USA > Ohio > Itinerary of the Seventh Ohio volunteer infantry, 1861-1864, with roster, portraits and biographies > Part 21
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280 SEVENTH REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
But silent and grim as a giant at rest, With the sun on his brow and the clouds on his breast, The mountain stands lone, From base unto crest.
Now grandly the cloud-drifts are lifted on high, And Lookout stands crowned with the smiles of the sky. What means the wild cheer from the legions beneath ? Look on high, and be answered-thou man of weak faith. See from the highest peak proudly unfurled
Waves our "star-flowering banner-the hope of the world"-
There where the eagles their eyries have made,
There where the lightning and Storm King have played, It waveth forever.
Its glory is shed o'er the living and slain, Who baptized it anew in life's ruby rain, Deserted it never.
And while for these heroes sculpture and song
The tale of their valor through the ages prolong,
That river, their poet, in its waters sings by,
That mountain, their monument, points to the sky Forever and ever.
Louisville, March 1, 1864.
CHAPTER XXXII.
MISSIONARY RIDGE.
BY CAPT. GEO. A. MCKAY.
Shortly after 10 o'clock on the morning of the 25th, our division, preceded by Osterhaus's and Cruft's divisions, marched down the mountain toward Missionary Ridge, upon the left of which the rebel troops withdrawn from Lookout and Chattanooga valleys during the night were posted, extending the Southern lines, their left resting on the ridge, within 6 miles of Lookout Mountain.
Moving into Chattanooga Valley. the divisions took the route of the rebel retreat on the road to Rossville, crossing Chattanooga Creek, after being delayed nearly three hours in repairing the bridge partially destroyed by the enemy. Our advance was disputed by artillery fire from the gap, but the enemy were driven back and one gun captured.
When near Rossville our column turned to the left and followed the base of Missionary Ridge in a northeasterly direction, the ridge running northeast and southwest. The roar of cannon and musketry was continuous where the left of our army was engaged.
General Geary reports :
"Cruft advanced to reach the crest and sweep its line, Osterhaus moved down the eastern base, and our division and five batteries under Major Reynolds advanced along the western base, parallel to the enemy's front, and toward their right so rapidly that there was considerable of a gap between Cruft's advance and ours, as his movements were bitterly contested.
"Creighton's and Cobham's brigades were sent forward along the base in columns of regiments. Ireland supported the artillery which had opened upon the flank and rear of the enemy's lines, forcing them back, pressed by Cruft on the ridge and Osterliaus on the eastern line.
282 SEVENTH REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
"The artillery pouring in a heavy fire our division was formed in a column of brigades, with the Seventh deployed as skirmishers, Creighton in front, and Cobham in the sec- ond line, and scaled the craggy side of the ridge, moving obliquely to effect a junction with Palmer's right, just gain- ing the top half a mile north of us and two miles from the gap."
The troops of our division were filled with enthusiasm at the sight of the rebels retreating and the sound of inces- sant cannonading and musketry, and had to be held in leash to keep their movements in touch with other commands. The lines on the top of the ridge rushed madly forward, cheering wildly. The echoes from below exceeded in vol- ume those above, but all pressed forward gallantly.
On all sides were found arms and equipments abandoned by the fleeing enemy, now on the run, occasioned by the pressure from our division on their flank and in the rear by our artillery. Our skirmishers advanced, firing rapidly, followed by Creigliton and Cobham up the steep and cragged sides of the ridge.
The ascent was steep and difficult to overcome, but it was done at last. Our division gained the summit, Johnson's division of the Fourteenth Corps the adjoining cliff on our left. Our division holding at bay a rebel brigade trying to escape, the junction was completed. We held the left of the ridge at 6 P. M., together with Stuart's brigade of Breckin- ridge's corps. The whole army was successful and Mission- ary Ridge was ours.
General Geary reports :
"The combined movements on the left gave us many prisoners and several pieces of artillery. Maj .- Gen. Hooker was personally present and he was greeted with prolonged cheering by his victorious troops. Pursuant to his orders we descended to the western base of the ridge and bivouacked in the enemy's winter quarters. Several hun- dred prisoners were captured during the night, besides those captured during the day."
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MISSIONARY RIDGE
At 10 o'clock on the morning of the 26th, our division marched through Rossville Gap in a southeasterly direction. We were in rear of Osterhaus's division and were followed by Cruft's division of the Fourth Corps. West Chicka- mauga Creek was crossed, the infantry on a foot bridge, the horses swimming. The artillery, unable to cross, was forced to wait for a pontoon bridge on the way.
