THE CAMPAIGN UNDER GENERAL SHERIDAN UP TO THE TIME THE REGIMENT WAS
TRANSFERRED TO THE ARMY OF THE JAMES, INCLUDING THE BATTLES OF
BERRYVILLE, OPEQUAN, FISHER’S HILL AND CEDAR CREEK.
While the regiment was lying at Pleasant Valley, Gen. Sheridan assumed
command of the entire department of West Virginia, which was hereafter
to be called the Department of the Shenandoah. A new state of warfare
was now inaugurated. The Rebels of the beautiful valley were to be
taught a lesson which they would never forget, and victory was hereafter
to perch upon our banners. Everything now assumed an air of business and
preparation; clothing and shoes, which were much needed by the men, were
issued in abundance, and our boys again felt that spirit of confidence
which is a sure prelude to success. On Monday, August 8th, we crossed
the river at Harper’s Ferry, and encamped on the banks of the
Shenandoah, near Hall-Town; remaining there until the 10th, when we
again started up the valley; encamping at night near Berryville. The
next day we marched up the river through a wild, picturesque region of
country; it was a very warm day, and the men suffered greatly for the
want of water. We encamped about eighteen miles from our start of the
morning. The next day we changed our direction to the right until we
struck the valley pike at Middletown, where we found that our cavalry
had been pushing the Rebels down the road from Martinsburg. We went into
camp about three miles from Cedar Creek, and during the four days we
remained here, our boys subsisted mainly upon “roasting ears,” we having
arrived just in time to help the good people of that section enjoy this
luxury. On the evening of the 26th we received orders to move, and just
before starting, Col. Wilson was taken very ill—the result of an
overdose of morphine, administered by Surgeon Hyatt, and the command of
the regiment devolved upon Capt. Chamberlin. We moved back to Winchester
that night, and the next day we marched to Berryville. All this time
Col. Wilson was very sick, and of course could receive but little care;
but he was now taken to a farm-house near by, and every attention paid
him possible. The Colonel finally recovered, though it was a long time
before he was himself again.
On the 18th we moved back to a small place called Clifton, remaining
there until the 20th; on this day our regiment reported three hundred
and sixty men and six officers for duty; Capt. Kellogg, of Company E,
and Lieut. Leonard, of Company D, joining us that evening.
The next morning the regiment went out as guard to a forage train, and
while loading our wagons, heavy skirmishing, with the occasional firing
of artillery, was heard near by, and we hurried back to camp, only to
find it deserted. After considerable traveling, we found our proper
place in the line of battle which had been formed, and went to work
building a breast work of rails, which we had to carry quite a distance.
Early in the evening we moved out to support a battery in our front, but
as night came on the firing ceased, and about 11 o’clock a retrograde
movement commenced in the direction of Harper’s Ferry; and after
marching about fourteen miles, we came to the place where our troops
were going into camp. Our brigade commander, who was with our regiment,
had, in the darkness, lost the rest of his brigade, and we had the honor
of escorting him around hunting for it. At last, in disgust, he told us
to go into camp—where we had a mind to—an order which we very quickly
obeyed.
On the following morning skirmishing was again going on in our front,
and before noon we were at work fortifying, and by night our division
was strongly entrenched.
We remained here until the 28th, and during the first three days we were
here a continuous roar of skirmish firing was going on along the whole
line; if a soldier from either side showed his head above his pile of
rails, he was sure to be made a target of. The officers of our division
tried to stop this kind of warfare, but with little effect, until the
25th, when the 123d was sent out on the line in front of our brigade;
when by the exertion of our commanding officer, skirmish firing, which
had been almost continuous from both sides, was stopped by our regiment,
and when it was noticed by the Rebels that we were not doing the usual
amount of firing, they also ceased, and we were soon on easy terms with
them, trading papers, coffee for tobacco, etc.
Our example soon became generally adopted, and firing ceased along the
whole front. We were highly complimented by Gen. Thoburne for the prompt
manner in which the nuisance was stopped.
On the morning of the 27th it was discovered that the Rebels had
abandoned their position, and we received orders to be in readiness to
move without baggage, and with three days rations, to last four days.
Early on the 28th, we started, but stopped near Charleston, where we
remained until September 3d. The time was occupied in making clothing
and pay-rolls, and on the 31st of August, the regiment was mustered and
received four months’ pay.
