USA > Ohio > The history of Fuller's Ohio brigade, 1861-1865; its great march, with roster, portraits, battle maps and biographies > Part 11
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On the 31st, Fuller left seven companies on guard duty, which General Sullivan said would start when he was ready to move and the seven com- panies would form a rear guard. Between ten and eleven in the morning while his column was halting acar Clarksburg, Coned! Sullivan with Goni- eral Heynie and their respective staffs, and a small escort of cavalry, over- took Colonel Fuller. General Sullivan ordered him to halt for an hour or an hour and a half, till the rear guard could rejoin him, and then passed on toward Clarksburg.
Within ten minutes afterwards, an Orderly rode back at a gallop, say- ing that the enemy's cavalry had got between Colonel Fuller's command and Generals Sullivan and Heynie, and that these officers, with their escort had ridden on through Clarksburg followed by the enemy.
Colonel Fuller now moved forward, on a double quick, instantly, and upon reaching Clarksburg learned from an officer of the 29th Iowa, (who had been accidentally left on picket duty where Colonel Dunham's column had bivouacked the previous night) the enemy's force consisting of about fifty Cavalry.
DOUBLE-QUICKING TO THE FIGHT.
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The enemy had approached from the west and took the road leading south, passing before this officer had an opportunity to fire on thiem. Colonel Fuller learned that Generals Sullivan and Heynie left the road directly after passing Clarksburg. taking an easterly direction. The enemy upon reaching the same point probably saw Colonel Fuller's advance, as they filed out of the woods to the west. After halting about ten minutes, having learned nothing more, Coloned Fuller continued his march. Soon the sound of artillery in his front advised him that Colonel Dunham's Brigade consisting of the One Hundred and Twenty-second, and Thirty-fourth Illinois, Fiftieth Indiana, Seventhi Tennessee, Thirty-ninth Iowa and a Battery of six guns, was engaging the enemy, and he began a march in earnest. The firing was first heard to the right of the point where the road from McLemoresville
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RAPID MARCH TO THE BATTLEFIELD.
crosses that leading from Huntingdon to Lexington ; in half an hour it was directly in his front ; in half an hour later it was all to the left of the cross- ing, thereby rendering it certain that the enemy, who approached from Mc- Lemoresville, was rapidly driving Colonel Dunham's Brigade before him. Very soon thereafter. the rattle of musketry was distinct, and thinking the hour a critical one for the small force, who were evidently fighting against odds, Colonel Fuller urged his men to their utmost speed. When within about two miles of Parker's house an Orderly galloped to the head of the column, saying : "Colonel Sullivan, who is coming up with a rear guard, about three miles behind, orders you to halt until he comes up."
Colonel Fuller sent his assistant Adjutant-General to ride back to the General as fast as possible, to explain the situation, and ask that the order to halt be countermanded. Immediately after he had started. Colonel Fal- ler's Orderly, who had been sent to communicate with Colonel Dunham, re- turned. He was unable to get through, as the enemys position was between Colonel Fuller and that of Colonel Dunham's Brigade. From near Parker's house, where they were in force, the enemy had fired on him.
Colonel Fuller learning this, felt assured that General Sullivan would, if present and in possession of the facts, countermand his order to halt, and therefore Fuller directed that the men, instead of halting, should move forward as rapidly as possible.
When the head of Colonel Fuller's column was deployed. General Sulli- van overtook him. The 27th and 63rd were at once formed on the left and the Thirty-ninth on the right of the road, when they advanced upon the rear of the enemy's artillery which was feebly supported and abandoned when the Union forces approached. Our artillery took a position on the left of the road, and directly after opening fire, two pieces followed the infantry until they occupied ground side by side with the rebel guns, while the other piece was moved to the west side of the road, where it was effect- ively used upon the rebels who were escaping by breaking through the front of our lines.
The advance of the Twenty-seventh, Thirty-ninth and Sixty-third was in splendid style and the enemy was put to rapid flight. Sergeant Smith who was ordered to command a line of skirmishers, reached the hill to the south where the enemy's artillery was posted. His men lay down and com- menced firing on the enemy.
FORREST SURPRISED.
