USA > Ohio > The history of Fuller's Ohio brigade, 1861-1865; its great march, with roster, portraits, battle maps and biographies > Part 38
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Their marches during several long campaigns averaged over twenty, frequently thirty-five, and once in the state of Missouri, from Greenfield, to Springeld and again from its camp near the Roanoke River, Virginia, a dis- tance of forty-five miles in one day. The total march on foot, in ten south- ern states, was fifty-five hundred miles, a record not surpassed by any in- fantry. Their accomplishments and high standing were due largely to the discipline and thorough preparation of their men.
The Twenty-seventh Regiment at its organization received the benefit of the practical military knowledge of a number of its members, who had just returned from a three months' service.
Its first Colonel (afterward General) John W. Fuller, was prominent in military affairs in his young manhood and when he took command, he was fresh from the West Virginia campaign. He was a man of honor and a fervent patriot and in his judgment, clear and concise. Few commanders possessed a deeper knowledge of the details of the army. He showed the highest type of the American Volunteer, the soldier and the leader. On
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no occasion did he fail or blunder. He left his stamp on the entire brigade and gave it a name and a fame. His soldiers were devoted to him and at all times rallied instantly at his call. They followed him in the midst of the conflict at Atlanta, when so bravely he carried the Twenty-seventh regiment flag to the front in the last charge which drove the enemy to final defeat.
Our next commander Z. S. Spaulding, was also in the previous three months' service with the "crack" Seventh New York Infantry. He was a thorough disciplinarian and a man of undoubted courage.
Colonel Churchill gave to the regiment his administrative ability derived from his long experience as a manager of business affairs. He commanded with intelligence and firmness, he was always careful, never hasty nor harsh, but with sound judgment, making a most excellent officer.
Rev. John Eaton, Jr., Chaplain of the Regiment was a man of unusual ability and kindness of heart and was at all times most earnestly devoted to the interest and welfare of the men. He entered the service August 16, 1861. He was given charge of the abandoned cotton lands and the freedmen of Northern Mississippi by the United States Government, November 1862. He was appointed Colonel of the Sixty-third United States colored troops October 10th, 1863 and was breveted Brigadier-General March 13th, 1865. He settled in Tennessee after the war and became editor of the Memphis Post, a Republican Journal, and rose to be a leader of his party. He was elected Superintendent of Public Education in 1866.
The surgeons of the Twenty-seventh were exceptionally distinguished and rendered important professional service. Surgeon W. R. Thrall had the great honor of serving as a staff officer in the Russian Army during the Crimean War under Emperor Alexander Second.
The Captains of Companies were generally men capable and worthy of the positions. Captain James Morgan commanded during the March to the Sea and Major J. N. Gilrath through the Carolinas, Major Charles H. Smith having temporary command of the regiment. This officer brought to the Twenty-seventh Ohio the experience of his previous three months' drill and training as a Zouave in the Seventh Ohio Regiment. By his experience, intrepid courage, keen judgment and foresight in the discharge of every duty that fell to him as a soldier, he won many laurels for the regiment. He brought to it that strong enthusiasm which has been the characteristic of his life. In the confusion of battle, at a vital moment. he did not wait for orders but from the heart of this true American soldier came the quick command. This was shown when he was Orderly Sergeant of Company G, at the battle of Corinth, Mississippi. Every officer in his company had been shot down. He assumed command and boldly led his men into the midst of the Ninth Texas Regiment Color Guard and into the very jaws of death. In the desperate encounter that followed, under cir- cumstances of daring, danger and exposure, such as rarely and perhaps has never fallen to the lot of any single company of men, there fell around the captured flag eleven men of Company G, the enemy's dead and wounded mingled with them.
Again on the field of Atlanta, Georgia, as a Lieutenant, he led Com- pany A's skirmish line across the field under a heavy fire of musketry and engaged and held the enemy at the edge of a thick woods. He saw the
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THE 27TH V. V. I. AND ITS MEN.
enemy's position; they were massing in lines to charge .. He knew the necessity of immediate action, without which they would overwhelm the Ohio Brigade, that the Brigade must strike before the enemy completed his heavy formation. Quickly the skirmishers regained the regiment and then like a hero he ran along the line of troops shouting the charge. Instantly the men sprang to their feet, there was a click of muskets, and with the greatest gallantry and wild shouts they moved forward to the charge and drove the enemy from the field.
General Churchill commenting on his action said, "The charge was not made a moment too soon, and no doubt, it was that which saved us from defeat, securing to the Union cause a glory that can never fade."
