USA > Wisconsin > The Fourteenth Wisconsin Vet. Vol. Infantry (General A. J. Smith's command) in the expedition and battle of Tupelo : also, wanderings through the wilds of Missouri and Arkansas in pursuit of Price > Part 2
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THE FOURTEENTH WISCONSIN.
their coming. Gambling in the army was common. However, after the war was over, you would seldom ever hear of an old soldier as a gambler. It was there a past-time, though against all rules and orders of the army. Still it did exist and without any very bad results. Our volunteer army was the most intelli- gent army ever marshaled in the history of the world. When disbanded we went to our homes, and history shows we have, as a rule, ever been among our best citizens of this great and prosperous country, made so by our loyalty and patroitism to the old flag, that now and we trust will ever proudly float over a pros- perous free, and united country.
After a few days preparing for an unknown cam- paign, we are again, September 17th, on the march.
Price avoided this route, going northward a few miles west of our position. As soon as Price started Smith commenced his campaign in pursuit. The rebel army was mounted, and estimated at twenty or twenty-five thousand, more than twice our numbers. Had he offered battle. Smith with his veterans, would have destroved his army. Our command was in the very best of fighting condition. Price's army was composed of a few veteran regiments, and a lot of con- scripts, and not well organized. We had no fears of the results of a pitched battle had Price favored us. He evidently did not want to chance a battle with Smith. We were soon on his trail, and though mounted as he was, we compelled him to make quick time. We marched for nineteen days over and through a wild. rough and rugged country, crossing over the mountains of Arkansas, fording White River, bridging
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23
A
FOURTEENTH WISCONSIN FORDING WHITE RIVER, ARKANSAS, SEPTEMBER 22D, 1804.
24
THE FOURTEENTH WISCONSIN
the Little Red, and corduroying through the almost im- passable St. Francis River swamps. During the last ten days we had nothing to eat except what corn and pumpkins we could gather from a poor and sparsely settled country where the natives did not know whether they lived in Green county or the State of Arkansas, and where a common Tennessee refugee would have been fit for a king. They lived through the summer months on paw-paws, berries and persim- mons, and in the winter on 'possum and corn dodgers. They were the most shiftless class of people we had ever found in all our travels.
After each day's march we would go into camp. The first thing would be details for picket duty, and to those who would be called out after a hard day's march, it was anything but pleasant. Sometimes we would get into camp early, sometimes way in the night. After stacking arms some of the boys would load up with canteens and go in pursuit of water, others would gather wood, and soon we would be cooking what little we might have to eat. Some would be so exhausted and tired out that they would fall asleep; rest was more needed than something to cat.
After several days of hard marching. Smith find- ing it impossible to overtake Price, though at times less than one day's march behind him, made a forced march to Cape Giradeau, Missouri, on the Mississippi River. Arriving on the 6th of October, having marched nearly four hundred miles. Tired, foot-sore. ragged and hungry, here we struck the cracker line and were once more happy. The next day we
25
FROM RED RIVER TO NASHVILLE.
embarked on board transports, and with all speed hurried up the Mississippi River to St. Louis. Price, learning that we had taken transports and had gotten ahead of him in the race, did not make any at- tempt to go into St. Louis, but passed around west of the city and pulled out for Jefferson City, the capital of the State.
At no time in the history of St. Louis were visitors more welcomed, before or since, than Smith's veterans, commonly known as Smith's Guarrillas. Upon our reaching St. Louis all was excitement. Price was but a few miles away. General Rosecrans was in com- mand of the department, but for some reason the people did not have much faith in his protection. His forces consisted of hurriedly gathered together militia and a few new regiments that had been sent him from adjoining States. The timely arrival of Smith was their salvation. Had Smith failed and not made the forced marches that he did Price would have . taken St. Louis and ransacked the city. The citi- zens would have been obliged to respond quickly to a levy which his troops would have made, and unless they had, no doubt but that his troops would have des- troved St. Louis. Smith, in a conversation, told me, a few years afterwards, that upon our arrival he went to Rosecrans and offered to take his own com- mand and go out and force Price to give battle. At this time Price was so situated that he would have been obliged to fight. Rosecrans asked him what he would do with his small command, not half as large as Price's army, if he should get whipped. In Smith's language, he replied that he would and could whip
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26
THE FOURTEENTH WISCONSIN.
h-1 out of Price, and should not make any arrang- ments for coming back or for a defeat, if in the event he should be compelled to come back he would reach St. Louis in time to keep Price out. Smith was not permitted to go, and a part of his command was imme- diately loaded on transports, October 10th, and hurried off to Jefferson City, arriving on the 14th or 16th, in time to save the city. Price went on his way north by passing around the city, having learned of our near approach. Smith remained at St. Louis with a part of his command until our return from northern Missouri.
