196 - HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, OHIO.

The Second Virginia cavalry was recruited entirely from the border counties of Ohio.

Commencing at Monroe all the counties were represented by one or more companies, ending with Lawrence county. Company F was the Washington county organization. Recruiting for it began in August, 1861, under the management of Captain Arthur D. Eells, and by September the company was in camp at Parkersburgh, West Virginia, where the regiment was mustered into service November 8th. The" fall and early winter of 1861 were spent in drill on foot and sword exercise at Parkersburgh, West Virginia. In January the regiment was moved to Guandotte, West Virginia, where they received their horses and completed their drill mounted. The first engagement of the regiment was with General Humphrey Marshall January 6, 1862, on Point Creek, Kentucky. The Union forces were under the command of General (afterward President) Garfield. The first loss of Washington county in battle in the war was Albert W. Leonard, shot in the forehead while in a charge on James' Creek January 7, 1862. His body lies in Mound cemetery at Marietta. On the twenty-eighth of April company F .let Guyandotte with the half of the regiment under Colonel William M. Bolles, and marched up the Big Kanawha and over the Sewell mountains and joined the forces of Colonel Elliott of the Forty-seventh Ohio infantry at Meadow Bluff, Virginia. The summer of 1862 was spent in raiding and scouting the counties of Raleigh, Wyoming, Fayette, Greenbrier, Union and Nicholas. These trips brought on many skirmishes and some battles, that of Lewisburgh, May 23d, being quite. severe. Company F was with Colonel Paxton, who left Camp Piatt November 24, 1862, and surprised the rebel General Jenkins at Sinking Creek, Virginia, capturing one hundred and seventeen prisoners, one hundred and ten horses, and two hundred and fifty stand of arms. This was one of the most severe marches made during the war, both as regards cold and hard riding. The troops were in the saddle for seventy consecutive hours on the latter part of their trip; and on their arrival at Summerville, West Virginia, numbers had to be lifted out of their saddle, they were so badly frozen. The winter of 1862-63 was spent at Camp Piatt on the Big Kanawha. With the spring of 1863 scouting began early. July 18th the company was in the severe fight at Wytheville, where both colonels were lost. Colonel Toland, of the Thirty-fourth Ohio volunteer infantry, in command of the expedition, was shot dead, and Colonel W. H. Powell, of the Second Virginia cavalry, wounded so badly as to be left and taken prisoner. In this battle one hundred and twenty-five prisoners were taken and seventy-five rebels were killed; Union loss, seventy-eight killed, wounded and missing, the houses in Wytheville having been used as places of concealment from which to pick off the Union soldiers, even the women of the town taking part in the fight. The town was totally destroyed.

The regiment was also in engagements at Lewisburgh May 3d, November 7th, and December 12, 1863.

The winter of 1863-64 was spent at Charleston, West Virginia, and it was at this place that the regiment was brought up to its high standard of drill. The regiment started March 16, 1864, on a scout through Hurricane Bridge, Gyandotte, Trouts Hill and Wayne Court House. The weather was very cold on this trip.

May 1st the regiment was attached to General Averill's division, and with him was in the raid to Wytheville on the Virginia & Tennessee railroad. The route lay through Brownstown, Logan Court House, Wyoming, Tug Fork of Sandy and Jeffersonville. The rebels were met at Cove Gap, a few miles this side of Wytheville, under General John Morgan, and a very severe battle was fought. General Averill complimented the regiment in general orders, saying: "The general commanding desires to express his high appreciation of the steady and skilful evolutions of the Second Virginia cavalry under Colonel Powell upon the field of battle. It was a dress parade that continued without disorder under a heavy fire for over four hours." Company F was with the regiment and participated in all of the engagements on the Hunter road to Lynchburgh, Virginia; was also with it in the. Shenandoah valley, being in the fight at Bunker Hill, Stevenson's depot, Winchester, Newton, Kearnstown, Fisher Hill, Mt. Jackson, Cross Keys, Port Republic,. Brown's Gap, Luray, Harrisonville, Weirs Cave, Opequan Martinsburgh, Williamsport, Hagerstown, Chambersburgh, Pennsylvania; St. Thomas, Pennsylvania; Moorfield, Virginia, and many other places. The winter of 1864-65 was spent in the Shenandoah valley, but when in 1865 General Sheridan went up the valley to Waynesborough and on over to the White House, Virginia, company F was along doing fine service. This company held the key to the hill at Dinwiddie Court House, Virginia; was in the charge at Five Forks, Ford's Station, Deep Creek, Namozin Church, Jettersville, and in the first charge at Sailors' Creek; also in the desperate engagement at Appomattox Court House, and on the morning of the ninth of April took part in the final charge on the flank of Lee's army, which would have resulted in the surrender of General Lee to General Custer but for the arrival of General Grant on the ground. After the surrender the company marched to Petersburgh where it remained with the regiment until the 23d of April, when it moved to intercept Johnson's army in North Carolina, but was ordered back at Halifax Court House. From there the company marched to Richmond, Virginia, thence to Washington City. In the grand review company F led the cavalry column in review. On the seventeenth of June the regiment was ordered to Texas via Louisville, Kentucky, but was stopped at Wheeling and mustered out, June 20, 1865. Company F lost the first and last man killed in battle from Washington county.

The neighborhoods that furnished the most men to Lloyd B. Stephens, April 1, 1862, resigned July 13, 1864; First Lieutenant Charles C. Clise, November 26, 1864; Second Lieutenant William M. Fortescue, November 22, 1861, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant George Millard, June 26, 1862, promoted to first lieutenant, Second Lieutenant Lloyd B. Stephens, November 3, 1862, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant Olive: C. Ong, April 1, 1863, mustered out; Second Lieutenant Elisha T. Fisher, November 26, 1864

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, OHIO - 197

this company were, first, Coal Run ; second, Plymouth; third, Moss Run; fourth, Marietta.

COMPANY F, EIGHTEENTH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.

REGIMENTAL OFFICERS. (Three years service).

Colonel Timothy R. Stanley, mustered August 6. 1861, mustered out November 9, 1864; Colonel Charles H. Grosvenor, April 8, 1865, provost marshal; Lieutenant Colonel Josiah Given August 17, 1867, appointed Colonel Seventy-fourth regiment; Lieutenan1 Colonel Charles H. Grosvenor, March 16, 1863, promoted to colonel; Lieutenant Colonel John M. Benedict, Aprrl 8, 1865. mustered out with regiment; Major Charles H. Grosvenor, July 30, 1867, promoted to lieutenant colonel; Major J. M. Welch, March 16, 1863. mustered out November 9, 1864; Major John M. Benedict, February 1, 1865, promoted to lieutenant colonel; Major Robert B. Chappell, April 8, 1865, mustered out with regiment; Surgeon William P. Johnson. September 24, 1861, mustered out November 9, 1864; Surgeon Horace P. Kay, February 20, 1865, mustered out with regiment; Assistant Surgeon William W. Mills, September 24, 1861, resigned February 28, 1864; Assistant Surgeon Charles H. French, January 1, 1863, mustered out November 9, 1864; Assistant Surgeon Arthur C. Newell, May 2, 1865, mustered out October 9, 1865; Assistant Surgeon S. A. Baxter, May 29, 1865, mustered out October 9, 1865; Chaplain John Dillon, September 16, 1861, mustered out November 9, 1864.

OFFICERS OF COMPANY F.

Captain John J. Jumper, mustered September 8, 1861, resigned October 4, 1863; First Lieutenant Robert R. Danford, September 8, 1881, resigned January 17, 1862; First Lieutenant William B. Williams, February 3, 1862, resigned February 8, 1863; First Lieutenant Charles M. Grubb, April 54, 1863, mustered out November 9, 1864; First Lieutenant David J. Searight, July 12, 1864, mustered out November 9, 1864; First Lieutenant John G. G. Carter, March 29, 1865. transferred to adjutant Eighteenth Ohio votunteer infantry, September 1, 1865; Second Lieutenant William B. Williams, September 8, 1861, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant Charles M. Grubb, March 15, 1862, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant David J. Searight, April 14, 1863, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant John G. G. Carter, December 21, 1864, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant James W. Slater, May 31, 1865, mustered out with regiment.

This company was made up of men from Beverly and Newport, Washington county, and Windsor and Ringgold, Morgan county, and was organized early in September, 1861, at Camp Putnam, Marietta, Ohio. John J. Jumper was elected captain.

About the middle of the month company F joined the regiment at Camp Wood, Athens, Ohio, and the regimental organization was completed at Camp Dennison, November 4, 1861.

From Camp Dennison the regiment went to Louisville, Kentucky, arriving November 7th and remaining there about a month, and marching from there to Bacon Creek, where they remained about two months and drilled. Arrived at Green river February 7, 1862, and on the next day started for Bowling Green, which place was occupied on the tenth. Remained there until the twenty-third. After the fall of Fort Donelson they proceeded to Nashville, Tennessee, a distance of sixty-two miles, in three days. At Nashville the regiment encamped until March 18th, suffering many privations and hardships, when they started for Huntsville, Alabama, arriving April 11th. Thence they went to Tuscumbia, Alabama, thence to Athens, Alabama, and deployed along the railroad.

May 1st they were attacked by Scott's rebel cavalry and driven back towards Huntsville, company F going as far as Madison station, where, falling in with a part of the Thirty-third Ohio, they halted and remained.

On May 3d company F and a detail from the Thirty- third Ohio and Twenty-second Kentucky acted as guard to a train that was gathering up the cotton that had been used in fortifying at places between Huntsville and Athens, returning to the station at night, where they remained until the ninth, when they moved to Athens.

On the twenty-first company F, with four other companies, guarded a supply train to Huntsville, returning the next day, and remaining at Athens until the thirtieth, when they started for Fayetteville, arriving next day, and where they remained until June 23d, when they marched to Huntsville. All these movements were made under the command of General 0. M. Mitchell, who had been sent southward by General Don Carlos Buell, commanding the army of the Ohio, to annoy the enemy and keep him busy while other and more important movements were being consummated.

The regiment at this time was brigaded with the Nineteenth and Twenty-fourth Illinois and the Thirty-seventh Indiana, under the command of Colonel Turchin. At one place during these movements, Tuscumbia, Colonel Turchin, with but a small force, including the Eighteenth regiment, held the town, which was surrounded by a greatly superior force of rebels. In order to keep up the appearance of a large force, however, he had the names of officers from a dozen regiments entered upon the hotel register of the town, whose regiments were supposed to be in camp, but in reality he had not more than six hundred men, all told. No citizens were allowed to leave the town. Soon General Buell ordered all the territory west of Decatur evacuated, and the regiment went to Athens, Alabama.

At Battle Creek they found the enemy in force across the stream, and shelled them, but received no response. July 1st, company F, with C and B, was on detached duty, but soon rejoined the regiment. July 13th the regiment started for Tullahoma, and camped at the foot of the mountain near that place, in the evening. On the fourteenth they passed up and over the mountain. Just at sunset they reached the summit, and began the descent by a very difficult route, reaching the valley about 8 P. M., without serious accident.

July 15th they marched from Decherd for Caledonia, where the regiment remained until July 24th, when they started for Tullahoma, arriving there the day following, when company F was thrown out as a picket guard around the town. August 8th they left Tullahoma for Duck river, and from there went to Manchester. September 3rd the regiment arrived at Murfreesborough, and September 8th arrived at Nashville, and remained there until December loth, when the regiment went down the Franklin pike about four miles, and encamped until the twenty-sixth, when a general advance was ordered, which was continued until December 3oth, when they went into the great battle of Stone River, which continued for three days with terrible carnage, in which the gallant Eighteenth did noble service.

In June, 1863, the regiment was with the force that crossed Lookout mountain into McLamore cove, and confronted Bragg at Dug Gap, September 11th, and the

198 - HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, OHIO.

eighteenth, with the balance of the brigade, held the enemy in check.

At Chickamauga the regiment did not participate in the first day's battle, but on Sunday, September loth, was in the thickest of the engagement, making several brilliant charges.

From this time until the expiration of their term of service the regiment was on engineering duty, and on October 20, 1864, was ordered to Camp Chase, to be mustered out, and on November 9th it was mustered out. Nearly one hundred men reenlisted as veterans, and with those whose time had not expired numbered two hundred and twenty-five men.

Upon reenlisting, the First, Second, Eighteenth, Twenty-fourth, and Thirty-fifth Ohio regiments were consolidated under the name of the Eighteenth Ohio, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel C. H. Grosvenor. The regiment took part in the battle of Nashville, December 6, 1864, losing four officers out of seven, and seventy- five men in killed and wounded out of less than two hundred.

The regiment was engaged from this time to the end of the war in garrison duty. In July, 1865, the regiment was stationed at Augusta, Georgia, and Colonel (now general) Grosvenor was assigned to duty as provost marshal general of the department, where they remained until October 9th, when they were ordered to Columbus, Ohio, to be mustered out, and were there honorably discharged October 22, 1865.

COMPANIES A, F, AND G, THIRTY-SIXTH OHIO VOLUNTEERS.

REGIMENTAL OFFICERS.

Colonel George Crook, mustered September 12, 1861, appointed brigadier general September 7, 1862; Colonel Melvin Clarke, September 7, 1862, killed at Antietam September 17, 1862; Colonel Ebenezer B. Andrews, September 17, ,862, resigned April 9, 1863, Colonel William G. Jones, April 13. 1863, killed September 19, 1863, at Chickamauga; Colonel Hiram F. Devol, September 59, 1863, appointed brevet brigadier general July 20, 1865; Lieutenant Colonel Melvin Clarke, July 30, 1861, promoted to colonel September 16, 1862; Lieutenant Colonel E. B. Andrews, September 7, 1862, promoted to colonel September 17, 1862; Lieutenant Colonel Hiram F. Devol, September 17, 1862, promoted to colonel; Lieutenant Colonel William H. G. Adney, May 9, 1864, mustered out; Lieutenant Colonel William S. Wilson, March 8, 1865, mustered out with regiment; Major E. B. Andrews, July 28, 1861, promoted to lieutenant colonel September 16, 1862; Major Hiram F. Devol, September 7, 1862, promoted to lieutenant colonel; Major William H. G. Adney, September 17, 1862, promoted to lieutenant colonel; Major Jewett Palmer. jr., May 9, 1864, resigned November 29, 1864; Major William S. Wilson, December 30, 1864, mustered out; Major Benjamin J. Ricker, jr., February 3, 1865, transferred from Thirty-fourth Ohio volunteer infantry; Surgeon Robert N. Barr, August 22, 1861, resigned February 26, 1862; Surgeon J. H. Whitford, March 8, 1862, mustered out with regiment; Assistant Surgeon]. H. Whitford, August 23, 1861, promoted to surgeon; Assistant Surgeon Colin Mackenzie, March 8, 1862, resigned May 19, 1863; Assistant Surgeon John Dickerson, July 4, 1862, promoted to surgeon of new regiment; Assistant Surgeon James P. Welch, July 24, 1862, resigned September 18, 1864; Assistant Surgeon B. F. Holcomb, March 14, 1865, mustered out with regiment; Assistant Surgeon A. M. Beers, June 26, 1865, did not accept; Chaplain George V. Fry, August, 1861, resigned January 31, 1862; Chaplain J. G. Blair, July 25, 1864, mustered out; Chaplain G. W. Collier, August 30, 1861, mustered out; Chaplain William S. Taylor, February 1, 1862, resigned April 30, 1862; Quartermaster First Lieutenant Levi Barber, August 31, 1861, resigned November 29, 1862; Quartermaster Captain Thomas M. Turner, December 30, 1864, declined promotion, promoted to captain December r, 1862, from first lieutenant, mustered out with regiment as regimental quartermaster; Quartermaster First Lieutenant John M. Woodbridge, July 31, 1861, resigned; Chiet Musician Ebenezer Cory, August, 1861, mustered out at expiration of three years; Chief Musician John Tenney, September, 1864, mustered out with regiment

COMPANY OFFICERS.

Captain H. F. Devol, mustered August 1, 186,, promoted to major September 7, 1862; Captain Thomas W. Moore, August 24, 1861, resigned March 5, 1862; Captain Jewett Palmer, jr., August 24, 1861, promoted to major; Captain Reuben L. Nye, March 3, 1862, mustered out with regiment; Captain Joseph Kelly. March 5, 1862, mustered out with regiment; Captain James Stanley, June 6, 1862, honorably discharged November 25, 1864; Captain Augustus T. Ward, December 30, 1864, mustered out with regiment; Captain James Gage Barker, September 7, 1862, mustered out November 4, 1864; Captain James C. Selby, October 3, 1862, died of wounds September 14, 1864; Captain Wallace S. Stanley, December 3o, 1864, mustered out with regiment; Captain James Haddow, December 30, 1864, mustered out with regiment; Captain Miles A. Stacy, December 30, 0364, resigned as first lieutenant December 1, 1864; Captain Jesse Morrow, December 30, 1864, mustered out with regiment; First Lieutenant James Gage Barker, August 13, 1861, promoted to captain; First Lieutenant Joseph Kelly, August 24, 1861, promoted to captain; First Lieutenant James Stanley, August 24, 1861, promoted to captain; First Lieutenant James C. Selby, March 5, 1862, promoted to captain; First Lieutenant A. F. Tiffany, September, 17, 1862; resigned November 18, 1863; First Lieutenant 0. J. Wood. November 29, 1862, resigned August 27, 1863; First Lieutenant Jesse Morrow, February 22, 1863, promoted to captain; First Lieutenant Miles A. Stacy, January 17, 1863, promoted to captain; First Lieutenant Augustus T. Ward, April 21, 1864, promoted to captain; First Lieutenant James Haddow, May 9, 1864, promoted to captain; First Lieutenant Samuel S. Grosvenor, December 30, 1864, honorably discharged as second lieutenant; First Lieutenant George W. Putnam, December 30, 1864, honorably discharged as second lieutenant; First Lieutenant S. W. Harvey, December 3o, 1864, mustered out with regiment; First Lieutenant John A. Palmer, September 1, 1862, resigned June :8, 1863; Second Lieutenant James C. Selby, August 13, 1861, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant A. F. Tiffany, August 24, 1861, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant Ernst Lindner, August 24, 1861, resigned June 28, 1862; Second Lieutenant Reuben L, Nye, July 30, 1861, promoted to captain March 3, 1862; Second Lieutenant John A. Palmer, March 5. 1862, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant 0. J. Wood, February 5, 1862, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant Miles A. Stacy, June 28, 1862, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant Wallace S. Stanley, June 28, 1862, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant Augustus T. Ward, September 17, 1862, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant Jesse Morrow, July 28, 1862, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant James Haddow, September 17, 1862, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant Samuel L. Grosvenor, October 24, 1861 promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant George W. Putnam, October 24, 1862, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant Ransom C. Wyatt, March 8, 1865, mustered out at expiration of service; Second Lieutenant Benajmin Bragg, March 8, 1865; mustered out with regiment; Second Lieutenant Samuel W. Harvey, April 21, 1864, promoted to first lieutenant.

Under the call of President Lincoln, July 22, 1861, for five hundred thousand men, Lieutenant Colonel Melvin Clarke was authorized to organize a regiment at Camp Putnam, Marietta, Ohio. He at once set about it, and hearing that a company was being formed at Lowell for the Thirty-ninth Ohio-Colonel Groesbeck he met that company on its organization, August 1st, and made known his purpose, asking that the company report at Camp Putnam to form a nucleus for his regiment. He solicited the forming of companies in this and other counties, and the following reported and were mustered in: August 13th, company A; August 14th company B; August 14th, company C; August 22d, company D; August 22d, company E; August 24th, company F; August 24th, company G; August 24th, company H; August 24th, company I, August 31st, company K.