The Twenty-seventh Ohio was commended for its bravery in action on several occasions. At Corinth by General Rosecrans, who said, in the presence of the Brigade: "I saw the Twenty-seventh Ohio chasing the enemy with the bayonet." And to the Brigade he said: "I raise my hat in the presence of men as brave as those who surrounded me, the prisoners you have captured and the dead and wounded at my feet are evidences of your bravery." The gallant conduct of the Twenty-seventh Ohio elicited from him special honorable mention in his official report to General Grant.
General Dodge says of the Twenty-seventh Ohio at Kenesaw Moun- tain: "See how well those brave fellows hold that dangerous position." General McPherson said of them at Nick-o-jack, "None but the best troops could have succeeded in that assault."
The Regiment had on its rolls 1,459 men. One man in every twenty- five was killed in battle. One man out of every thirteen died in the hos- pital from wounds or disease. The total mortality was one out of every eight and three-fourths of the enlisted number. It furnished three Gener- als, three Colonels, seven Lieutenant-Colonels, seven Majors, three Sur- geons, four Assistant Surgeons, one Chaplain, forty-two Captains, fifty- eight First Lieutenants, thirty-seven Second-Lieutenants. Of the thirty- seven officers who left Ohio at its organization, only two remained on the rolls at muster out of the Regiment in July, 1865.
SERGEANT J. J. GRUBER.
Company G, Forty-third Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, relating an incident at Rivers Bridge, South Carolina, February 9th, 1865.
Just after the capture of Savannah, Georgia, the Ohio Brigade entered on the campaign through the Carolinas. At Rivers Bridge over the Salke- hatchie Swamps, South Carolina, General Wade Hampton's forces of Con- federates were fortified. To dislodge them, Companies A. G. and D. of the Forty-third Ohio were ordered to fix bayonets and charge down the roadway in platoons of four, while four companies, preceding, should carry planks to bridge the river.
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The charging column was successful in gaining the bank of the river, but the planks for the crossing, never came up. The enemy's cannon in our front scattered the men who were carrying the planks. The loss of our men was very heavy in killed and wounded.
In gaining the banks of the river, a continual fire was kept up by us at the works which had been thrown up and at the field battery of the Con- federates. While this assault was going on, our men made a successful crossing about one mile below. While I was on the firing line, my canteen was full of water, corked tight, and swinging in front of me. A minnie ball struck the canteen in about the center of it, and knocked me down. I soon got to my feet and after a careful survey, found myself unharmed. My canteen however was badly damaged, as the force of the ball burst it wide open at the seam. The ball, which I have in my possession today, dropped to my feet.
This was the closest call I ever experienced as a soldier during my three years and nine months active service.
THE IRON NERVE OF A SOLDIER.
BY H. C. EVANS, Company C, Twenty-seventh Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry Regiment.
In the charge at Ruff's Mills, Georgia, in which the Twenty-seventh Ohio participated, I was wounded and while lying under a tent fly, await- ing attention from the surgeons, I saw under the same fly an improvised Surgeon's table and on this table was a man who had been shot through the leg. He was a member of Company B of the same Regiment. The wound- ed soldier who was a German, refused to take an anasthetic and the doctors and soldiers who were attending him were compelled to continually push his body back on the table, as he attempted to rise, evidently to see what the surgeons were doing. After the operation was completed and the stump was tied up. the wounded man, who, as it happened, had been for- merly a cooper, sat up on the table, threw his legs over the side and jumped off, alighting on his one good leg. Swinging the other, he exclaimed, "Py Golly, I can make parrels yet.'
This happening impressed itself vividly on my mind, but I did not see him again until thirty-four years after the war at which time I was driving down Naghten Street in the city of Columbus, when I saw a peg legged soldier plodding along the sidewalk going in the same direction. I drove to the curb and and took the old soldier in to give him a lift. Tapping the wooden peg leg as the soldier sat on the seat beside me I asked. "Where did you lose your good leg?" "At Ruff's Mills, Georgia, July 4th. 1864," was the answer. I looked him in the face a moment and recognized the wounded soldier. It was George Evercourt that I had seen jump off the table under the fly tent, not deploring the loss of his leg, but exulting that he was still able to make barrels and I said to him, "Well, I saw the sur- geon cut it off." George Evercourt of Company B died March 20th, 1908.
A TRIP WITH PRISONERS.
BY CHARLES I. ADKINS, Company K, Twenty-seventh Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry.
