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Transcriber’s note:
Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).
The table of contents is unusual. Seven of the topics in the
table do not refer to chapters but rather to sections of text
between chapter headings. The book contains two chapter
headings not listed in the table of contents. An editorial
decision was made to leave the table of contents as it was
printed in the original book.
A SUMMER IN MARYLAND and VIRGINIA
Or Campaigning with the 149th Ohio Volunteer Infantry
A Sketch of Events Connected with the Service of the Regiment in
Maryland and the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia
Written by
GEORGE PERKINS, a member of Company A, at the earnest request of his
Comrades of the Regiment.
CHILLICOTHE, OHIO
The Scholl Printing Company
Chillicothe, Ohio
FOREWORD
In preparing this sketch of the 149th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry,
the author has depended upon the memory of events that made a lasting
impression upon a young mind. He does not claim to have written a full
history of this service, that is stored in the memories and experiences
of the different members of the Regiment. He does claim, however, that
the main facts and movements of the Regiment and the other bodies of
troops associated with it in the field, are accurate.
The writer was fortunate in making a record of dates and incidents, soon
after his return, which record has been invaluable in the preparation of
this sketch.
If the little booklet will be interesting to my comrades, or of any
value in a historical way, I shall feel amply repaid for the labor in
preparing it.
GEORGE PERKINS
DEDICATION
This book is dedicated to the memory of our beloved Colonel Allison L.
Brown. A brave soldier, a Christian gentleman, and a good friend of
every member of his Regiment. He died as he had lived, in the good
esteem of the community, and the love of his comrades.
“Peace to his ashes.”
[Illustration:
COL. ALLISON L. BROWN
(from a war time photograph)
Enlisted as a private in Co. C 73d O. V. I., promoted to Sergeant;
resigned for promotion; recruited a company for the 89th O. V. I.;
commissioned Captain of Co. D 89th O. V. I.; resigned on account of
ill health. Elected Colonel of the 2d Ross County Militia Regiment,
afterward the 27th Regiment, Ohio National Guard. Commissioned
Colonel of the 149th O. V. I.; elected State Senator in 1875, served
four years; re-elected in 1879. Died October 26th, 1879.
Colonel Ally.]
[Illustration:
CAPTAIN W. W. PEABODY
Captain of Company A 149th O. V. I.; commander of the garrison of Fort
No. 1, Baltimore, Md.; Major on the staff of Brigadier General John
C. Kenley, commanding the Independent Brigade of the Eighth Army
Corps.
Our Captain “Billy”
Died October 14th, 1910]
CONTENTS
Page
Organization of the Hundred Days Service 13
149th Ordered to Baltimore, Md. 16
At Fort No. 1 17
Gen. Early’s Invasion of Maryland 18
Battle of Monocacy 19
Edward’s Ferry 25
Cattle in the Corn 25
Night March to Washington 26
Negro Cabin in Vale 27
The Negroes 28
Wreck of the Sutler 31
Mosby’s Attack at Berryville, Va. 34
Return to Camp Dennison 38
My Capture and Prison, Wm. McCommon 39
Note by George Perkins 45
Memories of our Service, Major Rozell 46
Incident in Unwritten History, Lt. McKee 48
Personal Experiences in Prison, W. R. Browning 51
Incidents 61
Conclusion 65
Roster 69
Organization of the Hundred Days Service
The winter of 1863–4 on the banks of the Rapidan was passed in
preparation by both Grant and Lee’s armies for that wrestle of giants
that was to begin in May in the wilderness and end at Appomattox in the
following April.
In the southwest Sherman had won Missionary Ridge and Chicamauga and was
getting ready for his Atlanta campaign, and a great force was doing
garrison duty at various points. General Grant told the President that
if he could have thirty thousand new men to relieve the veterans, he
could capture Richmond and push the war to an end during the summer.
This was a difficult proposition on account of resistance to the draft,
and the vigorous activity of the Knights of the Golden Circle and the
copperheads in the North.
President Lincoln, however, acting on the suggestion, called to
Washington for conference the loyal Governors of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois
and Iowa. At this meeting Governor John Brough of Ohio said he would
furnish thirty thousand men to serve for one hundred days. Governor
Morton of Indiana promised twenty-five thousand. Governor Yates of
Illinois twenty thousand, and Stone of Iowa, ten thousand. Governor
Brough returned to Ohio, and at once began active work.
On April 23d he issued general order No. 12 calling the National Guard
of Ohio into active service for one hundred days, unless sooner
discharged, to rendezvous on Monday, May 2d, and to report on that day
the number of men present for duty. This call was responded to with
alacrity, reports coming in showing thirty-two thousand present. The
27th Regiment of Ross County reported five hundred and ninety-six men.
This Regiment had been organized under a law passed in 1863, forming the
Militia into volunteer Companies and Regiments. The 27th was enrolled
with the following roster of officers: Colonel, Allison L. Brown; Lt.
Col., James H. Haynes; Major, Ebenezer Rozelle; Adjutant, Robert
Larrimore; Quartermaster, D. C. Anderson.
The North had suffered an enormous drain upon her resources, had seen
her men sent home from the front, suffering from disease and wounds,
pitiful survivors of battles in which thousands had gone down to death.
