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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 18:57:16 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/44783-0.txt b/44783-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..86d7aaf --- /dev/null +++ b/44783-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6745 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44783 *** + +Transcriber's Note: Minor typographical errors have been corrected +without note. Irregularities and inconsistencies in the text have +been retained as printed. + +Words printed in italics are noted with underscores: _italics_. + +The cover of this ebook was created by the transcriber and is hereby +placed in the public domain. + + + + +THE SEVENTH REGIMENT: + +A RECORD. + + +BY + +MAJOR GEORGE L. WOOD. + + +NEW YORK: +PUBLISHED BY JAMES MILLER, +(SUCCESSOR TO C. S. FRANCIS & CO.,) +522 BROADWAY. +1865. + + +Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, + +BY JAMES MILLER, + +In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for +the Southern District of New York. + + + + +AUTHOR'S PREFACE. + + +The following pages were written for the purpose of making a permanent +record of the facts within the author's knowledge relating to the +Seventh Ohio Regiment. The work was undertaken with the belief that the +doings and sufferings of the regiment were of sufficient magnitude and +importance to entitle it to a separate record. It has been extremely +difficult to obtain facts, on account of so large a portion of the +members still being in the service. The book is, therefore, written +principally from memory. If it serves to perpetuate in the minds of the +public the hardships, as well as long and faithful service, of this +gallant regiment, then the object of the author is accomplished. + +WARREN, _May, 1865_. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +This preface to the history of the Seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry is +written at the request of the accomplished author of the book; but +without having read it, seen it, or heard its contents. I have, +however, such confidence in the ability, honesty, candor, good +judgment, and good taste of my old friend and "companion in arms," +that, for myself, I take his work on trust, and in cheerful faith +commend it to others. + +But was there a demand for another book on the war? Or were the doings +and sufferings of one regiment, among the thousands engaged in the war, +of such interest as to demand a separate history? These are questions +the author doubtless weighed carefully before he began to write; and +his answer to them is his book. I agree with him. This nation has a +deep, and will have a lasting, interest in the war. We have been making +history of unrivalled, perhaps of unequalled, importance to the world +during the past four years. We ourselves cannot comprehend the +magnitude of the work we have been doing, or, rather, that God has been +doing through us. The successful revolts of the Netherlanders against +the tyranny of Philip II.--of the Puritans against the tyranny of +Charles I.--of the republicans against the tyranny of George III., +dwindle to insignificance (important as they were) in comparison with +the successful revolt of the loyal, Union-loving, freedom-loving +citizens of this Republic against the tyranny of treason and slavery. +It was a great fight for a great cause, and God has given us a great +victory. There was not a nation on earth that was not interested in the +conflict. Ay, it concerned our common humanity. All this will be seen +more clearly and felt more deeply twenty, fifty, a hundred years hence +than now. But to transmit and perpetuate the fruits of this victory we +must have records of the war--many records, made from many different +points of view, and of many kinds, great and small. The history of this +war is not yet written, perhaps cannot be successfully written for many +years yet. And that it may one day be written as it should be, every +regiment that has a story to tell should tell it. These regimental +histories will be invaluable to the Bancroft who, fifty years hence, +shall write the history of this war. The world is only beginning to +understand the true character and vocation of history--_to make the +past live in the present_; not in great pageants, not in processions +of kings, princes, and mighty conquerors, but _in the common every-day +speech and deeds of the people_. When Merle d'Aubigné would write the +History of the Reformation, he wrote to Guizot for counsel. Guizot +encouraged him, and counselled him to proceed, but added, "_Give us +facts, incidents, details._" This counsel chimed with the purpose +and genius of d'Aubigné, and the result was a history that, though +it discusses doctrines and themes commonly held to be dry and +uninteresting, has for old and young, and men of all classes, all the +charm of romance. In this, his "facts, incidents, details," equally +with his fascinating style, lies the charm of the histories of +Macaulay. But that historians may write such histories--that the +historian of this war may write such a history, the "facts, incidents, +details" must be on record. There is a demand, therefore, for another +book, for many other books, on the war. + +In addition to this, every regiment of the grand Army of the Union in +this war has its own history, of peculiar interest to its own especial +friends. And I have faith in what Dr. O. W. Holmes once said: "I would +not give a fig for a man every one of whose geese were not better than +any other man's swans." To us of the old Seventh "all our geese were +swans." Whether others believed in us or not, we had faith in ourselves +and in one another; we were a mutual admiration society of a thousand +and odd men. And the fact is, that, for some reason, but what I cannot +say, the Seventh Regiment, from the day it was mustered into service to +the day it was mustered out, was always the pride and pet of Ohio, of +Northern Ohio especially. In this respect it never had a rival. True, +it was a well-disciplined, gallant, fighting regiment; but so were many +others. True, it had brave and accomplished officers; but so had many +others. True, it had in the ranks men of refinement, education, and +high social position; but so had many others. I am at a loss to account +for it, but the fact nevertheless was as I have stated it; and as its +deeds corresponded with its renown, _its_ doings, of all others, demand +a permanent record. And, if I am not mistaken, the reader of the +following pages who shall follow the Seventh from the day it was +mustered into service, in Cleveland, in 1861, to the day the pitiful +remnant of it, after tramping and fighting over almost half the Union, +were mustered out of service, in Cleveland, in 1864, will find in them +ample compensation for his time. + +F. T. B. + +CHICAGO, ILL., _May, 1865_. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE FALL OF SUMTER.--CIVIL WAR BEGUN.--PREPARATIONS BY THE SOUTH. +--NOBILITY. 13 + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE PRESIDENT'S CALL FOR TROOPS.--ORGANIZATION OF THE SEVENTH.-- +ITS DEPARTURE FOR CAMP DENNISON.--ITS REORGANIZATION AND DEPARTURE +FOR THE FIELD. 19 + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE PURSUIT OF GENERAL WISE.--TYLER ORDERED TO MENACE GAULEY +BRIDGE AND THREATEN WISE'S COMMUNICATIONS. 30 + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE SKIRMISH AT CROSS LANES.--GALLANT CONDUCT AND FINAL ESCAPE +OF THE SEVENTH REGIMENT. 43 + + +CHAPTER V. + +REFLECTIONS ON THE SKIRMISH AT CROSS LANES.--BATTLE OF CARNIFEX +FERRY. 56 + + +CHAPTER VI. + +CHARLESTON AND THE KANAWHA VALLEY.--A DOUBLE MURDER.--COLONEL +TYLER ASSUMES COMMAND OF THE POST. 63 + + +CHAPTER VII. + +FLOYD ESTABLISHES BATTERIES ON COTTON HILL.