USA > Ohio > The history of Company C, Seventh regiment, O. V. I. > Part 4
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The Seventh was not brought under fire until it arrived at the front of the mountain, and even then, nature turned in to be its ally. The guns of the enemy could not be depressed sufficiently to do much harm, and their greatest efficiency was secured by shooting off the tops of the trecs to fall upon the heads of the men. Moving farther ou, - they were exposed to a severe musketry fire. Here M. C. Stone was severely wounded and taken from the field. A heavy fog soon ended the firing. Night came on, and the fog disappeared. The full moon gave to the Seventh,
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MISSION RIDGE AND RINGGOLD.
while doing picket duty, a scene that was truly grand. The summit of the mountain is 2700 feet above the river. The regiment was up two thirds this distance. The camps of both armies were visible, and an enrapturing view for many miles around could be taken. The eclipse of the moon, almost total, seemed to indicate the displeasure of the Almighty at such scenes as the evening shades had just closed in upon.
At carly dawn the enemy nowhere appeared, and the Stars and Stripes were planted proudly upon the highest pinnacle. The Union Army pursued down the mountain, across the plain of Chattanooga, and up the sides of Mis- sion Ridge, to meet only a slight resistance. The enemy fled, hotly pursued through the day, which was crowned with the capture of 2000 prisoners. The troops were never more jubilant. Cheers and songs echoed from hill to hill. Onward, still onward, was the pursuit, until November 27, when the enemy strongly posted himself on Taylor's Ridge, just beyond Ringgold, to prevent the Union forces from passing through Thompson's Gap. Geary's brigade was ordered to storm the heights. It formed in two columns on the rail road one half a mile north of the Gap. The Seventh occupied the right of the rear column. Steadily up they went. The advance halted at the steep declivity to return the enemy's fire. The rear column passed over it, and entered a gorge that was directly in front. The un- shrinking Creighton shouted, "Boys, we are ordered to take that hill. I want to see you walk right up it." And up they went in the face of a merciless fire in front, on right, and left.
Soon Lieut. Col. Crane fell, a sacrifice on the altar, and in less than an hour, Col. Creighton followed him to the spirit world. Only one commissioned officer of the Sey- enth was left uninjured. There was nothing for the small remnant to do, but to fall back to the foot of the hill. It was a sad affair for the regiment. Its glory seemed to have departed. Of the twenty men in Co. C, who entered the action, six were killed and eight, wounded. The killed
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BRIDGEPORT.
were Lieut. I. C. Jones, J. L. Fish, C. E. Wall, D. P. Wood, C. F. King, and Thomas Sweet. The wounded were John Gardner, (mortally,) J. W. Raymond, H. D. Claghorn, John Phillips, J. Cleverton, Wm. H. Pelton, W. O. Barns, and M. H. Sheldon.
The army remained at Ringgold until December 1. It then fell back twenty miles to go into winter quarters, at Chattanooga.
Immediately after the battle at Ringgold, Orderly An- drews took command of Co. C, and held it until its final discharge at Cleveland.
Efforts were made at this camp to induce the men to re-enlist. A fine speech of Gen. Geary's was insufficient to cause the boys to forget their abuse and hard usage, which had so prejudiced their minds that they could not see it to be their duty to do further service. Besides, the General had not, by any means, made himself their favorite; and therefore, his protestations that, "to lose the Seventh would be to lose the seventh star of the Pleiades," and that "they were dear to him as the apple of his eye," only served to disgust them.
On the 4th of January, 1864, his brigade was sent to Bridgeport to spend the rest of the winter.
It took the steamer Chickamauga, April 12, and sailed 110 miles down the Tennessee, to a point fifteen miles beyond Huntsville, having two or three skirmishes on the way, and capturing a few prisoners. After three days it returned to its camp.
Another effort was made by Gen. Slocum and all the Corps authorities, to persuade the men to enter the veteran service; but they said, " We know the promises of men in authority, and how much care is exercised for the comfort of those under them. We love the society of our friends at home as well as the multitudes of young men who have never spent a day in the service. We will take our turn with them." These thoughts biased the men so that, again, they could not feel it their duty to re-enlist, and
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ROCKY-FACED RIDGE AND RESACA.
when the glad hour of their release came, they returned to their homes with clear consciences.
