USA > Ohio > Itinerary of the Seventh Ohio volunteer infantry, 1861-1864, with roster, portraits and biographies > Part 20
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The regiment remained on the train, occasionally stop- ping for coffee and provisions, until the 30th, when they arrived at Benwood, Virginia, and immediately crossed the Ohio River to Bellaire, Ohio, where they encountered for the first time a so-called "copperhead." The officers, hay- ing no regular rations distributed to them, were to a certain extent dependent on the different stoppages in transit for provisions, and went up to the hotel where several of Gen- eral Morgan's cavalry officers were on parole, and ordered breakfast. The proprietor of the hotel said that he would not feed any of Lincoln's hirelings. Colonel Creighton, who was one of the party, gave him ten minutes to get the breakfast on the table or have his house ripped up from top to bottom. Before the time allowance expired everything necessary was on the table and no blood shed or property destroyed. I do not suppose that proprietor did any more bluffing for that day, as it came very near being an ex- pensive one for him.
The regiment left for Columbus, Ohio, arriving there at 6 o'clock A. M., October 1, leaving there inside of half an hour for Indianapolis, Indiana, reaching there at 6 p. M. October 2, where a great many officers and soldiers visited the County Fair Grounds and other places where liquids were the principal product.
October 3, reached Jeffersonville, Indiana, crossing the
FROM THE RAPIDAN TO WAUHATCHIE VALLEY 267
river at once for Louisville, Kentucky. Part of the officers stopped off at the latter-named place and went to the Gault House for a square meal. They got it all right, and at the same time got left, as the train for the regiment was made up and left for Nashville, Tennessee, at I P. M., arriving there on the 4th, the missing officers putting in an appear- ance when they could get there, as on October 5 we received notice that Generals Forrest and Wheeler were on a raid in our rear, destroying property, bridges, etc. When at Tulla- homa, seeing a great cloud of dust, we imagined that they had struck us, but found out on a careful reconnaissance that it was occasioned by a drove of beef cattle for our army plodding along the road in our rear.
On the 6th were loaded on cars at 3 P. M. and ran down to Duck River, where we found the bridge destroyed and the Southern troops hovering all around us.
On the 7th marched to Wartrace, and were engaged in scouting in various directions until the 11th, when we re- turned to Wartrace Bridge.
On the 13th an election was held for Governor, and Brough received the unanimous vote of the regiment.
On the 14th returned to Wartrace, where we remained until the 27th, when we were relieved by the Third Wis- consin.
On the 28th the regiment was loaded on cars for Bridge- port, Alabama. While in transit had an accident, the en- gine and cars being ditched at Decherd, but no one injured. While stopping at Stevenson a train consisting of wagons and mules came over the mountains from Chattanooga with 100 guards. They had been on quarter rations for about three months, and looked fearfully weak and emaciated. The brother of the writer was in command and he wanted to borrow money enough to take the boys up to the hotel and give them a square meal and incidentally get one hin- self. He was told to get his men together and march them to the hotel. When they arrived there they were formed in columns of two and marched in, and were supplied with all the pork, hard tack, pickles and coffee which they could eat.
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at a cost of one dollar and fifty cents each. The writer paid the bill with the greatest of pleasure in the world, and it was worth the money to see the boys eat. Incidentally I would remark that the brother did not whack up, nor was it ex- pected either.
On the 30th we marched to Shell Mound in a heavy rain storm, reaching there cold, wet, and hungry.
On the 31st we marched to Wauhatchie, reaching there during the night, and went into camp near Gen. John W. Geary's headquarters.
November 1 and 2, part of the regiment were engaged in scouting under command of Lieut .- Col. Orrin J. Crane.
November 4 to 16, mostly engaged in trading coffee and hardtack for bacon and tobacco with Longstreet's men from the Rapidan.
November 17, Gen. W. T. Sherman's troops arrived from Vicksburg, Mississippi.
On the 22d regiments ordered to fall in and occupy the position of the Eleventh Army Corps, which had been or- dered to Chattanooga.
November 23, division partially inspected, everything found in good order.
The only casualty in the Seventh now recalled as having occurred while being transferred from Virginia to Ten- nessee happened at Grafton, West Virginia, on the 29th of September, when St. Onge Mitchell ( familiarly known throughout the regiment as "Santa") of Company B, fell under the cars and had a leg crushed.
