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 33
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.1863.]
403
"HAPPY JACK" AS A CLERGYMAN.
"fly," talking with the colonel, a soldier approached with "Happy Jack" under guard. Jack was very "full," and Colonel Harker sternly ordered that he be at once taken to the Sixty-fourth for con- dign punishment. Jack had caught sight of the stranger, with shin- ing shoulder-straps and brass buttons, and asked him who he was. "My name is Thompson : I am the new chaplain of the Six- ty-fourth Ohio," was the courteous answer to the rude question.
"Ha!" said Jack, as he offered his hand to the spiritual di- rector, "ye're goin' ter be our chaplain, are ye! I was a chaplain mesilf once, an'a divil of a chaplain I . was, too!"
Colonel Harker's eyes snapped, the guard hustled Jack away, and the chap- lain mused upon the mag- nitude of the work commit- ted to him-the regenera- tion of the Sixty-fourth Ohio.
Quoting again, from Captain Baldwin : "On one of the expeditions from Hillsboro, in which the bat- , tery participated, we went up toward the Cumberland mountains into one of the many rich coves, where we found a very nice plantation RICHARD M. VOORHEES, CAPTAIN, SIXTY-FIFTH. owned by a Connecticut Yankee by the name of Parker, who had emigrated to Tennessee in the 50's. We borrowed his scythe and cut what green oats we could load up. We then visited his house, and having learned in the mean time that he was a rebel conscript officer, and that he was ten times meaner than an armed rebel, we decided to secure some hams without asking if he had any to spare. We made a careful search of the house but found nothing. They claimed that the rebel cavalry had eaten them out. We determined to
404
HONEY AND HAMS FOR THE BATTERY.
[August
return to camp when a little colored boy told us that if we would let him go back to camp with us he would tell us where to find lots of stuff in the house. This was assented to, and following his instructions a bureau in the parlor was removed, which un- covered an opening under a stairway. There we found nearly a barrel of green coffee, a dozen gallons of honey and a quantity of hams and bacon, corn meal and flour. These supplies were trans- ferred to the wagons and on arriving at camp we not only had a well filled train but a young darkey to help the cook.
"Within sight of our camp there lived a widow and her only
, daughter. As the members of the different commands had literally taken everything from the place, even to the fences, she appealed to Captain Bradley for protection. This was readily given and a guard was detailed as requested. A detail was also made to cut up a lot of wood for her, and when the army finally moved we saw that she had a reasonable amount of supplies left for her support. One day the ladies were invited to camp to an army dinner. Our officers' mess being blessed with a splendid cook (John Wagner), we were enabled, with the aid of our Dutch bake- oven, to get up a first-class meal, even to northern light bread. Their wonder knew no bounds on seeing the bread and they could not believe that we baked it in camp. They asked how it was made and said they never saw any light bread before in their lives."
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1863.]
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CHAPTER XXXIX.
A RAPID PROCESSION OF EVENTS.
THE ADVANCE TOWARD CHATTANOOGA-A TOILSOME CLIMB-IN THE SEQUATCHIE VALLEY-WE FARE SUMPTUOUSLY-CROSSING THE TENNESSEE RIVER ON FLATBOATS-A RECONNOISANCE UNDER THE SHADOW OF LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN-THE REBELS EVACUATE CHATTA- NOOGA-WOOD'S DIVISION MARCHES IN-WE PUSH THE ENEMY BE- YOND LEE AND GORDON'S MILL-A WEEK OF CONSTANT SKIRMISH- ING-JUST BEFORE THE BATTLE.
0 N THE 16th of August a stir was created in camp by orders to march immediately. We were directed to reduce all baggage as near to the zero point as possible, and the men threw away the surplusage of clothing and articles of vari- ous kinds that always accumulated during weeks of camp life. We started about ten o'clock, taking the familiar road to Pelham, this being the fifth time we had traveled it within a few weeks.
The weather was excessively hot and before we had gone a mile perspiration flowed literally in streams. At noon, as might have been expected, it began to rain furiously. The main road was so cut up as to be impassable for wagons and artillery, and we
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406
A DAY OF TUGGING AND VELLING.
[August,
took a by-path which was little better. Our brigade was detailed to assist the train-a job that everybody would have been glad to shirk. We were distributed for a mile, a squad to each wagon, and there was continual tugging and yelling. Not less than a dozen wagons became hopelessly stalled and had to be unloaded. Two hours after dark we halted, a mile beyond Pelham, and, wet and exhausted, threw ourselves upon the ground.
