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 41
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520
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL BULLITT DISABLED.
[May,
·
Worthy of all praise for their gallant support of the Sixty- fourth were the Third Kentucky and Seventy-ninth Illinois. Both suffered severely, though their losses were not nearly so large as those of the former. Colonel Buckner, of the Seventy-ninth, was dangerously wounded through the body. It was believed at the time that his hurt would prove mortal, but he recovered and, after some months, resumed his place at the head of his regiment. Lieutenant-colonel Bullitt, of the Third Kentucky, also received a grievous wound, a musket ball passing through his thigh. He was carried to the rear, through the ranks of the Sixty-fifth, which he had recently commanded for four months. Its offi- cers and men had formed for him an exceedingly warm attachment, and the expressions of regret and sympathy for him were many and sincere. He eventually recovered in a measure, but was disabled for life.
At the close of the en- gagement, the Sixty-fifth was pushed forward to cover the retreat. It lost JAMES A. MOODY, ARTIFICER, SIXTH BATTERY. three or four men wounded, but none killed. A bullet entered the head of "Joe" Gleason, of Company C, and lodged under one of his eyes, where it has remained up to the present time. The rebels did not leave their intrenchments, and we fell back to our original position. .
When the Sixty-fifth was ordered to cover the withdrawal of the Sixty-fourth, it was halted some three hundred yards from the rebel works, and so disposed as to be in position to check the enemy, should he attempt a counter-assault. Officers and men
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1864.]
521
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ROBERT C. BROWN, COLONEL, SIXTY-FOURTH.
522
AN INCIDENT OF A BRAVE BOY.
[May,
were directed to shield themselves as well as possible behind the rocks and trees. Corporal Albert C. Matthias, of Company K, who was scarcely more than a boy, observed a squad of Union soldiers, with a regimental flag, a considerable distance in front. Matthias crept forward and joined the squad, which belonged to the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Ohio, Lieutenant-colonel Moore being in command. The men remained there until dark, sheltered by rocks, keeping up a brisk fire upon the enemy. Rebel bullets flew thickly about, and several of the party were wounded. Corporal L. S. Calvin, of the One Hundred and Twen- ty-fifth, while in the act of discharging his piece, was struck by a ball which entered his head near the left temple and passed out through the right lower jaw. He fell into the arms of Corporal Matthias, who was at his side. His musket was empty, showing that he and the rebel had fired at the same instant. Under cover of darkness the men withdrew. Calvin, who had lain uncon- scious, was left for dead. The next morning he was found alive Strange to relate, he recovered and is
and sent to the hospital. now living. in California. About the same time that Calvin was struck, Corporal Matthias had an exceedingly "close call," a bul- let clipping a lock of hair from his temple, as he peeped over a rock looking for somebody to shoot at. The next day Lieutenant- colonel Moore sent a communication to Lieutenant-colonel Whit- beck, of the Sixty-fifth, warmly commending Corporal Matthias for "gallant conduct in the face of the enemy." Colonel Whit- beck directed that the letter be read to the company, and that Matthias be promoted to sergeant as soon as there was a vacancy. Colonel Harker learned of the incident and informed the corporal that he should recommend him to the Governor of Ohio for a con- mission. Five days later Matthias was severely wounded at Re- saca. He was entirely disabled from further duty, and early in the following year was discharged.
That night the Sixty-fifth was on picket, the line traversing the crest and extending down either slope, not more than sixty yards from the pickets of the rebels. We could plainly hear them talking and digging. About midnight we were relieved by the One Hundredth Illinois, of Wagner's brigade, which had joined us on the ridge. The writer had an adventure that almost
523
WE LEAVE ROCKY FACE.
1864.]
made his hair curl. I was directed by Colonel Whitbeck to pass along the picket line and notify the company commanders to withdraw. Company K was some distance down one side of the ridge and its position was "refused." Groping along in the darkness, I slipped and tumbled over a cliff, falling five or six feet and landing all in a heap, causing quite a clatter among the stones. I was a few yards directly in front of Company K's post. The men naturally supposed the noise to be caused by some of the rebels trying to slip up on them, and determined to give them a warm recep- tion. I heard the clicking . as they cocked their mus- kets. I confess to being a good deal "rattled," but knowing that something must be done quickly, I shouted "Sixty-fifth!" and the boys didn't shoot. Thanks !
We remained two days longer on the crest of Rocky Face, without special incident. The scarcity of water made our lofty dwell- ing place somewhat uncom- fortable. All that we drank or used had to be carried in canteens from a spring near WILLIAM HARRIS, SERGEANT, COMPANY K, SIXTY-FIFTH. Killed at Resaca, Ga., May 14th, 1864. the base, for which frequent details were made. It was no light task for a man to climb that hill with half a dozen can- teens of water.
