USA > Pennsylvania > York County > Shiloh > The Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania at Shiloh. History of the regiment. The battle of Shiloh > Part 8
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They then pushed on toward Lawrenceburg, where they ar- rived that evening at about nine o'clock, only to learn that the Second Division had passed through that forenoon and had a fight with the enemy, who were repulsed. The divi- sion had then marched toward Salt river.' The train followed until about ten P. M., finding they were near the river, though not yet in sight of the troops, they halted for the night in a field surrounded by woods. The whole party consisted of nine quartermasters and quartermaster sergeants, one major - (Bradford) two line officers, and forty-three convalescents re-
الــ ملة د الحرة
ساء وله السا
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Capture of the Quartermasters.
turning to their regiments from the hospitals. Early the next morning they were fired upon from the woods in the rear. This was a very rough reveille, but it made them get up in a hurry. Not seeing any enemy they thought the shots came from a few Confederate scouts who might be hovering around. They then very leisurely hitched up their teams, after which they resumed their march. The convalescents were disposed by Major Bradford, of the Seventy-seventh Penn- esylvania as train guards. Soon after entering the woods, the train was fired upon from the left. A portion of the guard, under Captain MeClellan, of the Thirty-ninth Indiana, was deployed into the woods to defend it from attacks as it passed along the road. They soon reached Salt river over which they passed on a covered bridge, amidst a shower of bullets. In the meantime nearly all the skirmishers were warmly engaged, one man, a private of the Thirtieth Indiana was severely wounded. The train then halted, for upon a hill some distance to the front, was a large force drawn up in line of battle. This force consisted of infantry, artillery and cavalry, and, as a great many were in blue uniform, it was thought to be General Sill's command. Soon, however, the Confederate flag was caught by the breeze. Then there was no more doubt as to who confronted them. The question now arose, what can we do? J. E. Cassell, quartermaster of the Seventy-seventh, suggested a flag of truce and surrender. Then Quartermaster Bailey of the Thirtieth Indiana, being the oldest man in the party, consented to go out, provided some other person go with him to carry the flag. Sergeant Chapin of the Thirty-ninth Indiana undertook to do so. At this moment word was brought in that Major Bradford, with a part of the skirmishers had been captured, and that the enemy was moving on their rear. This made it necessary to go forward at once with the white flag. It was soon halted. A Confederate officer advanced to receive the flag and very little time was afforded Bailey for reflection. . He could not understand why all this preparation was made to capture so insignificant a number. He, however, rightly concluded that the enemy was unaware of the small force of their opponents. The Confederates probably were under the impression that they were surrounding the entire Second Division. Where-
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Screnty seventh Pennsylvania Regiment.
upon Bailey concluded to keep up this deception until, if pos- sible, he could get favorable terms of surrender. He but- toned up his overcoat to conceal his rank. Upon the ar- rival of the Confederate officer, salutes were exchanged. Bailey in his most dignified manner, said, "Sir, I see that you are a Confederate officer," "Yes sir;" was the reply. "Are those your troops?" inquired Bailey. "Yes sir;" was again replied. "Who are those men in blue on our left?" "They are also our troops." "They yours, too !- in blue uniforms!" "Yes sir." "Well sir," said Bailey, "those men have deceived us, we have been skirmishing with your men for some time past, have killed and wounded some of them, and you have wounded some of ours, and we have finally come out to hold a parley." "I shall be obliged to report to General Cheat- ham, for orders." "Very well, sir," said Bailey. The Confed- erate officer went off to headquarters.
In a short time he returned, accompanied by General Cheat- ham. Just then there was firing in their rear, and Bailey re- marked, "Sir! your men are firing upon us while we are out with a flag of truce, what does that mean?" the General asked if there was a flag in the rear, and sent his officer to order the firing to cease. When Bailey said "Well General we have come out to hold a parley." "What have you to say?" in- quired the General. Bailey replied, "We see that you out- number us and, in order to save the useless shedding of blood, if we can make proper terms we will surrender." General Cheatham was very gracious, bowed low, and asked, "What are the terms you wish to make?" Bailey replied, "We have several quartermasters with us, who have their books and papers with them containing their accounts with the Govern- ment, and if these officers can retain these documents and pri- vate property will be respected, we will surrender." General Cheatham said he would be obliged to report to General Withers before he could make terms of surrender." What shall I tell General Withers is the strength of your force?" Bailey replied, "You may say to him our force consists of nine quartermasters, one major, two line officers, forty-three convalescents and nine army wagons. General Cheatham angrily exclaimed, "You are in no condition to dictate terms of surrender!" Bailey replied, assuming much dignity, "I do
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Li
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Capture of the Quartermasters.