--DRIVEN OFF BY +THE FORCES OF GENERAL COX.--BENHAM'S FAILURE TO INTERCEPT HIS +RETREAT.--HIS PURSUIT.--SKIRMISH AT MCCOY'S MILLS.--HIS FINAL +ESCAPE. 70 + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +REFLECTIONS ON THE INSTITUTION OF SLAVERY. 77 + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE SEVENTH ORDERED TO THE EAST.--EXPEDITION TO BLUE'S GAP.-- +KIRMISH ON THE BLOOMING PIKE. 83 + + +CHAPTER X. + +GALLANTRY OF LIEUTENANT O'BRIEN.--DEATH OF GENERAL LANDER.--THE +SEVENTH ESCORT HIS REMAINS.--THE OCCUPATION OF WINCHESTER. 89 + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE RECONNOISSANCE TO STRASBURG.--BATTLE OF WINCHESTER.--UTTER +DEFEAT AND ROUT OF JACKSON'S ARMY. 94 + + +CHAPTER XII. + +GENERAL SHIELDS' ANXIETY FOR LAURELS.--SUMMING UP OF THE BATTLE. +--LOSSES IN THE SEVENTH. 104 + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +PURSUIT OF JACKSON UP THE VALLEY.--MARCH TO FREDERICKSBURG, AND +RETURN TO FRONT ROYAL. 109 + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE MARCH ON WAYNESBORO.--TWO BRIGADES ENCOUNTER JACKSON AT +PORT REPUBLIC, AND AFTER FIVE HOURS' FIGHTING ARE COMPELLED +TO FALL BACK. 114 + + +CHAPTER XV. + +BATTLE OF CEDAR MOUNTAIN.--GALLANTRY OF THE REGIMENT, AND +TERRIBLE LOSS. 123 + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +THE REGIMENT GOES INTO CAMP AT ALEXANDRIA, BUT IS SOON ORDERED +TO THE FRONT.--BATTLE OF ANTIETAM. 134 + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE MARCH TO DUMFRIES.--SKIRMISH WITH HAMPTON'S CAVALRY, IN +WHICH THEY ARE BADLY DEFEATED BY A MUCH INFERIOR FORCE. 142 + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE REGIMENT ORDERED TO THE FRONT.--BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE. 150 + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +ACCOMPANIES THE GRAND ARMY INTO PENNSYLVANIA.--BATTLE OF +GETTYSBURG. 156 + + +CHAPTER XX. + +AFTER REACHING THE RAPIDAN IT GOES TO GOVERNOR'S ISLAND.-- +AFTER ITS RETURN IT ACCOMPANIES HOOKER'S CORPS TO THE WESTERN +DEPARTMENT. 160 + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +THE SEVENTH JOINS GRANT'S ARMY.--THE BATTLES OF LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, +MISSION RIDGE, AND RINGGOLD. 164 + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +THE ADVANCE TOWARDS ATLANTA.--SKIRMISHING.--HOMEWARD MARCH.--ITS +RECEPTION.--MUSTER OUT. 170 + + +BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. + + BRIGADIER-GENERAL E. B. TYLER. 185 + BREVET BRIGADIER-GENERAL J. S. CASEMENT. 189 + BRIGADIER-GENERAL JOHN W. SPRAGUE. 192 + LIEUTENANT-COLONEL SAMUEL MCCLELLAND. 193 + MAJOR FREDERICK A. SEYMOUR. 196 + SURGEON FRANCIS SALTER. 197 + C. J. BELLOWS. 198 + G. E. DENIG. 198 + FREDERICK T. BROWN, D.D. 199 + CHAPLAIN D. C. WRIGHT. 205 + LIEUTENANT-COLONEL GILES W. SHURTLIFF. 206 + COLONEL ARTHUR T. WILCOX. 207 + LIEUTENANT-COLONEL JAMES T. STERLING. 208 + COLONEL JOEL F. ASPER. 210 + MAJOR W. R. STERLING. 214 + MAJOR E. J. KREGER. 215 + CAPTAIN J. B. MOLYNEAUX. 216 + CAPTAIN CHARLES A. WEED. 219 + CAPTAIN JUDSON N. CROSS. 220 + CAPTAIN JOHN F. S. CHUTTE. 221 + LIEUTENANT LOUIS G. DE FOREST. 222 + LIEUTENANT HALBERT B. CASE. 224 + LIEUTENANT HENRY Z. EATON. 226 + LIEUTENANT A. H. DAY. 227 + LIEUTENANT WILLIAM D. SHEPHERD. 227 + LIEUTENANT E. HUDSON BAKER. 229 + LIEUTENANT RALPH LOCKWOOD. 230 + LIEUTENANT T. T. SWEENEY. 230 + LIEUTENANT EDWARD W. FITCH. 231 + LIEUTENANT A. J. WILLIAMS. 231 + + +OUR DEAD. + + COLONEL WILLIAM R. CREIGHTON AND LIEUTENANT-COLONEL + ORRIN J. CRANE. 235 + LIEUTENANT-COLONEL MERVIN CLARK. 291 + LIEUTENANT HENRY ROBINSON. 295 + LIEUTENANT E. S. QUAY. 296 + LIEUTENANT JAMES P. BRISBINE. 296 + LIEUTENANT CHARLES A. BROOKS. 299 + LIEUTENANT JOSEPH H. ROSS. 303 + LIEUTENANT FRANK JOHNSON. 304 + + + + +THE SEVENTH REGIMENT. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE FALL OF SUMTER.--CIVIL WAR BEGUN.--PREPARATIONS BY THE SOUTH.-- +NOBILITY. + + +On a gloomy day in April, 1861, the telegraph flashed the news over the +country that Fort Sumter, a fortress belonging to the United States, +had been fired upon by a body of rebels, and thus inaugurating all the +horrors of civil war. + +By the great mass of people, civil war in our hitherto peaceful country +was entirely unlooked for. It burst so suddenly, that the entire +country was convulsed. The people had become so accustomed to clamor in +Congress and elsewhere, that they looked upon these threats to dissolve +the Union as mere bravado. + +After the first clash of arms at Fort Sumter, both North and South drew +back in alarm, as if in fear of the coming storm. The Southern people, +however, better prepared by education for scenes of strife and +bloodshed, received the news of the inauguration of civil war with less +alarm than did those of the North. The latter received it with a +fearful dignity, conscious of the power to crush the rebellion. The +South, with that arrogance that becomes her so well, expected to make +an easy conquest. Long-continued exercise of power in national matters, +had taught her to look upon the people of the Free States as her +inferiors, needing but a master-stroke for their subjugation,--willing +to lay down their arms, and seek safety in dishonor. They had taken us +for a race of cowards, because we had given way to their selfish +demands in our public councils, for the sake of peace. To be sure, we +had some daring spirits in Congress who met these bullying traitors, +making them feel the full force of Northern valor. But these were +isolated cases, and won the respect of the Southern people to the +persons of the actors rather than to the North as a people. They looked +upon these spirited examples as rather proving the fact of our want of +chivalry than otherwise, and therefore were not corrected in their +false estimate of a people whom they were about to meet on bloody +fields. + +One reason the South had for cherishing so mean an opinion of the North +as a military power, was on account of her having entirely neglected +the cultivation of the art of war. She had so few representatives in +the army and navy, that they were both almost entirely within the +control of the South. + +This control the latter had exercised for years, until her people came +to look upon themselves as the only persons in the country fit to bear +arms. They flattered themselves that they were the army, and we but a +rabble, to be dispersed beyond the hope of reorganization at the first +clash of arms. But in this strife, like all others where aristocratic +privilege comes in contact with the freedom of democracy, these +arrogant lords were to meet with a bitter disappointment; they were to +be made to respect the strong muscle and brave hearts of the so-styled +plebeian North. + +This avowed hostility of the South to the North had caused the former +to take a military direction, and forced her into a course of policy +which, however outrageous it might appear, was yet a matter of +necessity in her attempt at independence. The first step was to put +herself upon a war-footing. This she had been perfecting for several +years. The next was to get the Government so in her control as to make +it powerless in the incipient stages of the rebellion, that it might +gain sufficient strength to withstand the first shock, and thus gain +precedence. + +During a period of thirty years the South was gradually assuming a +war-footing. The militia was organized; independent companies were +formed with no warlike object, as was generally supposed, but really to +resist any encroachment of the Federal Government upon what the leaders +deemed the rights of the Southern people. The election of Abraham +Lincoln to the presidency was not the cause of civil war, but only its +apology. There had existed in the minds of the Southern people a desire +for an independent government, which