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 22
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267
the troops lay down upon their arms, no man being permitted to leave the line under any pretext.
But as the hours passed, and the cavalry did not seem to find anything to shoot at, the great scare gradually wore itself out. The men began to clamor for a chance to eat something, as the panicky condition of things in the morning had cheated them out of their breakfast. About noon it was considered that the coun- try would still be reasonably safe if the hungry soldiers were permitted to make some coffee, and this privilege was granted them. Once the report of a single gun, a mile distant, set every- body to charging around again, but in a little while it was "All over !"
By four o'clock in the afternoon it was thought the little squad of rebel riders were far enough away so that our army might safely move. We advanced six miles, going into bivouac near Cave City. A cavalry force of the enemy had occupied the place in the morning, but kindly retired on our approach. There were about a hundred ragged and forlorn rebel prisoners and deserters, under guard of our advance cavalry in the village.
Toward evening another lot of flour was issued to us, which we were directed to put into eatable shape at once. We had not seen a hardtack for nearly a week. Every man appointed him- self a committee on ways and means. Culinary skill and ingenuity were focused upon that flour. Every conceivable de- vice for baking was resorted to, and masses of awful "bread" were stowed away in haversacks for the days to come. Two con1- panies from each regiment were detailed for picket, four of the best cooks in each being left in camp to wrestle with the flour question. Our company was stationed in a large orchard which, strangely enough, had an abundance of fruit. Near midnight Captain Brown, of Company H, Sixty-fifth, who was in charge of the line, came to the reserve and said in a suppressed voice :
"Lieutenant, take a small squad of men and come with me immediately !"
Lieutenant Tannehill, who was then in command of Com- pany E, promptly obeyed. We followed Captain Brown a short distance when he stopped and told us to examine our pieces and be sure that they were duly loaded and capped. Then he pointed
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268
CONCERNING MULES AND CIDER.
[September,
out some suspicious objects that were moving about among the bushes under a large tree a short distance away. He said he had been watching them for some time and believed they were rebels.
"Shall we fire on 'em ?" asked Tannehill, with suppressed . excitement.
"Better wait a bit," said the captain," till we find out who or what they are."
At the captain's suggestion the men were deployed and grad- ually approached the tree from all sides. This cautious proceed- ing developed the fact that it was only a couple of innocent mules that had taken up their quarters there for the night. For many months Lieutenant Tannehill never wearied of rallying Captain Brown on his mules.
The next morning the boys of Company H found an old hand cider-mill on the premises. They brought it out to our post in the orchard and we ground out cider enough to fill all our can- teens, besides two or three pailfuls that we took with us to camp. We were relieved from our trick of picket duty just in time to take our place in the regiment for brigade drill. For two hours we had plenty of sham fighting. We could always have that, however long and vainly we sought for the genuine article.
Contrary to expectations we did not move on the 20th. W'e had a minute inspection of arms and ammunition, followed by battalion drill. Colonel Young made a patriotic speech to the Sixty-fifth, telling the men that they would soon be led against the enemy, and exhorting them to acquit themselves with honor. In the evening we drew more flour and were ordered to march at daylight, with three days' cooked rations in haversacks. With nothing but flour and water, there was a ghastly humor about such an order. Fires were replenished and the soldiers began to hustle around, engaged in preparing their sumptuous fare.
Right here I have a little private matter to settle with some soldier, probably of our own regiment. I know not who he is, or was, or whether he be living or dead. If living, this may possibly pass under his eye, and lead to an amicable adjustment of the difficulty.
I was fortunate in having for a "pard," Wilbur F. Hulet, who was peculiarly gifted as a cook. He was a splendid fellow. .
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1862.]
A BISCUIT SCHEME. 269
Had he been my brother, I could scarcely have loved him more. 'One year from that day he fell in death at Chickamauga.
Tired of a cannon-ball diet, my "pard" said to me quietly that he was going to try and get together the materials for some biscuit. Although to me the prospect seemed dubious enough, I had learned from long experience to have almost boundless faith in his resources, and I assured him that he could depend upon my "aid and comfort " in the enterprise, to the full extent of my ability. "Just wait till I come back," he said, as he drew on his shoes and went limping away.
