USA > Ohio > The Forty-first Ohio veteran volunteer infantry in the war of rebellion. 1861-1865 > 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 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24
But the battle was not over with this one successful defense. The Confederate line overlapped the Union left and had forced it back until it was stretched across the open field in rear, and at a right angle with the general line. Then there was a brave fight on both sides in the open ground. It was plainly seen from the position held by the Forty-first, and it was most eagerly watched. If those men on the flank failed to maintain their ground, the whole line would be taken in rear while it was assaulted in front. There were some moments of intense anxiety, and then it was seen that the Con- federate assault had spent its force. It was as stubborn a fight as one could wish to see, but the staying quality of the Union troops won. Baird's and Johnson's divisions were on the left of Palmer's.
This doubling up of a flank occurred again that day-the second time, the right flank. This came from a break in the Union line, made not by the enemy, but by order from the commanding general. A division (Wood's) was withdrawn from its place in line, and at
i
52
THE FORTY-FIRST OHIO INFANTRY.
once the enemy entered the gap. The army was cut in two, and most of the right was driven from the field. The general of the army went as far as Chattanooga. The Confederates pushed their advantage toward the Union left, until the division next on the right of Palmer's (Reynolds') was bent back to the rear. This, like the flank attack on the left, was in view from the position of the Forty-first, and was watched as anxiously. Also like the other flanking operation, this one failed, thanks to nothing but the stead- iness of the Union troops.
In rear of Reynold's original position on the right of Palmer was a log house which had been taken for a field hospital the night before. It contained men too badly wounded for transportation from the field, and bore on its gable the usual hospital flag. When Reynold's line was forced back, the log house was between the con- tending lines. It was riddled by the Confederate artillery, and some- how-probably by a bursting shell-it was set afire. This sicken- ing horror was in full view from the position of the Forty-first, three hundred yards away. Men shuddered and turned pale as they saw the torn house and thought of the poor fellows in it.
But, while these things were taking place in front and on both flanks another peril began to grow in the consciousness of the men who could not be driven from front or flank. The cartridge boxes were being rapidly emptied, and no ammunition train was near. Everything seemed to have been swept away with the right wing. Then from the woods across the open field in rear, bullets began to whistle toward the backs of the men in the line. These shots were supposed to come from sharpshooters in the trees. A company of the Forty-first was faced about and delivered a volley into the tree- tops across the open. This had a good effect, there was one danger the less. But the question of ammunition pressed. Nobody knew where to find it. The four divisions of the left wing were holding their ground, but they were out of communication with the rest of the army, wherever that might be, and they had no supplies of any kind. The division generals came together, and the question of a commander came up. The three corps of the army were repre- sented in those four divisions, but there was no corps commander present. None of the division generals coveted the responsibility
--
53
CHICKAMAUGA.
of command, but it was plain that something must be done. There was heavy firing off to the right, and it was guessed that somewhere in that direction Thomas was holding out against the enemy that had swept away the right wing. Finally, Hazen volunteered to take his brigade across the interval, and make communication with whatever Union force might be still in the field. The brigade was withdrawn from the line, marched somewhat to the rear, and then started off through the unexplored woods toward the sound of battle. The movement was made cautiously but rapidly, the brigade constantly in readiness for any fortune that might befall. There were some scattered Confederates in the woods, and a Confederate skirmish line was struck obliquely, but no other force was encountered. The way seemed miles longer than it was, and the relief was great when the leading regiment came upon the left of the position where Thomas had stopped the victorious enemy and held him steadfastly. Thomas himself, beloved of all the army, rode up to take Hazen by the hand. The arrival was just in time. A desperate assault was about to come on the left of Thomas' line. Hazen's men marched through a , cornfield to the crest of a low hill, and were there massed in column of regiments. Scarcely was this done when the Confederate storm burst. The slope in front of the brigade was open ground, and in a moment this was covered with heavy masses of the enemy making for the top. Hazen's regiments were lying flat. The foremost sprang to its feet, delivered its volley and went down again to load, and the next regiment just behind rose to fire and fall flat while the third put in its work; and so on. The slope was strewn with Confed- erate dead and wounded, but not a man could reach the crest. Along the rest of the line also the defense was successful. Night was fall- ing fast, and the battle of Chickamauga was over.