We broke camp early on the morning of September 3d, moving up the valley
in three columns, the 6th corps having the right, the 19th corps the
center, and Gen. Crook’s command, to which we belonged, having the left.
Our command reached Berryville, arriving about noon. Pickets were sent
out, and being attacked, our division was sent forward to their support,
in doing which our regiment, or six companies of them, the others being
on picket, became heavily engaged with a brigade of Rebels, whom we run
into a cornfield almost before we were aware of their presence. We gave
them three or four volleys, when they came charging down upon us and we
were forced to retire, losing four killed and fifteen wounded. As soon
as we reached our reserves our line was halted and we laid there on our
arms all night, expecting the fight would be renewed in the morning. It
rained most of the night, and was quite cold; taking it all in all, we
had a pretty rough night of it. Our corps was assigned its position on
the line in the morning and commenced building “breast works”, and right
here we might say that these, like all the others we built during the
war, were never fired over, it always being our privilege to be the
attacking party. We remained here for some time, working on the
fortifications and doing picket duty. On the 7th, Lieut. Col. Kellogg
came up and took command of the regiment, Capt. Chamberlin having been
in command since August 17th.
The Colonel had been sick in hospital, and had quite an adventure while
on his way from the ferry to the regiment, in company with a surgeon in
charge of an ambulance train, and without escort. All went well until
within seven or eight miles of the army, when it now being about 5
o’clock P. M., they were suddenly pounced upon in front and rear by a
gang of bushwhackers, under command of the redoubtable “Mosby;”
fortunately the Colonel and Surgeon were pretty well ahead of the train,
and the main body of the Rebels had came on the road behind them, so
putting spur to their horses, they dashed down the road, brushing the
Rebs in their immediate pathway aside, and away up the pike at a
break-neck speed they went, when in about twenty minutes, reaching a
cavalry out-post, Col. Cellogg persuaded the Sergeant in charge, with
about twenty men, to go back with him and recapture the train. Flying
over the ground, they were soon upon them, and going in with a yell,
they scattered the “Jonnies” in every direction, recovering the entire
train before the Rebels could get it turned around and in shape to get
away, thus saving to the government many thousands of dollars, and to
the army a much needed train of ambulances. Had Col. Kellogg waited
until a strong force of cavalry could have been secured, as most
officers would have done, it would have been too late, and Mosby, with
his plunder, well out of reach in the mountains. We now had a splendid
army, and knew we could whip the Rebs at any time, and the wonder
throughout the army was “why don’t we do it.” We afterwards learned that
Gen. Grant’s orders were to avoid a decisive engagement if possible, as
it would not do, at that time, for this army to suffer a defeat.
Captain Shawhan joined the regiment on the 12th, and on the 15th, Col.
Kellogg receiving a “sick leave,” went to his home, the command of the
regiment again devolving upon Capt. Chamberlin.
September 16th our army was visited by Gen. Grant, in order to confer in
person with Gen. Sheridan. The General saw that all Gen. Sheridan wanted
was permission to strike—it was given in two words—“go in”—and we went.
The army was in motion before daylight on Monday the 19th, and before
night closed upon us, the famous battle of “Opequan” was fought and won.
We took the road in the direction of Winchester, the 6th and 19th corps’
having the advance. Firing commenced as soon as we were fairly started,
and increased in volume as we advanced, to that roar which indicates the
heavy engagement. We reached the Perryville Pike where it crosses the
Opequan Creek, about 10 o’clock A. M., where we were held in reserve
until about 2 o’clock P. M., when we were ordered up. We crossed the
creek, and made our way along a narrow, woody gorge up to the front.
The road was crowded with artillery, ammunition wagons, and ambulances,
also with prisoners and wounded men moving to the rear, in fact, it was
so choked up that it was with difficulty we picked our way through the
debris.
