USA > Ohio > The history of Fuller's Ohio brigade, 1861-1865; its great march, with roster, portraits, battle maps and biographies > Part 39
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The men composing a large part of these attacking columns were rough riders from Texas, and the southwest, enlisted as cavalry but serv- ing as infantry (never having been mounted) armed with breech loading Sharps rifles, (taken from the United States arsenals in Texas), the most deadly military arm known at that time. These Texans, noted for bravery and marksmanship, fully sustained their reputation. Their front ranks only could fire while the great crowded mass back of them could only rush for- ward, many to stop the shower of bullets that missed or passed through those in the front line. This condition greatly increased their losses.
As many as could line up on top of the earthwork of Robinett poured a deadly fire into that work, killing or wounding Lieut. Robinett and half of his artillery men, and driving the balance out to the rear. The changing front of the 43rd having brought Companies A and part of G into Battery Robinett, the duty of defending it quickly fell to them, which duty they nobly performed, losing more than half of their numbers in the few minutes following. The rear of the Confederate columns were still crowding for- ward (not knowing the fate of their comrades at the front) who having
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been stopped by our battle line at Robinett, each moment growing more helpless from losses and crowding, and their remnants were quickly driven in utter rout from the field and back to the woods. When the retreat com- menced it quickly developed into rout. They mostly took the line of the least resistance to the rear which was the Chewalla Road and the cleared ground.adjacent to it. This brought them directly across the front of the regimental line, where they received a heavy flank fire at close range from the whole line, doing great execution, but these remnants still dangerous lost no time in reforming and were joined by a still larger force and immedi- ately these great outnumbering columns moved upon our depleted lines for the second assault, more desperate if possible than the first. This time lead by that gallant Texan, Col. Wm. P. Rogers. After the first assault had failed, the 43rd was withdrawn by Col. Swayne to nearly the original posi- tion ( facing west between Batteries Williams and Robinett) to allow the artillery on the high ground to our left rear to rake the open ground in front of Robinett. It was this withdrawal that caused the apparent disor- der in the center of the regiment and not the fire of the enemy, as that was not severe at this time, but the heavy artillery fire prevented many of the men hearing the command to halt. No damage was done as all were in line when the command was given to change front again. At this time the 39th Ohio was moved up across the rear of the 43rd. 63rd and Battery Robinett, as a reserve in case of disaster to the front line. At this moment our Brigade and Division commanders were in grave doubt whether after their terrible punishment the front line could withstand the second storm just coming. There was a feeling of great relief passed along our line when they saw that splendid Regiment ( the 39th Ohio, with resolution marked on every face. each grasping his Whitney rifle with long sword bayonets) form in our rear. And had there been disaster to the front line there can be little doubt what would have happened to the enemy when they met this second line. As soon as the Confederate columns were fairly under way for the second assault, the 43rd was again ordered to change front, which movement was again made on double quick in time to receive the enemy in a much better position than the Regiment occupied during the first assault. The ground over which these changes of front were made was extremely rough, old camp sinks, fallen timber, stumps, brush, etc. The Regiment showed great steadiness under these conditions.
The second assault was almost a repetition of the first, except that the enemy was in greater numbers and their losses much heavier, as our boys were less nervous and more determined after their first success. The right companies in Robinett closed up to the earthwork crossing bayonets with the enemy over the parapet in one of the most desperate and deadly con- flicts of modern times, while those to the left of the work poured their deadly fire into the flanks of the enemy with greater rapidity and accuracy. throwing them into confusion, causing a repetition of the over-crowding and terrible slaughter on a larger scale. The second assault made no more headway than the first, after reaching the Battery and line of regiments. The men on both sides were melting away fast. This dreadful carnage could not long endure. Several Confederate color bearers had fallen from the parapet of Robinett when Col. Rogers, (leading the assault ) seized the colors of the 2nd Texas, and rushed to the top of the earthwork, shouting
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DRUM CORPS 43d O. V. V. I., 1890, 25 YEARS AFTER THE WAR.