From here we started out tramping again without rest. As Price passed through the country he took all . the stock and kept his men remounted with fresh horses and mules. We could not overtake him in the pursuit. On our route we passed through Sedalia, California, Otterville and other small places, and con- tinued the pursuit as far as Warrensburg, some thirty miles west and south of Kansas City. Here Price gave up his trip to the north and turned back to the south- west. What little cavalry we had followed him, and had several lively skirmishes. Had we have had Grierson's cavalry we would have soon made short work of that long and tedious campaign.
We remained at. Warrensburg two or three days for a little needed rest, then returned to Jefferson City, arriving there November 5th or 6th.
On the 7th we held an election, exercising the right Wisconsin gave her soldiers in the field, we cast our votes for either Lincoln or McClellen. This was a cold rainy day.
1.1
včCo
Vanter.
INDIANAPOLIS
GATHERING SUPPLIES WHILE ON THE MARCH.
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THE FOURTEENTH WISCONSIN
The next day we were off for St. Louis, stopping at Herman, on the Missouri River, long enough for the boys toshake the town up. They fond every wine cellar and inspected a lot of sanitary supplies, for which ser- eral of the boys were rather too severely punished.
The next morning, the Fourteenth was ordered on dress parade and several non-commissioned officers were reduced to the ranks at the time. I was a young Corporal, and if I remember rightly, was one among those reduced. Soon after at Nashville I was made a big Sergeant, so that was good evidence that I did not do anything at Herman.
From here we went to St. Louis and were quar- tered for a few days at the old barracks at the Fair Grounds. Some changes had taken place since we camped here, in our big Sibly tents early in 1862, for a few days, when on our way south. During our stay here we were treated nicely by our officers and were permitted to go into the city as often as we desired. If they did not permit us, we went all the same. Here let me say that the Fourteenth Wisconsin never had any reason to complain about its officers. We even soon learned to love Old Paducah, who was at one time our Adjutant.
November 25th. We marched to the landing and embarked on transports. The 25th was national turkey day, no turkey for us, but on the levee we con- fiscated a lot of George Washington pies. The ped- lers were Italians and it was all right.
Smith's command, now all on board, went down the Mississippi, up the Ohio and Cumberland Rivers, passing Cape Girardeau, Cairo and Paducah, bound for
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29
FROM RED RIVER TO NASHVILLE.
Nashville, a cold cheerless ride. To be packed away - on over-crowded transports at that season of the year was far from being comfortably quartered. The most of our regiment were located on the hurricane deck, with no opportunity to cook our rations, and barely a chance to make a little coffee, and that from river water as thick as mush. This trip was a tough one. We were obliged to wrap our blankets closely around us, and then failed to keep warm, no covering save the heavens above, and sleeting and snowing most of the time. During our long service, at no time were we more exposed to the elements, and without any possible opportunity to help our condition. Marching over rough, dusty and dry roads, wading streams or cordu- roying through swamps, in heat and storm was a picnic when compared with this mode of traveling: We were pretty badly wrecked when we finally landed at Nashville. A few of our officers had the best of us when on a transport, as they usually occupied the cabin. On land we generally made ourselves as com- fortable as they, but on this trip however they were not feasting on luxuries, for the cabin was not in the best of trim, and at this stage of the war steamboat- men showed very little respect for army officers. It had become an old case with them. Private soldiers and officers were classed alike, except that the former were favored with the inside of the cabin and the lat- ter the outside, which made quite a difference in cold, stormy weather. I presume you have long since for- gotten our suffering's on this journey to Nashville. This was no moonlight picnic excursion, such as I hope you have often enjoyed since and will many years yet
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THE FOURTEENTH WISCONSIN.
to come. When you think of your suffering's for your country, do not forget your six days' ride from St. Louis to Nashville. We arrived there December 1st, and met our long-wandering comrades, Worden's battalion, which had not been with us. since we returned from our veteran furlough, and who had just arrived from At- lanta with Thomas's army. It seemed that Sherman could not venture on his campaign to Atlanta without the Fourteenth Wisconsin, and as he could not secure all the regiment, secured enough to take Atlanta. The two wings of the regiment were now together once more, except Company E. This company continued with Sherman to the Sea and through the Carolinas, finally taking part in the grand parade of our victori- ous armies at Washington, after which the company was sent to the regiment, and joined us at Montgom- ery. Each told their big war stories. Worden's men may have been in greater battles, but Colonel Ward's crowd discounted them on the march and some to spare. However Company E still maintains that they done the most marching and put down the rebellion.
