USA > Ohio > Itinerary of the Seventh Ohio volunteer infantry, 1861-1864, with roster, portraits and biographies > Part 8
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"Yet while we deeply mourn his death, it is some satis- faction to know the enemy paid dearly for his loss. Their disordered ranks and halting column showed clearly that his efforts were successful, although it cost his life and that of some of his men.
"No officer in line commanded more universal respect and had more of my confidence than Captain Dyer, and we mourn his loss as deeply as can any one save you and the little flock, made fatherless by his sudden death.
"My prayer is that He who holds the destinies of the universe in His hand may be your protector and a father to your orphaned children. If I can serve you in any way, you have only to command me.
"Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
"E. B. TYLER, "Col. Seventh O. V., U. S. A."
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CHAPTER XII.
THE COTTON HILL AND LOOP CREEK CAMPAIGN.
On the 29th of October, 1861, the rebels chased our out- posts on the Fayette road, down near the mouth of Great Falls Creek, and on November I appeared on the heights of Cotton Hill, opposite Gauley Bridge, with a 6-pounder rifled piece, and, with another opposite Montgomery's Ferry, opened fire with shot and shell. General Cox was directed to put pieces in position, which replied to their fire.
The running of the ferry was discontinued during the day, for fear it might be struck, and the supply trains were passed during the night, to avoid exposure. Generals Schenck, McCook, and Benham were up New River, where they had gone into camp after the battle of Carnifax Ferry, while General Cox was at Gauley Bridge.
General Rosecrans planned to send General Benham up Loop Creek. to get in position on General Floyd's flank and rear, and when General Schenck had crossed New River, Benham was to cooperate, and together attack Floyd's flank and rear and ruin his command.
On November 2 orders were issued to General Benham to move by the mouth of Loop Creek, 7 miles below Gauley Bridge, and Colonel Tyler at Charleston was directed to send 500 picked men to join his command. On November 4 the detachment of the Seventh Ohio, under command of Lieut .- Col. William R. Creighton, left Charleston by boat and reached the vicinity of Loop Creek that night. The only mishap during this movement was the loss overboard of Corporal John D. Dicks of Company I, Seventh Ohio, who was never again heard from. On the 6th the Seventh crossed to the mouth of Loop Creek under General Benham.
On the 7th the regiment marched up Loop Creek by a mountain path, frequently crossing the stream until it
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reached the forks of the creek some 8 or io miles up, and halted at Taylor's farm.
Lieutenant-Colonel Creighton was in command, and pick- eting and scouting (Lew. R. Davis of Company A, Edwin Hart of Company D, and Joseph E. Clarke of Company E. scouted and met with hairbreadth escapes) well toward General Floyd's camp, made report to General Benham. (On the 8th General Rosecrans mentioned the receipt of a report from Lieutenant-Colonel Creighton from up Loop Creek. )
On the 9th General Schenck had small boats ready to cross his troops over New River, but the incessant and se- vere rain storms had filled the river, bank full, which made the current so strong that the boats were useless.
General Benham having been ordered to place 1,000 men at Cassidy's Mill, only three miles from General Floyd's camp, the Seventh and Forty-fourth Ohio marched by a mountain path over a very high range (which suggested Bonaparte crossing the Alps) and reached that point on the night of the 12th. At 4 P. M. of the 13th General Benham advanced to Dickerson's farm, where he was joined at II P. M. by the troops from Cassidy's Mill and pushed on through darkness, rain, and mud, in pursuit of General Floyd's retreating army.
Also on this date. General Schenck having been unable to cross New River to operate upon General Floyd's right flank, moved down to Gauley Bridge, and crossed over the Kanawha River, but instead of joining in the pursuit, went into bivouac on Cotton Hill.
At 4 A. M. of November 14 General Benham's force of some 2.700 men reached Hawkin's farm, 5 miles beyond Fayetteville, made a brief halt for breakfast upon two hard- tack per man, then pushed on after the retreating foe.
The Thirteenth Ohio had the advance, and about 9.30 A. M. came up with some rebel cavalry, when a skirmish ensued. A little later the enemy made a brief halt near McCoy's Mill to cover the escape of their train, when Cap- tain Schneider's rifled pieces came up and opened, while the
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Seventh and Thirty-seventh Ohio Regiments, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Creighton, advanced along a ridge, opened fire, and sent the enemy flying toward their main column. Again the pursuers gave chase, and at 4 P. M. reached Kenton's farm, 15 miles from Fayette toward Raleigh, where a halt was made, and a message sent to General Schenck to come up and join in the pursuit. Gen- eral Schenck consulted General Rosecrans, who replied that "he feared that his men would suffer," and ordered General Benham to return.