The proper time for their discharge drew near, and the men claimed their right to the promise made them in Camp Dennison, but that promise was utterly disregarded by the government. When Gen, Sherman was ready to enter upon the Atlanta Campaign, the Seventh was ordered to join his forces. Leaving Bridgeport on the 3d of May, it passed by Lookout Mountain, around seven miles to the right of Ringgold, over Taylor's Ridge at Gordon Springs, and came up to Rocky-Faced Ridge on the 8th of May, 1864. A line of battle was immediately formed by Hooker's Corps, to drive the enemy from the Ridge. Geary's brigade moved up. When it had nearly reached the summit, the General halted the Seventh and detailed it for his body guard, in consideration of its hard service and severe losses. The rest of the force skirmished from 3 P. M. until night, losing 200 men in killed and wounded.
The enemy retreated, and next made a stand at Resaca, Ga., May 14. The Seventh was posted in the rear of the center of the grand line of battle. The next day it was moved with its division to the left wing, in time to save the 4th A. C., which was not able to stand. In the after- noon the Union troops advanced in a dozen lines of battle. In the heat of action, as the front line gave way, it fell back to the rear. The Seventh was thus brought in front at 5 P. M., but neither side thought it best to advance across the open field that lay between the two hostile forces. Thus night ended the engagement, without loss to the Seventh.
The enemy withdrew in the night, and was pursued ten days, to New Hope Church, in the vicinity of Dallas, Ga.
The battle opened in front of Hooker's Corps, May 25.
The Seventh was put forward to skirmish. In the latter part of the day it was relieved and set at building breast- works. After sunset, the brigade was ordered to "fix bayonets and give the enemy the cold steel." Both Hooker and Geary urged the men forward, on the ground that the
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BATTLE OF DALLAS.
enemy had no ammunition. While Gen. Geary was making this pretext, the rebels demonstrated the truth of it by sending a shell among the men, and another under the General's horse. The former burst in the crowded ranks, killing two, and wounding twelve men. The General van- ished, and no more was seen of him during the night.
The men did not liesitatate from fear, but several good reasons were the cause of the hesitation. Their time had expired. They had already done more than their share of charging. They would have been cut to pieces by the rear regiments, and if they had failed, they would have received no more thanks than they did at Ringgold.
During eight days of the battle, the Seventh fought behind breastworks, and learned the worth of protection.
The 11th of June was the glad day of their relief, to turn their faces towards those homes which had occupied so much of their thoughts for more than three years. Co. C was marched out into a little grove which was to witness the sad parting of the veterans from those whose term of service had not yet expired. Many tears were shed, as they shook cach other's hands, one party turning to battle, then imminent, the other, to hasten to the embrace of friends.
The former portion of the company was transferred to Co. B of the 5th O. V. I., and had the honor of sharing in General Sherman's brilliant campaign of successes, through Georgia and South Carolina. They were discharged, June 20, 1865, after having the satisfaction of seeing the war ended.
The veterans of tho company proceeded by rail to Nash- ville, thence by steamer down the Cumberland, up the Ohio to Cincinnati, and arrived at Cleveland, June 26, 1864.
The journey homeward was prosperous with one sad exception. Before the company left Georgia, Sergeant O. C. Trembley had written to his mother that she need have no fears for him-his fighting was through, and he would soon be home. He was one of the most joyous at the prospect before him of soon being with his friends.
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FINAL DISCHARGE.
Faithfully and well had he served in every battle of the regiment but one, and had, fortunately, never been wounded. When the steamer was forty miles below Cin- cinnati, going to the rear of the boat on the lower deck, he slipped into the river and was drowned. His body was found on the third day by a fisherman; was brought to Cleveland by his friend Hiram Parsons; and, by eight of Company C, was thence escorted to his home in North Fairfield, Ohio.
There is not space to describe the splendid ovation, given to the Seventh, with the Fifth Ohio, by the citizens of Cincinnati; and the members are ashamed to have men- tion made of the meager reception at Cleveland, on the Fourth of July.
