USA > Ohio > The history of Fuller's Ohio brigade, 1861-1865; its great march, with roster, portraits, battle maps and biographies > Part 25
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267
THROUGH A BARREN COUNTRY.
in Colonel Swayne, Lieutenant-Colonel Kirby and their wounded comrades. we can ill afford. Permit me to thank the officers and men for their cheer- ful, gallant, enterprising, and successful work achieved at the very opening of the campaign1.
O. O. HOWARD, Major-General.
Captured Confederate papers announced at this time that "Sherman's Army was lost, that his troops were starving and that all would soon be killed or captured."
On February 10th while foraging for supplies, raids were made upon the smoke houses on the plantations where large quantities of hams and bacon were found. On February 11th, reconnaissance was made and we camped near the North Edisto River at Holman's Bridge. On February 12th the pickets found the pine woods on fire. Trees fell all night long and the smoke was choking and blinding covering men's faces with soot. The river was crossed at Bennaker's Bridge and the town of Orangeburg was occupied at midnight. Strong earthworks had been built on the river banks by the enemy. As a matter of history it was over this very ground that Marion and his men marched and fought during the Revolution.
CAPTURE OF COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINAA.
The march was continued for forty miles until the 15th of February, when camp was made on the Congaree River near a stockade prison for- merly occupied by Federal prisoners. These prisoners' only shelter for themselves during their confinement, had been in mud holes and hovels.
On the 16th of February, the 1st Division marched along a road parallel with the river to the junction of the Saluda and Broad Rivers, in full view of Columbia, the Capitol of South Carolina, situated on high ground oppo- site. During the day Stone's Brigade of the Fifteenth corps crossed the Broad River on rafts. On February 17th, at dark, the First Division crossed the two rivers on pontoons, the balance of the Army of the Tennes- see following. The United States flag was raised over the old State House by General Belknap, over the very building where secession was first promulgated and where the old stars and stripes were first trailed in the dust, in 1860. The First Division marched through the streets of Colum- bia and camped two miles northwest of the city, from which place could be seen the great conflagration then in progress. Many buildings were des- troyed by the fire, most of them containing stores of cotton, tobacco, flour, coffee, and sugar, with carloads of Confederate paper money and six presses for making it. Ammunition and machinery for manufacturing munitions of war, and one hundred cannon came into possession of the Union troops. Much of this material of war had just arrived from Charleston, South
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268
FULLER'S OHIO BRIGADE.
Carolina, by rail. It was an exciting scene of chaotic grandeur. New , was received of the Evacuation of Charleston, South Carolina, and of Wilmington, North Carolina, so that our army felt that it was reaping the fruits of this great march.
The right wing turned from Columbia, eastward toward Cheraw. the left wing arriving by way of Alston. The cavalry followed the railroad north as far as Chester, making a feint toward Charlotte to which point Beauregard was directing his rebel detachments.
The rains were heavy, the roads fearful. We had to corduroy every foot of the way with fence rail and split saplings. The Catawba River rose fast and carried away our pontoon bridges, leaving the Fourteenth Corps on the west bank, and there was some day's time lost in getting over. They were compelled to use the fifth chains of their wagons. for anchor choinc.
MOVEMENT ON THE WINSBORO ROAD.
On February 18th, the troops destroyed the Charlotte and Columbia Railroad with one hundred and fifty cars, fourteen locomotives and the arsenal. The destruction of the railroad was continued until the 22nd as far as Winnsboro. The usual method employed for this work was first to strip the rails from the track, then pile the ties high, one upon the other, and place the rails so that they rested in the center upon the ties. Fire was then set to the whole and when the rails became hot, the end dropped down, after which the men twisted them around trees, or the Michigan Engineer Corps, would apply iron tongues at each end of the rail and put in three twists.
The Second Brigade served on provost guard in Columbia.
On the 2nd the Catawba River was crossed and camp was made at Popular Springs. On the 23rd, the men moved on the Peay's Ferry Road to the west bank of the Wateree River where a guard was detailed to take all horses from the possession of the "bummers" and foragers as they came to cross, and to slaughter all worthless animals. At dark, the First Divi- sion crossed over on a pontoon bridge, camping on the east side of the river.