not know about surrendering without suitable terms." General Cheatham evidently seeing that he was duped, said "Very well, sir; I will report to General Withers." He soon returned and said, "Sir; General Withers instructs me to say that he accepts your proposed terms of surrender, but very much regrets that your force is not greater." Whereupon the train and prisoners were brought before General Withers, who gave directions to his officers to see that the terms were strictly complied with. The men were paroled and allowed to depart towards Louisville.
It was ascertained that the Confederate force consisted of not less than fifteen thousand men, belonging to the command of General E. Kirby Smith, who had been ordered to inter- cept the Second Division. The enemy had discovered the camp of the quartermasters early in the morning, and sup- posing it to be the Second Division, completely surrounded the camp, with the above result. General Sill had been en- camped that night only three miles in advance of the nine wagons. During the delay occasioned by the quartermasters, he defeated the advance Confederate brigade at Dog Walk, and resumed his march, thus escaping this greatly superior force of the enemy.
The capture of the Second Division, which numbered scarcely six thousand men, was undoubtedly prevented by the delay caused by the stout resistance of these forty-three convalescents, and the tact and duplicity displayed by the quartermasters.
On the morning of the ninth there was more or less skir- mishing in the front and rear of the column. Many men, on account of the heat and scarcity of water fell out of the ranks to look for water. Quite a number of these were captured by the enemy, who constantly hovered around the flanks of the marching column. Company K, of the Seventy-seventh, lost four men, captured in this manner. The other companies of the regiment suffered less severely. On the tenth the com- mand reached Chaplin river in the midst of a heavy rain-
storm. Water was plenty enough then and easy to get. In fact the men had a great deal more than they wanted.
On the eleventh the division camped upon the battlefield of Perryville, which was the scene of a great conflict on the
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Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania Regiment.
eighth. A great many dead, both blue and gray, still un- buried, strewed the field. Bragg had been beaten, forced to retreat and get out of Kentucky. His invasion of that State was an utter failure. In the pursuit, the Seventy-seventh was always at the front, and faithfully performed all its duties. On the twenty-third of October, the regiment passed through Bradfordsville. Most of the town had been destroyed by the Confederates, because the inhabitants were nearly all good Union people. On the following day the division camped near Saloma. There, on the twenty-fifth, for the first time since leaving Battle Creek on the twentieth of August, the wagon trains and camp equipage joined the command. Con- sequently the rejoicing was general. For more than two months the men had been without shelter of any kind. The tents came very opportunely too, for while the men were still erecting them, a heavy snowstorm set in. The night was in- tensely cold and by the morning of the twenty-sixth more than six inches of snow covered the ground, and the streams were frozen solid enough for men to walk across on the ice.
On October twenty-seventh, the command left Saloma, passed through Bowling Green on the thirty-first. Franklin, Kentucky on November fourth, Tyree Spring, Tennessee, No- vember five, and arrived at Nashville on the seventh.
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Murfreesborough Pike.
CHAPTER IV.
Buell relieved from command-Rosecrans succeeds him-Reconnoissance to Lavergne -- Re-organization of the Army-On to Murfreesborough- The Battle of Stone River-Review of the Army.
War Department, Adjutant General's Office, Washington, October 24, 1862.
(General Orders No. 168.)
I. By direction of the President, the State of Tennessee, east of the Tennessee river, and such parts of Northern Alabama and Georgia as may be taken possession of by United States troops, will constitute the Depart- ment of the Cumberland.
II. Major General W. S. Rosecrans is assigned to the Department of the Cumberland.
III. The troops under the command of Major General Grant will con- stitute the Thirteenth Army Corps; and those assigned to the command of Major General Rosecrans, will constitute the Fourteenth Army Corps.
By order of the Secretary of War.