The order to return reached the head of the pursuing col- umn at II P. M. of the 14th, in the midst of another down- pour of rain. After some delay, in hope that the storm might cease, at I A. M. of the 15th this wet, mud-be-drag- gled, hungry and exhausted force began the return march, over a road which, for depth of mud, was never again wit- nessed by the men who participated in it.
At 4 A. M. a halt was made at McCoy's Mill for a couple of hours, and then, with an almost uninterrupted march, the column moved on to and through Fayette, out some three miles toward Cotton Hill, where a halt was made for the night. A small supply of rations was drawn, which, with the fresh pork contributed by comrades who had remained behind, made an enjoyable feast. That night, wrapped in wet clothing and blankets. the Seventh bunked down to sleep on the wet ground, in chill air and under a cloudy sky, and in the morning awoke to find that a kind Provi- dence had, during the night, added a blanket of about four inches of snow, to keep them warm.
General Rosecrans intended and expected that General Benham would provide well for his command. He in- structed him to establish himself firmly up Loop Creek, see that his men were supplied with rations from three to five days ahead, and make them comfortable. He also sug- gested that while every other man carried a canteen filled with coffee, there should also be a good supply of whiskey and quinine bitters, to keep off malaria and mountain fever.
However, the absence of anything like a road up Loop
IIO SEVENTII REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Creek, the incessant rain and raging floods rendered even the few pack-mules we had almost unserviceable.
General Rosecrans was astounded when General Benham mentioned lack of tents, exposure, and absence of rations. and suggested that such of his force as lacked shelter and rations be withdrawn until provision could be made for sheltering and feeding them, little knowing that this meant the withdrawal of his entire command. Although General Rosecrans found fault with General Benham because he did not perform impossibilities, and even went so far as to order him in arrest for not obeying, and executing orders, he said at the close: "The troops have suffered from the climate severely. They have submitted to many privations with cheerfulness and performed their duties with alacrity."
He also made the following report :
"CAMP GAULEY, VA., November 15, 1861.
"I have to report that General Benham pursued the rebels 15 miles beyond Fayette, overtook a rear guard of infantry and cavalry; and having no train or provisions to enable him to go farther, desisted from pursuit, and is returning to Fayette.
"ROSECRANS."
General Benham said of the skirmish at McCoy's Mill :
"I however soon discovered a ridge, that made out from our rear to the right, that commanded, at close range, the left of the enemy. I sent my aide to direct Lieutenant- Colonel Creighton with the Seventh and half of the Thirty- seventh Ohio Regiments to pass down this ridge to attack their left. When this attack was made it was entirely suc- cessful, and, with the first concentrated volleys of this com- mand of about 750 men, uniting with the fire of the Thir- teenth Ohio, the whole force of the enemy retreated in con- fusion with the last of their wagon-train."
General Benham thus wrote of the condition of his men when ordered to return from the pursuit :
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COTTON HILL AND LOOP CREEK CAMPAIGN
"As the men were still, or more than nine-tenths of them, without any shelter in a most drenching rain or suc- cession of violent thunder showers, many without their blankets, which had been thrown off in the ardor of the chase, and as they were still standing around their fires, unable to sleep in the rain, upon the open ground, the greater part of the command, though most unwilling to give up the pursuit, felt that if it was so ordered that it would be best for themselves, after a few hours' halt (it could not be called rest), to retrace their steps that very night rather than remain standing in the cold and wet until morning, with only the prospect of their return. We ac- cordingly commenced our return (from Keton's farm, 15 miles out from Fayette, on the road to Raleigh) soon after I o'clock A. M., and reaching McCoy's Mill about 4 A. M., we rested until 6 A. M. of the 15th, when we moved onward. and with a single halt the command reached this place (Fayette) soon after noon, being still in excellent spirits, their main disappointment being in not having been per- mitted to continue the pursuit of the rebels. We are at this hour partly in houses, but a great number are out in the open air in the village, where it is now snowing upon them in their bivouac, which, added to their really great ex- posure, will, I fear, half annihilate their effective strength.
