USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > Reminiscences of the Cleveland Light Artillery > Part 3
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It was nearly a month before any supplies of cloth- ing and camp and garrison equipage were received. About the middle of May, Captain O. M. Poe, of the Corps of Engineers, United States Army, was sent by Gen. George B. McClellan to inspect the Cleveland Light Artil- lery with a view to its being ready for service, at a moment's notice. Capt. Poe expressed himself as greatly pleased with the command and the drill, discipline and soldierly bearing of its members. He assured Colonel
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Barnett that it should be thoroughly equipped without further delay. There seemed good reason to hope that at length there would be something besides mere promises. A few days later this was partially realized by the ar- rival of a quantity of clothing, which made the men feel more like soldiers, even though it was shoddy- and very poor shoddy at that. It is a fact that the garments were of such poor stuff that a week or two of wear was sufficient to finish them. They had to be thrown aside out of a decent regard for the usages and proprieties of civilized people. While wearing these clothes the men would break for their quarters and hide themselves if ladies entered the camp. There also came a lot of kettles, pans, and camp utensils of various kinds. These were heartily welcomed, as the boys had been forced to make all sorts of shifts, with such articles as were kindly furnished them by the people of Marietta.
About this time another idea appears to have effected a lodgment in the minds of the authorities at Columbus, and that was that horses were quite essential for field artillery. A stirring up by Gen. McClellan caused a dispatch to be sent to Col. Barnett, authorizing and di- recting him to proceed at. once to mount the regiment- or "battery," as it was termed, for such only it really was-by purchasing horses in the vicinity of Marietta. A day later came the following, which will be of interest as a relic of the early days of the war:
Adjutant General's Office,
Columbus, May 25, 1861.
Special Order No. 244.
Col. James Barnett: Upon receipt of this order, if you have not previously acted upon telegram sent this even- ing, you will purchase for your battery 76 horses, upon the best terms you can, putting them under the best discipline for prompt action.
From advices received from Judge Putnam it is ex- pected that you can purchase for a sum not to exceed from 75 to 110 dollars each. The army limit I under-
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stand to be 120. You should not exceed $100 at these times, unless in special cases. Consult the citizens to whom you have letters and report your proposals by telegraph.
By order of Commander-in-Chief,
H. B. CARRINGTON, Adjutant General.
To enable Colonel Barnett to carry out this order the sum of $10,000 was placed to his credit by the State of Ohio, in a Marietta bank, out of which the horses were to be paid for as fast as purchased. On the same day the above order was received, came also the following telegram, which threw Camp Putnam into a quiver of excitement and caused a wild rush into the region round about to look for horses :
Headquarters Dep't of the Ohio,
Cincinnati, May 26, 1861.
To Col. Barnett:
Expedite the mounting of your battery and report to me when ready for service.
G. B. MCCLELLAN, Major General U. S. A.
Six or eight of the best judges of horseflesh in the battery were immediately sent out to scour the country. Whenever a suitable animal was found that could be bought at a fair price an order upon Colonel Barnett was given by the buyer to the seller, stating briefly the sort of animal purchased and the price that had been agreed upon. These orders were promptly paid by Colonel Barnett with checks upon the bank. A few sample orders are given below. They were written on cards, leaves torn from memorandum books and odd bits of paper of every variety of size, shape and color:
Col. Barnett,
Please pay H. Sheets one hundred dollars for one daple gray horse. F. W. Pelton.
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Col. Barnett,
Please pay to C. W. Putnam one hundred and seventy dollars ($170) for one sorril gelding and one sorril mare.
John Newton.
To Col. Barnett,
Pay Mr. O. Pattin the sum of one hundred 100$ dollars in Ohio money for one iron grey horse, weight eleven hundred, six years old, fifteen hands high, wich we ar a going to keep with us. Sargt. Gruninger want to keep him to ride and send the livery horse home.
T. R. Wells.
Col. James Barnett,
Please pay Wm. Lamb one hundred and sixty dollars for two sorrel mairs, 160$. Henry Faring.
These orders, besides being of historical interest, go to show that correct orthography is not essential to the purest and loftiest patriotism. The "mairs" for which the last order was given were accepted, although of the wrong sex to comply with army regulations, which re- quires that horses purchased for the cavalry and artil- lery service shall be of the masculine gender. Only males, of the equine as well as the human race, are con- sidered to be fit for war.
