IN THE FIELD.
_Appointed Major--Judge Advocate--Lieutenant-Colonel--South
Mountain--Wounded--Fighting while Down--After Morgan--Battle of
Cloyd Mountain--Charge up the Mountain--Enemy's Works Carried by
Storm--First Battle of Winchester--Berryville._
That a loyal citizen of the antecedents, ardent patriotism, and
impulsive nature of Rutherford B. Hayes would enter the army in the war
for the Union, was to be looked for as a thing of course. He had been in
the habit of obeying every call of duty, and could not therefore disobey
when duty called loudest. He regarded the war waged for the supremacy of
the constitution and the laws as a just and necessary war, and preferred
to go into it if he knew he "was to die or be killed in the course of
it." He had been a most earnest advocate of the election of Mr. Lincoln
to the Presidency, and had been an anti-slavery man of established
convictions long before the candidacy of Fremont for the Presidency. He
did not think the Union should be destroyed to make slavery perpetual.
He desired to mitigate and finally eradicate that evil. He had prayed
for the election of General Harrison for the sake of the country; he had
cast his first vote for Henry Clay, his second for General Taylor, and
his third for General Scott. But the old Whig party having ceased to be
a living organization, he gave his whole heart to the Republican party
and its cause, and by political speeches, and in other ways, helped
forward the movement in favor of equality of rights and laws. The insult
to the flag at Fort Sumter aroused to the intensest pitch the patriotic
indignation of a united North. At a great mass-meeting held in
Cincinnati, R. B. Hayes was selected to give expression to the loyal
voice, by being made chairman of the public committee on resolutions. It
is not needful to add that these resolutions had all the fire and
intensity of the popular feeling. The knowledge that it was his purpose
to enter the Union army having reached Governor Dennison, that officer
appointed Hayes major of the Twenty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, June
7, 1861. With this appointment was coupled the appointments of W. S.
Rosecrans as colonel, and Stanley Matthews as lieutenant-colonel of the
same regiment. Colonel Rosecrans, with the other field-officers, had
just set to work organizing the new regiment, when Rosecrans was
appointed brigadier-general, and ordered to take command of the Ohio
troops moving in the direction of Western Virginia. Upon the promotion
of Rosecrans, Colonel E. P. Scammon, an officer of military education,
was placed in command of the Twenty-third.
After a brief period of discipline at Camp Chase the regiment was
ordered, on the 25th of July, to Clarksburgh, West Virginia, and on the
29th went into camp at Weston. We shall not follow it in this or in
subsequent campaigns, in its marching, scouting, skirmishing, or
counter-marching. It is enough to say, that in this first campaign it
assisted in clearing the whole mountainous region of Western Virginia
of a formidable enemy.
Major Hayes was appointed by General Rosecrans, on the 19th of
September, 1861, judge advocate of the department of Ohio, the duties of
which service he discharged about two months. He received his first
promotion, to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, October 24, 1861. Passing
over less important events, we come to the first serious battle in which
he was engaged.
THE BATTLE OF SOUTH MOUNTAIN
Was fought on Sunday, September 14, 1862, a beautiful, bright September
day. The enemy were in possession of the crest of the mountain, where
the old National road crossed it. The army of McClellan, with Burnside
in advance, were pressing up that mountain by the National road as its
center. General Cox's division of Burnside's corps was in advance. The
brigade to which Lieutenant-colonel Hayes was attached was in advance of
the division. His regiment was in advance of the brigade. He was ordered
to pass up a mountain path on the left of the National road and feel for
the enemy, advancing until he struck him; to push him up the mountain if
he could; in short, to open the engagement. Lieutenant-colonel Hayes
pushed into the woods, came upon the enemy's pickets, received their
fire, and drove them in. He soon saw a strong force of the enemy coming
toward the line of his advance from a neighboring hill, and went to meet
them. Hayes charged into that force with a regimental yell, and, after a
fierce fight, drove them out of the woods in which he found them, into
an open field near the summit. He then drove them across the field,
losing many men and capturing and killing many of the enemy.
Hayes, having just given the command for a third charge, felt a stunning
blow, and found that a large musket ball had struck his left arm above
the elbow, carrying away and badly fracturing the entire bone. Fearing
an artery might be severed, he asked a soldier to bandage his arm above
the elbow, and a few minutes after, through exhaustion, he fell.
Recovering from a state of unconsciousness while down, in a few moments,
and observing that his men had fallen back to the woods for shelter, he
sprang to his feet, and, with unusual vehemence, ordered them to come
forward, which they did. He continued fighting some time at the head of
his men; but falling a second time, from exhausted strength, he kept on
giving orders, while down, to fight it out.
Major Comly, the second in command, then came to him to learn the orders
under which the regiment was fighting, and deeming it best to assume
command, owing to the critical condition of Lieutenant-colonel Hayes,
gave orders that the wounded hero should be carried from the field. In
an almost illegible narrative, written with the left hand just after the
battle, we find this modest record, by the intrepid sufferer in this
event: "While I was down I had considerable talk with a wounded
Confederate lying near me. I gave him messages for my wife and friends
in case I should not get up. We were right jolly and friendly. It was by
no means an unpleasant experience."