We turned out at four in the morning and prepared to ascend the mountain-the same range which we had crossed with so much difficulty the previous year. The ascent was two miles in length, steep and rocky. It was impossible to get the wagons up with full loads. Half the contents of each was unloaded at the foot of the hill, for a second trip. We marched two-thirds of the way to the summit, stacked arms, and returned to begin our task. And what a task it was! At six o'clock the first wagon started up. All day, and until eleven o'clock at night, we toiled almost without cessation-thirty men to each wagon, pulling with ropes, lifting at the wheels and, of course, yelling like savages. The artillery required twelve horses to each gun and caisson. The heat was intense and large numbers of men and animals gave out entirely. When night came on, great fires were built at short in- tervals and the long hill presented a wild, weird scene of confu- sion and excitement. We only succeeded in getting the wagons up with the first half of their loads. Never in our lives were we more utterly overcome with fatigue.
A few hours of sleep, and we were up at daylight to finish our work. The men were stiff, lame and sore but they "limbered up" with exercise, their lungs were rested, and they tugged and yelled as aforetime. Even brigadiers, colonels and smartly- dressed staff officers stood by the wayside, yelling and swinging their arms like lunatics, in their efforts to stimulate the mules. We wondered if Bonaparte's army made such a racket when it crossed the Alps. In any event, his soldiers could not have been more rejoiced to reach the summit than were we when our last wagon halted at the top of that hill. After an hour for rest and coffee we resumed the march, going into bivouac long after dark, in another baptism of rain.
We were off at early dawn next morning and marched half a
407
DOWN THE MOUNTAIN.
1863.]
mile to a stream bearing the euphonious name of Gizzard creek, where we stopped for breakfast. At noon the line officers' mess of the Sixty-fifth ate dinner at a cabin where there was a family of ten children, the oldest not more than fifteen. The matron placed at our disposal all the table furniture she had, consisting of half a dozen broken plates and two or three rusty knives and forks. We gave her some bacon and hardtack, a little coffee and sugar, and a dollar for the use of her house, which she said was more money than she had seen in six months. The day's inarch was an arduous one of twenty miles. The only excitement of the day was caused by rattlesnakes, of which the men killed eight or ten. We passed through Tracy City-a ma- jestic name for six or eight straggling houses.
The next day, August 20th, having crossed the plateau, we reached tlie descent, which was as long and as rough as the hill by which we went up. The division got down safely, the only casualties being 1 the breaking of a few wag- 011s. We were now in the JOSEPH B. FURGESON, CAPTAIN, SIXTY-FOURTH. beautiful Sequatchie valley, a fertile and productive region, lying between two high ranges. Fruit and vegetables were plenty, and during the ten days of our stay we fared sumptuously. We were not required to drill much, and did little except guard and picket duty, with an occasional detail to escort a supply train from Bridgeport or Stevenson.
One day there was a big scare caused by the report of a citi- zen that two or three regiments of rebel cavalry were sweeping down the valley. Colonel Harker ordered out the brigade in hot
408
WE HAVE FUN WITH SOME CATTLE.
[September,
haste and we went on the gallop for two or three miles, when it was found to be a false alarm. Then Colonel Harker skillfully turned the affair into a brigade drill and we charged around for two hours, returning to camp in a melting condition.
Early in the morning of September Ist, the bugies sounded "Forward !" We marched to Jasper, where we rested a day, and on the 3rd reached the Tennessee river at Shellmound. There we were to paddle ourselves across on flatboats. The ammunition and hospital wagons continued on to Bridgeport, to cross by the pontoon bridge. Half a dozen boats, each capable of carrying two wagons and a dozen mules at a cargo, were our only means of ferriage. These had to be propelled by poles and paddles, across a stream half a mile wide, and it was slow and tedious work. It took all day and half the night to get our brigade over.
The division had a herd of cattle, and it was proposed to cross them by swimming. One of the boats was loaded with cattle as a "bait," and a sturdy steer was tied by the horns to the stern. The boat was pushed off and of course the steer had to swim for his life. A thousand men, more or less, surrounded the cattle and with terrifying shouts drove them into the water, while the men on the boat employed their most persuasive arts to coax them to follow in the wake of the steer. They swam bravely for a time, and there was much rejoicing over the apparent success of the aquatic experiment. But before a quarter of the distance had been passed, the cattle showed that they were poor navigators. Either they lost their reckoning or their faith failed, for they began to swim around in circles, in a state of evident demoralization. After floundering for a few minutes they all struck out for the shore from which they had launched There was no alternative, and they had to be ferried over in squads.