But not quite so. When all had quieted on Thomas' front, there rose, a mile away to the left, loud and continued cheering. There was little doubt in the minds of those who knew the shrill Confed- erate cheer. It meant disaster, more or less, to the divisions that had stood all day as the left of the army.
When the fighting ended with the repulse of the enemy's final assault, a skirmish line was pushed forward through the cornfield on the left of Hazen's position, and halted at the edge of the field. This
54
THE FORTY-FIRST OHIO INFANTRY.
was the only outlying force as darkness fell; beyond the skirmish line was anybody's ground. Soon after dusk, the order came to withdraw, leaving the skirmishers in place until the troops were well on to the Rossville road. The remnant of the army yet on the field of Chickamauga was to fall back, if it could, to Mission Ridge and Chattanooga. The men moved off silently and were lost in the darkness. A field officer of the Forty-first was left to withdraw the skirmish line when the last of the troops had got well off toward the road. This officer dismounted and went down through the cornfield to the skirmishers. No order could be spoken aloud, lest the enemy in front be apprised of the movement. The word was passed along from man to man, and thus the line withdrew in silence. The officer charged with the withdrawal had returned to the upper edge of the field and sat there on his horse to see that all the skirmishers came in. When the last of them were passing, the officer heard a rustling in the cornfield-in front and to right and left; it came nearer, and then footsteps could be heard in slow and cautious movement. The offi- cer turned his horse's head and followed his departing skirmishers; but a hundred yards away he looked to the rear, and there on the open crest, their figures standing out against the lighter sky, were the Confederate skirmishers who had followed up through the corn- field. On both sides it was a good-bye without words.
The way down to the Rossville road was made sad enough by the appeals of wounded men here and there, who had crawled out of the battle, but were unable to go farther. With piteous suppli- cation, and sometimes with reproachful words wrung from them by their misery and pain, they begged their fellows not to leave them behind. Some asked for water-water, which the passing soldiers had not seen for twenty-four hot and toilsome hours. Listening to these poor fellows by the wayside was harder than facing another Confederate charge. But the march was a hurried one; the sad- dening appeals quickly died out in the black night behind, and the suffering comrades were left to the mercies of Confederate surgeons and prisons. Many a heart was filled with bitterness as the troops, under cover of darkness, were hastened away from a field where they had faced the enemy all day and won in every encounter-a field won by the soldiers and lost by the general.
-
55
CHICKAMAUGA.
Some time after getting on the Rossville road, water was found close at hand-the greatest relief the Forty-first had ever experi- enced in any strait. Lack of rations was forgotten-there was the blessed water! They drank their fill, and hurried on to Rossville. At daylight next morning, the division lay on Mission Ridge to the left of the Rossville pass, in position to meet any pursuit that Bragg miglit undertake. But no molestation came, and when the trains had been safely gathered at Chattanooga, the Forty-first, with its division, went to that place and took its assigned place in the de- fensive lines.
Looking back over the campaign, from the crossing of the Ten- nessee river on the 10th of September to the arrival at Chattanooga on the night of the 21st, the Forty-first had reason for congratu- lation. It had suffered no disaster. Though in the first day of the battle, the ill-starred attack in echelon failed, yet the regiment per- formed its part with credit; and afterward rendered conspicuous service in staying the pursuit of Van Cleave. Next day it shared in the steady success of the brigade in every position it occupied. Not a foot of any ground was yielded to the enemy until the retreat was ordered after the battle was over. A good record from first to last. As to individual records, it may be said that the missing were the men detailed to go for water on the morning of the second day of battle; these men fell into the enemy's hands unawares. No ex- ceptions are to be made when it is said that all duty was faithfully done by the whole command.
Some months after this battle, it is said, the opinion was held by some of Grant's officers that the spirit of the Army of the Cum- berland had been broken at Chickamauga. The operations about Chattanooga, in the October and November following, were a sufficient contradiction of such notions. So far as concerns the Forty-first, it is certain that it came away from Chickamauga with firmer confidence in itself than it ever had before. It had been handled in action as few regiments ever were, and had not failed to respond effectively to every command.
56
THE FORTY-FIRST OHIO INFANTRY.
CHAPTER IX.
1
BESIEGED AT CHATTANOOGA.