Some hundreds of the enemy who had dismounted and had been fight- ing as infantry, had left their horses in the orchard and yard near Parker's
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FULLER'S OHIO BRIGADE.
house. These four hundred horses and seven pieces of artillery were the first trophies that fell into our hands, and more than three hundred of their riders, thus rendered unable to get away surrendered themselves as prison- ers. A small train of wagons which the enemy had gained possession of was re-captured in the road a short distance south of Parker's house and one at least of the guns belonging to Colonel Dunham's command was re- taken from the enemy on this road. The dead bodies of our artillerists lying close to this gun attested the fidelity and bravery with which the men of the Seventh Wisconsin Battery stood at their posts until their last round of ammunition was exhausted.
Among the prisoners who surrendered were several officers of promin- ence: Lieutenant-Colonel Cox and Major Strange (Forrest's Adjutant- General), who together with the Captain commanding Forrest's bodyguard. were unhorsed by a volley from the Twenty-seventh Ohio when riding off the field with their General, and Colonel Black, who afterward escaped in citizens clothes, with several others whose names are not given.
Before referring to the subsequent march of Colonel Fuller's men, it is due to both the officers and men of the command (who marched seven miles within an hour and a half to reach the field, and who, after this exer- tion rushed forward, swinging into line and took the enemy in flank and rear with such enthusiasm as to produce a panic in the enemy's ranks to claim for them the honor of capturing what was taken from the enemy at Park- er's Cross Roads, and also of recapturing prisoners artillery, baggage wag- ons, and animals which before their arrival on the field had fallen into the hands of the enemy. When it reached the field, the enemy who from the best evidence obtainable, was about double the number of Colonel Dunham's forces, was in front and on both flanks of that brigade. A flag of truce which had not returned to General Forrest, when Fuller's guns opened, had, as Colonel Duuliam informed him, demanded an unconditional surrender. Firing had ceased for some fifteen minutes prior to Fuller's arrival, nor did the command of Colonel Dunham fire a shot at the enemy as he moved past their flanks to the rear.
About two hours after the enemy had precipitately fled, General Sulli- van informed Colonel Fuller that he was returning and advancing upon his left and front. By the General's direction, General Fuller formed two regi- ments obliquely across the road, leading east from Parker's house and sent two companies (deployed as skirmishers ) about four hundred yards to the front of this line, where he remained till daylight on the following morning. The Ohio Brigade bivouaced upon the battle field.
January 1st, the Brigade marched through Lexington, bivouacing about one mile east of that place. The next morning, Generals Sullivan and Hey-
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PURSUIT OF THE ENEMY.
nie with the Brigade of Colonel Dunham, marched toward Jackson, while Fuller's command together with the Brigade which came up from Jackson, under Colonel Lawler. marched in pursuit of the enemy toward the Tennes- see River, Fuller having orders to report to that officer. When five or six miles east of Lexington, several men were met who had escaped from the enemy after reaching the river. From these it was learned definitely that Forrest had (with the exception of the straggling prisoners) crossed the Tennessee River. Taking these men to Colonel Lawler, Colonel Fuller re- spectfully requested that the infantry, worn out and half starved as it was, and without shelter, be spared so long and trying a march, and suggested that the reconnaissance be made by the cavalry. But Colonel Lawler in- fomed him that he had no discretion in the matter. He had no doubt of the correctness of these statements, he said, but the entire force must march. That day he proceded within eight or nine miles of Clifton. The country was hilly and rocky and the roads bad, and added to this, the rain fell almost constantly during the march of fifty-four miles from Lexington to Clifton.
FORREST ABANDONS THE COUNTRY.
On January 3rd, 1863, Colonel Fuller's Brigade was ordered to move toward Clifton. He was instructed to use his own judgment as to the move- ment, to ascertain for himself whether the enemy had all crossed the river, and if so, to return. Upon reaching a point where the road to the furnace leaves that leading to Clifton, two regiments with the artillery were ordered to halt. After examining the river near the furnace, which was done by a squad of cavalry, and learning that the last of the enemy had crossed on the night of the 1st, Fuller sent the cavalry in advance on the Clifton Road, and directed Lieutenant-Colonel Spaulding, with the Twenty-seventh Ohio, to follow. Directly afterward, however, Colonel Lawler came up and or- dered the entire command to advance. Upon reaching the river and learning that the road to Clifton ran along the stream for two miles, and fearing that the enemy would use his artillery from the opposite bank, Fuller ordered all but the cavalry and one regiment to halt here. But Colonel Lawler, upon coming up countermanded the order. A small picket guard was found (of perhaps fifteen men) who, after exchanging shots with our cavalry, rapidly retired, crossed the river in a small flatboat, swimming their horses. As soon as our cavalry appeared opposite the town, the enemy began to shell them from two batteries on the bluffs. No damage was done, however. Soon afterward, the enemy placed some rifled guns on the bank further up the stream, and opened fire on the light field battery which was attached to Colonel Fuller's command. Still no harm resulted. The battery which
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FULLER'S OHIO BRIGADE.