During the summer of 1863, while Fuller's Ohio Brigade was camped near Memphis, Tennessee, Captain William Feeney received orders to report with his company (K) of the Twenty-seventh Ohio, at the river front, there to take charge of and guard a boat load of Confederate prison- ers, who were being transported from the lower Mississippi to a northern prison. There were several hundred among whom were about twelve .or fifteen commissioned officers.
This being the unhealthy season of the year, much sickness prevailed among the prisoners, and a score or more died before reaching their desti- nation. Surgeon James Sprague of the Twenty-seventh Ohio, had charge of the sick, and the writer of this article was detailed to assist the doctor in the performance of his professional duties. The boat upon which the prisoners were being conveyed, was a large "side wheeler," and the men both sick and well were scattered, fore and aft, on all of the three decks. Some were in the hull of the vessel and a more despondent and unsympa- thetic gathering of men would have been difficult to find. If sick call had been made in the usual manner, namely, by the sound of drum or bugle : "Come get your quinine, come get your quinine!" I doubt if any would have responded, therefore, the sick were sought out in the following manner :
Doctor : "Well, young man, what is your name?"
"Tom Price."
"What seems to be the matter with you?"
"I don' gis know, but got diaru an ager anyhow."
"How long have you been having diarrhea and ague?"
"I don' ges know, but ever sin' sometime 'fore ye all took Vigsburg."
After looking at the patient's tongue and feeling his pulse, the doctor would say in his kindly way, "Now, young man, you take the medicine that I send you and I think that in a few days you will feel all right." And the man would say, "Thank you, Doctor, much urbleege."
Another case was that of John Jones an Arkansas Volunteer, who told the doctor that he had been troubled with "disinter and Yaller janders" ever since General Price made "der Yanks srender at Lexington" (Sep- tember 19th, 1861) and so on in about the same manner through a long list of sick that was visited daily during the several days' trip, each day finding the patient if alive. no better and the medicine untouched. When the doctor would ask why the medicine had not been taken, the reply in most cases was, "I had no wata, and no one would get me un. I don' ker nohow, I'd zleve die as live, ye all gwine ter put us in dem air northun prisons, whare weuns all starve to death anyhow."
The despondency and indifference manifested by these army com- rades was not wholly without cause. While it may be true that available
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comforts for sick men were somewhat wanting, I am sorry to say that a disposition, by those in authority to make use of comforts for the sick that were at hand, was probably still more wanting. There were about fifty or sixty double bunk state rooms with soft mattresses, all of which were empty save those that were occupied by about seventeen commissioned officers. There was enough good wholesome food gathered from the cabin tables after each meal and thrown overboard to have supplied all the sick with palatable diet, all of which could have been had for the asking. But the reader may ask, why did not the writer ask? The writer did ask and re- ceived in proportion to his authority.
While it was true that these officers were prisoners of war and had no official power, yet there is an unwritten law in the will of all persons who are high in rank or position, the power of which carries an influence that ofttimes dominates the actions of those who are higher in authority but lower in rank, and that too without the latter making any snc-ifce in either their legal or moral duty.
In order to insure the geater safety from the attack of guerilla bands that might be prowling the river banks, it was ordered while making the north bound trip that the boat tie up during the darkest part of the night. It was during these nocturnal stops that we embraced the opportunity of interring the deceased in unmarked graves along the shores of the great "Father of Waters."
On reaching St. Louis, ambulances were soon on the wharf with at- tendants and paraphernalia to care for the sick and to convey them to hos- pitals in the city. As the weak and feeble men were carefully borne ashore on comfortable hand bars, I found that a greater tie of sympathy existed between "Johnny" and "Yank" than I had hitherto realized. As I assisted a seventeen year old boy to his place in the ambulance, I gave him a one dollar hand shake in evidence of my sympathy. with words to suit the act.
After continuing our journey about twenty-five miles farther up the river, we landed and disembarked all well Confederates, rank and file, turn- ing the same over to the custody of the warden of the military prison at Alton, Illinois. After this we returned to St. Louis where our company was assigned to quarters in the Schofield barracks, and where we remained for several days, waiting our return transportation.