L. THOMAS, Adjutant General.
P URSUANT to this order General Rosecrans reached Louis- ville and assumed command on October thirtieth, and on November seventh, at Nashville, made the following · changes in his command: General George H. Thomas was given command of the center; General McCook, of the right wing, and General Crittenden, of the left wing. The divi- sions constituting the right wing were the Second, to which the Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania was attached, commanded by General J. W. Sill; the Ninth Division under General J. C. Davis, and the Eleventh under General P. H. Sheridan. The Second Division remained in camp at Edgefield on the north side of the Cumberland river, opposite to Nashville, until. November sixteenth. Then it crossed the river and moved out the Murfreesborough pike six miles beyond Nash. ville and encamped there. While there, several reconnois-
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Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania Regiment.
sances were made to locate the enemy and find out their in- tentions.
On the nineteenth, Colonel Kirk moved out with two regi- ments, the Seventy-seventh being one of them, and two pieces of Edgarton's battery. He soon found the enemy and opened fire on them, but received no reply. They were driven several miles, after which Colonel Kirk returned to camp with his command.
The next reconnoissance of the brigade took place on the twenty-seventh, the entire brigade participating, with the ex- ception of the Thirtieth Indiana, which was on picket. About four miles out the enemy was first encountered. A running fight ensued. It was kept up until the brigade reached Lav- ergne, which was nine miles from camp, and just midway be- tween Nashville and Murfreesborough. Upon the Federal approach toward the town the enemy opened a fierce and well- directed artillery fire. The first shell passed directly over Colonel Kirk's head, the second dropped right in the midst of his staff, and others fell around the line, or passed close above the heads of the men. Kirk at once directed Captain Edgarton to open with his battery. His fire was very rapid and accurate, but the Confederates had a decided advantage, as their guns were fired from the top of a hill. Consequently the recoil would send their guns back below the crest, where they could be reloaded in comparative safety. Kirk, in order to dislodge the enemy, ordered the Seventy-seventh Penn- sylvania and the Twenty-ninth Indiana to move to the left and front, with a view to charging the battery from the flank.
The Confederates soon discovered the nature of this move, and hurriedly retired upon their reserves. In a few minutes the Federal forces were on the ground the enemy had left. Plenty of blood stains were found there, but the killed or wounded had all been carried off by their comrades. The enemy were driven about one mile farther. Then the bri- gade was ordered to return to camp. It did so in good order, having sustained a loss of twelve wounded. The command reached camp about four P. M., bringing with it three pris- oners, who said that they had been under the command of General Joe Wheeler. They, however, either could not or would not tell the extent of their loss, except that Wheeler
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PRINT: JULIUS BIEN & CO. NEW YORK
COL. E.N. KIRK.
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Advance on Murfreesborough.
was wounded in the thigh. Several store and other houses, from which shots had been fired at the brigade, were burned.
On November twenty-ninth, Colonel Kirk was commis- sioned Brigadier General. About this time Colonel F. S. Stumbaugh was compelled by ill-health to retire from military service. He was honorably discharged on December 7, 1862. Pursuant to orders from the Commanding General, General R. W. Johnson took command of the Second Division on De- cember tenth.
Another reorganization of the army followed on the nine- teenth, by virtue of these orders:
"I. The numeration of divisions and brigades, now running through the whole army is hereby changed. Divisions will hereafter be known as the first, second and third, etc., of the center or of such wing. Brigades, as the first, second and third, etc., of such division.
II. Brigades in divisions, and divisions in wings, etc., will be numbered from right to left; but in reports of operations they will be designated by the names of their commanders."
The Second Division was, consequently, designated as the Second Division, Right Wing, Army of the Cumberland; and the brigades as follows:
First Brigade (formerly Sixth), Brigadier General A. Wil -. lich.
Second Brigade (formerly Fifth), Brigadier General E. N. Kirk, and
Third Brigade (formerly Fourth), Colonel H. M. Buckley.
This was the organization on December twenty-sixth, when the march upon Murfreesborough commenced, the announce- ment of which was made the previous night. The day dawned very drearily. A heavy fog covered the low lands, and dense clouds hung overhead. However no order came to check the advance. Reveille was sounded all along the lines, rousing up the men. In a short time the army wagons were moving toward Nashville, to be there safely parked, under the protec- tion of the guns of the forts.