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Nearly the maximum number being mustered in, the regiment was armed with the old United States muskets, and uniformed. Not having a colonel, the line officers had a well grounded notion that only a regular army officer could drill and make a standard regiment equal to the ambition of its members. This wish being favorably regarded by the field officers and governor, efforts were made to secure one through the Secretary of War.

In this condition the regiment was ordered, August 31, 1861, to the field, taking transports at Marietta for Parkersburgh. Six companies, A, B, F, G, H and I, under command of Major E. B. Andrews, were there met by Major A. J. Slemmer—at that time of General Rosecrans staff—under the charge of Major Slemmer were transported by cars to Walker station—a few miles out. From that point marched over the mountains. Company A had one man killed that day by the accidental discharge of a musket—Private Steward, from Pinchville.

Arrived at Elizabeth after dark, foot-sore and weary. The object of this forced march was to clear

the country of bands of guerillas.

The next morning the advance was fired on by a squad of these fellows from a hill fronting the turn of the road. One of the men was wounded in the shoulder. A company was thrown forward as skirmishers and soon dislodged them. Camped at Reedy that night. The next day marched for Spencer, the county east of Roane county. The place was surrounded by guerillas and three of its loyal citizens had been killed by them. On the approach of the regiment they fled. The people were found in a truly pitiable condition—nothing but corn-meal to subsist on. Rations having given out the men were in much the same plight for two days. Scouts brought in a little beef, but salt there was none. This kind of diet was new, and on the whole it seemed as if the regiment was being roughly initiated. The supply train that three days later followed was surrounded at' Reedy. A night march of two companies relieved and brought it forward. Guerillas seemed to be upon all the hills and frequently their signals could be heard. Like the foxes, they knew the woods and were never seen at their houses during the day, so it seemed impossible to catch them. This was a new kind of warfare for lhe regular major, and when the regiment moved away—being relieved by another command—he ordered flanking parties as skirmishers in advance of the column.

The day before leaving Spencer it was thought best to unload the muskets. A target at fifty yards was placed and the men in turn tried their skill. The small men at every discharge would be either upset or faced about. The recoil of those old muskets with their heavy charge of powder, ball and three buckshot was about as fatal at the rear as in front. The target was not hit. Loud was the cursing of the men. They saw their guns were useless, which accounted for their never bringing down a single bushwhacker, despite their many chances. The march lay through Arnoldsburgh, Bulltown, Sutton to Summerville, Nicholas county. Lieutenant Colonel Clarke, with the other four companies, C, D, E and K, soon joined the regiment, and in a few days Colonel

George Crook, who had been appointed to command it, arrived to the great joy of the men.

At this period was laid the solid foundation which gave to the regiment confidence in the future and secured for it a place second to none in the service. Colonel Crook instituted a perfect system of drill and a school in which officers were drilled, and recitations regularly held; and the officers drilled the men. A large drill house was erected that all could use at the same time. Leather stocks—called by the men "dog collars," were worn under the chin to set the men up. The old muskets were exchanged for new Enfield rifles. The entire regiment was quartered in the houses of people who left at the approach of the Union army. This crowding in houses, change of diet—this seasoning process—caused sickness, typhoid fever, pneumonia and measles. This was a sad era. Fifty deaths was the fearful record. Expeditions were frequently sent out to hunt guerillas and to forage mainly for caltle—all quite successful. There was some lively skirmishing with the bushwhackers; but two men were seriously wounded. Early in the winter one company (A) was sent to Cross Lanes, eight miles distant, to hold that post and guard a ford over the Gauley river.

There was but little intercourse with the people; only a few were loyal to the flag; but we respected both person and property where they showed no open acts of disloyalty. Thus the winter passed. Our numbers were kept full by recruits. May 12, 1862, the regiment—a thousand strong—with cheerful hearts, took up its line of march in the direction of real business. Company B alone remained in charge of the train to come by another route. Forded Gauley river and marched much of the way by bridal paths. The march was a forced one, and the first two days were intensely hot, so that many gave out. The way led via Cold Knob and Frankfort, the object being to get in the rear of a Confederate force under General Heath, at Lewisburgh. At the same time a force under Colonel Gilbert approached from Gauley Bridge. General Heath was too wary and eluded the trap. The Union forces united at Lewisburgh, and consisted of the Thirty-sixth and Forty-fourth regiments and a battalion of the Second Virginia cavalry, all under command of Colonel Crook—about twelve hundred strong. From Lewisburgh, Colonel Crook, with this small force, marched through the mountains to White Sulpher Springs and Covington, to Jackson River depot, and destroyed the bridge at that point. The movement was so bold and rapid, and the enemy so surprised they dare not leave their mountain fastnesses to essay an attack.

A few days after the return of the expedition to Lewisburgh, May 23d, early in the morning, General Heath, with from two thousand five hundred to three thousand men, drove in the pickets and took a strong position on a hill on the opposite side of the town from where the Union forces were encamped, and commenced shelling the camp. The Thirty-sixth, under Colonel Clarke, and the Forty-fourth, under Colonel Gilbert, were ordered to charge the enemy in their position. Disappearing for a few moments in the streets of the town, the National

200 - HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, OHIO.

forces suddenly emerged upon the rising ground in front of the rebels—the Thirty-sixth on the left and the Forty-fourth on the right of the line of battle. The rebel infantry was posted behind a rail fence, and between the lines was an open, clear field. Over this ground the Thirty-sixth charged with a yell, receiving a volley from the enemy.

Reserving fire until at close range, and giving the rebels scarcely time to reload, the men were upon them, and they broke in complete route. They escaped down the mountain, and firing the bridge over Greenbrier river rendered further pursuit impossible. In this the maiden battle of the Thirty-sixth regiment, it was pitted against the Twenty-second Virginia, which was recruited in the rich country of Greenbrier county and the Kanawha valley, and was armed with Mississippi rifles. The result of this victory was a loss to the Thirty-sixth of seven killed, forty-four wounded, and five captured on picket. The Forty-fourth lost much less. Rebel loss, sixty killed and left on the field, one hundred and seventy-five prisoners, four pieces of artillery, and three hundred stand of small arms. They carried off many of their slightly wounded.

This being a fair standup fight, on ground of the rebels' own choosing, the plan of attack also their own, it increased the men's confidence in the future. It being a rebel town, the wounded who were straggling back were ill-treated; one was shot dead by a citizen. The Union dead were buried in a beautiful grove, and their graves surrounded by a picket fence by their comrades.

This battle occurring near the homes of many of the Confederate soldiers, their friends came in to care for both dead and wounded. The scenes there witnessed were very affecting. Mothers with their dead or wounded sons, sisters with their brothers, wives with husbands. It was truly a sad picture of the realities of war. Added to this was the mortification of defeat in their own country. The Union wounded were sent to Charleston in ambulances. Some were met there by relatives and taken home. Dyar B. McClure, of Warren, Washington county, badly wounded, died soon after reaching home.

After clearing up the wreck of battle and parolling the rebel wounded, May 29th, the regiment took up the line of march to Meadow Bluffs to be more accessible to supplies. They were joined here by the Forty-seventh Ohio, and on June 2d the entire force, under command of Colonel Crook, started to return General Heath's early call on them at Lewisburgh, by a visit to his camps at Union, Monroe county. Marched via Salt Sulphur springs, forded Greer brier river the second day, and reached Union in the afternoon. The general, not caring for further acquaintance, had left for the mountains. The command then leisurely retraced its steps, and as it was a very fine country foraged its way back by another route. At Meadow Bluffs, drilling occupied most of the time until August 14th, when the regiment started for Camp Piatt, on the Kanawha river. Here, with most of the force under General Cox, they embarked on transports for Parkersburgh, en route to Washington and the army of the Potomac.

At Parkersburgh recruits were added to the regiment,

increasing its numbers to one thousand and twenty men. A happy day was spent here, the regiment mingling with their friends, who came to meet them, and to many it was the last meeting on earth. Left Parkersburgh on stock and freight cars, and went through without change. Through Washington, over the long bridge, through ‘Alexandria, arriving at Warrenton junction August 25th, in advance of the rest of the Kanawha division, and were assigned by General Pope to duty at his headquarters. General Stonewall Jackson having broken in upon General Pope's rear, prevented any more of the division coming forward.

August 27th, in charge of headquarters, train fell back with the rest of the army, and encamped that night near the battle ground of Bristow Station. Marched through Manassa to Centreville, overlooking the second Bull Run battle. Company F was sent back to Bristow on special duty, joining the regiment next day.

In the succeeding battle of Bull Run the Thirty-sixth was held in reserve by General Pope, and on the evening of that defeat, performed signal service in arresting stragglers and fugitives from the battle, thus preventing thousands from hurrying back to Washington and creating a panic of dismay similar to that after the first battle of Bull Run.

September 2d the regiment fell back to Arlington heights, remaining there a few days. September 7th, marched through Washington; were reviewed by Secretary Chase and others from the balcony of the treasury department. The men were proud of their regiment, as compared with any they had seen in the eastern army, not merely because of their numbers (for they were often hailed with "What brigade is that?), but in their marching and drill they knew they were second to none. Colonel Strother, better known as "Porte Crayon," said of the regiment, after witnessing one of its dress parades, that it executed the most perfect manual of arms he had ever seen in his army experience.

September 7th, after being joined by the rest of the Kanawha division, left Washington, the object being to repel Lee's invasion of Maryland. The Kanawha division had the advance of the entire Federal force, now commanded again by General McClellan; met the advance of Lee's army (General Stewart's cavalry) on the d, at Frederick, Maryland. They occupied the town. The Thirty-sixth marched to the attack in line of battle on the left of the pike, the Twenty-eighth Ohio on the right. Colonel Moore, of the Twenty-eighth commanding brigade, kept the pike leading directly into the town with a section of artillery. The moment he reached the town a rush by the enemy's cavalry captured the brave colonel and a few others; then fell back without fighting. The command of the brigade devolved on Colonel Crook, and that of the regiment on Lieutenant Colonel Clarke. The regiment never afterward had its old colonel as its commander. Reached Middletown the thirteenth; here opened the battle of South Mountain.

Early on the morning of the fourteenth, General J. D. Cox, commanding the division, was ordered to storm the mountain. The Thirty-sixth had position in the centre,

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and its march lay through the only open ground, without cover of any kind. The enemy, first with shell, and, as the line advanced, with canister and grape, poured into them a destructive fire. The musketry followed. The line never wavered although subjected to an enfilading fire from artillery, and musketry in front, posted behind a stone wall on the crest of the mountain. The regiment held its fire, the rebels cursing and yelling "You can't come over here." With loaded guns and fixed bayonets they reached the wall, then over it rattled the brave lads with a yell. Then followed a hand-to-hand fight with those who would not surrender or run away. Among the former was a confederate surgeon, who kept firing with his revolver until pierced with a bayonet. The regiment pursued the enemy into the woods Leyond, killing and capturing a number, until ordered back in line with the right of our forces, who had not been quite so fortunate. The rest of the day was spent in repelling the efforts of the enemy to retake that line.

The Thirty-sixth lost a number in killed and wounded. Corporal Courtland Shepherd from Washington county, one of the colored guard, was killed. That night the regiment bivouacked among the rebel dead on their chosen ground. A detail rudely buried the Union dead at the rear near where they fell. In this, the second battle of the regiment, not a man was known to have failed in his duty. That night the enemy left the mountain, falling back and across Antietam creek. Early in the morning the Union army was in pursuit. That day (the fifleenth.) and the sixteenth little else was done, but as the army came on to take up position, driving in the rebel skirmishers, the rebels from the heights about Sharpsburgh commenced throwing with their cannon pieces of iron rails and sledge hammers as far as our line. General Burnside, the corps commander, gave his command to understand that it was to have an easy victory as the enemy was out of ammunition. Alas, how fatal the delusion ! About 10 A. M. on the seventeenth the Kanawha division was ordered to assault the stone bridge and carry it at all hazard. It could not be done till Colonel Crook by a skillful manoeuvre with a battery cleared the heights of the enemy at the opposite end. When a crossing was effected the division was rapidly deployed in line of battle and a charge at once ordered. The ground being clear, excepting fences, and the regiment about the centre of the line, it drew a terrible fire from the enemy's artillery. In this charge Colonel Clarke fell, shot through the body by a large shell. The regiment drove the rebel infantry from their first line and was then halted. This part of the field being vital lo the enemy they massed a heavy force on the left of the Union line and doubled it back. Colonel Crook drew his brigade with the rest of the division a short distance back under cover of rolling ground. In this movement the regiment did not forget its beloved commander, Colonel Clarke, but carried his remains with them in a blanket. It is but just to say here that Colonel Clarke, by unexampled bearing, even temper and gentlemanly deportment, had steadily won for himself the confidence and a warm place in the hearts of the entire regiment. His remains were forwarded to his home at Marietta, where they now rest in the beautiful cemetery, and his grave is marked by a monument erected by his fellow officers.

The command of the regiment now devolved upon Major Andrews. That night the groans and cries of the helpless wounded of both armies between the two lines could be heard, but no help could safely reach them. The eighteenth passed with an occasional shot, but a vigilant watch was kept over the enemy. The following night Lee with his entire army escaped, fording the Potomac. After the battle the regiment was moved down near the mouth of Antietam creek, where it remained until October 6th, when the Kanawha division was ordered back to West Virginia. The march lay via Hagerstown to Hancock, then over the Baltimore and Ohio railroad to Clarksburgh. The regiment and brigade left this town the last of October for Charleston. The march lay through Summerville, the old familiar quarters Of the regiment. Reached Charleston about the middle of November. After the active work of the summer and fall fall it was supposed that here on the lower bank of the Elk river the regiment would winter. Accordingly all actively set about making quarters cut of such material as was at hand. Some were completed and all nearly so when, January 25th, transports came up the Kanawha river to convey General Crook with his command to the army of the Cumberland at Nashville, Tennessee. The men regretted to leave their newly constructed quarters, but such are the uncertainties of army life. Crowded on steamers the trip was exceedingly uncomfortable. Remained near Nashville till February 2d, when the Thirty-sixth, Eleventh, Eighty-ninth and Ninety-second Ohio, and Eighteenth Kentucky regiments, and Twenty- first Indiana battery, under command of General Crook re-embarked for Carthage, Tennessee. At this place a good deal of important scouting occupied the time till early in June, when General Crook with his command marched to Murfreesborough. In the meantime Colonel Andrews resigned and William G. Jones was commissioned colonel of the regiment. General Crook's brigade was assigned to Major-General Reynolds's division, Fourteenth army corps, commanded by Major General George H. Thomas. June 24th, General Crook with his (Third) brigade, in advance of the corps, took up the line of march on the Manchester pike southward. Late in the day the Thirty-sixth had a few men wounded at Hoover's Gap. Next day moved to the left, to flank the enemy's position at Tullahoma. Found him gone in the direction of Bridgeport, the railroad crossing over the Tennessee river.

The pursuit was necessarily and aggravatingly slow, owing to the wretched condition of the roads, it having rained incessantly since the command left Murfreesborough. At Big Springs, a day's march further on, General Crook was relieved of the command of the brigade and given a division of cavalry, General J. B. Turchin taking his place.

In July moved up to University Place, a beautiful

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place on a mountain, remained there some two weeks, with little else to do but fight jiggers (a little insect thick on the bushes) and look out for rattlesnakes. In August moved down the southeastern slope into Sweeden's cove; stopped a few days at Blue Springs, on Battle creek; marched on through Sequatchie valley to Jasper, Tennessee. This land abounded in very delicious peaches, of which many a heaping hatful was appropriated by the soldiers. September 2d crossed the river at Shell Mound in flats. From this point the march lay over Sand mountain into Lookout valley; moved on in the direction of Trenton, Georgia. Further up the regiment and command performed the task of pulling both artillery and baggage train to the top of Lookout mountain, crossing immediately down the other side into McLemore's cove. Here, on the seventeenth, the enemy made some demonstrations from Catlett's gap. Some manoeuvring was done to mystify the enemy, and on the night of the eighteenth, after issuing a few rations, the entire command moved.

General Crittenden was being pressed in the direction of Rossville, northeast. This compelled a wearisome all-night march. At daylight, on the nineteenth, the regiment was at Crawfish Springs, and a little further on went into its place in line of battle. Soon the work of death commenced— the terrible battle of Chickamauga. Fierce cannonading for miles up and down the valley— a short lull—then the murderous work of the infantry began. The battlefield being largely in the woods seemed to impart a sentiment of awe to the work that was going on. The Thirty-sixth in position seemed a little to the left centre. Suddenly on the right the firing grew nearer and nearer. Many wounded were passing to the rear, the front holding its ground. General Reynolds, division commander, ordered the brigade to change front to the right. Barely was this manoeuvre accomplished when through the ranks rushed some National troops closely pursued by the enemy. The solid front presented checked them, and their broken masses took cover behind trees and logs, giving them great advantage. Not a man of the regiment was known to have turned back unless wounded. The slaughter was fearful, especially on the right of the regiment. The brave Captain James Stanley's men, company D, were falling right and left. Something must be done. General Turchin was not there. Colonel Jones was mortally wounded; Major Adney was wounded. At this critical moment Lieutenant Colonel Devol ordered a charge. With an inspiring yell the men rushed forward and drove the enemy back and beyond their artillery. They had driven them several hundred yards when an aid was dispatched ordering the brigade back. Had the enemy closed that gap in the rear, the subsequent history of the Thirty-sixth and Eleventh Ohio and Eighteenth Kentucky regiments would have had a different reading. There was but little fighting on that part of the line the rest of the day. Exhausted the regiment lay on its arms keeping a skirmish line in front. Early the next morning, the twentieth, General Rosecrans caused word to be passed along the line that as it was the Sabbath fighting should not be provoked.

General Bragg being reinforced by Longstreet's corps was confident, and early opened the battle. The regiment was moved to the left and front. The enemy made repeated charges and as often were repulsed. Major General Thomas, in his official report of these charges, says: "The enemy attacked Johnson, Palmer, and Reynolds with fierceness which was continued at least two hours, making assault after assault with fresh troops, which was met by our troops with a most determined coolness and deliberation. Having exhausted his utmost energies to dislodge us, he apparently fell back entirely from our front, and we were not disturbed again till towards night." About four o'clock the enemy made a desperate effort and succeeded in forcing the lines back on the right and left of Reynolds' division, where, from the front and both flanks, the enemy poured their missiles of death. General Reynolds and other officers thought the entire division would have to surrender, and as evidence of their fears took off their shoulder straps to conceal their rank. At this moment General Thomas, the "Rock of Chickamauga," ran the gauntlet and ordered a "change of front to the left on the enemy's flank, and get out, if possible" Like a statue he coolly sat on his horse, witnessed the execution of his order and then galloped back. The charge was a success. Many prisoners and a battery of artillery were captured. The latter could not be brought off. General Thomas further reports: 

At 5.30 P. M. I started to see General Reynolds, and in passing through an open woods bordering the State road, I was cautioned by a couple of soldiers, who had been to hunt water, that there was a large rebel force in these woods, drawn up in line, and advancing toward me. Just at this time I called to General Reynolds and directed him to change the head of his column to the left and form a line perpendicular to the State road, his right resting on the road and to charge the enemy who were then in his immediate front. This movement was made with the utmost promptitude. Turchin threw his brigade upon the rebel force, routing and driving them in utter confusion. In this splendid advance more than two hundred prisoners were captured and sent to the rear. Turchin's brigade after driving the enemy a mile and a half was reassembled, and took its position on the ridge road with Robinson and Willich.