would give the aristocracy a +firmer footing. In other words, the Federal Government was too +democratic. But it was necessary that these conspirators have some +apparently good reason for civil war; else the people who were at heart +right, would desert them at a time when they were most needed. The time +for the inauguration of civil war was therefore most fitly chosen. The +people were made to believe that the inauguration of President Lincoln +was a sufficient reason; and thus the dream of thirty years of these +disunionists was at last realized. The apology for the war had been +substituted for its cause, and the mass of the Southern people made +eager to meet those on bloody fields whom they were led to suppose were +about to deprive them of their rights and precipitate them into ruin. + +There is always a class styled the nobility in every nation. But the +true nobility in America is that class who have won that distinction by +noble deeds; who are great, not in titles and garters of nobility, but +in great achievements: not that class who base their right to that +title upon the number and character of human beings they may own. The +American people hold that distinction must be given to those by whom it +is merited; and that it cannot be the subject of monopoly. Each person, +however mean his birth, has the same right to enter the list for the +prize as he who was born of a higher rank. It is this freedom, which is +given to all, that has caused the Northern States to make such rapid +progress towards civilization and greatness; and it is the crippling of +this great principle that has cast a shadow over the enslaved South. +One great object of the leaders of the South had been to arrest the +rapid growth of the North, which, they were conscious, would one day +throw them into a helpless minority, for they could not themselves keep +pace with this rapid progress. Their ambition was to have capital +control labor, while the laboring classes were to be subservient to the +capitalists, and a sort of serfdom forced upon them. The wealthy class +were to live in luxury and indolence upon the unrequited toil of their +slaves. These facts, the leaders of the wicked rebellion, which they +were to inaugurate, were careful to conceal from their followers. This +was so well done, that the people of the South thought that these +imaginary wrongs of the Government, which had been pictured to them by +their masters, was the true reason of their attempt at separation from +the Union. It is hoped that the masses will soon see the difference +between serving a privileged class of aristocrats, and being members of +a free Republic. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE PRESIDENT'S CALL FOR TROOPS.--ORGANIZATION OF THE SEVENTH.--ITS +DEPARTURE FOR CAMP DENNISON.--ITS REORGANIZATION AND DEPARTURE FOR +THE FIELD. + + +On Monday, April 15, the President issued a call for 75,000 volunteers +for three months' service. The States responded immediately to this +call in double the number required. Never in the history of the world +was such a response witnessed to the call of any country. Men left +their implements of husbandry in the fields and rushed to the +recruiting stations. The executives of the States were pressed with +applications to raise companies and batteries under the call of the +President. + +Under this call thirteen regiments of infantry were assigned to Ohio. +In fifteen days 71,000 troops were offered to Governor Dennison to fill +the quota of the State. Camps were now established at different points +in the State, and troops ordered to rendezvous. Camp Taylor, at +Cleveland, Ohio, was organized on the 22d day of April, and by the 27th +contained several thousand troops. Of these, the city of Cleveland had +three companies of infantry; Trumbull County, one; Mahoning County, one +company of infantry and a section of artillery; Portage County, two; +Lake County, one; Lorain County, one; Huron County, one; while the city +of Toledo was represented by an entire regiment. The latter part of +April these detached companies were formed into a regiment, +constituting the Seventh Ohio. It contained the right material for a +fighting regiment. The majority of its members were of a floating +class, fond of adventure, while many were of the best class. The +regiment, as a whole, combined rare military talent. Many of its +officers and privates were skilled in tactics; and those who were not, +immediately set themselves about acquiring the necessary information, +rather by practice than study; for, with some exceptions, it was not a +scholarly regiment. The members took too much the character of +adventurers, to indulge in close study or profound thinking. But for +practical purposes, I doubt whether the regiment had a superior in the +State. It readily acquired discipline while on duty; but while off +duty, its members were not over-nice in their conduct, seldom indulging +in sports that were absolutely wrong, but, at the same time, gratifying +that propensity for fun which characterized them through their entire +career. It contained no drones; there was no companionship in it for +such. + +On a beautiful Sabbath in early May, as the morning, with its +freshness, was dispelling the damps and shadows of the night from city +and country, a regiment was seen passing down the streets of the city +of Cleveland. The sweet strains of music and the heavy tramp of the +soldiers alone broke the silence. There was nothing but this martial +bearing, which marked the carriage of the members of the regiment, to +distinguish them from the multitude which was hastening in the same +direction; for there were no arms and no uniforms. Each member was +dressed in his citizen's garb, and there was no attempt at military +evolutions. It was a simple march of determined men to the defence of +their country. Solemnity and a becoming absence of unnecessary +enthusiasm marked the occasion with sublimity and grandeur. The faces +of those brave men were saddened with the thought of the perils which +lay before them, and the endearments that were behind. They were +marching to perform a sacred trust, confided to them by their +countrymen. "This was the first march of the gallant Seventh." Arriving +at the depot of the Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati Railroad, it +took a train of cars for Camp Dennison, where it arrived in the +afternoon of the next day. Here they were totally unprepared to receive +it, no barracks having been erected, although one hundred men had been +sent there for that purpose several days previous. The ground was +perfectly saturated with water from a three days' rain, and the camp in +what had been a cornfield. But notwithstanding these difficulties, by +sunset the regiment had constructed barracks, and were comparatively +comfortable. In a few days the companies began to drill in earnest, and +their advancement was correspondingly rapid. + +On the 11th day of May the regiment was ordered to elect, by ballot, +three field-officers. The candidates for colonel were, E. B. Tyler, of +Ravenna; a former brigadier of militia, and James A. Garfield. The +former was elected. Garfield afterwards became colonel of the +Forty-second regiment, and, in command of a brigade, defeated Humphrey +Marshall in Kentucky, for which he was given a star. Captain W. R. +Creighton was elected lieutenant-colonel, and J. S. Casement, of +Painesville, major. + +On the 13th day of May, the President having issued a call for 42,032 +volunteers for three years, a meeting was held in the Seventh Regiment, +when all but one of the officers were in favor of organizing under this +call. The subject being brought before the regiment on the following +day, about three-fourths of the command enlisted for the three years' +service. Recruiting