"I have now but to report the noble conduct of the forces during the most toilsome march, where through all their great exposure in the storm, upon the route, and in bivouac. without shelter against the rain or snow that fell in each of the last three nights, not a murmur was heard by me, but every duty was performed with the greatest cheerfulness and alacrity, and the principal officers of the command were worthy of the men they lead.
"Lieut .- Col. Creighton, of the Seventh Ohio. exe- cuted the maneuver from our right flank which decided the rout at McCoy's Mill, in the most gallant style."
"H. W. BENHAM. "Brig .- Gen. U. S. Vols."
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KILLING OF COLONEL CROGHAN.
Report of Col. William S. Smith, Thirteenth Ohio In- fantry :
"We had proceeded but about 4 miles, when my skir- mishing company, under command of Captain Gardner, came suddenly upon a scouting party of the enemy's cav- alry, numbering 40 men. A sharp skirmish ensued, during which Colonel Croghan was mortally wounded. Several of his men, as he stated, were also wounded, though they escaped, leaving their horses to the number of five.
"The Colonel was left at a farmhouse by his men, and treated with the utmost kindness by our assistant surgeon, Dr. Chase, up to near the time of his death, which took place at 2 P. M. on November 14, 1861."
Gen. John B. Floyd said :
"Near this point [McCoy's Mill] a skirmish occurred be- tween scouting parties, in which I am grieved to inform the Department, Lieut .- Col. St. George Croghan was killed.
"Colonel Croghan was one of the most gallant officers in the service. His bravery and gentlemanly demeanor, which characterized him to his latest breath, rendered him dear to all who knew him.
"His death has cast a gloom over the spirits of the entire army. In this no one shares more sincerely than I do.
"JOHN B. FLOYD, "Brigadier-General, C. S.A., "Commanding Army of the Kanawha."
UP LOOP CREEK. (Chicago Inter-Ocean.)
"General Benham was severely censured once upon a time because he did not go up Loop Creek, according to orders, and cut off Floyd's retreat from Cotton Mountain. People no doubt imagined that it was a very easy thing to
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go up Loop Creek, but then the people never had any ex- perience in that direction.
"Very early in the first Kanawha campaign a strong de- tachment of troops made a reconnaissance up Loop Creek Valley. The march commenced at dark and was conducted so quietly as to give it an air of mystery.
"The stream comes into the Kanawha through a little gap that is very deceiving. The boys moved along for a few hundred yards in high spirits. Then there was a stream to cross. This was Loop Creek, and shoes and stockings were taken off, and barefooted the men waded through the cold water in not the best of humor. A quick march of a few hundred yards brought them to another barrier of water. This was Loop Creek. The boys made jokes about the 'loop,' and stripping off shoes and stock- ings waded the stream again. A short walk and then there was a halt in front. What now? 'That durned old Loop Creek again,' said a man in front, and then the heaviest swearers went into action in a very spirited manner.
"As the men stopped to take off their shoes, a Virginian acting as guide said. 'I would not do it, men. The creek will be in your way all night,' and so it was. It was crossed thirty-six times before morning, the men wading recklessly through without removing shoes or stockings; but as the high lands were reached the stream became smaller and less troublesome."
On the 16th, marching over Cotton Hill to the Kanawha River, that night the Seventh slept upon the steamboat Marmora, which carried them to Charleston the next day, and the Cotton Hill and Loop Creek campaign was over.
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CHAPTER XIII.
ROMNEY AND BLUE'S GAP.
Upon returning to Charleston the usual routine of camp life was resumed until November 28 and 29, when the regiment received its first visit from the paymaster, and was paid off. With the retreat of General Floyd toward Raleigh, the forces under General Rosecrans at Gauley Bridge were mainly sent to other military departments, and on December 6 Brig .- Gen. Jacob D. Cox came to Charleston and assumed command.
On the 9th the Seventh was ordered to prepare to move, and on the next day, embarking upon the steamers Fort Wayne and Stephen Decatur, ran down the Kanawha and up the Ohio River, reaching Parkersburg on the 11th, about noon. That evening the regiment took cars over the Balti- more & Ohio Railroad, and after an all-night ride dropped off at Oakland, Md., for breakfast, then moved on to Cum- berland, passed Patterson Creek to Green Spring Run, and disembarked.
On the 16th Sibley tents were drawn in lieu of the smaller ones we had been accustomed to, and were much enjoyed.
ROMNEY.