The day closed with seventy dead officers and men of the Thirty-sixth regiment lying in those woods. The night was spent in withdrawing to Rossville, next day (twenty-first) held the gap through the ridge covering Chattanooga. The twenty-second of September fell back into Chattanooga, and with the rest of the army vigorously set about fortifiying. From this time to the first of November the army was in a state of siege on half rations. Early during the siege lost a dozen men on a reconnaissance. October 26th, Turchin's and Hayen's brigades were elected to take Brown's Ferry below Lookout mountain and thus cooperate with General Hooker in relieving the beleaguered army. This was successfully accomplished by selecting experienced boatmen from the Thirty-sixth and Ninety-second regiments. Quietly in the darkness of night they floated down in pontoons past the rebel pickets, landing and storming the heights at the ferry. Hooker's arrival brought the first sound crackers and meat the regiment had had for a month. Parched corn had been the only good diet that could be had. The regiment returned to Chattanooga in a few 

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days. Hooker holding the ferry and starting from it on his famous charge up Lookout mountain.

November 25th, on the extreme left of the Fourteenth corps and army, the Thirty-sixth and Ninety-second, side by side, with the battle cry of "Chickamauga," charged Mission Ridge. The miles in length of the charging line of the blue, dotted here and there with the soldier's pride—his country's flag--was an inspiring sight, though the belching line of cannon and musketry from the enemy on the crest told fearfully on that column. The crest was reached, the breastworks taken—in many instances by a hand-to-hand fight. The regiment captured two pieces of artillery and many prisoners. Generals Grant and Thomas having followed closely, were cheered by the men as they passed by. The regiment lost in this charge eighty-three of its brave members. The following day pursued the enemy to Ringgold, Georgia, after which it returned to its tents in Chatlanooga. Thus ended what commenced in the forests of Chickamauga and might be termed a continuation of the same battle.

As soon as possible the regiment made coffins and went out to Chickamauga (eight miles) to bring in its dead; only thirty-seven could be recognized, however— they having been covered with a shovel full of earth when they fell. The rest had been gathered promiscuously with others and buried in rows, with only earth enough to partially cover them; near the widow Glen's house were long rows of the dead of both armies.

How the Nation's destroyers gloated over their temporary success at Chickamauga, while like vultures they looked down from Mission ridge and Lookout mountain, on its defenders 1 The men of the Thirty-sixth killed in these battles now rest in a lot selected by their comrades in the beautiful National cemetery at Chattanooga.

In February, 1864, the regiment reenlisted, and March loth started for home on veteran furlough. At Cincinnati they separated for thirty days. At the expiration of that time were ordered to General Crook at Charlestown, West Virginia—he having been sent there to take command of the Third division, department of West Virginia. On reaching Charlestown the regiment was assigned to the First brigade, commanded by Colonel R. B. Hayes.

May 1st General Crook with his division started on a raid to the Virginia & Tennessee railroad. Several attempts on it had been made, but had failed. The march lay via Falls of Kanawha, Raleigh and Princeton. Had a slight skirmish at Princeton, and a few miles further on found the enemy in strong position at Cloyd's farm. Their position was at once charged and a severe engagement ensued, which resulted in driving the enemy from their works, capturing two pieces of artillery and mortally wounding and capturing the notorious rebel General Jenkins. Being reenforced, they made a stand a mile to the rear of their first position, but were easily routed. They retreated through Dublin depot and across New river. At the depot a large amount of wagons and other quartermaster and commissary stores were captured. Destroyed all that were not available, and burned the railroad bridge. This severed the railroad connection of Richmond with the Tennessee rebel forces.

Being so far from the base of his supplies General Crook was obliged to return—over Salt Pond mountain, through Union to Meadow Bluffs. Near Union Lyman Perrin, from Rainbow, Washington county, was shot dead in the road by a bushwhacker.

On reaching Meadow Bluffs orders were received to join General Hunter in the Shenandoah valley. As soon as the bare and foot-sore men could be cared for, and the expedition otherwise fitted up, the march began. It lay over old familiar ground in part—through Lewisburgh, While and Warm sulphur springs, and Goshen. At the latter place, a bridge spanning Calf Pasture river was burned and the railroad track destroyed nearly to Cravesville, where the mountain was crossed and a junction effected with General Hunter at Staunton. The march had been opposed by "Mudwall" Jackson, with a small force, which caused but little delay. June loth the National forces left Staunton for Lynchburgh, skirmishing most of the way. "Mudwall" Jackson retreating across the North river into Lexington. After firing the bridge he took courage and with the help of the students at the military institute delivered himself of a brisk little fight. He soon gave way.

On entering Lexington, by order of General Hunter, the military institute and ex-Governor Letcher's house were burned. The loss of the Thirty-sixth was three killed and five wounded. From Lexington the army moved by way of Buchanan, thence across the Blue Ridge, between the Peaks of Otter, to Liberty. From this place bridges were burned and the railroad destroyed to within a short distance of Lynchburgh. At the old stone church, on the Liberty pike, the rebels were encountered and driven inside their fortifications. Night coming on, operations were suspended. By morning, June 18th, affairs had assumed a different aspect. The rebel General Early had arrived from Richmond with a heavy force, and at daylight opened with his artillery. It was evident that a greater than "Mudwall" was at hand. Heavy skirmishing was kept up by the infantry till about noon, when the Union force was most furiously assailed, but stood its ground, and in turn drove the enemy back within their works. General Hunter decided to withdraw, but affected to keep up appearances till after dark. The Thirty-sixth was deployed in front of the enemy, and an occasional shot delivered, giving time for the troops to get well under way; then quietly withdrawing, briskly marched until the rear of the column was reached. Then commenced one of the hardest marches of the war. Supplies were nearly exhausted, and foraging had to be resorted to, with an active enemy hanging on the rear. The retreat was continued via Liberty, Buford's Gap, Salem, Newcastle, Sweet and White Sulphur Springs, Lewisburgh, and Meadow Bluffs, to Charleston, on the Kanawha. Chapters might be written of the sufferings of the soldiers, marching from within hearing of the guns at Richmond across all the mountain ranges to the Ohio river. Many men, exhausted, fell out, and never were heard of again. Night and day without sleep or rest,

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it was march, march—that or starvation. During the last nine days the average was twenty miles per day. From June 27th to July loth the starving, worn-out army rested—ate, slept, and was re-clothed. They then embarked for Parkersburgh, en route east, General Crook having been ordered with his command east, to repel General Early in his invasion of Maryland. They reached Martinsburgh, by railroad, July 15th; thence marched to Halltown, near Harper's Ferry. General Crook was at Snicker's Gap, having followed and driven General Early across to the west side of the Shenandoah. Colonel Hayes' brigade (the Twenty-third and Thirty-sixth regiments) was ordered to form a junction with General Crook. They found the enemy in full force, and no possibility of. communicating. After heavy skirmishing the little command found itself entirely surrounded by two divisions of the enemy's cavalry, and fought its way out towards Harper's Ferry. The Thirty-sixth lost three men killed and four wounded. July 22nd they joined General Crook at Winchester.

Two days later a battle was fought at Kernstown, three miles above Winchester, in which the Union troops were forced to retire, the enemy getting in on the flank in overwhelming numbers. The fighting continued till nine o'clock at night. The regiment lost in killed and wounded one hundred and twenty-seven men and officers. The army moved next day towards Martinsburgh, the enemy pursuing closely. At Martinsburgh the rebel cavalry charged into town, when General Crook turned on them and drove them back, capturing a few prisoners. The Thirty-sixth had two men wounded. Under cover of this feint General Crook moved on quietly that night to a ford over the Potomac, at Williamsport, and marched down to Harper's Ferry. The enemy's cavalry having passed through Maryland into Pennsylvania, General Crook's division was ordered to intercept them, and moved up through Middletown. That day, July 28th, the regiment suffered terribly with the heal. Many, including its colonel, were stricken with sunstroke. Hearing that the enemy had burned Chambersburgh and gone back, General Crook turned back to Harper's Ferry.

August 7th General Sheridan took command of the army, having added to it the Sixth corps, and followed the Confederate forces up to Cedar creek, but at once fell back to Halltown, followed by General Early, reenforced from Lee's army. August 23d the enemy attacked early in the morning but did not follow it up. Colonel Hayes' brigade (Twenty-third and Thirty-sixth Ohio and Fifth West Virginia), sallied out, and drove in the enemy's skirmishers, capturing a number. August 26lh another sortie was made; in this they were successful in capturing a number of officers and men, all from Kershaw's division.

Nothing more of interest occurred until September 3d. General Crook with his troops reached Berryville, halted, and were in the act of making coffee when rapid firing was heard in the direction of a regiment that had been sent forward on picket. At once the regiment started on the double-quick, but did not reach them till they were being driven back on the run, closely followed by the enemy. Taking advantage of a little embankment the regiment lay down, concealed until our pickets passed through. The enemy came on until within a few rods, when the men, with fixed bayonets, rose up and rushed forward to meet them, firing as they ran. The enemy was driven back on his main force and behind his artillery. Taking cover behind rocks and trees, firing was kept up till late in the night. General Sheridan not wishing to bring on a general engagement here the brigade was withdrawn. Captured a number of prisoners. The regiment's loss was twenty-five men. Captain J. C. Selby, a brave and true soldier, was mortally wounded.

Much marching and counter-marching was gone through with up to September 19th. The Nineteenth corps having come up, General Sheridan attacked General Early in his fortified position in front of Winchester, across the Opequan creek. The Sixth and Nineteenth corps were ordered to attack the enemy in front. General Crook's forces were held in reserve, but were soon ordered to the right of the line and to fall upon the enemy's left flank. On reaching that point Colonel Hayes' brigade was formed in the first line and moved to the attack. The enemy discovering this movement turned lheir artillery upon it with vigor. The brigade hurried forward and soon came upon an impassable swamp, and were moved by the right flank a short distance where fording was possible. The enemy's skirmishers were driven in. A short delay ensued until all the forces could come up, when a rush was made—lhe enemy was doubled up and back and completely routed. General Crook's ]title command of about four thousand now became the front, and pursued the fleeing rebels. Passing many pieces of artillery, seven battle-flags were captured, the blue coats and the "gray backs" mingling together. A large numof prisoners were left to the rear. The pursuit continued through and beyond Winchester, till dark. The regiment's loss was thirty-five in killed and wounded. In this batlle the division commander was wounded and Colonel R. B. Hayes assumed command; Colonel H. F. Devol of the brigade; Lieutenant Colonel Adney of the regiment. Following the enemy up the valley they found him, September 2d, in position at Fisher's Hill, his right resting against Massanutten mountain, his left at the foot of North mountain—a very strong position. As at Opequan, the Sixth and Nineteenth corps confronted the enemy.

General Crook with his command wended his way, through gulch and brush, by the flank, to the foot and up the side of North mountain, unperceived by the enemy. When well on their flank, overlooking them, he halted, his orders were to "quietly move down on the enemy till within range, then raise the yell and go for them."

At the command, "Forward!" the men broke in utter disorder, and like an avalanche, and yelling like demons, fell upon the enemy. Piece after piece of their artillery was abandoned. The Union forces not being able to overtake them, they fled on up the valley. Four men of the regiment were wounded. The regiment followed the fugitive army to Harrisonburgh. Soon after, the army fell back to Cedar creek. The creek crosses at right

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angles to the valley from the foot of Massanutten mountain to North mountain. On the lower bank of this creek the army took up its position. The Nineteenth corps on the right, the Sixth corps in the centre, army of western Virginia (General Crook's command), on the left—Major General Wright, the ranking officer, in command of the entire force. After this disposition General Sheridan left for Washington. General Early reenforced, came down and confronted the National forces, and from Massanutten mountain could overlook the entire line, and from that point planned his attack. Early in the morning of the eighteenth, the entire rebel infantry was moved down the stream to a ford, which, by neglect of General Wright, was not properly guarded, and captured the picket without alarm. After crossing their forces, under cover of darkness and a dense fog, about 4 o'clock on the morning of the nineteenth they attacked Colonel Thoburn (First division, which was to the left and front), with a heavy force, completely surprising him, capturing a battery, and putting to flight the entire division. The main force of the enemy, at the same time, in double column, moved partly to the rear of Hayes' (Second) division. At the first firing at the front, tents were struck, all packed, and lines were formed as the First division men came back. It was now light enough to see the enemy in large force. The Second division command firing and falling back held the enemy in check till General Crook's headquarters train was out of the way. Captain Beir, General Crook's adjutant general, and Colonel Thoburn were killed at this point. We were still forced back by weight of numbers and overlapping.

A little further back in some woods the First brigade turned and charged the enemy, who had extended his line, driving that part of the line back which had the effect to check the pursuit and gave time for the reforming of the entire line at a new position about one and a half miles from the camps. Skirmishers were thrown forward. The enemy was contented with throwing an occasional shell and plundering the deserted camps. The men of the regiment were furiously angry, and eager to wipe out the stain of the morning.

In this new line the Second division was on the left and near the Winchester pike. About ten o'clock General Sheridan came galloping up the pike, having heard the firing. He stopped in rear of the Thirty-sixth regiment, dismounted, and heard from General Crook the story of the morning. Remounting, he rode along the line to the right and was cheered, all feeling that now there was an efficient head over all. Coming back he again dismounted and lay down among the weeds in consultation with General Crook—sent aides directing the formation of the Nineteenth corps which had not been engaged in the morning. They reported all in position, then he sent orders to be in readiness to move forward. General Custer, commanding cavalry, was posted on the right of the infantry. About half-past 2 P. M. the entire line advanced and drove the enemy at every point. As the rebels could not cross their forces rapidly over the ford many were captured, and the cavalry swinging round in their rear took many more. These, with forty-nine pieces of artillery and most of the enemy's train, were the trophies of the last battle in which the Thirty-sixth regiment parlicipated, and the finale of General Jubal Early's army. The regiment's loss in this battle was thirty. The dead of the morning were stripped of their clothing. The regiment remained in the valley at and above Winchester. Marched to Martinsburgh, in a cold rain, and January 1, 1865, embarked on railroad trains for Cumberland. In that ride, lasting most of two days and nights, the men suffered greatly from cold. While at Cumberland was consolidated with the Thirty-fourth Ohio, retaining ils number, Thirty-sixth. In April was sent back to Winchester and thence to Staunton, the object being to head off any of the rebel forces which might flee that way out of Richmond. At Winchester, April 15th, the news of the assassination of President Lincoln was received, and this was perhaps the saddest day in the experience of the regiment. Then soldier looked at soldier in silent wonder. It was truly the hush of death. The colors were draped, which emblem of respect never was removed. The regiment was at Staunton when General Lee surrendered and the Confederacy collapsed. In June was ordered back to Cumberland and thence to Wheeling. Perceiving there was no more need for soldiers in the field they made application at once to be mustered out. This took place at Wheeling, West Virginia, July 27th; went to Columbus, Ohio, were paid off and disbanded August 1, 1865.

To the above account of the Thirty-sixth regiment by General H. F. Devol, which is briefly and modestly put considering lhe value of the service rendered, we take pleasure in adding two farewell addresses:

HEADQUARTERS SECOND BRIGADE, FIRST DIVISION, DEPARTMENT WEST VIRGINIA,

NEW CREEK, WEST VIRGINIA, April 6, 1865.

To the officers and men of the First brigade, First division, Department West Virginia:

It is with very great regret that I have been compelled to part with the officers and men of the First brigade. With many of you I have been associated in the service almost four years; with three of the regiments of the brigade more than two years, and with all the regiments during the memorable campaign of 1864, the battle of Cloyd Mountain, the burning of New River bridge, and the night march over Salt Pond mountain under General Crook in May, the days and nights of marching, fighting and starving on the Lynchburgh raid in June, the defeat at Winchester and the retreat on the twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth of July, the skirmishing, marching and counter-marching in the Shenandoah valley in August, the bloody and brilliant victories in September, the night battle of Berryville, the turning of the enemy's left at Sheridan's battle of Winchester, the avalanche that swept down North mountain upon the rebel stronghold at Fishers’ Hill, the final conflict in October, the surprise and defeat of the morning and the victory of the evening at Cedar Creek. These and a thousand other events and scenes in the campaign form part of our common recollections which we are not likely ever to forget. As long as they are remembered we shalt be reminded of each other, and of the friendly and agreeable relations which so long existed between us. It is very gratifying to me that I was allowed to serve with you until we received together the tidings of the great victory which ends the Rebellion. Whatever may be your future, I shall not cease to feel a lively interest in everything which concerns your welfare and your reputation. Under the able and gallant officer who succeeds me—under whom we have served together with so much satisfaction—I am confident that your future wilt be worthy of your past. As an organization and as individuals, you have my most fervent wishes for your happiness and success.

R. B. HAYES,

Brigadier General.

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The above address was accompanied by the following:

NEW CREEK, VIRGINIA, fifteenth April, 1865.

DEAR COLONEL:-I hope to see the Thirty-sixth again before I quit the service, but I have thought proper to send you a good-bye which you wirt oblige me by having read to your regiment on dress parade when convenient.

Sincerely,

R. B. HAYES.

Colonel H. F. Devol, Thirty-sixth Ohio veteran volunteers.

HEADQUARTERS THIRTY-SIXTH OHIO

VETERANS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY,

COLUMBUS, OHIO, July 30, 1865.

Officers and Soldiers of the Thirty-sixth :

The time has come when we will have to part; some ot us never to meet again, I cannot sever the connection that has bound us together for four long and bloody years without expreesing to you my high appreciation of your valor and patriotism, manifested on many a hard contested field; and I assure you that the feeling I entertain for you is more than common friendship. I tove you for your patriotism, your manly devotion to principle, and the stern resolution you have ever exhibited through victory and defeat, and especially for the heroic conduct that characterized you during the memorable campaign of Lynchburgh, and many similar scenes. Your country owes you a debt of gratitude which it never can repay, and but few can appreciate. And when, by your determination to sustain the integrity of your distracted country, you reenlisted as veterans, you did that which challenged the admiration of the world, and won the crowning glory of you life.

I would have you feel a just pride for the hard-earned but glorious reputation which you now enjoy; and I would conjure you, by all that is held dear, never to do aught that would sully your fair fame. And when our connection as comrades in arms is severed, as it soon will be,

I would have you often think of that dear old flag, under which, and for which, we all have fought, and entertain towards each other that friendly feeling which has ever characterized our past relations.

Many of our comrades, who started with us four years ago, today fill herosl graves! And while we mourn their loss, it is a happy thought to know that they did not die in vain, but that our country lives ! Let their valorous deeds and heroic example ever be fresh in our memory.

I am assured that the soldiers who acted nobly their part in the death struggles at Antietam, South Mountain, Mission Ridge, Cloyd Mountain, and through the arduous campaign in the Shenandoah Valley, and who learned to du and dare under such generals as McClellan, Rosecrans, Grant, Crook, and Sheridan, will be men wherever they are placed, and will clearly demonstrate the fact that fighting soldiers make peaceful citizens.

To command you has been the highest aim of my life, and in parting with you I have the highest regard for all. I shall never cease to take an interest in you future welfare, and you may rest assured that the bond of brotherhood that has existed between us for so long a time may not easily be forgotten.

Comrades, you can go to your homee with the happy consciousness that you have done your duty to your country and yourselves; and when you again assume the privileges and responsibilities of citizenship, be as unflinching in defending the sacred Temple of Liberty with the ballot ae you have with the bullet, and all will be well

May God bless and protect you,

H. F. DEVOL,

Col. and Brev. Brig. Genll, U. S. V.

The regiment, during its entire term of service, had a most excellent drum corps. The first half of the time in charge of Chief Musician Ebenezer Corey, the remainder in charge of Chief Musician John Tenney.

If space would permit, an individual mention of every officer would be but justice; each one having an honorable record of patriotic deeds, which were wrought out with great personal sacrifice, not one having the slightest stain. They cherished toward each other throughout only the kindest feelings; no jealousy, no rivalry, or anything that ever marred the fellowship of the true and noble brotherhood.

