USA > Ohio > Auglaize County > Saint Marys > Ninth reunion of the 37th Regiment O.V.V.I., St. Marys, Ohio, Tuesday and Wednesday, September 10 and 11, 1889 > Part 3
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I was then placed upon a stretcher and carried to the rear, where the boys gathered around me expressing their warmest sympathy. My leg was bandaged by Surgeon Billhardt and I was carried to a log cabin in the ravine, below the point from which wo made the advance. I remained upon the porch with other wounded until dark, when I was placed upon a stretcher and taken some distance over the hill, where I was put into an ambulance and taken to a point on the Tennessee river near
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the mouth of Chickamagua creek. Here I was laid upon the surgeon's table, and after an examination of my wound the surgeon informed me that my leg was so badly shattered that amputation was necessary, or words to that effect. 1 objected, but my objection was not heeded; I was then chloroformed and on awakening felt for my leg but it was gone.
The next day I asked the surgeon for the bullet, and he told me it was in many pieces, being an English explosive rifle ball. After remaining here about ten days, I was with others placed in an ambulance and taken to the field hospital at Chattanooga. At this time I was 17 years of age.
As my regiment belonged to the 15th Army Corps, I will conclude this account of my personal experience at Mission Ridge with a brief extract from General Sherman's official re- port of the operations of his troops during that campaign, as follows:
In reviewing the facts I must do justice to the men of my command for the patience, cheerfulness and courage which officers and men have displayed throughout in battle or on the march and in the camp, for long periods, without regular rations or supplies of any kind, sometimes barefooted, without a murmur. Without a moment's rest after a march of over 400 . miles, without sleep for three successive nights, we crossed the Tennessee, fought our part of the battle of Chattanooga, pur- sued the enemy out of Tennessee, and then turned more than 120 miles north and compelled Longstreet to raise the seige of Knoxville. I cannot speak of the Fifteenth army corps without a sceming vanity; but as I am no longer its comman- der I assert that there is no better body of soldiers in America than it. I wish all to feel a just pride in its honors."
After our removal to the Field Hospital I was about to . lose my faithful nurse, Comrade Michael Conely, of the fifty- seventh Ohio, who had been assigned elsewhere. I felt so bad- ly when Comrade Conely informed me that he was thus .. assigned, that I wept. When the surgeon in charge learned of my great attachment for my nurse, he continued Conely on
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duty in my tent, and I was tenderly cared for until February, when I was able to use crutches. About this time the wound- ed, who were able to set about were sent to Nashville, and I was obliged to bid Comrade Conely good-bye. I remained in the hospital at Nashville about a week, when we were sent to Brown's hospital at Louisville.
Desirous of returning home as soon as possible, I had early applied for a discharge from the Army, but did not ro- ceive it until May 1, 1864, it being dated April 25. My failure to get it sooner was a great dissappointment to me, as I was anxious to get back to see my only sister, then very ill, and whom I had not seen since leaving home in 1861. She died about a month before my discharge came.
As my regiment was returning to the front after their veteran furlough, and passed through Louisville the day I was starting for home, I had the pleasure of seeing the boys for the first time since the battle of Mission Ridge, and for the last time in the service of Uncle Sam. I then took a boat for Cin- cinnati. Having been informed by Capt. Shoening that my comrades had most generously provided a purse for supplying me with an artificial limb, I made arrangements for such while in that city and reached Maumee early in May, 1864, after an absence of nearly three years.
My comrades, the old scenes have passed as a panorama before me as I have attempted to give you some of my obser- vations and experiences during those memorable days of 1861 to 1864, and I thank God, that it was His pleasure to permit me, in the ranks of the thirty-seventh Ohio, to give my humble service in defense of the grandest and freest Republic human eyes have beheld.
Song-Solo. LIEUT. FRED. KRUMM.
Address-"From Mission Ridge to Larkinsville, Ala." BY COMRADE WILLIAM SCHULENBERG.