Within two days the required number of horses was obtained. All hands were busy "breaking them in" to their new sphere of usefulness. Trained horses are only second in value to trained men for artillery service. When it comes to "standing fire" there is as much dif- ference in horses as there is in men. Some animals ap- pear to have a plentiful supply of "sand" and display an intelligent courage that is almost heroic, while others become sadly demoralized under fire and are totally un- manageable.
Meantime the air was full of rumors of projected cam- paigns into the enemy's country in which the Cleveland Light Artillery was to participate. Something fresh in this line was circulated through the camp every hour. No two of these "grape vines"-as the boys learned later
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CLEVELAND LIGHT ARTILLERY.
to call them-were alike, and they sufficed to keep every- body in a state of furious agitation. The artillerymen had a consuming desire to do something that would help to put down the rebellion. Like all new troops, at every stage of the war, they were impressed with the idea that their mission was to fight somebody, and they chafed at the weeks of inactivity in camp. While it might not be strictly true to say that any of them were anxious to test the truth of the somewhat apocryphal statement that "it is sweet to die for one's country," it may safely be recorded that they were eager to go on the war- path, and as to the rest they were willing to take the chances. An order to move was daily expected and the utmost activity prevailed in the work of getting every- thing in perfect readiness to respond at once to the summons.
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By this time an infantry force had reached Marietta, consisting of the Fourteenth Ohio Volunteers, Colonel James B. Steadman, and the Eighteenth Ohio Volunteers, Colonel T. R. Stanley. The Fourteenth had been drilling for three weeks at Camp Tayler, in Cleveland. It came with full ranks, completely armed and equipped for service. The Eighteenth had not yet received arms and equipments, but these were promised at an early day. In those days a regiment of infantry meant a thousand men, and not a mere skeleton of two or three hundred, such as were common later in the war, when the ranks had been decimated by disease and the deadly storm of battle. The Fourteenth Ohio reached Marietta on the 24th of May and the Eighteenth on the following day.
The rumors of forward movements at length assumed definite form. It became known that a campaign was about to begin across the river in Western Virginia. On May 27th the following dispatch was received :
Cincinnati, Ohio, May 27, 1861.
To Col. Barnett:
Upon the requisition of Col. Steadman you will supply
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CLEVELAND LIGHT ARTILLERY.
him with a detachment of two guns, with the proper of- ficers and men.
G. B. MCCLELLAN, Major General.
On this day the Fourteenth Ohio Infantry went by boat to Parkersburg, Virginia-the state of West Virginia had not then been formed-being the first Union force to occupy that place. Col. Steadman took possession without meeting any opposition worthy of mention. It was now reasonably certain that the artillery would very soon follow to take part in the campaign. Every man was directed to hold himself ready to be up and away at a moment's notice.
CHAPTER III.
THE CAMPAIGN IN WESTERN VIRGINIA.
Picturesque dreams of mighty conflicts and fields of glory disturbed the slumbers of those in Camp Putnam during the night of May 27th. Nor were they far out of the way, for before another sunset, part of the artillery would be en route for "the front." Early on the morning of the 28th a telegraph messenger handed to Colonel Bar- nett a dispatch which read as follows:
Parkersburg, Va., May 28, 1861.
To Col. Barnett:
Send immediately to this place two companies of artillery, with their pieces, horses, and three hundred rounds of ammunition. JAMES B. STEADMAN,
Colonel Fourteenth Reg't, O. V. M.
Colonel Barnett answered this telegram, informing Colonel Steadman that the battery was entirely destitute of ammunition for field service. A supply was hourly expected and upon its arrivai the detachment would be sent forward with all possible dispatch. In the after- noon Colonel Steadman replied as follows:
Parkersburg, Va., May 28, 1861.
To Col. Barnett:
If you can send two of your companies with their pieces do so at once. The presence of the men and guns will have a good effect. Send forward as many of the Eighteenth Ohio Infantry as are armed and equipped. I want them to garrison this place. These are General Mcclellan's instructions.
JAMES B. STEADMAN, Col. Com'd Fourteenth Ohio.