CHAPTER XXXI.
THE BATTLE OF LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN.
BY CAPT. GEO. A. MCKAY.
Our division from the time they arrived in the Wau- hatchie Valley had gazed in astonishment on the rocky face of Lookout Mountain, and if they had been asked the question as to the practicability of carrying it by storm would have scouted at the idea. Some of our generals thought otherwise, notably Grant and Hooker. The latter stated often, that in his opinion it could be carried by a rapid movement by assaulting columns.
General Grant was also imbued with the same idea, and when all of his plans were made and the troops for which he had called for were well in hand he ordered it to be car- ried into effect.
From the time our division arrived in the valley our main duties had been scouting and picket duty. While on picket duty our men were stationed on one side of Lookout Creek and the rebels on the other, being only a short distance apart, and became quite friendly with each other, trading coffee and hardtack for bacon. corn-pone, and tobacco. While on picket duty, unless there was an advance of skir- mishers, it was very seldom that pickets fired on each other : but if there was an advance that was a different proposi- tion.
This deadlock continued until 3 o'clock on the morning of the 24th of November, 1863. when Gen. John W. Geary. commanding the Second Division, Twelfth Army Corps. received orders from Maj .- Gen. Joe. Hooker to cross Look- out Creek and to assault Lookout Mountain, marching down the valley, and to sweep every rebel from it. At that time the line of the division extended from the confluence of Lookout Creek and the Tennessee River on the left to the top of Raccoon Mountain on the right, and consisted of 141
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officers and 2,216 men present for duty. One day's rations and the usual 100 rounds of ammunition were issued to the men, when in light marching order they moved to Wau- hatchie Railroad Junction and were joined by General Whittaker, of Thomas's corps, with his brigade, consisting of 110 officers and 1,355 enlisted men, making the total ef- fective force at that point 251 officers and 3,573 men.
Crossing the railroad at Wauhatchie Junction the troops named above were marched under cover of the trees to a point back of an old mill situated about two and one-half miles from the mouth of the creek and were massed behind a hill. Drifting clouds enveloped the mountain top, heavy mists and fogs obscured the slope from lengthened vision until we reached the summit.
The creek being too deep to ford, it was bridged and skir- mishers sent across and engaged the enemy, driving them back, capturing 42 prisoners. The bridge was crossed at 8.30 A. M. Moving rapidly by a flank up the mountainside in a direct line for the palisades, arriving there, line of battle was formed by the left flank, facing the front.
The report made by Gen. John W. Geary officially to Maj .- Gen. Hooker gave the following as the formation of his division and supports :
"Cobham on the right with two regiments, Ireland in the center with four regiments, Candy on the left, in echelon, at about 30 paces' interval to the troops on the right, with the Sixty-sixth Ohio and three companies of the Fifth Ohio, in echelon, as reserve. Constituting the front line, covering the slopes from the mound of the crest to Lookout Creek. There was a supporting line 350 yards in the rear of the front line, consisting of General Whitaker's brigade, the right resting opposite Cobham's center. About 100 yards in rear of the supporting line were placed the Ninety-sixth Illinois and Fifty-first Ohio as a support of both lines.
"This formation was observed throughout the movement to the farthest point gained on the mountain, with the ex- ception of necessary changes in Candy's movements on the left."
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The artillery under supervision of Maj. J. A. Reynolds, chief of artillery for Geary's division, supported the move- ment of the infantry columns, and consisted of Knap's Pennsylvania Battery; Battery K, First Ohio Regiment ; Fourth Ohio Battery; Battery I, New York Artillery, and First Iowa Battery, the batteries being well posted in numerous commanding positions west of Lookout Creek, and when required opened on the enemy's entrenchments, shelling continuously the skirmishers and lines of battle of the enemy, doing good work, which assisted in every way the advance of the infantry.
It is with Candy's brigade (which consisted of the Fifth, Seventh, Twenty-ninth and Sixty-sixth Ohio, and Twenty- eighth and One Hundred and Forty-seventh Penn- sylvania, although the Fifth and Twenty-ninth were not en- gaged in all of the movements, being on picket duty and guarding prisoners) that I will have to do mostly, as the Seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry belonged to this brigade, of which I was an officer, and I can only answer for what I saw myself.
