USA > Ohio > The story of the Sherman brigade. The camp, the march, the bivouac, the battle; and how "the boys" lived and died during four years of active field service > Part 18
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CHAPTER XIX.
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STILL TRAMPING.
BRIEF HALT AT TUSCUMBIA-A WONDERFUL SPRING OF WATER-HEAT THAT MAKES US SIZZLE - BUT WE HAVE FOUR DRILLS A DAY- THE MARCH RESUMED-INCIDENTS BY THE WAY-CAPTAIN VOOR- HEES'S FANCY BAYONET DRILL-WE REACH DECATUR-FERRYING ACROSS THE TENNESSEE RIVER-LIEUTENANT TOM POWELL GOES FISHING AND CATCHES SOME SALTED MACKEREL.
0 N THE 14th of June we reached Tuscumbia and went into camp half a mile west of the town. Our tents were pitched in an open field, without a particle of shade. The sun beat down fiercely upon us and we almost fried. The redeeming feature of our location was the bountiful supply
1862.]
HOT DAYS FOR DRILLING.
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of excellent water. There was a stream, clear and cold, sufficient in volume to turn half a dozen mill-wheels, that leaped from the foot of a hill and went rushing on like a mountain torrent. But two or three times during our extended pilgrimage through the south did we find water equal to that of the great spring at Tuscumbia.
It was expected that we would remain some days at Tus- cumbia, and the next morning after our arrival an order for four drills a day was issued with the usual promptness. For nearly a week we tramped that field, by companies and battalions, wheel- ing, and flanking, and forming squares, and charging at double- quick, until the perspiration fairly dripped from our clothing. As on all such occasions, the boys made free use of the inalien- able right to growl, but they always took their places in line at the command of the orderly, "Fall in for drill !"
The work of rebuilding the burned bridges and repairing the railroad was pushed with vigor. On June 16th the first train of cars arrived from Corinth. The whistle of the locomotive was the signal for loud and prolonged cheering through all the camps. The train brought a company of the Michigan Engineers to work upon the Tuscumbia bridge, and a squad of convalescents for our regiments. It also brought us a large mail, the first we had had for more than two weeks. While here one tent was taken from each company, the full number-six to a company-being con- sidered unnecessary, as the regiments were reduced to less than five hundred men each. This was the beginning of the gradual squeezing process in the matter of tents, which did not stop until it brought us down from the majestic and commodious "Sibley" to the insignificant little kennel of 1864, known as the "pup" tent. Then we would have felt lost in the spacious canvas pavil- ions of Camp Buckingham, which we dragged around with us for nine months.
Tuscumbia was an attractive place, containing many fine business blocks and residences, and giving evidence of thrift and prosperity unusual for a southern town. The people were gen- erally ardent in their devotion to the cause of secession. Even the young ladies turned up their pretty noses and curled their lips scornfully at sight of the Federal blue, and took a circuit in
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220
CAPTAIN VOORHEES'S FANCY DRILL.
[June,
the street to avoid passing under a United States flag. The re- bellious woman of the south was a " terror."
At one o'clock on the morning of June 24th, without any previous intimation of a contemplated movement, we tumbled hastily out of our tents in response to the long roll, and were or- dered to prepare to marchi at once. Before daylight our bands were startling the sleepers of Tuscumbia by playing national airs as we trod the streets. Colonel Harker was obliged to remain behind for a few days, being a member of a court-martial then in session. Lieutenant-colonel French took command of the Sixty- fifth.
We moved rapidly out on the road to Decatur. At nine o'clock we halted and lay in the shade till three in the afternoon, when we resumed the march. We were soon delayed by a vio- lent thunder storm, and two hours later turned into camp in a very wet and bedraggled condition. By this time in our career the embargo upon rails had been pretty effectually removed, and the cheerful glow of a hundred fires soon put us into a serene frame of mind. The next day we remained in camp-for during this campaign we generally went by jerks, as we often did there- after. Many will always remember this as the most pleasant spot on which we ever pitched our tents. It was a clean, grassy slope, on the bank of a stream of pure water, and shaded by stately oaks, whose dense foliage completely protected us from the sun's scorching rays. We would doubtless have been ordered to drill, but, fortunately for us, there was no suitable ground in the blaz- ing sun within reach. We were surrounded on every side by immense fields of corn.