During this day there was a fusillade of telegrams from all sources, among which were the following:
Cincinnati, Ohio, May 28, 1861. To Col. Barnett:
Two hundred rounds of solid shot and one hundred
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rounds of canister will be shipped to you from Colum- bus this evening. As soon as you receive it detach two pieces with an officer and complement of men with am- munition to go forward and report to Col. Steadman at the burned bridge on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad beyond Parkersburg.
G. B. MCCLELLAN, Major General.
Columbus, Ohio, May 28, 1861.
To Col. Barnett:
Obey implicitly every order from General Mcclellan. Telegraph me when you move a company. Keep me ad- vised of all your movements. Clothing and supplies go by your Quartermaster.
H. B. CARRINGTON, Adjutant General.
These telegrams kept the members of the Battery in a continual fever of excitement, which grew hotter every hour. In reply to Colonel Steadman's second dispatch Colonel Barnett telegraphed him the substance of Gen- eral McClellan's dispatch, and informed him that the two companies would go forward the next day. Camp Put- nam was greatly disturbed by the question as to which two of the six companies should constitute this detach- ment. All were eager to go, apparently saddened by the thought that this, their first, might be their last, and only chance to get an experimental knowledge of what war was. The military career of the four companies which stayed behind would terminate in an inglorious journey home, the war over and no laurels crowning their brows. Colonel Barnett selected Companies D, Captain Rice, and F, Captain Kenny, as the fortunate ones. They were ordered to be ready to embark early on the following day. The detachment was placed in com- mand of Lieutenant-Colonel Sturges.
The ammunition arrived early next morning. Com- panies D and F, with their guns, horses, and equipments complete, were soon on board a special steamboat and left in high spirits, replying with great gusts to the parting
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CLEVELAND LIGHT ARTILLERY.
cheers of their chopfallen comrades who remained. On reaching Parkersburg, May 29-11 p. m., about twelve miles down the river from Marietta, it was found that Colonel Steadman, to whom Lieutenant-Colonel Sturges had been ordered to report with the detachment, had ad- vanced some distance beyond that place on the line of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, where his command was en- gaged in repairing bridges which the retreating enemy had destroyed. The artillery detachment pushed on promptly and joined him May 30-12 M. At last they were on the "sacred soil" of a seceded state, ready to send the echoes of their guns reverberating among the Vir- ginia hills. The Fourteenth Ohio boys gave the artillery- men a rousing reception, greeting them with loud and oft-repeated cheers.
At this time Colonel George A. Porterfield was in com- mand of the rebel forces in that part of Virginia, with his headquarters at Grafton. The loyal sentiment in Western Virginia was very strong. Those who favored secession were in a decided minority. It was deemed of the highest importance to the Union cause to occupy the territory as fast and as securely as possible, thus af- fording encouragement and protection to the loyal people and holding that section from being dragged into the vortex of rebellion, clearly against the will of the great majority of the people.
The Confederate authorities were equally anxious to retain possession to recruit their armies, secure the supplies which the country afforded, and bring every pos- sible influence to bear upon the people to induce them to cast their fortunes with the South. To this end Colonel Porterfield, upon assuming command a few days prior to Steadman's occupation of Parkersburg, had issued a high-flown proclamation to the people of Western Vir- ginia. In sounding phrase he called upon them to stand by their state and urged them to fill up the Confederate ranks and assist in protecting their firesides from the ravage of the invader. He assured them that not a foot
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of Virginia soil should be surrendered to the hated "Yankees," though it took every drop of blood in his veins. A few days later he and such of his soldiers as were not killed or captured were leaving tracks behind them with the utmost diligence, in their efforts to escape from their blue-coated pursuers.
General Mcclellan was in command of all the Union forces in that department. He planned the campaign and directed the movements that were so successful dur- ing the early days of the war. The services rendered by the three months' men in Western Virginia were of in- estimable value to the government, even though the amount of blood actually shed on either side was not large when compared with the copious streams that red- dened the earth before the war was finished. The "battles" of those days would have ranked only as skirmishes when the great conflict was at its height, when mighty armies met and thousands upon thousands were slain or wounded in a single day. But history has justly given an enduring fame to those who sprang to arms at the first call, and by their promptness and gal- lantry saved Western Virginia to the Union. In this campaign the Cleveland Light Artillery bore a most honorable part and deserved the high praise which was so freely accorded to it.