On the 17th the Seventh marched to Romney, 16 miles away, on the South Branch of the Potomac, carrying knapsacks, and that night were in good condition to ap- preciate and enjoy the thoughtful comradeship of the mem- bers of the Fifth Ohio Infantry when they invited us to coffee.
This was Colonel Dunning's regiment from Cincinnati, and it was the beginning of an attachment between these organizations, which grew and strengthened day by day during the more than two years that they were brigaded together. They marched and fought and shed their patri-
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otic blood together at Kernstown, Port Republic, Cedar Mountain, Antietam, Dumfries, Chancellorsville, Gettys- burg, and on the Atlanta campaign, and together were wel- comed by the city of Cincinnati when they returned from the front in June, 1864. Better comrades and truer soldiers than the members of the Fifth Ohio Infantry never went to battle.
Colonel Dunning was commander of the post at Romney with some 8,000 men of General Kelly's command, but this point was important only as tending to protect the B. & O. R. R. and threatening Winchester.
Camp Tyler was established, and some of the severest picket guard duty of the war engaged in, where infantry- men were sent out on post, in a rough and rugged country, from 5 to 7 miles from camp. The men were on duty every other day, and so far out that when relieved they were unable to reach camp until the afternoon.
Romney is surrounded by mountain ranges where wild game abounded, as was demonstrated on the 22d, when James Kelly of Company E killed a fine buck while on picket, regardless of consequences.
THE SKIRMISH AT BLUE'S GAP.
All was quiet and serene on the South Branch of the Potomac until January 6, 1862, when Colonel Dunning was directed with a part of his command to move upon the enemy.
A part of the Seventh Ohio, under command of Maj. John S. Casement, left camp a little before midnight, and proceeded with the rest of the force in the direction of Win- chester, but as other regiments had the advance and did all the maneuvering and fighting, the Seventh merely went along as company and did not fire a gun. Colonel Dun- ning made the following official report of this affair :
"ROMNEY, VA., January 9, 1862.
"GENERAL: In obedience to your orders by telegraph re- ceived at these headquarters January 6, directing me to
116 SEVENTH REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
make a detail of six companies from each of the following regiments, Fifth Ohio, Fourth Ohio, Seventh Ohio, First West Virginia, Fourteenth Indiana, and by special request of Colonel Carroll, six companies of the Eighth Ohio, with one section of Baker's Parrott guns, Daum's battery; the Ringgold Cavalry, the Washington Cavalry, and three com- panies of the First West Virginia Cavalry. Owing to sick- ness and large number on picket duty the response was small and this whole force did not exceed 2,000 men. The com- mand assembled about II P. M. and by 12.30 o'clock the column was in motion for its destination at Blue's Gap.
"The fall of snow with the disagreeable and cold night rendered it difficult for the troops to march, but by 7 o'clock in the morning we reached a hill within about a mile of the Gap. On this hill the Parrott guns were planted, and from it the enemy could be seen preparing to burn the bridge. I then ordered the Fifth Ohio to advance by double quick. The order was responded to with a shout, and in a few minutes the advance of the regiment was on a bluff near the bridge, and with a few shots compelled the rebel force to retire from the bridge to the Gap. The column was then ordered to advance rapidly on and over the bridge, and the Fifth Ohio was deployed up the mountain to the left and the Fourth Ohio to the right.
"A sharp action then ensued, first on the left of the Gap and then on the right.
"Our force pressed on, driving the enemy from the rocks and trees, behind which they had taken position, and to the top of the mountain to the left, where they were found in rifle-pits. A charge was ordered, but before bayonets could be fixed the rebels had left the rifle pits and were fleeing down the mountain in haste to the back of the Gap.
"At this time the remaining detachments of infantry pressed through the Gap and the victory was complete. The cavalry was then ordered to charge, which was done promptly, but the enemy had by this time scattered to the mountains. rendering the charge of little avail.
"The enemy left behind them 2 pieces of artillery
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(16-pounders, one a rifle gun), their caisson, ammunition, wagons, and 10 horses; also their tents, camp equipage, provisions, and correspondence. Seven prisoners were taken and 7 dead bodies were found on the field. Not one of my men was either killed or wounded.
"I take pleasure in stating that our officers and men seemed to vie with each other in the promptness with which they obeyed orders, and all advanced with the bravery of veteran soldiers.
"Finding the mill and hotel in the Gap were used for soldiers' quarters, I ordered them to be burned, which was done; but I am sorry to say that some straggling soldiers burned other unoccupied houses on the return march.
