USA > Pennsylvania > York County > Shiloh > The Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania at Shiloh. History of the regiment. The battle of Shiloh > Part 9
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The regiment, retiring in a northerly direction, was halted upon a slight eminence in the woods, by a mounted officer, and ordered to hold that position. They faced about and stood still, awaiting the oncoming of the enemy. Troops, in great disorder and confusion were streaming northward on all sides of the regiment. It seemed to be a case of every one for him- self, and the enemy take the hindmost. Amidst all this con- fusion, the Seventy-seventh stood still, facing the oncoming storm, until ordered by another mounted officer to retire. He told us that we would all be captured, if we remained there much longer. Then the regiment retired in good order, halt- ing on every favorable piece of ground, to give battle until it finally reached the Murfreesborough pike, where in the woods it found the remnants of the other regiments of the division.
Lieutenant Colonel Housum was the only field officer with the regiment in this engagement. After his fall, the com- - mand devolved by seniority upon Captain Thomas E. Rose, of Company B.
At this point, the special part taken by the Seventy-seventh having been just set forth, it becomes necessary to revert back again to the beginning of the battle to show how the other commands fared. In their original attack, the Con- . federates moved on the right. so as to completely flank Kirk's line, thus rendering his position entirely untenable. On they came like a huge, irresistible tidal wave. The Thirty-fourth Illinois soon became engaged at close quarters, and, in a few moments, lost a dozen killed and five times that number wounded. Over its colors the strife was terrible. Five color- bearers fell in rapid succession. At last their colors were
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LIEUT. COL.P. B.HOUSUM.
PRINT: JULIUS BIEN & CO. NEW YORK
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The Battle of Stone River.
handed to one of Edgarton's men, who was mounted, to carry to the rear, but he too was shot. Then the flag fell into the hands of the enemy.
The Confederates now rushed upon Edgarton's battery. He told his men to save themselves, while he, with one of his lieutenants, stood by one of his guns, loading and discharged it into the column as it closed upon him, until he was taken prisoner. Many of his men refused to leave him, and fought the foe with their swords, until they were either killed or cap- tured. General Kirk, having lost his guns, hastily withdrew his regiments to another position, there to renew the contest with the oncoming enemy. He dashed to Willich's brigade, which was also suffering heavily from the enemy's fire, and appealed for aid. A portion of one of his regiments aided in the new defense. The other regiments, while awaiting orders from General Willich, were driven back before such orders could be given. The enemy's fire was so heavy that it soon threw Kirk's ranks into disorder. He had his horse shot from under him at this point. With greatly superior num- bers, the Confederates forced the brigade to fall back again. Kirk's second horse was shot under him, and he was himself mortally wounded. Willich, too, while trying to rally his brigade in support of Kirk. had his horse shot under him, was wounded and captured. Back of this point lay a corn field and beyond it was a piece of timber for which, in con- siderable confusion, the men hastily pressed.
General Kirk followed for a short distance, but soon, from · the great loss of blood, his strength failed, and he was borne to the rear. Colonel Dodge, of the Thirtieth Indiana, was no- tified, and at once assumed command of the brigade. This retreat was disastrous to a further unity of action, during this fearful struggle. A part of the Thirty-fourth Illinois, in its retreat, got mixed up with Willich's men, and was carried too far to the right. Many of them were captured by the Confederate cavalry on the right flank of the Federal troops. Major Dysart. "of the Thirty-fourth Illinois, suc- ceeded in rallying about fifty of his men. behind a fence, nearly a mile in the rear of his former position. He opened fire upon some Confederate cavalry, but finding it impossible to hold his position. was compelled to retreat to the Nashville pike.
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Serenty-seventh Pennsylvania Regiment.
