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 27
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Our last expedition of this nature was on Christmas day. It was on a more extended scale than any in which we had pre- viously engaged. Three hundred wagons trailed out the Frank- lin pike, escorted by three entire brigades, batteries and all-one from each division. Twelve miles from camp we found the rebel pickets, but as we had some eight thousand men we kept right on, brushing them from our front and driving them two miles. There was considerable sharp skirmishing, one of the Fifty-first Indiana being killed and several wounded. At one of the picket posts the "Johnnies" had shown great skill in carving and pen- ciling on the bark of several large trees. A cordial, polite and very neatly written invitation to the "Yanks" to call over and eat a Christmas dinner with them was signed "H. A. Bruce, Co. B, Texas Rangers." We had accepted the invitation, but they were not there to act as hosts, nor was there any banquet spread to tempt our appetites.
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A WEDDING IN CAMP.
[December,
After loading our wagons we struck out for camp at a rapid gait. We were far to the front and there was danger that a large force might be sent out to annoy us. The rebel cavalry followed us as closely as they dared, dodging about behind trees and buildings to keep out of range. Late in the evening we reached camp in safety, with all our plunder.
We lost no wagons on any of these trips. Some other bri- gades were less fortunate, having sometimes a considerable nuni- ber captured by a dash of the enemy, and driven off or burned.
In these foraging operations the Sixth battery was a con- spicuous factor. Its officers and men received many high com- pliments for the marked efficiency with which they used their guns. While at Nashville the members of the battery were de- lighted to receive a visit from Colonel Simon Perkins, of Akron, Ohio. The sight of an old familiar face from home was an event of rare occurrence in the army.
During our stay at Nashville a large amount of very poor . counterfeit money found its way into the army from the North. Our brigade had a share, and much of it was passed upon negroes and ignorant whites. A few members of the Seventy-third Indiana were bold enough, and foolish enough, to try some of it upon a sutler. They were reported, placed in arrest, court- martialed, and sentenced to forfeiture of a month's pay, to be drummed through canip, and to be confined one year in military ·prison. The reading of this order on dress-parade, and the specta- cle, the next day, of the culprits parading under guard to the tune of the "Rogue's March," had a salutary effect. After that the boys used their counterfeit money only in playing poker, betting enormous sums with utter recklessness.
On the evening of December 12th there was a convivial time at the big tent of Horner, the Sixty-fifth sutler. The occasion was nothing less than a wedding-an exceedingly rare occurrence in camp. The "high contracting parties" were "Dick" and "Sally," two very black contrabands employed by Mr. Horner as man-of-all-work and cook, respectively. The progress of the courtship had been watched by many, and the nuptials caused great sport throughout the entire regiment. Chaplain Burns per- formed the ceremony. Among the guests were the elite of the
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1862.]
GENERAL WOOD UNDER GUARD.
colored servants, cooks and scullions of the brigade. Lieutenant- colonel Cassil, Major Whitbeck, Adjutant Massey, Quartermaster Trimble and, in fact, most of the officers, together with Colonel McIlvaine, Captain Robert C. Brown, Captain Neeper and others of the Sixty-fourth, were bidden to the marriage, and lent their dignity and brass buttons to the festive scene. Horner "set 'em up" with a lavish liberality that could scarcely have been ex- pected of a man who had the face to charge ten cents for a piece of cheese about the size and thickness of a postage stamp. A space was cleared in the tent and there was some lively dancing, to the music of two squeaky fiddles. Considerable hilarity pre- vailed, and the celebration of the happy event was protracted till a late hour. The privilege of kissing the bride was not insisted upon by the chaplain or any of the officers.
One evening General Wood found himself outside the guard line without the countersign. It was rather late when he ap- peared, with two staff officers, at "beat number two," on which a Sixty-fifth man was diligently pacing to and fro. The guard halted the party with great suddenness. Very strict orders had that day been given the guards by Captain Coulter, of the Sixty- fourth, then acting assistant adjutant general on the staff of Colonel Harker, that no person be permitted to pass the line at night without the countersign. General Wood told the guard who he was, but to no effect. The corporal of the guard was called but he was equally unyielding. They imagined it might be only a trick frequently resorted to by officers to test the faith- fulness of sentinels.