We are now entering the defense and battle of Nashville, in which the Fourteenth took an active part, and at our next re-union let us have a paper on the Fourteenth Wisconsin from December 1st to October 9th. from Nashville to Mobile, of the part taken by the regiment that has inscribed upon its banners, "Battles fought from one end of the Confederacy to the other."
In the accompanying illustration I leave the regi- Ment on the extreme right and on the advance line. building a line of earthworks for the defense of Nash- ville. Hood then in our immediate front.
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31
Whinney EN& CO. INPLE.
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THE FOURTEENTH WISCONSIN ON THE RIGHT OF THE ADVANCE LINE IN THE DEFENSE OF NASHVILLE, DECEMBER, 1864.
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32
STATISTICS.
The following was compiled from the official com- pany records of the Fourteenth Wisconsin Veteran Volunteer Infantry :
Company.
Killed and Died
of wounds.
Wounded.
Died of disease.
Total deaths.
Discharged by
wounds.
Discharged from
disability.
Original enlist-
ments.
Total loss.
A
8
16
18
26
3
27
106
68
B
14
21
23
37
3
29
103
82
C
13
33
15
28
14
33
101
84
D.
9
17
16
25
11
22
97
63
E
10
26
11
21
3
23
104
66
F
13
33
17
30
11
18
95
77
G
12
13
21
33
7
31
96
i+
H
7
20
33
40
1
27
107
86
I
11
23
24
35
1
22
90
73
K.
14
31
19
33
5
24
98
78
Total.
111
233
197
308
71
256
997
751
Total loss of regiment. 751
Total loss of recruits. 123
Loss of original regiment.
628
Number of original regiment mustered out October, 1865 .. 369
Of this number, 117 received wounds. 117
Leaving without injury. 252
Loss of Field and Staff Officers, by death. 3
Loss of Field and Staff Officers, by disability. 1
LIST OF ENGAGEMENTS PARTICIPATED IN.
Shiloh.
Iuka.
Corinth.
Vicksburg.
Fort DeRussy.
Spanish Fort.
Pleasant Hill Landing. Clouterville. Cane River.
Marksville.
Kennesaw Mountain.
Yellow Bayou.
Ackworth.
Tupelo. Ezra Chapel. Old Town Creek. Fort Blakely.
Rivers Bridge. Nashville. Augusta. Camargo Cross Roads. Lovejoy's Station. Jonesboro. Atlanta.
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THE FOURTEENTH
Wisconsin Vet. Vol. Infantry,
October 1st, 2d, 3d and 4th, 1862,
AT THE
BATTLE OF CORINTH.
BY
SERGEANT W. H. TUCKER,
Company D.
Read at Regimental Re-union, Fond du Lac, Wis., June 13th, 14th and 15th, 1893.
INDIANAPOLIS: F. E. ENGLE & SON, PRINTERS AND BINDERS, 16 NORTH DELAWARE STREET, 1893.
THE FOURTEENTH WISCONSIN
AT CORINTH.
September, 1862, finds the Fourteenth Wisconsin in camp two miles southwest of Corinth in a nice belt of timber, pleasantly located, after having done fa- tigue and all kinds of duty at Pittsburg Landing and Hamburg, on the Tennessee River, since the battle of Shiloh, in which the Fourteenth, in its charge on the New Orleans battery, covered itself all over with glory and established the fact that ours was a fighting regi- ment, and no better ever went into line of battle.
During the month of September we had taken an active part in the Iuka campaign, the battle of Iuka having been fought on September 19th, and are sent out on several expeditions to secure what forage we might find, and to watch the enemy if any should have designs on Corinth. When in camp our time was passed in doing camp and picket duty. Our reg- iment was now reduced to three hundred and fifty men. Up to this time our loss from killed, wounded, died of disease and discharged from disability had been frightful. Early in the previous March we left old Camp Wood, here at Fond du Lac, and bid adieu to dear ones and home, and faced southwards
4
THE FOURTEENTH WISCONSIN
with nine hundred and ninety-seven men, nearly all beardless boys, going to fight the battles of our coun- try and to follow the old flag to victory.