The force under Colonel Steadman, including the de- tachment of the Cleveland Light Artillery, advanced rapidly along the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, moving by train with occasional stops for the repair of bridges and culverts. With such celerity was this accomplished that on June 1-4 a. m., Clarksburg was reached,
about eighty
miles east of Parkersburg.
There
was occasional skirmishing on the way, and a few priso- ners were picked up, but no action of moment took place. The enemy retreated at all points before the advance of the Union force. On May 30th Grafton was occupied, without loss of life, by a force under Colonel B. F. Kelley, First Virginia (Union) Volunteers, which made a rapid
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movement from Wheeling and secured a safe lodgment at this important point. The rebels evacuated in mad haste upon its approach.
The rebel forces which had been driven out of Clarks- burg and Grafton fell back to Philippi, some thirty miles south of Grafton. Here they made a stand and an- nounced their determination to fight. It was at once decided to give them an opportunity to do so. An imme- diate advance of the Union forces upon that place was ordered. It was desirable to again strike the enemy before he should have time to fortify and otherwise strengthen his position. The rebel commander was call- ing loudly for reinforcements and it was deemed of the utmost importance to keep him on the run before his force should be so augmented as to outnumber the Union troops. The greatest energy was displayed in the move- ment on Philippi. Steadman, with five companies of the Fourteenth Ohio Infantry and Companies D and F of the Cleveland Artillery, was ordered by rail to Webster, within 12 miles of Grafton, and the nearest point to Philippi. To reach the latter, a rapid march of fifteen miles was to be made. Steadman's command moved from Clarksburg to Webster on the 2nd of June. Artil- lery in command of Lieutenant-Colonel S. B. Sturges. At the same time another column was advancing on Philippi from Grafton, under Colonel Kelley. The whole expe- dition was in command of Brigadier-General T. A. Mor- ris, Colonel Lamb acting as staff officer for General McClellan.
It is now necessary to go back to Marietta and see what has become of the four companies of the artillery which remained grumbling in Camp Putnam when Lieutenant-Colonel Sturges went with the detachment to join Steadman. The impatient patriots did not have long to wait. One more night in camp, and then came a sum- mons that electrified them. The four companies, with all the goods, chattels and other appurtenances thereto be- longing, embarked on a steamboat and went with all speed
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to Benwood, on the Virginia side of the river opposite Bellaire, and not far from Wheeling. The trip of sixty- five miles was made in a few hours and the happy Cleve- landers set their feet for the first time within the con- fines of Dixie's Land. Barnett reported to General Mor- ris and was directed to move his command at once by rail to Grafton, where the four guns were attached to the column to be led by Kelley in the advance upon Philippi. The infantry force consisted of portions of Kelley's regiment, the First Virginia, the North Indiana, Colonel Milroy, and the Sixteenth Ohio, Colonel Irvine. This column was ordered by rail to Thornton, a few miles east of Grafton, from which point the march to Philippi was to be made. The route was four or five miles longer than that to be traversed by the co-operating force to advance from Webster.
General Morris said in his order to Colonel Kelley pre- scribing the details of the movement, dated Grafton, June 2d, 1861: You must regulate your march accord- ing to your own discretion, and your bivouac or rest at night in such manner that you are sure of coming before the town of Philippi as near 4 o'clock tomorrow morn- ing as possible. Should you this evening receive certain information that the rebels have retreated eastward from Philippi, you will make the resting time of your troops as short as possible, in order to follow them up with all the speed the strength of your troops will allow.
The right attacking column was under the command of Colonel Dumont, Seventh Indiana Volunteers, to which the force of Steadman had been joined, with part of the Sixth Indiana, Colonel Crittenden. The following is the order of General Morris to Colonel Dumont:
Headquarters U. S. Volunteers,
Grafton, W. Va., June 2, 1861.
Colonel Dumont,
Comdg. Seventh Reg't Indiana Vols., near Grafton, Va .:
Colonel: You will proceed by railroad this evening
CLEVELAND LIGHT ARTILLERY.
at 8:30 o'clock to Webster with eight companies of your regiment. At Webster you will be joined by Colonel Steadman with five companies of his regiment and two field pieces of Ohio artillery, also by Colonel Crittenden with six companies of his regiment. From Webster you will, with this command, march on Philippi, using your own discretion in the conduct of the march, keeping in view that you should arrive in front of the town at 4 o'clock precisely tomorrow morning.