On February 24th, a march was made on the Camden Road, through the village of Liberty Hill over a rocky and hilly country and across Beaver Creek, on the easterly side of which, the marching was over a more level country. The land composed of white sand covered with immense forests of pine, from which rosin and turpentine were being gathered. The creeks and streams were numerous, whole divisions of men crossing them in single file, over fallen trees. The largest streams, Lynch Creek and Black River, were bridged and crossed February 26th.
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DIFFICULTIES ON THE MARCH.
By February 27th and 28th the rations became so scarce that details of soldiers were sent out to forage and to run neighboring grist mills. The country was found to be too poor to furnish forage. General Sherman, riding along on this road, saw a negro standing near, looking at the pass- ing troops, and asked him what road it was. "Him lead to Cheraw, mas- sa." Sherman asked if it was a good road and how far it led. "A very good road and eight or ten miles." "Any guerillas?" "Oh no, massa, dey is gone two days ago; you could have played cards on der coat tails, dey was in sich a hurry!"
General Barry asked the negro what he was doing there. He answered. "Dey say, massa, Sherman will be along soon!" "Why that was General Sherman you were talking to." The negro almost in the attitude of prayer exclaimed, "De great God!" and ran up and trotted by the side of Sherman's horse for a mile or so, giving the General all the information he possessed.
THE CAPTURE OF CHERAW, SOUTH CAROLINA.
March 1st, the First Division reached a point within fifteen miles of Cheraw. South Carolina, and built rifle pits. The enemy was again con- centrated in front, and the advance waited for the troops in the rear to close up. On March 3rd, the First Division with the Twenty-seventh and Thirty-ninth Ohio in advance, moved forward and across Juniper and Johnson's Creeks, and were soon deployed as skirmishers, advancing across the fields, climbing over, or tearing down the fences, passing through woods, thick underbrush and other obstructions, a distance of ten miles, finally capturing the enemy's earthworks from which they retreated, leaving their camp fires still burning.
Firing was continued on and through the town of Cheraw, the Twenty- seventh and Thirty-ninth Ohio being in advance, until the Great Pee Dee River was reached, a large, deep, navigable stream. The bridge over this river was found to be on fire, as was also the railroad depot. The enemy remained on the east bank of the river, contesting the passage of the First Division, until the great bridge was consumed and fell into the river. The captures consisted of the old United States Arsenal, thirty-six pieces of ar- tillery, thirty-six tons of powder, a large quantity of fixed ammunition, three thousand muskets, provisions, locomotives and cars.
At Cheraw by the carelessness of a soldier, thirty-six hundred barrels of powder, which had been captured there were exploded. This explosion killed and maimed several of our men. One of the twenty-pound Blakely guns captured, was ornamented at the breach with a brass plate, on which was inscribed: "Presented to the Sovereign State of South Carolina by one of her citizens resident abroad, in Commemoration of the Twentieth
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THE BATTLE OF BENTONVILLE.
of December, 1860:" This was the day that South Carolina seceded. These guns, some of them brass pieces, were at the Rock Island United States Arsenal in the year 1886. The Twenty-seventh Ohio was placed on guard over the captured artillery, over which they planted their flag for they were the first in possession of it.
On March 4th, a detachment of the Twenty-seventh Ohio Infantry under Captain Charles H. Smith was sent down along the bank of the Pee Dee River and built a line of earthworks in anticipation of a gun boat attack. Later in the day, the Thirty-ninth Ohio and Eighteenth Missouri crossed the river in boats and drove the enemy from the eastern bank. This enabled the pontoons to be laid for the army to cross. At five o'clock in the afternoon, all the First Brigade was in advance of the army, and denne the enemy from the east hand They marched in line of battle, the Thirty-ninth as skirmishers, in advance, and firing a distance of two miles. The First Division camped after dark, forming a hollow square.
At ten o'clock at night, the enemy destroyed its ammunition train by blowing it up, causing a terrible explosion which illuminated the sky to the left and front of the Union lines. There was an alarm in camp imme- diately, bugles sounded the "Assembly." drums beat the "Long Roll" and the reserve forces were double-quicked forward, but all fear of an attack soon vanished when it was found that the enemy had retreated again.
March 6th the Division marched to Bennettsville. On the 7th, we marched on the Fayetteville Road to Beaver Dam Creek, over bad roads.
ARTILLERY IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA SWAMPS. March, 1865.
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272
FULLER'S OHIO BRIGADE.