On the morning of the 12th, long before daylight, we were aroused and ordered to prepare to move. We marched, or rather slid, down the ridge, moved back to our main line, and three miles to the left, past the end of Rocky Face ridge, where the country was open between us and the enemy. We relieved part of the
524
THE SIXTY-FOURTH BURIES ITS DEAD.
[May,
Twenty-third corps, and spent the rest of the day in building breastworks. It seemed, toward evening, as though we might need them. The enemy advanced and drove in our pickets, but did not come near enough for us to reach them from the works. For an hour there was very heavy skirmishing, but at dusk the enemy retired.
In his official report of the operations on Rocky Face ridge, General Newton said: "General Harker and the officers and men of his bri- gade highly distinguished themselves for gallantry and good conduct."
On the 13th, it having been ascertained that the rebels had evacuated Rocky Face ridge, a detail was sent from the Sixty-fourth to bury the dead of that regi- ment, killed in the action of the 9th. All were found, though in some cases iden- tification was difficult, as the bodies had lain four days and were much swollen and discolored, while most of them had been stripped of HENRY H. CLARK, valuables and more or less SERGEANT, COMPANY E, SIXTY-FOURTH. of their clothing. The sad duty was performed with tender hands, and the detachment de- scended the ridge and rejoined the regiment in the evening near Resaca.
1864.
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CHAPTER XLVIII.
DALTON TO BIG SHANTY.
FIGHTING AND CHASING-THE REBELS FALL BACK ACROSS THE ETO- WAH-ADJUTANT WOODRUFF GETS A TUMBLE-A FEW DAYS FOR BREATH-THE FLANK MOVEMENT TO NEW HOPE-WARM DAYS IN THE TRENCHES-COLONEL HARKER MADE A BRIGADIER-BUCK- WHEAT BISCUITS FOR THE BATTERY OFFICERS-A PENITENT CHAPLAIN.
0 N THE morning of May 13th there was silence along the line. It was soon found that there was nobody to shoot at; the rebels had evacuated Dalton. This was made necessary by the movement of McPherson's Army of the Tennessee to Resaca, miles to the south, by Snake Creek gap- the first of Sherman's series of flanking operations. We started at eight o'clock for Dalton, by way of Buzzard's Roost gap, passing directly through the deserted camps and works of the enemy. The position was very strong by nature, and had been made doubly so by military skill and "elbow grease." Everywhere the front of the intrenchments was covered by palisades, chevaux- de-frise and "slashings." It was a relief to know that we would
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526
BATTLE OF RESACA.
[May,
not have to fight there. We reached Dalton just before noon and halted an hour in the town. The boys looted the stores, con- fiscating, among other things, thirty or forty bushels of peanuts- or "goobers," as they call them in the south. We traveled on during the afternoon, went into bivouac an hour after dark, and spent half the night in fortifying.
On the 14th and 15th of May was fought the battle of Resaca, the first engagement of the campaign which involved any con- siderable portion of either army. The Confederate commander had been out- maneuvered by the lapping. of Sherman's right around his left flank, and the move- ment of McPherson hereto- fore mentioned, and was thus compelled to abandon his position at Rocky Face and Dalton, which was im- pregnable against a direct attack. McPherson failed to reap the full advantage of his flank movement. This he might have done by debouching from Snake Creek gap and planting the Army of the Tennessee across the railroad in John- WILLIAM COTTER, COMPANY G, SIXTY-FOURTH. Mortally wounded at Resaca, Ga., May 14th, 1864. ston's rear, as General Sher- man intended that he should. The menace had the imme- diate effect, however, to draw Johnston's army hastily, by night, to Resaca, where it turned and presented a bold front to Sherman. The rebels quickly intrenched and evinced a purpose to fight-and this purpose they carried out most vigorously.
The Union army was astir before dawn on the 14th, under orders to press the enemy at all points. There was much maneu-
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1864.]
HARKER'S BRIGADE SHARPLY ENGAGED.
527
vering for position, and for two hours we marched and counter- marched, moved by the flank and in line of battle, until we were greatly exhausted. The sky was clear and the sun beat down upon us with merciless fury. From daylight there had been constant firing on the skirmish line, with an occasional peal of ar- tillery. All signs indicated a collision between the hostile armies, for both were in a belligerent mood, and a battle was momentarily imminent.
