USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > Reminiscences of the Cleveland Light Artillery > Part 5
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7
Whenever occasion offered the artillery served with excellent effect. The years of instruction and drill at home proved a most valuable school. The skill of the gunners in training their pieces and timing shells was such as to win for them the warmest commendations. The members of the infantry regiment formed a strong attachment for the artillerymen. They had an abiding faith in the efficacy of Barnett's cannon, and when en- gaged in any movement seemed to be doubly confident if accompanied by a section or two of the artillery.
The order from General McClellan to General Morris was to avoid delivering battle at Laurel Hill if possible, but to firmly press the enemy at all points and hold him in his works, until the co-operating column under Gen- eral Rosecrans should come up and attack in flank and rear. Rosecrans struck the rebels at Rich Mountain and after a hot fight completely routed them, capturing many prisoners and a large quantity of material of war.
59
CLEVELAND LIGHT ARTILLERY.
The confederate defeat at Rich Mountain and the prompt advance of General Rosecrans rendered the rebel posi- tion at Laurel Hill untenable. The enemy abandoned it in great haste.
During the few days that the troops under General Morris lay at Belington there was constant skirmishing with the enemy. Day and night all were kept on the alert, and the whistle of bullets began to be a familiar sound. The guns of the Cleveland Artillery were ad- vantageously posted and were brought into occasional use. The men were constantly at their posts. Now and then a shell or a solid shot would be sent over to the rebels, just to let them know that the "Yankees" were still there and wide awake. In an official report dated "Headquarters near Belington, Va., July 9, 1861," Gen- eral Morris says:
"The instructions of the commanding general will be carried out, although it is difficult to restrain our men from advancing. I hardly know in what terms to con- vey to you their enthusiasm. Their coolness under such fire as we have been subjected to (incessant since our arrival), is most creditable to them, and establishes be- yond all question, if proof were needed, that they can be relied upon in any emergency. The regiments in ad- vance are Milroy's Ninth Indiana, Barnett's Artillery, Steadman's Fourteenth Ohio, and Dumont's Seventh In- diana, all of which deserve special mention."
On July 12th the rebels, having retreated from Bel- ington and Laurel Hill during the day and night pre- vious, General Morris moved in pursuit. The following is an extract from a report made by him dated "Car- rick's Ford, Va., July 14, 1861 :
"I reported yesterday morning the progress of the forces of my command in pursuit of the enemy retreat- ing from Laurel Hill. The pursuit was continued through the day in the same order as stated in my re- port of yesterday morning, viz .: Steadman's Fourteenth Ohio in advance with two sections of Barnett's artillery,
60
REMINISCENCES OF THE
next Dumont's Seventh Indiana and Milroy's Ninth In- diana. These regiments started in pursuit from our resting place near Leadsville at about 4 o'clock in the morning. The remainder of the troops were on the march by 5 o'clock a. m. A drizzling rain commenced about 6 o'clock, which by 9 became quite heavy. The enemy left the main turnpike and turned towards Cheat river, crossing two branches of the Laurel moun- tain over a narrow and rough road. Owing to the heavy rain the roads were rendered very difficult for the men and the few wagons of ammunition and provisions. By 11 o'clock the rain became a drenching storm and so continued for several hours, the roads in the moun- tains becoming almost impassable. At 2 o'clock the whole command was up in the position we now occupy.
"The attention of the commanding general is particu- larly called to the gallant bearing of the infantry and artillery which led the advance. I would also call atten- tion to the fact that the entire command commenced the pursuit on a few minutes' notice, without time to pre- pare even a day's rations for the haversacks. I ordered four wagons to be loaded with hard bread and pork to follow the command. These four wagons, with the little additional rations put in with the ammunition, are all the provisions the command has had since leaving Bel- ington, except some beeves procured in this vicinity.
"The march of yesterday was from eighteen to twenty miles. When it is considered that we have put to flight a force equal to our own, and have pursued the rebels night and day for thirty hours, almost without pro- visions, over a mountainous and difficult road, and part of the time through a drenching storm, we may feel sure that our cause must be successfully maintained by men who show such gallant bearing and soldierly en- durance."