The officer of the guard was then summoned. The moon was shining brightly, and he saw distinctly that it was General Wood, but, remembering his orders, he would not allow him to pass the line. The general reasoned, pleaded, and then swore. The officer was inexorable, but finally compromised by proposing to send the party under guard to Colonel Harker's quarters, where, their identity being established, the guard would be permitted to let them go free. This was accepted, as there was no alternative, and the corporal was charged with the duty. As he marched along with fixed bayonet, by the side of his illustrious prisoner, he chuckled to himself, thinking the joke an excellent
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A WAY OF TESTING THE GUARDS.
[December,
one. Of course, as soon as Colonel Harker saw the general, he di- rected the corporal to return to his post. Although General Wood had exhibited some impatience at the guard line, he dis- missed his escort with a kind word, telling him that if he always did his duty as well, he would be a model soldier.
The same night Colonel Shoemaker, of the Thirteenth Michigan, was caught in the same trap. He was unnecessarily violent at the refusal of the sentinel to pass him, and indulged in some very peppery observations about the stupidity of the "d-d guards." Probably he had been out on a "lark," and he was furi- ous at the proposition to go under guard to Colonel Harker's quarters, for that would "give him away ;" but when told that. General Wood had just been through that experience, he ceased to object.
Two or three nights later, Colonel Harker found himself be- lated and was marched to brigade headquarters at the point of the bayonet. He was a thorough soldier and gentleman and took it good-humoredly, complimenting the guards in the highest terms.
The officers, field and line, often resorted to "ways that are dark and tricks that are vain" to test the vigilance and faithful- ness of the soldiers in the performance of guard duty. One of them would accost a sentinel with the remark: "You don't carry your gun right; just let me show you how to handle it." The first time this was played upon a guileless youth, the chances were nineteen out of twenty that he would promptly hand his musket to the officer, eager to avail himself of the advice and in- struction so kindly proffered. Then, with the piece at a "charge bayonet," the officer would deliver to the terrified soldier a lecture that was generally sufficient to last him "three years or during the war." He was not likely again to commit the heinous of- fence of putting his musket into the hands of another while on duty.
1862.]
CHAPTER XXXII.
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AN EXCITING HOLIDAY WEEK.
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THE ADVANCE TO MURFREESBORO-THROUGH RAIN AND MUD-BRISK AND FREQUENT SKIRMISHING-THE MUSIC OF BULLETS AND SHELL -OUR;BRIGADE LOSES A NUMBER KILLED AND WOUNDED-CAPTAIN NEEPER DISABLED-THE FAMOUS "CORNFIELD SKIRMISH"-A PER- ILOUS ADVENTURE BY NIGHT-HARKER'S BRIGADE CROSSES STONE RIVER-ADVANCES BOLDLY UPON THE ENEMY-IS RECALLED AND WITHDRAWS IN GOOD ORDER-"SAM" SNIDER AND HIS NOSE.
A FEW years after the war General William T. Sherman gave one of his characteristic "talks"-he never called them speeches-to a large gathering of soldiers, at Caldwell, Ohio. He said:
A great many people are attracted by the gaudy show of a military display. They see the bright uniforms, the burnished arms, and the wav- ing banners, and they think it is a very fine thing to be a soldier. But boys, you know and I know that war is hell!
The general used the last word, as I quote it here, without a thought of profanity. The illustration is a strong one, but none too strong for the subject. Indeed, many will agree with the
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ON TO MURFREESBORO.
[December,
opinion expressed by one of the Sixty-fifth at Stone River, who, as he came out of that fierce fight with part of one ear gone, a knuckle chipped, and two or three bullet holes through his clothes, but still standing by the colors, remarked to his comrades:
"Boys, that does beat hell!"
The word "sheol," given in the revised version of the Bible, might, perhaps, in the opinion of some, be better used in these pages. It might do less violence to refined taste, but to the old soldiers it would be tame and meaningless. The Methodist camp- meeting idea of the place of future punishment, with its fire and brimstone, if interpreted in its fullest sense, could hardly go be- yond the horrors of such a conflict as that which took place in the cedar forest in front of Murfreesboro. In this and the suc- ceeding chapters we will see the Sherman Brigade go down into the pit, breathing its sulphurous fumes-blistered by its scorch- ing flame!