He was absent perhaps an hour. As the proceeds of his foray, he laid down by the fire a cast-iron "Dutch oven, " and took from his blouse pocket a package of soda. Where he got these things I do not know, for I did not ask him. I might have sup- posed that he bought them, but for the knowledge that he, like the rest of us, hadn't any money. We had not seen a paymaster for three or four months and were all in a condition of hopeless bankruptcy. I was forced to the opinion-and to this day I have seen no reason to change it-that he stole them. But we were both too hungry to wrestle with fine questions of theology and ethics, and we fell to at once, engaging with the greatest energy and enthusiasm in the work of baking up our rations of flour. Hulet, of course, acted as chief cook and general culinary director, while I served as scullion, making myself useful in any way that I could.
For five or six hours we toiled and perspired, but we felt fully recompensed in seeing our haversacks distended to their full capacity with actual biscuit. They had in goodly measure the desired element of "lightness," for the soda had done its perfect work, and we flattered ourselves that our three days' supply of bread was much superior to anything else in the entire bivouac. It was two o'clock in the morning when the last batch of biscuit reached a beautiful brown and we rested from our labors. The reveille was to sound at four, so that we had but two hours for sleep. Tired, almost to the limit of human endurance, we spread one blanket upon the ground, stretched ourselves upon it, pillowed our heads upon our well filled haversacks, drew the other blanket over us, and in an instant were fast asleep.
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270
WOULD MURDER HAVE BEEN A CRIME?
[September,
It seemed but a moment until the blast of bugles, the scream of fifes and the rattle of drums aroused us to prepare for another day's journey. As soon as I awoke I discovered that a calamity of no small proportions had befallen me. My head was flat upon the ground. Springing up I saw that my haversack was entirely empty. While I slept some hungry, covetous miscreant had picked out those biscuit, to the very last one. I presume it was several minutes before I said anything. I could not think of any words that would do justice to the theme, or in the faintest manner give expression to the feelings that raged within me. I have never been addicted to the use of profane language, but it did seem to me then that it would give some small relief if one of the mule- drivers would come over and swear for me. If I could have found that morning the despoiler of my haversack, though he had been like unto Goliath of Gath in stature, there certainly would have been a fight.
Those biscuit were scheduled to last me three days. Not till the expiration of that time would Uncle Sam give me anything more. By reason of the pillage I was forced into a condition of absolute mendicancy, depending for my sustenance wholly upon the bounty of others. My "pard" divided generously with me, and now and then some pitying comrade tossed me one of his lumps of dried dough, so that, while I was near the starvation line I did not actually cross it.
I believed then, and I believe yet, that I was fully justified in making the vow I did that morning in 1862, that if I ever found the man that stole my biscuit I would whip him if I could.
For thirty-five years I have been looking for that man. It is true, I am glad to say, that the softening influences of time have somewhat assuaged my wrath, and if I should meet him now it is not at all likely that I would kill him, although I am persuaded that any jury of old soldiers would render a ver- dict that it was "justifiable." There might not even be a case of assault and battery; but, after all, it may be best "that I be not tried, for the flesh is weak." But I do indulge the hope that the culprit, whoever he may be, has, during all these years, had upon his conscience as heavy a load as I am sure he must have had upon his stomach after eating my biscuit.
1862.]
271
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THOMAS L. CRITTENDEN. MAJOR-GENERAL, COMMANDING TWENTY-FIRST ARMY CORPS.
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272
"THERE IT COMES, NOW !"
[September,
Sunday, the 21st, was another day of wild alarm. We were under arms before dawn. Imperative orders had been given for every available man to be in line. Even Herman Hance, the little snoring Dutchman of Company E, Sixty-fifth, who had been sick for some days, was in his place "mit his gun." We moved swiftly along the pike four or five miles when we filed into a large field where the army was being formed in line of battle. The dispositions indicated a purpose to attack the enemy, provided he was willing to be attacked. After the Sixty-fifth had taken its assigned place in the line, Colonel Young issued an order which the boys never forgot nor forgave. He directed that one man be detailed from each company and stationed in rear of the line, with orders to shoot down any who should attempt to desert under fire. The order was cruel and unjust, because it implied a lack of "sand" in the regiment, and, as it proved, was in any case wholly unnecessary, as nothing happened to us that would frighten a kitten.