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As soon as we had crossed we went into bivouac to await the passage of the rest of the division. Many of the officers and men spent two or three hours in an underground ramble, by the light of torches, in Nickajack cave, near Shellmound, said to be miles in extent. One of the chambers, with its labyrinth of stalactites, is equal to anything in the famous Mammoth cave, of Kentucky.
We waited a day for Van Cleve's division to cross the river,
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1863.]
WE STIR UP THE REBELS.
409
the boats being kept running day and night. The opportunity for bathing was greatly enjoyed by thousands who fringed the banks. By noon of the 5th we were in motion again, camping for the night within twelve miles of Chattanooga, without a sign of the enemy. Rosecrans's entire army was now south of the Tennessee, the Fourteenth and Twentieth corps having crossed without molestation at points below. It was in the nature of a surprise that Bragg did not dispute the passage of the river. It was afterward learned that he was awaiting heavy re- inforcements, then on the way to join him. With his augmented army he fully expected to destroy Rose- crans, and was willing that the latter should pass to the south bank, thus assuring his ruin, as Bragg believed.
On Sunday, September 6th, we advanced-two bri- gades of Wood's division-' to within a mile and a half of "the nose" of Lookout Mountain, the van skirmish- ing sharply with the Con- federate cavalry outposts. We evidently stirred up the rebels in that vicinity, for at the signal stations on the JOSEPH ANDREWS, SERGEANT, COMPANY C, AND FIRST LIEUTENANT, SIXTY-FOURTH. mountain the flags were being waved with frantic energy. Withdrawing a short distance, we went into bivouac and prepared to spend the night. About ten o'clock company officers were summoned to regimental head- quarters and informed that we were in great jeopardy and must get away from there as quickly as possible. It was ascertained, or at least believed, that a large force of the enemy was on its way to get in our rear and cut off our retreat. The sleeping sol- diers were aroused and, swiftly and silently, we moved back three
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410
UNDER THE SHADOW OF OLD LOOKOUT.
[September
miles, took position on a high hill, put the artillery "in battery" and passed the remainder of the night unmolested.
We remained quiet during the forenoon of the 7th, but in the afternoon Harker's brigade was directed to make a reconnoisance toward Lookout. We pushed half a mile beyond the farthest point reached the previous day. Companies Band F, of the Six- ty-fifth, were deployed as skirmishers. Reaching a skirt of dense underbrush, it was found that the rebel pickets were posted along the farther edge of the copse. Their hostile intent was disclosed by the snapping of a cap on one of their muskets. Our skirmish- ers could see nothing, owing to the dense thicket, but they opened fire on general principles. The rebels responded with a harmless . volley and then took to their heels.
Our sharp advance provoked a severe fire from the enemy's artillery. Corporal Herman Beitel, of Company F, Sixty-fifth, a most excellent soldier, was instantly killed by a fragment of shell which struck his head and literally tore away the upper half. We had with us a section of the Sixth Ohio battery, but owing to the dense wood it was not possible to use the guns. Having fully de- veloped the presence and position of the enemy, which was the object of the movement, we faced about and rejoined the other brigade, at the spot where we had camped the previous night. The body of Corporal Beitel was carried back by members of his company and buried that evening near the bivouac.
General Wood was greatly pleased with the manner in which this reconnoisance was conducted. In his official report of the campaign he bestowed unstinted praise upon Colonel Harker and his brigade, using these words : "I know of no parallel to this masterly reconnoisance in all military history."
We did not move on the Sth. Palmer's division joined us and we felt a greater sense of security. Wagner's brigade, of our division, had been sent to occupy Waldron's ridge, on the bank of the river opposite Chattanooga, and about this time it was begin- ning to toss shells into the town.
The 9th was a day of stir and excitement. We were in line of battle at three o'clock, and when dismissed were ordered to march at six. This was countermanded and we were directed, with only arms, haversacks and canteens, to go upon another re-
1863.]
CHATTANOOGA IS OURS.
411
connoisance. Just as the line was formed the program was again changed and we were told to "take everything along." The men hastily buckled on their "traps" and off we went at a rapid pace. Soon rumors floated along the column that Bragg had evacuated Chattanooga. We took them to be only "grapevines." Presently a regiment of mounted infantry, of Wilder's brigade, came up from the rear and passed us at a gallop, the men shout- ing that they were going into Chattanooga. Our boys answered that it would be "some other day," but, to our sur- prise, within a few hours we were in the town, our- selves.