Top Line-Alex Roberts, Ed Stein, Hugh Mosher (Yankee Doodle). Frank Lagdon. Stewart Roberts Bottom Line -- Johny Metlay, Jemas 1. Auld, Low Schram. Davld Auld, Wm Mech. Win Ntull
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to his men to follow and was instantly shot dead by a soldier of Company A, 43rd .* Seeing their leader fall amid heaps of their dead and wounded, the men could no longer stand the storm of lead being poured into their crowded and disordered ranks, broke and fled in complete rout. At this time a number of men from Company A manned the idle guns of Robinett directed by Sergeant Willian Lilly and poured canister into the retreating enemy as long as they were in sight.
The battle was over and the victory won, except the shouting which was long and loud, especially when at this moment the Commander-in- Chief-General Rosencrans, rode along our shattered ranks and with uncov- ered head thanked us in the name of our country, a sight that can never be effaced from the memory of any who saw it. When the firing ceased there were many willing hands to assist us drummer boys in finishing the most trying day's work of our lives, removing the wounded and dead. In a few minutes the last of our wounded were in the hands of the surgeons for fret aid, then we gathered up the ghastly dead and placed them in long rows for burial. And in all the regiments that fought that day, our rows of dead were the longest, 25 killed and 98 wounded (5 mortal), total 123, including the Colonel, Lieutenant-Colonel, Major, Adjutant and Sergeant-Major. (the whole field staff) and many line officers, one-third of all engaged, and nearly all in a few minutes.
As soon as my duties would permit after the firing ceased, I with a boy's curiosity, went to the front of Battery Robinett and of all the sights my eyes ever looked upon, this was the most ghastly and depressing, great heaps of men piled in every conceivable shape, the deep wide ditch being heaped with this frightful waste of war, many smooth faced boys, almost children, that touched my heart, and many hardened faces that did not, many badly wounded were held fast in the mass by the weight of the dead. I with other willing hands helped carefully to untangle this mass of misery. I have seen many bloody battle fields, but none have ever caused the tumult in my brain that this one did, and on no other have I ever seen in so limited a space the great numbers that were strewn and piled at Robinett and its vicinity. The dead and mangled from nearly twenty regiments were mingled here.
The official reports of our regimental losses are very incorrect. This can be accounted for in part by the death of the Colonel and Adjutant and severe wound to the Sergeant-Major, whose duty it is to collect such information and make reports. Col. Swayne's report says our loss was 16 killed and
* But one bullet struck Colonel Rogers, and that in the right breast. The writer cut the gold stars from his collar a few minutes later, supposing him to be a Major-General until informed differently by one of his men. His body lay a few feet from the ditch where it was placed by his men when shot. Many of those present supposed that the officer lying in the road by the dead horse about forty feet from the ditch was Colonel Rogers, but this is not correct. This officer was Colonel of an Arkansas Regiment and must have been killed by canister from Robinett, as more than a dozen balls had struck him in the breast. He was of slight build, dressed in dark blue clothes. Rogers was a large fleshy man dressed in grey with high patent leather boots.
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75 wounded. The Rebellion Record. Vol. 17 and Fox say 20 killed and 76 wounded. The Ohio Roster roll of honor gives the names of nineteen men killed, but says Bradford Auld, Company B. ( my brother ) and John G. Denner. Company K. died of disease. ( They were both killed by shell- near Robinett.) The roster roll of honor does not mention Wm. Kilgour and Private England of Company A, Almond Kelley, Company G. or Mathew Stull, Company K. All were killed. The writer helped handle all these men after they were shot.
The Ohio roster roll of honor gives the names of five mortally wounded as follows : Col. J. L. Kirby Smith, James D. Hanna, Company K ; David Lightner : and William A. White, Company C; Joseph Sunderland, Com- pany B. The latter is reported in roster as having died of wounds some months after the battle, but it is generally understood that he died at field hospital at Corinth immediately after the battle.
INCIDENTS ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
BY J. W. CONGER OF THE 43RD O. V. V. I.