October 1st, about two o'clock in the afternoon, the long roll is sounded and all is astir in camp, and with sixty rounds of ammunition and three days rations we are hurried off on a forced march to the northwest, taking the Chewalla wagon road, in the direction of Chewalla, a small station twelve miles dis- tant on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, under the command of Colonel J. M. Oliver of the Fifteenth Michigan. Our brigade consisted of the Fourteenth Wisconsin, Fifteenth Michigan, Eighteenth Wisconsin, four companies of the Eighteenth Missouri, one com- pany of Illinois cavalry in command of Captain Ford, and two pieces of the First Minnesota Battery.
The Fifteenth Michigan was stationed at Che- walla, as an outpost, having been there several days. On the evening of September 30th, their picket line was fired upon and driven in by an unknown number of Johnnies, who appeared to be organized and advanc- ing towards Corinth. On our arrival near Chewalla we found the Michigan boys badly broken up and with their camp equipage making for a more friendly coun- try. At first we were enclined to be some what sur- prised at them for being in so much of a hurry to move from that locality. At this time it was supposed by our command that it was nothing more than a stragling band of bush whackers, which were fre- quently prowling around our outposts. The Michigan boys insisted, however, that they were ready to remain with us, and that we would have all the fun we
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5
AT THE BATTLE OF CORINTH.
wanted in the morning, if not before. It was now about sundown, and about half a mile from Chewalla, and about a mile from where they had encamped. We were ordered to halt for the night and put out a strong picket line in advance. We then placed the two pieces of artillery in the roadway, and formed our line to the right and left of the road.
During the night our pickets could very plainly hear what seemed to be artillery and wagons moving, and in the distance see what appeared to be lights from camp fires. . We could not estimate the enemy's strength. It did not, however, seem possible that an army of any great importance was in that vicinity, as but a few days before, the only rebel army that was known to be in Mississippi, had, under Price, been badly whipped at Iuka. Still all indications very clearly showed that there was an army in force in our front.
The country around was rolling and covered with considerable timber, with occasionally an opening where small corn, cotton and sweet potato fields were cultivated, this being the general character of the country for several miles around Corinth.
Our men on picket were very vigilant and every man was prepared for any emergency.
At early dawn, Thursday, October 2d, this being my nineteenth birthday, it looked as though it was to be celebrated. The enemy began their advance and as their skirmish line moved up our picket line was re- inforced and a good skirmish line thrown out, but as the Johnnies advanced and showed up a formidable line. our boys began to fall back. It was not policy
6
THE FOURTEENTH WISCONSIN
to bring on an engagement, but to make them cautiously feel their way. We, however, continued to fall back, as their line was much stronger than ours, and unless we fell back they would pass our flanks on the right and left. From the time that they made their appear- ance in the early morning, our line continued a bold front and contested every foot of ground. We did not bring our artillery into prominent action, fearing that with our little command, not over seven hundred strong, we might bring on more trouble than we could care for. By sundown we had fallen back to within three miles of Corinth, here we haulted for the night, or to move further back if the Johnnies should advance and require our moving. Nearly our whole command was on picket duty all night, those that were not laid on their arms. As soon as daylight made its appearance the enemy began their advance. Our skirmish line made a determined effort to hold our position with a view of developing if possible their strength. In our immediate rear there was a swamp, Cane Creek run- ning through the center, our command was obliged to fall back by the roadway, as the swamp was impassa- ble. In crossing the bridge one of our cannon became disabled and before we could cross the Johnnies came up the roadway in strong force, the cannon was spiked and left. It was now about seven o'clock, a bright October morning, everything now indicated that some thing must soon be done or we would be driven into Corinth.
The army under Rosencrans, who was in com- mand of the forces, was, it appeared, quietly resting in their camps in and around the town and, it seemed,
7
AT THE BATTLE OF CORINTH.
knew nothing about the approaching enemy, which consisted of the combined divisions of Van Dorn, Price, Bowen, Villepegue, Rust and Armstrong, Van Dorn in command of the united forces.