The romance and glamor of war had gone, the horror of it remained. There
was scarcely a family in the North who did not suffer sorrow that cannot
be described, hardly a fireside that did not mourn for a husband or
lover, brother or friend, who went forth with pride, never to return.
Under such circumstances the men of the hundred days service, knowing
just what to expect, hastily arranged their affairs, and from the
stores, work-shops and farms, flocked to the defence of their country in
the hour of its direst need.
On Wednesday, May 4th, the 27th Regiment O. N. G. reported at Camp
Dennison. It was a cold, disagreeable day. Snow fell that afternoon, a
day on which men would rather have remained by their own fireside, but a
firm determination of duty urged them on.
It was found necessary now to have a reconstruction of the Regiments and
Battalions. The eight companies of the 27th were by consolidation
reduced to seven. Three companies of the 55th Battalion from Clinton
County were added, making ten companies. By orders, the Lieut. Colonel
and Adjutant were relieved, and returned to their homes. The Regiment
entered the United States service as the 149th Ohio Volunteer Infantry.
In the organization of the National Guard, it was generally understood
that it was for state service only. The call for active service came at
a time when to go entailed great personal sacrifice of business
interests on the part of its members. Farmers with scarcity of help,
turned over their work to their wives, who in this time of emergency
proved themselves helpmeets indeed, carrying the business of the season
thru. A few of the members of the Guard were discontented, and by the
help of Southern sympathizers, endeavored to fan this sentiment into a
flame, and to induce the men to refuse to enter the service. However, to
the credit of the men, after an address, delivered by Governor Brough at
Camp Dennison, only one Company of the Guard refused to go, and they
were promptly and dishonorably mustered out. The officers of the 149th
O. V. I. as re-organized were as follows: Colonel, Allison L. Brown;
Lieut. Colonel, Owen West; Major, E. Rozelle; Adjutant, T. Q.
Hildebrant; Q. M., D. C. Anderson; Surgeon, W. A. Brown; Assistant
Surgeon, B. F. Miesse; Chaplain, W. Morris. Non-commissioned staff: Sgt.
Major, George L. Wolfe; Quartermaster Sgt., Austin H. Brown; Commissary
Sgt., Edward F. Beall; Hospital Steward, James F. Sproat.
From May 4th until the 11th the Regiment remained at Camp Dennison,
during which time they were uniformed, armed and equipped, and mustered
into the United States service. On the night of May 11th orders came for
the Regiment to report to Gen. Lew Wallace at Baltimore, Md., going by
way of Columbus and Pittsburg. We started at midnight, being crowded
into box cars, without a seat or bed except the floor. We rode in this
manner for three days and four nights. Thursday noon found us still
south of Xenia, and did not reach Pittsburg until Friday evening. There
the Regiment was handsomely received. We marched to a hall where a
bountiful supper was provided for us by the loyal ladies of that city.
That supper to the tired, hungry soldiers was an event long to be
remembered. The good people of Pittsburg fed every Regiment that passed
through, going or returning. Early the next morning we passed Altoona,
Pa., and the great “Horse Shoe Bend.” At this point one of the brakes on
our car dropped to the track as we were descending the steep mountain
grade; we could hear it “bump, bump,” on the track, but luckily it held,
or the history of the 149th would have ended then and there. Nothing
could have prevented the train rolling over the mountain side.
However, the longest ride must have an end. Our train pulled into
Baltimore at 3 o’clock Sunday morning. As soon as possible Col. Brown
reported to General Wallace, and the Regiment was assigned to duty at
several points in the city, relieving the 8th N. Y. Heavy Artillery,
Col. Porter commanding. Col. Porter with his command, two thousand
strong, immediately left for the front, and after six weeks but seven
hundred remained, the Col. and all of his staff being killed.
Companies A and F 149th were assigned to Fort No. 1 on the outskirts of
Baltimore, Capt. Wm. W. Peabody of Co. A being appointed Garrison
Commander.
Between the days of May 4 and 16, 35,982 men, composing forty-one
Regiments and one Battalion, were consolidated, organized, mustered,
clothed, armed and turned over to the United States military authorities
for assignment. The Guard was composed of the most substantial men left
in the state, men of every department of trade, and of every profession.
Ohio had at that time sent ten per cent of her entire population into
the army. What a sacrifice on the altar of the country was this great
outburst of patriotism.
Companies A and F settled down to routine garrison duty at Fort No. 1.
Cooks were detailed and the men assigned to barracks, Co. A occupying
the first floor and Co. F the second. The duties of the day after roll
call consisted of dress parade and guard mounting. Guard duty, was by
detail, two hours on, and four hours off each being held for duty
twenty-four hours. Time was given the men for many trips into the city,
and this part of our service was very pleasant and safe. Many of our
friends from Ohio came to visit us while we were there and brought
money, and good things to eat for the boys. Four Companies of the
Regiment were assigned to Fort Federal Hill, and Cos. D, K and I at
Headquarters in Baltimore. On May 25th several companies were sent to
the eastern shore of Maryland, with Headquarters at Salisbury. They had
orders to quell the rebellion sympathizers, and to do Provost guard duty
at that point, to guard the telegraph lines and to patrol the Bay for
smugglers. The author’s service being with Company A, he is more
conversant with the movements of the Regiment in which that Company took
part. The memory of it all is dim. Like a dream in the night, it is
misty and seems to have occurred ages ago. We who were just boys of from
fifteen to eighteen years of age at that time, are now the aged and
broken veterans, and the youngsters of today look upon us, just as we
used to think of the old Revolutionary soldiers, when we were young. But
we were having too good a time in Baltimore for it to last. The last
opportunity we had to go down town was on the evening of the 4th of July
when there was a grand display of fireworks.