officers were sent home, and by the middle of June +the regiment was full. It was mustered into the three years' service on +the 19th and 20th of June. + +The companies were officered as follows: Company A, O. J. Crane, captain; +A. C. Burgess, first-lieutenant; D. A. Kimball, second-lieutenant. +Company B, James T. Sterling, captain; Joseph B. Molyneaux, +first-lieutenant; H. Z. Eaton, second-lieutenant. Company C, Giles W. +Shurtliff, captain; Judson N. Cross, first-lieutenant; E. Hudson Baker, +second-lieutenant. Company D, John N. Dyer, captain; Charles A. Weed, +first-lieutenant; A. J. Williams, second-lieutenant. Company E, John W. +Sprague, captain; Arthur T. Wilcox, first-lieutenant; Ralph Lockwood, +second-lieutenant. Company F, D. B. Clayton, captain; John B. Rouse, +first-lieutenant; A. C. Day, second-lieutenant. Company G, F. A. +Seymour, captain; W. H. Robinson, first-lieutenant; E. S. Quay, +second-lieutenant. Company H, Joel F. Asper, captain; Geo. L. Wood, +first-lieutenant; Halbert B. Case, second-lieutenant. Company I, W. R. +Sterling, captain; Samuel McClelland, first-lieutenant; E. F. Fitch, +second-lieutenant. Company K, John F. Schutte, captain; Oscar W. Sterl, +first-lieutenant; C. A. Nitchelm, second-lieutenant. H. K. Cushing was +appointed surgeon, and F. Salter assistant surgeon. John Morris was +appointed quartermaster, Louis G. De Forest, adjutant, and Rev. F. T. +Brown, chaplain. + +Camp Dennison was well calculated for a camp of instruction. It is +separated into two parts by the track of the Little Miami Railroad, +while the river of the same name flows along its border. It is situated +between sloping hills of some magnitude, in a slightly undulating +valley. In summer it is beautiful; in winter, gloomy. + +Soon after being mustered into service, the regiment was reviewed by +George B. McClellan, then major-general of Ohio militia, commanding the +Department of the Ohio. Immediately after, we were ordered to join his +forces in the field. + +Accordingly, on the afternoon of the 26th of June, the regiment took +the cars for Columbus, Ohio, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel +Creighton, Colonel Tyler having gone in advance. Arriving in Columbus +late at night, it was transferred to the Central Ohio Railroad, +arriving at Bell air in the afternoon of the succeeding day. It was +immediately ordered across the river to Benwood, a small station on the +Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, a few miles below Wheeling. Here the +regiment was, for the first time, supplied with ammunition. It encamped +on the common, after the pieces were loaded. Much fatigued by their +long ride, the men threw themselves upon the hard ground, and were soon +enjoying a sound sleep. + +In the mean time Major Casement was superintending the transportation +of the baggage and supplies across the river to a train of cars in +waiting. + +Here and there the dusky forms of men were seen grouped over the fires, +which were dimly burning, discussing the stories which were floating +about camp, with no apparent starting place, of ambuscades, masked +batteries, and other concealed horrors. + +Early on the morning of the 28th of June, three trains of cars were +slowly conveying the regiment into the wilds of Western Virginia, where +war, in its madness, was to confront it. + +It arrived at Grafton early in the afternoon, and taking the +Parkersburg branch of the railroad, it arrived at Clarksburg before the +close of the day, and encamped in the outskirts of the village. The +entire regiment occupied tents, which were looked upon with much more +favor than densely crowded barracks. + +While encamped at this place, a stand of colors was presented to the +regiment, the gift of the Turners, a society of Germans in Cleveland. + +Near thirty miles from the village of Clarksburg is the small hamlet of +Weston, then a notorious haunt for rebels. In the place was a bank, in +which the deposits, to the amount of about thirty thousand dollars, +still remained. The authorities were desirous of procuring this +treasure. The undertaking was intrusted to the Seventh. It was proposed +to surprise the town early in the morning, before any one was astir to +give the alarm. + +In the afternoon of the last day of June, the regiment wound its way +through the village, across the river, on to what is called the +Clarksburg pike, leading to Weston. The clay was intensely hot, and the +men entirely unused to marching. At sunset but little distance had been +made, and all were much fatigued, but still the gallant band pressed +onward. Weary and footsore, it moved on till daylight, when some +considerable distance intervened between it and the village. Men were +beginning to fall out by the wayside, unable to proceed further. At +this unfortunate moment the river appeared in view, which makes a bend +to the road, about a mile from Weston. On the opposite side of the road +was a gradual slope of cultivated land, with here and there a clump of +trees. From behind one of these a man was seen to emerge, and being +taken for one of the enemy's scouts, the command was given to "fire," +when several pieces were discharged, without injury, however, to the +object of their aim. A double-quick was now ordered, when the men, +unable to proceed with their knapsacks, scattered them along the road. + +Arriving at the town the right wing made a detour to the left, while +the left wing made a similar one to right, deploying as they went. In +this manner the village was entirely surrounded. The first intimation +the citizens had of the presence of the military was the playing of the +"Star Spangled Banner" by the band stationed in the park. A guard was +placed over the bank, and a member of the regiment detailed to look to +the business. + +The Union citizens were overjoyed at the presence of the Federal +forces. They prepared a breakfast for the entire regiment, and other +charitable acts, which attested their devotion to the Union cause. The +regiment encamped on the bank of the river, near the cemetery. + +During the first days of our stay at Weston many arrests were made of +disloyal citizens, a few of whom were sent to Columbus, Ohio, to await +the action of the Federal Government. + +At this time a small force, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Pond, +of the Seventeenth Ohio Volunteers, was besieged at Glenville, a small +village on the banks of the Little Kanawha, by a superior force of +rebels, under command of Major Patton, assisted by Captain O. Jennings +Wise. Companies H and B were sent to his relief. After a fatiguing +march of two days and one night they opened communication with Colonel +Pond, the rebels withdrawing at their approach. + +Six more companies of the regiment arrived at Glenville on the +following day, Colonel Tyler being fearful that the first detachment +might meet with a reverse. Several other regiments arrived about the +same time, but left soon after. + +During the stay of the regiment at this place, many scouting +expeditions were sent out; on which occasions many dangers and +hardships were encountered. + +Just before our arrival at Glenville, a Union lady rode in the saddle +through the rebel camp, with the stars and stripes in one hand and a +pistol in the other, while she defied the rebel host. Being pursued, +she sought refuge in our camp, and finally accompanied the advance of +our forces to her home, with the proud satisfaction of seeing the old +banner once more planted on her native soil. During the progress of the +war she had suffered many perils. At one time she went to visit her +brother, who was concealed in the woods, for the purpose of giving him +food, when she was challenged by a rebel picket. She wheeled her horse, +and, by hard riding, escaped, the rebel bullets passing harmlessly over +her head. + +Private Adams, of Company C, was wounded while on picket, being the +first casualty in the regiment produced by the enemy. About the same +time Captain Shurtliff had a horse shot from under him, while riding in +the vicinity of the camp, and within the Federal lines. + +Some difficulty was experienced at this place in procuring supplies. +The regiment was fed for some time on corn meal and fresh beef. A mill, +however, was soon set in operation, and supplies of flour and meal were +furnished in abundance. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE PURSUIT OF GENERAL WISE.--TYLER ORDERED TO MENACE GAULEY BRIDGE +AND THREATEN WISE'S COMMUNICATIONS. + + +On the 11th day of July General Rosecrans, by order of General +McClellan, marched his brigade eight miles through a mountain-path to +the rear of the rebel force, occupying the crest of Rich Mountain, +commanded by Colonel Pegram. This movement resulted in the fighting of +the battle of that name. The rebels were completely defeated, and made +a precipitate retreat towards Carrick's Ford, where, on the 13th, they +were again routed, with the loss of their general. + +In the mean time the rebel General Wise had occupied the Kanawha +Valley, with a few regular troops and a considerable force of militia. + +The advance of this force extended as far down the river as Buffalo, +while numerous incursions were made by the rebel cavalry in the +vicinity of Point Pleasant, a village situated at the junction of the +Kanawha with the Ohio River. + +To oppose this force General Cox was sent with a brigade of Ohio +troops. His main force passed up the river in boats, while a sufficient +force was kept on each flank to prevent surprise. + +General Wise gradually retired at the advance of this force until, +arriving on the banks of Scarey Creek, he threw up some breastworks, +and awaited the approach of the Union troops. + +While these movements were being executed in the valley, Colonel Tyler +was ordered to advance with a brigade by the way of Sutton, to menace +Gauley Bridge, and threaten Wise's communications. + +On the 22d of July the Seventh Regiment moved out of Glenville, on what +is called the Braxton road, towards Bulltown, where it was to be joined +by Colonel Tyler with the Seventeenth Ohio, two companies of the First +Virginia, with Captain Mack's battery, United States Artillery, and +Captain Snyder's section of twelve-pounders, making a force of fifteen +hundred. + +We arrived at Bulltown in the evening of the next day, meeting with no +resistance from the rebels, who were scattered in small parties through +this entire region of country. We had expected to meet with opposition +at the ford, on the Little Kanawha, some twenty miles from Glenville, +but with the exception of a small band of guerillas, who were very +careful to keep the river between ourselves and them, we saw no rebels. + +It was not until the evening of the 25th that we broke camp, and then +to cross a range of hills only, into the valley of the Elk, where we +remained until the 27th of July. + +At this camp we learned of a rebel force at Flat Woods, distant six +miles, in the direction of Sutton. On the 27th we moved out, in a heavy +rain, to attack their camp, but at our approach they fled in dismay. + +We remained at Flat Woods till the following Sunday, when we moved on +to Sutton, a distance of ten miles. + +Sutton, the county-seat of Braxton County, is situated at the base of a +high range of hills, on the right bank of the Elk River. The river is +crossed by a suspension bridge. Back of the village, and about two +hundred feet above it, is a fine table land, with a range of hills for +a back ground. This table land was to be approached only by a narrow +defile fronting the river, which was easily defended; for a battery +properly planted would command every approach for a mile around; +besides, the enemy would have to cross the Elk River under fire. Nature +had made the position a strong one. + +The command, now swelled to about two thousand, encamped on this table +land, with the two companies of the First Virginia, and Mack's Battery +thrown forward across the river, to keep open the road in front. + +The command at once proceeded to erect fortifications, Captain Asper +being sent to the front of Captain Mack's position on the Summerville +pike, with instructions to select a proper position, after which to +erect a fortification commanding the road. Finding a point where the +road makes a sharp angle, the captain constructed the work, which, +although of no account during the stay of the regiment at Sutton, +afterwards proved a good point of defence, when the wreak garrison +stationed there was attacked. + +The second day of August, the regiment left Sutton, and crossing the +river again advanced towards Gauley Bridge. The day was one of the +hottest, which, added to the hilly nature of the country, made the +advance difficult. Both officers and men fell out of the line, unable +to proceed, being so oppressed by the heat, and wearied by the +difficult state of the roads. At night we had crossed but one range of +hills, and found ourselves in the valley of the Little Birch River, at +the foot of Birch Mountain. The following morning we again took up the +line of march, reaching the Great Birch River at early twilight, having +made but a few miles during the day. + +In the afternoon we were joined by our chaplain, who, when we were at +Glenville, volunteered to make his way across the country with a +message to General Cox. And now, after an absence of more than two +weeks, on a perilous message, he was again with us, as fresh and +light-hearted as when he left for his daring enterprise. He joined us +by the way of Gauley Bridge, having been the first to make the trip. +Alone, through a country infested by murderous bands of guerrillas and +outlaws, he traveled more than a hundred and fifty miles. Before such +deeds of individual heroism, all but the grandeur and magnitude of +large battles fade into obscurity. In such single exploits there is a +stern, silent daring, that obscures the maddened bravery of a +battle-field. + +From our chaplain we learned that General Wise had left the valley, +burning the bridge over the Gauley River, after crossing his command. +He had become frightened and fled. And thus the rebel general, who at +Charleston had said: "By G--, the stars and stripes shall never wave +over this town again;" on the Wednesday following exclaimed: "The enemy +are on us, why the h--ll don't you pack my wagon," and, taking counsel +of his fears, fled in dismay. + +But let us return to the Seventh Regiment, which we left at its camp +near the Big Birch River. + +On the morning of August 6, we broke camp, and taking a mountain road +arrived at Summerville on the following Wednesday, and encamped on +Addison Hill. + +The country about Summerville is beautiful in the extreme. It is +slightly undulating, having more the appearance of an open country, or +in some respects a prairie, than of a valley between two very high +ridges. It is sufficiently rolling to hide the mountains which separate +the Gauley from the Elk River. + +At our former camp we were surrounded by very high, precipitous +mountains, with large rocks projecting from their summits. After +passing over Powell Mountain, we came into the valley of the Gauley, +and after marching a short distance, entirely lost sight of these +mountains, over whose rocky crests we had, but a short time before, +pursued our slow and weary way. + +The contrast between this camp and the one at Big Birch was striking. +Here we were reminded of Ohio, our native State, the one which had more +attractions for us than any other; while at the latter camp we were +constantly reminded of some lonely country, described only by the +novelist, and inhabited alone by robbers and outlaws. And yet, upon +this mountain region, nature was lavish with her charms. The scenery is +grand beyond description. Peak after peak rises, one above another, +until the tired eye arrows dim in its endeavor to trace the outlines of +the distant mountain, and seeks the beautiful valley, wherein to +restore its lost vision. + +From the top of Powell's Mountain, the beauty of the scenery is lost +sight of in its magnificence. This mountain is the highest in Western +Virginia, and commands the finest view. The first time I ascended it +was on horseback. When near the top we struck into a bridle path, and, +urging our horses into a gallop, we were soon at the base of the +projecting rocks. Below, a lovely panorama was open to our view. The +side of the mountain, as well as the distant valley, seemed covered +with a carpet of green, for both were densely wooded, and in the +distance the foliage seemed to blend with the earth. We could see far +away into the smaller valleys, and from them trace the ravines, in +which the small rivulets make their merry descent from the side of the +mountain. + +At last, tired of gazing at this beautiful spot in nature's varied +scenery, we again urged our horses forward, and, after partially +winding around the mountain, we were at the very summit of this mass of +earth, rocks, and herbage. We now obtained a view of the opposite side +of the mountain from which we had ascended, where beauty expands into +sublimity. We could plainly trace the course of the Kanawha River, as +on its banks the mountains rise higher, and are more abrupt, while +beyond they lessen into hills, and the hills waste into a valley. On +the side of the distant hills we could see an occasional farm, with its +fields of golden grain ready for the harvest. On the very top of this +mountain was living a family. + +Notwithstanding their great height, these mountains seemed fertile; and +the farms are apparently as good as those in the valley. Springs +frequently make their way out of the rocks by the roadside. Water is +abundant in any part of these mountains, and springs more common than +in the valley. + +Near the top of Powell's Mountain, in a kind of basin, is a very fine +farm. It is well watered, and well timbered, and quite fertile. The +owner lives and flourishes in this quiet home, and, I should say, is +quite as happy as if in a city. He has become accustomed to the +loneliness of his mountain retreat. The wild scenery has become +familiar--its very wildness has a charm. He is content with two visits +each year to the distant settlement. It is literally true that "home is +where the heart is." + +Although this country was well supplied with provisions of every kind, +we were not allowed to appropriate any of it. The property of rebels +was considered sacred. The authorities were confident of putting down +the rebellion through clemency, and, therefore, were both ready and +willing to put our soldiers upon half rations, rather than incur the +ill-will of traitors. When prisoners were captured, they had what was +called an oath of allegiance administered to them, when they were +liberated, to again rob and plunder. Occasionally we captured a horse, +but it was invariably given up, on the owner taking this oath of +allegiance. In view of this moderate method of dealing with them, they +risked nothing in prowling about our lines, for they knew that they had +only to take this oath to procure an honorable discharge; while the +soldiers of the Federal army, if they stole but an onion to make a +piece of hard bread palatable, were subjected to the severest +punishments. Experience has finally taught us, that hard blows alone +will conquer a rebellion, and that to reduce a foe, starvation is quite +as good as the bayonet. + +I do not know that any one was criminal in this early practice of +clemency towards rebels; it seemed rather to be a sort of national +weakness, growing out of the universal opinion that the rebellion was, +at the greatest, but a weak effort of a deluded people; and that +kindness, connected with a show of strength, rather than its exercise, +would induce them to return to their former allegiance. It seems to be, +at this day, of little consequence why this practice prevailed, or who +was responsible for it, as it has almost entirely ceased. + +On the 11th day of August, Captain John W. Sprague was given a leave of +absence, to go to his home, and was intrusted with dispatches to +General Rosecrans. He was to proceed by the way of Sutton and +Clarksburg. When near the Big Birch River he was suddenly confronted by +a band of rebel cavalry, belonging to Colonel Croghan's Second Georgia +Regiment, who was not far from the spot, with his entire command. The +mail carrier and two dragoons, who accompanied Captain Sprague, +attempted to make their escape; only one, however, was successful; the +mail carrier receiving a mortal wound in the attempt. + +Securing their prisoners, the rebel cavalry crossed the Gauley River, +and were soon out of reach of the Federal forces. An unsuccessful +attempt was made to rescue the captors; but infantry, of course, could +make but a fruitless attempt at recapturing prisoners in the hands of +well-mounted cavalry. + +This occurrence spread a gloom over the entire camp. One of the best +officers of the regiment had been captured almost within our lines, and +borne away to a Southern prison, to endure the privations of prison +life, with the fond anticipation of seeing home and friends blighted +and withered. To be lost to one's country, within the prison walls of +her enemies, when the arm of every true patriot is needed in her +defence, is a sad fate. + +I am not inclined to blame any one for this unfortunate occurrence, +though it may occur to the mind of the reader that good generalship +would require that the commandant of a body of troops, in the heart of +an enemy's country, should know whether or not the cavalry of that +enemy was hanging on his flank and rear. And then, again, it may be +urged with truth that the command was almost entirely without cavalry, +though it was furnished with one company, as well as one of Snake +Hunters, as they were called. The legitimate business in the army of +the latter was scouting. They had no other duty to perform. + +But however these facts may be, yet true it is that a regiment of the +enemy's regular cavalry was not only hanging on the flank of our +column, but occupied our rear--thus severing our communications, and +cutting off our supplies. + +On the 15th day of August we again moved forward, after first sending a +company down to Hugh's Ferry. We proceeded through a densely wooded +country, abounding in laurel and pau-pau, arriving at Cross Lanes, two +and a half miles from Carnifex Ferry, on the Gauley River, in time to +prepare our camp before night. + +Soon after our arrival Captain Schutte, of Company K, was on picket +duty at Carnifex Ferry. During the day the captain, for some unknown +reason, conceived the idea of a scout across the river. Selecting +fourteen of his men, he crossed over to the opposite bank, and, taking +the main road, immediately pushed into the country. The march was made, +apparently, without any apprehension of the presence of an enemy; at +least, no steps appear to have been taken to prevent a surprise. All +went well, however, until the party had made a distance of several +miles, when, the first intimation they had of danger, they were fired +upon by a party of cavalry, concealed in an adjacent thicket, and all +but four of the party killed or wounded--Captain Schutte being wounded +mortally. The survivors conveyed him to an old building, and, at his +own request, left him. He expired soon after, and was buried on the +spot by the rebels. The four men fled