The army moved southward, expecting the enemy to offer battle at Stewart's creek, about five miles south of Lavergne on the Murfreesborough pike. Therefore the army moved in three columns, pursuant to the following instructions:
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Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania Regiment.
"McCook, with three divisions, to advance by the Nolens- ville pike to Triune.
Thomas, with two divisions (Negley's and Rousseau's) to ad- vance on his right, by the Franklin and Wilson pikes, threat- ening Hardee's right, and then to fall in by the cross roads to Nolensville.
Crittenden, with Woods's, Palmer's and Van Cleve's divi- sions, to advance by the Murfreesborough pike to La Vergne.
With Thomas' two divisions at Nolensville, McCook was to attack Hardee at Triune; and if the enemy re-inforced Hardee, Thomas was to support McCook.
If McCook beat Hardee or Hardee retreated, and the enemy met us at Stewart's creek, five miles south of La Vergne, Crit- tenden was to attack him. Thomas was to come in on his left flank, and MeCook, after detaching a division to pursue or observe Hardee, if retreating southward. was to move with the remainder of his force on his rear."
At six o'clock Davis' Division moved out the Edmonson pike with orders to move to Prim's blacksmith shop, thence by dirt road to Nolensville. Sheridan at the same time moved direct to Nolensville, followed by Johnson with the Second Division. The advance struck the enemy about two miles out, when skirmishing commenced, which was kept up briskly throughout the day. It had rained the entire day, and the roads had become very deep with mud and almost impassable. The corps camped on the hills, south of Nolensville, for the night. At daybreak, on the twenty-seventh, the corps moved forward; General Stanley with the cavalry in advance, closely followed by the second division. A heavy fog covered the whole country, making the movement of troops very difficult. After having proceeded about one and one-half miles, a large force of cavalry, supported by artillery, was encountered. They opened fire on our cavalry, and appeared to be inclined to contest the advance. The skirmishing becoming more animated, the column pushed rapidly on until, ascending higher ground, it was opened on with shot and shell. General Kirk took advantage of the cedars along his front, in which he posted the brigade, together with Edgarton's battery, which opened with every gun upon the Confederate battery, and after a short and spirited contest, drove them out of range ...
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The Battle of Triune.
The third brigade was ordered up, and placed on the right of the road. The first brigade was in reserve. The firing in front became very spirited, but hazardous, as the fog became so dense that it was impossible to see any distance through it. Even our own cavalry on the flanks were mistaken for the enemy, and fired into by our own men. Before attempt- ing any farther advance it was deemed best to await the clear- ing away of the fog. After which the division moved for- ward in line, skirmishing with the enemy until about four o'clock P. M., when it reached high ground, overlooking Triune. Here the enemy, in force, was in plain view, drawn up in line of battle.
Our artillery commenced shelling their position. One of Edgarton's first shots disabled one of their pieces. The in- fantry charged the Confederate batteries, which did not await their coming, but fled. The rain now came down in torrents, and the pursuit had to be abandoned temporarily. An hour later it was resumed, but the enemy had destroyed the bridge across Wilson's creek, which runs by the edge of the town, compelling the Union artillery to cross at a point about one and one-half miles below. The troops pushed on. driving the enemy before them, until darkness put an end to the conflict. The men bivouacked for the night in the mud on the field, without fire or shelter, about a mile south of . Triune.
On the twenty ninth, the right wing moved on the Bolerjack road, the second division being in the rear of the corps. The third brigade was left temporarily at Triune, for the purpose of protecting the right flank of the army. That night was very disagreeable, owing to a cold drenching rain. Kirk's and Willich's brigades bivouacked near the Salem pike, about five miles from Murfreesborough, the men lying on their arms in the rear of Davis' division.
On the thirtieth, McCook formed his corps in line of battle; Sheridan's division covering the Wilkinson pike, with Davis in line on his right. Kirk's and Willich's brigades were in reserve on the pike. Sheridan and Davis were engaged during the day, meeting with some loss, but steadily forcing the enemy back. About one o'clock in the afternoon, Kirk and Willich obliqued to the right, covering Davis' right, as they
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Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania Regiment.
moved into position. It being seriously threatened by the Confederate cavalry. Edgarton threw a few shells among them, and they retired. Soon after this two hostile batteries, on the front of the Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania, opened fire. Edgarton replied, opening with all his guns upon the nearest one, killing and wounding several of their horses and men, and dismounting one of their pieces. They rapidly withdrew, with the loss of one of their guns, and two or three caissons. His guns were then turned upon the other battery, which, too, was soon driven from the field.