About this time we began to hear rumors of Gen. Early’s invasion of
Maryland and Pennsylvania, and it was reported that he was marching on
toward Baltimore. He came within four miles of the city and burned the
residence of Governor Bradford. In Baltimore the excitement was intense.
The bells of the city on that Sunday morning called the citizens to man
the Forts, to dig ditches, and throw up earthworks, instead of the
church service, and thousands responded to the all. Lieutenant Runkle of
the regulars assumed command at Fort No. 1 and began a rigid drill in
heavy artillery, our guns were manned, loaded with shell and sighted at
prominent houses, groves, etc., that might give shelter to the enemy.
This drill was kept up for two days and nights, the men sleeping at
their posts, expecting the ball to open at any moment. But Early
withdrew his forces and with haste, again entered the Shenandoah Valley.
On July 1st General Early received orders to invade Maryland and advance
on Washington. He began preparations by forcing General Siegel to
retreat to Maryland Heights where he was cooped up. Early moved by
flank, entered Maryland and advanced to Frederick City. On the 9th of
July the battle of Monocacy was fought. We at Fort No. 1 began to see
some of our soldiers come in from the battle field, among them being
Assistant Surgeon Miesse and Chaplain Morris, who stopped at the Fort
and gave us an account of the battle. Gen. Wallace had gathered a force
of twenty-eight hundred men, consisting of one Maryland Regiment and the
rest were hundred days men, among them being the 144th Ohio, and seven
companies of the 149th. On the 8th of July a brigade of Ricketts’
Division of the Sixth Corps came up on a train of cars bound for
Harper’s Ferry. Wallace informed the Commander “that if he wanted to get
to Harper’s Ferry he would have to get the consent of Jubal Early.” He
stopped the Brigade and put it in position. During the night Ricketts
came up with his other Brigade. He wanted to know what Wallace proposed
to do, and was informed that he proposed to fight. Ricketts laughed and
said, “with my division and your hundred day men you have only about
6,000. Do you expect to whip Early?” “No,” replied Wallace, “but I
propose to make him do two things, develop his strength and whither he
is bound.”
If bound for Washington he thought he could delay him at least
twenty-four hours, and it would take him two more days to get to
Washington, and in that time Grant could get troops from City Point in
time to save the Capitol, but without that Early would be in Washington
when there was not a man in the entrenchments. Gen. Ricketts agreed with
him, and his division was placed. Colonel Brown was ordered to the Stone
Bridge over the Monocacy where the Frederick and Baltimore turnpike
crosses. His orders were to hold the bridge at all hazards, but if
pressed too hard the men were to scatter and save themselves the best
they could. The forces under Wallace numbered 5,500, while those of
Early were 23,000 of the pick of the Confederate Armies.
Long before daylight on July 9th the 149th was in position at the
bridge. They did not have to wait long until Early’s troops were seen
passing through Frederick, bound for Washington. Then came the tug of
war. Gen. Wallace deployed his men as skirmishers and attracted the
attention of the enemy, the object being to deceive him as to the
numbers opposing him. They held him in check from daylight until late in
the afternoon. During the last hour the only force opposing this veteran
army of Earlys was the 149th Ohio. At four o’clock in the afternoon
Wallace seeing that his army would be either captured or annihilated,
ordered a retreat of all but the 149th. This Regiment was to cover the
retreat, and to be sacrificed to save the rest of the army. This was
shown by the orders sent to Col. Brown, which were as follows:
4:30 P. M., July 9th, 1864.
Colonel:
Major General Wallace directs me to say that he directs that you
hold your position to the very last extremity, and, when nothing
more can be done, that you fall back, and if pressed, direct
your men to disperse and take care of themselves. This is to be
done when nothing more can be done to retard the enemy’s
progress.
Respectfully,
E. B. Tyler,
Brig. Gen.
Col. Brown was unaware of the retreat of the rest of the army and was
left alone in advance of the stone bridge, beating back the repeated
attacks of the enemy until 5:30. At that time a farmer living near
informed him of the retreat of the whole Union army except his Regiment,
and that they were a mile and a half away. So he gave the order to
retreat. Adjutant Hildebrand was sent with three companies and deployed
as skirmishers on the left. They showed such steadiness that Early
stopped to reform his lines, and behind this thin curtain of skirmishers
the Regiment cut its way through and escaped to the north and toward
Baltimore.
When Col. Brown and his brave little army overtook General Wallace, the
latter was much affected. He embraced him, the tears starting from his
eyes, and said, “Colonel, I never expected to see you again.”