When the Army of the Cumberland reached Chattanooga from the field of Chickamauga, it was put into lines closely enveloping the town and resting the flanks on the Tennessee river above and below. These lines were quickly fortified, and some earthworks more pre- tentious were thrown up here and there for artillery. The position of the Forty-first was well toward the left of the line, and along a slight railroad cutting which made an excellent defense and saved much digging. There was great haste in getting this line in order, the army commander seeming to expect that Bragg would advance to attack with as little delay as possible. There were two houses in front of the regiment's line, and they were ordered to be destroyed, that the ground might be cleared of all that could afford cover for an attacking force. One of the houses was a large dwelling some distance to the front; the other, a smaller domicile, near the railroad cut. Of course, both places were deserted by their owners or occu- pants, but they had left behind everything in the way of furniture and furnishings. A piano was rescued from the larger house, and taken to headquarters. In the small house, some most excellent hams were not allowed to go to waste, and a feather bed was taken out. There was some fancy fishing tackle and a shot gun or two, to show the tastes of the former occupant. Evidently he had had short warning, for his bedroom was left as one would leave in case of fire, springing from bed and running with clothing in hand. The destruction of these houses was a new experience for the Forty- first. Things lying about the places were snatched up by the men merely for the novelty of it. Except the hams, nothing was found that was really useful -- not even the feather bed could go under that description.
By the close of the day of arrival, the Forty-first was well off as to its fortified line, and the ground in front was cleared of ob-
57
BESIEGED AT CHATTANOOGA.
structions for some hundreds of yards. For a day or two afterward the enemy was closing in his enveloping lines, occupying the slight eminences in Chattanooga Valley, and the heights of Mission Ridge and Lookout Mountain to the left and the right. Lookout Moun- tain, and with it railroad communication with the Nashville base of supplies and the North, had been abandoned by Rosecrans, as if the army could not have too short a line for its ability in defense. Close and tight were the Chattanooga lines. The enemy might al- most send an Enfield rifle ball across the whole ground from flank to flank, or from the front across the river in the rear. When Bragg's dispositions were complete, he could and did drop shells on nearly all parts of the Union ground.
Across the Tennessee river a pontoon bridge was laid, and this at once became the only line for supplies. These must come by wagon, running the gauntlet of the unguarded Sequatchie Valley, and laboriously crossing Waldron's Ridge. Many wagons were lost with their greatly needed loads. Occupying Raccoon Mountain, to the right and rear of Chattanooga, the Confederates cut off the wagon road which ran close to the river level on the opposite side. The effect of all this was quickly apparent. In less than a month the commissary was issuing three day's half rations to last five days -- less than one-third of a ration a day-and this of only the principal articles in the regular ration. When it came to forage for the ani- mals, there was little or none to be had. Officers' horses had to be sent across the Tennessee on the pontoon bridge, to eat weeds and keep alive. Artillery horses and the animals of the wagon trains died or became too weak for service. Sometimes a few ears of corn came for the starving creatures, and then hungry men would pick up the scattered kernels about the feeding places and roast them to eke out their scanty food. Quartermasters' stores, of course, were not more plentiful than commissary's; none had been issued for several months, and the men were badly off for shoes and cloth- ing.
On the 19th of October, Gen. Rosecrans was relieved of the command, Gen. Thomas succeeding him. A complete reorgani- zation of the army followed. Hazen's brigade was now made up of the First, Forty-first and Ninety-third Ohio, the Fifth Kentucky
-------
£
58
THE FORTY-FIRST OHIO INFANTRY.
and the Sixth Indiana; and the division, commanded by Gen. Thomas J. Wood, was assigned to Gordon Granger's Fourth Army Corps.
The routine of camp life was relieved by watching the dress- parades of the Confederates on Mission Ridge, and the occasional practice of the artillery on Lookout Mountain. Except for the lack of supplies, the time would have gone well enough. The quarters had been made fairly comfortable, and the duty was not hard.
On the 23d of October, Grant arrived at Chattanooga-slipping in at the back door as it were, and fortunately escaping the Con- federate riders across the river, for he brought with him no forces. There had been rumors of a corps from the Potomac under Hooker, and of the coming of Sherman's men from Vicksburg. Grant's ar- rival confirmed the belief that the Army of the Cumberland would not much longer remain in the box where Rosecrans had packed it. The men were anxious to go anywhere and do anything to get out.