The panic of the enemy was evidenced by burnt and burn- ing trains and supplies on all of the routes over which the troops were marching. Abandoned caissons, limbers filled with ammunition, broken wagons, arms and equipments were visible on all sides. All the bridges had been destroyed by the enemy as they retreated, although pressed closely by our cavalry and infantry. Hundreds of stragglers from the enemy's rearguard were captured.
General Geary reports :
"About dusk we arrived at Graysville. While waiting for the construction of a foot bridge over Pea Vine Creek, our advance struck the rearguard of Breckinridge's com- mand. Our division formed in line of battle on both sides of the road. Advancing, we captured three guns of Fer- guson's battery, all artillerists, and a portion of the infantry supports, making four guns of this battery captured on the retreat. The main body retreated in panic."
We passed Pea Vine Creek and Chickamauga Swamp at IO P. M., when it was ascertained that the enemy were in force on Pigeon Hills and skirmishing with Osterhaus's ad- vance. Creighton's brigade was moved to the front, doub- ling on Osterhaus's troops, forming line on a road on the level below the hills, at right angle with the Ringgold road, their right resting on the latter.
Cobham's brigade was in line 300 yards to the rear. Our skirmishers were thrown to the front, scaled the hills, and drove the rebel rearguard from the ridges. We bivouacked for the night at the foot of Pigeon Hills, 4 miles from Ring- gold.
284 SEVENTH REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
THE BATTLE OF RINGGOLD.
BY CAPT. GEO. A. MCKAY.
At daylight of the 27th, Osterhaus's division on the right, our division in the center and Cruft's division on the left, marched by a flank over Pigeon Hills and other ranges cap- turing many prisoners while advancing.
Osterhaus's division commenced skirmishing with the enemy's rearguard in the town of Ringgold as we ap- proached the creek. With accelerated pulse and pace we followed the creek down and crossed it upon the toll bridge northwest of the town. At 8 o'clock we passed through the town, under a heavy fire of musketry from the bridge beyond. Several of our men were wounded. Just beyond, the Western & Atlantic Railroad ran through a gap in Tay- lor's Ridge, running in the same general direction (north and south) as Missionary Ridge, but much higher and more precipitous, and well covered with timber upon its summit.
Before our arrival the whole of Bragg's army had passed through the gap, leaving Cleburne's division of Hardee's corps as rearguard upon the ridge, supported by General Gist's division, to dispute our advance and enable their trains and artillery to escape. General Cleburne extended his lines both ways from the gap. General Osterhaus at 7.30 formed his lines at the foot of the ridge, and covered by lines of skirmishers he assaulted the enemy under a heavy fire.
Shortly after 8 o'clock. Osterhaus being warmly engaged, General Geary ordered Creighton's brigade past Osterhaus's left, which it unmasked about a quarter of a mile, and it was formed about three-quarters of a mile from the gap parallel with the railroad, in echelon; the Sixty-sixth Ohio, Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania, Seventh Ohio, and One Hun- dred and Forty-seventh Pennsylvania "with orders to scale the mountain, gain the summit and if possible attack the enemy in flank, and to charge with vigor along the ridge."
As soon as Creighton's command moved under orders to the left, Cobham's brigade was brought up and massed be-
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MISSIONARY RIDGE
hind a large stone depot on the confines of the town toward the ridge, and held in that position for an emergency. Ire- land was halted in reserve 400 yards back in the main street of Ringgold.
Creighton, pursuant to orders, moved rapidly, marching in echelon across a large open field to the foot of the ridge under a severe fire from the summit. The echelon move- ment was here abandoned, the regiments advancing until the brigade formed a single line-Sixty-sixth Ohio on the right, Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania on their left, Seventh Ohio on their left, and the One Hundred and Forty-seventh Pennsylvania on the extreme left.
Under a galling fire from the heights 500 feet above, Creighton steadily ascended the steep sides of the hill, de- termined to carry the ridge at all hazards. By his orders the men advanced with fixed bayonets until within close range, when the whole line was ordered to fire upon the enemy on the summit. Volley after volley was poured into the hosts above, and their return fire was deadly in the ex- treme.
The fatigue of climbing was fearful and the assault was slow. General Geary ordered "Creighton to make a final attempt to carry the ridge, sheltering his troops as much as possible. While so doing, he continued the assault, his men delivering their fire with precision as they advanced."