After the Ohio Brigade crossed the Mississippi River below New Madrid, April 7th, 1862, we were pressing the Rebels so hard near Tipton- ville, that they abandoned their camp equipage, left their camp kettles on the fire, and did not have time to relieve their picket guards. The 43rd Ohio were halted near the Rebel camp, when General Stanley rode in front of the Regiment, and called for a detail to go down in the rebel camp. Captain Marshman, of Co. B. called for volunteers, and with a boy's spirit of adventure, I volunteered with a number of others from the Regiment. On the way we came across a Rebel Captain who had been the officer of the day, who was so disgusted at not being relieved from guard duty on their retreat. that he had drowned his sorrows from the contents of a demijohn of peach brandy at his side, and was leaning up against a log. Our boys were very anxious to sample the brandy, but were afraid that it might have been poisoned, and as a test one of them poured some out in his tin cup and offered it to the captain, who drank it. This gave us courage, and one of them poured out his cup heaping full. The captain seeing this, exclaimed. "Boys, don't act the -- hog." At this time General Stanley came up, saw the red sash, and accosted him as follows: "Are you an officer, sir?" to which the captain replied, "I'm a prisoner, by --! " We then proceeded to the rebel camp, and I came across a rebel soldier still doing his duty, pacing up and down in front of an ordinance tent. He had a loaded musket in his hands, so while engaging him in conversation, I gradually approached him until I finally wrenched the gun out of his hands. I found it to be an Enfield rifle of the same caliber as my own. I threw my gun away, and carried the captured one as long as I served in the ranks, then turned it in to the Government, which I have greatly regretted. as I would like to have it now as a relic.
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While Pope's army was on transports above Fort Pillow, the gun boats were throwing shells over a point of timber at the Fort, but apparently without doing any damage. The entire country was completely submerged. and no land was in sight. It was evident that the Fort could not be reduced by the fire from the gun boats. A detail was made consisting of Co. B, 43rd, under command of Lieut. H. S. Prophet, +3rd Ohio, a company from the 27th Ohio, and a company of Regulars, who were placed on board a transport of very light draught, and the entire expedition, under com- mand of Major Z. S. Spaulding, of the 27th Ohio, was sent for the purpose of reconnoitering to ascertain if a stream could be found emptying into the Mississippi River. which our transport could ascend where dry land could be found and the Army landed with a view of capturing Fort Pillow from the rear. Many of the men were sick from the effects of drinking Mississippi River water, which was mixed with mud from the Chio River. Maior Spalding ordered the Regulars to vacate the cabin which they were occupying, as he wanted to use it as a hospital for the sick men, but the Lieutenant who was in command was under the influence of liquor, and swore that no d -- volunteer officer could give him orders, and called on his men to barricade the doors of the cabin. The Major then ordered the long roll beaten, the volunteer soldiers fell in line upon the hurricane deck, lined up each side of the skylight, and the major told the officers that the regulars had virtually mutinied. He instructed them to have their men load and cap their guns, and that upon his orders they would smash in the glass and fire on the Regulars. He then went down into the cabin with two or three orderlies, and again ordered the Lieutenant in command of the regulars to vacate the cabin, but instead of doing so he drew a revolve: on Spalding, who in a moment had the Lieutenant on his back and by the throat and called on his men to securely tie the Lieutenant and put him in a stateroom under guard. After this occurrence, an orderly sergeant took command of the regulars, and they vacated the cabin. Without exception this was one of the most strenuous times for a short period during my term of service. as I feared we would be obliged to fire on our own men. The expedition proved a failure, as no dry land was in sight, and we returned to our respective commands.
In 1893, our firm purchased land in Cleveland. now occupied by us in our business, and when we received our deed. we found that this same Z. S. Spalding, who commanded the above expedition had signed the deed, he being one of the Spalding heirs, and that the property had been his home- stead during his boyhood days.