. The inclination of the mountain is from north by east to south by west. We swept the westerly slope from this point, about three miles south of the dividing ridge between the east and west sides of the mountain, known as Point Lookout. A heavy line of skirmishers advanced, covering the whole front of the line of battle. The flanks were pro- tected on the right by the palisade and on the left by Look- out Creek, and they could not be turned.
Shortly after 9 o'clock the whole line moved forward, the right keeping in close contact with the rugged precipice of the summit, gradually swerving our advance in an oblique direction from the creek, lengthening the line for cover on the left, changing Candy's formation from echelon to two lines.
General Geary ordered the left brigade to govern its movements by those of the front line on the right, the ex- treme left resting near the creek, the guide being the upper curvature of the mountain.
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The right, center, and right of the left brigade made a rapid advance over the steep sides of the mountain, which, breaking into numerous ravines varying from 50 to 100 feet in depth, were overcome by clambering with hands as well as feet in many places.
The enemy's rifle-pits at the base of the mountain, not far from the mouth of Lookout Creek, were carried with a rush and hurrah, uncovering the fords and allowing rein- forcements to cross, consisting of Grose's brigade of Cruft's division, Thomas's corps, and Osterhaus's division of Sher- man's corps, numbering 5,857 effectives, including officers. This reinforcement brought up the total effectives to 9,681 men.
After uncovering the fords, and the reserves gaining a footing, General Geary ordered Candy's brigade to execute a "half wheel" converging on the objective point, sweeping up the mountain at an oblique angle to the main line, head- ing for Point Lookout. After progressing about one and one-fourth miles the enemy's pickets were encountered by the right and center. Our skirmishers engaging them, they were driven on their main body within a camp covering the whole plateau in front of the left of our right and center, formidable in natural defense and seemingly impregnable with rocks, stone and earthworks, surrounded with tangled slashings. These were the advanced works of a continuous network of fortifications-rugged, natural, and artificial ir- regular polygons-within which was Walthall's brigade of Mississippians, in line of battle. Our whole line, with bayo- nets fixed. charged on the double-quick.
Regardless of the sharpshooters in the gorges and from the crest and the heavy firing in front, the men of the First, Second and Third Brigades made a vigorous assault, carry- ing the enemy's entrenchments, and the brigade laid down its arms and surrendered. along with four battle-flags. The prisoners were despatched to the rear. As soon as this was done the line pressed forward in its original formation. The obstructions met at every step showed how a small, de- termined force could have resisted a vastly superior one.
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The sharpshooters of the enemy in the gorges, trees, and on the cliffs were especially venomous, and many were killed and wounded.
The fortified approaches toward us and on a line with the overhanging ledge of the point above were occupied by a brigade of Alabamians and Georgians under command of General Moore.
Before reaching their position our right encountered the almost perpendicular pyramid of Lookout Point. As we rounded the curvature between the lower and uppermost ridges the line obliqued to the right continuously but stead- ily, as became veterans. The movement brought us to the most elevated accessible point of the mountain, short of the crest itself. While making the curve a rebel regiment was encountered and captured. Then our troops, with a yell. charged the fortifications held by the Alabamians and Georgians, killing, wounding, and capturing nearly the whole of the brigade.
During this fight the enemy opened with artillery fire from the crest, trying to enfilade our line, but could not de- press their pieces enough, although their shells and solid shot tore through the tops of the trees, the limbs and branches of which were hurled down the ravines. Shells with very short fuses were fired, but burst with trivial effect over the heads of Candy's brigade, which, unseen by the enemy, was sweeping up the steep declivity just below the palisades. Shells and hand grenades were hurled from the cliffs among the troops in the front line and their support, but were mainly ineffective.
The front line of the enemy wavered and then broke into flight, our men following with a fierce hurrah. Clouds and mists hovered over us and fogs darkened the hills below. Our troops breasted the dividing point, swept around the slope of the mountain upon the double-quick, charging the retreating foe. The completion of this movement rendered each of the long lines of works and rifle-pits of the enemy untenable.
IS
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Peters's brigade, standing behind a stone wall, engaged our troops, making things lively for us, but a sudden dash of our division carried the wall, capturing two pieces of artil- lery and hundreds of prisoners, near the Craven house.
About 500 yards beyond Craven's house, in front of the Mountain road, the enemy appeared in heavy force, consist- ing of troops from Walker's and Stevenson's divisions, and upon this column the retreating rebels rallied. Our troops engaged them at once. The enemy made several charges, but were repulsed. While so engaged the fog settled down until it was almost impossible to see or to be seen, and it continued the balance of the day.