The following are the names of the little band that returned to be mustered out of the service, July 6, 1864: M. M. Andrews, J. F. Harmon, S. M. Cole, J. E. Avery, N. L. Badger, J. M. Burns, H. B. Fry, A. M. Halbert, E. T. Hayes, I. A. Noble, H. Parsons, Thos. Spriggs, T. J. Wallace, D. A. Ward, Oliver Wise, and Wm. Woodmansee.
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THE RECORD.
GILES WALDO SHURTLEFF,
A member of the Oberlin Theological Seminary, and Tutor in Oberlin College; commanded the Company, as Captain, until the battle of Cross Lanes, August 26, 1861, when he was captured and taken to Richmond, as prisoner of war; spent eleven months and twenty-two days in Southern prisons, at Richmond, Salisbury, and Charleston; paroled August 18, 1862, and exchanged September 30, 1862; by order of General Burnside, at Pleasant Valley, Va., Oct, 11, 1862, detached as Assistant Inspector General of the 9th .Army Corps, on the Staff of General Wilcox. While in this service, he was engaged in the severe battle at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862; resigned, and was discharged from the military service, March 18, 1863.
He was commissioned as Licut. Colonel of the 5th U. S. C. T., July 29, 1864, which regiment he commanded most of the remainder of his service. With them he was engaged in the series of battles from June 15 to June 19, before Petersburg; in the battle at the blowing up of the mines, July 30, 1864; in the trenches under fire, daily, before Petersburg from June 15 to August 10, 1864, and in the charge upon New Market, Va., Sept. 29, 1864, for gallantry in which battle he was promoted to Colonel. In this severe engagement, he lost nearly one half his men.
He also took part in Gen. Butler's attempt to capture Ft. Fisher, at Wilmington, N. C., his regiment being the only colored troops that landed; wounded in the hand and through the thigh in the battle of New Market. Nomina-
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THE RECORD.
ted by the Secretary of War as Brevet Brigadier General, and confirmed by the Senate, March 15, 1865; resigned on the ground that the war had closed, and honorably dis- charged, Juno 25, 1865; married, and now doing duty as Adjunct Professor of the Greek and Latin languages in Oberlin College.
JUDSON N. CROSS,
A Freshman in Oberlin College; commissioned as First Lieutenant of Company C, April 29, 1861 ; wounded severely by gun shot in left arm, and taken prisoner of war in the battle of Cross Lanes; rescued by the army of Gen. Rose- crans in the battle of Carnifex Ferry, Sept. 11, 1861, when he was removed to Cincinnati for recovery. He was pro- moted to Captain of Co. K, 7th O. V. I., Nov. 25, 1861, and was detailed as recruiting officer in Ohio, until Feb. 9, 1863, when he resigned, and was honorably discharged at Dumfries, Va. June 13, 1863, he was appointed 1st Lieu. tenant in the 5th Invalid Corps, and was promoted to Cap- tain, October 28, 1863. In this service he was stationed at Cleveland; afterwards at St. Louis, Mo .; thence, went to Indianapolis, Ind.
In December, 1863, he was placed in command of the Post at Madison, Ind., remaining until April, 1864, when he was made Acting Assistant Adjutant General of the District of Indiana. In the following June, received the appointment of Assistant Provost Marshal of the District of Washington, on the Staff of the Military Governor. In November, was appointed Provost Marshal of Georgetown, D. C., and soon after, Special Mustering Officer, to muster the Prisoners of War returned from Andersonville, Ga .; resigned, and honorably discharged, March 16, 1865; mar- ried, and pursuing the profession of the law.
EPHRAIM H. BAKER,
An Alumnus of Oberlin College, and Theological student; commissioned as Second Lieutenant of Co. C, Apr. 29, 1861;
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THE RECORD.
took command after the battle of Cross Lanes; was pro- moted to First Lieutenant, November 26, 1861; led the Company through the battle of Winchester; resigned, and was discharged on account of disability, July 25, 1862; now married, and engaged in preaching the Gospel, at Marseilles, Ill.