About nine o'clock very heavy cannonading and musketry were heard a mile away upon both our flanks, where severe fight- ing seemed to break out simultaneously. Harker's brigade was ordered forward into position, and we very soon came within range of the enemy's missiles. While crossing a valley, to reach high ground, we encountered a deadly blast from a rebel battery. A shell struck in the Twenty-seventh Illinois, exploding at the instant, and almost destroyed a company. By the flying frag- ments five or six were killed and thrice as many wounded.
We took the double-quick forward to escape the artillery fire by reaching the cover of a range of hills, a short distance in our front. Some three hundred yards beyond was another and higher irregular ridge, which was occupied by the Confederates. This fact was made clearly apparent to us, for as we ascended the ridge and reached the summit, we were greeted with a savage volley of musketry. Quick eyes had discerned the situation, and the order, " Lie down!" instantly obeyed, saved us from serious loss, the shower of bullets passing over us. We at once fell back a few paces to gain the protection of the ridge.
At this point the ridge was cut transversely by a ravine, in which, and to the right and left along the acclivity, our brigade was stationed. The position of the enemy had been fully devel- oped, on the high ground mentioned, behind a line of earthworks, while we had no shelter except such as was afforded by the contour of the ground. The men were ordered to advance to the top of the ridge to deliver their fire, and then to fall back under the hill to load. The bullets of the enemy skimmed the crest and many were killed or wounded when exposed at the moment of discharg- ing their pieces. We remained at this position until ammunition was entirely exhausted, when we were relieved by a brigade of
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528
THE SECOND DAY AT RESACA.
[May,
the Twenty-third corps and went to the rear to replenish cartridge- boxes. The Sixty-fourth and Sixty-fifth lost about twenty, each, among whom were some of our bravest and best soldiers.
We now occupied the ridge just in rear of the "valley of death" which we had crossed in the morning, of which mention has been made. Our place in the line of battle having been filled, there was no further occasion for our presence at the front. Were- mained in our new position during the latter part of the day and all of the night. At dusk the firing ceased along the embattled lines, neither side having gained material advantage. We passed the night in comparative quiet, although two or three times we were called into line by sharp firing on the outposts.
We were aroused from our fitful naps at three o'clock to stand at arms. General Sherman had re- peated his orders to press the enemy, and we knew ---- that if the rebels were still there-and they were-the fighting would be renewed at dawn. According to the plan of operations for the ANDREW BURNS, CHAPLAIN, SIXTY-FIFTH. 15th, however, our point in the line was simply to be held, and defended to the last in case of attack. The aggressive fighting was done elsewhere, and as the enemy remained quiet in our immediate front, making no attempt to advance, we did like- wise. Our brigade still occupied the position to which it had re- tired the day before. We were constantly on the alert, musket in hand, ready to spring to the colors at the word of command, but there appeared to be no demand for our services.
In the evening we changed position a short distance to the right and front. The Sixty-fifth was stationed in advance of the
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1864.]
WE CONFESS TO BEING SCARED.
529
main line, along the bank of a small, lazy creek. We were at close quarters, the distance between us and the enemy's line being no more than three hundred yards. Toward midnight the rebels made a heavy demonstration. There came a sudden volley of musketry that was well calculated to make
"-each particular hair to stand on end."
My recollection is that it came near doing that very thing. We were lying on low ground, along the little run, and the bul- lets passed harmlessly over our heads, but they "zipped" in terrifying chorus and pattered viciously against . the trees and upon the leaves and underbrush. The volley did not hurt any- body, but no old soldier has forgotten, or can forget, the waves of trouble that rolled across his peaceful breast, when the midnight stillness was suddenly bro- ken by such an outburst of fire and lead. As a matter of fact, the rebels were only trying to scare us, and we freely admit that their ef- fort was not wholly unsuc- cessful. The hostile and exceedingly noisy demon- LEVI SHEARER, CORPORAL, COMPANY H, SIXTY-FOURTH. Captured at Chickamauga ; died in pris- on at Richmond, Va., Nov. 12, 1864. stration was only intended to mask tle Confederate retreat, which was then in progress. In the morning the enemy had disappeared.
Just before going into the fight, on the 14th, while the Sixty- fifth was awaiting orders, Israel O. Gaskill, of Company B, was leaning against a tree, evidently in a meditative mood. As before mentioned, he was a recruit, and had been at the front but a week. His father's given name was Abraham.
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530
WOODRUFF GETS A TUMBLE.
[May,
"Well, Gaskill," said one of his comrades, "what are you thinking about ?"
"I was thinking I'd like to be in Abraham's bosom !" was the answer.
But raw as he was, a mere boy, Gaskill proved to be of the right stuff, through all the fighting that followed, to the end of the war.