We at length reached a ravine, in front of which was a narrow strip of
woods, and along its southern edge a division of the 19th corps was
posted, and seemingly, heavily engaged. We were rapidly massed in column
by brigade, with ours in front, and immediately moved forward, relieving
this portion of the 19th corps, and as soon as they were massed and
ready, the bugle sounded the advance, and we moved forward on the
double-quick. Now commenced one of the most exciting charges ever
participated in by a large army; for over two miles we drove them, over
stone fences, up hills and down ravines, until about 4 o’clock P. M.,
when, our cavalry getting on their flank, they, no longer making any
stand, went flying down the valley with Averill’s and Merritt’s gallant
riders in hot pursuit. The 123d was the first regiment over the
fortifications and into the city of Winchester. We went into the fight
with six officers and one hundred and eighty-two men, losing seven men
killed and three officers—Capt. Shawhan, Lieutenants Snyder and
Johnson—and forty-two men wounded, receiving special praise from Gen.
Thoburn, for our gallant conduct.
In this truly great battle we captured nearly three thousand prisoners,
five guns, and nine battle flags. Gen. Sheridan’s dispatch announcing
the victory, was, “We have just sent them whirling through Winchester,
and we are after them to-morrow. The army behaved splendidly.”
The next day we moved up the valley to Strasburg; where on the hills
beyond, the Rebel army, in a naturally strong position, had fortified
themselves, determined again to try the issue of battle.
We were maneuvered around some until the morning of the 22d, when the
two divisions of our corps were moved back about three miles, where
getting under cover, we changed our direction to the left, up the side
of the mountain, and then silently stole towards the Rebel lines. We
crept along the mountain until about 3 o’clock P. M., when getting
squarely on their flank, our lines were formed for the charge, but while
doing it we were discovered by the enemy, who immediately opened on us
with shot and shell; but it was too late, the order was at once issued,
“Double-quick, charge!” and we were upon them before they could make any
preparations to receive us, capturing their artillery, and turning their
left completely; we went sweeping down their breast-works, like the
wind, every man yelling at the top of his voice; at the same time that
we charged them on their left, the 6th and 19th corps’ attacked them in
front.
Routed at every point they were soon in wild retreat, the ground being
literally strewn with arms and accoutrements. The cavalry kept up the
pursuit throughout the night, keeping the fleeing army on the jump for
twenty-five miles.
The victory was complete—eleven hundred prisoners and sixteen pieces of
artillery falling into our hands, and accomplished with but very little
loss to us; our regiment losing seven wounded.
We _bivouacked_ on our arms, where darkness overtook us, being
completely tired out with the day’s work. Here occurred one of those
accidents, which, from its sheer needlessness, caused a cold shudder to
run over all. The 34th Massachusetts of our brigade, camped in our
immediate vicinity, and while all was bustle and confusion, their Major,
was shot by the accidental discharge of a musket, at the time, he was
standing with a group of officers around a hastily constructed
camp-fire.
It seemed hard, that after having gallantly and safely passed through so
much hard fighting, thus to be stricken down, while quietly discussing
the day’s battle.
In the morning the army pushed rapidly forward, leaving our brigade to
collect the debris, care for the prisoners and wounded and bury the
dead.
At 10 o’clock A. M., on the 24th, we moved on after the army, through
Woodstock, Edinburg and Mt. Jackson, going into camp two miles beyond,
making a twenty-seven mile march; pretty good considering that the
regiment marched on the flank of the train all day, and until 10 o’clock
P. M., through brush, over fences, up and down hills, and sometimes
fording streams, causing every one to feel glad when the order came to
go into camp wherever a good place could be found.
The next morning we went on through New Market, where we wandered around
some over the ground, of our fight here of May 15th. The trees and
fences plainly giving evidence of the terrible musketry fire on that
day. Resuming our march we went on through Harrisonburg, where we found
the army encamped.
While here we made out “Muster and Pay-Rolls,” and straightened up our
papers generally. The regiment had two hundred and fifty eight men, and
four officers for duty, Capt. Chamberlin in command, with Lieutenants
Husted, Bevington and Keyes under him.
On October 4th Lieut. Meiggs, of Gen. Sheridan’s staff, was bushwhacked
while making observations of the roads in our vicinity, in retaliation
for which, Sheridan ordered that every house and barn within five miles
of the murder should be burned to the ground. This order was afterwards
revoked, so far as the little town of Dayton was concerned, which came
within the prescribed limits.
On the 6th of October we again broke camp, and started back down the
valley. Our brigade was in the rear of the infantry, and directly behind
us came the cavalry, who had orders to destroy all barns, stacks of
grain, and everything that could support a Rebel Army. The smoke that
filled the valley as far as we could see to the rear, was conclusive
proof that the order was being executed to the letter.