COMPANIES B AND F, THIRTY-NINTH OHIO VOLUNTEERS.

REGIMENTAL OFFICERS.

Colonel John Groesbeck, mustered August 24, 1861, resigned July 8, 1862; Colonel A. W. Gilbert, July 8, 1862, resigned October 1, 1862; Colonel Edward F. Noyes, October r, 1862, honorably discharged April 22, 1865; Colonel Daniel Webber, May 18, 1865, mustered out with regiment; Lieutenant Colonel A. W. Gilbert, July 27, 1861, promoted to colonel July 8, 1862; Lieutenant Colonel Edward F. Noyes, July 8, 1862, promoted to colonel October 1, 1862; Lieutenant Colonel Henry T. McDowell, October 1, 1862, mustered out; Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Webber, February 10, 1865, promoted to colonel; Lieutenanl Colonel William C. Buck, May 18, 1865, mustered out as captain May 18, 1865; Lieutenant Colonel Henry A. Babbitt, June 6, 1865. mustered out with regiment; Major Edward F. Noyes, July 27, 1861, promoted to lieutenant colonel; Major Henry T. McDowell, July 8, 1862, promoted to lieutenant colonel; Major William H. Lathrop, October 1, 1862, colonel Third Alabama colored regiment April 20, 1864; Major John S. Jenkins, April 25, 1864, mustered; Major Daniel Webber, January 11, 1865, promoted to lieutenant colonel; Major Henry A. Babbitt, May 18, 1865, promoted to lieutenant colonel; Major George T. Rice, June 6, 1865, mustered out with regiment; Surgeon Oliver W. Nrxon, August 20, 1861, resigned May 31, 1862; Surgeon Thomas W. McArthur, May 31, 1862, resigned September 3, 1862; Surgeon John A. Follett, September 3, 1862, mustered out with regiment; Assistant Surgeon Thomas W. McArthur, August 20, 1861, promoted to surgeon; Assistant Surgeon Christian Forrester, May 31, 1862, promoted to surgeon September 3, 1862; Assistant Surgeon Pierre S. Starr, December 13, 1862, mustered out with regiment; Assistant Surgeon Lionel J. Smith, September 5, 1862; Assistant Surgeon William J. Andrews, May 18, 1865, mustered out with regiment; Chaplain Benjamin W. Childaw, August 2o, 0361, resigned April 9, 1862.

COMPANY OFFICERS FROM WASHINGTON COUNTY.

Captain John C. Fell, mustered July 31, 1861, resigned April 12 1862; Captain Jacob Koenig, July 31, 1861, died; Captain William H. Pittinger, May 18, 1862, mustered out with regiment; Captain Ethan 0. Hurd, July 3, 1862, resigned March 3, 1864; Captain William C. Buck, May 9, 1864, promoted to lieutenant colonel; Captain George T. Rice, January 11, 1862, promoted to major; Captain William H. Mintun, January 11, 1862, mustered out with regiment; Captain William Benze, January it, 1862, mustered out; First Lieutenant William Edgerton, July 31, 1861, resigned June 15, 1862; First Lieutenant Ethan 0. Hurd, July 31, 1861, promoted to captain; First Lieutenant Henry W. Sheppard, February 8, 1862, resigned June 10, 1862; First

Lieutenant William C. Buck, June 15, 1862, promoted to captain; First Lieutenant August Kropp, July 3, 1862, resigned April 1, 1864; First Lieutenant George T. Rice, May 9, 1864, promoted to captain; First Lieutenant Ely Steen, January 11, 1865, mustered out with regiment; First Lieutenant Alexander McTaggert, February 10, 1865, resigned June 20, 1865; First Lieutenant William Snodgrass, May 18, 1865, discharged July 1, 1865; First Lieutenant Frank Fortman, July 20, 1862, resigned September 15, 1862; First Lieutenant William Benze, May 15, 1862, promoted to captain; First Lieutenant William H. Pittinger, January 11, 1865, promoted to captain; First Lieutenant Barney Shults, February 10, 1865, mustered out with regiment; Second Lieutenant Henry W. Sheppard, July 31, 1861, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant William C. Buck, March 19, 1862, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant George T. Rice, June 15, 1862, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant Alexander McTaggart, July 11, 1865, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant William Snodgrase, Frbruary 14, 1865, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant Daniel Otterbein, May 18, 1865, mustered out with regiment; Second Lieutenant Buelt Congdon, May 18, 1865; Second Lieutenant Charles Miller, July 31, 1861, resigned June 16, 1862; Second Lieutenant Frank Fortman, July 18, 1862, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant William Benze, June 20, 1863, promoted to first lieutenant. Second Lieutenant Barney Shultz, July 11, 1865, promoted to first lieutenant.

The regimental organization was perfected August 16, 1861, at Camp Dennison, Ohio; ordered to St. Louis, Missouri, where they arrived August 19th; moved up the North Missouri railroad September 7th. September 12th, the regiment was divided, companies A, B, E, I and K, going toward St. Joseph. This detachment remained in northern Missouri until February, 1862. Companies A and I marched from St. Joseph to Liberty in pursuit of the enemy and back to St. Joseph, in September, then moved by rail to Chillicothe, when they

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, OHIO - 207

rejoined B, E and K. These five companies marched from Chillicothe to Macon City, thence to St. Joseph and Chillicothe and back to Macon City and St. Joseph, at which latter place they arrived December 4, 1861. On the fifth of December they marched under Brigadier General Prentiss toward the Missouri river, reaching it at Lexington; proceeded to Carrolton and returned to Utica December 8, 1861. December loth, moved to Palmyra, Missouri, and remained there until the middle of February, 1862, when the detachment moved by rail to St. Louis. Companies C, D, F, G and H, moved from Utica, Missouri, as part of the command of Brigadier General Sturgess to the relief of Lexington, which place was then besieged by the enemy under General Price. Arrived in sight of Lexington September 19th, but finding it impossible to cross the river, and haying no artillery, the relieving force diverged and marched to Liberty, when they embarked on steamers for Kansas City, Missouri, October 15th, still under General Sturgess, took up line of march for Springfield, Missouri, by way of Osceola, Bolivar and Greenfield. Arrived at Springfield November 1st, having marched on that day thirty-nine miles, to reenforce General Fremont's grand army, which was reported to be in the presence of the enemy. On the ninth of November marched towards the Missouri river, reaching Sedalia by way of Warsaw November 16th, and by December 18th, reached Syracuse. February 2, 1862, took up line of march for St. Louis, by way of Boonville, Columbia, Fulton and St. Charles, and arrived at St. Louis February 19, 1862, when the entire regiment was reunited. The regiment embarked on steamer February 2d, and arrived at Commerce, Missouri, on the twenty-fourth, and at New Madrid March 3d, when the regiment formed a part of Groesbeck's brigade, Stanley's division of General Pope's army of the Mississippi. During the next ten days made several reconnoissances and took part in the siege of New Madrid, March 13th and 14lh. Assisted in the capture of the place March 14th, crossed the Mississippi April 7th, and on the 8th, in conjunction with other troops, captured five thousand and five hundred prisoners at Tiptonville, being the rebel force from Island No. 10. On same day marched to Island No. 10, and on the ninth returned to New Madrid. April 13th embarked on steamer to go down the river, arrived near Fort Pillow on the fifteenth, started for Pittsburgh Landing on the seventeenth, where the command arrived on the twenty-third, and disembarked. During the siege of Corinth from April 23d to May 29th, the regiment made many reconnoissances and was frequently engaged in skirmishes with the enemy. On the thirtieth they advanced upon the rebel works, found them deserted, and the Thirty-ninth was the first regiment to enter the entrenchments. For several days they pursued the rebels, and on the twelfth of June returned to Clear creek, four miles south of Corinth, and went into camp, where the regiment was armed with the Whitney rifle with sabre bayonet. August loth, marched to Iuka under General Rosecrans and returned on September 12th. On September 14lh the movement against General Price, who had occupied Iuka, began, and on the nineteenth they were engaged in the battle of Iuka, which was a bloody contest, resulting in a defeat to the enemy. They pursued the rebel forces several days and then turned back and reached Corinth October 3rd. The Thirty-ninth, in the dispositions for the great battle impending at that point, was stationed near Fort Robinet. After dark the Ohio brigade, which consisted of the Twenty-seventh, Thirty-ninth, Forty-third and Sixty-third Ohio regiments, marched to relieve one of the brigades of General Davie's division, which had been resisting the enemy's advance in front. The Ohio brigade was ordered to occupy the high ground near battery Robinet. Near the crest was formed the line of battle. Directly on the right of the earthwork covering the battery and stretching across the Chewalla road, stood the men of the Sixty-third, next came the Twenty- seventh and farther still to the right was the Thirty-ninth regiment. On the left of the battery facing to the left and nearly at right angles with the main line, rested the Forty-third.*

The locality above mentioned was the scene of the desperate charge of October 4th, in which the Twenty- seventh, and especially the Sixty-third regiment, lost heavily, the Thirty-ninth escaping with slight loss, and the enemy were terribly punished and routed. The Thirty-ninth followed in pursuit of Van Dorn and Price for four days, and on October 12th returned to Corinth, where they remained until November d, and marched southward to a point five miles south of Oxford, Mississippi. On December 18th they moved by rail to Jackson, Tennessee, to reenforce General Sullivan, who was hard pressed by General Forrest's command. They then, on December loth, moved toward the Tennessee river, and took part in the battle of Parker's Cross Roads, defeating Forrest there on December 31st. General Fuller says of this engagement, which was so overshadowed by the great battle of Stone River, in progress at the same time, that it never received adequate notice:

Colonel Dunham, of Indiana, was sent ahead with a brigade to intercept Forrest's march at Parker’s Cross Roads, and the Ohio brigade was to follow the next morning. At four o'clock we started, and marched until daylight, when a halt was made for breakfast. That over, we moved on, and soon the sound of cannon in our front advised us that Forrest was attacking Dunham’s brigade, and then began a struggle in which legs told. Within an hour and a half they marched seven miles without a halt, with ranks well closed; and when a hill was reached whence Forrest's men and guns were seen, the Ohio brigade formed in line of battle on the double-quick, and went down for them with such good will that every rebel gun unlimbered and in action was ours in five minutes, and Forrest’s forces were galloping away— not all, however, for many had dismounted in the fight, and their horses left in the rear were captured and their riders surrendered. Six guns, four hundred horses, and three hundred and sixty officers and men were captured. This was quite an achievement, for Forrest was not beaten every day.

January 8, 1863, the regiment returned to Corinth, having marched over two hundred miles in three weeks, without Government rations, transportation, or ambulances. The regiment remained at Corinth until April

From address of General John W. Fuller at the reunion of the Ohio brigade at Columbus, Ghio, October 3, 1878, further extracts from which will be found in the history of the Sixty-third regiment.

208 - HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, OHIO.

20th, when it moved with the expedition under General Dodge to the Tuscumbia valley, for the purpose of keeping the rebels busy in that direction while another expedition cut the railroads in the rear of General Bragg's army. General Dodge was confronted by the rebel forces under Forrest and Roddy, and on the twenty-eighth the regiment was engaged in the battle near Tuscumbia, defeating the rebels. They then marched sixteen miles beyond Tuscumbia, returned to Corinth May 2nd, and marched to Memphis, Tennessee, on May loth. Here the regiment was allowed to rest and recuperate. General Fuller says:

When Grant directed everything at Memphis to come to him at Vicksburgh, the Ohio brigade was ordered to march and garrison the former city. This was your single "soft spot" of the war. Excepting this, your lot was always at the front; but here for some months you lounged in camp, guarded the gardens, first with the ladies, and seldom missed a "good square meal."

The regiment up to this time had lost, in killed and wounded and discharged, since its organization, about three hundred men, and had recruited about two hundred, and had an aggregate of eight hundred and thirty ready for duty.

The regiment remained in Memphis until October x 8th, when they went to Prospect, Tennessee, marching a distance of two hundred and fifty miles, and arriving there November 13th. Here they lay encamped until the twenty-seventh of December, when the regiment reenlisted as veterans, and returned home on furlough for thirty. days. "The measured tread of an army, keeping step, is heard; and that wondrous scene unfolds, which the whole world beholds—the marshalling of the veteran hosts! The soldiers of the ranks stand forth! . . 'Muster us again! for all the war muster us in!' From that patriotic hour was the doom of the Rebellion sealed."*

The Thirty-ninth regiment furnished more veterans than any other Ohio regiment. The Ohio brigade stood as follows: Thirty-ninth, five hundred and thirty-four men; Sixty-third, four hundred and fifty-five; Forty-third, four hundred and thirty-six; and the Twenty-seventh, four hundred and thirty-seven men.

At the expiration of the furlough the regiment returned to its former camp at Prospect, Tennessee, and from thence they moved on Decatur, Alabama. The town was captured by a night movement. The brigade was embarked above in seventy boats, which, with muffled oars, silently stole down until opposite, when, by the left flank, they were soon on shore, up the bank, and in line. The rebels, after exchanging a few shots, retired, completely surprised and defeated.

On May 1, 1864, the regiment marched to join General Sherman's grand army at Chattanooga. Here the great Atlanta campaign was commenced. Meeting the enemy at Resaca, the Thirty-ninth was, on May 13th, 14th, and 12th, in the front line of battle driving the rebels to their trenches with a loss of two men.

At Dallas, Georgia, on the twenty-seventh, they again met the enemy, driving him from his position, in which General Fuller's address before the Ohio brigade. engagement the loss by the regiment was severe. The rebel army was next encountered at the base of Kennesaw mountain. Heavy skirmishing began on the thirteenth of June, in which the Thirty-ninth was constantly engaged during the several days' fighting, losing severely in killed and wounded. The rebels were finally compelled to leave their stronghold.

On July 4th the enemy was again encountered at Ruff's Mills, when the Thirty-ninth, together with the Twenty-seventh, made a gallant charge on the enemy's works, driving them out in confusion, and not giving them time to remove their dead and wounded, and capturing quite a number of prisoners. This engagement is known also by the name of Nicojack Creek. The colonel of the regiment, E. F. Noyes, lost a foot in lhis action and never joined the regiment afterwards.* Company B lost four severely wounded.

The rebels retreated, and the National army pursued until they were finally driven into their devoted city, Atlanta, around which scenes of terrible slaughter were soon to be enacted.

On July 22, 1864, the regiment together with the Twenty-seventh Ohio was ordered to a responsible position in the line of battle of that memorable day, and they held it.

"The men were directed to unsling knapsacks, fix bayonets, and lie down on the crest of the ridge, where the line was formed, for protection from the fire of the enemy which came from the wood in front. The Second division had formed a line conforming in the main to that of the Twenty-seventh and Thirty-ninth, on a parallel ridge to the left of the Thirty-ninth, but separated from that regiment by a deep transverse ravine The enemy charged the Second division within a few minutes and were repulsed.

"Immediately afterward his ling of battle came out of the timber in front of the Thirty-ninth and Twenty-seventh regiments, advancing in plain view and within easy range, when individual men of both regiments raised to their feet and taking deliberate aim discharged their pieces. No order could keep them down with such an opportunity to use their muskets effectually. In less time than it takes to relate it, both regiments were on their feet discharging their pieces with rapidity and telling effect on the foe; yet on he came until the Thirty-ninth and Twenty-seventh charged him in turn, driving him from the field into the wood. Meanwhile another body of the enemy in line of battle came out of the wood to the right of the Twenty-seventh, bearing down on its flank and rear. General Fuller directed that the three right companies of the regiment be retired to face this second assault. This was done, but it soon became evident that a change of front to the rear of the entire line was necessary. This change was make under a hot fire. In executing this movement, necessarily made wilh celerity and under trying condilions, in the face of a defiant and rapidly advancing foe, the Twenty-seventh became somewhat disordered; and my thanks ate due to General

* He is, at this writing, Minister to France.

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, OHIO - 209

Fuller for his timely assistance in forming the new line. He grasped the colors of the Twenty-seventh and with them designated the ground he wished the new line to occupy. The line was promptly formed there; several volleys fired by the Twenty-seventh and Thirty-ninth Ohio regiments, Eighteenth Missouri and Sixty-fourth Illinois (the latter two regiments until then in reserve), followed by a charge again drove the enemy from the field. The line now laid down facing the wood which was on its right flank in the beginning of the battle, under a raking fire from the timber for an hour or more, when the enemy retreated and the greatest battle of the campaign was over. This was a stand up open field fight, with only such protection as the muskets and bayonets afforded."*

This stubborn resistance in this part of the field saved the left wing of Sherman's army from defeat; the old Thirty-ninth and Twenty-seventh stood as an impenetrable wall in front of the enemy, not giving an inch of ground and repelling several distinct charges by the rebels. Our artillery, supported by the Ohio brigade, poured into the rebel columns closed en masse, their deadly fire, musketry, grape, and canister, causing them to melt away like dew before the morning sun, leaving the National forces the victors of the field. The Thirty- ninth lost one hundred and forty-four killed and wounded.

The regiment then moved to the west side of Atlanta, forming the right wing, where on the twenty-eighth of July another severe battle was fought in which the Thirty-ninth participated, repulsing the enemy with great loss. Thus almost every day the regiment was engaged in skirmishing until the final evacuation of the city, which occurred on the second of September, 1864, and in the meantime they marched to Jonesborough fifteen miles south of Atlanta, destroying ten miles of the Montgomery railroad while on the way. At the latter place we again met the enemy in force and repulsed him with great loss, driving him so far south as Lovejoy's Station. In all these movements the Thirty-ninth performed a conspicuous part. They then returned to Atlanta, where they enjoyed a rest of about thirty days. In the meantime Hood, with his army, had got in our rear, destroying our communications with Chattanooga and investing our stronghold at Allatoona Pass. General Corse commanded at that point and had one thousand nine hundred and forty-four men, the rebel general, French, many times that number. The rebels came on in full force and charged lhe devoted garrison, but were driven back with the loss of hundreds, still assault after assault was delivered with same result, while the Twenty-third corps, under General J. D. Cox, were hastening to the rescue,. and flags conveying from peak to peak, the message from General Sherman to General Corse to "hold the fort," and "that he was coming with reenforcements." Sherman on learning that Corse was there, exclaimed, "He will hold out ! I know the man!" and he did hold out, though seven hundred and seven (more than a third) of his men had fallen, when the enemy desisted, leaving two hundred and thirty-one dead and four hundred and

*Address of General M. Churchill, late Colonel of the Twenty- seventh regiment, at the reunion of the Ohio brigade.

eleven prisoners and eight hundred muskets on the field.

The Thirty-ninth was in the front during the pursuit of Hood, being the first regiment in the Ohio brigade commanded by General J. W. Fuller.

The rebels were driven across the Tennessee to be left to the tender mercies of General George H. Thomas, while Sherman made all haste to get ready for his "march to the sea." The regiment now no longer in the Ohio brigade, but in the First division of the Seventeenth Army corps, on the fifteenth of November, took up its line of march with that corps, down to the sea, with Sherman. They destroyed the railroads as they went, meeting with but little opposition until they arrived in front of Savannah on the ninth of December, making a distance of three hundred and fifty miles from Atlanta. Here they found the rebels strongly fortified, with Hardee in his last ditch. After opening communication with the sea by way of the St. Catharine sound, taking Fort McAllister on the way, and having several days' hard fighting around the city of Savannah, in all of which the Thirty-ninth participated, the rebels evacuated the city on the twenty- first of December, and it was immediately occupied by the National army.

About the middle of January, 1865, the Thirty-ninth embarked with other troops on transports, and went to Beaufort, South Carolina, and assisted in driving the rebels from their stronghold at Pocotaligo Station twenty- five miles northwest from Beaufort.