towards the river, and, being +pursued, took to the woods. One, being separated from his companions, +was pursued to the bank of the river, and was only saved by throwing +himself into the stream from the projecting rocks. He concealed his +body under water, keeping sufficient of his face above to sustain life. +He could plainly distinguish the conversation of the rebels, and knew +by it that they were in search of him. Here he remained during the day, +and at night dragged himself upon the rocks. The next morning, tired +and hungry, he floated himself down stream by clinging to the almost +perpendicular rocks, until, arriving opposite a house, he was hailed by +a woman, to whom he made known his condition. She immediately +unfastened a canoe, and, paddling directly across the river to where he +was lying, half famished in the water, helped him over its sides, and +conveyed him to the other shore. Before they landed, however, the +rebels discovered them, and gave the order to "halt." It not being +obeyed, they fired, the bullets sinking harmlessly into the water. In a +moment the two were lost to view in the pau-pau, which lined the river +bank. The woman guided the soldier to her home, where she cared for him +during a short illness, which succeeded his escape. When he was +sufficiently recovered to join his command, he found the regiment had +abandoned Cross Lanes, which had been occupied by the rebel forces. He +returned to his former retreat, where he was concealed until the day of +the disaster to the Seventh, when, taking advantage of the confusion +into which the rebel forces were thrown during the affair, he escaped +towards Gauley Bridge, which place he reached in safety the following +day. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE SKIRMISH AT CROSS LANES.--GALLANT CONDUCT AND FINAL ESCAPE OF +THE SEVENTH REGIMENT. + + +The occupation of Cross Lanes was considered by the authorities of the +gravest importance. It was contiguous to three fords on the Gauley +River, which, when possessed by the Federal forces, was a perfect +protection to the left of the army occupying Gauley Bridge. Carnifex +Ferry was immediately south two and one-half miles. There was a road +leading from the vicinity of Gauley Bridge, on the south bank of the +Gauley River, which unites with the Sunday road, crossing the river at +this ferry. This road afforded the enemy a means of gaining the left of +our forces, at Gauley Bridge. The occupation of Cross Lanes, therefore, +by the enemy, would sever the communication between our forces at the +above point, and the main army under Rosecrans, occupying the country +from the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, along Cheat Mountain. + +Carnifex Ferry, was a point easily defended against a much superior +force. Indeed, it had so many natural defences, that it elicited +exclamations of surprise from men accustomed to the selection of places +for defence. The current of the river was rapid, while the abrupt rocks +on its banks afforded secure hiding places for a considerable body of +troops. It was quite impossible to bring artillery to bear in such a +manner on the position as to interfere materially with troops concealed +there. It seems to be the opinion of most persons familiar with the +place, that it would be quite impossible to dislodge a body of troops +properly posted on the north bank of the river at this ferry, provided +a stubborn resistance was made. + +It was for the purpose of preventing the crossing of the enemy at this +point that the force of Colonel Tyler was ordered to Cross Lanes. By +keeping pickets well on the line of the river, to watch any advance of +the enemy, the regiment was entirely safe at its camp, from which it +was comparatively easy to re-enforce any portion of the line. But for +some reason, the commanding officer failed to visit the ferry in +person, until the afternoon of the day on which a peremptory order was +received to report with his command at Gauley Bridge. Hitherto he had +been entirely unable to give correct information, as to the probability +of his being able to hold the ferry. He was ordered to abandon the +position, because his dispatches were such, that they created an +uneasiness in the minds of Generals Rosecrans and Cox, as to the +propriety of trusting him to hold so important a position. Here was the +fatal mistake. A lesser error had already been made, in withdrawing all +the forces from Tyler, other than the Seventh. Had these forces +remained, the position would probably not have been abandoned, as all +would have felt secure. When the order to withdraw was received, the +commanding officer regretted it as much as any one. But the mischief +was already done; the order was imperative. On that evening, Monday, +the regiment left Cross Lanes at 11 o'clock P.M., and the next day, by +noon, was at Twenty Mile Creek, some eight miles from Gauley Bridge. + +On the Wednesday morning following, Colonel Tyler reported in person to +General Cox. In the mean time, the general having become satisfied that +Colonel Tyler could be trusted to hold Cross Lanes, and being confident +that the contemplated attack of the enemy on Gauley Bridge had been +abandoned, ordered him to return as soon as the troops were rested, +expecting him to start back, at least the next morning. But Tyler did +not move. On Friday afternoon, General Cox, on learning that he had not +moved, was much excited, and said to an officer present-- + +"He must move; he must move at once; it is all important that Cross +Lanes be held, and Floyd be kept on the other side of the river; ride +back to camp and tell him from me, to move early in the morning, _and +with speed, to secure the position_." + +The order was delivered in nearly the same language as given, but +notwithstanding its directness, he did not move till noon on Saturday, +and then made a distance of only fourteen miles, over good roads, +encamping at the foot of Panther Mountain, after having fallen back +from Peter's Creek, on learning of the presence of the enemy. + +On arriving in camp, a dispatch was sent to General Cox, representing +to him that the enemy were in force in front, and asking instructions. +On Sunday morning at about 3 o'clock, a courier arrived with an order +from General Cox, substantially as follows: The force in your front +cannot be as large as you estimate it. Advance cautiously, feeling your +way; if the enemy is too strong, fall back, if not, occupy Cross Lanes +at once, as it is of the utmost importance. + +About nine o'clock Sunday morning, August 25th, the regiment moved +towards Cross Lanes, casting lots as to which company should be left in +charge of the baggage. It fell upon Company F, which was temporarily +commanded by Lieutenant Kimball. The entire day was occupied in +reaching Cross Lanes. It was not until dark of that day that the +regiment went into camp. + +In the days' advance some slight skirmishing occurred with the enemy's +cavalry videttes, but beyond these few horsemen no enemy was +encountered, the regiment encamping in apparent security near the +church, after having driven away a cavalry picket of the enemy. + +Companies were sent out on picket, as follows: Company A, on the road +leading to Summerville; Company K, on the road leading to Carnifex +Ferry; Company C, on the road leading in the opposite direction, while +Company E was sent on a diagonal road leading to a ferry some distance +below Carnifex. The balance of the command remained near headquarters, +which were established in the church. + +Each company on picket was divided into three reliefs, with +instructions to be vigilant. + +The silence of the enemy, together with his neglect to attack, created +the impression that he had withdrawn his forces to the other side of +the river, fearing that this