The first order for the advance came to us at four o'clock on the morning of December 24th. We struck tents, loaded wagons -which we were told would be left behind-and waited, momen- tarily expecting the tap of the drum, till late in the afternoon. Then we were directed to pitch tents again, and prepare for an early march on Christmas morning. We were ready at daylight, but were soon ordered again to unpack. Instead of waiting in camp, however, we went out with a forage train, as has been told in the preceding chapter. After our return from this expedition we received an order that the army would positively move on the following day-and that night was the last of our stay at Nash- ville.
Early on the morning of the 26th, drums and buglse sounded through all the camps of Rosecrans's army. In accordance with previous orders the company wagons were loaded and sent to Nashville, where they were parked to await the issue of the ini- pending campaign. But three wagons were permitted to ac- company each regiment. The troops began to march at six o'clock. Crittenden's command, the left wing of the army, moved out by the direct road to Murfreesboro. We got off at nine, in a pelting rain. The entire day was sloppy and disagreeable. There was frequent skirmishing in the advance, with now and
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1862.]
THE REBELS ARE UGLY.
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then a few artillery shots, that quickened the steps of the soldiers and kept us all in a state of excitement. The probabilities of a battle were freely discussed. It was generally believed that at last there was a fair prospect that we would get into a fight. It was noticeable that those who, when they thought the war was about over, had most loudly expressed their disappointment, be- cause they were not going to see a battle, were now the most quiet.
After frequent halts, on account of the delay of the troops in front, just before dark we filed off the pike into a muddy field near Lavergne. A spirited skirmish had taken place here a few hours before. Several dead horses lay around, and here and there the ground had been torn up by shells. Things began to have a practical look. This ap- pearance was more im- pressed upon our minds when we were informed that we must be ready to move very early the fol- lowing day, as Wood s di- vision would have the ad- vance. The mud every- where was shoe deep, J. H. CRUTHERS, SURGEON, SIXTY-FIFTH. churned by the ceaseless tread of thousands of men and horses. Night, dark and dripping, settled down upon the great bivouac. Forty-five thousand men were there and at Triune, a few miles to the right, gathered around the sputtering fires. In the midst of such a multitude there was little chance to get anything to promote comfort. What little there had been was taken by those first to arrive. We could do nothing except spread our blankets upon the wet ground, choosing the spots where there was the least depth of mud.
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DOING BUSINESS AT LAVERGNE.
[December,
Rain drizzled down upon us during the whole night. We slept, however, but arose well soaked, and in a most forlorn con- dition. The Fifty-first Indiana did the picket duty for the bri- gade. Coffee and hardtack were soon disposed of and we were ready for orders soon after daylight. An early movement was prevented by a dense fog, so thick at times that objects could not be seen at ten yards distance. The rebels were reported to be in force a mile to the front. There was a prospect of a fight as soon as we should attempt to advance. It looked even more that way when, about nine o'clock, the fog having lifted a little, a rebel battery opened fire, throwing several shells in our midst, with the most reckless disregard of consequences. Captain Samuel Neeper .. of the Sixty-fourth, was severely wounded in the knee, and two or three men were more or less injured. Captain Bradley placed a section of the Sixth battery in position and gave the enemy his compliments. A desultory fire was kept up for an hour, with fre- quent rattling of musketry on the picket line. Wood's division stood at arms, ready to receive the enemy should he take the ag- gressive.
At noon an advance was ordered. We moved in line of battle by brigades, Hascall's leading, with the Twenty-sixth Ohio and Fifteenth Indiana deployed in a heavy skirmish line. There was constant irregular firing, the rebels stubbornly contesting the ground. They slowly yielded, however, and we at no time re- ceded from our forward movement. The Sixty-fifth Ohio and Seventy-third Indiana were in line to the left of the Murfreesboro pike, and the Sixty-fourth Ohio, Thirteenth Michigan and Fifty- first Indiana on its right. As we approached the little straggling village of Lavergne we were much annoyed by the enemy's rifle- men, who were concealed in and around the buildings. A few shells from the Sixth battery gave them to understand that we were on the war-path in earnest. A quick advance by the infant- ry drove them in confusion. The rebel artillery took advantage of every favorable position to retard our progress. But we did not sit down for half a day whenever a shot was fired, as we did under General Buell. We just kept right on, steadily pressing the enemy. One solid shot, or a shell which fortunately did not explode, struck the ground a few yards in front of the Sixty-fifth,
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1862.]
LIVELY ON THE SKIRMISH LINE.