On the first of February the Thirty-ninth, with the other forces of the grand army, took up its line of march through the Carolinas, wading swamps and fighting the enemy from place to place. On the fourth of February they engaged the enemy at Revers bridge, repulsing him with severe loss, the Thirty-ninth losing two killed and three wounded.

Continuing the march they struck the Augusta & Charleston railroad at Mrdway station, moving on that road to Columbia, thence north to Waynesborough, thence east to Cheraw, driving the enemy before them and capturing at that point a large amount of ammunition and artillery, thence marched to Fayetteville, North Carolina, thence to Bentonville, where a severe battle was fought March 21st, in which the First division, Seventeenth army corps, was hotly engaged, the Thirty-ninth being in the centre of the brigade on the right of the line of battle. They firmly held their ground, while those on the right and left gave way, leaving both flanks exposed to a raking fire. The brigade finally formed in the shape of a horse shoe and succeeded in repulsing the enemy. The brigade then moved to a stronger position, lay on their arms all night and in the morning were ready to resume the fight, but the enemy was gone. The next day they moved to Goldsborough. Our loss in this engagement was twenty- three killed and wounded.

Here they rested until April Loth, when they resumed the line of march toward Raleigh, and arrived there on the fifteenth. and went into camp two miles west of the city, enjoying a few days of rest. We then joined in the pursuit of the rebel forces under General Johnston. After marching fifteen miles a proposal was received by

210 - HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, OHIO.

General Sherman to surrender the rebel forces, which was finally consummated, and we again returned to Raleigh. We then marched to Richmond, the late rebel capital, a distance of one hundred and eighty miles, in seven days, and from there to Washington city.

After participating in the grand review of all the armies by President Lincoln, the heads of departments, diplomatic corps, and a large number of distinguished officers of the army and navy, and an immense throng of rejoicing citizens, the Thirty-ninth moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where it was mustered out of the United States service on July 9, 1865, the war being over.

Engagements in which the Thirty-ninth regiment participated:

New Madrid, Missouri, March 7, 10, and 13, 1862; Island No. 10, April 8, 1862; Farmington, Mississippi, May 8 and 9, 1862; Corinth, Mississippi, May 28 and 29, 1862; Iuka, Mississippi, September 19, 1862; Parkers Cross Roads, Tennessee, December 31, 1864; Resaca, Georgia, May 13 and 14, 1864; Dallas, Georgia, May 31, 1864; Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia, June 18, 23, 26, and 27, 1864; Ruffs Mills, Georgia, July 4, 1864; Atlanta, Georgia, July 22, 29 and 30, 1864; Savannah, Georgia, December 10, 1864; Rivers Bridge, South Carolina, February 4, 1865; Bentonville, North Carolina, March 21, 1865.

The Thirty-ninth regiment marched three thousand five hundred and twenty-one miles, by rail two thousand six hundred and eighty miles, by steamboat two thousand four hundred and five miles, total, eight thousand six hundred and six miles.

SIXTY-THIRD OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.

REGIMENTAL OFFICERS.

Colonel John W. Sprague, mustered January 23, 1862, promoted to brigadier general volunteers; Colonel Charles E. Brown, June 6, 1865, on detached duty at muster out of 1egiment; Lieutenant Colonel William E. Gilmore, October 17, 1861, resigned July 17, 1862; Lieutenant Colonel Alexander L. Haskin, July 17, 1862; Lieutenant Colonel J. Hunter Odlin, March 20, 1863! Lieutenant Colonel Charles E. Brown, March 20, 1863, promoted to colonel; Lieutenant Colonel Oscar L. Jackson, June 6, 1865, mustered out with regiment as major; Major Alexander L. Haskins, October 1, 1861, promoted, and honorably discharged March 20, 1863; Major J. Hunter Odlin, October 1, 1862, resigned January 3, 1863; Major John W. Fouts, January 1, 1863, mustered out; Major Oscar L. Jackson. January 28, 1865, promoted to lieutenant colonel; Surgeon Isaac L. Crane, October 7, 1861, resigned January 28, 1863; Surgeon Arthur D. Monahan, January 28, 1863, mustered out July 21, 1865; Assistant Surgeon Arthur D. Monahan, November 7, 1861, promoted to surgeon; Assistant Surgeon J. 0. Marsh, August 21, 1862, resigned October 2, 1862; Assistant Surgeon John B. McDell, March 11, 1863, resigned May 31, 1865; Chaplain B. S. Fry, February 13, 1862, mustered out September 27, 1864, at expiration of term.

COMPANY OFFICERS.

Captain John W. Fouts, October 28, 1861, promoted to major; Captain Christopher E. Smith, October 26, 1861, resigned December 22, 1862; Captain Rodner K. Shaw, December 20, 1861, resigned August 30, 1862; Captain Charles J. Titus, December 20, 1861, resigned June 8, 1862; Captain 0. W. Pollock, June 18, 1862, mustered out with regiment; Captain George Wightman, August 11, 1862, discharged October 10, 1864; Captain Winslow L. Bay, January 1, 1863, mustered out with regiment; Captain A. C. Fenner, October 4, 1864, mustered out with regiment; Captain George B. Bartlett, November 12, 1864, mustered out with regiment; Captain M. A. Stewart, November 12, 1864, declined promotion; Captain Madison Hoon, June 28, 1865, mustered out with regiment; First Lieutenant Wesley J. Tucker, October 28, 1862, resigned June 18, 1862; First Lieutenant Henry S. Burt, December 20, 1861, detailed on staff duty; First Lieutenant 0. W. Pollock, December 26, 1861, promoted to captain; First Lieutenant Louis Schmidt, February 13, 1862, resigned August 24, 1864; First Lieutenant Richard B. Cheatham, June 18, 1862, died July 18, 1863; First Lieutenant A. C. Telmer, August 11, 1862, promoted to captain; First Lieutenant George B. Bartlett, July 28, 1863, promoted to captain; First Lieutenant A. J. Howard, August 11, 1864, declined promotion; First Lieutenant M. A. Stewart, September 26. 1864, returned commission, mustered out; First Lieutenant Angus McDonald, September 26, 1864, promoted to captain; First Lieutenant Wallace S. Roach, September 26, 1864, returned commission; First Lieutenant Madison Hoon, October 4, 1864, promoted to captain; First Lieutenant Alexander H. Brill, January 20, 1865, mustered out with regiment; First Lieutenant Wallace C. Bay, January 20, 1865, resigned May 23; 1865; Second Lieutenant Robert Booth, October 1, 1861, resigned June 28, 1862; Second Lieutenant Benjamin Knight, November 12, 1861, resigned September 3, 1862; Second Lieutenant Lewis L. Grubb, February 13, 1862, resigned May 26, 1862; Second Lieutenant George B. Bartlett, May 16, 1862, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant Winslow L. Bay, January 30, 1862, promoted to captain; Second Lieutenant A. J. Howard, January 1, 1863, honorably discharged November 9, 1864; Second Lieutenant M. A. Stewart, January 1, 1863, mustered out; Second Lieutenant Angus McDonald, July 18, 1863, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant Wallace S. Roach, June 30, 1863, mustered out; Second Lieutenant Alexander H. Brill, November 12, 1864, promoted to first lieutenant.

THE SIXTY-THIRD OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.

The Sixty-third Ohio volunteer infantry was formed by the consolidation of a battalion of six companies raised at Camp Worthington, Chillicothe, with a battalion of four companies raised at Camp Putnam, Marietta.* It was originally intended for two regiments-the Twenty-second, to be raised under the direction of, and to be commanded by, Colonel William E. Gilmore, and the Sixty-third, to be raised under the direction of, and to be commanded by, Colonel William Craig, then quartermaster in charge at Marietta. In December, 1864 the call for troops to be sent to the front became so pressing that the order for consolidation came, and the two battalions were united; the Twenty-second furnishing companies A, B, E, H, I, and K; and the Sixty-third furnishing four companies raised in Washington county company C, commanded by Captain Christopher E. Smith; company B, commanded by Captain John W. Fouts; company F, commanded by Captain Charles J. Titus; and company G, commanded by Captain Rodney K. Shaw. The command of the regiment was given to Colonel Craig; William E. Gilmore was made lieutenant colonel, and Alexander L. Haskins major.

On the twenty-first of December, 1861, the regiment removed to Camp Dennison; and on the twenty-seventh of the same month it returned to Marietta, and encamped at Camp Tupper.

On the twenty-third day of January, 1862, Colonel Craig resigned, and the command of the regiment was given to Colonel John W. Sprague, formerly a captain in the Seventh Ohio. Colonel Sprague immediately took command, and proceeded to fit his regiment to enter the field by perfecting its drill and discipline.

On the eighteenth day of February, 1862, Colonel Sprague with his regiment was ordered to the field, and to report at Paducah, Kentucky. The regiment left

By this consolidation it became practicable to transfer, and by order of the war department, the Thirteenth Missouri regiment, composed mostly of Ohio men and officers, was transferred to the credit of Ohio, and became the Twenty-second Ohio volunteer infantry.

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, OHIO - 211

Marietta late in the evening of the eighteenth; six companies under the command of Colonel Sprague, on the steamer Bostona, No. 2, and four companies under command of Major Haskins, on the steamer T. J. Rattin. Marietta gave one of the best proofs of her sympathy and interest for the success of the Union cause by turning out en masse at the landing to witness their departure. On Saturday the twenty-second of February, the command reached Paducah and reported for orders. Having been armed and drilled in Camp Marietta, it was ordered to proceed to Commerce, Missouri, and report to General Pope, then organizing the army of the Mississippi at that point. The regiment reached Commerce on Sunday morning, the twenty-third of February, being the second regiment to arrive at the rendezvous. It immediately debarked, and encamped and occupied the cemetery on the high ground in the rear of the town. Later in the day it was joined by the Twenty-seventh, Thirty-ninth, and Forty-third Ohio volunteer infantry, its companions in the organization known as the Ohio brigade. These four regiments were brigaded together, and were made the First brigade in the First division of the army of the Mississippi. General Schuyler Hamilton commanded the division one day; the command was then given to General David S. Stanley, one of Ohio's brigadier generals.

From the twenty-third to the twenty-seventh of February the army was actually employed in the collection of stores, and the organization of the divisions. On the morning of the twenty-eighth the line of march was taken up for New Madrid, the Ohio brigade taking the advance. The army arrived in sight of New Madrid on the third day of March, and at two o'clock in the afternoon of that day the Sixth-third was first brought into action. It moved forward in line of battle with the same steadiness and precision that it would in review. Its first experience gave it the morale of veterans. For three hours it remained in its trying position, exposed to the artillery fire of the two forts and a fleet of six gunboats, without the opportunity of using their arms. Late in the afternoon the army retired out of range, and went into camp. The day had been a cold raw March day, and in the afternoon it began to snow. En route the army had been restrained from using fences, or in any manner foraging. The cold and exposure brought from headquarters the order to take the top rail, for campfires. In a short time the boys were comfortable around the blazing campfires, and in the morning it was found the army "was not fenced in."

The Sixty-third shared in all the fights in and around New Madrid previous to its capture. In the reconnaissance on the seventh of March it took an exposed position, and for a short time the upper fort had its range, and made its situation uncomfortable, fortunately without casualty.

On the thirteenth of March the Ohio brigade was made the infantry support of the siege batteries. The Sixty-third on the right, the Thirty-ninth on the left, well up to the batteries, and the Twenty-seventh and Forty-third in reserve. The troops were exposed to a constant artillery fire from the dawn until sunset, when the cannonading ceased. The troops remained in the trenches at night, exposed to a most terrific thunderstorm, without shelter or fires, the ground flooded with water. The dawn revealed the fact that the enemy had abandoned the forts, and retreated during the darkness.

The Ohio brigade was complimented in general orders for its gallantry, and was awarded the privilege to first enter and plant their banners on the captured forts. On the evening of the eighteenth day of March the Sixty- third was detailed to haul one of the heavy siege guns from the forts at New Madrid to Point Pleasant, fourteen miles below, and opposite Tiptonville in Tennessee. This arduous labor was performed between dark and daylight, the regiment dragging its heavy load over roads impassable for teams. The next morning the rebel fleet were surprised to find a battery opposite Tiptonville, their only line of communication with their garrison at Island Ten.* This severe labor and its attendant exposure permanently disabled many men.t The regiment returned to camp, and with the army awaited the action of the engineers in removing the obstructions from the bayou, for the passage of the gunboat fleet, and the transports.

On the morning of the seventh of April, 1862, the regiment with Stanley's and Paine's divisions of the army of the Mississippi, embarked on the transports to cross the Mississippi river, and were transported to the Tennessee shore, opposite the lower port. + The expedition took up its line of march down the Mississippi for Tiptonville, to intercept the enemy, if they should attempt to retreat. The route lay through muddy corn and wheat fields, with occasionally a strip of woods, having no semblance of roads. The marching was tedious, frequent halts were necessary, as the feet would gather more of Tennessee mud than a man was able to carry. Night came upon them in the fields, and they were compelled to bivouac in the field, and without campfires. The march was resumed at daybreak, and it reached Tiptonville in time to witness the surrender of the army that had garrisoned Island Ten, which had abandoned the forts, and attempted to escape by Tiptonville and the river. The expedition had been successful in intercepting and capturing them. The sixty-third proceeded immediately to Island Ten and occupied the enemy's abandoned quarters for the night. The next morning the regiment returned on the transports to New Madrid and occupied its old quarters. It had borne a conspicuous part in all of the work of the army of the Mississippi, resulting in the

*The first casualty in the Sixty-third occurred March 24th, the carelessness of a companion wounding Elisha Roberts mortally and George W. Essex seriously.

+James W. Nye served during the New Madrid campaign with the Sixty-third as acting quartermaster, and was present on the field during all the battles at that point, although never having been mustered; his name does not appear on the rolls.

++ The embarkation of the Ohio brigade on the expedition is illustrated in the second volume of Ohio in the War, page 253. The Sixty-third is upon the transport crossing the river. The Thirty-ninth are in the act of embarking at the upper fort, the last of the battalion ready to move on the transport when the picture was taken and the gunboat with steam up ready for action, abreast the upper fort.

212 - HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, OHIO.

capture of all of the forts on the Mississippi above Fort Pillow.*

On the thirteenth day of April, 1862, the regiment embarked on the transport Silver Wave, and moved with the army of the Mississippi to Osceola, Arkansas, and thence to Fort Pillow, and was present during the bombardment of that fort. On the seventeenth day of April, 1862, the army of the Mississippi, having received orders to reenforce the army of Tennessee, under Halleck, in front of Corinth, proceeded up the Mississippi and Tennessee rivers on the transports. On the twenty-third of April the Sixty-third landed at Hamburgh, Tennessee, four miles above the battle-ground of Shiloh. Stanley's division was posted on the left flank of the army, moving to the capture of Corinth, and during all the movement for its capture, the Sixty-third held its position, as the flanking regiment. It actively participated in all the reconnaissance and engagements in front of Corinth, including those at Monterey and Farmington. When the enemy moved out of Corinth on the thirtieth day of May, the Sixty-third moved out of the trenches in immediate pursuit of the retreating army. The Thirty-ninth Ohio, of our brigade, being the first to enter the rebel works, and Wallace Bruce, of Washington county, being the first to mount the works. The Sixty-third was kept in pursuit of Price's wing of the retreating army, six companies under Major Haskins proceeding to the Tuscumbia river on the Jacinto road, when it found the bridges burned, and was then recalled, and proceeded with the main body of the army in pursuit of Beauregard's army, to Boonville, the Ohio brigade having the advance of the infantry in this movement. + From Boonville, where the pursuit was abandoned, the regiment proceeded to Camp Clear Creek, near Corinth, and remained in camp at Clear Creek, Bear Creek, Iuka, and Burnsville.

On the seventeenth day of September, with Stanley's division, it participated in the battle of Iuka. After a" tedious and forced march it came upon the enemy at the beginning of dusk, immediately formed in line of battle, advanced, and opened "that steady fire that always distinguished it in action." It was just getting well into its work when darkness put an end to the fighting, and the two armies bivouacked upon the field. The pickets of the two armies were posted so near as to be able to communicate by ordinary conversation; and pickets of the Ohio brigade were so far advanced as to cover the captured guns of Niel's Eleventh Ohio battery, which the rebels had been unable to remove. The morning's dawn revealed an abandoned rebel camp, and Niel's battery was restored to its gallant owners. An active pursuit was taken up, and from that time until the third of October, 1862, when it entered Corinth, the

* The first slave ever manumitted under the order of President Lincoln, to manumit slaves escaping from the rebel armies to the Union lines, was a body servant of General Jeff Thompson, who came to the lines of the Sixty-third at New Madrid and was manumitted by order of General David S. Stanley. The manumitted contraband was afterward taken to Ohio by General Sprague.

+ During the time of the Sixty-third's service before Corinth the Eighth Wisconsin regiment was attached to Stanley's division, and the eagle, Old Abe, was a companion in arms of the boys of the Ohio brigade.

Sixty-third was with Rosecrans' army, beating the bush to find and engage the enemy.

The regiment took a most active and honorable part in the battle of Corinth on the third and fourth of October, 1862, and it there proved itself worthy of a place in the history of a county named after the father of our country, to know that she was well and ably represented by an organization performing its whole duty in every great contest during the war, that upon the group of colors of her regiments and batteries are found the names of every great battle of the war. In the battle of Corinth the Sixty-third did great service, and won for itself a place beside the Eighteenth, Thirty-sixth, Thirty-ninth, Seventy-seventh, and Ninety-second, Buell's and Huntington's batteries, and the First, Seventh and Ninth cavalry. The Ohio brigade took so important a part in the battle of Corinth, which would probably have been lost but for their terrific fight, that it deserves to be described at length. We here copy the admirable description of General John W. Fuller, read at the brigade reunion on the sixteenth anniversary of the battle:

On the morning of October 3d, just sixteen years ago to-day, the enemy attacked the division of General Davies at the outer line of works, the line constructed by the rebels when Sidney Johnson and Beauregard held possession of the town. Davies had been ordered there to retard the enemyls advance, until Rosy should be ready to let Van Dom come in. Van Dorn's superior strength enabled him to drive Davies from this line, but Davies' men fought stubbornly, and fell back over that two or three miles so slowly, that it was near night when they approached the outskirts of the town, and when reenforcements enabled Davies to stop the enemy's advance. After dark the Ohio brigade marched to relieve one of the brigades of Davies' division, and was ordered to occupy the high ground near battery Robinet. Near the crest was formed the line of battle. Directly on the right of the earthwork covering the battery, and stretching acrose the Chewalla road, stood the men of the Sixty-third; next came the Twenty-seventh, and farther still to the right was the Thirty-ninth regiment. On the left of the battery, facing to the left, and nearly at right angles with the main line, rested the Forty-third.

Let us go back through the intervening years, and in fancy place ourselves on the spot then occupied, and look again over that field which has since been famous. Before you, for three hundred yards, lie in confusion the few trees which have been felled to form a partial abattis. Beyond this stands the forest, and through both, leads, without obstruction, the road to Chewalla. To the right of the Thirty- ninth the line of battle is broken for three hundred yards, by an impassable swamp, beyond which we see the rising ground occupied by several brigades of our infantry, and on the extreme right, perhaps a mile away, the earthwork called Fort Richardson. Turning to look over your right shoulder, you may see what transpires in the streets of Corinth. Without changing your position you may, by looking over the other shoulder, see a part of the division of General McKean, and the redoubt called Battery Phillips, which form, the left of Rosecrans' line of battle. If you come to a right about, you see directly in rear the cut through the hirl where lies the Memphis railroad, and just over this, on still higher ground, stands Fort Williams. with a twenty pounder Parrot looking out of each embrazure. Your own batteries, company F, of Second United States, and company C, of First Michigan artillery, are ready for action on the high ground abreast of Fort Williams; all apparently so near, that but for their elevated position you might look down the cannons throats. Here you waited during the tong hours of the night of October 3d, and here you fought on the morning of the fourth.

