secured by brave work of the day before, but in profound sorrow over the silent forms of the host of comrades who had fallen during those three fateful days, whose blood bathed the thirsty fields of Gettysburg, made classic by the most stupendous clash of conflict of that long and sanguinary war; while gentle rain came to mellow the sod that marked the honored rest of friend and foe: the other with broken spirits turned from fallen comrades to find safety away from the fields that had been so promising.
"The Union forces had cast their lines on grounds too strong for lead and steel, and, exhausted alike of aggres- sive force and means of protracted defense, there was nothing left for the vanquished but to march for distant homeward lines."
"HEADQUARTERS, SEVENTH REGIMENT O. V. I., "July 6, 1863.
"LIEUT. A. H. W. CREIGH,
"A. A. A. General Ist Brigade, 2d Division, 12th A. C.
"SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report
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of the part taken by the Seventh Ohio Volunteers in the engagement of July 2 and 3, 1863, near Gettysburg, Pa. On Thursday morning, July 2, we were encamped on the left side of the Gettysburg and Taneytown pike. At 6 o'clock A. M. we received marching orders, and at 6.30 moved out in line, changing our position on the hill at the right of the road. In obedience to your orders I sent for- ward Company H, under command of Capt. Samuel Mc- Clelland, to picket our front. They were posted along the stream which runs through the hollow at our left and re- mained there until 6 o'clock p. M .. when they rejoined my regiment. At this time the 'fall in' was sounded and my regiment, in company with the remainder of the brigade, moved by the right flank to the right and rear of the posi- tion which we had held during the former part of the day. I formed my regiment in the open field in the rear of the stone wall at the left of and near the turnpike. At this place I allowed my men to sleep, having their arms and accouterments in perfect readiness to fall in at any moment. My regiment had not during any part of the day been ex- posed to musketry fire, but for some time in the afternoon we were exposed to quite a brisk fire of artillery. although not suffering any serious loss from it. At half past II P. M., July 2, I was ordered to form my command. It was then moved under your directions out on to the pike and advancing toward Gettysburg, but turned from the pike to our right at the same place which we had in the morning when first advancing. My line was formed in the hollow at the right and in the rear of General Greene's brigade. At this place we received a volley of musketry from the ene- my's guns, wounding one man from Company I. In a few moments we were ordered to move by the right flank back to the open field, forming our line in the rear of a stone wall which runs parallel with the road leading to the pike. In a few moments. by order of General Geary. I moved my com- mand over the wall into the road, throwing out to the front twenty men under charge of Sergeant Stratton to act as skirmishers. At this place Sergeant Stratton received a
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severe if not a mortal wound .* Soon after daylight on the morning of the 3d, in compliance with your order, I drew in my skirmishers, and in a few moments moved my regi- ment by the left flank back near the position which we oc- cupied the morning previous. When in the edge of the woods, I formed my command in line of battle, and in com- pliance with orders I moved forward 'double-quick' and re- lieved the Sixtieth New York Volunteers. My regiment remained in the entrenchments until near 8 o'clock, when it was relieved by the Sixtieth New York Volunteers. When relieved I formed my regiment in the rear of the breast- works, remaining until 9.30 o'clock, when I was again or- dered forward to relieve a regiment. I was not again re- lieved until 9.30 P. M., having been under fire of musketry most of the day. When relieved I again formed my line in the hollow and remained there until 1.30 A. M. on the morning of July 4th, when my command was again ordered forward to the entrenchments, which position we held until the brigade moved out on the pike preparatory to returning to Littlestown. About II o'clock on July 3, I observed a white flag thrown out from the rocks in front of our en- trenchments and immediately ordered my men to cease fir- ing, when 78 men of the enemy advanced and surrendered, including three captains, two first lieutenants and two sec- ond lieutenants. At the time the white flag was raised a mounted officer, rebel, Maj. B. W. Leigh, General Edward Johnson's chief of staff, was seen to come forward and en- deavor to stop the surrender, when he was fired upon by my men and immediately killed .; Early in the morning of July
*A bullet tore an eye from its socket, but Sergeant Stratton re- covered, rejoined his company, reenlisted as a veteran, and was killed in battle May 25, 1864, at New Hope Church, Georgia.
Major Benjamin Watkins Leigh not only had the reputation of being one of the bravest and most fearless officers in Stonewall Jackson's command, but it is stated that at the battle of Chancellorsville, on May 2, 1863, when his chief was severely wounded and yet in the immediate presence of the Union forces, he used his own body as a shield to pro- tect him from further harm. That he died gloriously in the battle
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4 Corpl. John Pollock of Company H, of my regiment, ad- vanced over the entrenchments and captured the rebel flag belonging to the Fourth Virginia Regiment, Infantry, which, in compliance with orders received, was delivered to your headquarters. I went into the action with 265 enlisted men, and came out with 247, losing I man killed and 17 wounded .*
"I feel it my duty to mention the officers and men under my command, but when each and every man went forward to the contest without any exceptions whatever, I will merely say that every officer and man performed his duty manfully, every order being obeyed promptly.