Near Farmington. Miss .. May, 1862, I was doing picket duty. The Rebels had been firing on our picket guards to such an extent that it became very annoying and kept the Army under arms most of the time. General Tyler rode up to the reserve guard headquarters and said that the rebel pickets were lodged in some abandoned log huts in our front, and that he wanted ten volunteers who could knock a squirrel's eye out at 200 yards. He also told us that it was a dangerous undertaking and that we must use care and protect ourselves all that we possibly could. While I was not altogether clear that I could fill the bill as to marksmanship, but having used a rifle from the time I was 10 or 12 years old, I had a pretty good opinion of my markmanship. Ira Churchill and I volunteered from Company B, to-
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gether with a number of others from our Regiment. The General then con- ducted us a few hundred yards to the front and in the rear of a large house. pointed out to us where the enemy were located and directed us, one at a time, to make a rush for the heavy timbers to the right and somewhat nearer to where the enemy were located. It was an open space and gave them a good opportunity to fire on us as we ran for the timber, and we could see where the balls struck in the red Mississippi clay, but fortunately all of us reached cover without any one being hit, and we kept up an Indian method of fighting, each of us using forty rounds or more of ammunition. The rebel officer of the day, unconscious of the changed conditions, rode out in plain view, and was seen to fall from his horse, the result of our fire. We saw them carry away several of the killed or wounded. During the afternoon there was a flag of truce sent out and arrangements made whereby this annoying picket fire was discontinued for the time being. In the meantime two Confederates, with whom we had been exchanging shots came out from Denind a large tree, and holding up a bottle, invited us to take a drink with them, and for the first time in my experience wanted to know if we would not exchange coffee for tobacco, which was a very common oc- currence later on. We then returned to guard headquarters. Afterwards Churchill was transferred to a battery and his gun was captured in front of Atlanta. He got permission to go out in front to ascertain if the gun had not been abandoned by the rebels, but in doing so was either captured or killed, as he was never heard from afterwards.
Captain Marshman commended us for our services, and also wrote a very complimentary letter home, which was published in the Mt. Gilead Sentinel.
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ADDRESS TO THE ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE, OF WHICH ยท . FULLER'S OHIO BRIGADE WAS A PART.
OCTOBER, 1902, BY MAJOR-GENERAL GRENVILLE M. DODGE.
Comrades of Army of the Tennessee:
On the 28th day of August, 1861, General U. S. Grant was assigned to duty in command of the District of Southwest Missouri, with headquarters at Cairo, Ill., and here commenced the organization and growth of the Army of the Tennessee. It remained under his personal command, or as a unit of his great army, from the beginning until the end of the war, ex- cept for two short intervals, one after the great battle of Donelson, and the other after the greater battle of Shiloh, both of which he won, and gave the first great light and hope to our country, and it is hard now, after reading all the records, to understand the reasons for his being relieved. It appears to have been done through a misunderstanding, and with no intention of doing injustice to General Grant.
Following General Grant as commander came General Sherman, a member of the army almost as long as General Grant. General Sherman was in direct command, or the army served under him as a unit of his greater army, from the time he assumed command until the end of the war.
After General Sherman came General McPherson, that ideal soldier, who commanded the army until he fell in the great battle of Atlanta on 22nd of July. Upon his death, General Logan took command of the army, as the senior officer present, and at the end of the battle of July 22nd, he could say that he had met and defeated Hood's whole army in the greatest battle of that campaign.
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Following General Logan came General O. O. Howard, the only Gen- eral taken from another army to command it in all the history of the Army of the Tennessee, or even any of its corps. The next day after assuming command, General Howard led the army into the great battle of the 28th of July, which the Confederates said was not a battle, but a simple killing and slauglitering of their forces. He remained in command until the end of the rebellion, and at the end of the war generously gave way to General Logan, so that one of its original members might command it at the great review in Washington,-an act that could only come from such a just and thoughtful soldier as Howard.
I speak of our army's commanders first, as an army takes its habits and character from its head, and probably no other ariny in the world was so fortunate as to have always at its head great soldiers and great com- manders, recognized as such the world over-two of them the peers of any commander that ever stood up in a great conflict.