General Grant in his report says “they saved Washington.” The 149th in
this engagement lost 130 men in killed, wounded and prisoners. The
performance of the hundred days men was a revelation to the old
soldiers, and a surprise to the enemy. They did not know when they were
whipped. Everywhere their duty was well performed. On the long forced
marches, sometimes hundreds of miles with insufficient rations,
suffering from thirst, tramping the dusty roads with blistered feet, it
was all done and suffered by the men cheerfully, and as well as by the
veterans of long service. I heard one of the men of the 19th Corps say,
“We have served for three years but have never seen campaigning like
this.” Gen. Tyler in his official report of the battle of Monocacy says:
“It seldom falls to the lot of veterans to be more tried than
was the Ohio National Guard at the stone bridge, and none ever
carried out trying and hazardous orders better, or with more
determined spirit than did the 149th Ohio, and the men
associated with it.”
The enemy had seized the time when Grant had depleted the defensive
forces of the Capitol, to endeavor to capture Washington. Early charged
up to the very boundary of the city expecting to find the rich prize an
easy prey, but the stubborn resistance of the Guard at Monocacy and
their vigilance in the forts at Washington were more than a match for
all the vaunted dash and daring of his veterans, and he was compelled to
retire before the raw Militia of the Buckeye State. This was a source of
deep humiliation to the dashing Rebel General which he never got over to
the day of his death. Whether the hundred days man was on the alert in
the entrenchments of the capital, battling at the front with the veteran
forces of the Confederacy or skirmishing on the lines of supply with the
wary foe in the rugged passes of the Alleghanies, they were each in his
place doing their duty manfully toward the great and final victory which
came a few months later.
Lincoln and Grant both said that the services of the hundred days men
shortened the war, and, that the President appreciated their service was
shown by his issuing a special card of thanks, a copy of which was sent
to every man in this service. This was a special favor from the hand of
our great war President, that no other troops received, and one of which
we can well be proud. It was a tribute to bravery from the great, noble
heart of the kindest soul that ever lived on earth.
Gen. J. B. Gordon of the Confederate army whose division was with Early
in the fight at Monocacy, says:
“The battle of Monocacy was short, decisive and bloody. While the two
armies were contemplating each other from the opposite banks, my
division was selected, not to prevent Wallace from driving us out of
Maryland, but to drive him from our front. My movement was down the
right bank of the Monocacy to a fording place below, the object being to
cross the river, and then turn upon the Federal stronghold. My hope and
effort were to conceal the movement from Wallace’s watchful eye, until
my troops were over, and then to apprise him of my presence on his side
of the river, by a sudden rush upon his left flank. But Gen.
McClausland’s Cavalry had already attacked a portion of his troops, and
he discovered the movement of my division before it could drag itself
through the water and up the slippery banks. He at once changed front,
and drew up his lines in strong position to meet the assault. This
movement presented new difficulties. Instead of finding the Union forces
still facing Early’s other divisions beyond the river, giving my
isolated command the immense advantage of a flank attack, I found myself
separated from all the Confederate infantry, with the bristling front of
Wallace’s army before me.
“In addition to this I found other troubles which mitigated against the
success of my movement. Across the fields through which we were to
advance, there were strong and high farm fences which my men must climb
while under fire. Worse still these fields were full of grain stacks so
high and close together that no line of battle could be maintained while
advancing through them. The movement began, and as my men reached the
first line of high fencing and began climbing over, they were met by a
tempest of bullets, and many fell at the first volley. They pressed on
and around the grain stacks, with no possibility of forming allignment
or returning effective fire. The men, deprived of the support and
strength of a compact line, pushed forward and drove the Federals back
to their second line. The Union troops stood firmly in this second
position, bravely defending the railroad and highway to Washington.
Between the two hostile lines there was a narrow ravine, down which ran
a stream of limpid water. In this ravine the fighting was desperate and
at close quarters. To and fro the battle swayed across the little
stream, the dead and wounded on both sides mingling their blood in its
waters, and when the struggle was ended a crimson current ran toward the
river. Nearly one-half of my men fell there. Wallace’s army, after the
most stubborn resistance, was driven in the direction of Baltimore. The
Confederate victory was won at fearful cost, but it was complete, and
the way was opened for Gen. Early’s march to Washington.”
On the 12th day of July Companies A and F under marching orders, left
Fort No. 1 and Baltimore for Washington City, where we arrived early the
next morning. We lay at the depot until ten o’clock, when we were
ordered to “fall in” and with the balance of the Regiment marched up
Pennsylvania Ave., greeted by the cheers of the crowds who lined the
sidewalks and filled the windows of the buildings. We marched past the
White House and the Treasury buildings. At the latter we saw President
Lincoln on the steps waving his high hat as we marched by. We went over
into Georgetown, where, after a short rest, we joined the 19th Corps in
the chase of Early, who, after being repulsed at Fort Stephens retreated
to the Shenandoah Valley. We marched to Edwards Ferry, on the Potomac,
which we forded about five o’clock in the evening. Disrobing, we tied
our clothes around our guns, and at “right shoulder shift arms” entered
the water. It was an amusing sight to look up and across the river, at
the boys struggling through the water. It was about waist deep and some
current. The rocks on the river bottom were slippery, and every little
while a boy would go down, gun, clothes and all under water, to struggle
on again amid the cheers and laughter of his comrades. But we finally
all crossed over and we were told not to dress until we had forded Goose
Creek which entered the Potomac a short distance ahead. Early in his
haste to get away had burned some of his wagons on the road, and we, in
our bare feet had to pick our way carefully through the ashes, which
were still glowing. It was amusing. We camped that night on the banks of
Goose Creek. The next morning early the march was resumed and we went
into camp at Leesburg, Va., where we rested the balance of the day and
night. We were ordered to guard the wagon train, and by easy marches
reached Snickers Gap on July 17. Our train was halted about a mile back
of the Gap and our Regiment camped on a mountain side.