As soon as the lines were fully formed the whole army ad- vanced in battle array, through woods and thickets and brambles and across corn and tobacco fields, leveling every fence that stood in its way. We kept this up for two miles, without hearing a shot or discovering a sign of the enemy. Our clothing was com- pletely saturated with the dew that lay heavy upon the grass and bushes. We halted for a couple of hours in a den.se wood. Then we had another spasm and went madly on, sweeping all before us. At length the rattle of a dozen shots in quick succession was heard in the distance.
"There it comes, now ! Steady, Company G!" frantically shouted Captain Orlow Smith, of the Sixty-fifth, in his explosive way.
He was sure the battle had come at last, and that the whole responsibility in the crisis rested upon "Company G." Captain Smith never heard the last of that remark until there was no Sixty-fifth in existence to repeat it, around the camp-fire and upon the march. Times without number in after years, when stray shots caused the boys to prick up their ears, someone would sing out: "There it comes now ! Steady-r-y Company G!" and then everybody would laugh-except Captain Smith.
ARYL
[862.]
MORE WILD CHARGING AROUND.
273
But for the fun the soldiers made, for themselves and for each other, out of even the most trivial incidents, they would all have died. Nothing was more keenly relished than a joke on an officer. These were not wanting-plenty of them-in every ยท regiment. When the boys got hold of a good one they stored it away for future use, and never forgot it. The victim was reminded of it with exasperating frequency. The fact is that the volunteer soldiers had far less of the awe and reverence for the rank conferred by shoulder-straps than characterized then, and do yet, those of the United States army proper-the "regulars." In most cases company and even regimental officers, had been boy- hood companions, friends and neighbors of the men whom. they commanded. This is particularly true of the large number of officers who were promoted from the ranks. The free-and-easy ways of the soldiers with the officers were such as to a West Pointer would seem fatal to military discipline. The boys rarely attempted anything even approaching familiarity with officers of the regular service. If one attempted it he was very likely to do penance in a way that effectually cured him.
Of course we halted as soon as there was any shooting going on. It was impossible for us ever to get near enough to either hurt anybody or get hurt ourselves. The ranks were carefully aligned, and every preparation was made to receive the advancing foe. But the foe was all the time advancing away from us, with Louisville as his polar star, and we were only trail- ing along behind at a safe distance. We continued these fitful movements, charging furiously through the woods and fields and then halting to get breath for the next rush, till the middle of the afternoon, when we found that there was nothing more formid- able than a squad of cavalry within ten miles. We had been wildly "beating the bush" for nine hours, with no other effect than to start up a few affrighted rabbits which
"Ran with a nimble terror"
before the imposing array. Then we all filed out upon the pike and pushed on toward Green river.
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[September.
CHAPTER XXV.
THE GOAL IS REACHED.
SPOILING FOR A FIGHT BUT NONE TO BE FOUND-TOM KELLEY'S JOKE- REBEL SHELLS BURST AROUND US-WE FEEL A LITTLE SOLEMN- WADING GREEN RIVER-REBEL STRAGGLERS-WE FIND AMONG THEM A BRIDGEPORT ACQUAINTANCE- BRAGG DRAWS OFF-THE ROAD CLEAR AND AWAY WE GO-"ONLY TWO DAYS TO LOUIS- VILI E"-WE REACH THE OHIO RIVER-CHEERS FOR "GOD'S COUN- TRY"-A GLORIOUS BATH-WE STRIKE A NEW REGIMENT-IN THE CITY.
A LL THESE operations were very perplexing to the sol- diers. In their simplicity they were possessed with the idea that war meant fighting somebody. They were really anxious for a battle, if for no other purpose than to afford a change from this continual marching and charging over the country on half rations-or flour and water, which was vastly worse. We were actually "spoiling for a fight."
As they trudged along the soldiers were much inclined to jest at the expense of General Buell. One expressed the opinion that if Bragg would detail a dozen cavalrymen to prance around and fire off their shotguns now and then, they could hold Buell's army
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275
1862.]
SOME FIGHTING, BUT WE WERE NOT IN IT.
where it was for six months, and Bragg might go where he pleased. Another thought it would be just throwing away money to get our lives insured, as the safest place in the world, so far as getting hurt was concerned, was in Buell's army. Tom Kelley. the wild Irishman of Company E, Sixty-fifth, declared that the rebels had burned Green river for a distance of several miles, so that Buell's men could not get any water. In proof of this he said he had seen, that morning, a citizen driving by with a wagon load of fish, all with their fins and tails burned off !