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splashing the mud and water in every direction, which made the boys feel solemn. We advanced during the day about six miles, through miry fields, over hills, across swollen streams, and through dense cedar thickets which showered us with water as we forced our toilsome way through them. Long before we stopped for the night we were wet to the skin and thoroughly fatigued.
Toward evening a change of direction brought Harker's brigade in front. One company from each regiment was thrown out upon the skirmish line. As we emerged suddenly from a thick wood we came upon a squad of some thirty rebel cavalry. They were dismounted, and evidently not expecting us so soon. At sight of our advancing line they sprang into their saddles and were off like the wind. Their movements were hastened by a brisk fire from our skirmishers. In their flight the fugitives bore to our right, and dashed into a piece of woods, almost upon the muskets of Union troops which had but a moment before reached that point. They were all captured, except two or three who escaped through a shower of bullets. Having driven the enemy across Stewart's creek, we bivouacked on the north bank of that stream. A bridge which the retreating rebels had fired was saved by a dash of the Third Kentucky. We had another dis- mal night, with mud everywhere. The Sixty-fifth was detailed for picket, the right wing relieving the left at midnight. Two deserters came in through our line, and were escorted to brigade headquarters.
The 28th was Sunday. We kept it "holy" to the extent of not advancing to disturb the devotions of the enemy-if they had any. We did nothing except to stand picket and wade around in the mud.
Monday, December 29th, was an exciting day. It was in the evening of that day that we had our famous "cornfield skirmish," which was the tightest place we had yet been in, by long odds, and tested the mettle of the boys in standing fire. The army was up betimes. We formed on the colors at four o'clock-long before daylight-and waited patiently, and courageously, for whatever might turn up. But nothing happened to disturb us, and we stood around, half way to our knees in mud, till nearly noon. A spasmodic fire was kept up on the outposts, but neither party ap- peared to know just what he wanted to do.
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A PRODIGAL USE OF LEAD.
[December,
We finally moved out, crossing Stewart's creek without opposition. Trouble had been expected here, and before the passage was attempted, two of our batteries threw over a few shells as "feelers," but elicited no reply. We immediately formed line of battle on either side of the pike, as on our advance from Lavergne. Within half an hour we stirred up the enemy's cavalry. Firing began at once, and continued through the day. The companies on the skirmish line were kept busy, but as scarcely anybody got hurt they thought it great sport. The rebel horsemen took care to keep at a good distance, galloping off whenever we began to get within gunshot. The shooting made a great deal of noise, although it was about as harmless as a Fourth of July fusillade. But our skirmishers blazed away inces- santly. We marched over the body of one rebel who had been killed. Shots enough were fired that day to destroy half of Bragg's army. Several times Captain Bradley took a hand in the game. His battery was behind us. When opportunity offered he would unlimber two or three pieces; at the command " Lie down!" we would flatten ourselves upon the ground, and the shells would go screaming over us. The rebels had what we used to call a "jackass battery," which replied feebly from time to time. A large house just off the road was set on fire by one of our shells. It was in flames as we passed it, and was soon burned to the ground. We experienced all the fatigue of line-of-battle marching, tearing through woods and thickets, and fording sev- eral streams.
About four o'clock we reached the bank of Stone river, soon to be made historic by one of the great battles of the war. The Confederates were in force on the opposite bank. Their appear- ance seemed to say that if we advanced farther it would be at our peril. Not long after we halted, General Rosecrans and General Crittenden rode up and took a view of the situation. The enemy occupied a ridge half a mile from the river. A mile beyond lay Murfreesboro. Rosecrans, just at nightfall, acting upon a mis- taken rumor that the rebels were evacuating, ordered Crittenden to occupy the town immediately, with one of his divisions. Wood's division was designated for this duty.
The movement began at once, ours being the leading"brigade.
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339
THE "CORNFIELD SKIRMISH."
"Skirmishers-Forward, promptly !" said Colonel Harker and ordered the brigade to follow.
Descending the steep bank to the brink of the stream, we plunged in and waded to the other side, the water being in places thigh deep. By this time darkness was fast enveloping us. Such a movement by night, over unknown ground, against an enemy in position, was one of extreme hazard, and General Wood protested to General Crittenden against its execution. Critten- den, however, refused to suspend a peremptory order which he had received from Rosecrans. An hour later the latter re- voked the order and directed the recall of the troops that had crossed.