Adjutant Woodruff. of the Sixty-fourth, thus tells of a mis- hap that befell him and set the whole regiment to laughing :
"On the morning of . the 14th, when the attack had been made on the Con- federate line, the Sixty- fourth was drawn up in rear of the Twenty-third corps, in a piece of woods bordering a field of wheat, - nearly ripe. An old rail fence inclosed the field. While awaiting orders to advance, an orderly handed me a telegraphic dispatchı, with orders to read it to the regiment. I glanced over it and saw that it announced the capture of a division of HENRY ST. JOHN YOUNG, COMPANY C, SIXTY-FIFTH. Killed at Stone River, December 31st, 1862. the enemy, by the Army of the Potomac, the previous day. To be better heard, I mounted the rail fence, read the dispatch, and proposed three cheers. Swinging my hat as a signal to commence, the rail broke under me, and I fell back pros- trate in the wheat. To show that I was not 'forever fallen,' I arose, not to renew the cheer, but to see the regiment in the most hilarious mood it ever experienced just before a battle. I resumed my place, with the remark that if Grant's victory was as barren of success as our cheering, it wasn't worth crowing over."
1864.]
531
CLOSE QUARTERS AT DALLAS.
As soon as dawn of the 16th disclosed the flight of the enemy, aides and orderlies went galloping in all directions, with orders to every corps and division to push forward in immediate pursuit. After a very hasty breakfast, we started amidst a great blowing of bugles and beating of drums, and a pandemonium of yelling soldiers and officers trying to make themselves heard. The . Georgia woods were a scene of wild tumult.
We got away early and marched rapidly. We passed directly through the town of Resaca, crossed the Oostanaula river, and pushed on southward. The march was irregular and jerky, and there was frequent skirmishing ahead, but the movement was constantly forward. This was continued for several days, the rebels falling back, evidently looking for a place to fight, with Sherman's jubilant soldiers close at their heels.
We reached Adairsville on the ISth and marched six miles southward, in line of battle, with heavy skirmishing. We kept on, the next day, to Kingston, near which place we went into bivouac on the bank of a small stream. Here General Sherman gave his army three or four days of rest. For two weeks it had been constantly on duty, day and night, marching, intrenching, and fighting. The opportunity to " wash up" was a boon to the weary and dusty soldiers.
The forward movement was resumed on the 23rd. After crossing the Etowah river, the army entered upon a flank move- nient on an extensive scale. Leaving the railroad, with twenty days' rations in wagons, it struck out for Dallas, about twenty miles west of Marietta. Sherman's purpose was to maneuver Johnston out of the very strong position he had taken at Allatoo- na pass. Of course as soon as this movement was disclosed, Johnston "let go" of Allatoona and drew away to the south- west, to keep his army between Sherman and Atlanta, the latter scarcely more than two days' march from Dallas. There was continued skirmishing, night and day, with occasional heavy fighting at one point or another on the line. For more than a week the armies confronted each other at New Hope church. Both lay behind heavy intrenchments, stretching continuously for miles. At some points the lines were but two hundred yards apart. It was scarcely possible for a man to expose himself with-
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[May,
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OLIVER O. HOWARD, MAJOR-GENERAL, COMMANDING FOURTH CORPS
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533
"YANK" AND "JOHNNY."
1864.]
out being stricken down. Where our brigade lay part of the time the distance was so short that the soldiers in blue and those in gray, from behind their works, could talk together. The conver- sation would be like this :
" Hello, Vank !"
" Hello, Johnny, what yer coughin' 'bout ?"
" Got any corfee ye want ter trade fer terbacker?"
"Coffee's a leetle skurce jest now, but I'd like to have some o'
yer terbacker. Put some in yer gun 'n' shoot it over here. I'll give ye the cor- fee some other day !"
"Tick don't go, Yank ! No corfee, no terbacker. Old Johnston won't let us trade now, anyhow. But, say, whar you-all goin'?"
"Goin' to Atlanta: whar d'ye s'pose ?"
"Bet ye ten dollars ye don't ! "
"What kind o' money?" "Why, our money of co'se !"
"Your money aint good fer sour apples! Make it a hundred to one 'n' I'll go ye!"
"Look out, Yank, we're
STEWART MILLER, SERGEANT, SIXTH BATTERY
goin' ter shoot now !"
"All right; let 'er flicker!"
And then they would blaze away and the bullets would rattle like hailstones against the head-logs. This kind of chaffing was often heard, not only on these lines, but at many places during that campaign, whenever the conditions permitted conversation.
On the 26th, Captain Jolin C. Matthias and several men of the Sixty-fifth were wounded. The next day there was hard fighting. The Sixty-fourth, while on picket, was ordered to advance its
534
. AGAIN JOHNSTON FALLS BACK.