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COMRADES AND FELLOW CITIZENS :-
In taking up the narrative of personal recollections of the
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war, beginning with the Battle of Missionary Ridge, at which point Comrade Kountz, who preceeded me, concluded, I beg leavo to go over a small portion of the same ground already taken up by Comrade Kountz, for the reason that the most active part that I took in the attack on Missionary Ridge began with the crossing of the river the night previous to the attack, which has already been explained. To effect the crossing a detail of men from the different regiments of the 15th Army Corps was made, who in the opinion of the officers, had some experience in boating, for the purpose of rowing the pontoons with the troops across. The detail for this purpose of Co. C, of our regiment, consisted of myself and Comrade Christian and Fred Roettger. The pontoons were taken on wagons to the Little Chicamango River, hidden from view of the enemy across the river, under command of Major Hipp, as already ex- plained. The undertaking was a daring one, and to many it appeared preposterous and foolish that it should be undertaken at all, for they could not believe that it was possible for us to cross the river unobserved by the rebels and that any of the occupants of the boats would ever step upon the rebel shore alive, except as prisoners; but it proved that they were mis- taken and that those who undertook it had the capability to suc- cessfully carry it out. Everything being in readiness we em- barked upon the pontoons, and for two nights kept our positions in them awaiting orders to move, which we did on the third night, with Major Hippin the lead, and we following with the 55th Illi- nois and other regiments on board. Rowing down to the mouth of the Little Chicamango we entered the Tennessee and crossed about five miles below, under cover of the night, with the result already described by Comrade Kountz, up to the time of his being wounded and brought out.
The battle continued in all its fury and the heavy cannon- ading soon set fire to the leaves on the ground and burning some of the unfortunate comrades who were wounded and un- able to escape the terrible doom that stared them in the face. When the fight had somewhat subsided we began to look around
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after the missing ones of our company and found quite a num- ber unaccounted for, which we naturally supposed were wounded and lying near the rebel works among the burning leaves, my brother being among the missing with comrades Herbst and Meyer. After disarming, we cautiously advanced towards the rebel works as a rescuing party, using the standing timber as much as possible for protection, and here let it be said to the credit of the rebels, that even in this hour of excitement they remember- ed that we were on a mission of humanity, for as soon as they ob- served that we were unarmed and the work in which we were engaged, one of the rebel officers invited us to advance, promis- ing us that no harm should befall us as long as we came unarm- ed and engaged in removing our wounded comrades, and passed the order along the line of his men in our frount not to fire upon any who were thus engaged. We took the officer at his word and advanced unmolested and brought out all we could find. In the meantime our missing comrades were attending to the wounded whom they had carried to a place of safety in a deep ravine below the ridge out of reach of rebel bullets. The battle continued and finally the enemy under cover of the night re- treated and left us masters of the field, and then only did I learn the extent of the damage done, which far exceeded my esti- mate and probably never would have known what horrors and sufferings resulted from the Battle of Missionary Ridge had it not been for a little circumstance with which I became con- nected the next morning, after the escape of the rebels, when orders were given to persue them at once. I was requested by Major Hipp to proceed to a certain place designated by him to look for his field glass which he had left hanging on a fence near the battle field the day before. I proceeded on my errand and approached an open field which presented to my view a scene in which the horrors of war were depicted in all its de- tails and one that I have oftener recalled to my mind then any- thing to which I was an eye witness during the whole war.