"The force of the rebels was stated by the negroes and citizens at from 800 to 1,000, but their papers show that rations were drawn for 1,000 men.
"We marched to the Gap, fought the battle, and returned to camp, (a distance of 32 miles ) within 15 hours, bringing with us prisoners, cannon, and other captured articles.
"Respectfully submitted, "S. H. DUNNING,
"Colonel Fifth Ohio Infantry, "Commanding post of Romney. "To Brig .- Gen. KELLY, "at Cumberland, Md."
It may be proper to remark that Blue's Gap and Hanging Rock Pass was one and the same place, the former taking the name from Colonel Blue, who resided there, and the latter from an immense volume of rock which jutted out into the narrow pass, some feet above the ground, much like an immense bay window.
By reason of the all-night march and broken rest, the distance traveled, the muscular effort necessary to enable one to walk over the frozen, snow-covered and very slip- pery road, this march to Hanging Rock Pass and back was so disabling to many of the soldiers who engaged in it that they were unable to return, and were brought into camp during the next 48 hours upon sleds, drawn by horses, im- pressed along the route for that purpose.
CHAPTER XIV.
LEAVING ROMNEY.
On January, 10, 1862, the troops at Romney were ordered to prepare to move, and that night, in the midst of a severe rain and sleet storm, they marched down the river until early morn, then, after a brief halt, passed through Spring- field to Frankfort, where coffee was made, then on to Pat- terson's Creek near Cumberland, and went into camp.
This camp was located on low ground saturated with water, and not only became very muddy but materially im- paired the health of the command. Brig .- Gen. F. W. Lander had been given command of the troops recently operating at Romney and charged with the repairing and protection of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. His com- mand was also increased by the addition of new regiments just arriving at the seat of war, and among them the Twenty-ninth and Sixty-sixth Ohio Infantry, with which the Seventh was brigaded and camped, marched, and fought for more than two years, in some of the most important campaigns and battles of that great war. The usual rou- tine of camp life prevailed until January 28, when part of the Seventh Ohio and Seventh Indiana Regiments ran down by rail to the South Branch of the Potomac and confiscated and brought back one thousand bushels of corn.
On February 5 the Third Brigade of Lander's division, under command of Col. E. B. Tyler, moved by rail some twelve miles to French's store, disembarked, and went into bivouac as if to remain during the night, but after dark was again set in motion, the Seventh having the advance, and marching by a mountain road, then up the Little Cacapon River a distance of 15 miles, after daylight halted near the Winchester turnpike, while the cavalry scouted toward Romney, to learn that General Jackson's forces had evacu- ated that place some days before and retired to Winchester.
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LEAVING ROMNEY
While waiting for the cavalry to return, many of the sol- diers were so worn and exhausted by the all-night march that, regardless of the sleet storm then prevailing, they sank down upon the ground and slept for hours, until their cloth- ing froze to the earth, requiring some effort to get the same loosened, when the brigade resumed the return march. General Lander on this date (February 6) said:
"Romney is ours again. Advance guard at Little Cacapon. Colonel Gavin of the Seventh Indiana and Act- ing Brig .- Gen. Tyler, of the Third Brigade, are entitled to commendation for energy and vigor. A cold sleet storm is prevailing."
This fruitless raid being over, this force moved down Little Cacapon until night, then bivouacked upon a farm in the little valley, where a couple of good-sized ricks of unthreshed wheat, yet in sheaf, provided excellent material for dry warm beds that were luxurious.
The next day this command moved on until it reached a large plateau with various names, such as Pine Levels, Philip's Cross-Roads, Breezy Heights, Camp Starvation, etc., where the Third Brigade bivouacked in the open for the space of 6 days, exposed to snow, extreme cold and high winds, without the semblance of any shelter whatever save roughly arranged sheds made of poles and covered with pine and cedar boughs, before which immense pine- wood fires were kept blazing all night long in order that some sleep might be obtained. With the exception of picket duty the entire command gave its time during the day to the collection of fuel for the night, and it would now be interesting to know how many acres of pine forest the Third Brigade burned while stationed there.
Great was our joy when orders came on the 13th to march to Pawpaw on the railroad, where the brigade halted that night.
On this date also General Lander decided to surprise an outpost of the enemy at Bloomery Gap, between Pawpaw and Winchester, and that night, bridging and crossing the
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