Colonel Fuller thought too light to reply effectively, and the regiments which were marching with it, and which had been drawn up in line of battle, in the woods near the river bank, skirmishing with the enemy, were rapidly moved back from the river out of range. A wagon loaded with ammunition was twice struck, and so disabled that we were compelled to abandon it. The animals and ammunition were brought away. A flag of truce accompanied by two rebel officers, crossed the river for the purpose as Colonel Wood- ward said, of making arrangements for the exchange of prisoners. They were permitted to pass our outposts, and probably did not gain much infor- mation.
An irregular fire of musketry was kept up with the enemy, for an hour or two during the afternoon by order of Colonel Lawler, but it was without results. In the afternoon the head of our column was turned toward Cor- inth. The mud was knee deep in the icy roads, the powder in the rifles be- came wet from the rain that poured down all day and the loads had to be drawn and replaced with dry ammunition. The men toiled and panted up the rough sides of these steep hills over unused roads in storm and sleet, day after day, and then after going into camp, worked all night shelling and grinding corn at the mills. In the morning they mixed their meal with water and baked it in the ashes for the next day's rations.
A MARCH OF GREAT SEVERITY.
The march of this day was more severe upon the men of Colonel Fuller's command than any which had been made up to this time. The road was in a miserable condition and the rain which fell steadily made it more so.
On the 5th of January, this command marched toward Bethel, reaching there on the 7th, and arriving in Corinth on the afternoon of the 9th. Here for the first time for twenty-two days, it found shelter, full rations for the men, and shoes for at least one hundred and fifty, who had marched bare- footed for fifty miles. Since December 18th a total distance of one hundred and eighteen miles had been covered. General Grant had anticipated an attack on Corinth. hence, our march to that place.
The inclemency of the season during this march was extremely trying to the soldiers who were often forced to make toilsome marches exposed to all kinds of weather and to bivouac at night without tents, blankets or shel- ter. They were deprived of proper food. Many went barefooted and suf- fered from sore feet. There were no ambulances to carry the sick or wounded. All these things made this march one of the most terrible ex- perienced by the Brigade, and perhaps by any troops during the war.
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LIEUTENANT-COLONEL Z. S. SPAULDING'S REPORT.
The following extracts from the official report of Lieutenant-Colonel Z. S. Spaulding, commanding the Twenty-seventh Ohio, is given to show the suffering of his men :
"Colonel Lawler ordered me to remain opposite the town until four o'clock in the afternoon, to give the other regiments time to get started back, and then return myself, which I did; but, owing to this delay, by which nothing was accomplished, night came on before we reached our camping ground, and darkness made the march tenfold harder upon the men. Not being able to pick their way, they stumbled over rocks, sunk to the waist in mud-holes, bruised their limbs, and ruined clothing which they could not afford to lose. Arriving at the point where we were to rest for the night, we found our knapsacks had been thrown out of the wagons and plundered by the Illinois troops of the other brigade. Thus many of my men were left without blankets or change of stockings, at a time when the full allow- ance of clothing and tents hardly sufficed to render the soldier comfortable. Foraging upon the country through which we passed had now been for several days our only means of support and continued to be so until our ar- rival at this place (Corinth) on the 9th instant.
To Second Lieutenant William E. Ellis, of Company A, who acted as quartermaster and through whose efficient services we obtained provisions, sufficient to sustain life, the regiment is greatly indebted. But the system adopted by which the men had to steal or starve, or, in other words, forcing the men to make extravagant marches without a proper and sufficient supply of rations, and allowing, as was done. a promiscuous siezing, without proper vouchers of everything that came within reach, I most heartily condemn. It tended to destroy discipline, to demoralize my command and render a regi- ment of good and brave soldiers a lawless mob. Of the marches thence from Bethel I have little to say, but I am assured that I express the feelings of my entire command when connections were broken.