The removal of Davies skirmish line, which by some mistake was not made known to us, permitted the enemy to advance so closely that, although hidden by the darkness, you could hear him planting his guns in the edge of the forest, not more than three hundred yards in our front; and during the night the commander of that battery (I think from New Orleans) reconnoitering the ground between his guns and your line, was quietly captured, mounted though he was, by Captain (since General) Brown, of the Sixty-third Ohio.

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It was a night of suspense and anxiety to all. We knew that General Hackleman had been killed, and we had seen General Oglesby carried to the rear, with a wound we supposed was mortal. Hundreds more, wounded during the dayls fight, had been borne to the hospitals, and the men of Davies' division, who had fought against great odds all day had been slowly driven back, seemed well nigh disheartened. You knew you had to meet an enemy not cnly strong and resolute, but who was also flushed with what he thought a victory. Hence you listened with anxiety to those sounds of preparation, so plainly heard from the hill, where, lying down without sleep, you waited for the assault. It seems strange, in view of the rapid and thorough mode of entrenching afterward acquired, that no attempt was made to fortify, especially since we now know how much superior the enemy was in numbers. But we had not then learned the use of spades.

With the earliest dawn of day, the rebel battery in front opens its fire. What a magnificent display! Nothing you had ever seen looked tike the flashes of those guns! No rockets ever scattered fire like the bursting of those shells! Not long, however, for as soon as there is light enough to aim, the twenty-pounder Parrots in Fort Williams suddenly belch forth and make the place occupied by the rebel battery so hot that it is hurriedly withdrawn. Yet not all, for one gun has been abandoned, and some venturesome boys of the Sixty-third Ohio, with others of the First United States infantry, run forward, and pull it into our lines by hand.* Then came fierce fighting between the skirmishers. The enemy had the cover of the woods, while our men crept from tog to log, in the endeavor to gain the better cover of the forest. Reenforcements to our skirmishers enabled them, after two hours' fighting to drive the rebels back, and gave the shelter sought; but not far off, the conformation of the ground was peculiarly fortunate forthe enemy. He could lie on the crest of a series of ridges and sweep everything in his front, scarcely exposing a man to view. Behind these ridges he was massing bis men for the assault.

About ten or eleven o'clock, our attention is diverted from the fierce skirmish in our immediate front by the advance of General Pricels divisions, which are moving out of the woods to our right front, and marching upon the troops and fort which form the right of Rosecrans' tine of battle. A splendid sight is that, ae one rebel brigade after another moves in fine style over the ground which our position overlooks so plainly. The attack is fierce, and we soon are shocked to see our line give way and retire into the very town. We notice, too, some of our batteries drawn out of position and rapidly pulled to the rear. The guns of Fort Williams, and of our own batteries directly in our rear, are all turned to the right, and an enfilading fire sweeps through the 1ebel hosts with an effect very plainly visible; but, though disordered somewhat, 1hey move on; fresh troops pour out of the woods, and we see the rebels rushing over the works on our right, and pouring into Corinth itself. A rolling fire is heard in the streets, and soon after the rebels begin to retire. They stand awhile at the works they had captured, but our boys are coming to the front again from the town. At this juncture, some regiments of Hamilton’s division, not previously engaged, are thrown forward on the extreme right, where, as finely aligned as if on parade, they are pouring a stream of lead into the rebel ranks. A little later, we say to each other, most joyously, "Our boys are driving them back again."

But a fiercer fire than ever opens on our own skirmish line, and a constant hum of bullets tells us that our turn is coming now; and it proves to be the rebel centre moving for the main attack upon the place we occupy. Looking through the trees before us, we plainly see the rebel banners and their attacking columns advancing. The Forty-third changes front forward on its right company, and the Eleventh Missouri is rapidly brought forward and held in reserve, just behind the Sixty-third Ohio. Our skirmishers are driven back Pell mall upon the line of battle; the artillery with us in Robinet, and the guns which play over our heads from the rear are firing rapidly, and some of your officers are running along the line ordering you to "Get down, and lie low, until they are close upon us." In another minute the head of a rebel column, coming along the Chewalla road, is seen near by, heading straight for the Sixty-third and Battery Robinet. Now you rise to your feet, and pour into the enemy that steady fire which fills the road with his dead, and seems to cause a halt; for, though the rear of his column moves steadily on, the head of it comes no nearer, but appears to melt away. But the enemy is firing too. Along the whole length of the Sixty-third, and portions of the Twenty-seventh and Forty-third, officers and men are falling fast.

Some scenes here witnessed, though almost as brief as if revealed by

* Company’s B and G.

a flash of lightning, are stamped indelibly upon our memories. Just where the Sixty-third adjoins the Twenty-seventh, three men go down together. One, inthe front rank, is lifting his arms high in the air and slowly sinking down. The man behind, and covering the first, drops as if a thunderbolt had struck him; while another turns around, and with a look of agony upon his face, and trying to walk to the rear, moves but a step and falls. Captain McFadden, of the Sixty-third, shouts out his first command in battle and is dead! Lieutenant Webb, of the Twenty-seventh, endeavors to repeat the order to "fire low," and while his mouth is opened wide, a bullet enters. He throws up his hands, and falling on his face is stilt forever! But the men not hit, heed nothing; they fire incessantly, and their faces black with powder, make noticeable their flashing eyes and eet teeth, so that they took like demons.

A minute later the column in the Chewalla road has disappeared, but a strong force a tittle farther to the west, is approaching the left of Robinet, and is making sad havoc in the ranks of the Forty-third. This regiment has hardly finished its manoeuvre of changing front, obstructed as is the field with logs and brush, and exposed moreover to a flank fire from the Chewalla road. A glance in their direction reveals a startling picture! Colonel Kirby Smith, commander of the regiment, is down, rider and horse together. Some men now raise him up; his face falls over towards us, and we see his cheek is red with blood. Lieutenant Heyl, the adjutant, trying to keep hie saddle, clutches his horsesis mane, but gradually looses grip, and before a comrade with outstretched arms can reach him, he is on the ground. A dozen more along the line drop in that instant, and the enemy’s fire, from front and flank, is so severe that for a moment a rout is feared; but only for a moment, for Swayne here takes command of the regiment and is steadying the line, and General Stanley, who rode over to the right when he thought that all the fighting was to be done there, gallops back in the nick of time to help. His coming at that critical moment seemed like the arrivat of reenforcements. And now this regiment takes sudden vengeance for its colonel’s fall; for they drive back with great slaughter, the force which approaches to the left of Robinet, and shoot every rebel who shows his head above the parapet or tries to climb through the embrasures of the battery, when the final effort is made very soon thereafter, to carry the work by storm.

While the Forty-third is thus engaged, Colonel Rogers, commanding the Texan brigade, rides out from the woods, and with his troops moves along the Chewalla road heading for the battery and the Sixty-third. Another moment, his horse is shot and he is coming along the road on foot. His leading color-sergeant falls, when Rogers, picking up the colors, continues to advance with flag in hand. A cloud of rebel skirmishers on either side of the road are firing heavily on the Sixty-third and left wing of the Twenty-seventh, until forty-eight per cent. of the men of the former regiment are killed or wounded, and the line is so much thinned that Colonel Sprague and I, standing behind, can look right through it, and distinctly see the advancing rebels, now close at hand.

I shall always recollect how well Sprague looked at that eventful moment. Tall, and commanding in appearance, with sword in one hand and pistot in the other, he stood as a painter likes to portray an officer in battle. I shall remember, too, looking at the face of the rebel Colonel Rogers, when not distant more than thirty yards, and noting the peculiar expression it bore. He looked neither to the right nor left, neither at his own men nor at mine; but with eyes partly closed, like one in a hail-storm, was marching slowly and steadily upon us; and there flashed through my mind this question, "Is he stupid with drink, or is he simply resolved to calmly meet a fate which he foresees?" Before there was time to answer to myself the question, the rebel column in the road seemed to gain some tremendous impetus from the rear, for it suddenly rushed on like a great wave, threatening to sweep into the gap which had been shot through the Sixty-third, and to carry the redoubt by storm. The supreme moment had now come; and I turned to give the signal to the Eleventh Missouri, in reserve, and close behind. The leader of this regiment, perhaps ten minutes earlier, had received his orders; they had been sung out over the heads of his men, so that every soldier in the ranks knew what was wanted, and there was no need to repeat them now. " Forward !" shouted the major, as the regiment sprang up, and I had to run to the right to let them pass. With a short quick step, and alignment perfect, they filled up the gap which the enemy's fire had made, charging the rebel column on the head. The Twenty-seventh, under Spaulding, which had lost heavily, yet still was full of fight, joined by the plucky remnant of the Sixty- third, rushed forward at the same moment, charging the column obliquely on its left flank, when in an instant the whole scene changed. Rogers, with many of his men, lay dead before us, and those who were

214 - HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, OHIO.

not prisoners, were flying back to the woods. * One moment, the rebels seemed to be swarming over us in thousands, our own lines looked thin and weak, we seemed threatened with destruction; the next, most of the living of the foremost rebels were our prisoners, a few hundreds, apparently, were running to the forest, while our boys seemed to have swelled into many thousands.

In the melee this banner of the enemy [pointing to a captured flag displayed in rear of the speaker], was captured by a private of the Twenty-seventh Ohio, Orrin B. Gould, of company G, who I am glad to see is here to-night. But there was one red flag, I think the banner briefly borne by Rogers, which escaped us as by a miracle. Some bold Texan had picked it up almost from beneath our feet, and throwing the staff across his shoulders, ran in a zig-zig manner for the woods. He dodged behind a log a moment here, then behind a stump there; he was fired at by twenty ,men or more and once, whether hit or not, tumbled headlong when striding a fallen tree. Yet he escaped with the limner after all; and as he passed over the ridge out of our sight, some of our boys who bad missed him, gave him the cheer that was due a hero.

An incident may here be mentioned of the Forty-third. When the rebels made their final effort to break through our lines, Lieutenant Robinet, of the battery, severely wounded in the head, fell senseless under one of his guns. At this, most of his men ran to the rear. A moment tater, some of the men of company A, of the Forty-third, entered the battery, and aided the few brave fellows who had stood their ground, to man the guns. The enemy was now retreating, and, in the excitement, a little drummer passed directly before the battery and jumped upon a log to see the rebels run. A piece had just been sighted and "ready, fire," followed before the little fellow was discovered. When the smoke cleared up, we saw that both his legs were torn away. Somehow there seemed a sting in the recollection that men of his own regiment had fired this shot. And now came Colonel Noyes, of the Thirty-ninth, who was so far to the right that this men could only get an oblique fire, asking permission to bring his regiment to the Chewalla road, where they could take a hand when the next assaul1 should come. Two minutes later, the regiment was across the road, but the battle was over.

That thrill of ecstasy which victory brings, was here intensified by an act of the commanding general. Rosecrans had lost his temper when the troops attacked by Price had temporarily given way, and had hardly time to become appeased by their subsequent good conduct. Still nursing his wrath, and having seen Van Dorn had met with a different reception at the hands of this brigade, he was disposed to extol the men who fought near Robinet, at the expense of those who had fallen back. So riding to the crest we occupied and pointing to the right, he said: "I have just come from a part of the field where some of our troops retreated tike old women; but now I know, not only from what I heard and what I saw from a distance, but also from these piree, of dead along your front, that I am in the presence of brave men! So brave that I take my hat otf in your presence, and thank you, in our country's name, for your great valor!" No soldier who heard these words will be likely to forget them, nor the appearance of Rosecrans as he addressed us, hat in hand.

The Sixty-third entered the fight with two hundred and seventy-five men. It held its line stubbornly during the whole fight, and lost six officers and one hundred and thirty-four men, killed and wounded. After the battle, the surviving half of the regiment joined in the pursuit of Van Dorn to Ripley, where the pursuit was abandoned and the regiment returned to Corinth. It remained in camp until the second of November, when it proceeded to join Grant's army. On the route it was reenforced by a battalion of the One Hundred and Twelfth Ohio, which had been consolidated with it, and its depleted ranks filled up. On the eleventh of December it went into camp at Oxford, Mississippi. Late in the evening of the sixteenth of December, the Ohio brigade received orders

* At the time the Eleventh Missouri came up, a clean gap had been shot away between the two wings of the Sixty-third, and eighteen men joined in the charge at the left of the Eleventh Missouri, and one hundred and twenty-seven between the Eleventh Missouri and the Twenty-seventh Ohio, and at the close of the charge the Sixty-third was the most advanced of the line and was requested to all hack and align with the Eleventh Missouri and the Twenty-seventh Ohio.

to proceed to the rear and protect the lines of communication of the army, from the attacks of Van Dorn, and Forrest's cavalry. On the seventeenth of December it moved by rail to Jackson, Tennessee. Ten days were spent in *marching and counter-marching, to intercept the enemy. On the twenty-seventh the regiment joined the command of General Sullivan. On the thirtieth of December Colonel Dunham with his brigade was sent to intercept Forrest at Parker's Cross Roads, and the Ohio brigade had orders to follow in the morning.

On December 31, 1862, at 4 o'clock A. M., the Ohio brigade moved out of its camp and marched until daylight, when it made a short halt for breakfast. Soon it is again on the move, in hunt of the raiders. Then the sound of revealed to them that Forrest and Dunham are engaged, and that they were needed in the fight. In a moment the orders were given, "Unsling knapsacks !" and the road for a mile, occupied by the brigade, was strewn with knapsacks. "Brigade forward, double quick, march!" Then began a march that was worthy of the name. The old brigade went to the front to the music of the battle, on its muscle. It went for the purpose of getting there before the battle was over—and it made its legs tell.

Within an hour and a half it marched seven miles without a hall, with the ranks well closed and at a sight of the enemy deployed in line of battle on the double- quick, and within five minutes it had put Forrest's force to flight, captured six guns, four hundred horses, and three hundred and fifty men.

This record presents one of the best contests made by an infantry against a cavalry force during the war, and fitly rounded up the service of the Ohio brigade for the year 1862. The regiment pursued Forrest's retreating force to the Tennessee river, and then marched back to Corinth over rough, frozen roads, without supplies, but subsisting upon forage gathered on the route. It arrived at Corinth on the ninth of January, and went into winter quarters. Their knapsacks had been gathered and brought into camp by train, and the scene when the soldiers reclaimed their effects was ludicrous beyond description.

When General Grant moved to Vicksburgh the Sixty-third was ordered with the brigade to garrison Memphis, and proceeded there May 16, 1863, and remained there until the eighteenth of October, 1863. This was the only garrison duty done by the Ohio brigade during the war. At the latter date, it left Memphis to join the forces moving to the relief of the army of the Cumberland. On the thirteenth of November it arrived at Prospect, Tennessee. At that place, on January 2, 1864, the regiment reenlisted as veterans, and returned to their homes in Ohio on furlough. The regiment reassembled at Columbus, Ohio, February 18th, and from that point returned to Prospect, Tennessee. Early in the spring the Ohio brigade crossed the Tennessee river, and dispersed the rebel force at Decatur, Alabama. At that point it remained until it moved to join in the Atlanta campaign.

In the Atlanta campaign the Sixty-third participated in

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the battle of Resaca, companies A, C, and H, deployed as skirmishers, were among the first troops to reach the river at that place. On the sixteenth of May, 1864, it crossed Oostenaula, and participated in the actions at Adairsville and in and about Dallas. It sustained an important part in all the movements to dislodge the enemy from Kennesaw mountain. After the evacuation of Marietta, Georgia, the Sixty-third, with Sprague's brigade, was the extreme left of the army; on the twentieth of July moved to Decatur, Georgia, and had charge of the baggage train of the army of the Tennessee, and the twenty-first it rested quietly in Decatur, without incident to disturb it. At noon on July 2d, when the battle of that date was at its height,* Wheeler's cavalry with several batteries of artillery made a furious attack on Sprague's brigade, intending to capture it and the train. In this fight that slender brigade had a hand-to-hand contest for three hours with a superior force of rebel cavalry, and succeeded in holding its ground and safely removing the train. The regiment lost heavily in officers and men. For his gallantry and the faithful work of his men in this fight, Colonel Sprague was made brigadier general, and Lieutenant Colonel Charles F. Brown and Captain, afterwards Lieutenant Colonel, Oscar L. Jackson were brevetted brigadier generals for gallantry in battle, and the regiment was complimented by special order for its gallantry. In this battle General Brown lost his leg while at the head of the regiment, and his adjutant, Fower, was killed. After the fall of Atlanta the regiment was in the battle of Jonesborough. At the close of the Atlanta campaign, the Sixty-third joined in Sherman's marched to the sea, sharing in all the dangers and privations of that campaign. It was engaged in the action at Oliver station, and participated in all the movements resulting in the capture of Savannah. It was at the front, and on the tenth of December, 1864, it charged across the Ogechee canal, under a heavy infantry and artillery fire, and obtained a lodgment on the Savannah side. The ground having been secured, the men stacked arms by running bayonets in the ground, removed their clothing and wrung it, and moved on to the fight; the enemy keeping up their artillery fire in the meantime. The Sixty-third entered the city of Savannah on the Twenty-first of December, and remained in and around Savannah until the first of February, 1865. At that date it moved northward, on the line of the Salkahatchee river, and on the third of February it was ordered to and made a gallant assault upon the fort at Rivers Bridges, which it was unable to reach by reason of the intervening river and swamps. At this point it remained in line of battle twenty-four hours, in water and ice from knee to waist deep, holding the enemy engaged in the fort until another force made a detour, crossed the river and turned the fort, when it was abandoned. It then proceeded northward and entered Columbia, South Carolina, on the seventeenth day of February. It continued its march with the army in a northeasterly direction, through the Carolinas; and it participated in the battle

* It was in this battle that McPherson fell, near the Thirty-ninth Ohio, in the lines of the Ohio

brigade.

of Bentonville, the last battle of the war, and sustained its well earned reputation. On the thirty-first day of March the regiment had a lively skirmish with the enemy. The Sixty-third had shared, and born a conspicuous part in all the great campaigns of the west, in Sherman's march to the sea, and in his campaign through the Carolinas. After the surrender of Johnston it proceeded northward from Raleigh by Petersburgh, Richmond and Fredericksburgh to Alexandria. Thus after sharing all the campaigns of the west, it had the privilege as a victor of marching over the battle-grounds of the east, where all the great campaigns of the army of the Potomac were fought—and in its marches it had tramped the whole battle-ground of the war. It had fought in the lines with the infantry, and hand-to-hand successfully with the Forrest and Wheeler cavalry.

At Washington it took part in the great review, the grandest spectacle that the world ever witnessed—a veteran army in triumph, passing their country's capital, bearing their torn and battle-scarred banners, the emblems of a free and united country, eager to lay down their arms, to follow the advice and example of Washington, and pursue the avocations of peace. From Washington the regiment proceeded by railroad to Parkersburgh, West Virginia, and thence by boat to Louisville, Kentucky, where it was mustered out on the eighth day of July, A. D. 1865. It was commanded successively by Colonel John W. Sprague, Charles E. Brown, Major John W. Fouts and Captain (afterwards Lieutenant-Colonel) 0. L Jackson. Its colonel was made major- general by brevet, and Colonels Brown and Jackson brigadier generals by brevet for gallantry in action. Of the colonel’s of the Ohio brigade, J. L Kirby Smith was killed, and Noyes, Swayne and Brown each lost a leg. Of its officers that became colonels of other regiments one officer deserves special mention. Surgeon Arthur B. Monahan was always conspicuous for his humane, gallant and soldierly bearing. Whenever his regiment was in action, Surgeon Monahan was at the front, and the unfortunate wounded received immediate care and attention. Thus was many a life saved by his untiring devotion.

