HISTORY OF REGIMENT FROM JUNE 15TH, 1863, TO MAY 18TH, 1864, INCLUDING
THE ENGAGEMENT AT NEW MARKET.
So large a portion of the regiment being now captured, we propose to
follow their fortunes into Rebeldom as a regiment. Company D acting as
provost guard to Gen. Milroy, went out with the balance of the army,
doing guard duty at various points until the regiment was again
organized, as will subsequently appear. After the surrender of the
forces by Col. Ely, as narrated, the men of the 123d were marched into
the fort at Winchester, and there confined until such time as the Rebels
could make it convenient to take them to their future prison.
Now, indeed, did the situation seem anything but cheerful; the Rebel
army had passed north, and as we supposed, were marching about
unopposed, over the States of Maryland and Pennsylvania. They had made
their boasts that some of the great cities of the North should taste the
horrors of war, and we did not know but at that moment Lee’s hordes
might be running riot through the streets of Philadelphia. The cause of
the Union, the cause for which we had suffered, seemed at a low ebb. It
will be remembered that we were now passing through a phase of life
entirely different from anything heretofore experienced. Very few of us
had ever been in duress for a single instant; and thus to be deprived of
our liberties, to become the creatures of another’s will, it is not
surprising that our faith for a time weakened, and the darkness of
despair seemed well nigh upon us. We, however, were treated with some
degree of humanity by the Rebels, and received many proofs that there
were some good and true Union people living in Winchester, for which
they, one year later, received satisfactory and substantial tokens of
our esteem.
On the afternoon of the 16th, the men were started on their long journey
to Richmond, arriving at Staunton on the 22d, distant ninety miles. Here
we took the cars for Richmond, arriving there on the 23d. It seemed as
though the entire Rebel capitol had turned out to see the Yankees, and
would hoot and hiss at us as we passed along. The officers took up their
quarters at Hotel-de-Libby; the men were furnished accommodations on
“Belle-Isle,” which by the way was nothing more nor less than a large
sand bank, with a few trees upon it, situated near the south bank of the
James River. We were closely guarded, not even allowed the privilege of
buying one of their own papers, though we managed to get one now and
then from the guards. It is needless to recount our sufferings here, as
no pen can do adequate justice to the subject. I will only say that the
meat and soup were full of maggots, and the bread so stale and sour as
to be almost unpalatable, these constituting our eatables, while the
water we drank was even worse.
On the 6th of July the majority of the men were paroled, and were taken
to City Point, by rail, _via_ Petersburg, and delivered to the United
States authorities. Never were the Stars and Stripes more
enthusiastically cheered, than when we first saw them streaming from the
Flag of the Truce boat; once on board we had plenty to eat, and soon all
were in high spirits. On arriving at Annapolis—where those left in
prison joined us one week later—we were furnished new clothing
throughout, our old ones being full of “gray-backs,” and were supplied
with comfortable quarters. Very soon the boys began to scatter to their
homes, where most of them were allowed to remain until they were
exchanged, after which time they were ordered to report at Camp Chase.
About the 1st of September, most of them were on hand, and soon after
were sent to Martinsburg, Virginia, where the detachment of the regiment
which had escaped from Winchester were located under command of Maj.
Horace Kellogg, who had sufficiently recovered from his wound to again
take the field.
From this time the history of our organization, as a regiment again
commences. At this place we were newly armed and equipped, and being
deficient in officers, twenty-one being still in prison, were engaged
mainly in provost and picket duty until March 1st 1864. During the month
of November, Adjutant McCracken, with one non-commissioned officer from
each company was sent to Ohio to recruit, and fill up our depleted
ranks. Very good success was met with, adding one hundred and
twenty-eight men to our effective force; some promotions were also made;
sergeants S. A. Johnson, Elmer E. Husted, Charles M. Keyes and Martin W.
Willoughby were promoted to 2d lieutenants. The winter was quietly spent
in camp, which was located one-half mile west of town; when the weather
permitted, drilling by company and squad occurred daily, so that when
spring opened, the regiment was in good condition and ready for any duty
which might turn up. On March 1st, 1864, the companies were distributed
as guards along the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, between Harpers Ferry
and Monocacy Junction, with headquarters at Martinsburg.
About the 26th of March the regiment was collected together at
Martinsburg where Gen. Siegel was concentrating troops preparatory to a
movement up the valley; and from the orders issued to our little army,
we knew that our season of inaction was drawing to a close. On the 29th
we broke camp at Martinsburg and marched out to Bunker Hill, remaining
there two or three days, when we proceeded to Winchester and encamped
about two miles beyond the city; a portion of the regiment was sent into
the city, under command of Capt. Snyder to act as provost guard, with
orders to search the town, which was done, and a large collection of old
guns, swords and accoutrements were collected together and destroyed.
About the 1st of May our forces moved up the valley as far as Cedar
Creek, where they remained until the 10th making the final preparations
for our grand raid on Lynchburg. Baggage was cut down to the minimum;
each soldier was provided with an extra pair of shoes, and loaded down
with rations and ammunition, we broke camp, and moved leisurely on
through Strasburg, Woodstock, and Mt. Jackson, to New Market, where, on
the night of the 14th we struck the enemy in some force, our brigade
having the advance, we had a lively little skirmish, but of short
duration, the Rebels soon giving way. We laid on our arms during the
night, but no attack was made.
The next morning our brigade was maneuvered around in various
directions, the artillery placed in position, and things began to look
as though a battle was imminent, but for some unknown reason, the
remainder of our little army was not brought up; about noon the enemy
opened upon us with artillery, to which our batteries rapidly replied,
and soon their lines could be seen coming across the fields, two deep,
one directly behind the other, with a heavy line of skirmishers in
advance, and nothing but our brigade to receive them. We were in a good
position, and with the artillery on either flank, awaited their
approach. Soon our cannons opened on their rapidly advancing lines,
dealing death and destruction, but not checking them for an instant; on
they came, sweeping like an avalanche upon our little band. We held our
fire until they were almost within pistol shot, when we poured in our
volleys, with terrific effect; rapidly were our well directed volleys
given, doubling their first line back upon their second, that still came
unfalteringly on, lapping by our little line, both on the right flank
and the left, rapidly firing as they advanced until our little band
could no longer withstand their overwhelming numbers, and slowly we
began to retire—taking our cannon back through a cedar thicket, our
pathway marked with the blood of our braves. As they appeared over the
eminence we had lately occupied, they poured in upon us such a storm of
shot and shell, so thick that the very air seemed alive with bullets. On
passing through here on our way up the valley a month later, we examined
this spot, and found scarce a tree or bush unmarked, showing that the
fire at this point must have been severe indeed.
On the crest of the hill beyond another stand was made, which checked
their advance for a short time, but soon we were again compelled to fall
back, this time pretty badly shattered. Major Kellogg, commanding the
regiment, had his horse shot from under him and received quite a severe
wound himself. He, however, was supplied with another horse by the
officer commanding a battery near at hand, and again rallying his
command, which fell back in good order. By this time we had reached our
reserves on Rood’s Hill, about three miles from where the attack
commenced, which checked the enemies advance until night put an end to
the conflict.
In this engagement the regiments loss was sixty-three in killed and
wounded, and twenty-six missing. The missing being all taken prisoners,
many of whom were afterwards slowly tortured to death in prison. The
army was now drawn back to Ceder Creek, where we arrived on the 17th.
Gen. Siegel had been relieved and Gen. Hunter placed in command.