The enemy in this action continued to pour a most destructive fire of
musketry, grape, and canister into the Union ranks. Lieutenant-colonel
Hayes again made his appearance on the field with his wound half
dressed, and fought until carried off. Soon after, the rest of the
brigade coming up, a brilliant bayonet charge up the hill dislodged the
enemy and drove him into the woods beyond. The Twenty-third regiment in
this engagement lost within eight men of half the entire force engaged.
South Mountain is inscribed on all the standards of this gallant
regiment, and surrounds with a sad halo of glory the names of the living
and the graves of the dead.
At the time this battle was fought, Lieutenant-Colonel Hayes was not
under pay, having been mustered out of the Twenty-third regiment to take
command of the Seventy-ninth. His wound preventing him from becoming
colonel of the Seventy-ninth, he was, on the 24th of October, 1862,
appointed colonel of his own regiment, _vice_ Scammon, promoted. It was
while at home recovering from his wounds that his wealthy uncle, Sardis
Birchard, urged Colonel Hayes, to whom he was devotedly attached, to
leave the army, on the ground that he had done his share, promising to
himself and family abundant support; but he would not listen to the
suggestion, and before his wounds were healed went back.
AFTER JOHN MORGAN.
In July, 1863, while Colonel Hayes, under superior officers and in
connection with other forces, was engaged in skirmishing, scouting, and
harassing the enemy in Southwestern Virginia, an episode occurred which
illustrates his force and decision of character and energy in action.
Happening to ride to Fayetteville, a distance of fifteen miles from
camp, to learn the news, he was startled by the telegraph operator with
the intelligence that John Morgan was in Ohio, and was at that moment
making for Gallipolis to recross the Ohio river. Here was a cry of help
from home. His own State invaded, and his own friends and kindred in
danger! His decision was instantaneous to go to the rescue. He sent over
the wires to his adjutant, then at Charleston, the message: "Are there
any steamboats at Charleston?" And being informed there were two, he
instantly ordered them to be sent to Luke creek, the highest navigable
point on the Kanawha. Colonel Hayes then galloped back to camp, and,
after bringing all his powers of persuasion to bear, succeeded in
getting permission to take two regiments and a section of artillery, and
go in pursuit of Morgan. In thirty minutes after the orders were read to
the soldiers, the column was on its march. The road was mountainous, the
darkness dense, the route almost impassable, but the Kanawha river was
reached at the break of day. The steamers were both in sight, and on
these the eager men and the artillery were embarked. By daylight the
next morning this timely succor was at Gallipolis. That town was saved
from a rebel raid, and the hot pursuit of John Morgan commenced. Warned
by spies, he had turned his retreat in the direction of Pomeroy. Hayes
re-embarked his force, and steamed up after him. Again disembarking his
men, Hayes came in collision with the raider, who retreated after
getting a taste of the quality of his adversary. But Morgan being beset
on all sides was forced to surrender, and was made a prisoner with many
of his men. Their next raiding was done from the inside to the outside
of the walls of the Ohio penitentiary.
BATTLE OF CLOYD MOUNTAIN.
In the spring of 1864, General Crook moved with an army of about six
thousand men to cut the main lines of communication between Richmond and
the great Southwest. In this expedition Colonel Hayes commanded a
brigade. General Crook, who is called "Gray Fox" by the warriors of
Sitting Bull, is one of the shrewdest generals in the world in the way
of tricking an enemy. On this expedition he marched up the Kanawha, and
sent his music and one regiment toward the White Sulphur Springs, while
his army went the other way. He charged his music to make noise enough
for an army of ten thousand. The enemy, who were fortified on the road
by which Crook's army was actually to pass, left Fort Breckenridge, and
marched off fifty or sixty miles in the direction that Crook's band of
music had gone. His army then hurried on, and marched right into the
fort without firing a shot. To have taken it without stratagem would
have cost much delay and many lives. In the meantime, the enemy hurried
back, and, collecting an army under General Jenkins, fortified a
position on the crest of Cloyd mountain. The base of the mountain was
skirted with a stream of water two or three feet deep, and the approach
to it was through a meadow five or six hundred yards wide. The enemy,
who were strongly entrenched, opened upon Crook's force so soon as it
reached the road that was within range of their artillery. It was
evident the fortifications could not be carried without very determined
fighting. A small force, after making a stout struggle, dropped back
repulsed. Crook ordered Colonel Hayes' brigade to cross Cloyd's meadow,
charge up the hill, and take the batteries. Hayes formed in the edge of
the woods, and marched out with as perfect a line as ever was formed on
parade. He moved on, and was soon under fire. The enemy opened heavily,
bringing down men along the whole line. A slow double-quick was ordered,
the alignments being kept good until the edge of the woods was reached.