The Seventh Ohio, on the right of the One Hundred and Forty-seventh Pennsylvania on the extreme left, was compelled in its advance to move through a ravine, through which it was rapidly ascending, when a terrific enfilading fire from the enemy opened upon them. Unflinchingly the regiment moved forward toward the top of the mountain, firing steadily, some of the men being killed on the summit, the regiment as a unit being within 25 yards of it.
Colonel Creighton in this movement of the brigade marched with his regiment, Lieut .- Col. Orrin J. Crane, com- manding. Crane was killed near the top of the ridge, and the men forced to retire.
Creighton rallied the regiment and tried to reach the body of Crane, crying out that they must carry off the body, even
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SEVENTH REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
if the charge failed; but it was impossible, the men had done all that men could do, and they were ordered to retire. which they did slowly and sullenly. While retiring the writer was shot and Creighton mortally wounded, and they were borne off the field together, Creighton dying within six hours thereafter.
The loss to the regiment in this charge was 12 officers killed and wounded out of 13 present for duty, and 74 non- commissioned officers and privates, being one-half of those present in the battle.
The One Hundred and Forty-seventh Pennsylvania re- tired at the same time with the Seventh, and both regiments were halted about half way down the mountain, where they were joined by the Sixty-sixth Ohio and Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania. The brigade retained its position until the enemy were routed.
This veteran brigade, the heroes of many well-fought fields, had for two hours and a half done all that brave men could do, sustaining the concentrated fury of battle against an enemy overwhelmingly superior in numbers and in an almost impregnable position.
During the action Carlin's brigade of Palmer's corps arrived and formed on the railroad in rear of the First Bri- gade, in reserve.
Osterhaus's division became heavily engaged, and Cob- ham's brigade was sent to his support. Double-quicking, they crossed the railroad under a severe fire, taking position on a mound on the left of the gap and railroad, and the enemy were checked.
The sharpshooters of the enemy were very active, and our skirmishers were sent out to meet them, the main line lying down.
Ireland's brigade was ordered to the front, formed in echelon of regiments, en masse, behind the stone depot.
The battle on the front line was desperate, and at 10.40 A. M., under a concentrated fire of artillery and infantry, Osterhaus on the extreme right was forced to give way. Ireland was ordered to reinforce him on the right. He did so magnificently, although his line was swept by grape,
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MISSIONARY RIDGE
canister and musketry. Crossing an open field he moved to the left along the Catoosa Creek toward the gap, form- ing line in the gap bottom, his right resting on an old barn, and the left on the railroad, joining Cobham's right. The ridge on both sides of the gap was lined with sharpshooters of the enemy, assisted by artillery.
Ireland was a first-class officer and handled his men well, repulsing the enemy, and retained his position until the arrival of our batteries at noon under command of Major Reynolds, who wheeled one section of Knap's battery into position on Ireland's right and one section of Landgraeber's to the right of that. Opening fire, they silenced the rebel guns and drove back the infantry.
General Geary states in his report that "another section of Knap's battery, under his immediate orders, opened fire, near our left, upon the enemy massed in front of Creigh- ton's brigade, compelling them to retire."
Several regiments of Osterhaus's division scaled the mountain, flanked on their left by Creighton's brigade.
Ireland advanced into the gap, capturing two flags, one the guidon of the enemy's battery; and a great number of prisoners were captured when the ridge was carried.
Detachments were sent out to bury the dead and collect together the wounded. Quite a number of rebel dead were found in front of Creighton's position, showing that his brigade had attended strictly to business while engaged in fighting the enemy.
All prisoners, as well as our wounded, were sent to Chat- tanooga November 28.
Our division remained at Ringgold until December I at 2.30 A. M., when they marched to Lookout Valley, arriving there the same day.
General Geary in his official report wrote in the highest terms in regard to Col. W. R. Creighton and Lieut .- Col. Orrin J. Crane, stating that they were two as brave men and thorough veterans as ever commanded in the field, and to speak of Creighton and Crane was at once to personify all that was gallant, brave and daring.
288 SEVENTH REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
In the face of the guns every officer and soldier who marched up the mountainside, toward the ridge, in that charge of Creighton's brigade was a hero.
Oh! the wild charge they made,
Not a man dismayed. Into the valley of death, Into the mouth of hell, Marched the First Brigade.
It is now evident that if Cobham's and Ireland's brigades had been formed in line of battle with Creighton's, the ridge would have been carried with a rush. We would have out- flanked them, not they us. Or if the charge had been held in abeyance until the arrival of our artillery there would not have been so much blood shed.