Our troops were still striving for the old road leading from the mountain into Chattanooga Valley. with every prospect of securing it, when orders were received at 12.30 P. M. to halt and strengthen our position.
The Seventh Regiment Ohio and One Hundred and Forty-seventh Pennsylvania of Candy's brigade were thrown to the front to support and relieve the brigade on our right, they being completely out of ammunition. While here the right of the Seventh was at the palisades, and the rebel sharpshooters made it very warm for the two regi- ments for a while until they could reciprocate. At this time Col. W. R. Creighton, of the Seventh Ohio, was in com- mand of the brigade, Candy having been injured by a fall on the rocks.
Creighton's brigade relieved Ireland's brigade, and while so relieving they received several heavy volleys from the enemy, which were returned with interest. An irregular and desultory fire was kept up by the enemy during the afternoon, without any serious loss.
At 3 o'clock the rebels massed a heavy force under the cliff on our extreme right, but this was routed by tly Twenty-eiglith Pennsylvania. At 3.30 o'clock Creighton's brigade was relieved by the Thirteenth Illinois and Fourth Iowa, and at different times during the night brigades re- lieved each other.
No fires were allowed on the front line during the night,
GEARY'S DIVISION FLAG
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and the troops suffered severely from the cold. During the night provisions and ammunition were distributed to the troops.
After dark Osterhaus's division and Grose's brigade formed a junction with Geary's command near the Craven house, having captured several hundred troops while march- ing up the mountain.
Our colors were planted on Point Lookout in the morn- ing of November 25, the enemy having evacuated their posi- tion during the night, leaving camps, equipage, arms, and stores in profusion. Many stragglers from the ranks of the enemy wandered into our lines, having lost their commands during the fog.
General Geary's report shows the different positions around Lookout Mountain as follows :
"The position of the enemy on the western slope of the mountain was Walthall's and Moore's brigades of Walker's division of Polk's old corps, commanded by Hardee, the former in fortifications on the side of the mountain, about one and one-half miles from our point of crossing, the lat- ter in works, under and around the peak.
"On the eastern slope, near the old Mountain road, were two of Walker's brigades, strengthened by a portion of Stewart's command of Breckinridge's corps. One brigade of Stevenson's division was stationed in the works on top to the rear of the point.
"Brown's and Cumming's brigades of the same division were fortified about one and one-half miles from the poir. high up on the mountain overlooking Chattanooga and near Summerville, another of Stevenson's brigades was on the descent of the Nickajack trace."
1 1
"General Geary reported the capture of 2 pieces of artil- lery and 1,940 men by his command. The official report of the rebels shows a loss of 1,281 men.
"And the red field was won."*
*Sce Casualty List, p. 645.
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The following piece of poetry, written by Comrade Levi F. Bauder, of Company B, Seventh Regiment O. V. I., on the storming of Lookout, properly becomes a part of this history.
THE RIGHT FLANK AT LOOKOUT.
Chattanooga sent northward a cry of distress,
For the men of the Cumberland, famished and gaunt, Worn with fighting and vigils and tattered in dress, Manned their guns in the trenches in peril and want; For the foe closely pressed them in hostile array,
And their guns shrieked and thundered in demon-like glee,
While old Lookout's rock front, lined with soldiers in gra Threw its shadows of death o'er the blue Tennessee.
But on wings of the lightning that cry for help flew, To Sherman, to Meade, and from captain to man ;
And from Vicksburg marched Sherman's long column in blue ;
And grim Hooker's tried corps, from the swift Rapidan, Came with bread for the famished, with lead for the foe.
Gleamed Wauhatchie's sweet vale with their bayonets bright ;
Torn and bleeding, the ferry guards reeled at their blow, And dismayed up the mountain side fled in affright.
But the Bar flag still flaunted on Lookout's high peak, In defiance above the bright stripes in the vale ; And the iron shells hurtling with insolent shriek . Scarred the great antlered oaks in that beautiful dale. In the night, lines of watch-fires on Lookout's sides, Gleamed like comets bespangling the eastern sky, While the shouts from the heights in derision defied The threatened assault for the mastery.