Then came the brilliant attack upon the enemy at Carrick's Ford, which resulted in the utter defeat and rout of the rebels. Their commander, General Garnett,
61
CLEVELAND LIGHT ARTILLERY.
was among the killed. The story of this important en- gagement cannot be more concisely told than by giving almost entire the official report of General H. W. Ben- ham, who was in immediate command of the Union force. The report was made to General Morris:
"In accordance with your directions, I this morning took command of the advance guard of your column, con- sisting of the Fourteenth Ohio, Colonel Steadman, with one section of Barnett's Artillery, the Seventh Indiana, Colonel Dumont, and the Ninth Indiana, Colonel Milroy, in all about 1,800 men. With this force, as instructed, I started from Leadsville at about 4 o'clock a. m. to pursue the army of General Garnett, which, consisting, as we learned, of 4,000 to 5,000 men and four to six cannon, had retreated from the north side of Laurel mountain near Belington the day before yesterday. It being ascertained that the enemy had retired toward the village of New Interest and thence, as was supposed, over a mountain road leading to the Shafer Fork, or main branch, of the Cheat river, to Saint George. The troops were brought rapidly forward on their route, so as to reach the entrance of the mountain road-about seven miles march-at 6 o'clock. A short distance after entering this path the passage was found to be ob- structed by large trees, recently felled, in about twelve to fifteen places, and in nearly every defile for three or four miles. Information was from time to time received that this force, which had some fifteen hours the start of us from Belington, was now only four to five miles in advance. This encouraged our efforts, and though for nearly the whole time the rain was pouring in tor- rents and the clayey roads were in many places almost impassable, the spirit of the troops, without exception, as it came under my eye, was such as to bear them most rapidly onward under all these trials, super-added to that of hunger, with which the greater part of them had suffered for the previous fifteen or twenty hours.
At about noon we reached Kaler's, the first ford of the
62
REMINISCENCES OF THE
Shafer Branch or main fork of Cheat river, having within the previous two or three miles fired at and driven in several pickets of the enemy protecting those who were forming the barricades, and at one place we broke up a camp where the meals were being cooked. At the ford near Kaler's, and at about half the distance to another ford, which we afterward met with one mile farther on, we saw the baggage train of the enemy, apparently at rest. This I proposed to attack as soon as strengthened by the arrival of Steadman's second bat- talion, with Dumont's regiment, when the thoughtless firing of a musket at our ford set the train rapidly in motion, and long lines of infantry were formed in order of battle to protect it. In a few minutes, however, the arrival of Barnett's artillery, with Dumont close upon it, enabled the command to push forward in its original order, but the train and its guard had retired, leaving only a few skirmishers to meet us at the second ford, where, however, quite a rapid firing was kept up by the advance regiment, and Barnett's artillery opened for some minutes to more completely clear the adjacent woods of the enemy.
"We then continued our march rapidly to the ford, and as we approached it we came upon the enemy's train, the last half of it just crossing, in the river. The enemy was found to have taken a strong position, with his infantry and artillery, upon a precipitous bank fifty to eighty feet in height, upon the opposite side of the river, while our own position was upon the low land, nearly level with the river. Steadman's regiment, in the ad- vance, opened fire most gallantly upon them, which was immediately returned by their strong force of infantry and by their cannon, upon which Barnett's artillery was ordered up and opened upon them with excellent effect.
As I soon perceived a position by which their left could be turned, six companies of Colonel Dumont's regiment were ordered to cross the river about three hundred yards above them, to pass up the hill obliquely
63
CLEVELAND LIGHT ARTILLERY.
from our right to their left, and take them in rear. Owing to some mistake, possibly in the transmission of the order, this command crossed at about double the distance intended and turned at first to their right, which delayed the effect of the movement. After some fifteen minutes, however, this error was rectified, and, the hill being reported as impracticable, this command, now increased to the entire regiment, was ordered down to the ford, there to take the enemy directly in front at the road.