One of the stories that went the rounds in the Forty-first at this time was that private Hoover, of H company, being intensely home- sick, thinking besides that there was little to do in Chattanooga, and knowing there was not enough to eat, asked for a furlough. The petition was discouraged by captain and colonel, and then Hoover asked leave to go to Gen. Thomas in person. He succeeded in get- ting to the general, and made his plea, ending with the statement, "Why, General, it's nigh on to two year since I've seen my wife." "Well, my man," said Thomas, "I haven't seen my wife for more than three years." Hoover was staggered, but recovered. He straight- ened himself into the position of "Attention" and made his salute as he answered, "Well, General, me and my wife ain't that kind of folks."
--------------------
59
BROWN'S FERRY
CHAPTER X.
BROWN'S FERRY.
Arriving in Chattanooga on the 23d of October, Gen. Grant soon acquainted himself with the situation, the strength and con- dition of Thomas' army, and the plans of that commander. There was no question as to the first step; it must be the recovery of the line of communication abandoned by Rosecrans, the railroad run- ning close under Lookout Mountain. An attack on Lookout from Chattanooga would involve the whole army, and at great disadvan- tage. A foothold on the left bank of the Tennessee below Lookout would serve, with two pontoon bridges, allowing the use of the rail- road to within a few miles of Chattanooga. A detachment could make the attempt to secure such a foothold, and the army would remain in its fortified lines.
Three days after Grant's arrival, an order came to Hazen for the detail of a field officer to report to Gen. W. F. Smith (Baldy Smith) at headquarters. Lieut. Col. Kimberly, of the Forty-first, was sent on this detail. Smith mounted his horse a id led the way over the pontoon bridge in rear of Chattanooga, and then struck off to the left towards Raccoon Mountain. The two officers crossed the neck of land made by the sharp bend at Lookout Mountain, and came to the river again at a point known as Brown's Ferry. On the opposite shore was a high ridge, its river side almost pre- cipitous. At the point known as the Ferry this ridge was cut al- most to the level of the valley beyond it. All along the crest of the ridge the Confederate pickets were to be seen, and in the cut at the Ferry there was a company of infantry. Gen. Smith explained to Kimberly the plan of operation. The latter was to act as guide for an expedition that was to attempt a landing on the Confederate side, driving the enemy first from the ridge and the cut, and after- ward clearing the valley beyond, up to Lookout Mountain. The detail for the expedition was Hazen's brigade, from which were to
...
£
60
THE FORTY-FIRST OHIO INFANTRY.
be taken as many picked officers and men as could be carried in fifty-two pontoons, twenty-five men to each pontoon. They were to embark at Chattanooga and pass down the river to the point of attack. Of course it must be a night expedition, so calculated as to reach Brown's Ferry just at daylight. . The river bank was closely picketed on the Confederate side, from Lookout Mountain down. and the pontoons would pass within pistol shot of these pickets- this for several miles. It was not an inviting prospect, especially the pontoon part of it. These rough boats were heavy and as clumsy in the water as a square box.
The details for the pontoons were very carefully made, both officers and men. The force which was to attack at the Ferry was to be led by Lieut .- Col. Foy, of the Twenty-third Kentucky, and Col. Wiley was to lead the men in the rear pontoons, who were to scale the ridge. These officers were taken quietly to the spot where Baldy Smith had given the plan to Kimberly, and shown the scene of the coming attack.
At 3 o'clock on the morning of October 27th, the expedition embarked at Chattanooga, the pontoons being strung along the shore so that all might be pushed off together. It was found that the pontoons were so crowded that the men must stand, steadying themselves with their guns. A detail from Stanley's Michigan en- gineer regiment had been provided to man the cars, but they could do little in the crowded pontoons; the movement must rely mainly on the current of the river, which chanced to be running high. The night was not dark, but a fog hung over the river and filled the lower grounds. As the pontoons drifted past the right of the Union lines at Chattanooga, the buglers were sounding reveille. Half an hour later the expedition was floating past the point of Lookout Mountain. The talk of the Confederate pickets on the point, three hundred feet above the river, could be heard, with now and then a snatch of song.