CATTLE IN THE CORN.
While resting in the camp on this mountain slope, from which the corn
fields stretched away for miles, the army cattle were driven up, the
fence bars were let down and the cattle turned in to a large field,
beautiful in its waving green product. In one hour’s time that field
looked like new ploughed ground, not a green blade was left. The army
advanced to the Gap, and in crossing the ford the enemy opened fire upon
them, and a brisk engagement followed. From our position we could hear
the cannon and see the smoke of the battle. This continued until sunset.
We were ordered out on picket, and took our posts in the woods, being
cautioned to keep a sharp outlook. Our troops began to fall back, and
our second sergeant brought in the pickets exclaiming in breathless
haste “The army is cut to pieces and in full retreat.”
Of course we hurried back into ranks, drew forty rounds of cartridges,
and, guarding the wagon train started on the “double quick” for
Washington. This was at nine o’clock at night. We marched without a stop
until eight o’clock the next morning, when we halted at Leesburg. That
night in passing through burning pine woods the train was fired upon
from ambush and some were wounded. During this hard night march the men
walked along nearly asleep on their feet, and if there was a temporary
halt they dropped in the dusty road, asleep instantly. After a short
rest at Leesburg we pushed on and went into camp near “Chain Bridge” at
Washington. We arrived at night, completely worn out from our long
forced march. The Regiment stacked arms, spread blankets on the ground
and lay down to sleep. We lay upon our gum blankets and covered with the
woolen ones. During the night it turned quite cool and rained hard. We
were soaked through when we awoke in the morning. We started fires, made
coffee, ate some hard tack, then wrapping our blankets around us, sat
down in the mud to silent meditation. It rained hard until about noon,
then began to break away. By night it was clear and we had a good sleep.
The next morning, July 21st, we drew new shoes, formed ranks, crossed
the bridge and followed the Sixth Corps who were just breaking camp as
we came up. We marched through Maryland via Rockville to the battle
field of Monocacy, which we passed over. We saw there the signs of the
fierce fighting, the high fences full of bullet holes, and the grain
stacks that obstructed Gordon’s advance. We forded the river and marched
on through Frederick city. Some of the boys of Company A at this point
“straggled” and slept in the fields just beyond the town. They came up
with the regiment the next day in time to draw rations, and resumed the
march until we reached Harper’s Ferry. Somewhere on this march an
incident occurred that made an impression upon my mind that I will never
forget. I call it
THE NEGRO CABIN IN THE VALE
The army had halted at noon for a little rest and dinner. Four of us,
comrades, went into the woods in search of berries. Pushing along
through the pines we came to a deep valley in which was a little
clearing and a small log cabin. A tiny brook flowed down the vale, and
the dark pine woods shut in a scene of beauty. It was the home of a
negro family, who were all out in front, listening to the banjo played
by one of our colored teamsters. He was a fat, oily, good natured
fellow, black as ink. Seated on a stump with his eyes rolling in ecstacy
and a broad grin showing his ivory teeth, he was an example of the
happy, carefree contraband of those days. After listening awhile we
passed on and after getting some blackberries we returned the same way.
The family were seated at dinner and when we looked in, saw the white
table cloth and the dishes, with the family and the banjo player seated
around the table, eating, our mouths watered and we wished we could sit
with them. Thoughts of home and of our friends, at their tables in the
distant north, filled our minds as we made our way back to the dusty
turnpike and again took up the weary march. This scene was an oasis in
our desert of dust, and its memory is pleasant.
THE NEGROES
While marching one hot, dusty day, a little negro boy, about ten years
of age, came out from a farm house and walked along with us, on his road
to freedom. After marching awhile he became very thirsty and appealed
from one soldier to another for a drink of water. He was refused by
several but his thirst increased and he became desperate. Rolling his
eyes in agony, with the tears streaming down his cheeks, he exclaimed,
“Please sir! for the love of God, Massa, give dis heah poor nigga a
drink of water.” We could not withstand such an appeal so we gave him a
drink from our canteen. I suppose he became tired and went back home
where there was plenty of water, at least we heard no more of him.
We did not see many negroes during our service. They hid away when the
army passed. Occasionally we would catch a glimpse of a colored woman
peeping from a door or window grinning at us. Two boys came back with us
from Virginia. By passing as body servants we brought them through to
Chillicothe. One was a black, ignorant fellow, by the name of Henry. He
was about town for several years, employed as a hosler. The other was a
bright mulatto, intelligent in conversation, but unable to read or
write. He was anxious to get an education. We afterward heard of him as
a school teacher near Chillicothe.