ORLANDO PARK BROCKWAY,
A Junior in Oberlin College; served with the Company as First Sergeant until about the 20th of Aug., 1861. when he was sent to the hospital because of sickness, and after- wards to Ohio. In his absence he was reduced to the ranks by some inexplicable order of Col. Tyler's, October 25, 1861; transferred to Battery I, Ist Ohio Artillery, at Charleston, Va., Dec. 1, 1861. While on a foraging expe- dition, near Luray, Va., in the Summer of 1862, he was captured; taken to Lynchburg, and thence to Belle Isle, «where, after much suffering, he was paroled. In the Autumn, he was exchanged and discharged. He was commissioned as Captain in the 5th U. S. C. T., in. August, 1863; engaged in the series of battles before Petersburg, from June.15 to 19; and killed in the trenches, July 19, 1864.
EDMUND R. STILES,
An Alumnus of Oberlin College, and member of the Theo- logical Seminary; Second Sergeant; captured at Cross Lanes, and spent nine months with the rebels at Richmond, New Orleans, and Salisbury ; paroled and exchanged ; dis- charged, July 8, 1862; now married, and is preaching the Gospel.
WILLIAM WATTS PARMENTER,
A Senior in Oberlin College; served with the company as Third Sergeant, until the battle of Cross Lanes, when he was captured and taken to Richmond; afterwards, trans-
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THE RECORD.
ferred to Parish Prison, New Orleans, where he died with Typhoid Fever, Nov. 4, 1861.
HOBART G. ORTON,
A Freshman in Oberlin College; Fourth Sergeant; engaged in the battle of Cross Lanes, where a severe gun shot broke his thigh bone about an inch below the socket joint. Standing behind a tree, firing as rapidly as possible, under his own command, he was discovered by a rebel Captain, who ordered his whole company to fire upon him. The tree was girdled with the bullets, and one took effect in the thigh of the Sergeant. He was left on the field, in the hands of the enemy, and was recaptured by our troops, Sept. 11, 1861. Thence he was removed to St. John's Hospital, Cincinnati, where he suffered severely for a year, and was discharged, Nov. 20, 1862. He is now married and practicing law.
ELIAS W. MOREY,
A Sophomore in Oberlin College ; Fifth Sergeant; wounded slightly in the head, and taken prisoner in the battle of Cross Lanes; spent nine months in the hands of the ene- my, at Richmond, New Orleans, and Salisbury ; paroled and exchanged; returned to duty, March 22, 1863; en- gaged in the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg; discharged, Nov. 10, 1863, to accept a First Licutenancy in the 9th Regiment U. S. C. T .; promoted to Captain, and made Provost Marshal of the 25th A. C .; now in the service.
J. FRANCIS HARMON,
Corporal; served constantly with the regiment during the whole term of enlistment; promoted to Sergeant, in the Company, Nov. 20, 1861, and to Quarter-Master Sergeant of the regiment, April 1, 1862; engaged in the battle of
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THE RECORD.
Cross Lanes; discharged at Cleveland, Ohio, July 6, 1864; married, and is now Postmaster at Oberlin, O.
THERON E. W. ADAMS,
A Freshman in Oberlin College; Corporal; wounded by a guerilla, while on picket duty, near Glenville, Va., July 21, 1861. The ball entered his side and followed a rib around nearly to the spine. He has the honor of shedding the first blood in the Seventh Ohio Regiment, by the hand of an enemy; engaged in the battle of Winchester; lion- orably discharged on account of disability, June 29, 1862; graduated in Oberlin College in the Class of '64; married, and farming in Michigan.
CHARLES P. BOWLER,
A Junior in Oberlin College; Corporal; served constantly with the Company until his death; promoted to Sergeant ; participated in the battles of Cross Lanes, Winchester, Port Republic, and Cedar Mountain, where he received a gun shot through the heart. He fell upon his back, dying instantly with a convulsive struggle.