Arriving at this place with my regiment in a condition it has never known in the eighteen months' hard service, the telling effect of its campaign becoming more and more apparent, with seventy-nine men unable from lack of shoes or from sickness or debility to make the march from Bethel here, we were received by General Dodge with an interest that showed his appre- ciation of our condition, and a willingness to supply our many wants which will cause us to ever hold him in high regard."
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FULLER'S OHIO BRIGADE
A HEAVY TAX ON THE COMMAND.
Extracts from Official Report of Colonel Edward F. Noyes of the Thirty- ninth Ohio.
"On the 3rd, the three Ohio Regiments made a reconnaissance to the river, it having been reported, however, that the enemy had already crossed his entire force. That day and the following evening, for a large portion of the time, the rain fell in torrents. The road was covered with jagged rocks, whose crevices were filled with mud. The men in stepping from rock to rock frequently slipped and fell, bruising themselves severely. Returning at night in the darkness, the men could not keep their footing, but fell every few rods. Although my regiment had but recently been supplied with new shoes and clothing throughout, at the end of that day's march sixty- six were without any shoes at all, and a large portion of their clothing was in rags. It was the most terrible march I have ever experienced, and a costly one in numbers and health of my command. If the march was a necessary one it was out of all propriety to complain of it; if it was un- necessary, as I think, I feel it to be due to the men under my command to enter my solemn protest against its repetition in the future under similar circumstances."
1
MAJOR GEN. GRENVILLE M. DODGE. Commanding 3, 16th A. C., 1864, Left Wing.
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ARRIVAL AT CORINTH.
"From January 5th to 9th, 1863, inclusive, the Command was march- ing to Corinth, having in two weeks make a forced march of about two hundred miles without transportation, without government rations, and with no supplies, but such as could be seized in a poor country along the way (generally only pork and cornmeal without cooking utensils and without medical supplies ), subject to all the demoralizations consequent upon being obliged to provide themselves with food or suffer from hunger. The com- mand reached Corinth ragged, shoeless, dispirited, and worn out."
On arriving at Corinth, the command was assigned as the Fourth Bri- gade, Second Division, of the Left Wing of the Sixteenth Army Corps, District of Corinth. Although the garrison was on half rations, General Dodge commanding the post, put Fuller's Brigade on full rations. The Surgeon reported officially that the deaths resulting from the hardships of the recent march equaled the losses of a severe skirmish. The men of the Brigade were soon in good spirits and expressed their pride and satisfaction in giving Forrest's forces a thrashing which demoralized them for a long time.
Corinth had been strongly fortified with earthworks upon which a number of small cannon had been mounted. Within these a camp was made and the soldiers soon gathered up tents and flies to sleep in. The tents were old and worn, soiled and patched, but with the help of blankets and overcoats stretched over poles, a slight protection was furnished. Here and there the damaged ends of stovepipes were sticking out through the tents, so that when one looked down the company streets, he was reminded of a shanty settlement along the railroad. But these tents did not keep the sol- diers dry in rainy weather. Police squads were formed and camp was thoroughly cleaned each day. Drills, reviews, parades, and inspections of troops were held, while companies and regiments were sent out on picket and guard duty.
On January 20th, 1863, a march was made with a train of wagons for lumber and supplies to Hamburg Landing on the Tennessee River, a dis- tance of eighteen miles, returning to Corinth on January 23rd, through Monterey. Tennessee. under command of Captain Gilmore of the Sixty- third Ohio, passing miles of old earthworks built by both armies, one year before.
On February 10th, a march of seventeen miles was made to Jacinto. Mississippi, for lumber. The men were accompanied by part of the First Alabama (Union) Cavalry who were raised principally in Marion County, Alabama, and who were scouts for the army.
On March 14th, they marched with one hundred and sixty teams for lumber, forage and rations and returned the following day, having marched a distance of thirty-six miles. Frequent trips were made at other times for supplies. A good deal of sickness prevailed in the regiments ; the Forty- third and Sixty-third Ohio suffered severely and many soldiers died.
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FULLER'S OHIO BRIGADE
On March 18th, the Brigade moved into log houses which the soldiers had built and made comfortable. Each cabin had one chimney and one window, the doors had hard leather hinges, and the wooden latches were moved by leather strings. During March, the weather was cold and stormy.