The Thirtieth Indiana, falling rapidly back to the right and rear, halted for a moment at a fence, and then fell back farther into the woods. Here it was joined by some of its men from its four companies, which had been on picket in the morning. They had lost, among others, Major Fitzsim- mons, who was captured. Major Buckner reported to Col- onel Dodge that the Seventy-ninth Illinois were present and ready for duty. Dodge ordered it forward across an open field to the right. The regiment was new and this was its first battle, but it advanced steadily under a terribly de- structive fire. It came on a double quick, formed on the right of the Thirtieth Indiana, and at once engaged the enemy. General Johnson, seeing the enemy advancing on the remnants of the second brigade, where the Seventy-ninth Illinois joined it, ordered Colonel Baldwin to move the First Ohio and Sixth Indiana on the left of the second brigade. One section of the Fifth Indiana battery was posted between these two regi- ments. The Fifth Kentucky and Ninety-third Ohio were sta- tioned in support. This line was immediately attacked by the enemy, and a furious fire of artillery and musketry was poured upon it. Here Colonel Read, of the Seventy-ninth Illinois was killed, Lieutenant Colonel Dunn, of the Twenty- ninth Indiana, was captured, and many others of less rank were either killed, wounded or captured. The gallant stand was of no avail as the numbers of the enemy were overwhelm- ing. The Seventy-ninth Illinois broke first, followed imme- diately by the others. With yells and a most withering fire the enemy charged upon them, capturing two guns from the . Fifth Indiana battery.
General Davis' division to the left next gave way. That left but one thing to do; namely, to retreat. Some few hun- dred yards to the rear an attempt was made to reform the . line. Meantime the Confederate artillery were sending shot and shell after the retreating and disorganized soldiers. Some one gave an order for a further retreat, and the men gladly obeyed. On they fled, first at double quick, then on a run as rapidly as they could travel. This wild flight was not checked until the Nashville and Murfreesborough pike was reached. There the men were rallied, and reformed, but their number was pitifully small. They were rejoined at the pike,
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The Battle of Stone River.
sometime later, by the Seventy-seventh, which had, at that time, almost as many men in line, as the other regiments of the brigade combined.
Simonson placed his four remaining guns of the Fifth In- diana battery in line, and the brigade, now about five hundred strong, was ordered to its support. It opened with all its guns upon the enemy, which appeared to somewhat check them. A few minutes later they were observed moving to the right, General Johnson ordered the brigade to move a short distance to the right of the battery, there to await the approach of the enemy, who were the same men that had first attacked the brigade, early in the morning. On they came, as boldly as ever, but this time, the result proved different. At this time Van Cleve moved a part of his division to the left of the second brigade. In another moment one simul- taneous fire rolled along this line, cutting down the men in gray by scores. The attack seemed to be entirely unexpected . by them. Their line broke, but was soon reformed and again advanced. Then a charge was ordered and the Union line rushed forward. The shock was fearful and grand; the effects on the enemy terrible. They were driven back with bayonets and fled through the woods, across the fields and back over the ground, over which, not more than an hour be- fore, they had so fiercely pursued these same soldiers of the second brigade: Three days later one hundred and seventy- nine Confederate dead were buried in this field on the front where the second brigade had dealt out to them such havoc.
The brigade having replenished its ammunition, again moved to the front, but, as the Confederates made no further attack, it was not again engaged. The right wing was now reformed, nearly parallel with the Nashville pike. The Con- federate line was several hundred yards west, on its front. Thus located, both armies bivouacked for the night, throwing up such defensive works as they could.
Davis' and Sheridan's divisions lost very heavily in this fierce battle of the right wing. All of Sheridan's brigade com- manders were killed on the field.
McCook's corps held its new line until the end of the bat- tle, and was not again attacked. Most of the heavy fighting on the succeeding days of the conflict occurred on the left.
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Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania Regiment.
Heavy fighting practically ended for the Seventy-seventh with the great struggle of the right wing. It was, however, greatly annoyed, till the end of the battle, by sharpshooters, concealed among the trees, about 400 yards in its front. One of them proved particularly annoying, until Captain Rose, of Company B, Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania took a rifle from one of his men, and stepped into plain view. The Confeder ate fired and missed his mark. Rose fired back, and also missed. A second shot from the sharpshooter missed, but, as Captain Rose fired again, the Confederate was seen to drop out of his tree, to the ground. He was carried to the rear by his companions.
At the beginning of the battle, the enemy's cavalry got in
. the rear of the Union army and destroyed the supply train of the second division at Lavergne. Consequently the division suffered greatly for want of supplies. During the four days . of the engagement, each man received only a half pound of crackers, and a small teacupful of flour. Fortunately nearly , all of them had coffee in their haversacks.