STEPHEN M. COLE,
Corporal; slightly wounded in the thigh, and taken pris- oner in the retreat two or three days after the battle of Cross Lanes ; spent nine months in the hands of the enemy at Richmond, New Orleans, and Salisbury, after which he was paroled and exchanged; returned to duty, March 22, 1303, at Dumfries; participated in the battles of Gettys- burg and Chancellorsville, where he was wounded in the shoulder by a shell; detailed as Clerk at Head Quarters of Ist Brigade 2d Division, 12th A. C., Feb. 25, 1864; dis- charged July 6, 1864; married, and farming in Gibralter, Mich.
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THE RECORD ..
ARTHUR CURTIS DANFORTH,
A Sophomore in Oberlin College; served as Corporal until Nov. 20, 1861, when he was promoted to First Sergeant, at Charleston, Va .; escaped unhurt from the battle of Cross Lanes, and was instantly killed in the battle of Winches- ter, by a bullet passing through his chest, and another through his neck. His body was brought to Oberlin for burial.
EDWARD WAKEMAN GOODSELL,
A Freshman in Oberlin College; Corporal; with the Com- pany until August 15, 1861, when he was sent, sick, to Gauley Bridge, and thence to Cincinnati. Being unfit for duty, because of inflamed eyes, he served in St. John's Hospital until he joined the Company on the 18th of July, 1862, at Alexandria, Va.
In the battle of Cedar Mountain, he received a bruise on the foot. At Antietam, a color guard from Co. C being required, he was detailed by Sergeant Lincoln, remarking as he went, that he " would as soon sign his death warrant." In the engagement, he received a wound in the abdomen. He lived a few days, made his will, settled up his business carefully, and died September 19, 1862.
HENRY W. LINCOLN,
Corporal; promoted to Second Sergeant, Nov. 20, 1861; to First Sergeant, March 24, 1862; to Second Lieutenant, August 9, 1362, and to First Lieutenant, November 6, 1862; a faithful officer, present on all the marches, and in all the battles, till his final leave of absence. He was in the battles of Cross Lanes, Winchester, Port Republic, Cedar Moun- tain, and Antictam.
Having the Chronic Diarrhoea, he obtained a furlough in December, 1862, to return to his home in Oberlin; (lis- charged, Jan. 7, 1863, for disability, and died July 1, 1863.
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THE RECORD.
ISAAC F. MACK,
A Junior in Oberlin College; Corporal; captured at Cross Lanes; spent nine months in the hands of the rebels, at Richmond, New Orleans, and Salisbury; paroled, and exchanged; discharged from the U. S. Service, October 16, 1862. He is married, and is now Editor of the Brod- head Republican, Wisconsin.
EDGAR M. BOSTWICK,
Musician; transferred to the regimental band, July 10, 1861, and discharged, July 5, 1862.
CHARLES W. ROSSITER,
Musician ; transferred to the Regimental Band, July 10 1861, and mustered out of the service, July 5, 1862; mar- ried, and engineer on the Chicago and North Western Railroad.
PRIVATES.
MARTIN M. ANDREWS,
Appointed Corporal, Nov. 20, 1861; promoted to Orderly Sergeant, August 9, 1862; engaged in the battles of Cross Lanes, Port Republic, and Cedar Mountain, where the first finger of his left hand was broken, and the second finger was fractured; commanded the Company in the cavalry skirmish near Berryville, Va .; engaged in the battle at Dumfries; slightly wounded in the battle of Chancellors- ville; took part in the battles of Gettysburg, Rocky-Faced Ridge, Resaca, and Dallas; mustered out of the service with the Company, at Cleveland, Ohio, July 6, 1864; received an appointment as Adjutant in the 185th O. V. I.,
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THE RECORD.
February 27, 1865, and subsequently promoted to Captain; discharged, September 27, 1865, and is now engaged in . mercantile pursuits.
EDWIN B. ATWATER,
Participated in the battles of Cross Lanes, Winchester, Port Republic, Antietam, and Fredericksburg. In the battle of Port Republic a shell tore from his thigh a piece of flesh as large as a man's hand. With his characteristic coolness and bluntness, he exclaimed: "Gosh-there is enough for my breakfast." He was discharged from Co. C on the 24th day of October, 1862, to enlist in the 3d U. S. Artillery, in which branch of the service he completed his three-years enlistment, and was discharged in May, 1864. He is now married, and pursuing the Agricultural profes- sion in Michigan.