We neared Lookout, but not a shot was heard. As we rounded the point of the mountain, far below the frowning cliffs, our eyes dis- cerned, through the clouds of dust that filled the air, the spires and buildings of Chattanooga. A wave of prodigious cheers swept along the column, and this was repeated again and again. The blood which was the price paid for Chat- tanooga, was to be shed a few days later. But the JOHN J. WILLIAMS, LIEUTENANT-COLONEL, SIXTY-FOURTH. soldiers knew not, recked not. of the future. They thought only of the present, and rejoiced with exceeding great joy in the possession, so easily gained, of the Confederate stronghold. As we entered the town the street was lined with people gratifying their curiosity to have a look at a crowd of real live. "Yankees."
"Why," exclaimed an urchin of twelve, "you look just like we-uns! They told us you-all had horns!"
"There's a brigade right behind us that's got horns !" said
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412
A STORY OF BAKER AND FARBER.
[September,
ready Phil Sheridan, of Company I, Sixty-fifth. "I'd like to have a good 'horn' mesilf jist now !"
We learned that the rebels began the evacuation the day we made our reconnoisance and were received with such a warm artillery fire. This was the fact, although it can hardly be sup- posed that the advance of our brigade scared them out. We passed acres of deserted camps covered with debris of every kind. We halted and stacked arms in front of a large house which had been occupied as the headquarters of Lieutenant-general Polk. Within were found two Confederate flags. Colonel Harker took possession of one, and the other was torn into shreds by the boys for relics. We bivouacked for the night half a mile southeast. of the town. A large detail from the brigade was made for pro- vost duty during the night.
While rambling about the outskirts of the bivouac, Quarter- master-sergeant Charles E. Baker and Commissary-sergeant Wil- liam H. Farber, of the Sixty-fourth, came upon two fine three- year-old colts capering about in a field. Regarding it as a dis- pensation of Providence, to relieve them from the irksome toil of "hoofing it" with the train, they at once set about the capture of the animals. After some strategic maneuvering they were suc- cessful and led their "mounts" in triumph to where the train was parked. Congratulating themselves upon their "soft snap," they were busily engaged in improvising the necessary riding gear, when a well-dressed lady. on horseback, rode up. As soon as her eye fell upon the brace of colts she gave notice that they belonged to her. She said her name was Crutchfield, and exhibited a safe- guard for her property, bearing the signature of General Thomas J. Wood. Of course the captive animals were instantly released and turned over to a negro servant who accompanied the lady. The next day Baker and Farber, disgusted and crestfallen, took it afoot, as usual.
Wood's division made but a short stay in Chattanooga, mov- ing out the next morning-September roth. Wagner's brigade was left to occupy the town. After marching a few miles, through clouds of suffocating dust and overpowering heat, we invaded Georgia, the soil of which state we had not before trodden. We camped near Rossville, the divisions of Van Cleve and Palmer be-
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1863.]
AFTER THE FLYING FOE.
413
ing near us. A collision occurred in the evening between Pal- mer's pickets and a detachment of rebel cavalry, which resulted in a brisk skirmish, and warned us that we were in the presence of the enemy. A heavy picket line was thrown out and we lay down to sleep.
That evening our pickets sent to Colonel Harker's head- quarters a negro, from whom was learned the first definite and re- liable information respecting the whereabouts of Bragg's army, and its course after leaving Chattanooga. The intelli- 1 gence was immediately transmitted to General Wood, and by him sent to General Rosecrans. It changed the direction of our march the following day.
We were aroused at a very early hour to stand in line of battle. After a hur- ried breakfast at daylight, we were off by half past five. Retracing our steps three or four miles, we took the road to Lafayette and pushed rapidly forward. We soon ran into a hornets' nest. Five companies of the Sixty-fourth and five of NATHAN W. WELLS, SERGEANT, COMPANY G, SIXTY-FOURTH. the Sixty-fifth were thrown out as skirmishers, the main body of our brigade, which was in the lead, following in line of battle. The dense thickets through which we forced our way rendered the movement fatiguing in the extreme. Firing was brisk and frequent, and a number of our skirmishers were wounded. Many panic-stricken rabbits started from the bushes and galloped away with nimble feet.
"Go it, cottontail !" shouted one of the boys. "If I was a rabbit I'd run, too !"