"The firing of Steadman's regiment and of Milroy's, now well up and in action, with repeated and rapid dis- charges from Barnett's artillery during this movement, decided the action at once. As Dumont reached the road, having passed along and under their whole front, the firing ceased and the enemy fled in great confusion. Dumont's regiment pursued them for about one mile farther, having brisk skirmishing with their rear for the first half of that distance, during which General Garnett was killed. The enemy would still have been followed up most closely, and probably to the capture of a large portion of their scattered army, but this was absolutely impossible with our fatigued and exhausted troops, who had already marched eighteen miles or more, in an almost incessant, violent rain, the greater part of them without food since the evening and a portion of them even from the noon of yesterday, so warm had been the pursuit of the enemy on their hasty retreat from Laurel Mountain, twenty-six miles distant. The troops were, therefore, halted for food and rest at about 2 p. m.
"The result of the action proves to be the capture of about forty loaded wagons and teams, being nearly all the enemy's baggage train, as we learn, and including a large portion of new clothing, camp equipage and other stores; their headquarter papers and military chest; also two stands of colors and one fine rifled piece of artillery; while the commanding general, Robert S.
64
REMINISCENCES OF THE
Garnett, is killed, his body being now cared for by us, and fifteen or twenty more of the enemy are killed and nearly fifty prisoners taken. Our own loss is two killed and six or seven wounded-one dangerously.
"In concluding this report I feel it my duty to state that just as the action was closing, the head regiment of the body of troops under yourself, though starting as I learn three hours later, the Sixth Indiana, under Colonel Crittenden, came upon the field in excellent order. but, unfortunately, too late to aid us in the battle.
"The conduct of those gallant officers, Colonels Barnett, Steadman, Dumont and Milroy, with the steady perse- verance of their officers and men in their long and ar- duous march, suffering from hunger, rain and cold, with their gallantry in action, was most heroic and beyond all praise of mine. Their country only can fully appreciate and reward their services."
This was the most important victory that had yet been achieved by the Union forces anywhere. It is true that very small figures expressed the losses on either side, but loyal people everywhere were anxiously watching for successes, and the "battle" of Carrick's Ford threw the whole North into a spasm of tempestuous rejoicing. The pluck and heroism of the volunteers was lauded to the skies-and it may fairly be said that they deserved it. The members of the Ohio artillery, with whom this chronicle has particularly to do, had added fresh laurels to those gained at Philippi and Laurel Hill, and the people of Cleveland regarded them in the same light in which the world looks upon the Six Hundred who made the historic charge at Balaklava. So conspicuous were their services and so gallant their bearing that they were awarded the cannon captured from the enemy at Carrick's Ford. At the close of the three months' service they took this trophy back with them to Cleve- land. It was placed in the Public Square, where it re- maineth unto this day, with an inscription upon it that
65
CLEVELAND LIGHT ARTILLERY.
he who runs may read. This inscription, by the way, was at first fearfully and wonderfully made. A geographical student would be impressed with the fact that unless the people of Cleveland could fight better than they could spell they wouldn't capture many can- non in that or any other war. The inscription, which was put on by somebody who was not within three hundred miles of the battle, informed the wayfarer that the gun was captured at "Corricke's Forde." The atro- cious orthography greeted the public eye for nearly twenty years, when it was corrected, to the great satis- faction of the old survivors of the artillery.
The writer has before him the official reports of a number of Confederate officers who participated in the action at Carrick's Ford. Naturally they magnify the Union force and losses, and in a measure that is ridicu- lous. They place the Union strength at from ten to fifteen thousand, their own being but a tenth of that number. The "Yankees" are estimated to have had on their hands after this action material for one hundred and fifty funerals, with one additional loss of from two to four hundred wounded. It will be remem- bered that General Benham, in his official report to General Morris, states that the Union loss was "two killed and six or seven wounded."
It is interesting to note the extreme caution shown at that time by officers and others on the Union side in communicating with the rebels. There was an evident desire to avoid the slightest word that would appear to be a recognition of any official authority, civil or military, among the insurgents. It was considered that if a rebel general or colonel was addressed as such it was a virtual recognition of the power that conferred such rank upon him. So, on July 15, General Mcclellan addressed a communication "To the Officer Commanding the Forces Commanded by the late Robert S. Garnett, Esq., styling himself Brigadier-General Confederate States Army."