We reached Cedar Creek on the 11th and went into camp on the east side,
taking our position on the left of the 19th corps, and here we held our
first election, in accordance with the law, allowing soldiers in the
field to vote. Col. Kellogg and Capt. Kellogg came up just in time to
exercise their elective franchise. Capt Chamberlin, who had ably
commanded the regiment since the 15th of September, was now relieved,
and Lieut. Col. Kellogg, assumed command. We were all glad to see his
genial phiz once more for all knew him, the kind, true friend, the brave
and accomplished officer.
We now had six officers in the line for duty, more than at any other
time since the Hunter Raid.
On the 13th our entire regiment went on picket, a portion of the line
being across the creek, when, to the surprise of every one, the enemy
opened fire from a masked battery, and shelled our camp for about two
hours, when the 1st and 3d brigades of our division were sent out to
look into the matter. They soon found the Rebels in strong force, when
orders were sent for the brigades to return, but the Adjutant General,
after having delivered the order to the 3d brigade, had his horse shot
under him, and failing to give the order to our brigade, they kept on
advancing, until they were heavily engaged, and very soon were forced
back, being overpowered by a greatly superior force. Our brigade lost
heavily, Col. Wells, commanding, and his Adjutant General were killed
and left on the field. Our picket-line was now changed to a
skirmish-line, being reinforced by two companies from the 116th O. V. I.
We held our position firmly, and about midnight advanced a half mile,
and found that the Rebels had fallen back. We laid here several days,
doing picket and forage duty, receiving some reinforcements by men
returning from hospitals.
One day one hundred men were called for to go with a forage train. Every
precaution was used, but the Forage Master thought there was no danger,
and staying out of reach of our protecting Springfields, was gobbled up
with one of his wagons by some bushwhackers, and started towards
“Dixie’s Land.”
The rest of the train, well loaded, reached camp about 9 o’clock P. M.,
very tired, having traveled twenty-four miles over mountain roads.
On the 18th of October the regiment, in conjunction with the 11th
Virginia, made a reconnaissance to within a half mile of the enemy’s
camp. We could plainly see them lying around under the trees, but
nothing to indicate the movement that, on the morrow, was to startle the
nation, and shake the army of the Shenandoah to the very centre.
At half past 4 on the morning of October 19th, the regiment was routed
out by a straggling picket fire in our front; the word was passed along
that the enemy were advancing, and the men quietly fell into line along
the breast-work. The other brigades, however, failed to observe the
warning, or were too slow in “falling in.” The Rebels easily turned the
right of our corps, getting over the works with little or no opposition,
many of the men being still asleep in their tents.
Some resistance, however, was made by our brigade, the only one in the
division not surprised; we fell slowly back, the broken ranks of the
other brigades, rallying upon our line; we soon came upon the 19th corps
that, by this time had got into line, and, meeting their first division,
we made a good stand, giving them several well directed volleys, that
checked their advance, but soon being flanked on the left, were
compelled again to give way; here our division commander, Gen. Thoburn,
and his Adjutant General, were killed. A running fight was now kept up
for about four miles, when meeting the 6th corps drawn up in line, with
their artillery in position, the retreat was checked. The 19th corps
took position on their left, our corps joining their’s, with a good body
of cavalry on our left. Up to this hour it had been the darkest day of
our army life; flushed with victory in two great battles within a month,
supposing ourselves invincible against anything in the valley, thus to
be driven almost in a rout from our works, was a little too much for our
philosophy. But now retreat was no longer thought of; Gen. Wright of the
6th corps had our lines well established, and the enemy decidedly
checked, when Gen. Sheridan arrived on the field, he having ridden from
Winchester, “Twenty miles away,” since the battle commenced. New life
seemed at once to animate the whole army. Some slight changes were made
in the line, particularly with the cavalry—when the order was given,
“Forward along the line,” and away we went, with a heavy line of
skirmishers, armed with repeating rifles, supported by strong lines of
infantry, against whose steady and determined advance there was no
resistance. In less than an hour the Rebel horde was flying back over
the ground they had so lately traversed, flushed with success. The
cavalry now swooped down from their positions, on the right and on the
left, and as the enemy’s lines were turned, and in wild retreat, the
scene that ensued along that valley pike beggars description.