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414
AT LEE AND GORDON'S MILL.
[September,
The rebels resisted stubbornly but were gradually forced back by the momentum of our column. their evident purpose being only to check our advance. We passed several of the enemy's dead, and from prisoners we learned that the force opposing us was a cavalry brigade commanded by General Wheeler. About the middle of the afternoon we came to a pause at Lee and Gor- don's mill, on the bank of a stream called the Chickamauga, a name soon to be made historic by one of the fiercest struggles of the war. The ball was to open in a few days and Harker's bri- gade had tickets for front seats. A third of each regiment was sent on picket, and the line was established under a brisk and ex- ceedingly annoying fire from the enemy. We passed an almost sleepless night, being called into line three or four times by alarms upon the outposts. In the morning the divisions of Van Cleve and Palmer arrived, works were thrown up along the bank of the stream, and the position became tolerably secure. Our brigade lay at a bend of the creek, near the large grist-mill from which the place takes its name.
Of our advance from Chattanooga to Lee and Gordon's mill General Wood said in his official report: "The service of Colonel Harker's brigade was extremely hazardous, and was performed with the greatest judgment, skill and gallantry. The men and officers of his command deserve the highest praise."
On the 12th one company was detailed from each regiment of our brigade, the whole under the command of Lieutenant-colonel Bullitt, of the Third Kentucky, and ordered to "clear our front." Crossing the stream, we deployed upon either side of the road and swept forward at a rapid pace. After passing our picket line we very soon stirred up the enemy and the climate became extremely warm. Bullets flew around us with the same uncomfortable sound that became so familiar to our ears at Stone River. We drove the rebel skirmishers half a mile, when a hostile battery opened savagely upon us. Colonel Bullitt wisely concluded that we had gone far enough, and ordered a halt. We lay down and held our position while the rebel shells burst all around us. We were singularly fortunate, losing none killed and but three or four wounded.
Colonel Harker, with three regiments and a section of the
1863.]
SEVERAL LIVELY DAYS.
415
Sixth Ohio battery, came out at double-quick to support us. Har- ker at once determined to experiment with his plan of capturing batteries, in which he had drilled us so often while we lay before Corinth. He sent the Third Kentucky to the left and the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Ohio to the right, while the Sixty- fourth Ohio and Bullitt's detachment of skirmishers advanced di. rectly in front. If the rebels had stayed, we might have got the battery, but they didn't. They limbered up and galloped to the rear, and after charging about for an hour we gave ! it up and returned to the north bank of the stream.
Toward nioon of the 13th there was a great scare. It was reported that the rebels in heavy columns were advancing upon us, and instantly all was bustle and excitement. Staff of- ficers dashed madly about with orders, regiments and brigades took their assigned places, and every prepara- tion was made to receive the expected onslaught. It proved to be one of the false alarms so frequent under such circumstances. There was much heavy DUDLEY C. CARR, CAPTAIN, SIXTY-FOURTH. skirmishing but the attack did not come. We were kept at high pressure until night, when matters quieted down and we breathed freely again.
Next day the Sixty-fourth and One Hundred and Twenty- fifth Ohio were sent upon a reconnoisance. Without going far they found the enemy strongly posted, provoking a fire which wounded three of the Sixty-fourth. Four days longer we lay at Lee and Gordon's, in comparative quiet. The utmost vigilance was not for a moment relaxed and there was much picket duty,
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416
THE GENERALS MADE MISTAKES.
[September,
standing in line of battle and building breastworks. The air was full of the wildest "grapevine" rumors. We heard that General Sherman, with a million men, more or less, from Vicksburg, had reached Chattanooga and was on his way to the front; and that Burnside, with another host of blue-coats, was marching down from Knoxville at the rate of twenty miles an hour, and his advance had already reached Ringgold. Nothing could be more absurd and preposterous than the reports which hourly reached our ears, not one in ten of which was based upon even the smallest shadow of fact.
September 18th, our last day at the mill, was full of excite- ment. In the morning a rebel battery opened viciously upon our pickets but was soon silenced by a few well-directed shots from Captain Bradley's guns. The brigade formed in line at the breast- works and remained all day, the men being only permitted to re- tire a short distance to the rear, one-third at a time, for their meals. Firing at the front was almost without cessation. As darkness came on we were ordered to spend the night at the in- trenchments. We did not know, but everybody believed, from the trend of events during the previous few days, that the morrow would witness the mighty struggle between the two great armies.
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