On the morning of January fourth, it was ascertained that the enemy had left. The loss of the regiment in this battle, in killed, wounded and missing, was sixty-four, including Lieu- tenant Colonel P. B. Housum, the only field officer with the regiment at the time. As the ranking officer of the regiment, Captain Thomas E. Rose made the following report, as to the Seventy-seventh's part in this battle of Murfreesborough or Stone river:
Headquarters Seventy-seventh Regt. Pennsylvania Vols. In Camp near Murfreesborough, January 8, 1863.
Sir: I have the honor to make the following report of the Seventy-seventh Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, from the time of leaving camp near Mill Creek, Tenn., December 26, 1862, to January 3, 1863. viz: We broke up our camp, near Mill Creek, December 26, sent our wagon train to Nashville, and took up our line of march in the direction of Shelbyville. on the Nolensville turnpike, and encamped in the evening a short distance beyond Nolensville. December 27 we continued our march in the same direction, and on the same road. At S A. M. we encountered the enemy within two miles of Triune. We were immediately placed in position, with the balance of our brigade on the left of the road. Our front line was com- posed with the Twenty-ninth Indiana Volunteers on the left, the Thirty- fourth Illinois Volunteers on the right, and the Thirtieth Indiana Volunteers
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The Battle of Stone River.
in the centre. Our regiment and the Seventy-ninth regiment Illinois Volun- teers were held in reserve, but were advanced with the brigade, our regi- ment covering the Twenty-ninth Indiana Volunteers. Skirmishers were thrown forward by each of the three first named regiments, as also were two companies of the Seventy-seventh regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, which occupied the extreme left of the line. In this manner we advanced towards Triune, driving the enemy from his position and took possession of the town, the enemy retreating towards Shelbyville. We encamped about one mile beyond Triune, near the turnpike.
December 28. We remained in camp, where we stopped the evening before.
December 29. We retraced our march, on the same road, for two miles, and turned off on a dirt road, running in an easterly course into the Salem turnpike, at the junction of which two roads we, silently and without fires, encamped for the night.
December 30. We marched towards Murfreesborough, on the Salem turn- pike, for about three miles, when we were thrown into column by division, into the woods on the right of the road, with the balance of our brigade and division. At this time heavy skirmishing was going on on our left, and in front. We advanced for a short distance, when our regiment and the Thirtieth Indiana Volunteers were ordered to change front to the right, deploy column and throw out skirmishers. We then advanced, moving towards the right of the general line of battle, for about a quarter of a mile. We then changed front to the left, and occupied a dense cedar grove. The position of our regiment was now on the right of the Twenty- second Indiana Volunteers, of General Davis' division. It was here that we received a heavy fire from a rebel battery, that was stationed to the right, and in front of us, on an open field, by the edge of the woods, at a distance of about 500 yards. After a sharp skirmish it was silenced, when we threw out our pickets and remained for the night. Our position was now on the left of our brigade, and-on the right of Davis' division.
December 31. We were under arms at 4 A. M., and, at daylight, we discovered the enemy, in large force, within 60 yards of our pickets, who immediately commenced firing, when the enemy advanced to a furious attack. As the pickets retired, our regiment advanced to meet the enemy, and resisted their attack with desperate valor, repulsing the forces imme- diately in our front, with great slaughter and compelling them to retire across the brook, where we first found them posted, into a corn field beyond. This was the first attack that was made on our lines; but almost at the . same time the enemy's columns, which were directed on those regiments on our right, pressed furiously onward, bearing down everything before them. The regiments on our right fell back after a short but desperate resistance, as was shown by the great mortality on both sides. Soon after this, the regiment on our left changed position to our rear, leaving our regiment completely isolated and battling against great odds, with the danger of being surrounded. We were ordered to retire for about 150 yards, and then march to the right, in order, if possible, to reattach ourselves to the balance of our brigade, which had been driven from its first position.
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Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania Regiment.
While doing this we fell in with a portion of General Davis' division, and were advised that we had better co-operate with that division for the present, as our brigade had, by that time, retired so far that it would con- sume much valuable time in finding it, time that could be used, at this particular juncture to greater advantage by re-inforcing one of his (Davis') brigades. We posted ourselves on the right of Davis' division, in front of which was a rebel battery, at a distance of about 400 yards. A little to the right and in front of this was Edgarton's battery, which had been previously captured by the rebels in the onset and was still in their pos- session.