On the 8th, we crossed the Little Pee Dee River, marched to Falls Cottage building several miles of corduroy road with fence rails and camping in. the first time in North Carolina. On the 9th, we marched in rain, all das a distance of fifteen miles, through Laurel College Village and made camp after nine o'clock at night in rain and darkness. On the 10th !! marched fifteen miles before breakfast could be obtained and went in! camp at midnight, near Rock Fish Creek. The Fourteenth and Fifteenth Corps followed direct roads. The Twentieth diverged to the left. our Cavalry covered our trains from Wheeler's and Hampton's cavalry.
THE CAPTURE OF FAYETTSVILLE.
On the 11th of March the First Division in advance, entered Fayett -- ville, situated on the Cape Fear River. The Confederate troops under Johnston, Hoke, Hardee, and McLaws, burned the cotton factories and also the bridge over the Cape Fear River, then retreated from the town leaving two one hundred-pound Parrot guns. The Union troops des- troyed absolutely. the old United States Arsenal and a vast amount of machinery which formerly belonged to the old Harper's Ferry United States Arsenal. A battering ram was used to break down the walls.
On the 13th the river was crossed on pontoons. A United States armed tug and steamboat came up the river from Wilmington, bringing despatches and mail for the army. This was the first news received from the north since leaving Beaufort, a period of about fifty-five days. The first letter received in Cleveland from Sherman's Army since leaving Savannah, Georgia, was from Major Charles H. Smith, directed to Mr. H. M. Shumway. Only a glimpse of news could be had from the captured rebel papers, and they told how Sherman's Army had been destroyed on several occasions.
Only coffee, sugar and hard bread were issued by the commissary department for the soldiers on this march. Much of the subsistence wa- obtained from the country, a portion of which was intended for the Con- federate Army. The troops waited in camp for orders, constantly on the alert until the 17th, when they crossed Black River and marched sixteen miles. On the 18th, camp was made at Goshen Church. On the 19th the men crossed Falling Creek, on Facing's Road and camped. On the 20th. a march of twenty-five miles was made starting at midnight. A Junction was made on the Averasboro Road with the right of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Corps, which was then engaged in the Battle of Averasboro.
The next day the opposition to our progress by the enemy continued stubborn. Hardee had taken up a strong position near Averasboro and hi- line was caught in flank, by our troops and swept away. Two hundred
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THE FIRST DIVISION TURNS ENEMY'S FLANK.
and seventeen men of Rhett's Brigade were captured including Captain McBeth's Battery of three guns. One hundred and eight of the dead were buried. Five hundred and fifty-four officers and men were killed or wound- ed. Colonel Albert Rhett, former commander of Fort Sumpter, was cap- tured. He was handsomely dressed in the most fashionable rebel uniform.
The left wing now turned east toward Goldsborough, the right wing. to the right, its columns well drawn out, owing to bad roads. Our heads of columns were within five miles of Bentonville. Everyone thought that the danger was over when suddenly Slocum's left wing ran up against the whole of Johnston's Rebel Army. Their lines embraced the village of Bentonville. The country was very obscure and maps defective. Howard's right wing was turned at once toward Bentonville.
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BATTLE OF BENTONVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA.
On March 21st, the First and Second Brigades of the First Division went into position on the right of the Fifteenth Corps, near Mill Creek and under command of General Joseph A. Mower, marched several miles to the right of the Union Army and around the left flank to the rear of the Confederate Army, passing through swamps, creeks, underbrush, forests, fields and difficult ground. At the foot of the hill, we captured a cason. At this point, we raised a vell and charged forward on a run, the Twenty-seventh and Thirty-ninth Ohio reached far to the rear of the Con- federate Army, to the headquarters of the Confederate Army Commander. General Joseph E. Johnston. Over the door of an old log house, which he had occupied, was nailed the general headquarters sign. The General with liis staff and Cavalry Escort stampeded, leaving their horses tied to fences. Captain W. H. H. Mintern of the Thirty-ninth Ohio, gallantly rushing for- ward, captured Johnston's sash, sword, belt, his horse saddled and bridled. and his private correspondence. Close by there was an old building used for a Confederate hospital in which were found wounded men of the Fourteenth Corps, captured the day before, with whom the brigade skir- mishers conversed.