It was a good opportunity for one of those fancy exhibitions for which Company F, of the Sixty-fifth, was famous. Captain Voorhees was somewhat of a lunatic on the bayonet exercise, and he had schooled his company in a variety of preposterous motions that were as entertaining to witness as they were useless in the rough-and-tumble of actual fighting. So he got his excellent company out that afternoon, and put his men through the "parry" in "prime," "tierce" and "high quarte," the "advance," "retreat," "leap to the rear," "lunge," etc., etc., to the delight of a large and appreciative audience. The men handled their
[862.]
221
WE HAVE A CYCLONE.
.muskets with much skill, and leaped to and fro in their move- ments like so many animated frogs. But they didn't find any use for these gymnastics when they went into battle. Nor did they save Captain Voorhees's leg from being bored through by a rebel bullet at Stone river.
Our camp was on the plantation of a man whom we judged to be much like "Simon Legree" in " Uncle Tom's Cabin." He owned some two hundred slaves, whose appearance seemed to indicate that they were not strangers to the lash. The planter visited the camp and glowered upon us as he passed silently along the lines. All through this fertile and productive region the land was mostly planted in corn instead of cotton, this being in accordance with orders from the Confederate authorities at Richmond, in view of the supplies needed for the army.
We marched early on the morning of June 26th. On reach- ing Town creek, Companies F. I, and K, of the Sixty-fifth, were left to guard the railroad bridge, and at Courtland, Companies B and G were stationed for a similar purpose. At noon we halted near one of those fine old country mansions for which, under the slavery regime, the south was so famous. A beautiful sloping lawn extended from the house to the road, and midway was a co- pious spring of the clearest water, bubbling up in the center of a
circular stone basin. For three hours we lay around under the trees and cooled ourselves with draughts from the spring. Five miles beyond, we encamped for the night. We had no more than turned in when we were visited by a hurricane that caused a very general wreck. Ropes snapped like threads, and pins were yanked from the ground. In ten minutes nearly all the tents were lying flat and the men were extricating themselves as best they could, in a somewhat panicky condition. The rain fell in a
literal flood, soaking everything and everybody. It was impos- sible to repair damages while the storm continued. We could only crawl under the prostrate canvas and await developments, while the rain poured down and the wind howled with delight at the ruin it had wrought. The storm ceased about midnight. A general and partially successful effort was made to put up the tents, but at one o'clock the reveille sounded, so that the night was a conspicuous failure so far as rest and sleep were concerned.
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ONCE MORE ACROSS THE TENNESSEE.
[June,
We started at two o'clock and marched to within a mile and a half of Decatur, where we went into camp, an hour before noon. The feature of our morning jaunt was the great quantity of blackberries, fully ripe, that were in the fields and by the road- side. Several halts were made to allow the men to gather them, and there was scarcely one who did not have a quart or two by the time we stopped for the day. The noonday and evening meals were plentifully garnished with blackberries raw, and blackberries stewed ; and there were even some rude attempts at blackberry pies.
June 28th we entered Decatur. It is situated on the south bank of the Tennessee river, and before the war was a busy town. It was a leading cotton mart of northern Alabama, the river and railroad affording excellent facilities for shipment. But General Mitchel had recently been there, and its deserted streets and blackened ruins told the story of his devastating visit. The railroad bridge at this point was a magnificent structure, seven- teen hundred feet long, and supported on fifteen massive piers of masonry. A short time before the evacuation of Corinth, Mitchel appeared on the north bank of the Tennessee river opposite De- catur, with a small force of infantry and a battery of artillery. Warned of his approach, the city authorities had opened the draw of the bridge to prevent him from crossing. Training his guns upon the town, General Mitchel sent word to the mayor that if the draw was not closed in five minutes he would open fire. This had the desired effect, and the city was immediately surrendered to him. He was desirous of preserving the bridge, knowing its importance if the government should retain posses- sion of the railroad. Being attacked by a largely superior force of the enemy, however, he was compelled to withdraw. He burned the bridge by the aid of cotton, tar and other combustibles. Nothing remained but the bare and discolored abutments.
Our only means of crossing the river, a third of a mile wide, was a small, crazy steamboat, the very appearance of which sug- gested the wisdom of a life insurance policy for the benefit of one's friends, before taking passage upon it. Scarcely fifty men could cross at a time, and all the afternoon the little craft went back and forth, wheezing and splashing and leaking, as if each
223
"TOM" POWELL'S FISHING TRIP.