It was here that our regiment charged alone, recapturing Edgarton's battery, and up to the guns of the rebel battery, through a hurricane of grape and canister, until we were confronted by several thousand of the rebel infantry, when, as we were unsupported, we were obliged to retire to the line from which we had started on the charge, leaving our much loved battery in the hands of the rebels, as we had no means of moving it off. Yet we were repaid for this desperate charge, as much as for any we made during the day, in damaging the enemy and holding him in check.
We retired in good order, halted and formed in our previous position, on the right of Davis' division. Here Colonel Housum fell. The battle was here hotly contested for some time, when our forces began to give way, fiercely . pursued by the enemy, who came near taking a battery of ours at this place.
As soon as the battery was safely off, we retired to the fence on the opposite side of the field, where we stood alone for some time, contending with the rebels, until they commenced scaling the fence on our right and left, when we retired to the woods and again made a stand. We thus continued for some time, taking advantage of everything that came in our way, moving slowly, and our line never broke once throughout the day; but we fought every time we could find a line to rest on, or wherever we could gain a position in which we could, for a minute, successfully make a stand.
When we came near the Nashville and Murfreesborongh turnpike we fell in with a portion of the Twenty-ninth Indiana Volunteers, under the gallant Major Collins; also a portion of the Thirtieth Indiana Volunteers. These, with our regiment, were now joined together as a remnant of the old Fifth brigade, under Colonel Dodge, as brigade commander. We were posted, on the edge of the woods, by General Jolinson, on the right of General Cleve's division, which had just come up. The rebels were now coming on withi tenfold more impetuosity, and our men were ordered to lie down quietly behind a fence, which partly protected us. We waited here until the rebels were within a short distance, when we up and delivered our fire with such great eeffet that the rebels began to give way.
We now pitched into them with whoop and yell, all the time delivering a most destructive fire, and soon the whole rebel column was in full retreat. We drove them half a mile, when our ammunition gave out and we were relieved, when we retired to the railroad to obtain a fresh supply. This was the first check of importance that the rebels received, as it saved our ammunition train and secured for our forces an important position.
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The Battle of Stone River.
January 1, 1863. We remained under arms on the crest of the hill, where we ended our final charge on the 31st ultimo. At 4 P. M. we received a heavy fire from a rebel battery, which was soon silenced.
January 2. Remained in the same position as on the 1st. A heavy battle was fought on our left, in which we took no part. In the evening we went on picket. A heavy skirmish took place immediately in front of our Îte.
January 3. Still remained under arms in our old position. At night, in the midst of the rain, the last final struggle was made, in which we took no part.
During this great battle our little regiment did no discredit to the old Keystone State. Officers and men stood up and did their duty nobly.
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That our line never broke shows that our men fought like veterans. We went into action with 288 men, we lost, in killed 5, including Lieutenant Colonel Housum; in wounded 29, including one commissioned officer; miss- ing, 29, including 2 commissioned officers. Total, 63. Of those missing the greater part were either killed or taken prisoners.
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I have the honor to be, most respectfully your obedient servant, TOM ELLWOOD ROSE,
Captain Commanding Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers. Capt. D. C. Wagner,
Acting Assistant Adjutant General, Second Brigade.
The wagon trains joined the troops on the field on the sixth, when the division marched through Murfreesborough, four miles ont the Shelbyville pike, and there camped. Supplies were still very short.
In the three days immediately preceding this move, the men received but one-half pound of crackers (hardtack) and a very small piece of bacon apiece. From here, on the eleventh, the regiment marched to Nashville to escort a large, empty sup- ply train, to return on the thirteenth, with the wagons loaded full, marching thirty-three miles on the latter dav.
After the battle of Stone river. the Seventy-seventh was without field officers, as- Major Bradford had previously re- signed. Captain Thomas E. Rose was commissioned Colonel; Captain Frederick S. Pyfer, Lieutenant Colonel, and Captain Alexander Phillips, Major.
General Rosecrans having heard of the charge of the Sev- enty-seventh upon the Confederate battery, was so much in- terested in the affair, that a few days after the battle, he rode into the camp of the regiment, and then, accompanied by its
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Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania Regiment.
field officers, went to the battlefield to view the ground, over which the regiment had passed on that eventful morning of December 31, 1862.
While encamped here, pursuant to orders from the War Department, dated January 9, 1863, the army (the Fourteenth Army Corps) was divided into three corps. The center was designated the Fourteenth Corps; the right wing, the Twen- tieth Corp; and the left wing, the Twenty-first Corps.