"Very respectfully, your obedient servant, "WILLIAM R. CREIGHTON, "Colonel Commanding Regiment."
The Seventh Ohio had the honor of being selected to scout our front in search of the enemy, as indicated by the following report :
"CAMP NEAR GETTYSBURG,
"July 5, 1863-II A. M.
"GENERAL GEARY: I have the honor to report that, in pursuance of your order, I have this morning, with the Seventh Ohio Volunteers, under Colonel Creighton, recon- noitered the country and roads for 23 miles from the town in the directions of Hanover, Oxford, and Hunterstown. I proceeded as far toward Oxford as a house which the ene- my's picket retired from early this morning, when I received your order to return to camp. I found citizens on the roads who had come this morning from Oxford and Hunters- town.
"They report no enemy in sight along either of the roads. The general impression among the inhabitants in that vicin-
front at Culp's Hill on July 3, 1863, is shown by Colonel Creighton's official report.
*See Casualty List, p. 645.
17
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ity is that Lec's army has moved off by the Chambersburg route.
"His cavalry rearguard left a house on the Hanover turnpike, 13 miles from Gettysburg, at 9 A. M., yesterday, after removing all their wounded who could be moved on horses and in ambulances.
"Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
"W. T. FORBES,
"Acting Assistant Inspector-General."
A FORCED MARCH TO THE BATTLEFIELD.
"As we hurried along, the booming of cannon, at first scarcely heard, gradually became more distinct. Quicken- ing our pace we pushed on through clouds of thick dust which continually rolled back, enveloped and almost choked us, while the terrible rays of the sun seemed momentarily to grow more intense. Soon strong men began to stagger from the ranks and fall fainting by the wayside, but our pace was not slackened. Louder and fiercer boomed the yet distant guns, and 'Forward, men; forward!' shouted the officers. Every piece of woods we passed through was left almost filled with gasping, prostrate men; and all along the road, with no one to care for them, lay the dying, and in not a few instances the dead, who had fallen from the column ahead of us. But forward, forward! was the cry, and on, on we pushed. Blankets, tents, clothing, and even food, guns, and cartridge-boxes, lay strewn along the line of march. Two-thirds of the time our field and staff officers were dismounted, and their horses loaded down with the guns of men who had become too weak to carry them, and when at length we reached the high ground just south of Gettysburg, and the order to halt for the night was received, not over one hundred men, and but five or six officers, ap- peared in our regimental line." (Col. Charles H. Weygant. One Hundred and Twenty-fourth N. Y. Infantry, Second Brigade, First Division, Third Corps.)
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CHAPTER XXVIII.
THE RETURN FROM GETTYSBURG.
On July 5, when it became known that the enemy had withdrawn from about Gettysburg in the direction of Ha- gerstown, the Army of the Potomac at once started in pur- suit. The Twelfth Corps moved back along the Baltimore pike to Littlestown, where it remained during the next day. but getting off on the 7th, at 4.30 A. M., it covered 27 miles in the direction of Frederick City, over the same route by which it had advanced, passing that point on the 8th, to Jefferson, having seen the body of a spy hanging to the limb of a tree where he had been executed by our troops while en route.
On the 9th the command moved through Burkettsville and Crampton's Gap toward Boonesboro; camped upon the battlefield of Antietam on the 10th, and on the night of the IIth bivouacked in line of battle in front of the Army of Northern Virginia, toward Williamsport, where the Poto- mac River was bank full and General Lee unable to cross.
On the 12th moved up about a mile and on the 13th fell back some distance and began to entrench. A general ad- vance was ordered on the morning of the 14th, when it was discovered that the main force of the enemy had crossed the Potomac during the night, and that all prospect of doing him serious harm had vanished.
Pursuit was at once ordered, and on the night of the 15th the Twelfth Corps bivouacked near Harper's Ferry ; crossed the Potomac at that point the next day; reached Hillsboro on the 19th: Snicker's Gap on the 20th ; Ashby's Gap and beyond on the 23d; Manassas Gap and then along the Manassas Gap Railroad on the 24th; then through Thoroughfare Gap. Haymarket. Gainesville, and to Catlett's Station by the 26th, making camp near Warrenton Junc- tion on the 27th, where a brief rest was had.