General Sherman on being informed that the two brigades had advanced too far and were out of line, ordered General Mower to retire them, to connect with the established line of the army. General Fuller gave this order reluctantly, and the right of the line retired after having repulsed Wade Hampton's Cavalry, which had attacked the front and right flank. The Twenty-seventh Ohio and Thirty-ninth Ohio Regiments drop- ped upon the ground, and continued firing until the enemy was out of sight. During the conflict, a Union soldier who had remained too long in advance of the line of battle, started back to regain his regiment, when a Confeder-
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ORGANIZATION OF THE FIRST DIVISION.
ate Cavalry man dashed toward him in full view of the Union troops. He shouted "surrender" and instantly fired but missed. A puff of smoke, the crack of a Union rifle, the Cavalry man fell from his horse, and the Union soldier was saved. Sergeant E. S. Moreheed, Company K, of the Twenty- seventh Ohio, no doubt was the man who saved the Union soldier.
When the right of the brigade fell back, the three left companies B. K. and G. of the Twenty-seventh Ohio, under command of Major Charles IT. Smith, remained upon the field and Sergeant J. A. Stukey, carrying the Regimental flag, immediately joined them. These three companies moved a few yards to the left and joined the Thirty-ninth Ohio under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Daniel Weber, which Regiment also remained in its former position at the front, until the enemy had entirely disappeared and all danger of attack was over. Soon after, Captain Simpson of die Twenty-seventh Ohio, brought the second order to retire to the main line. which was leisurely done. The Confederate Army retreated during the following night, pursued by the Union Army. This was the last battle in which the Twenty-seventh, Thirty-ninth. Forty-third and Sitxy-third Ohio Infantry was engaged. The loss in the First Division was two hundred and fifteen killed, wounded and missing. The part taken by General Ful- ler's command and its success in this action, was greater than was known at the time. Had Sherman fully realized what we had accomplished, he would have pushed forward and followed with his army.
General Sherman says: "On the 21st of March, it began to rain again and we remained quiet until about noon, when General Mower, ever rash. with two brigades of the First Division, broke through the rebel lines on his extreme left flank and was pushing straight for Bentonville, and the bridge across Mill Creek; I ordered him back to connect with his own corps and lest the enemy should concentrate on him, ordered the whole rebel line to be engaged with a strong skirmish fire. I think I made a mistake there and should have rapidly followed Mower, with the whole of the right wing, which would have brought on a general battle and it could not have resulted otherwise than successfully to us, by reason of our vastly superior numbers. But at the moment, for the reasons given. I prefered to make a junction with General Terry and Schofield before engaging Johnston's Army, the strength of which was utterly unknown." General Johnston makes the rebel loss :
In killed and wounded 2343
In prisoners captured 1625
Total 3968
McMahon's Division about this time was sent to Johnston by Lee from his army at Richmond.
At Fayetteville, North Carolina, March 12, Sherman communicated with Honorable E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War. as follows: "I know that you will be pleased to hear that my army has reached this point, and
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FULLER'S OHIO BRIGADE
has opened communication with Wilmington. I have done all that I pro- posed and the fruits seem ample for the time employed. The surrender of Charleston, Georgetown and Wilmington are incidents, while the utter demolition of the railroad system of South Carolina, and the utter destruc- tion of the enemy's arsenals at Columbia, Cheraw and Fayetteville are the principals of the movement. These points were regarded as inaccessible to us, and now no place in the Confederacy is safe against the army of the west. Let Lee hold on to Richmond, and we will destroy his country, and then of what use is Richmond? He must come out and right us on open ground and for that we must ever be ready. Let him stick behind hi- parapets, and he will perish. My army is as cheerful and united as ever. and as full of confidence in itself and leaders."
To General Grant, Sherman wrote, "Let's make sure of the Mississippi Valley. The Atlantic Slope and Pacific Shores will follow its destiny, and from the west we will make short work of Charlestown and Richmond "
March 22nd the First Division marched to Bentonville and saved a bridge across Mill Creek. On the 24th our march was continued across the Neuse River, passing through Goldsborough and camping east of the town. Froni Goldsborough a detachment of the Sixty-third Ohio was sent to New Berne with several hundred animals, captured by the First Division. On March 31st, the Sixty-third Ohio. Major Oscar L. Jackson Command- ing, had a skirmish with the enemy. Thus was concluded the longest and most important march ever made by an organized army through the enemy's territory, in a civilized country. During the campaign just ended in the Carolinas, from January to April there occurred one hundred and fifty skirmishes.