JAMES E. AVERY,
Promoted from Corporal to Sergeant, Nov. 1, 1862; known in the company as expert in the manual of arms; partici- pated in the battles of Cross Lanes, Port Republic, Antietam, Dumfries, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Ringgold, Rocky-Faced Ridge, Resaca, and Dallas; discharged at Cleveland, O., July 6, 1864.
NATHANIEL L. BADGER,
Joined Company C at Camp Dennison, from the 13th O. V. I .; present in the battles of Cross Lanes, Cedar Mountain, Dumfries, Chancellorsville, Rocky-Faced Ridge, Resaca, and Dallas; wounded at Cedar Mountain by a gunshot above the knee; served as company cook, nearly a year; detailed as post pioneer at Bridgeport, Alabama; dis- charged, July 6, 1864, at Cleveland, Ohio; married, and is
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THE RECORD.
pursuing his trade, as carpenter and joiner, at Bowling Green, O.
JOSEPH E. BATES,
Musician; transferred to the Regimental Band and with it mustered out of the service, July 5, 1862.
JAMES R. BELL,
Joined Co. C at Camp Dennison, to serve as Hospital Steward for the Regiment; transferred to the Post at Charleston, Va., December 1, 1861; afterwards promoted to Assistant Surgeon, and stationed at Gallipolis, Ohio.
WILLIAM BIGGS,
In the three-months service, was a member of a company from the vicinity of Elyria; joined Co. C at Camp Denni- son; taken prisoner at Cross Lanes; removed to Richmond, thence to Parish Prison, New Orleans, where he died with typhoid fever, in October, 1861.
FOSTER BODLE,
A member of the Junior Class, Oberlin College; captured in the battle of Cross Lanes; in the enemy's hands nine months; paroled and exchanged ; discharged at Columbus, Ohio, October 2, 1862; served six months in the Q. M. De- partment, at Nashville, in 1864; re-entered the service, Feb. 25, 1865, as Assistant Surgeon of the 185th O. V. I .. and was discharged on the 8th of October of the same year; now a Practicing Physician, in Minnesota.
CHARLES C. BOSWORTH,
Of delicate constitution; not able to endure active field- service, but served quite as profitably in the hospital; Hospital Steward; discharged Nov. 11, 1865.
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THE RECORD.
detailed as ward-master and druggist in the Post Hospital at Charleston, Va., from December, 1861, to September, 1862; transferred to Gallipolis, O., where he served as druggist and assistant steward; discharged from Co. C, at that place, April 13, 1864, and immediately appointed Hospital Steward, U. S. A .; remained at Gallipolis, until July 10, 1865, when he was transferred to Parkersburg, W. Va., and was discharged, April 22, 1866.
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JOHN M. BURNS,
Taken prisoner at the battle of Cross Lanes; spent nine months in the South, at Richmond, New Orleans, and Salisbury ; released on parole, and exchanged ; returned to the company, March 20, 1863, at Dumfries, Va .; engaged in.the battles of Cross Lanes, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Rocky-Faced Ridge, Resaca, and Dallas; wounded at Cross Lanes, Gettysburg, and Dallas; sometimes " glad he was in this army," and again "glad he wasn't"; discharged, July 6, 1864, at Cleveland, Ohio.
He is now married, and agriculturalizing in Illinois.
CHARLES H. BUXTON,
Senior in Oberlin College; appointed Corporal, November 20, 1861; promoted to Second Sergeant, Aug. 10, 1862; present at Cross Lanes, Winchester, Port Republic, and wounded in the shoulder and forearm at Cedar Mountain ; unanimously elected by the company, in October, 1862, to take its command, but the uncertainty of his early recovery and return rendered it inexpedient to forward his name to Columbus for the promotion. After partial recovery, served as Clerk in the Mansion House Hospital at Alexan- dria; appointed Acting Hospital Steward, in Jan., 1863, and served in that capacity until Jan. 1, 1864, when he was detailed by the War Department as Clerk in the Adju- tant General's Office, where he remained until he was
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