Having passed the swamp, our skirmish line again deployed to the right and left of the road and slowly fell back across the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, about half a mile to a wooded ridge. Orders now came from Rosecrans, it being about ten o'clock A. M., after Oliver having repeatedly sent him dispatches that the enemy were advancing on Corinth in force, however, he did not appear to credit Oliver's reports and was slow to believe the facts, and the order to hold the ridge at all hazzards indicated that he had come to the conclusion that we were contending with more than, as he supposed, a hand full of bush whackers.
At the ridge we formed our line of battle to the right and left of the road with our artillery in the road- way. Another brigade now came out and formed on our left flank. Our skirmish line was doing some fine work, but were soon driven in, and, with additional strength, was sent out again, but was quickly driven back and reported the enemy massing their columns along the railroad and to the right and left of the wagon road in our front. The time had now come when some fighting must be done if we attempted to hold the ridge. Our skirmish line held them back as long as they could, but their line kept advancing in good shape. We were now ordered to lay down in an old rifle pit thrown up by Beauriguard in the spring before he evacuated Corinth. It would have been far better
S
THE FOURTEENTH WISCONSIN
had that ditch never existed, as it was below the brow . of the ridge and proved to be a death trap for our regiment, it being on the side facing the enemy, when within a short distance, not over one hundred and fifty yards, they started on the double quick, our boys fired volley after volley into their ranks. Our artillery, the First Minnesota Battery, an additional section of the battery having re-inforced us at the ridge, opened out effectively with grape and cannister. They met with a heavy loss and were forced to fall back, but soon reformed and re-inforced, and made another desperate charge up the ridge, the Twenty-second Mississippi in the advance and immediately in front of the Four- teenth Wisconsin, their loss at this point was over five hundred in killed and wounded. Bowen's brigade of Lovell's division was in our immediate front. The support on our right and left now having fallen back, we were forced to yield the rifle pit, but before falling back from the ridge our regiment lost in killed, wounded and taken prisoners, nearly one half of our number.
On October 1st, before leaving camp an extra strong detail for grand guard duty had been made from our regiment, which left us only 225 men in line on the morning. of October 3d. Our loss was as fol- lows: killed, 27; wounded, 51; prisoners, 21; Total, 99. The entire loss of the brigade was killed, 45; wounded, 108; missing, 38; Total, 191. Which clearly shows that the Fourteenth was in the thickest of the fight.
The contest at the ridge lasted some forty min- utes. Our color bearers and the entire color guard
9
AT THE BATTLE OF CORINTH.
were either killed or wounded. For a moment it was supposed that our colors were lost, but they were saved, though badly riddled with minnie balls.
We fell back from the ridge, leaving our dead and wounded in the enemy's hands. It was. at this point that Sergeant Major Johnnie Read came up with a supply of much needed ammunition and deliberately walked into the rebel ranks. Poor Read, a noble and brave soldier, since gone to the silent camping grounds.
We had not fallen back but a short distance until we met McArthur's brigade of our, Mckean's, Sixth Division. As we passed through their line and re- formed we began to realize how badly we had been cut up and that the greater part of the regiment was either dead wounded or prisoners in the enemy's hands.
Had Oliver's command not made the brave and determined stand it did, and held the enemy in check, enabling our troops in and around Corinth to be brought out in line of battle, the results of the battle would have been different than what it was. There was no question of doubt but that the character of the advancing enemy was unknown to Resecrans, though he had had from Oliver two days notice, and the infor- mation was repeatedly sent to him. The rebel forces,. according to Van Dorn's report, were twenty-eight thousand well armed and in good shape.
The Fifteenth Michigan and the Fourteenth and Eighteenth Wisconsin were highly complimented in General Orders.
Some of our boys who were taken prisoners saw the reports of the battle in a Mississippi paper, in
10
THE FOURTEENTH WISCONSIN
which the statement was made that even the Four- teenth Wisconsin, that had never turned its back to the foe had to succumb to the valor of the Twenty- second Mississippi. That may be conceded, but not until our support had entirely given way, and the enemy were past our right and left flanks. It was at the ridge where General McArthur rode up and saw our regiment under fire, since which time he has ever been a strong admirer of our regiment, and never lost an opportunity to bestow upon us all that could be said of soldiers, and in all our future campaigns he was a strong friend of our regiment. Compliments from so brave and able a general as McArthur was, were such as we may well feel proud of.
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