The Sixty-third is proud that it was one of the regiments of a brigade that tramped the farthest of any in the army—a brigade that never turned its back to the enemy. It is proud of its battle flag* and colors, and their staves bearing the names of New Madrid, Island Ten, Farrington, Corinth, Iuka, Hatchie, Parker's Cross Roads, Decatur, Alabama, Resaca, Dallas, Kennesaw Mountain, Marietta, Decatur, Georgia, Siege of Atlanta, Jonesborough, Savannah, Rivers Bridges, and Bentonville, + Raleigh.

* Of the battle flag of the Sixty-third that was once composed of the beautiful blue silk, with a silk embroidered eagle with spread wings, there remains but the fringe that adorned it when new, and about one foot square of the flag, near the spear point of the staff. The colors, torn and rent, still bear the names of their first battles (the latter ones being inscribed on the staff), and are stained with the blood of one of the color bearers.

+The Sixty-third' in the Atlanta, Savannah and Carolina campaigns belonged to the first division of the Seventeenth army corps, army of the Tennessee. Its corps badge is an arrow legend "swift and certain."

216 - HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, OHIO.

COMPANY F, SEVENTY-THIRD OHIO VOLUNTEERS.

REGIMENTAL OFFICERS.

Colonel Orland Smith, mustered October 3, 1861, resigned February 17, 1864; Colonel Richard Long, February 17, 1864, resigned June 27, 1864; Colonel Samuel H. Hurst. July 13, 1864, not mustered, appointed colonel by brevet March 13, 1865; Lieutenant colonel Jacob Hyer, October 3, 1861, resigned June 21, 1862, brigadier general by brevet March 13, 1865; Lieutenant Colonel Richard Long, June 21, 1862, promoted to colonel; Lieutenant Colonel Samuel H. Hurst, February 17, 1864, promoted to colonel; Lieutenant Colonel Thomas W. Higgins, July 13, 1864, mustered out as major; Major Richard Long, December 20, 1861, promoted to lieutenant colonel; Major Samuel H. Hurst, June 21, 1862, promoted to lieutenant colonel; Major Thomas W. Higgins, November 5, 1862, promoted to lieutenant colonel; Major Thomas Lucas, July 13, 1864, resigned as captain September 11, 1864; Major Abishai Downing, July 17, 1865, mustered out as captain; Surgeon Jonas P. Safford, October 26, 1861, dismissed February 18, 1863; ...Surgeon Isaac N. Hines, December 31, 1862, mustered out at expiration of term; Surgeon John C. Preston, February x, 1865, mustered out with regiment; Assistant Surgeon Isaac N. Hines, October 26, 1861, promoted to surgeon February 1, 1863; Assistant Surgeon James Segafoor, August 15, 1862, resigned October 24, 1862; Assistant Surgeon William Richardson, March 18, 1863, resigned June 27, 1864; Assistant Surgeon John C. Preston, March 19, 1863, promoted to surgeon; Assistant Surgeon Smith D. Steer, February 1, 1865, mustered out with regiment; Chaplain Joseph Hill, March 13, 1862, resigned December 17, 1862; Chaplain James R. Stilwell, June 20, 1865; Adjutant Frederick C. Smith, December 26, 1861, died April 20, 1862; Adjutant John Spence, March 1, 1863, resigned May 16, 1864; Adjutant John B. Smith, June 1, 1865, mustered out with regiment; Quartermaster William D. Wesson, October 22, 1861, commissary of subsistence July 17,1862; Quartermaster Robert M. Rodgers, November 20, 1862, resigned November 5, 1863; Quartermaster William H: Eckman, May 11, 1864, resigned March 30, 1865, Quartermaster, James Earl, March 27, 1865, served full term.

OFFICERS OF COMPANY F.

Captain Thomas Lucas, November 20, 1861: promoted to major:. Captain George M. Doherty. January 1, 1863. died July 13, 1863; First Lieutenant Charles W. Stone, July 1, 1863, resigned July 5, 1864; First Lieutenant George M. Doherty, November 20,1861, promoted to captain; First Lieutenant John Burke, :March '28, 1865, served rue term; First Lieutenant James Ross, May x, 1865, served furl term; Second Lieutenant John Mitchell, November 20; resigned December 23, 1862; Second Lieutenant Charles W. Stone, December 23, 1862. promoted to first lieutenant.

In September, 1861, Captain Orland Smith of the "Chillicothe Greys" was invited to take the colonelcy of a new regiment proposed to be organized, and Jacob Hyer was tendered the lieutenant colonelcy ; both accepted, and the new organization became the gallant Seventy-third Ohio volunteer infantry. Company F of this regiment was raised mainly in old Washington county by Captain Thomas Lucas, and lacking sufficient men to raise it to the maximum number, he took the company to Chillicothe, where they were joined by a fragmentary company under George M. Doherty, who became first lieutenant, and John Mitchell, second lieutenant.

The other companies came from Ross, Highland, Pickaway, Jackson, Pike, and Athens counties. It is needless in the space allotted us to go into separate history of company F. Its history is so closely identified with that of the glorious old Seventy-third-that what we shall say of the regiment will include the company.

Few regiments had the fortune to participate in so many and so desperate engagements as this regiment. Starting as they did so early in the war and drifting almost at once into the great army of the Potomac, they soon became familiar with great armies, great battles and great commanders. Company F, was organized November 20, 1861, at Camp Logan near Chillicothe, and January 24, 1862, the regiment was ordered to West Virginia. Arriving at Fetterman, they there met the Fifty- fifth, Seventy-fifth, and Eighty-second Ohio regiments, also just entering active service. On the third of February, the Seventy-third and Fifty-fifth Ohio moved to New Creek, where they found three regiments of Virginia infantry, a battery and a detachment of cavalry. They engaged the enemy at Moorfield for the first time, February 13th and 14th, driving him out, and were then ordered to Clarksburgh, where they remained a month, when they went to Weston, where they remained three weeks, and then were ordered to cross the mountains and join Milroy, who took up a position at McDowell, near Bull Pasture river, where, on May 8th, was fought the battle of McDowell, in which the Union forces were outnumbered and compelled to retreat.

General Fremont soon took command of the "Army of the Mountains," and the Seventy-third joined its fortunes to that army at Franklin. On May 25th, General Fremont's army left for the Shenandoah valley to engage "Stonewall" Jackson, who was driving General Banks' army down the valley. Then followed the battle of Cross Keys, the retreat of the enemy and the return of Fremont to Strasburgh and finally to Middletown, the regiment had a chance to rest and recuperate. While here Fremont was superseded by Siegel, and the "Artily of the Mountains" became the First corps army of: Virginia. General Schenck was placed in command of the division; and Colonel N. C. McLean of the Seventy-fifth Ohio became commander of the brigade to which the Seventy-third . was assigned, including the Fifty- fifth; Seventy-third, Seventy-fifth and Twenty-fifth Ohio regiments: * On the seventh of July, they were in motion, and crossed the Blue Ridge, encamping on the eastern side at Sperryville. At the battle of Cedar Mountain, July 9th, the Seventy-third came up in the night, went into position in line of battle and awaited the dawn of day, to join in the engagement, but the enemy did not wait for them. August 24th, at the battle of Freeman's Ford, the Seventy-third supported the principal battery engaged in that famous artillery duel. At the second battle of Bull Run, August 28th and 29th the Seventy-third took a prominent part, going into the engagement with three hundred and twelve men and losing one hundred and forty-four killed and wounded, besides twenty prisoners, leaving one hundred and forty-eight for duty.

At the battle of Fredericksburgh, the regiment was held in reserve and did not participate. In January, 1863, they were again on the war path, this time with "Burnside stuck in the mud" in his memorable "mud march" on Fredericksburgh and masterly retreat.

General O. O. Howard now took command of the First corps, superseding General Siegel at his own request, and the corps name was changed to Eleventh corps army of the Potomac. General Barlow succeeded Colonel Smith in the command of the brigade. General Hooker now effected a thorough reorganization of the entire army, and armed and equipped them thoroughly. The work occupied the months of February, March and April, and the

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, OHIO - 217

army of the Potomac, one hundred thousand strong at that time seemed capable of sweeping everything before it.

Then came the battle of Chancellorsville, May d, and the disheartening "fall back" across the Rappahannock. Then the race between Lee and Hooker for the north, Lee seeking to out-march and distance Hooker, and the latter bent on heading him off. Meanwhile Mead superseded Hooker, and on July 2d the two great armies confronted each other at Gettysburgh, in which three days of tremendous engagements the Seventy-third lost half its number, among the rest Lieutenant G. M. Doherty, of company F. The regiment, with the rest of the victorious army now returned to Virginia.

September 24th the Eleventh and Twelfth corps were ordered to Bridgeport, Alabama, to reenforce the army of the Tennessee, and the whole force of twenty thousand men was transferred by rail in five days, arriving September 30th. They then marched up the Tennessee and joined General Thomas near Brown's Ferry. On October 27lh, at about midnight the enemy made an attack on General Geary and the Twelfth corps at Wauhatchie, Tennessee, and the Seventy-third with the division was ordered to their support. The Seventy-third and Thirty- third Massachusetts regiments being in advance, and coming onto the rebels charged up a steep and difficult hill, and upon arriving at the top were received with a deadly fire; but nothing daunted, they fixed bayonets and charged, driving the enemy in confusion from their entrenched position, breaking the rebel line, and compelling the entire attacking force to retire from Geary's position. Indeed, as soon as the Seventy-third Ohio and Thirty- third Massachuselts opened their fire the rebel fire on Geary's line fell off. The conduct of the Seventy-third on this occasion was characterized in the official dispatches of General Grant as "one of the most daring feats of arms of the war."

In the battle of Mission Ridge the Seventy-third formed a part of General 0. 0. Howard's corps that was pushed out on the left to make a junction with Sherman, and took position on the banks of the Chickamauga, on Sherman's exlreme left. Meanwhile Thomas and Hooker had made their famous charge and captured the ridge. On January 4th the regiment went home on veteran furlough.

Upon its return the Seventy-third regiment was assigned to the Third brigade (Wood's), Third division (Butterfield's), and Twentieth corps (Hooper's) army of the Cumberland. The Seventy-third took part in the great Alalanta campaign, and in the battle of Resaca so acquitted itself as to be complimented by the division commander for brilliant conduct.

In the battle of New Hope Church, they occupied the extreme left, and, though in an exposed position and suffering severely, held their position until nightfall, losing three officers and seventy-lwo men in killed and wounded.

Around Kennesaw Mountain the Seventy-third was in several severe engagements, losing heavily; in front of Marietta, Georgia, sixteen, and in another engagement nineteen men in killed and wounded. On June l0th, they engaged in the battle of Peach Tree Creek, losing

eighteen men. The rebels were now hotly besieged in Atlanta, and the Seventy-third was constantly under fire and in the front line of works. Upon the evacuation, two companies of the Seventy-third, forming part of a reconnaissance, were the first troops to enter the city. In this campaign of one hundred and twenty days, the regiment had been under fire one hundred and three days, and lost two hundred and ten men and eight officers out of less than three hundred and fifty.

On November 15th, they started with Sherman on his memorable "March to the Sea," being in the Twentieth corps, under General Williams, and, in the left wing, commanded by General Slocum. The regiment reached Savannah without firing a shot.

January 2, 1865, the regiment crossed the Savannah into South Carolina, and entered upon its last campaign. At the battle of Averysborough the Seventy-third engaged the enemy, losing fifteen wounded.

On Sunday, March 19th, they took part in the battle of Bentonville, the last engagement of the war, losing five men killed, and four officers and twenty-one men wounded.

After the march to Washington and the grand review, the Seventy-third was sent to Louisville, and on July loth was mustered out, and returning to Camp Dennison, Ohio, was there finally paid off and discharged July 24th, after a service of three years and eight months.

It was always in actual service, never at posts or guarding communications. It marched several thousand miles, participated in twenty battles, not to speak of numerous skirmishes. On three occasions, in connection with its brigade, its behavior in battle decided the fortunes of the day. Its discipline and drill were uniformly the subject of remark in its brigade and division. As proof of its gallantry and services, out of a little more than twelve hundred members, including 1ecruits, two hundred and eighty-five sleep beneath the sod, and five hundred and sixty-eight are now bearing about the scars of honorable combat, many of them crippled for life.'

CASUALTIES.

Killed in battle, 95; died of wounds, 61; died of disease, etc., 129; dead of the regiment, 285; wounded, not fatally, 568.

SEVENTY-SEVENTH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.

REGIMENTAL OFFICERS.

Colonel Jesse Hildebrand, mustered October 5, 1861, died April 18, 1863; Colonel William B. Mason, April 18, 1863, mustered out December 31, 1864; Colonel William E. Stevens*, March 7, 1866, mustered out as lieutenant colonel; Lieutenant Coloner Willis DeHass, October 5, 1861, dismissed February 16, 1864; Lieutenant Colonel William E. Stevens, March 19, 1864, promoted to colonel; Lieutenant Colonel Charles H. Morris*, March 7, 1866, mustered out as captain; Major Benjamin D. Fearing, December 17, 1862, appointed lieutenant colonel Ninety-second Ohio volunteer infantry, August 26, 1862; Major William B. Mason, August 26, 1862, promoted to colonel; Major Louis E. Sisson, March 19, 1864, mustered out December 10, 1864; Major Charles H. Morris, November 14, 1865, promoted to lieutenant colonel; Major Robert E. Smithson, March 7, 1866, mustered out as captain; Surgeon James W. Warfield, + February 3, 1862, honorably discharged May 15, 1864; Surgeon Andrew Wall, August 11, 1864, mustered out with regiment; Assistant Surgeon Pardon Cook, October 29, 1862, died August 31, 1863; Assistant Surgeon Andrew Wall, September 8, 1862, promoted to surgeon; Assistant Surgeon Yearsley H. Jones, September 17, 1864, mustered out December 31, 1864; Chaplain William Pearce, January 4, 1862, resigned August 31, 1862; Chaplain James T. Holliday, July 13, 1864, mustered out December 31, 1864.

+ Ohio in the War.

218 - HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, OHIO.

COMPANY OFFICERS.

Captain William E. Stevens, company A, November 23, 1861, promoted to major; Captain William B. Mason, B, December 2, 1861, promoted to major; Captain Louis E. Sisson, C, December 10, 1861, promoted to major; Captain Enoch W. Blasdell, D, December 12, 1861, resigned February 25, 1863; Captain Andrew Smith, + E, December 12, 1861, resigned February 5, 1863; Captain James H. Lutgen, : F. December 31, 1861, resigned March 16, 1864; Captain Andrew W. McCormick, G, December 31, 1861, brevet lieutenant colonel mustered out March 12, 1865; Captain Richard Fouraker, H, December 31, 1861, resigned September 1, 1862; Captain William P. Robinson, I, December 31, 1861, mustered out December 27, 1864; Captain Albert Chandler, K, January 4, 1862, mustered out January 3, 1865; Captain Isaac B. Kinkead, K, April 8, 1862, mustered out April 18, 1863; Captain Robert H. McKitrick, B, August 26, 1862, mustered out August 27, 1865; Captain Thomas Ross, H, September 2, 1862, dismissed March 29, 1864; Captain Thomas Garrett, + E, February 6, 1863, mustered out December 12, 1864; Captain Samuel S. McNaughton, D, February 25, 1863, mustered out January 16, 1865; Captain Charles H. Morris, A, April 18, 1863, promoted to major; Captain Thomas Mitchell H, March 19, 1864, resigned December 9, 1864; Captain William H, Fisher, K, March 29, 1865, mustered out as first lieutenant March 5. 1865; Captain William W. Scott, C, March 29, 1865, resigned December 1, 1865; Captain Robert E. Smithson, E, March 29, 1865, promoted to major; Captain Samuel Fulton," F, March 29, 1865, mustered out with 1egiment; Captain Robert H. Flemming, D, March 29, 1865, mustered out with regiment; Captain Henry L. Pugh, B, September 29, 1865, mustered out with regiment; Captain John L. McIntyre, E, November 54, 1865, mustered out with regiment as first lieutenant; Captain Leonard A. Marlow, C, December 30, 1865, mustered out with regiment; Captain Gordon B. West, E, March 7, 1866, mustered out as first lieutenant and regimental quartermaster; First Lieutenant Harvey Anderson, * A, November 23, 1861, resigned February 13, 1863; First Lieutenant Robert H. McKitrick, B, December 2, 1861, promoted to captain; First Lieutenant Thomast Mitchell, C, December 2, 1861, promoted to captain; First Lieutenant John Henricle, D, December 2, 1861, resigned September 20, 1862; First Lieutenant Thomas Garrett, E, December a, 1861, promoted to captain; First Lieutenant Hershel B. White, : F, December 2, 1861, discharged October 21, 1862; First Lieutenant Samuel S. McNaughton, G, December 2, 1861, promoted to captain; First Lieutenant William W. Scott, H, December 2, 1861, discharged August 31, 1862; First Lieutenant Horatio W. Mason, H, January 4, 1862, resigned March 6, 1862; First Lieutenant William West, regimental quartermaster, October 15, 1861, resigned June 5. 1862; First Lieutenant Thomas J. Cochran, adjutant, November 25. 1861, resigned October 6, 1862; First Lieutenant William H. Fisher, F March 6, 1862, promoted to captain; First Lieutenant Thomas Ross H, March 27, 1862, promoted to captain; First Lieutenant Edgar B Pearce, regimental quartermaster, June 5, 1862, mustered out December 31, 1864; First Lieutenant David F. Jones, B, August 26, 1862 mustered out December 10, 1864; First Lieutenant William P. Richner, * D, September 20, 1862, mustered out December 11, 1864; First Lieutenant Marion N. Burris, adjutant, October 6, 1862, resigned July 15, 1863; First Lieutenant Edward R. Moore, D, August 31, 1862, discharged August 1, 1863; First Lieutenant Hanson Criswell,+ E, August 2, 1862, resigned June 26, 1863; First Lieutenant David A. Henery, F October 31, 1862, resigned December 9, 1864; First Lieutenant William W. Scott, I, February 5, 1863, promoted to captain; First Lieutenant Charles A. Morris, A, February 13, 1863, promoted to captain: First Lieutenant Robert E. Smithson, G, February 25, 1863, promoted to captain; First Lieutenant Samuel Fulton, A, April 18, 1863, promoted to captain; First Lieutenant Charles J. Eagles, B, March 19, 1864, resigned December 9, 1864; First Lieutenant Henry L. Pugh, F, March 19, 1864. promoted to captain; First Lieutenant Robert H. Flemming, D, August 1, 1863, promoted to captain; First Lieutenant Nathan B. Smith, K, March 19, 1864, resigned as second lieutenant July 7, 1865, not mustered as first lieutenant; First Lieutenant John L. McIntyre, E, March 29, 1865. promoted to captain; First Lieutenant Leonard A. Marlow, C, March 29, 1865, promoted to captain; First Lieutenant Gordon B. West, G, March 29, 1865, promoted to captain; First Lieutenant Robert C. Berry, H, March 29, 1865, mustered out June 28, 1865; First Lieutenant Augustus McCarty, F, March 29,