Information is received that the rebels are in some force at Philippi. The object of your column will be to divert attention until the attack is made by Colonel Kelley, and should resistance be offered you are to aid him to the extent of your ability. In the conduct of your column you must use your discretion, being governed by such circumstances as may occur. When joined by Colonel Kelley the whole force will be under his com- mand.
The companies of your command will take two full days' rations. Should you receive instructions from Colonel Kelley that the rebels have retreated, you will join him at once and act under his command.
By command of Brigadier-General T. A. Morris:
JOHN A. STEIN,
Acting Assistant Adjutant General.
The intention was to surprise the rebels and the movement was admirably planned and carried out to effect this result. This force, leaving after dark, had reasonable assurance of reaching the enemy in advance of any information from their friends and, as events proved, did so. The advance was favored by the extreme darkness of the night and a continuous fall of rain. These circumstances contributed in no small degree to the complete success of the expedition, but they were rough enough on the raw soldiers who made their first march under such dismal conditions.
All night, through the darkness and drenching rain, the two columns pushed on, over roads so rough and muddy that they were in some places almost impassable to artillery. It was only by the aid of the men who swarmed around the carriages and put their hands to the wheels, that the panting horses were able to drag guns
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and caissons. To the volunteers, that night was a baptism indeed. They tried bravely to keep up their spirits as they trudged along through mud and water and stumbled over the roots and stumps and stones that lay in their pathway. It was so dark that a man could scarcely see his file leader. That nocturnal experience knocked the poetry and romance out of "soldiering" with a sudden- ness and completeness that was paralyzing. Most of these men "followed the flag" during the long years of war. They passed through many such unspeakably wretched nights and days, but nothing afterward seemed to equal in misery those weary hours of floundering through the mire, with benumbed limbs and soaked and dripping garments during that night march to Philippi.
There was no postponement of the engagement on account of the weather, and promptly at the appointed hour, 4 a. m., the two columns were in communication before the town. Like most of the so-called "towns" in the South in those days, it wasn't much of a place, though the county seat of Barbour county. It had a shabby courthouse, a still more shabby hotel, a few houses in which the Philippians lived, and a name- that was all.
The necessary dispositions for an attack were prompt- ly and carefully made, with the object of capturing the entire rebel force, whatever it might be. At daylight the troops, which had nearly surrounded the town in order to "let no guilty man escape," closed in from dif- ferent directions to spring the trap that had been set. The early morning visitation was a complete surprise to the rebels. There were a few sleepy pickets posted at isolated points, several of which were taken in before they had fairly got their eyes open. At length a few of them sufficiently collected their scattered wits to fire off their guns and then break for the town. This alarmed the main body of the Confederate forces and in an in- stant the direst confusion prevailed. Colonel Porterfield and his staff had their headquarters at the hotel and
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CLEVELAND LIGHT ARTILLERY.
were yet asleep when the alarm was given. Hastily throwing on their clothes they quickly mounted their horses and dashed around endeavoring to learn what the trouble was all about.
The Union forces pressed rapidly forward on the heels of the retreating pickets. The whistling of bullets told the rebels that they must fight or run and that the de- cision must be made at once. In the light of subsequent evidence it may be considered likely that Colonel Porter- field was willing to fight, but the Confederate soldiers deemed it best to run, and they did. They stood not upon the order of their going but went at once and with the utmost precipitation. It was a regular "skedaddle," to use a word that was current in war times.
The Cleveland artillerymen had an opportunity to use their guns and they made the most of it, to the extent of sixteen rounds. Although sharing fully in the wild ex- citement of the first meeting with the enemy they served their pieces with a coolness and skill that elicited from those in command words of the highest praise. (It is a matter of record that their missiles took off the leg of one soldier, the first casualty by artillery fire in the field done by the Union forces, but it is undeniably true that the roar of their guns and the plunging shot greatly aided in demoralizing the rebels and accelerating the speed with which they sought a safe place far in the rear.
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