The Army of the Tennessee covered more ground in its campaigns than all the other armies combined, and all its campaigns were marked by some great struggle, battle or movement that challenged the admiration of the world. First came Fort Donelson, next Corinth, Vicksburg, and fol-
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lowing that Chattanooga, where it fought on both flanks in that great battle. one division taking the point of Lookout Mountain above the clouds. It the battle of Nashville, December 15th and 16th, 1864, General A. J. Smith with the right wing of the Sixteenth Corps and troops from Missouri. turned the left wing of Hood's Army. Then came the Atlanta campaign ; following that the stragetical march to the sea, and, finally, that bold move- ment from Savannah to Goldsboro, which is considered by the best critic- as one of the boldest and best planned campaigns of history, one in which every chance was taken, and every opportunity given the enemy to concent- trate upon an inferior force.
The record of this army is probably the most satisfactory of any that ever existed, as it was harmonious in all its parts, and had no jealousies, each of its units to the best of its ability helping the others. Again, it was modest; it struck blow after blow, and let the world sing its praises. All its campaigns were great successes. and it never lost a battle. All its army, corps, division and brigade commanders were exceptionally able men. and were seldom relieved except to assume more important commands. Its experiences were more varied than any other army, for in its campaigns, battles and marches, reaching from the Missouri River to the Atlantic, at Washington, over a territory two thousand miles long and five hundred miles wide, it opened the Mississippi, it forced its way to the sea, it was reviewed by the Government of the nation at Washington, and it disbanded and the men went to their homes without causing an unpleasant comment or a painful thought in all this broad land.
General McPherson was the first to fall in the great battle of Atlanta. He fell just after watching the attack in the rear of the 16th army corps, which held the key to the situation. The last words he spoke were in praise of the fighting of that corps. General Sherman in reporting his death, spoke of him as follows :
"General McPherson fell in battle, booted and spurred, as the gallant and heroic gentleman should wish. Not his the loss, but the country's, and the army will mourn his death and cherish his memory as that of one who, though comparatively young, had risen by his merit and ability to the command of one of the best armies which the nation had called into exist- ence to vindicate lier honor and integrity."
General McPherson was so dear to our old army that the great vic- tory at the battle of Atlanta was never spoken of by our army except to express our great grief at the loss of our commander. His faith in what he could accomplish with our army was unbounded. He spoke of us on July 4th, 1863, as follows :
"With tireless energy, with sleepless vigilance, by night and by day. with battery and with rifle-pits, with trench and mine, you made your sure approaches, until overcome by fatigue and driven to despair in the attempt to oppose your irresistible progress, the whole garrison of over 30,000 men, with all their arms and munition of war, have, on this, the anniversary of our National Independence, surrendered to the invincible troops of the Army of the Tennessee. The achievements of this hour will give a new meaning to this memorable day, and Vicksburg will brighten the glow of the patriot's heart which kindles at the mention of Bunker Hill and Yorktown. This is indeed an auspicious day for you. The God of battle
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is with you. The dawn of a conquered peace is breaking upon you. The plaudits of an admiring work will hail you wherever you go, and it will be an enobling heritage, surpassing all riches, to have been of the Army of the Tennessee on the Fourth of July, 1863."
General John A. Rawlins, who represented the organization and spirit of our great army, and who shared its fortunes from beginning to end as chief of its first and greatest commander, died 1873.
General Rawlins, in giving a history of the Army of the Tennessee, paid this tribute to it :
"In no army did the soldier enjoy greater liberty, consistent with mili- tary discipline, than in the Army of the Tennessee, and in none were his rights and his life more carefully guarded.
The subordination of the Army of the Tennessee to the policies and acts of the Government affecting the institution of slavery in the prosecu- tion of the war, is worthy of the highest commendation. It had no policy of its own to propose, but went forth, as expressed by the Legislative Branch of the Government, to do battle in no spirit of oppression, or tor any purpose of conquest or subjugation, or purpose of overthrowing or inter- fering with the rights or established institutions of the States in rebellion ; but to defend and maintain the supremacy of the constitution, and to pre- serve the Union with all the dignity, equality and rights of the several States unimpaired.
The Army of the Tennessee did great deeds in all the departments of the States' service, and individually and combined illustrated in a peculiar manner the qualities of noble American character which gained success in the field, preserved its fruits by subsequent statesmanship, and by exalted virtue crowned victory with the attributes of peace and justice."
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