1865, never mustered as lieutenant; First Lieutenant William W. Burris, C, March 29, 1865, mustered out with regiment; First Lieutenant Joseph M. Mitchell, A, March 29, 1865, mustered out with regiment; First Lieutenant William M. Atkinson, B, March 29, 1865, mustered out with regiment; First Lieutenant Benjamin T. Hill *. September 29, 1865, mustered out with regiment as first lieutenant and adjutant; First Lieutenant Henry H. Dye, November 14, 1865, resigned October 10, 1865. as second lieutenant; First Lieutenant William A. Day, E, November 16, 1865, mustered out with regiment as second lieutenant; First Lieutenant John Smith, I K, December 30, 1865, mustered out with regiment as second lieutenant; First Lieutenant Thomas Wiseman, C, December 30, 1865, mustered out with regiment; First Lieutenant James P. Daugherty, March 7, 1866, mustered out with regiment as second lieutenant; Second Lieutenant Joseph J. Steenrod, * A, November 23, 1861, killed April 8, 1862; Second Lieutenant David F. Jones, B. December 2, 1861, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant Marion N. Burris, C, December 10, 1861, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant Edward R. Moore, D, December 12, 1861, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant Hanson Criswell, I. E, December 12, 1861, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant Oliphant S. Thomas, G. December to, 1861, died May 31, 1862; Second Lieutenant David A. Henery, F, December 21, 1861, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant Levi Fouraker, H, December 31, 1861, discharged October at, 1863; Second Lieutenant Henry Hobletzell, I, December 31, 1861, dismissed January 8, 1863; Second Lieutenant William H. Fisher, + K, November 5, 1861, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant Robert B. Griggs, K, March 6, 1862, discharged August 5, 1862; Second Lieutenant Charles H. Morris, A, April 8, 1862, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant Thomas R. Campbell, B, August 26, 1862, died September 25. 1862; Second Lieutenant Robert E. Smithson, G, May 31, 1862, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant Charles J. Eagler, B, August 26, 1862, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant Jesse Hildebrand, jr., H, October at, 1862, resigned January 23, 1864; Second Lieutenant Henry L. Pugh, F, August 26, 1862, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant Nathan B. Smith,: K. October 21, 1862, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant Gordon B. West, G, February 11, 1863, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant John L. McIntyre, + G, January 1, 1863, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant Jesse S. Province, I, May 1, 1862, mustered out December 27, 1864; Second Lieutenant Isaac B. Kinkead, K, November 1, 1862, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant Samuel Fulton, A, February 13, 1863, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant Robert H. Flemming, D, February 25, 1863, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant Leonard A. Marlow, C, January 1, 1863, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant Robert C. Berry, A, April 18, 1863, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant William E. Smithson, B, November 1, 1863, mustered out December 11, 1864; Second Lieutenant Benjamin T. Hill *, adjutant, March 29, 1865, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant Henry H. Dye. H, March 29, 1865, resigned October lo, 1865; Second Lieutenant William A. Day, E, March 29, 1865, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant John Smith, March 29, 1865, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant Thomas Wrseman, C, May 31, 1865. promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant Joseph M. Mitchell, E, March 29, 1865, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant William W. Burris, A, June 29, 1865, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant Henry H. Clindenst, September 29, 1865, never mustered; Second Lieutenant Gamaliel J. Lund, B, November 14, 1865, mustered out with regiment as sergeant; Second Lieutenant Jeremiah Fish, t November 14, 1865, mustered out with regiment as sergeant; Second Lieutenant James P. Daugherty, November 14, 1865, promoted to first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant William H. Hose, November 14, 1862, mustered out with regiment; Second Lieutenant William H. Hanson, G, November 16, 1865, mustered out with regiment as sergeant; Second Lieutenant Christopher Black, * December 30, 1865, mustered out with regiment as sergeant; Second Lieutenant William H. Bingman, March 7, 1866, mustered out with regiment as sergeant.

Early in September, 1861, the quota of Ohio being full at the time, Governor F. Pierpont, of Virginia, commissioned Jesse Hildebrand, of Marietta, Ohio, colonel, and Wills DeHass, of Wheeling, lieutenant colonel, to raise a regiment along the Ohio river for the United States service. It was soon manifest that the men composing the regiment would be nearly all recruited in Ohio, and as the Government would now accept them, Governor Dennison proposed to Colonel

Officers not from Washington county are marked: *

++ Monroe, Belmont, Morgan, West Virginia, Cambridge, Ohio.

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, OHIO - 219

Hildebrand to enter the Ohio service, which proposition was accepted, and the organization was made the Seventy-seventh regiment of Ohio infantry. Recruiting officers were appointed October loth, and the place of rendezvous was Camp Tupper, Marietta. With the exception of company A from Monroe county, company E from Belmont county, and company F from Morgan county, all the companies of the regiment were almost entirely composed of Washington county men—there being some recruits from Monroe and Noble counties in several of them.

By the last of December the regiment was full and many men recruited for it were transferred to the Sixty-third Ohio infantry. On the ninth of January, 1862, the Seventy-seventh left Marietta for camp Dennison, where the regiment was engaged in drilling until the seventeenth of February, when it was ordered to Cincinnati, and at once embarked on transports for Paducah, Kentucky, for service on the Tennessee. Landing at Paducah on the twentieth, it was assigned to General W. T. Sherman's division. After drilling and doing guard duty without arms till the ninth of March, it was armed and brigaded with the Fifty-third and Fifty-seventh Ohio and Fifth cavalry regiments, and embarked on transports for Pittsburgh Landing and other points on the Tennessee. Colonel Hildebrand being in command of the brigade, and Lieutenant Colonel DeHass absent, the regiment was under command of Major Benjamin D. Fearing. The regiment joined in the expedition to cut the enemy's communications by destroying the Memphis & Charleston railroad, and landed at the mouth of Yellow creek March 14th; but the heavy rains and the position of the enemy rendering this impracticable, the expedition returned next day and disembarked at Pittsburgh Landing on the sixteenth. On the seventeenth it marched under General Sherman to near Monterey, in the direction of Corinth, where the enemy was in heavy force, and returning went into camp at Shiloh Church on the eighteenth. Still other reconnaissances towards Purdy and Corinth were made, and on the first of April the regiment moved with the division, by transports, to Eastport, Mississippi, driving the enemy from Eastport towards Iuka. After its return to Shiloh, the Third brigade, of which this regiment was a part, was encamped

on the left of the Corinth road, the right of the brigade resting on the Church.

The Seventy-seventh camped on the left of the Corinth road, its right resting on Shiloh church, which was used for regimental headquarters. On Friday evening, April 4th, Captain Mason's company, B, was on picket near the Lee house, in front of Shiloh church, and plainly heard beating of drums a short distance south. They wondered whether our troops were moving towards Corinth. When daylight came they discovered that the birds, rabbits, and squirrels were coming towards them and passing through the guard line, being too much frightened to notice the pickets, thus showing that a large body was near on the south. Captain Mason at once established a few new vidette posts at favorable points of observation, and before noon a squad of gray-coated

cavalry passed along the ridge, about seventy-five yards distant, several of them firing at the vidette. About two o'clock large bodies of cavalry were seen approaching the. Union line, and filing off to the right, keeping under cover as much as possible. Soon after, column after column of infantry arrived at the same point, filing off to the right and left, taking up their position in line of battle. Several pieces of artillery also went into position on the ridge, just at the edge of the open field. Captain Mason, believing this display of the enemy worthy of reporting, sent Sergeant C. J. Eagler, now of Macksburgh, to inform Colonel Hildebrand just what had transpired, and then report back to the picket line. The sergeant promptly obeyed the order, and Colonel Hildebrand, brigade commander, says he at once went to division headquarters and repeated the report the captain had sent him, word for word. General Sherman ridiculed the idea of such a force being seen, and ordered the messenger arrested. In obedience to this order the colonel sent Captain Stevens, with a portion of his command, to arrest Eagler fox bringing false and scary news from the front. On learning the object of his arrival, Captain Mason said to Captain Stevens: "You have not men enough to take Eagler; he has simply obeyed my orders, which he swore to do when he enlisted. Go back to headquarters and have the order changed to my arrest, for I am responsible, and have sent in the facts, as all on duty here know."

Captain Stevens returned, reporting the facts as related. Soon after, Colonel Hildebrand, with part of his staff, came out to the picket line, and, after saluting, said: "Captain Mason, what does all this mean?" He replied: "General, it means the enemy are directly in our front. Do you wish to see them? If so, ride to that little opening to the right, and about two rods in advance." He and his staff did so, accompanied by the captain, who pointed out the enemy, whom the colonel could see without the aid of a field-glass, when Colonel Hildebrand exclaimed: "My God! General Sherman has been deceived, for he told us to-day there was no enemy this side of Corinth, except some reconnoitering parties." He returned to camp, and took the precaution of doubling his picket line by detailing companies C and G, Captains Sisson and McCormick, to relieve company B, at dusk. Saturday evening. He also reported to General Sherman that he had been to the picket line, and it was true that the enemy were in our front in force, with the appearance of a determination to attack.

Notwithstanding these facts, orders were received near midnight, by company commanders of the Seventy-seventh, " Form your companies on the color-line at daybreak in the morning, move to the old drill-ground, and drill one hour before breakfast." Captain Mason, receiving this order with the rest, and knowing that Colonel Hildebrand knew the facts above related, went to him, and after talking a few minutes, casually asked who originated the order for regimental drill in the morning. "Colonel Hildebrand picked up a paper from his desk and observed: "This is the order of General Sherman, but we know it will be a different drill on the morrow than

220 - HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, OHIO.

any of us has ever seen." That order has always been a mystery to the Seventy-seventh.

Before daylight a battalion under Major Powell passed through our picket lines, reconnoitering, and at once became engaged with the enemy's advance. An orderly was sent by Captain McCormick to brigade headquarters with a report of this fact, and the officers in command of the pickets received orders to hold their ground as long as possible, and if hard pressed to fall back slowly, which orders were strictly obeyed, the pickets becoming engaged at daybreak. This was probably the first time Ohio troops were engaged with the enemy at Shiloh, it being in fact the opening day of that bloody contest.

At daylight the regiment was on its way to the drill-ground, but after having gone a few hundred yards, was overtaken by an orderly and ordered back, to breakfast and fall into line immediately. It returned, but before breakfast was over the orders were: "Seventy-seventh, fall into line, quick! Company B will move to the front, deploy as skirmishers, and move forward to the Lee house." The regiment formed, and the skirmishers advanced rapidly across the bridge, about fifty yards in front, and were ordered by the captain to deploy to the right. In a few minutes they were directly under fire of the enemy, and many were shot down—among the first killed being that noble soldier, George A. Booth, of Marietta.

On the night of April 5th, companies C and G, under Captains Sisson and McCormick, relieved company B, Captain Mason, on the picket line. When the pickets were changed that evening, the enemy was so near that his outposts could easily be seen by our men. General Sherman had, the night before, ordered that on the morning of the sixth of April the Seventy-seventh regiment should be posted covering the open field to the right of the Lee house, near the advance picket line. In the morning it was found impossible to reach that position, as the enemy had forced the pickets to fall back, so that the skirmish line of the regiment met them between the Lee house and the creek which ran in front of the camp. The pickets were reenforced by the skirmishers, and the brigade formed in line of battle between the church and the creek, covering the road to Corinth. Here the battle opened s000n after sunrise by a heavy fire of musketry on both sides, assisted on the Union side by Taylor's Chicago battery. The enemy had also artillery engaged at this point. The line of the enemy as they came down the western slope could be distinctly marked in the woods by the glitter of their polished muskets in the sunlight, and the fire was most deadly from the ponderous French rifled muskets with which the Seventy-seventh was armed. This position was held, with one slight change, for about two hours, and the valley was strewn thickly with the enemy's dead, while our losses were also heavy. After a bloody conflict of some hours, the left of the brigade was turned, and the Seventy-seventh changed position so that its left rested on the old church.

Writers of history give it the credit, in connection with the Fifty-seventh and a part of the Fifty-third, of holding the enemy so long in check at this point as to enable Sherman to save the fortunes of the day.

It was here that Colonel E. C. Dawes, a Washington county soldier, then adjutant of the Fifty-third (in connection with Captain, afterwards Colonel W. S. Jones), distinguished himself by rallying a part of his regiment and fighting bravely. The overwhelming numbers of the enemy sweeping around the left rendered it necessary, as the day advanced, after many hours of gallant fighting, for the brigade to again change to the ridge further north, contesting the ground with the foe, step by step, and losing brave men by the score. Each chosen position was, in its turn, assaulted and carried by the enemy till about the middle of the afternoon, when the line was formed and held till the conflict of the day closed with the dusk of evening.

On the morning of the seventh the regiment was promptly in line, waiting orders to move to the attack, but as General Buell's army had arrived and joined General Grant's forces, these fresh troops led the advance; and before noon the enemy were in full retreat without the Seventy-seventh being actively engaged that day— though being in supporting distance of the advance line the regiment was only a part of the time under fire. By the middle of the afternoon it occupied its old camp at the church.

On Tuesday morning, April 8th, General Sherman's division moved out the Corinth road in pursuit of the retreating enemy. General Breckenridge's division of Hardee's corps, with Forrest's brigade of Confederate cavalry, covered the enemy's retreat. A battalion of cavalry having reported to General Sherman that "the woods was full of rebs," he asked Colonel Hildebrand to halt his brigade and send a regiment forward and "clean out the woods." Colonel Hildebrand selected his own regiment whose position was in the rear of the brigade. The regiment moved promptly forward, and in a few minutes its skirmishers were engaged with the enemy. Coming forward into line and to a halt, a sharp fire was opened upon the cavalry brigade in its front, which proved to be Wirt Adams' Mississippians, Forrest's Kentucky cavalry, and the Texas rangers. In a few moments it was seen that the cavalry were about to charge, and bayonets were fixed to receive them. On they came with dashing impetuosity, discharging their double-barreled shotguns as they came, thus killing and wounding enough to thin out our short line of battle. When within a rod or two of our line they halted and emptied their revolvers on our gallant men, while still out of reach of their bayonets. Then a dash was made to make prisoners of the survivors, which was partly successful, as Captain McCormick (having his right arm broken by a gunshot), Captain Chandler, Lieutenant Criswell, and about thirty-five men were captured—several others of them being badly

* On the night of the seventh a large part of the regiment did picket duty all night in the rain, Lieutenant Jeseph J. Steenrod being in command of the pickets. There were three alarms during the night so the men got no rest. Captain Stevens having been wounded, was unable to go on the expedition on the morning of the eighth, so Lieutenant Steenrod was in command of company A and was killed in battle. He was a noble officer.

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, OHIO - 221

wounded. But for the timely order of Colonel Hildebrand bringing the Fifly-third and Fifty-seventh Ohio regiments to the rescue, the most of the regiment, and with it General Sherman, would have been made prisoners. The general had so much faith in the regiment, and appeared to doubt the report of his cavalry so much, that he felt sure of the success of the movement, and was almost abreast of the regiment when this powerful brigade of the enemy's best cavalry charged down upon its thinned ranks.

Among those killed in the battle on Sunday were noncommissioned officers George A. Booth, Lorain Burris, Jacob R. Batten, George A. Cavanaugh, John Cline, John P. Calvert, James Flemming, Benjamin M. Kimberly and John Sanford. Lieutenant 0. S. Thomas was mortally wounded, and died May 31, 1862; and Sergeant Major G. B. West was wounded.

So great had been our loss in the first day's fight in killed and wounded, and by disease in camp, that the regiment took but about two hundred and ten men into this battle at Fallen Timbers," as it is sometimes called, about sixty-five of whom it there lost. Among those killed here were Lieutenant Joseph Steenrod, Andrew J. Duvall, William L. Porterfield, John H. Kepburn, James M Baker, Percival Nott, Daniel Sipple, Lyman Wyss, and Royal A. Wright, non-commissioned officers, with eighteen privates. Lieutenants Fisher, Fouraker, Garrett, White and Thomas Mitchell, were wounded.

The regiment lost in the battles of Shiloh, including the fight of Tuesday, one officer and fifly men killed, seven officers and one hundred and ten men mounted, besides several reported missing in action—now almost certainly known to sleep on this bloody field in unmarked graves. Its loss was, wilh two or three exceptions, the largest of any regiment in the army. Three officers and fifty-three men were captured, the privates being paroled in a few days and the officers held till October, when they were paroled and soon exchanged.

Colonel Jesse Hildebrand, himself a gallant officer, in his report as brigade commander, says: "With regard to the officers and men who participated in the affair at Fallen Timbers, and at Shiloh, I am happy to bear testimony to the fidelily, bravery and devotion of all. Major B. D. Fearing, who was in immediate command of the Seventy-seventh Ohio volunteer infantry, was cool and brave, and acquitted himself with as much skill as an old officer of larger experience, and was not excelled by any olher field officer who came under my observation." He also spoke of Captains Chandler and McCormick as meritorious officers—the latter being since brevetted major for "meritorious services in the battle of Shiloh." Captain Mason, also, was distinguished for the part he took in these three days' fight.

General Sherman, in published orders, speaks in high terms of praise regarding the firmness in which the Seventy-seventh held the position at Shiloh church against such fearful odds, and credited with saving from capture the Chicago artillery. He has since said much more in commendation of these gallant heroes, which it is hoped he will put into form for preservation in history.

After the battle and up to the capture of Corinth, May 3oth, the Seventy-seventh took a prominent part in the siege, being often under fire, and all the time engaged in building works and otherwise aiding to capture the place by regular approaches. It advanced in pursuit of the relreating enemy as far as Chewalla, and during June and unlil July 21st, it was on expedrtions to Holly Springs, Mississippi, Moscow, Macon, Lagrange, Tennessee, and other places. July 21st, it reached Memphis, where the men did guard duty till August 27th, when the regiment was ordered to Alton, Illinois, to guard prisoners of war and recruit its thinned ranks—relieving General Sherman's old regiment, the Thirteenth United States infantry.

Being recruited up to a minimum the regiment was ordered to join General F. Steele's expedition for the capture of Little Rock and other places in Arkansas, leaving on the thirty-first of July, 1863, for Helena, where it landed August 5th. It was here brigaded with the Forty-third Indiana and Thirty-sixth Iowa, as the Third brigade of the Third division of the Arkansas expedition, and marched on the eleventh for the State capital. The men were in fine condition, and endured the arduous march with commendable spirit. They exhibited the true spirit of tried soldiers in the various brushes with the enemy on the way. Halting a brief period at Clarendon and Duval's Bluffs, the army marched, on the first of September, across Grand Prairie without water, through a broiling hot sun in which many of the men were sun-struck, inflicting incurable if not fatal injuries, reaching Brownsville in the evening. On the fourth of September, the regiment made a feint on the enemy's position at Bayou Meteor, accompanied by a few pieces of artillery, shelling them from their position and returning to Brownsville. On this march the commanding officer of the regiment, Colonel William B. Mason, met with a serious accident; his horse becoming entangled in fallen telegraph wires, was unmanageable, and the colonel being thrown off wrth great force, received injuries which would ordinarily prove fatal, but a good constitution and the skill and care of Surgeon Wall enabled him to live through them.

On the tenth of September the army drove the enemy from Little Rock and entered the capital, where the whole army encamped till December. The forces of Generals Fagan, Marmaduke, Shelby, and others, were hovering in the vicinity and awaiting an opportunity to make an assault, and if possible retake the place. General Steele had the railroad repaired from Duval's Bluffs to Little Rock, and officers and men of the Seventy-seventh were detailed to run it, as well as to guard sawmills in the vicinity while lumber was cut to build winter quarters. In this way, and in scouting the country, guarding supply trains to Pine Bluffs, and conducting court martial business, the officers and men were employed till December loth, when almost all the men fit for mililary duty reenlisted as veteran volunteers—a movemenl towards reenlisting having begun in the regiment as early as October. On the 23d of December, the regiment starled to Columbus, Ohio, where it arrived