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On the 31st Candy's brigade moved to Kelly's Ford on the Rappahannock, where the Sixty-sixth Ohio crossed the river in boats and guarded the front until a pontoon bridge was laid, when the Seventh went to their support and was on picket duty that night. When General Lee crossed the Potomac near Williamsport on the night of July 13 he was prevented by the prompt movements of General Meade, along the eastern side of the Blue Ridge, from resting and refreshing his exhausted and defeated army in the land of plenty, the beautiful and productive Shenandoah Valley, and was compelled to hasten Longstreet's corps to prevent a serious attack in flank near Front Royal while en route to Culpeper through Chester Gap, while a part of his army was forced to march by Strasburg. New Market, Luray, and Thornton's Gap, ere it could take position behind the Rappahannock, toward the Rapidan.
On August I the Seventh recrossed the Rappahannock at Kelly's Ford, and on the 2d moved some four miles toward Hartwood Church. On the 5th all sick and dis- abled soldiers were ordered to be sent to the rear. Al- though the armies under Generals Grant and Meade had won great victories at Vicksburg and Gettysburg on or about July 4, 1863, causing universal joy among all who believed in battling for the preservation of the Union of States, yet many loyal people were greatly alarmed about this time at the development and strength of the anti-prose- cution of the war spirit in the great State of New York, where threatened opposition to the enforcement of the draft was openly made, and mob spirit prevailed in places to such an extent as to be uncontrollable by the civil authorities, hence it became necessary, as a matter of reasonable pre- caution. to send armed troops from the Army of the Po- tomac to maintain peace and order and see that the law, in reference to drafting, be duly executed.
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CHAPTER XXIX.
THE SEA VOYAGE TO NEW YORK CITY AND BACK.
With the foregoing explanation, the following orders are self-explanatory :
"HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, "August 15, 1863-9.15 P. M. "MAJ .- GEN. H. W. SLOCUM,
"Commanding Twelfth Army Corps :
"The Commanding General directs that the following regiments of your command proceed to Alexandria to- morrow, under the command of Brig .- Gen. T. H. Ruger, for service, with the nature of which you are acquainted, viz: Second Massachusetts, Third Wisconsin, Twenty- seventh Indiana, and Fifth, Seventh, Twenty-ninth, and Sixty-sixth Ohio Regiments. You will please send the One Hundred and Seventh New York Regiment if you think it advisable to do so.
"The regiments will march to Rappahannock Station. where railroad transportation will be furnished them. No supplies will be taken. The transportation now with the regiments will be turned over to Captain Pierce, Assistant Quartermaster, at his depot near these headquarters.
"S. WILLIAMS, "Assistant Adjutant-General."
"HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, "August 16, 1863-10.30 A. M. "MAJ .- GEN. H. W. HALLECK,
"General-in-Chief :
"The following regiments will proceed to Alexandria to-day under the command of Brig .- Gen. T. H. Ruger, viz : Second Massachusetts, Third Wisconsin, Twenty-seventh Indiana, Fifth Ohio, Seventh Ohio, Twenty-ninth Ohio,
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Sixth-sixth Ohio, Fourth Ohio, Fourteenth Indiana, Fifth Michigan, One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Ohio. Aggre- gate strength of these regiments is about 3,800. General Ruger has been directed to report to you by telegraph on arriving at Alexandria, for further instructions, and also by telegraph to the Quartermaster-General for transporta- tion.
"The number of men already detached and who have left are as follows : August 14, Regulars and Vermont brigade, under General Ayers, 4,000; August 15, regiments, 1,800; August 16, Ruger's command, 3.800; making in all 9,200, which, when swollen by convalescents and men detached on extra duty (who will be sent as soon as possible), will make the aggregate force fully up to and over 10,000. I do not propose, without further orders, to send any more. I have sent you my best troops and some of my best officers. "GEORGE G. MEADE, "Major-General Commanding."
On August 15th the Seventh was ordered to be ready to move on the morrow.
On the 16th left camp and marched to Rappahannock Station, where it took cars for Alexandria, arriving at 6 P. M. We were paid off on the 17th, and on the 22d em- barked upon the great ocean steamer Baltic, with other regi- ments, which was novel and interesting to the great mass of the soldiers, who had never before seen a boat of such huge dimensions. On the 23d the Baltic left Alexandria under seemingly favorable auspices, but had proceeded but a few miles when she ran aground off Aquia Creek, where, despite the frantic efforts of tugs, scows, high tide, etc., she remained until I P. M. of the 27th, and then pro- ceeded on her way down the Potomac, through the Chesa- peake Bay, past Fortress Monroe, into Old Ocean, and headed for New York City. This was to the majority of those on board a delightful ride, which was only marred in some instances by exceeding nausea and paying tribute to Old Neptune.
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SEA VOYAGE TO NEW YORK CITY
On the morning of the 29th this great vessel approached New York Harbor, was boarded by a pilot, and safely pass- ing through the Narrows and past Forts Columbus and Hamilton, anchored off Governors Island, whither the Seventh and others encamped.