The fortifications could not be seen. There was only in sight a woody
hill, and below it a stream to cross. Hayes, the brigade following,
dashed through the creek to the foot of the last hill, which was so
steep that the cannon could not be depressed sufficiently to damage
them. After halting for a minute to take breath, the brigade charged,
with a terrific yell, up the hill. The instant they passed the curve of
the hill, as fearful a fire met them as men are ever called to face. The
whole line seemed falling, officers and men going down by scores. But
not a man stopped; all who were not hit went on. Hayes shouted to his
men to push on to the enemy's works. They were carried by assault, many
of the enemy being bayoneted beneath ingenious barricades that they
deemed impregnable. The enemy were killed or driven out, and their
cannon captured. For ten minutes it was a desperate, give-and-take,
rough-and-tumble fight. The artillerymen attempted to reload when the
assaulting party was not ten paces distant. The enemy retreated to a
second ridge of the mountain, and made a determined effort to form a
line, but the pursuit was too hot for the effort to be successful.
Reinforcements arriving, they endeavored to make a third stand, but were
easily driven off in full retreat. Thus ended the battle on the
mountain, where the enemy's fort on its summit was carried by storm.
BATTLE OF WINCHESTER.
What is known as the first battle of Winchester, fought July 24, 1864,
illustrates the pluck and endurance of Hayes under disaster. Here, as in
the last battle, he commanded a brigade in a division of General Crook's
army, of West Virginia. Two brigades, under Colonel Mulligan and Colonel
Hayes, were ordered to go out and meet what was supposed to be a
reconnaissance in force of the enemy. Hayes was ordered to join his
right on Mulligan's left, and charge with him. They were to attack
whatever there was in front. They could see only two skirmish lines in
front. Hayes soon saw appearances of the enemy off on the left. Mulligan
was informed there were signs of an enemy forward on the right.
Indications were correct. The enemy were coming down upon them in
overpowering force on both flanks and in front. Mulligan said his orders
were to go forward, and he was going forward. Hayes thought it was as
well to go forward as to go any other way, as there could be but one
result. Soon after charging, the enemy opened a deadly fire with
artillery on the left flank, and infantry close in front. In five
minutes Colonel Mulligan fell, pierced with five balls. The enemy had
double the force in front, and overlapped the right flank a quarter of a
mile. This was a better place to be out of than in. The lines melted
away under the destructive fire. The deafening roar of artillery and
musketry prevented all commands from being heard. The Hayes brigade fell
slowly back to a hill inaccessible to cavalry. There it formed, and held
back the yelling pursuers. At this point Lieutenant-Colonel Comly was
wounded. The cavalry, whose failure to furnish information of the
presence of the enemy had brought on the disaster, had disappeared from
the scene. Colonel Hayes' brigade, which was exposed to the cavalry of
the enemy, marched in a half square, fighting steadily in front and on
both flanks. Once the brigade was concealed in a belt of woods until the
enemy's cavalry came within pistol-shot, when the whole line suddenly
rose and poured its fire into their ranks. After that, the pursuit
ceased. From morning until midnight, Colonel Hayes, having lost his
horse, was fighting and encouraging his men on foot, saving his command
from annihilation, and displaying personal bravery of the highest order.
BATTLE OF BERRYVILLE.
This was one of the fiercest fights of the war. It was between a South
Carolina and Mississippi division, under General Kershaw, and six
regiments of the Kanawha division.
The occasion of this battle was this: Sheridan sent a body of cavalry to
get in the rear of Early's army and cut off his supplies. To do this
there were two roads up the pike--one through Winchester and one ten
miles east of Winchester. Ten miles east of this place, through
Berryville, was the enemy's headquarters, and Sheridan's object was to
throw a force past them which would turn and strike them in the rear. In
order to protect that body so that it could get back again--not be cut
off on its line of retreat--Crook was ordered to take possession of the
pike where the road from Winchester crosses it. The enemy, understanding
the plan, moved to take possession of the same crossing. They first
attacked with a small force, and were driven back. Being reinforced,
they drove back in turn the regiments in advance of the Union force.
Colonel Hayes had a line a quarter of a mile long sheltered behind a
terrace wall, the ground in front being level with the top of the wall.
He sat on his horse watching the tumultuous advance of the enemy. The
Union advance lines, being driven back in precipitate retreat, ran right
over Hayes' brigade. The enemy followed close on their heels. Hayes let
them get within two rods, when the whole brigade rose, and with a yell
delivered a deadly volley at the enemy's legs. They then jumped upon the
terrace and charged bayonet, driving the pursuing enemy back like a
flock of sheep. He pushed them to their second or reserve lines, where
they rallied at dark, and stubbornly maintained their ground.
Colonel Hayes' brigade went at double quick pace into action, their
leader at the head of the column. The Twenty-third and Thirty-sixth
Ohio, and the Fifth and Thirteenth Virginia, constituted at this time
his brigade. From dark until almost ten o'clock the cannonading was
continuous and the fighting terrible. Hayes, although never more exposed
to danger, enjoyed the grand illumination and the thrilling excitement.
Both divisions withdrew at the same hour, and the engagement was not the
next day renewed. In this short action Colonel Hayes, by his courage and
gallantry, added to his popularity as an officer among both officers and
men.