During our stay in St. Louis. I sought the opportunity of visiting the hospital, to which our sick had been taken and in so doing I was much gratified in finding that they had fallen in kind hands, and comfortable quarters. That visit left a pleasant and lasting impression on my mind. I well remember as I slowly walked down the long aisle of one ward. looking to the right and left in search of faces that I miglit recognize, a boy's voice called out, "Hello Doctah, wha yer gwine?" Almost simultaneously with the first, a half dozen other voices greeted me in like manner. While the voices seemed quite familiar, the faces of the patients, were apparently strange. They had undergone the regular hospital transformation since I had last seen them at the steamboat landing, for they were washed, shaved and dressed in clean clothing. all of which makes a marked difference in the appearance of a soldier who is fresh from the front. They seemed to be surrounded with almost every need of a sick person, besides their com- fortable cots, stood small tables on which were many of the delicious fruits
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of the season and other delicacies. Several ladies were sitting by their bed- sides, reading and writing letters for the patients. Others came in with well-filled baskets passing through the wards, placing a peach here, a pear there, a bunch of grapes yonder, and so on, replenishing the tables wherever it was needed.
As I write this story I recall that we may have met some of these men on battle fields before or perhaps after this date, but now we are friends in need, humanity had asserted itself, the golden rule was being exemplified, a commendable act, for a still higher and nobler civilization was keenly ap- parent. "War is not all hell after all." Thank God!
Our absence from our regiment was about two weeks and the return trip to the "Gem City of the South" was by river steamer.
CAPTURING THE FLAG.
ORRIN B. GOULD'S STORY OF THE FLAG CAPTURED AT CORINTH, MISSISSIPPI, OCTOBER 4TH, 1862.
After the war Private Orrin B. Gould told to members of his com- pany the following story :-
After the battle had opened in our front by the charge of the Con- federates upon the lines of our brigade at Robinett, and our fire had sub- dued them so that some were hiding and firing from behind the logs and stumps, and others creeping up in our front, they began to rally again and we saw their flag advance. Our Captain and Second Lieutenant were slightly wounded and had gone to the rear. First Lieutenant Webb had been shot dead. The command of the company devolved upon Orderly Ser- geant Smith whom I heard shout, "Forward! men, let's capture that flag." We all rushed forward together, Thomas, Madigan, Small, Radway, Bur- net, Statten, Harpel, Fullerton, Jenkins, Willson, Brunner, Snider and others. It is supposed that Corporal Cheek shot the Color-bearer who fell. his face upon the colors, struck with a shot in the head. He raised himself upon his elbow, and looked up in my face. He was bleeding on the flag. The colors were spread out and I picked them up quickly with my right hand, holding my musket in my left hand. Part of the rebels broke and ran. The officer who shot me yelled to his men to save the colors and levelled his pistol to shoot again, when I saw Sergeant Smith run at him with his musket, capture him and conduct him to the rear. I carried the flag to Major Spaulding on the flagstaff and he tore it off and handed it to General Fuller. Many of our men were shot in the encounter. Some of the prisoners were brought in at the same time.
The bullet in my body went in at the right breast, struck the breast bone, glanced up and went through the right lobe of the lung, and lodged near the spine and right shoulder blade. The doctors after probing for it, said they never could reach and extract it and they thought I could not live. In the operation, they cut out two ribs. The bullet must have been fired from a large Navy revolver, judging from the size of the wound.
(Gould was made a Captain. He died with the bullet in his body at Cleveland, Ohio, September, 1892.)
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DAVID AULD. Drummer Co. G. 20th Ohio. 1861 ; Drummer Co. B, 43d Ohio, 1861 to 1865.
WHAT A DRUMMER BOY SAW DURING A STRENUOUS DAY AT CORINTH, MISS., OCTOBER 4th, 1862.
By David Auld, Co. B, 43rd O. V. V. I.
The drummer boy was one of the essentials in the general make-up of the army and his duties were many and arduous. It was not only the sounding of reveille, taps and the numerous other calls, but also the sound- ing of the long roll often at the midnight hour, awakening the slumbering troops to do battle with the enemy. When in camp the drummer boys were used as orderlies for the commanding officers: when in an engagement they were always found on the battlefield looking after and caring for the wounded and assisting in carrying them from the field of battle, which many times placed them in the most hazardous positions.
As one of these. my duties called me to all parts of the field in and about Battery Robinet, the highest point of ground on the entire battlefield being located about six hundred yards northwest of the railroad depot, from which the Mobile & Ohio R. R. ran north and south, and the Memphis & Charleston R. R. ran northwest, the Chewalla Wagon road just passing Robinett being the central point of attack by the enemy. (see map). I will
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confine my narrative to what occurred on that part of the line of battle held that day by the 43rd Ohio Infantry, (the extreme left regiment en- gaged).