"HEADQUARTERS, U. S. TROOPS IN CITY AND HARBOR, "New York, August 29, 1863.
"Special Orders,
No. 40.
"The Fifth Michigan Infantry, and the Fifth, Seventh, Twenty-ninth and Sixty-Sixth Ohio Infantry, now on board the steamer Baltic, expected to arrive in course of the afternoon, will be attached to the Second Brigade, Brig .- Gen. Thomas H. Ruger commanding, and will, for the present, be stationed on Governors Island.
"Requisitions will be made as soon as practicable for such camp and garrison equipage as these regiments may need.
"By order of Brig .- Gen. Canby.
"C. T. CHRISTENSEN, "A. A. G."
The entire Second Brigade, under command of Brig .- Gen. Thomas H. Ruger in the Department of the East, in August, 1863. consisted of the Fourth, Fifth, Seventh, Eighth, Twenty-ninth, Sixty-sixth, One Hundred and Tenth, One Hundred and Twenty-second, and One Hun- dred and Twenty-sixth Ohio; Fourteenth and Twenty- seventh Indiana; Third, Fifth, and Seventh Michigan; Second Massachusetts ; Third Wisconsin, and First Min- nesota Infantry, and Second Connecticut Battery.
The draft took place in New York City on August 31st, and in some parts of the State, on September 7th, peaceably.
On September 8th the Seventh, after a pleasant week on Governors Island, reembarked upon the steamer Baltic and on the rith reached Alexandria, Virginia, once more, and
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bivouacked in the suburbs, the return trip from New York City having been made without any unusual incident.
On the 13th the return march to the front began. Marched only 8 miles.
On the 14th passed Fairfax Court House and Centerville toward Manassas.
On the 15th passed Manassas, Broad Run, and Bristow, to Catlett's; the 16th to Brandy Station beyond the Rappa- hannock, and on the 17th rejoined Geary's division near Raccoon Ford on the Rapidan.
The next day the entire corps fell in to witness the execu- tion of a couple of deserters. This was a most unpleasant and trying ordeal under any circumstances, but when the execution, as in this case, was conducted in a bungling and unnecessarily cruel manner, it was horrible in the extreme. On the 19th the entire army in that section was seriously startled and alarmed by extended firing of small arms to cur left rear, indicating for the time being a flank attack. Bugles sounded from various headquarters, aides dashed hither and thither to get troops in line of battle, when it was learned that a division of cavalry, just in from a scout, were unloading their carbines. It is to be hoped that the Recording Angel has long since torn out and destroyed for ever and ever his record of the extremely warm and positive oaths that he must have been obliged to record that evening against many of the bravest and best soldiers that ever went to war.
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CHAPTER XXX.
FROM THE RAPIDAN TO WAUHATCHIE VALLEY.
BY CAPT. GEO. A. MCKAY.
While lying near the Rapidan River, Virginia, September 20, 1863, the Seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry was inspected by Lieut. George A. Mckay, A. A. I. G., First Brigade, Second Division, Twelfth Army Corps, who found ordnance and camp and garrison equipage in first- class order and so reported. The inspection was prepara- tory to a movement to the Southwest on account of the de- feat of General Rosecrans at Chickamauga, Tennessee, and had been ordered by Col. Chas. Candy, Commanding Bri- gade. The Eleventh and Twelfth Corps, commanded re- spectively by Major-Generals Howard and Slocum, were ordered to reinforce the defeated army at Chattanooga, both corps being placed under Maj .- Gen. Joe. Hooker.
September 21 to 23, the regiment remained in camp. Oc- casionally one or more of the command would stroll down to the river to view the landscape over, and were not inter- fered with by the Southerners, providing they did not try to cross the stream.
September 24 marched to Brandy Station, Virginia. The march was a disagreeable one.
September 25. the regiment was paid off, the men receiv- ing such amounts as were left after the sutler got his share, as his bills against the soldier were always paid by the pay- master before the soldier received anything.
September 26, marched to Bealton Station, Virginia, at which place, September 27, the regiment was loaded on cars ready for a movement West. After being loaded on the cars the military superintendent would not allow the cars to go forward, as he had not been consulted as to how equi- page and troops should be loaded. He spoke to the A. A. I.
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G. of the brigade, who had, pursuant to orders from his commanding officer, loaded the troops and paraphernalia, ordering him to unload everything and everybody. Instead of doing as requested, he asked the irate railroader if the loading was not satisfactory. The answer was yes, but that no orders had been given by him and whatever had been done in consequence was wrong. The A. A. I. G. po- litely declined to do what was required and referred the worthy superintendent to his superior officer. After a while the railroader cooled off and the train was allowed to pro- ceed on its way to Washington, where there was a delay of about an hour, and the soldiers left the cars in skirmishing order after wet and dry goods. What they wanted they got.
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