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` There was spread out before me several acres covered with dead and dying soldiers who had been gathered from the battle field
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by a large force of men detailed for that purpose. A number were engaged in digging long and deep trenches, in each of which some forty or fifty were laid to rest; others were pre- paring them for burial and tying cards to them for future ref- ference, on which their names, company and regiments were written if known. A number of them were yet alive, who had been left upon the field for dead or had for the time being been abandoned by the field physicians as hopeless cases, to die upon the field, as they were over worked in attending to those who in their opinion had any show for life. These poor comrades were lying prone upon their backs, some merely breathingand unconscious of their fate, while others in their agony would at times roll over upon each other and bring fe th heart rendering groans and prayers for death to relieve them. I departed from the scene with a heavy heart. I found the field glass and re- turned to the regiment and a little later we were on the march in pursuit of the enemy, with three days' rations, but for want of a sufficient supply, we drew only a half ration of crackers and coffee. It was also recommended to reduce the weight of our knapsacks as much as possible, and in consequence many of us carried nothing but a rubber and woolen blanket besides what clothes we wore, which we afterwards regretted, for before we returned to where we could get supplies, we were nearer naked then clothed, nor were we accompanied by a provision train, as there was neither train or provisions at the time of our starting in pursuit, to carry along, and we had to subsist upon what the country afforded and what little the enemy in their flight had been anable to carry off or destroy. We caught up with a portion of Bragg's Army the first night and captured part of his provision train loaded with corn meal which we ap- propriated to our own use and for a short time the slapjack business flourished as long as the meal held out. After that our bill of fare was not noted for quality nor quanity; wit's all the efforts of ourselves and foraging party, who were not slow in getting anything if it was anywhere to be had, we could "hardly gather enough to keep soul and body together; at times
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we were so hungry and weak that we could not sleep for want of something to cat, at least that was the condition I found my- self in at different times. One night a company of Cavalry camped near us and when all were apparently asleep I slipped up to one of their horses and robbed it of part of its feed, an ear of corn, and made a meal of it, which enabled me to sleep the balance of the night. With all our hardships and fatigue we managed to keep up with the rebels, and frequently had to urge them a little, but they managed to keep far enough ahead to pre- vent any serious conflict.
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The incidents on the route were many, but not of a note- worthy nature. The weariness of our march was at times broken by the good naturedness of some of the officers and men by insti- tuting a little wholesome sport to drive away the blues, whenever an opportunity presented itself. Promiment among them was General Morgan L. Smith, who never lost an opportunity to dis- play his good humor, when by so doing he could add anything to cheer his weary followers. On one occasion when riding at the head of our column, he stopped short, commanded halt, stack arms, open ranks, rodo through the center and informed us that a hand to hand combat was awaiting us within a few min- utes, and to at once prepared ourself for the fight; that he had spied a rebel in a thicket just ahead of us whom he wanted eap- tured, and that he was positive that he would resit and perhaps make his escape if we failed to do our full duty, and as he want- ed him alive we were to surround the ticket without arms to prevent any one from shooting him. We deployed as skir- mishers closing in on the center where he bad proceed- ed us and pointed out to us a little gray squirrel on a little sapling, surrounded by numerous other little saplings with no large trees near, by which he could make his escape. We began to chase the so-called rebel from sapling to sapling when finally after a great deal of yelling, stone and club throwing, the squirrel dropped to the ground and was quickly picked up alive by one . of the boys, when one of the comrades nsk the General how he knew the squirrel to be a rebel; he replied that he could tell by
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the uniform he wore. We again took up our march with re- newed spirit, and at night pitched our blankets for tents, (we bad none) in and around the barn yard of a farmer. The old fellow sized us up and no doubt concluded that the way we eyed his hen-house, that there was danger that his remaining chickens might be persuaded to desert him during the night, unless something was done to prevent our coming in contact with them, and at once attempted to play the Union racket, by claiming to be a Union man, and entitled to have his property protected during our stay, and inquired of me to whom he must apply for a guard. I referred him to General Smith, who just then came riding along. He halted the General and after a bow that almost doubled him up, stated his case. The General listened very attentively for a minute and then replied in his rough manner: "What, what, fight and guard you both, no sir." "But Gen- eral, I am a Union man," said the Farmer. "Union hell," re- plied the General, "you are all Union men when you want pro- tection and your cussed . ebels are not about." "Please General> only protect the chickens; my wife is sickly and likes nothing better then chickens." "Dont doubt it" replied the General, "if there is anything that my boys like better then chickens, it is more of them; am I right boys," addressing himself to us who were standing around. We replied in the affirmative, and the General rode off without furnishing the guard. How the chick- ens fared you can imagine.