General Geary reported that 119 officers and 1,870 en- listed men were present for duty in his division at Ring- gold, and his casualties as 24 officers and 179 enlisted men. Of which loss the Seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteers lost 12 officers and 74 men, being nearly one-half of the total loss of the division, and the heaviest loss of any regiment there .*
The effectives in Osterhaus's and Cruft's divisions amounted to 5.670 officers and enlisted men. The loss in killed and wounded I am unable to state, as I have had no way of ascertaining; but in. certain regiments of Oster- haus's division they suffered severely.
Carlin's brigade of Palmer's corps was present with others, but what their numerical strength and loss were I am unable to state, although I have every reason to believe the loss was slight on account of being on the reserve.
Every soldier present did his duty well, no matter where placed by his superior officers.
A HEROIC INCIDENT.
When the Seventh Ohio left its camp in Wauhatchie Val- ley to engage in what became the Lookout Mountain, Mis-
*See Casualty List, p. 646.
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MISSIONARY RIDGE
sionary Ridge and Ringgold campaign, two men from each company were detailed to remain behind to guard the camp equipage, and it so happened in Company C that Charles F. King and Joseph S. Cleverdon were selected, much to their dissatisfaction, as they preferred to go with the regiment. However, some time after the regi- ment had left camp, comrades who, on account of illness, had been permitted to return came in, when King and Clev- erdon left the property in their charge and pushed out hur- riedly to get into the ranks ere the battle opened. When they reached their company Lieutenant Jones severely cen- sured them for leaving camp without his permission, and contemplated ordering them back, but their entreaties pre- vailed and they were permitted to remain. These comrades fought together and escaped injury until the regiment reached Ringgold, where, well abreast with the advance they had almost reached the crest of Taylor's Ridge in the midst of the foe secreted behind trees and rocks, when King said, "Boys, let's fix bayonets and charge them!" and while in the act fell dead, while the bullet intended as Cleverdon's death warrant shattered his right arm near the shoulder, and he too was placed hors de combat, becoming a cripple for life.
ID
CHAPTER XXXIII.
BACK TO WAUHATCHIE AND BRIDGEPORT.
Although there was no fighting about Ringgold after November 27th, Hooker's command remained in that vicin- ity until December Ist, when the return march to the camps in Wauhatchie Valley was made.
The severe losses at Ringgold had so depleted the ranks of the Seventh that great depression fell upon the few re- maining officers and men, which never again seemed to be fully obliterated.
Captain E. J. Krieger, one of the most fortunate officers, so far as casualties went, having escaped injury in the mael- strom of battle during the Lookout Mountain. Missionary Ridge, and Ringgold campaign, assumed command of the regiment and led it back to camp, where he was later on re- lieved by former Capt. Fred A. Seymour, who had resigned on April 17, 1863, but who, when he heard of the death of Colonel Creighton and Lieut .- Col. Crane, obtained a com- mission as major and at once came to the front and as- sumed command. However, in so doing he became very unpopular with a majority of his officers and men, who made it very unpleasant for him until he resigned.
The Seventh remained in camp in Wauhatchie Valley until January 4, 1864, when, with the rest of the brigade, it marched for Bridgeport, Alabama, reaching that point the next day, where it remained until the opening of the great Atlanta campaign. At that time Bridgeport, by reason of the uncompleted railroad bridge across the Tennessee River there, was the terminus of the railroad route and a place of some military importance. With good quarters, sufficient supplies and light duty, the stay of the Seventh while there was altogether pleasant and enjoyable.
On or about February 22 Capt. Samuel McClelland, one of the oldest, bravest, and best captains of the regiment,
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who had been severely wounded in battle at Ringgold, was commissioned lieutenant-colonel, much to the gratification of his men, and assumed command, when the following or- ders of the day were issued :
"HEADQUARTERS SEVENTH REGIMENT OHIO VOL. INF., "BRIDGEPORT, ALABAMA, February 24, 1864.
"GENERAL ORDERS No. 2.
"Until further orders the following orders of the day will be strictly observed :
Reveille and Roll Call, 6 A. M.
Surgeon's Call and Police duty, .7 A. M.
First call for Guard Mounting, 8.45 A. M.
Guard Mounting, .9 A. M.
Company Drill,
IO A. M.
Recall, II A. M.
Dinner, . 12 M.
Adjutant's Call, 4.30 P. M.
Dress Parade,
. 5 P. M.