66
REMINISCENCES OF THE
The battle of Carrick's Ford ended the fighting of the Cleveland Artillery in the three months' service. The command moved back to Belington and the artillery was ordered to report to General Mcclellan, who had planned an expedition up the Kanawha Valley after the rebel General Wise. He warmly complimented Colonel Barnett and his men for their valuable services in the campaign under General Morris, and expressed an earnest wish that they might accompany him up the Kanawha. As a matter of fact they had not as yet even been mustered into the United States service, and the three months for which they were called out had ex- pired. But, pursuant to orders, Colonel Barnett reported with his command to McClellan at Beverly, where the General made a personal appeal to the men to accompany his expedition, and nearly all of them expressed a will- ingness to do so. A few days later, before Mcclellan was ready for the Kanawha campaign, came the first real battle of the war-that of Bull Run, in Virginia, which resulted in the rout of the Union army under Mc- Dowell and brought to the people of the North an actual realization of the fact that they had a war on their hands. In the wild excitement that followed this battle General McClellan was summoned to Washington to take command of the Army of the Potomac and his plans for further offensive operations in Western Virginia were for the time abandoned.
A week later Colonel Barnett and his "regiment" of artillery were ordered to be discharged and started at once for Columbus. It should be stated here, to their credit, that the citizens of Cleveland had done all in their power to contribute to the comfort and wellbeing of the command during its service in the field. It has already been said that the men were but poorly supplied with clothing by the state and national governments, for which apparent neglect there was much good reason. The three months' men were called out suddenly and pushed to the front to meet a great and pressing emer-
67
CLEVELAND LIGHT ARTILLERY.
gency. Their services and sacrifices were of inestimable value to the country. They secured a permanent lodg- ment at many points beyond the border, and held the enemy at bay while the government was getting ready for the mighty struggle which followed. The echoes of Sumter found the nation totally unprepared for such a crisis, and it is not a matter of wonder that the early volunteers who, with magnificent patriotism, responded so promptly to the call, were but indifferently provided for. The people of Cleveland contributed liberally, and twice Mr. David Price came to the camp of the artillery- men with quantities of clothing, food and delicacies for the sick. But for this most highly appreciated kindness the boys in the field would have had scarcely so much as fig-leaves to cover their nakedness. It is true there wasn't much "uniform" about the garments and they were a grotesque appearing lot of men for soldiers, but it gave them a comparative degree of comfort and they "got there just the same" as if they had been arrayed in all the gorgeous trappings of martial splendor. All the greater honor was theirs because they served so faith- fully and well and bore without complaint the discom- forts and privations inseparable from a campaign in such a country and under such circumstances.
In due time, with little delay en route. the artillery reached Columbus, homeward bound. The tanned and ragged volunteers, fresh from fields of glory, were wel- comed with great enthusiasm at the state capital. They had done well their part and their fame had gone before them, losing nothing in its travels. They were looked upon as the saviors of their country and people of every grade and rank were proud to do them honor.
It may well be imagined that the boys were in a hurry to get home, and the formalities necessary to their re- lease were hurried as fast as possible. The officers and men were paraded for muster and were mustered in and . out of the United States service at the same time. Then all were paid off in gold. The amount received did not,
68
REMINISCENCES OF THE
it is true, raise them at once to a condition of opulence. Less than fifty dollars apiece didn't look very large for more than three months of such toil, hardship and danger, but for the time, with the gold chinking in his pocket, each man felt as if he owned a bank. Their financial condition was in marked contrast to the state of chronic insolvency in which they had been so long, for they had had no funds with which to patronize the sutler except such as was sent them at irregular inter- vals by friends at home. Whenever one of them got ten dollars he was looked upon as a Rothschild or a Vander- bilt and loans were negotiated with a rapidity that soon exhausted his wealth. As a general thing when a man got any money it was quickly absorbed by the liquida- tion of his debts. After the interview with the pay- master at Columbus there was a universal squaring of accounts.