It was a grand sight to see that army, lately shattered and stricken
nigh unto annihilation, thus reform their columns and boldly move out to
the charge; in all the battles of the great rebellion, no parallel is
presented. Back through our camps which they had swept in the morning,
the beaten Rebels ran, throwing away their guns and knapsacks, and
everything that in any way impeded their headlong flight.
The cavalry kept up the pursuit for sixteen miles, recapturing all of
our trains, and capturing the greater portion of their’s.
We stacked our muskets behind the works occupied in the morning, and
slept that night, as we had fought that day, without food.
There is scarce a doubt that if we could have had two hours more of
daylight, the Rebel army would have been totally annihilated, as it was
we captured forty-nine pieces of artillery, besides retaking the ones
taken from us in the morning, and over two-thousand prisoners. Our loss
was very heavy, being over six-thousand in killed and wounded; that of
the enemy being much less. The loss in our regiment was one killed,
fifteen wounded and thirteen missing.
The change from the gloom of disaster that hung over our army in the
morning, to complete and undisputed victory in the evening, cannot
easily be described. The rebellion for this portion of the confederacy
was effectually closed. And when we remember the armies, great and
small, that have at different times marched up and down this famous
valley; the many hard fought battles for the mastery of its soil; its
importance in the great drama of the rebellion is plain. Here the sons
of nearly every State in the Union are sleeping the last long sleep:
some in burial places set apart for their repose, while many, many more,
quietly rest in unmarked and forgotten graves, the victims of a wicked,
cruel and uncalled for attempt upon the life of the purest and best
government upon the face of the earth.
We encamped at night upon our old ground, but without tents, blankets or
rations, the Rebels having made clean work of our camp, and as most of
the men left their haversacks where they grasped their muskets, but very
few had anything to eat, though fighting hard from five in the morning
till seven at night has a tendency to make one hungry.
We changed our camp the next morning to a more sheltered one; anything
but refreshed from our sleep on the cold, damp ground.
In the course of a few days we drew blankets, overcoats and some tents.
Some of the officers rigged up quarters from pieces of old tents, wagon
covers and old boards, not especially handsome; but they answered to
write in, and after a great battle there was always plenty of that to
do. It was an army saying that the trouble in fixing up papers after a
great defeat was only exceeded by that occasioned by a great victory.
We remained here for some time, doing nothing, as there was nothing to
do. The valley was absolutely ours.
On the 28th, the army was paid off, and of course money was plenty, much
to the satisfaction of the suttlers, as well as the boys.
On November 9th we moved back to near Kearnstown, about five miles from
Winchester. It was here that “Little Phil” received his Major-General’s
commission in the United States Army, just one month previous he having
received a Brigadier-General’s commission in the same, winning the one
at Winchester, September 19th, and the other at Cedar Creek, October
19th.
On the 16th of November we had dress-parade for the first time since May
1st. Over six months of hard field service, in which there was no room
for parade or drill. We had borne our part in the engagements at New
Market, Piedmont, Lynchburg, Snicker’s Ferry, Winchester, Berryville,
Opequan, Fisher’s Hill, and Cedar Creek, losing forty in killed,
ninety-seven in wounded and twenty-four missing. Of officers we had one
killed and four wounded, being one-half the number we had for duty at
any one time. We had marched eleven hundred miles, and for the most part
under a broiling sun and on short rations.
On the 18th, our brigade was ordered to Opequan bridge, to guard the
railroad at that point, where, on the 24th, we received our portion of
the ten thousand Thanksgiving turkeys, sent by our noble State to her
sons in the field. While remaining here it rained the most of the time,
the weather being quite cold.
December 14th, Adjutant McCracken returned to the regiment, and on the
17th, the officers of the brigade, with the band of the 34th
Massachusetts came over to our headquarters, and a general good time was
indulged in. Not, perhaps, in strict accordance with the views of the
would-be reformers of this day, but, nevertheless, all were happy; every
one was congratulated on being alive, and fair fortune was invoked to
continue propitious for each and every one. We had now made preparations
for remaining here during the winter. The men had built good quarters
out of logs, procured from the woods near at hand, and the officers had
erected quite a house from similar material, when, on December 18th,
orders came transferring our division to the army of the James, in front
of Richmond.