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BATTLE OF LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN
Through the fog shroud no bugle call echoed that morn From the hills in the vale, or the mount's rocky side, But swift couriers silently mounted to ride, In the darkness, through thicket and stubble of corn, To the camps; and battalions, in whispering tones, Heard, and fell into ranks with accouterments bright ; And the strapping of knapsacks, and loading of guns, Spoke of marching and battle at dawn of the light.
Through the mist moves the long, silent column, now Like a giant snake nearing its dreaming prey Fast asleep in their huts on the mountain's brow, And no glitter or sound does the peril betray. Hear ye that? On the left flank the signal guns crash, Now the picket shots patter, the batteries boom! On the right, the troops over the mill-dam dash,
Unseen and unheard in the mountainside's gloom.
Forward the right flank ! but fire not a gun, Double-quick, double-quick, now on the run ! Gibraltar is ours if we first reach the top; A year more of war if they force us to stop! On, on, for your comrades famish for bread ; Forward, for Knoxville still trembles with dread! Up-over brushwood and rock and ravine, Routing the pickets from watch-fire and screen, Hindered by laurel-bush, cane-brake and log. Still firing no shot, but through the dense fog, Breathless, but desperate, upward we climb, For victory hinges on moments of time.
Up, to the precipice guarding the top, Not till they reach the great wall do they stop; Then, forming in battle line, onward they sweep Along the great slope of the mountain's scarred steep. Still onward, like fox hounds freed from the leash, Though the quick bullets thud in the quivering flesh- Onward they fight-till a glance of the sun Bathes with glory the flags on a battlefield won.
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And the Cumberland army, in breathless suspense, Heard the battle's fierce roar in the fog-cloud dense ; Now clearer-now fainter-no waver-now stop, Repulsed? Or held Hooker, in triumph, the top? Weak yet with fasting, but with eyes flashing fight, They watched long in vain that mist-mantled height, Till a rift in the cloud showed the mountain top's crag, And like Constantine's cross, in the sky gleamed a flag ! But which? Ah, the shout that along the line flew, As it showed first the Stripes, then the Star-sprinkled blue !
"Twas a tale of sweet love that torn banner there told, Like the star in the east in Bethlehem Old ;
'Twas an emblem of hope to that suffering host, Like the star of the North to the mariner lost ; 'Twas a signal of faith, like the beacon's bright light, Safely guiding the ship to the harbor at night : 'Twas a scepter of power ; as upheld on the heights, It unfurled its silk folds in the sight of six States ; A forerunner of vengeance to enemies all, Like the writing of old on the King's palace wall ; And from that day to this, that dear Flag of the Free, To the walls of Atlanta, and thence to the sea, To the fields where surrendered the columns of Lee, Ever fluttered in triumph. May God in His might Ever keep the old Flag in the pathway of right.
LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN. BY WM. L. KELLY.
.Forward! up the mountain, rugged and steep Our columns unfaltering, fearlessly sweep Higher and higher ; Up from the valleys gloaming beneath, Up to the batteries freighted with death, Onward they dash,
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And the mist on the mountain grows dark and thick With the battle's wild breath, and loud and quick Rifles and cannon crash, While the lines of their fire
Show the struggle grows fiercer apace.
Charge! Men of the East there, and men of the West, Charge shoulder to shoulder, and breast square with breast, And shout deep and wild as the Ocean's loud roar, When he strikes his grand hymn from the keys of the shore, To the order replies ; and streaming on high Like God's bow of promise set in the sky, Floats the flag of the free.
Brave men are swept down as forest leaves strewn ; The harvest is ripe which the demon had sown, Death revels in glee. Each brow's firmly knit, not a dastard is there,
For the blood of the slain went up in the air,
And they felt the proud words of the old Scottish chief, "To-day for revenge and to-morrow for grief." They are lost to the sight, and the pitying cloud Covers foeman and friend in its mantling shroud.
As though God from the eyes of His children would hide The hell which they make through their passion and pride. Still the roar of the battle, The musketry's rattle, The blast of the bugle, the peals of the drum, O'er the din of the strife, crying, "Come, come, come!" Sweep down wild and loud, Yet seem higher and higher.
The conflict has ended. May Heaven guard the right. May we sce the dawn clear from this tempest's dark night ; From fortress and camp an army's stern gaze Strives vainly to pierce the still deepening haze. No answer comes back on the crisp frosty air To the anguishing cry, "Is our banner still there?"
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