Retreat and Roll Call, .6 P. M.
Tattoo, 8 P. M.
Taps, 8.30 P. M.
"By order of
"SAMUEL MCCLELLAND, "Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Regiment. "Official : GEORGE D. LOCKWOOD,
"First Lieut. and Acting Adjutant."
About this time many of the volunteer organizations were veteranizing. i. c., having served two of the three years for which they had enlisted, they were offered $402 bounty and a thirty-day furlough to reenlist for a term of three years, or the war, and many of them did so. The members of the Seventh however, as a rule, although importuned by Gen- erals Slocum and Geary and others, declined. expressing a preference to serving out their original three-year term. before contracting for another, although quite a number of
292 SEVENTH REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
the members of Company F, with now and then a member of other companies, did so. These comrades left Bridge- port for home on or about March 6, and returned on April 6, after having most thoroughly enjoyed their bounty and leave of absence. On April 4, 1864, under orders from the War Department, the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps were consolidated, to be known as the First Corps, but was sub- sequently changed at the request of General Grant to the Twentieth Corps.
This corps consisted of four divisions commanded by Generals Williams, Geary, Butterfield, and Rousseau. The latter being on detached duty, never joined the command. The corps badge was that of the Twelfth, a five-pointed star, the color of the three divisions being red, white and blue. Requests made by Generals Hooker, Howard, and others that the new corps be known as the Twelfth Corps were unheeded. On April 12th, although under orders, vet with a view to recreation and adventure, General Geary with a picked command-of which the Seventh Ohio was a part-embarked upon the steamer Chickamauga at Bridge- port, for an expedition down the Tennessee River, of which he made the following report :
"HEADQUARTERS SECOND DIVISION, "TWELFTH ARMY CORPS, "BRIDGEPORT, ALA., April 16, 1864.
"GENERAL: I have the honor to report progress and results of an expedition down the Tennessee River, made in pursuance of orders of the Major-General Commanding. under date of April roth instant. We steamed from Bridgeport at 2 o'clock on the afternoon of the 12th, hav- ing on board and in two scows alongside, the Seventh and Sixty-sixth Ohio; detachments of the Twenty-eighth and One Hundred and Forty-seventh Pennsylvania, and one sec- tion of Knap's Pennsylvania battery. in all about 800 men, with ample supply of ammunition, and ten days' rations.
"I manned a 12-pounder howitzer and a small mountain howitzer upon the boat. These additional pieces proved
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BACK TO WAUHATCHIE AND BRIDGEPORT
very serviceable. We passed down the river by Island and Widow's Creeks and Caperton's Ferry, Coon Island, and Coon and Mud Creeks, Bellefonte Islands and Riley's Creek. At 8.15 P. M. we arrived at Larkin's Landing, when we halted for the night. I here found the Fifty-fifth Illinois and two sections of artillery. and the post com- manded by Lieut .- Col. D. C. Coleman, Eighth Missouri. with whom I communicated, and learned that the rebels had a continuous chain of pickets from Lebanon to Guntersville, where Captain Smith's force of 100 men picketed. Start- ing at 6.50 A. M. on the 13th, we passed through the pon- toon below Larkin's Ferry. Reached Seven-Mile Island at 7.40 A. M. and found a mail route across the head of it. We broke up the line by sinking the boat used for it, moored in the bushes. Ran up Town Creek and Short Creek, find- ing two scows and a canoe. Then proceeded to Gunters- ville, where we arrived at 10 A. M. Rebel pickets fell back. I opened artillery from the three decks of the boat upon main force, which took refuge in town. We occupied the town, captured mail and boats, one a large ferry-boat. Enemy fled. At 11.30 A. M. we passed Port Deposit, and Paint Rock at 12.15.
"When passing Flint River, where the enemy had a post. they discharged several volleys at us from places so shel- tered that they could not be seen. Some of their balls passed over the heads of the officers on the upper deck, and several entirely through the boat. Two men of the Sev- enth Ohio were wounded, one through the face and one in the head. Two of the rebels were picked off by my sharp- shooters. We put in at Whitesburg at 2.30 P. M. opposite two rebel forts, which offered no molestation.
"Post garrisoned by Fifty-sixth Illinois, Fifth Ohio Cav- alry and section of Sixth Wisconsin Battery.
"At 4.30 P. M. we left Whitesburg, and discovered, a short distance above Indian Creek, a column of in- fantry, about two strong regiments, moving rapidly in a small vale on the south side toward a high rocky bluff. well
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