As we neared the river we learned that there had actually been some fight- ing there in the early part of the day, in which sever- al were killed or wounded on either side. We saw the body of a rebel cavalry officer lying in a shed by the roadside, and in a house near by surgeons were ministering to the wound- ed. Several dead horses lay by the road and in the fields.
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Suddenly we were brought up "all standing" by the boom of a cannon, EDWIN E. SCRANTON, ADJUTANT AND CAPTAIN, SIXTY-FIFTH. and, an instant later, the sharp crack of a shell over our heads. Another and another followed in quick sucession. Fragments of the missiles whizzed through the air, causing some of the heroic patriots who had talked so bravely an hour before to do some active dodging. The Eighth Indiana battery whirled off the pike to a rise of ground at the right, unlimbered, and sent compliments to the rebel artillery, which occupied a high wooded knoll half a mile ahead. Of course the army halted while this duel was going on. Lines were adjusted, arms examined, and
276
WE FORD GREEN RIVER.
[September.
more turgid speeches made. But the only object of the enemy was to check our advance. He had been doing this for several days, and we had seconded his efforts in the most cordial man- ner. After receiving a few well-directed shots from the Hoosier battery, the rebel artillerists thought they had got enough for the moment, and withdrew. In about an hour, the fact having been fully established that they had gone, we ventured to move up to Green river, where we stopped for the night. Our own position was within the intrenchments on the south bank. We were or- dered to lie on our arms, and hold ourselves in readiness to be up and off at any moment.
During the whole night regiments and brigades were march- ing and countermarching. Hundreds of wagons rattled along the pike and crossed the river at the ford, for the enemy had de- stroyed the bridges. High above the confusion that reigned su- preme could be heard the yells of the mule drivers. Sleep was impossible. Twice during the night we were called to arms by a few stray shots on the picket line.
Reveille beat at four, and after several hours of waiting around we started. We forded Green river, the water being about three feet deep, and trudged on toward the Ohio. Panicky na- tives told us that Bragg was two days ahead of us, with anywhere from forty thousand to one hundred thousand men, their ideas of numbers being somewhat foggy. In any event there was no prospect that we would overtake him. It was clear that if Louis- ville was saved from capture it would be done by troops sent there from the north, and not by Buell's army. Bragg's rear guard, consisting of a few cavalry and a flying battery, had done its work well, as we have seen in the preceding pages. Whenever a "stand" was made, and a few shells were tossed over toward us, our army always halted, put the chip on its shoulder, and stood an hour or two, valiantly "daring" the foe to knock it off. And all the time Bragg's jubilant soldiers were stirring up the dust as they swept on toward the goal.
For miles north of Green river the pike runs near the rail- road and parallel with it. We passed the yet smoking ruins of a long train of cars which the rebels had captured and destroyed, after filling their haversacks with the hardtack and sow-belly that
1862.]
277
A CROWD OF UNLUCKY HOOSIERS.
were intended for us, but which, owing to circumstances over which we had no control, failed to connect with our needy stom- achs. By noon we had reached Bacon creek. The very name was refreshing, but there was no "bacon" there for us. "An hour for coffee!" was the word, but the fires were scarcely lighted when the drums beat and we pushed on, almost at a run, nibbling our chunks of dried dough as we went. We rushed along till night with scarcely a halt, bivouacking at Upton station. During the day our cavalry picked up a considerable number of "played out" stragglers, weary and footsore, from Bragg's army. If the rebels did "have the pole" in the great race, we found some con- solation in the fact that they had to do as much hard marching as we did, and their legs ached and their feet blistered just the same.
Here we saw four thousand five hundred men, mostly new troops from Indiana, who had been captured by Bragg a few days before at Munfordville. They had "held the fort" for two days. but at lengthi surrendered to overwhelming numbers. Having been paroled they were now on their way north. Of course it was not our business to have opinions about anything, but it seemed to us then, and has ever since, that this sacrifice might have been prevented, as Buell's army at that time lay idly at Bowling Green, within reach of the beleaguered garrison. But this was only one of a great many occurrences during that inscrutable campaign which were among the things that "passeth all understanding."
On the 23rd the army was early upon the road. The Second Indiana cavalry had a brisk engagement, losing twenty killed and wounded. During the forenoon an increased number of rebel deserters and stragglers were picked up and passed to the rear. Our boys chiaffed them unmercifully, to which they re- sponded good-naturedly.