1862.]
trip would be its last. We half expected to swim for our lives, but no accident occurred, and before dark we were once more north of the Tennessee. The ferrying of the teams and wagons extended far into the night, and was attended with much difficulty and danger. Large fires were kindled on either side, by the light of which the work went on, the scene being one of great confu- sion and excitement. The landing was precipitous, and upon the arrival of the boat a long rope was attached to each wagon. This was seized by fifty men, stretching ahead of the mules. By the combined efforts of men and animals, amidst wild yells that would have crazed a Comanche Indian, the wagons were drawn up the steep bank. By eleven o'clock everything was safely over and we lay down to sleep, without attempting to pitch our tents. We remained here three days, in a wretched camping place, with only the almost tepid water of the river for our use. It was com- fortable to bathe in, and passable for making coffee, but bad enough for drinking purposes Bathing was a popular diversion, and every day hundreds of men disported in the Tennessee. There were two or three narrow escapes from drowning. We were greatly tormented by mosquitoes, which were numerous, vigorous and voracious. At a good many times and places during the war we suffered from these pestiferous sleep-destroyers, but we rarely found them more vicious and aggressive than during our brief sojourn at Decatur. While here Colonel Harker re- joined us and assumed command of the five companies present.
Lieutenant "Tom" Powell, of the Sixty- fifth, was passion- ately fond of angling. When but a lad in pinaf res he used to run away from school and fish for "shiners " with a bent pin. Two miles from Decatur was a small lake which was said to abound in fish. Lieutenant Powell secured from Colonel Harker a pass for himself and a friend, assuring the colonel that he would bring him a fine string of fish for his table. The anglers provided themselves with tackle in town, hired a couple of pickaninnies to dig a can of worms, and away they went. For four hours they sat on a log, holding the rod in one hand and brushing away mosquitoes with the other. They had plenty of "bites," but nearly all of them were from the "skeeters." The aggregate of their catch was two minnows about three inches long. Before
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224
MACKEREL FOR THE COLONEL'S BREAKFAST.
[June,
returning to camp they went to Decatur and bouglit at a store a couple of salted mackerel, in order that Lieutenant Powell might keep his engagement. Early in the evening Colonel Harker sent an orderly to Lieutenant Powell's tent with the following note :
HEADQUARTERS SIXTY-FIFTH O. V. I. DECATUR, ALA., July 1, 1862.
SIR : You will make prompt report of your operations today, and will kindly send by bearer the fish which I am sure I shall so much enjoy at breakfast tomorrow morning.
I am &c., C. G. HARKER, Colonel Commanding.
LIEUTENANT THOMAS POWELL,
Sixty-fifth, O. V. I.
Lieutenant Powell carefully wrapped up the mackerel and sent them to the colonel with this report:
CAMP SIXTY-FIFTH OHIO INFANTRY. NEAR DECATUR, July 1, '62.
SIR : I have the honor to report that our expedition was measurably successful, and I take great pleasure in sending you herewith the fish we caught. I beg to express the hope and belief that you will find them both palatable and nourishing. It is proper to say that, the weather being warm, we salted them thoroughly so that they would not spoil.
I am, sir, very respectfully, THOMAS POWELL, First Lieutenant, Sixty-fifth O. V. I.
COLONEL C. G. HARKER, Commanding Regiment.
Colonel Harker, who loved a joke, made the following ac- knowledgment of the mackerel:
HEADQUARTERS SIXTY-FIFTH O. V. I. DECATUR, ALA., July 1, 1862.
LIEUTENANT THOMAS POWELL :
I acknowledge with many thanks the fish you sent me, which you say you caught today. I think you told a " whopper," but all the same I invite you to assist me in disposing of them tomorrow morning.
C. G. HARKER, Colonel Commanding.
Colonel Harker had the mackerel for breakfast and Lieuten- ant Powell shared them with him.
1862.]
CHAPTER XX.
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THERE IS REST FOR THE WEARY.
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Two WEEKS AT MOORESVILLE-A FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION- SPEECH BY GENERAL GARFIELD-PATRIOTISM AND PERSPIRATION- SALUTES BY THE SIXTH BATTERY-DEMORALIZED DARKEYS-GAR- FIELD LEAVES THE TWENTIETH BRIGADE-WOES OF OUR OFFI- CERS-THEY DIDN'T MAKE RETURNS-ANOTHER FISHING EXPEDI- TION.