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We resumed our march and followed the enemy to within a few miles of Knoxville, Tennessee, when General Burnside had been exchanging salutes with the rebel General Longstreet who had on the 28th day of November attacked Burnside at Knoxville, and was repulsed with great slaughter, after which he withdrew, two days before we arrived to relieve Burnside.
General Sherman and other officers rode into Knoxville and finding it in full possession of our forces and the enemy gone, ordered a return, and the about-faco march again. On our return from Knoxville our course led us over a portion of the Smokey Mountains of East Tennessee, and we again had to
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subsist upon what the country afforded, which however was no improvement over our previous route. A pint of corn meal a day was a large average. The roads were rough and rocky and our foot-gear began to give out, and our clothes compared fav- orably with Nasby's suit after he deserted the Union Army and joined the rebels, who exchanged his new blue suit for one of gray which consisted chiefly of holes with here and there a rag around them; very appropriate for the summer season, but rather airy'at the time, as it was December and very cold. We finally . arrived at Chattanooga almost naked and nearly starved; the weather was intensely cold and the ground frozen and it became , impossible for those without good foot-gear to proceed any further overland, and yet many miles from our destination; but no dispair, remembering that where there is a will there is a way, wo were not long in finding the way. We took possession of a number of pontoons that were anchored at Chattanoga upon which the foot sore were embarked, taken down the river to the : mouth of Mud Creek, up the creek to Bellfoute, Alabama, where we were again joined by the rest of the army, who had taken the overland route. I having made the trip on the river as one of the orsman detailed for that purpose, we arrived there almost a day in advance of the troops on foot.
Here we went into camp without shelter of any kind and nothing to eat. This was on the New Year's night of 1864, so well remembered by the people of the North, as the coldest night that ever opened the door of a New Year. It must not be supposed that it was as cold in Alabama as it was in the . North here, nor must it be forgotten that the cold wave of 1864 had visited the Southern states more severely than any had ever done before, and that spending the night in the open air hugging our little camp fires, blinded with the smoke of green wood, that we had to use for want of any other, was anything but pleasant. The next day we made good use of our lungs in yelling for hard-tack and sow.belly whenever a Commanding General came in sight, but it was of little avail. The officers tried their best to get provisions, but were unable to get any-
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more then just enough to keep soul and body together. The second day our Regiment was ordered to proceed up the, rail- road some eight or ten miles, to pull down by hand a crack- er train, that for want of a locomotive could not otherwise be brought down. The order was received with delight and was readily obeyed. The 37th Regiment was never. very slow in charging upon anything, much less a cracker train.
It was not my lot to accompany the Regiment on this pleasant expedition, having been detailed to do picket duty near the camp. They returned with the cracker train a little after dark, the same day, and the distribution of the crackers . began soon thereafter and amounted to three crackers for every two men. When the roll was called for drawing our rations it was found that my brother Ben and Comrade Wmn. Wiedman were missing. I made inquiries of what had become of them, but no one knew anything about them anymore than that they had been in ranks all day and were not missed until after dark. I drew my brother's portion of the crackers in addition to my own, and returned to my post on picket. An hour or so later, I heard the approach of some one cautiously coming through the timber towards me. The night was dark, and nothing could be seen five feet away. I waited until the object came within the reach of my gun, locating it by the sound of the breaking of twigs and underbrush, through which the object was coming, drew up my gun and commanded "Halt, who comes there ." the answer came quick enough, but not in the usual form of "A friend with the countersign," but instead "Yes, who comes there. If you knew that the comer bad something to cat you wouldn't be so particular about, who , comes there." I recognized the voice of my brother and al- lowed him to advance without any other countersign. He was accompanied by Comrade Wideman, each bearing on their backs some dark object which they dropped at my feet and upon examination, I found in their rubber blankets a box of crackers that had in some way deserted the cracker train. That night we attended a surprise party-surprised our inner- man.