The men had been carefully instructed in the need of keeping silence, and not a word passed above the breath. Opposite Look- out, however, a sharp cry rose from one of the leading pontoons; an officer of the Twenty-third Kentucky had been swept overboard by a snag projecting above the water. The commander of the pon-
61
BROWN'S FERRY.
toon growled an angry reprimand, but the poor fellow overboard was under water. No one expected to see or hear of him again, with the swift current and the darkness; but he came to the surface and was picked up by one of the rear pontoons.
There were two miles of drifting, close to the enemy's shore, between Lookout Mountain and the point of attack. The fog hung thick over the river, however, and there was no noise from the pon- toons; the oars were useless for anything but helping to keep the course, and there was little rowing. The two miles were passed, and there had been no discovery. The leading pontoon, in which was the officer who was to command the attack at the cut, reached that point and was floating by in mistake, when Hazen, who fol- lowed close, called out: "Pull in, Col. Foy; pull in! pull in!" That command gave the alarm; the nearest sentinel in the cut fired, his bullet singing over the heads of the men in a pontoon. The alarm was taken up instantly. In a moment the company on duty in the cut was tumbling into line, and through the camps in the val- ley beyond the drums and bugles were carrying it on. There was no further need of silence, and the officers in the pontoons shouted their commands to the oarsmen to pull for the landing place. Foy's pontoon was quickly at the shore, and he led his men straight up the bank. On the opposite shore Turchin's brigade and the re- mainder of Hazen's were waiting to cross when the pontoons had discharged their loads. A dozen of Turchin's men, without orders, fired straight across the river, knowing nothing of what was there. The balls flew close to Foy's men as they ran up the bank, but no one was hurt. The surprised Confederate guard had hardly got into line when Col. Foy charged it at a run. The guard opened a wild fire, which was returned with effect, and the assailants dashed at them. The guard turned and fled, leaving some men wounded. The other pontoons came in close order, and the men sprang from them and joined the rest in the cut. Companies were sent to right and left to climb the ridge and dislodge the Confederate pickets. Four hundred yards above the landing, Wiley led his detachment straight up the steep face of the ridge, the men clinging to root and sapling as they mounted. The dawn was just breaking, and progress was easier. The crest was gained without a moment's
-.
--------
£
62
THE FORTY-FIRST OHIO INFANTRY.
halt. The companies that started from the cut went rapidly along, dislodging the Confederates without stopping. In a few moments the men from the pontoons held the ferry landing and the ridge on both sides, prepared to defend the position. Meanwhile the unloaded pontoons were rapidly bringing over the remainder of the brigade. Soon twelve hundred men were on the captured ridge. The alarm had travelcd to Lookout Mountain, and its heavy bat- teries belched in aimless thunder, for the gunners could see nothing of what was going on two miles down the river.
It was not expected that the troops in the valley beyond the crest would submit without an effort. A prisoner taken at the landing said it was McLaw's brigade of Longstrcet's corps that held the valley. A line of skirmishers was pushed forward from the main body at the landing. The fog still hung on, but the quick words of command could be heard as the officers got McLaw's men together and put them into position. The Union skirmishers quickly came upon an opposing line, the two almost running together in the fog. A rod apart they stood and fired, and Hazen's men pushed on, bearing the enemy before them in hasty retreat. Soon after- ward, a line camc forward to attack the ridge, and there was sharp fighting, but brief; the Confederates had no chance of dislodging the captors. A second attack followed, but this was faint-hearted and called for little effort in the repulse. There were occasional shots from the skirmishers after this, but the fighting was over. A Confederate battery, however, came down the road from the direc- tion of Lookout, and went into position in front of the ridge. Its commander's orders could be heard, but the fog prevented seeing. The guns were unlimbered and several shells were fired over the ridge, doing no harm. This was understood as a cover to the re- treat of whatever forces might be in the valley. Hazen pushed his skirmish line forward as rapidly as possible, in hope of getting the battery before it could withdraw. The fog hindered, and al- though the skirmishers were very near the battery, they could not reach it in time. A solitary horseman was posted two hundred yards in front of the battery, and as soon as he saw the advancing skirmish line, he wheeled about and gave the warning. The battery went off at a run. When the fog finally dissolved, not a Confederate was
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.