0 N THE 2nd of July we pulled up stakes and marched five miles eastward on the railroad track to Mooresville-one of those "towns" so numerous in the south that had scarcely more than an imaginary existence. A large grove near a fine spring of water afforded an excellent camping ground. We were directed to lay out our camp in good order, as we would probably remain for some time, and, strange to relate, we did. On the following day the five companies which had been left at Town creek and Courtland rejoined us and the Sixty- fifth again presented an unbroken front. Orders for four daily drills were promptly issued on the 3rd.
During the march of Company B, Sixty-fifth, from Town creek to Decatur, guarding a wagon train, an incident occurred which was never forgotten. The company was in command of Lieutenant Johnston Armstrong, who strictly forbade the men to
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- 226
LIEUTENANT ARMSTRONG'S EBULLITION.
[July,
discharge their muskets along the route, under any pretext what- ever. There were a good many buzzards circling about in the air or roosting upon the trees, and Thomas M. Taylor could not resist the temptation to try his marksmanship. In defiance of orders he took aim, blazed away, and brought down one of the ungainly birds. He also brought down upon himself the wrath of Lieutenant Armstrong, who flew into a prodigious rage at this flagrant disobedience of orders. Armstrong was not habitually profane : indeed, he was usually one of the most amiable and mild-mannered officers in this or any other regiment. Upon this occasion his temper mastered him for the moment and he delivered an address to the company in general and Taylor in particular that was a hair-raiser-pitched in a high key and abounding in sul- phurous expletives, the use of which is strictly forbidden by the Bible. When his choleric ebullition had abated the lieutenant was so troubled by the smitings of conscience that at the first halt he formed the company in line and made a full apology for his lapse from self-control and for the language he had suffered himself to use. The boys cheered, and a spirit of "grace, mercy and peace" rested like a benediction upon Company B-but no more buzzards were shot that day. It is probable that during the war very few officers, from the Potomac to the Rio Grande, ever performed so graceful an act of this kind as that of Lieutenant Armstrong. though there were many thousands of instances when it might with propriety have been done.
We celebrated in a patriotic manner our first Fourth of July in the army. At sunrise, noon and sunset, salutes were fired by the Sixth Ohio battery. Early in the day each regiment assembled on the color line and the order of exercises to be given was read. All drills and other duties not necessary were suspended. In the forenoon the brigade held a "mass meeting," in old-fashioned style. General Garfield, who had few equals as an orator, de- livered a stirring address, which was received with great cheer- ing. Colonel Ferguson, of the Sixty-fourth, also made a most eloquent and patriotic speech. Then followed a sort of class-meeting. The boys called on everybody who could make a speech, and a good many who couldn't. Several of them re- sponded, and for an hour the scream of the Eagle was heard in
1862.]
OUR FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION.
227
many keys. Both the British and the rebels came in for their full share of attention. All the orators were vociferously applauded and the Twentieth brigade worked itself into a profuse perspira- tion of patriotic fervor. Among the audience were a number of colored people, of both sexes and all ages, who had been per- mitted to visit the camp. None seemed to enjoy the exercises more heartily than they.
The dinner, and in fact all the meals that day, were "a little off" for such an occasion, and yet they were pretty good "considering." For several days the guerrillas had been committing dep- redations at various points on the railroad, which was our only line of supply, and we had run short of rations. The deficiency was in some degree made up by levying upon the surrounding coun- try. The cornfields were just beginning to yield "roasting ears," and these, with a few vegetables and early fruits, an occasional pig or chicken, and an PATRICK R. NOHILLY. FIRST SERGEANT, COMPANY G, , abundance of blackberries, SIXTY-FIFTH, Killed at Spring Hill, Tenn., November; 29. 1864. made up an attractive bill of fare. The only trouble was that by reason of the large num- ber of yearning stomachs to be filled, there wasn't enough to go round, save in the matter of green corn, of which there was plenty.
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Toward evening a laughable incident occurred. Several negroes came into camp with baskets and pails filled with pies, corn pones, and garden truck for sale, and immediately opened up a brisk trade with the soldiers, Suddenly the battery began to
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228
STAMPEDE OF THE DARKEYS.
[July,
fire the sunset salute. The first gun threw the negroes almost into convulsions. An old woman. terrified beyond expression, dropped on her knees, rolled her eyes upward, stretched her hands in the same direction and prayed :
"Oh, Good Lawd hab marcy on us po' mizzable critters!"