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We soon afterwards again broke camp and proceeded fur- ther. and stopped at Larkinsville, Alabama, as we supposed for the winter, and began to build shelter of whatever material we could find and before long some of us were in comfortable quar- ters; when we were again called upon to abandon them, after a short stay. During our stay there we made a scouting tour among the mountains on the other side of the Tennessee River, the home of the Moonshiners, and spent a few days among them inspecting their stills and the proof of their highwines, which proved strong enough to knock the pins out from under some of the inspectors, so much so that they imagined they heard the command of "Lay down" and governed themselves accordingly, and when the command was given to fall in some of them had fell in so much that it was with difficulty to get them to obey the command. General Smith came along and amused himself by assisting in getting them into line, and whenever he found one that he could not persuade to get up, he would detail two men to raise the drowsy comrade to a sit- ting position and have the men rub his ears with all their might, and if the first application failed to have the desired effect, he would order a second, which would generally bring them to their feet. The next day, while stopping on the way side for rest the General rode up and inquired how we all felt after the charge on the highwine the day before ; he was told that we were ready to make another like charge. He then re- marked that he hoped we would all re-enlist. This was at a time when efforts were made to re-enlist by regiments whose term of service was drawing to a close. He was informed that if he himself would stay and guarantee that the highwine would hold out, we would all re-enlist and see the game ont. This remark seemed to please him and he promised to stay with us and do the best he could. After our return to Larkins- ville from this expedition, we broke camp and returned to Cleveland, Tennessee, where a large majority of the regiment re-enlisted for three years more or during the war.
While at Cleveland I was informed that in conformity
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with an order from the War Department, I, with Major Hipp and three others of the regiment, had been assigned as trans- ferers of substitutes from the State of Ohio to the seat of war, and to hold myself in readiness to start for Columbus, Ohio, and report myself for duty ; but before we started Northward we again returned to Larkensville, Alabama, where I shortly afterwards, in company with the other comrades assigned for that purpose, took leave from the regiment. We arrived at Columbus, in due time and reported for duty. The next day after our arrival I found myselfreturning to Chattanooga, Ten- nessee, with a car load of substitutes, of which a large major- ity were Canadians ; who were at the time pouring into the States from Canada and entering the service as substitutes, on account of the large sums of money that were being paid for substitutes. Upon my arrival at Chattanooga I learned that the 37th Regiment had passed through a few days before, on their way home on a Veteran Furlough for thirty days and be- fore I could return to Columbus they would be enjoying the happy welcome among the dear ones at home. I longed to join them and share their happiness ; and upon my return to Columbus I made application for a few days leave of absence. I stated my case to Major Skills, commandment of Tod Barraks, under whose charge I was and he informed me that it would give him pleasure to grant my request if it was at all possible but under the state of affairs he could not do so at present. . The Barraks were over crowded with substitutes who were sorely needed in the field and he had not force enough to trans- fer them as rapidly as they should be and that he had already assigned me a squad with which I was to leave that day and that perhaps on my return the chances for a short furlough would be better; and so I was doomed to content myselt with imagination of what a glorious time my comrades were having at home. .
Finally after three trips south I obtained a three days leave of absence, which allowed me one day at home, as the other two were taken up in coming and returning. On my
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arrival at home I found a hearty welcome and enjoyed my lit- tle furlough with great satisfaction and on the following day again bid adieu to home and friends, and returned to my post at Columbus, and again entered upon my duty of transfering substitutes.
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The regiment's thirty days furlongh having expired a few days after my visit home, they returned to the field for duty. On their return to the field Major Hipp passed through Colum- bus for the purpose of having himself and the rest of us re- lieved from transfering substitutes and return to the field with the Regiment. He succeeded in so far as himself and thì . other three were concerned, who happpened to be in Columbus at the time, and joined the Regiment. I being away on a trip South was left behind, and on my return Major Skiles refused to re- lease me and I was continued on the force for nearly seven months, always on the road to and from the seat of war. Fin- ally I was relieved and assigned to a desk in the forwarding office at Tod Barraks in Columbus, Ohio, to work on muster roils; which position I held to the end of my term of service, which ended with the close of the war, and returned to my home with the satisfaction of knowing that Victory was ours and proud of having been a member of the 37th Ohio Vol. Infantry.
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