The distance from Savannah to Goldsborough was four hundred and twenty-five miles. The route traversed embraced five large and navigable rivers, the Edisto, Broad, Catawba, Pee Dee and Cape Fear. The country generally was almost in a state of nature, with mud roads and swamps. nearly every mile of which had to be corduroyed. The whole journey was accomplished in mid-winter, in fifty-five days. This movement compelled the evacuation of the city and harbor of Charleston, South Carolina and the army captured the important depots of supplies, Columbia, Cheraw and Fayetteville, it broke the railroads and consumed food and forage for the whole march .. No one can tell half the story, or ever have the proper understanding of that winter campaign, who did not participate in it. Many nights after passing through a day of fearful vicissitudes and labor, thou- sands of men laid down upon the ground, without protection from the storm and without food. Many marched into Goldsborough barefooted and in ragged uniforms. A large number of white refugees, mostly in car- riages, accompanied the army trains from Columbia, South Carolina and a still greater number of slaves in whole families, many walking, others in old and odd vehicles, on inules and on horseback, bringing with them their
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ORGANIZATION OF THE FIRST DIVISON.
household utensils. No such sight was ever before witnessed by an army. At Goldsborough, Sherman's army was joined by General John M. Scho- field's Twenty-third Corps, from Tennessee and General A. H. Terry's Tenth Corps from Virginia who had marched from New Berne, North Carolina. Among these troops were found fathers, brothers and other relatives of the western soldiers who had not met since the war began.
At Goldsborough, North Carolina, on the 25th of March, an order was issued for the use of the arrow as emblematic of this Corps (Seven- teenth) for a badge, to take the place of one formerly used. As explained, "the arrow is symbolic of swiftness, of surety in striking and of destructive power." The arrow of the First Division was colored red, that of the Second Division white, of the Third Division blue, and of the Fourth Division yellow.
CHAPTER XXX.
ORGANIZATION OF THE FIRST DIVISION.
FIRST DIVISION : Major-General Joseph A. Mower, General W. Fuller in command from January 25th.
First Brigade, Colonel Charles Sheldon, in command from January 25th.
Sixty-fourth Illinois, Major Joseph S. Reynolds.
Eighteenth Missouri. Lieutenant-Colonel William 11. Minter, Colonel Charles S. Sheldon, Lieutenant- Colonel Charles H. Minter, Major William MI.
Twenty-seventh Ohio, Major Isaac N. Gilruth.
Thirty-ninth Ohio, Captain John W. Orr, Lieutenant- Colonel Daniel Weber.
Second Brigade : Brigadier-General John W. Sprague, Colonel Milton Montgomery, assumed command January 29, Briga- dier-General John W. Sprague in command from March 28.
Thirty-fifth New Jersey, Colonel John J. Cladek.
Forty-third Ohio, Colonel Wager Swayne, wounded February 2nd, 1865, Major Horace Park.
Sixty-third Olio, Major John W. Fouts, Captain Otis W. Pollock, Major Oscar L. Jackson.
Twenty-fifth Wisconsin, Lieutenant-Colonel Jeremiah M. Rusk, Colonel Milton Montgomery.
Third Brigade: Colonel John Tillson, Colonel Charles H. DeGroat, in command March 26th, to April 10th, Lieutenant- Colonel James S. Wright, Colonel John Tillson. Tenth Illinois, Lieutenant-Colonel Mclain F. Wood, Lieutenant-Colonel Divade Gillespie.
Twenty-fifth Indiana, Lieutenant-Colonel James S. Wright, Major William H. Grimshaw, Lieutenant- Colonel James S. Wright.
Thirty-second Wisconsin, Colonel Charles S. DeGroat. Lieutenant-Colonel James H. Carlton, Major Wil- liam H. Burrows.
"Bentonville, N. C., March 22nd, 1865.
Sherman said :-
"Yesterday, this army beat on its chosen ground the concentrated armies of our enemy, who has fled in disorder, leaving liis dead. wounded and prisoners in our hands and burning his bridges on his retreat. General Schofield, from New Berne on the same day entered Goldsborough, Gen- eral Terry from Wilmington secured Cox's Bridge and laid a pontoon across Neuse River, so that our campaign has resulted in a glorious success, after a march of the most extraordinary character, nearly five hundred miles.
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