The negro could always be depended upon to assist Union soldiers in
their efforts to escape from prison, and they approached their cabins
with confidence, knowing that they would give them shelter and share
their last morsel of food with him, and guide him along his way. Many a
weary, hungry soldier has blessed the memory of his kind benefactors,
with black faces and white hearts. This was the experience of our two
boys, Cook and Martin, who escaped from Mosby, and has been the
experience of hundreds of others, who, escaping from the prison pens of
the south with the north star as a guide made their way through rugged
mountains and trackless forests, back to “God’s country.”
From Frederick, the army marched on to Harper’s Ferry. Crossing the
“Pontoon bridge” we passed through the town and went into camp at
Halltown. We reached this camp on July 23d and remained there two days.
The Sixth and Nineteenth Corps having passed up the Shenandoah Valley in
pursuit of Early. Gen. Crook’s forces engaged Early at Kernstown, but
losing heavily, had been forced back to the Potomac. This reverse caused
our forces to fall back to Maryland Heights. On July 25th our Regiment
“fell in” on the left and began what is known as the terrific “hot
march” The sun was blistering, the heat seemed concentrated in the
valley, while the dust rising in clouds was suffocating. As we plodded
along on this short march of four miles, men could be seen dropping from
sunstroke. I saw an officer throw up his hands and fall backward off his
horse. Comrades pulled them to the roadside and did what they could for
them. It was reported that thirty-five men had suffered sunstroke on
that hot afternoon.
We crossed the Potomac and began the ascent of Maryland Heights,
arriving at the summit about sunset. The view from the top of the
mountain was grand. Tier after tier of blue mountains fading away in the
distance, while a rebel wagon train moved slowly up the valley, shrouded
in a cloud of dust that looked like it was a mile high. That night there
came a welcome shower. The next morning we were ordered down and again
took up the march back to Monocacy junction. Our Commanding General
Kenley made the remark, “the boys were taken to the top of the mountain
to see the sun set.” We arrived at the junction in the evening and
rested. In the mean time our officers heard of the second invasion of
Pennsylvania. General McClausland with a body of Confederate Horse
crossed the river and pushed on to Chambersburg where he made a demand
upon the citizens for the sum of $500,000, threatening that if it was
not paid to burn the place. It was impossible for them to raise this
amount of money so he fired the city, reducing it to ashes. This was one
of the most cruel, wanton acts of the war, perpetrated upon defenceless
citizens. While we were rushing frantically up and down the valley of
the Shenandoah trying to find Early, his forces were marching through
Pennsylvania marauding at their leisure. At this time Gen. Grant came
over from Washington to consult with his Generals in regard to the
situation. While standing on the station platform I heard the following
conversation between Generals Grant and Hunter. Grant said, “General
Hunter, where is the enemy?” Hunter replied, with a tremor in his voice,
“I don’t know, General.” At this Grant in anger, exclaimed, “Move your
troops back to Harper’s Ferry, cut off his line of retreat and you will
find out.”
Orders were immediately given to return to the Ferry and the infantry
boarded a freight train and were rushed back to Harper’s Ferry.
McClausland in the meantime retired from his raid and escaped to the
south. We marched to our old camp ground at Halltown, arriving there
July 28th. We remained quietly here for two weeks. During this time our
boys, taking advantage of a well earned rest, engaged in all kinds of
pranks and amusements. We were paid off while here so we had some money.
The most striking event occurring here was
THE WRECK OF THE SUTLER
Sutlers, driving out from Baltimore, followed in the wake of the
paymasters, striking the camps when the boys had money, would sell their
wares at very high prices. A sutler drove up to the camp and had a
lively trade all day. He was finally ordered to move on by our officers
and toward dusk drove off. He was followed in the dark by a squad from
the Sixth Corps and three boys of Company A. His outfit was new, with a
fine team of horses. He drove along unconscious of danger. As he began
to pull up a hill with a high bank of a creek on one side, the soldiers
quietly unscrewed the nuts of the axletrees on that side, and horses,
wagon and driver rolled over into the creek. That night the camp was
full of delicacies, hams, cheeses, cakes, cans of condensed milk, etc.,
all hidden in convenient bushes. The sutler made a great ado about it
but the soldiers were all so innocent when brought before the officers
that the sutler could not fix the blame upon any particular ones, so he
was advised to return to Baltimore as quickly as possible. He went.
At this time dissatisfaction with Hunter’s policies became acute, and he
tendered his resignation. Gen. Grant had for some time been
contemplating organizing a new department to be known as the Army of the
Shenandoah with Gen. Phil. Sheridan at its head. Fears had been felt
that Sheridan was too young for such an important position. Grant,
however, had confidence that the right man had been found for the place.
Accordingly Sheridan was placed in command on August 7th and at once
began organizing his army. General Sheridan’s force consisted of the
Sixth Corps, one division of the Nineteenth Corps and two divisions from
W. Virginia under Crook, with Averell’s and Torbett’s divisions of
Cavalry. The Sixth Corps was commanded by Major Gen. Horatio G. Wright,
an engineer of high reputation but one of the few engineers who had
shown marked competency for a high command in the field. The divisions
of this Corps were commanded by those splendid officers, Gens. Geo. W.