The horses and other property belonging to the state were turned over to the authorities, and the "regiment" was soon ready to start for Cleveland. The men had been permitted to bring with them from Western Vir- ginia (as a recognition of their valor and conspicuous services), the piece of artillery captured at Carrick's Ford, and four long-eared mules which the rebels had used as the propelling power of the cannon in their migratory wanderings. These trophies were guarded with zealous care, for the boys were proud of them, as they had a right to be. At Columbus they were objects of the greatest curiosity and interest. War, right at home, was then a new thing to the people of the country and anything of this nature was regarded as a nine- days' wonder.
While at Columbus a telegram was received by Colonel Barnett from Amasa Stone, Esq., of Cleveland, inquiring at what time the artillery would arrive in Cleveland. The friends of the warriors as well as the citizens gener- ally desired to know in order that they might give them a fitting reception. The dispatch was duly answered
69
CLEVELAND LIGHT ARTILLERY.
as soon as the time of departure could be definitely fixed. At length all things were ready, and after mid- night of July 28th the happy artillerymen, with their trophies of cannon and mules, left for Cleveland. How the boys shouted and yelled as the train "pulled out" of the depot and sped away toward "home, sweet home!" In fact they didn't do much but yell all the way to Cleve- land. Their coming had been heralded along the route and at every station crowds of people greeted them in the most tumultuous manner. If the boys could have charged dime museum price for looking at the gun and mules from rebeldom they would have made their for- tunes.
Meanwhile elaborate preparations were going on in Cleveland to welcome the returning volunteers with open arms. They were expected to arrive during the forenoon and before 9 o'clock a great multitude of people thronged the railroad and its approaches. It was something like the crowd that, more than three months before, had assembled to bid them farewell and God speed. Shortly before the arrival of the train the city militia and the fire department marched down Champlain street and formed in line near the railroad.
At ten o'clock the train came in sight and as it drew up to the point of debarkation at the foot of Vineyard- now known as South Water-street a mighty volume of cheers went up from the assembled multitude-cheers for Colonel Barnett, cheers for the brave soldiers, and cheers for the cannon and mules that the boys had captured from the "seceshers." As the men stepped from the cars they were clasped in the arms of loved ones, who wept tears of joy at the safe return of sons and brothers and husbands. Then came the hearty and effusive greetings of friends and acquaintances, amidst constant cheering and the music of brass bands. It was a glorious reception, creditable alike to the people of Cleveland and to those who so well merited the demon- stration.
70
REMINISCENCES OF THE
After the hand-shaking and words of welcome were over the returned soldiers formed in procession, a con- spicuous object in the column being the rebel 6-pounder, to which were attached the mules lately in the Con- federate service. Two of the soldiers served in the capacity of muleteers, each bestriding the "nigh" animal of one of the teams. The novel outfit was prodigiously cheered along the entire line of march.
Escorted by the city organizations, the fire department and an immense throng of people, the "veterans" marched up Superior street to the Public Square, Gen- eral A. S. Sanford acting as marshal. The whole street was thronged with men, women and children, with smiles of greeting upon their faces and shouts upon their lips. The windows and balconies were filled with ladies, who waved their handkerchiefs in kindly welcome and clapped their hands as the "brown soldiers come back from the borders" went tramping by. Company D, Captain P. W. Rice, carried a rebel flag captured at Philippi which was loudly cheered-not because it was an emblem of treason but because it was captured by Cleveland volunteers.
Arrived at the Park the artillerymen were formed in a hollow square, surrounded by thousands of people, and were addressed as follows by Judge Samuel Stark- weather, who had been chosen to extend a formal wel- come home:
To the Light Artillery and Colonel Barnett, their gal- lant and noble commander.
I am commissioned by the citizens of this city to bid you a cordial welcome upon your return, and to tell you that Cleveland fully appreciates the value of your services and feels herself honored by your achieve- ments. She feels that some portion of the glory which has fallen upon the noble men of the Cleveland Artil- lery rests also upon herself.
Whenever you have appeared the rebels have fled and have not dared to show their faces. The Cleveland and Geneva artillery were among the first to answer the
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.