"Hello, Johnny, where ye goin' now?" -
"Jist goin' ter knock off awhile. How do you-all like it as fur as ye've got? The old man [Bragg] has got ye foul this time !"
By a singular coincidence we found among these prisoners one who had helped to picket the rebel side of the river while we lay at Bridgeport. As we halted for a rest, he was lying in a fence corner, with a few others, in a badly dilapidated condition
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278
WE STRIKE AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE.
[September,
guarded by a couple of cavalrymen. Seeing the figures on our caps he asked :
"Hello, boys, what reegi-ment is that?"
"Sixty-fifth Ohio."
"Wall, I'll be dog-goned ! Don't ye re-colleck the Ninth Kaintucky down to Bridgeport? I'm one of 'em. We wuz acrost the river from you-uns. "
"That's so, Johnny ; glad to see ye !"
" P'r'aps ye haint forgot what we told ye one day, that we wuz goin' to make ye sick 'fore long. What ye think 'bout it now ? "
"You fellers are such blasted runners ! If you'll only give us a fair stand-up fight, and we can ever get close enough, we'll lick ye out o' yer boots !"
."By the way," said the prisoner, "I don't reckon ye've got any coffee now ye'd like ter trade fer terbacker ? Guess ye want it all yerselves, don't ye?"
" Ko-rect! you're right there, Johnny. Come around some other time !"
In the afternoon we began to lose traces of Bragg's army. It seemed to have wholly disappeared from our immediate front. Citizens told us that it had crossed, by an unfrequented road, to the Bardstown pike. The way was now clear ahead of us. About two o'clock there was a halt, and we were ordered to pre- pare for a forced march. Colonel Young said that positive intel- ligence had been received that Bragg was rapidly advancing up- on Louisville, by the Bardstown pike, with seventy thousand men. He also told us that great news had come from the Army of the Potomac. McClellan had fought a tremendous battle at Antietam creek, in Maryland, and had utterly defeated the rebels, killing, wounding and capturing sixty thousand of them! This sounded large, but later intelligence reduced the figures to one sixth of that number. That was the way the stories always grew. We cheered lustily, swallowed our coffee, took a fresh grip on our muskets, and away we went. At dusk we passed through Elizabethtown, where a strong Union feeling was manifested. Men, women and children stood by the roadside and gave fresh water to the thirsty soldiers. We had braced ourselves for an all-
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1862.]
HARDTACK ENTHUSIASTICALLY WELCOMED.
279
night march, but at eleven o'clock we filed into a field, charged upon a straw stack, and were soon asleep.
At one o'clock orderlies were routed out to draw three days' rations. With their details of grumbling men they tramped about a mile, and after hunting an hour through a fifty acre field, filled with bustling troops and wagons, they succeeded in finding the supply train. There was nobody to issue the rations, how- ever, and after waiting another hour they returned empty-handed, swearing like "our army in Flanders." It was nearly time for reveille, and they only caught a short nap before the drumsaroused us at four. We immediately formed and marched to the wagons, as our haversacks were empty to the last crumb. Rations were is- sued at once. There was loud cheering as a few hardtack for each man were handed around-the first we had seen in ten days. A wagon train loaded with supplies had been sent out from Louisville, guarded by a heavy force, and by good fortune it had come ALONZO W. HANCOCK, CAPTAIN, SIXTY-FOURTH. safely through. Rarely in our lives has anything tasted so good as did those crackers that morning.
An hour was allowed for breakfast, and we resumed the march. The soldiers were in a greatly exhausted condition. Many were scarcely able to drag themselves along. But the ur- gency admitted of no delay. Words of encouragement from of- ficers who rode horses were all well enough as far as they went, but they didn't go a great way. They did not ease the awful aching of tired limbs, or the smarting of blistered feet. "Only
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280
"GOD'S COUNTRY" AND A BATH.
[September,
two days' march from Louisville!" said Colonel Harker, as he rode along the line, with kindly greetings and expressions of sympathy. Twelve very long and very weary miles, and we stood upon the bank of the Ohio river near West Point, twenty miles below Louisville.
"Hurrah for God's country!" exclaimed the boys of the Fifty-first Indiana, as they looked across the river and saw the fair fields of their state. "I'd give a month's pay just to cross over there and stay tonight!" said one of them.
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