But in the meantime there had been no hesitation on the part of Colonel Harker and his brigade. Without pausing for an in- stant to question the expediency of the movement, he had ordered the line to push forward rapidly. Emerging from the river, we plunged into a thicket so dense that it seemed scarcely possible for even an unincumbered man to penetrate it. But we got through, with torn clothes and scratched faces, and entered a large cornfield, in which the dry stalks were still standing. The field led, by a gradual ascent, to the ridge occupied by the enemy. Strangely enough, there was no force at the river to dispute our passage.
There was no firing until we had advanced a considerable distance into the cornfield. Then the rebels opened suddenly with a volley that well-nigh made "each particular hair to stand on end." The bullets whistled around us and pattered viciously upon the cornstalks. The enemy being on high ground, the vol- ley passed mostly over our heads. But the bullets came as close as we cared to have them, and quite close enough to appease, in some measure, our yearning desire for a fight. Our unquench- able zeal ought to have carried us right into Murfreesboro that night, but it didn't. In fact everybody was glad enough when the order to retire reached us. We did not know much about war yet, but it seemed to us that our advance was a mistake.
The boys got out of that cornfield in double-quick time, dashed again through the chevaux de frise of briers and brambles, in utter darkness, and plunged into the river. There was no
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AN ORDER THAT WAS GLADLY OBEYED.
[December,
panic, no disorder. They simply wanted to get away from there and they did so, promptly. During the retreat, part of the Sixty- fifth lapped over in rear of the Thirteenth Michigan. The latter thought we were rebels advancing upon them and turned upon us with their muskets, but fortunately did no damage. The enemy continued a desultory fire until the brigade had recrossed the river.
We did not escape without casualties. The Sixty-fourth and Sixty-fifth had each three or four inen wounded. Two were killed in the Thirteenth Michigan and one in the Fifty-first Indi- ana. It was hardly less than a miracle that the loss was not ten- fold greater. Among the wounded was "Sam " Snider, a lad of sixteen, belonging to Company D, Sixty-fifth, and a universal favorite in the regiment. A bullet. flying transversely across his face, struck his nose and made a bad wreck of that organ. The doctors succeeded in patching it up in good shape, and with their assistance nature repaired the damage so that in a short time he returned to duty, with a nose that was good enough for all prac- tical purposes, if it was not quite as ornamental as before.
It may be remarked here that twenty-five years after the war "Sam" was a member of Congress from Minnesota. At the same time the Sixty-fourth was also represented in Congress, Wilbur F. Sanders, the first adjutant of that regiment, being a United States Senator from Montana.
Through some oversight, Companies B and E of the Sixty- fifth, which had been deployed as skirmishers during this esca- pade, did not receive the order to recross the river, and remained on the rebel side for two or three hours. They could plainly hear the commotion in the enemy's camp, caused by the wholly unex- pected demonstration. Regiments were forming in line, and the voices of the officers giving commands could be distinctly heard. All along the line the rebels were busily engaged in throwing up intrenchinents, with a great noise of axes and shovels. Major Whitbeck, who commanded the skirmishers, thinking that they had been forgotten, finally sent a messenger to Colonel Harker, informing him of their position and asking whether they should remain. The colonel was greatly surprised to learn these facts.
"Get ou my horse," said he to the messenger, "ride as fast
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WHAT A HISTORIAN WROTE.
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as possible, and tell Major Whitbeck to withdraw instantly, but with extreme caution and silence!" The two companies suc- ceeded in recrossing the river without molestation.
It was a strange thing to attempt such a movement, under the circumstances. Unquestionably the order was far less wise and prudent than its revocation. Had we pressed forward we would have encountered, as we afterward learned, a force greatly superior to Wood's division, and with the river between us and the main army the result would most likely have been disastrous. Van Horne, the historian of the Army of the Cum- berland, says of our adven- ture in the cornfield-Vol. II, page 224 :
General Rosecrans counter- manded his own order and re- called the troops to their former position. Even this movement was critical, as Colonel Har- ker's brigade had crossed Stone river, and had driven Breckin- ridge's advance upon his main line, and Hascall's brigade and Bradley's battery were in the river, advancing in rear. How- ever, Colonel Harker's adroit- ness and the veil of darkness secured their withdrawal with only slight loss.
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