At 10:00 A. M. the regiment lay in line of battle, the right resting directly in the rear of the right embankment of Battery Robinett, and about twenty yards from the ditch. The regiment faced directly west, the left resting near the M. & C. R. R. cut and almost in line with the west face of Battery Williams. Just before daylight the Confederates opened a destructive fire on our position from three batteries ( fourteen guns) whichi they planted during the night within 200 or 300 yards, and directly on the regimental right flank, enfilading our line with shrapnell and canister until silenced by Batteries Robinett, Williams and others about daylight. From this time until about 11:00 A. M. a very searching flank fire was poured into our line by sharpshooters concealed in brush, fallen timber and trees at the edge of the woods. Soon after 10:00 A. M. great columns of Con- federates poured from the woods north of our position with arms at right shoulder, their tattered banners unturied, and spread out in vast lines of battle over the plain north of the town of Corinth, sweeping all before them into the town, but were cut to pieces and driven out later. No battle scene in modern times, not even Pickett's charge at Gettysburg, could sur- pass the picture that unfolded to our vision. Looking almost directly to the rear of our regimental line we could see every man engaged in both armies at that time.
While watching these battle lines so grand to look upon, but so ter- rible to think of when you remember the frightful waste of human lives they caused, the call came: "Bring the stretchers, a man hurt." Myself and Demas took the stretchers to look for the man, he was pointed out to us and proved to be Bradford (our older brother) who had been struck by a shell in the left shoulder while lying on the ground in line waiting for the first assault just opening. By his side lay James W. Conger, whose clothing was stained by his blood. We were little more than children and the shock to us can be better imagined than described. Demas and myself lifted him to the stretcher just as Col. Kirby Smith and Adjutant Heyl were shot from their horses a few steps away We carried him to the shallow ditch by the railroad a few rods to the rear, where the temporary field hospital was located, as it offered a slight protection to the wounded from the deadly hail of bullets that fell about them coming from all directions except the rear We then placed him in an ambulance still alive and con- scious. We bid him goodbye and never saw him again. He only lived a short time and occupies an unknown grave.
The 30 pound parrott guns and others in and near Battery Williams were sending great numbers of shells screaming closely over our heads into the flanks of the charging columns. At about 11:00 A. M. above the sounds of the more distant battle, there came nearer and nearer sounds from the northwest that reminded us of the big rain drops that used to fall on the roofs of our boyhood homes preceding the storm. It was the opening sounds of our battle. Our time had come. Our single line of farmer boys and school boys were to be tried in the fire of battle as never before and given the most severe manhood test of their lives against "massed American Infantry at close quarters." There can be no test more severe. My thoughts
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were, "Can they stand it?" "Will they stand it?" The Confederate colunins were pouring from the woods in such vast numbers from the northwest that the whole space between the railroads and the woods seemed filled with them. Col. Kirby Smith mounted his horse, drew his sword, and in the same loud clear voice we had so often heard, commanded, "Attention Battalion. Fix Bayonetts. Change front forward on first company. By company, right half wheel." The command was never finished. A ball passed through his head and his voice was stilled forever. Colonel Swayne assumed command, his head bleeding from a wound by a sharpshooter, and was again wounded in the leg. About this time Adjutant Heyl was killed from his horse, Major Herick was wounded slightly in the leg, also Sergeant Major McCaffery. The officers were doing their utmost to prevent firing until the change of front was complete. The line swinging to the right on the run was quickly brought close to the flanks of the Confederates columns converging toward the Chewalla Road which now ran nearly paralell to our line. The men were falling in great numbers along the whole line of our regiment but had in obedience to orders not yet opened fire. My thoughts were, "Why don't they fire?" "Will they never fire?" "Another minute will be too late." "They will all be down." The same thoughts must have passed through the brains of those farmer boys in the ranks (who almost to a man were experts with a rifle.) For the whole line brought their guns to their shoulders and without command fired into the flank of the massed columns almost within reach of their bayonetts near the Battery, producing a scene of desolation seldom equaled on a battle field. Heaps of dead and wounded lay on the ground, in the ditch of Robinett and across our whole front. The Confederate columns, much disordered before from their rushing charge over fallen timber and brush, now lost all formation and suffering terrible losses, crowded forward in great masses toward and up the embankment of Robinett, with the desper- ate resolve of breaking over that work and through our shattered lines. The enemy although broken in formation was still desperately dangerous and aggressive. The front ranks of the whole mass continued their deadly fire nearly all at the range of only a few yards.
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