Getty, David A. Russell and James B. Ricketts. Gen. William H. Emory was
in command of the Nineteenth Corps. Brigadier Gen. George Crook
commanded the two small divisions which represented the army of West
Virginia. Brigadier John C. Kenley’s independent brigade consisted of
the 144th and 149th Ohio, the 3d Maryland Infantry, and Alexander’s
battery of Light Artillery. It was an imposing army of young men,
numbering 30,000 Infantry and 10,000 Cavalry. On the 12th of August
Sheridan moved up the valley, passing along the road near our camp. The
General and his staff rode at the head of the column. The cavalry came
next riding in columns of four, followed by the Sixth and Nineteenth
Corps, the army of West Virginia and the Artillery. Our brigade was
detailed to guard the wagon train.
The mere statement gives no idea of the magnitude of this force, but
when I say that it took an entire day to pass our camp, the Cavalry and
Infantry in column of fours, some idea may be had of the grandeur of
this army. They were moving against Early, for the authorities at
Washington had become tired of the harassing raids of the rebels into
the north through the Shenandoah, which had almost become “the valley of
humiliation” to them. Our brigade was distributed through the length of
the train, each company in charge of thirty wagons. The day was pleasant
when we started. We marched through Charlestown where they had hung John
Brown. The place seemed deserted, the only sign of life being a negro
woman peeping at us from a half closed door. We pushed on, we had orders
to make Winchester by the next morning, for the army needed supplies.
Soon after dark, in spite of warning from the officers, the men began to
straggle, dropping out of ranks; some were getting into wagons, others
climbing the fences and sleeping in the fields, expecting to overtake
their command by morning. My chum, James Ghormley, and myself, after
marching until eleven o’clock at night, concluded that we were too tired
to go any longer that night, and that a good sleep was just what we
needed. We were within two miles of Berryville when this notion entered
our heads. When we awoke daylight was just visible, and we hurried on to
overtake our Regiment, expecting to boil coffee at the first fire we
came to. We walked on and soon came to where the train had “parked,”
that is, had encamped for the night, and were just pulling out. It has
been said that this stop was made without orders from our officers, but
that the rebels, riding along during the night dressed in our uniform,
saying they were aids, had given these orders, their object being to cut
off the train and attack it for plunder. Our little squad soon came to
where a company of the 144th Ohio were cooking breakfast. We asked
permission to boil coffee at their fire. This was readily given. We
stacked arms, and our coffee had just come to a boil when “bang! bang!”
came two artillery shots at us, scattering the limbs of the trees above
our heads. These shots were followed by a volley from a clump of woods.
Then they charged, yelling as they came. They were Mosby’s Guerrillas,
400 strong, made up of raiders, who disbanded when too hardly pressed
and became the innocent farmers of the valley. We grasped our guns,
leveled them over the stone wall, gave them one volley, when the Captain
in command gave the order to scatter and save ourselves. Well, we ran.
In the confusion Ghormley and I became separated and I saw him no more.
I was with the most of the company going up a steep lane toward a farm
house, about half a mile from the road, passed through a patch of corn
and an orchard, and came to the house. A man was sitting on the porch,
and he told me to run to the barn. I took his advice. The barn was a mow
on stilts, open on every side, and stood on high ground. I stopped for a
moment and looked over the field. The raiders were shooting our men down
in every direction. I climbed into the hay mow. If I hadn’t this story
would never have been written. Like the Irishman who was asked if he run
at the battle of Bull Run. “Shure I did, them that didn’t run are there
yet.” The fight was hot for a little while, but Mosby hurried for fear
of the army ahead. He captured 200 prisoners, 600 head of cattle and
burned 70 wagons. He expected to get the paymaster, who was with us,
with money for the army. The paymaster was shrewd; he had packed the
money in a cracker box and placed it in a wagon, keeping his strong box
in his own vehicle. During the fight this cracker box was tumbled down
the banks of a little creek that ran through the field. I saw it lying
there and after the skirmish the paymaster came back and got it. This
attack was a complete surprise and was a great loss to Sheridan’s army.
I joined our boys who were gathering together on the field. As I passed
through the house lot I saw lying on his face the body of a handsome
young lieutenant, who was shot by one of our company. The ball entered
his forehead and scattered his brains. He was Lieut. Eddy of Mosby’s
men, a member of one of the good families in Richmond, Va. Gen. Mosby
lamented his loss greatly, he being one of his most trusted men. Our
Colonel and Adjutant came riding back in full gallop and hastily
reformed the men, formed a skirmish line and scoured the field, picking
up discarded arms and compelling an old man who had come to the field
with a mule and cart, to pick up what he could and to haul them on to
Winchester. We guarded the wagons that were left on to Winchester, where
we found the Regiment. That night we slept on the stone pavements of the
town and on the next day were sent out on picket, south of the town. We
remained there two nights and a day. On the 15th of August we started on
our return early in the morning. Before starting Col. Brown made a
speech to the Regiment in which he berated them for straggling in the
enemy’s country, said “he would punish severely any disobedience of his
orders.” We reached Berryville at noon and camped at the farm where the
fight had taken place. Two wounded men of the 144th were lying on the
porch of the house. They informed us that almost every man of their
company had been captured. The 144th lost 130 men in this engagement.