This change of name did not however, affect either the or- ganization of the army or its various commanders.
On the seventh day of February, the Seventy-seventh, to- gether with the other regiments of the second brigade, was detailed to work upon the fortifications. It moved to near the Nashville pike, a short distance west of the town. There is was engaged in the construction of a fort, which was com- pleted in exactly four months. This fort was considered one of the strongest earth works in that part of the country.
On March twentieth, the entire Army of the Cumberland was drawn up in line for review by General Rosecrans and Staff. The General, inriding along the line from right to left, stopped a few moments in front of the Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania, and said to Colonel Rose, "Colonel, I see your regiment is all right. Give my compliments to your men, tell them it is the banner regiment of Stone river. It was the only regiment on the right wing that never broke ranks." This was proba- bly the highest compliment ever paid to any regiment by the Commanding General of an army. It was duly communicated to the men, while on dress parade that same evening.
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PRINT: JULIUS BIEN & CO. NEW YORK
COL.THOS. E.ROSE.
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The Battle of Liberty Gup.
CHAPTER V.
Liberty Gap-Tullahoma.
0 N June seventh, the brigade was relieved from its work on the fortifications and returned to the division. On the twentieth Colonel John F. Miller, of the Twenty-ninth Indiana, returned to his regiment, and, being the senior offi- cer, took command of the brigade. Everything now pointed to a very early forward move. The main force of the enemy was on the north of the Duck river, with its right at War- trace, and its left at Shelbyville, with cavalry protecting both flanks, on the right, as far as McMinnville, and on the left, to Columbia and Spring Hill. Along its entire front were the Cedar Hills, a spur of the Cumberland mountains. These hills are steep, rocky and high, with few roads suitable for the movements of an army. These roads were by McMinn- ville to the extreme right of the Confederate position; by Manchester pike, which crosses the hills through Hoover's Gap; the Wartrace road through Liberty Gap; a road through Bellebuckle Gap; and the Shelbyville pike, which leads through Guy's Gap to the left of the Confederate line. Shelbyville was strongly fortified, and all these passes were guarded by strong forces of the enemy. Polk's corps was at Shelbyville. Hardee adjoined his right, and held Bellebuckle. Liberty and Hoover's Gap. Their strength was estimated at fully 40,000 men. It was evidently Bragg's intention to offer battle here.
Tullahoma is situated at the jnnetion of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, and the railroad coming down from Me- Minnville, about fifteen miles south of Wartrace. It was strongly fortified by rifle pits and heavy earthworks. l order to reach Tullahoma it was necessary to dislodge the enemy and drive him from his strong position among the Cof-
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Seventy-serenth Pennsylvania Regiment.
fee Hills. The morning of the twenty-fourth began with a drearydismal rain, which soon made the roads almost impassa- ble for artillery and wagons. Sheridan's division marched out the Shelbyville pike at daylight. He was followed, for six miles by Johnson's division, which then turned off to the left on a dirt road direct to Old Millersburg. Davis followed on the same road. , After leaving the Shelbyville pike the second division was in advance, Willich's brigade leading the column. It reached Old Millersburg at noon, without en- countering the foe.
General MeCook then ordered General Johnson to recon- noiter Liberty Gap, which was done by the Thirty-ninth In- diana mounted infantry, attached to the first brigade. About two o'clock in the afternoon their Colonel, Harrison, reported 1 that he was skirmishing with a force of infantry, posted in · front of the Gap. The first brigade was then advanced to . the skirmish line. As it came forward the enemy fell back . upon their supports, posted along the crest of the hills which form the northern entrance to the Gap. To dislodge the enemy from this position, it was necessary to ascend the heights. About half-way to their summits these very steep hills were under cultivation. From there to the crest was nothing but jagged rock and timber. To carry the heights by direet assault was very difficult. It was therefore determined to flank the position. Thus far only Willich's brigade had been engaged. The task assigned to it proved too much for it to accomplish alone, and the Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania and the Twenty-ninth Indiana were ordered to the front, thus extending the right of the line. The whole line now moved forward on a double quick, under a most furious fire, which, however, did very little damage. Firing from such a height . the enemy mostly overshot, and their missiles passed over the heads of the advancing line.
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