[June,
line. In the operation it suffered severely, Lieutenant George C. Marshall being among the killed. On the 29th, Sergeant Jethro Funk, of Company F, color-bearer of the Sixty-fifth, was instantly killed. These occurrences will convey some idea of the daily life in that "hell-hole," as the boys named it, at New Hope and Dallas. The soldiers slept by snatchies in the trenches, being often aroused two or three times in a night by the rattling of musketry and the whistling of bullets. The rebels hung on so tenaciously that Sherman husbanded the supply of rations, permitting the issue of but half the usual allow- ance. Some days the mien had only enough to tease their appetites. But all were patient and cheerful. They had boundless confi- dence in "Uncle Billy," and not the smallest doubt was felt that in the end all would come out riglit.
Everybody was glad when the "infernal racket" at New Hope ceased. On the night of June atlı, John- ston once more deemed dis- cretion to be the better part of valor. Sherman was WILLIAM G. PATTERSON, CAPTAIN, SIXTY-FOURTH. slowly but surely extending his right around the Con- federate left, and Johnston decided to fall back to a new line about Marietta, before it should be too late. For a day we lay in camp, and the quiet that prevailed was like a poultice to our tortured ears. In the evening we drew three days' rations, and the next day marched to Acworth station, where we again made connection with the railroad.
While here, Colonel Harker received his long delayed commission as a brigadier-general, and was duly mustered. The officers of each regiment of the brigade called upon him in a
535
SLOSHING AROUND IN THE MUD.
1864.]
body and tendered their hearty congratulations, and the soldiers cheered him with tremendous vigor. All felt that no reward for able and faithful service was ever more worthily bestowed. Harker's toast was: "To the officers and soldiers of my command, who made me a brigadier-general !" His rank as such dated from September 20th, 1863, in recognition of the conspicuous services of himself and his brigade at Chickamauga. In less than three
weeks, General Harker was among the slain.
On the 10th we were in motion again. For a week or ten days it rained almost con- stantly. During that time our clothes were not once dry. We changed position with ex- asperating frequency, each time, it seemed, finding a place where the mud was deeper than before. Sometimes the trenches were half full of water, and the men sloshed around in a most uncomforta- ble and despairing condition. There was no straw to be had, and when lying down they kept themselves out of the GILBERT E. MILLER, COMPANY D, SIXTY-FIFTH. mud by corduroying their "pup" tents with poles and limbs, upon which they spread their soaked blankets. The days and nights were about equally full of wretchedness. And all the time the rebels kept peppering away at us, doing what they could to make life miserable. It might almost be said that death lost its terrors.
The army at this time was lying about a station on the rail- road called Big Shanty. While there, occurred the most serious break in our cracker line of the entire campaign. The Con- federate cavalry dashed upon the railroad, captured the guards, and burned two or three bridges. The engineer corps worked with might and main to repair the damage, but for inore than a
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536
BUCKWHEAT CAKES IN GEORGIA.
[June,
week 110 train passed to the front and rations reached a low ebb. The scream of the first locomotive to arrive at Big Shanty made the army frantic. The soldiers yelled and yelled until it seemed that they had gone crazy.
One day a bullet whisked across the breast of Lieutenant "Phil" McCune, of the Sixty-fifth, making sad havoc with his clothes, but barely touching the skin. Phil glanced at his torn garments, and with that comical wink of his, exclaimed, "I believe those fellows are shooting at me!"
Narrow escapes were so common that they were regarded as legitimate subjects for jesting. Even severe wounds often elicited flippant remarks from their victims. "Dan" Elliott, of Company E, Sixty-fifth, was shot through the ankle. "Well, boys, they've uncoupled me!" he exclaimed, as he hobbled away to find a surgeon.
Captain Baldwin tells of an experience of the battery officers with southern cooks : "One night we occupied the porch of a planter's house for our headquarters. Orders had been issued to put everything in the liglitest campaigning order, extra tents and baggage of every description being left behind. We found that we had several pounds of buckwheat flour on hand, and as it was no good on a campaign, we asked the lady of the house if she could get us up some buckwheat cakes for breakfast. She said, "Oh, yes, if I had the flour." This we promised her, with coffee for her own family, and then asked her if she knew how to make buckwheat cakes. Assuring us that she did, the flour was turned over to her, and the next morning we received biscuits harder than twelve-pound shot. No one had grinders heavy enough to work them up. We fell back on hardtack and never heard the last of the Georgia buckwheat cakes. The gunners often asked for some of them to put in as charges instead of canister."
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