Lieut. Eddy had been buried in a shallow grave in one corner of the
house lot. We kept a sharp outlook for our missing comrades, hoping that
they had made their way back to Harper’s Ferry.
On this return march occurred one of those events that made an
impression never to be forgotten.
JOHN BROWN’S BODY
It was nine o’clock at night on a beautiful summer night. The moon shone
brightly through the dark pines on the mountains, and glistened across
the guns of the great army that marched down the turnpike into old
Charlestown. The men were weary and foot sore from their long marches
and were swinging along carelessly. Suddenly someone started singing
“John Brown’s body lies a moldering in the tomb.” Companies, Regiments
and Corps took up the refrain, tired bodies straightened up, and took
step to the music. The grand chorus rang out “Glory, glory hallelujah”
until the mountains gave back the echo “Glory, glory hallelujah” as
though the hosts of Heaven were joining in the refrain “His soul is
marching on.” It was the song of triumph, and if the spirits of the
departed know of things on earth surely the shade of old John Brown was
gratified. Here he was hung, and in the graveyard his body was lying
“Moldering in the tomb,” but his soul was marching on in the ranks of
the thirty thousand soldiers who on that night marched through
Charlestown keeping step to the grand chorus, “Glory, glory hallelujah.”
We marched on and went into camp on Bolivar Heights, near Harper’s
Perry. Here we were joined by John Cook and Jeff Martin of Co. A, who
had been captured by Mosby but escaped the same day. They told us the
story of the capture, how the others had been taken south and they had
escaped. Mosby’s men after gaining the shelter of the mountains began to
examine their plunder and stopped to array themselves in new Union
officers’ uniforms. They were marching over a steep mountain road,
guarding prisoners, when a portion of them stopped, while those in front
passed on out of sight. This left the road clear without a guard in
sight. The two boys took advantage of the opportunity and made a break
for liberty. Down the mountain side they ran, stumbling and falling, but
straining every nerve for freedom. They were not missed apparently, for
the rebels did not pursue them. For three days they wandered through the
mountains, only approaching the negro cabins by night, where they always
found friends ready to feed them and help them on their way. Finally
they reached Harper’s Ferry and waited until we came up.
The two Regiments lay in Camp on Bolivar Heights for five days. The time
of our enlistment had expired ten days before and now we were a waiting
orders for returning to Ohio. We had served nearly four months and were
anxious to get back home. When Gen. Sheridan read the application for
our discharge he paid us the greatest compliment we had in our
experience. He said “I did not know that I had any hundred days men in
my army, they are all veterans.”
It rained hard all the time we remained on Bolivar Heights, but we did
not care, we were going home. At last orders came from headquarters for
our discharge. We were to report at Camp Dennison for final muster out.
Giving three cheers we started for Harper’s Ferry on a dark, rainy day.
Here we found a train awaiting us, which we boarded and at night pulled
out for Baltimore, getting there the next morning. We formed ranks and
marched to the Northern Central depot, and took a train for home. We
returned over the same route over which we came, with the same
accommodations. We had another good supper at Pittsburg and reached
Columbus, Ohio, at noon. We left our train, marched to Todd Barracks and
remained over night. The next day we rode to Camp Dennison, were
assigned to the same barracks that we had left four months previously.
Cooks were detailed and we remained there a week, until Aug. 30th, the
officers making out payrolls, discharges, etc. While there several
citizens of Chillicothe came to see us and we received many boxes of
good things to eat from home. Several of the boys left camp, walked to
the next station and came up home, returning to camp the next day. To
say that we were happy but faintly expresses it. We were finally
discharged from the United States service and paid off.
A special train was furnished, cars with seats in them, and we sped
homeward. When we arrived at Chillicothe we were met by a large
outpouring of the citizens, who, to music furnished by the German Brass
Band, escorted us up town. We marched up Main street, and we stepped
proudly, but were saddened as we passed the homes of James Ghormley and
Edward Armstrong. We were coming home, but these, our friends and
comrades, never returned. They starved to death in Salisbury, N. C.
prison pen.
The good people of Chillicothe had prepared a dinner for us in the
market house, and we did justice to it. After dinner we “fell in” for
the last time, marched up Paint street and drew up in front of the Court
House, where after a few remarks by the Colonel we broke ranks, each
went to his home, and the 149th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry,
became a memory.
MY CAPTURE AND PRISON LIFE
_By William McCommon, Co. A, 149th O. V. I._
I was taken prisoner at Berryville, Va., on August 13th, 1864, at 4 A.
M., together with James Ghormley, Edward Armstrong, Eldridge Whipple and
George Fix, with one man by the name of Sayre of Co. P. These are all
that I can recall now. We were cooking coffee by the roadside when all
at once we heard the report of a cannon and the shell burst just over
our heads and came down through the branches of the trees we were under.
At that moment four hundred of Mosby’s mounted guerrillas came down on
us demanding our money, watches, jewelry or anything else of value we
had on our person. I had one dollar and forty cents. They told me to
give them the dollar and I could keep the forty cents, as I would need
that before we got back, which I found was the gospel truth. That rebel
was honest, anyhow.