On April 5th, General Dodge reviewed the Ohio Brigade, their barracks and camp, and on the 7th, a grand review of all the troops in Corinth, In- fantry, Cavalry, and Artillery, took place. Arms were burnished bright, clothing brushed up, and all the troops passed headquarters on the south side of the square.
THE RAID THROUGH THE CHEROKEE AND CHOCTAW VALLEYS.
On April 11th cartridges were dealt out to the troops and preparations were made for a threatened attack by the enemy under General Roady, who had already fired upon the outposts of Glendale. On the 13th the Brigade moved out, and on the 20th, marched with three days' rations and supplies in wagons, for a raid into Alabama through the Cherokee and Choctaw Valleys, and to aid Colonel Streight in his raid to Rome, Georgia. From Corinth, Colonel Fuller reported that squads of Braggs men (rebels) were in front.
The First Alabama scouts, Seventh Kansas, Tenth Missouri Cavalry, and Ninth Illinois Mounted Infantry were part of the expedition. Fuller's Ohio Brigade camped at Burnsville, fourteen miles distant, the infantry as- sisting the artillery on the march by lifting the wheels out when they were stuck in the mud. On April 21st, they marched sixteen miles and bivouaced at Big Bear Creek, Alabama, crossing the stream on Pontoon bridges. O11 April 23rd, they marched eighteen miles to Caine Creek, the enemy falling back thirteen miles. All along this valley near the Tennessee River the country was beautiful and well cultivated.
April 24th, a march of eight miles was made to Tuscumbia, camping on the hill on the west side of the town, near the magnificent springs, where the pure water boiled up from under the mass of rocks. Tuscumbia was a fine old village with lovely surroundings, containing some palatial residences. Even the negro quarters looked well-kept and clean, with their fresh coats of whitewash. The railroad across the Tennessee River had been destroyed by the Union General Mitchell, the year previous.
On April 27th, the command marched ten miles to the town of Leighton near La Grange and the Alabama State Military College. They reached Town Creek on the following day and moved in line of battle against the enemy. The rebels, dressed in butternut clothing, were formed in line for action three times, then broke and retreated. Fuller's Ohio Brigade de-
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RAID THROUGH CHEROKEE VALLEY.
ployed from right to left out of the woods into line in an open field, through tall grass, and then steadily advanced proceeded by a long skirmish line. On the 29th, the raid having been successfully accomplished, General Dodge's forces faced toward Corinth and arrived there on May 2nd, having marched one hundred and fifty-two miles.
Many prisoners were captured and brought back, among them General Roady's Adjutant-General. Nine hundred bales of cotton, a large drove of cattle, horses and mules were also captured. Hundreds of black slaves from the plantations followed the columns and were fed army rations.
DUTY AT CORINTH.
From May 4th to 10th, part of the Brigade was on duty at Farming ton, their battle ground during May of the previous year, guarding stock corrals, containing three thousand horses and mules. Then they marched into Cor- inth and took freight cars for Memphis. The soldiers expressed themselves thankful to the government for the privilege of riding, even if the accommo- dations were not luxurious. Arriving at Memphis, the command camped on Poplar Street and was assigned to the Sixteenth Corps, General Oglesby commanding. (Forty-third Ohio was detached at Bethel).
The city was under martial law and was strongly fortified, near the river. Many of the citizens were Union people, but a large number were bitter secessionists, and some of the women applied insulting epithets to the soldiers. Suttlers and citizens were in the town for trade, and stores, ex- press offices, and business places were open, and carrying on a large business. Buying and selling cotton was carried on to a great extent. The soldiers, for many months, had been away from large cities, and the temptation to partake of the hospitality of the citizens was irresistible. A number who were incorrigible on account of drunkenness were lodged in the Irving Block Guard House and a few with ball and chain, were set to work on the forti- fications of Fort Pickering, near the Mississippi River, but the larger num- ber under the rigid discipline of the army, soon got down to the usual mili- tary regulations and the novelty of the changed surroundings wore off.
In the city of Memphis, in Court Square, there was a monument erected to General Andrew Jackson, who was for eight years President of the United States. It consisted of a small white marble shaft, elevated above the ground about eight feet and resting on a block of sandstone. Cut in letters on the side were his immortal and patriotic words, "The Federal Union must and shall be preserved." The whole inscription had been mutilated by the Secessionists.
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