The third brigade (Baldwin's) was ordered up from Triune. It joined the division after dark, and bivouacked near John- son's headquarters. On the evening of the thirtieth, the left of Rosecrans' line of battle rested on Stone river, about three miles northwest of Murfreesborough. Thence it extended, in a southwesterly direction, fully three miles, to the Franklin pike, about two and three-fourths miles west of Murfreesbor- ough, at the point where a dirt road connects it with the Wil- kinson pike. Kirk's brigade was formed on the right of Davis' right. Willich's brigade was on Kirk's right, on the extreme right of the line, facing south. It was thus posted in order to protect that flank. . The cavalry was also on the right flank. Kirk's picket. or skirmish line, covering his front, joined Willich's on the right and Davis' on the left. Throughout the night, the pickets observed great activity among the enemy, as of a continuous movement on their part toward the Union right. This was duly reported to Head- quarters.
At dawn on the morning of the thirty-first, the skirmishers of the Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania saw, in their immediate front, the advancing Confederates, who came up in heavy col- umns in regimental front and four columns deep, with a strong reserve, massed and advancing in their rear. One column moved directly against the front of the Seventy-sev- enth, the others against the regiments to the right. The Seventy-seventh skirmishers opened fire upon the advancing foe, as soon as they came within range. They, however. paid not the slightest attention to it. but kept steadily on, singing as they came. Enough words could be distinguished to in- dicate that the song was something about southern rights.
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The Battle of Stone River.
As they reached the last fence, which was less than fifty yards in front of the Seventy-seventh's skirmish line, their command, "down with the fence," was distinctly heard. After crossing that fence line they opened a fire, which, from the be- ginning, was very hot. The skirmishers fell back, and the regiment advanced to their support, but it was unavailing. As the enemy was in overwhelming numbers, the regiment was compelled to retire. It did so slowly and in good order, though its loss at this point was very heavy. On reaching the original Union line of battle, it was found that all the regiments to the right of the Seventy-seventh had been struck by the enemy, and driven back, so that they were not then in sight of the Pennsylvanians. After falling back a short dis- tance farther, the regiment formed on the right of Davis' di- vision, which was also retiring. A short distance in front, and in plain view. could be seen the guns of Edgarton's battery, which had been captured by the enemy in their onslaught upon the right, early in the morning. Some idea of the fierce- ness of the attack can be gained from the experience of the picket posts. A single, typical illustration will suffice. Of the five men at one of these posts, one was killed, another ser- iously wounded in the breast, and a third was taken prisoner. a loss at that post, in a very few minutes, of sixty per cent. The remaining two succeeded in reaching their proper places in the Union line in safety. The experience of the other picket posts was similar to this one.
- Some of the horses of Edgarton's battery had been taken to water. Of those remaining with the battery, at the time of the Confederate advance, so many were killed and disabled by the hostile fire, that the battery became entirely unman- ageable and was captured. To the east of Edgarton's guns was a Confederate battery in action. Lieutenant Colonel Housum ordered the regiment to charge these guns. It did so unsupported in good style, driving all the enemy's gunners away. The right of the regiment got right in amongst Ed- garton's guns, but for lack of horses, were unable to move them. Suddenly an overwhelming force of infantry con- fronted the regiment, and it was again forced back. The Con- federate gunners at the same time rallied, and opened upon it with all their guns, first with canister, then with grape, and
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Seventy-screnth Pennsylvania Regiment.
finally with shrapnel and solid shot. The regiment retired slowly and in good order. At every puff of smoke from the guns, the men dropped to the ground. After the shot had passed over them, they would rise, and retire farther. Thus the regiment finally passed out of range, but not without con- siderable loss. Here Lieutenant Colonel Housum was mor- tally wounded by canister, from which he died the following day. Here, too, the color-bearer, who had carried the flag through the Mexican war, received his death wound, as did also numbers of the men.
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