One of the boys took in the situation and shouted to a com- rade, for the negroes to hear:
"We'd better get our guns right off. The rebels have at- tacked us and there's goin' to be an awful fight!''
This was enough. Almost turning white with terror, the negroes fled in the wildest confusion and dismay, each successive discharge of the artillery increasing their speed. They left all their baskets behind then, the contents of which, it is sad to re- late, were appropriated before the affrighted negroes were fairly outside the camp. Next day a very black man came in as a dele- gate to see what had become of their stock in trade. He man- aged to gather up two or three empty baskets, and as he started away he said to one of the soldiers:
"Dat's all right, boss! You-uns is welcome to dat truck, whedder yer wants ter pay fer it er not. But dat ar shootin' gits me. When I heah dat I'se gwine ter take to de bush! Niggers aint no so'gers !"
Our stay of two weeks at Mooresville was somewhat monot- onous. There was little, save a periodical turn of picket duty, to relieve the daily round of guard-mounting, drill and dress parade. During much of the time the morning sick-calls were numerously attended, in consequence of the free use of green corn. The shortage in the commissary department continued. At no time did we have full rations of coffee, hardtack or bacon. The corn- fields supplied a large part of our living, and when we left there were cobs enough around the camp to build a line of breastworks. Picket duty, so undesirable in the immediate presence of the en- emy, was considered as being in the nature of a picnic at Moores- ville. The duty was not arduous, and it gave relief from the irksome drill.
One day our company was posted near a large house, the owner of which was a preacher, a planter, and a rebel. He had two sons in Beauregard's army. Upon the approach of Mitchel's
1862.]
A FRUITFUL RAID. 229
forces he fled with his family, leaving everything behind in the care of the negroes. Our boys "borrowed" several books from his library, and a few articles of domestic use, which they prom- ised to return "after the war." They also secured on the place an assortment of poultry, a capful of eggs, and two or three can- teens of milk. At night, having reconnoitered the premises during the day, they made a raid upon the garden, which was surrounded by a high stone wall, bringing off as much as they could carry of fruits and vegetables. At the present time these things would doubtless be condemned, if judged by the standard of the Decalogue ; but in those days the precepts of the Bible were, to the average soldier, less potent as a controlling influence than an empty stomach. I do not recall that the members of the Sherman Brigade ever indulged in wanton destruction of property, but it cannot be denied that they were ever ready to supply their actual needs, from any source that presented itself.
One night, while making his round, the lieutenant in charge of a part of the picket line found four men who were stationed at one of the outposts, all sound asleep. Carefully removing their guns and hiding them in the bushes he ran to the post and shouted in an excited voice: "The rebels are coming!" The sleepers sprang to their feet in wild alarm and vainly scratched around after their muskets, only to find that they were being taught a lesson in the duty of soldiers. The officer promised not to report theni, and did not, but he gave them a lecture that they did not soon forget. When he reminded them that the penalty for sleeping on post was death, which they seemed to have for- gotten, they began to realize that it was something of a serious matter.
Chaplain Burns, of the Sixty-fifth, was not with us much of the time, and when he was he did little in the way of preaching. Our spiritual welfare was much neglected. Lieutenant Powell, who was a minister before he entered the service, could expound scripture and urge his fellow men to flee the wrath to come, equal to any. By invitation he frequently officiated in the capacity of chaplain. He preached both Sundays at Mooresville. There were some faithful and worthy chaplains in the army, but many of them were much more ornamental than useful.
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[July,
ADIEU TO GENERAL GARFIELD.
While we were at Mooresville General Garfield's connection with our brigade ceased. He had been for some time in failing health and was granted a sick furlough. He was ordered to Washington a few weeks later, where he was.engaged for a time as a member of the court-martial which tried General Fitz John Porter. After the deatlı of Colonel Garesche-chief of staff to General Rosecrans-who was killed at Stone River, General Gar- field was appointed to the vacancy. He served in that capacity until after the battle of Chickamauga, when, having been elected to congress, he resigned from the army. Colonel Harker re- sumed command of the brigade, and continued to ride at its head until his death.
Mails from the north brought us intelligence of the failure of McClellan's campaign against Richmond and the call by the President for three hundred thousand additional troops. This news greatly disgusted Captain Smith, of the Sixty-fifth, who, on a former occasion, yelled so loud when the "grape-vine" was circulated through the camp that Richmond had fallen, and then told his company that they might soon pack their knapsacks and start for home. It is needless to add that we all shared to some extent in his disappointment.
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