small force was but the advance of a +well-equipped army. But these theories were destined to fade into +sadder realities, as the shadows of night melted into morning. + +Nothing occurred during the night to disturb the general repose. A +short time before day fires were kindled, and those who were up had +pieces of meat on sticks, which they were roasting. Some had obtained +green corn during the night, which they were also roasting. Before day +had fairly dawned, the command was almost entirely astir. As it became +sufficiently light to distinguish objects at a considerable distance, +several musket shots were heard in the direction of the river, followed +in quick succession by others. It soon became evident that a determined +attack was being made on Company K. About this time a column of rebels +was seen advancing from the river road, across the fields, towards +Company A's position on the Summerville road. Arriving in the vicinity +of this road, the column halted, formed in line of battle, at the same +time swinging round its right to the Summerville road, driving Company +A back to the point where the roads cross. In the mean time Companies +B, D, G, H, and I were ordered to the support of Company K; but on +arriving at the cross roads, Company K was seen falling back in some +confusion, before a superior force, therefore they remained at that +point. Meanwhile a heavy fire was opened from a dense wood opposite the +church, to resist which Company K, having been joined by Companies A +and C, which had advanced to its support on the ferry road, took +position on a hill midway between this belt of timber and the crossing +of the roads. From this point these companies delivered several +effective volleys, which soon drove the rebels from their position. +Taking advantage of this partial check of the enemy, Captain Crane +ordered a charge, which resulted in piercing the lines, and the capture +of a stand of rebel colors. The three companies now escaped, with a +loss, however, of Captain Shurtliff, Lieutenant Wilcox, and Lieutenant +Cross, taken prisoners, the latter being severely wounded in the arm. + +During this time the rebel column from the direction of Summerville had +advanced so as to lap over the road opposite the Ferry road, exposing +the companies occupying the road in front of the church to an +enfilading fire, at the same time being exposed to a severe fire from +the front, from a column of infantry and cavalry coming up the Ferry +road. These companies were now ordered to rally on a hill near the +church. In executing this movement Companies D and H passed through a +corn field, exposed to a deadly fire from almost every direction. Soon +after reaching this field Captain Dyer, Company D, fell dead, pierced +in the heart by a rifle bullet. Lieutenant Weed succeeded him in +command. On reaching the hill these companies attempted to rally, but +being in an open field, combated by a much superior and partially +hidden foe, were compelled to fall back to a piece of woods skirting +the road. The balance of the command, other than those who had followed +the fortunes of Captain Crane, now joined them, and soon organized for +a systematic retreat. + +Captain Crane and his followers, after putting some distance between +themselves and the enemy, crossed the Gauley road, and hastened to the +mountains, where they would be entirely free from the attacks of +cavalry, and where they would have a chance, at least, of partially +defending themselves against attack from the rebel infantry. + +Arriving in the mountains, they took a direction as nearly as possible +towards Gauley Bridge, where they arrived in safety, meeting with +little of adventure on the way. Thus a small body of Federals had +fought their way out from the very grasp of the enemy, and, eluding +pursuit, traversed a mountain range, with no guide, over rocks and deep +gorges, arriving safely within the Union lines. Their arrival, however, +did little to cheer the hearts of those in camp, for they were a small +body compared with those still unheard from. + +The news of the sad disaster to the Seventh had already been sent to +the friends at home; universal gloom had settled over the camp, and the +prospect looked dark for saving the organization, even, of a regiment +which was the pride of the Western Reserve. + +A flag of truce was sent to Cross Lanes to ascertain, if possible, the +fate of those left behind. Chaplain Brown and Surgeon Cushing were +selected to undertake this enterprise. They, however, returned without +having accomplished their object. + +One dark, rainy night, as if nature was in sympathy with the feelings +of those in camp, the band commenced playing a patriotic air in front +of the colonel's quarters, accompanied with cheers. I knew that this +indicated good news. Hastening to the spot I learned that a dispatch +had just arrived from Charleston with the comforting news that four +hundred of the regiment had arrived in safety on the Elk River, twelve +miles from the above place. But let us accompany these four hundred +heroes in their march from the battlefield. + +Organizing the troops, Major Casement, being first in rank, Colonels +Tyler and Creighton having already escaped, assumed command. Losing no +time the detachment immediately took up the line of march. Avoiding all +highways, and keeping well in the timber, they moved on for some time, +when, considering themselves out of immediate danger, they ventured out +to the road, to find themselves only three miles from the place of +starting. It was now concluded that it was not advisable to attempt +reaching Gauley Bridge, as the enemy would be likely to interpose a +considerable body of troops between them and that point. It was +considered to be more practicable to make in the direction of Elk +River, and by this means reach Charleston. This course being adopted, +the command crossed the road and took to the mountains. Very soon after +a party of rebel cavalry came dashing down as if in pursuit, barely +missing the object of their search. + +The command, aided by a compass, took their course over the mountains +in a direction which they supposed would ultimately lead them to the +banks of the Elk River. + +During the afternoon Captain W. R. Sterling procured a guide, who +conducted them by narrow pathways, in which they were compelled to +march single file, towards a house which was situated at some distance +on the mountain. Night setting in, before reaching the spot, without +even a star visible to light them on the way, the column halted, and +passed the word back for a candle. The line extended for nearly half a +mile, and it was not until the last company, H, had been reached, that +one was procured. On its arriving at the front, it was discovered that +the head of the column had arrived on the brink of a deep chasm, into +which it would be sure death to plunge. One step more, and the unlucky +leader of the line would have been precipitated into the dreadful +crater. But these daring adventurers were spared the misfortune of such +an accident. + +Two hours of valuable time having been lost, the line now pressed +forward, each man holding on to the man preceding him. About midnight +the house was reached, and the weary band laid themselves down; not, +however, to sleep, for the only provisions they had had during the day +was roasted corn, for in the morning they were attacked while preparing +breakfast, which they were compelled to abandon. The woman of the house +was kept cooking the good old-fashioned corn-dodger, and by morning the +command was tolerably well fed, and ready for the toilsome as well as +hazardous march of the succeeding day. + +As the day again dawned, the line moved on. Procuring another guide +during the day, they arrived, in early evening, on the banks of the Elk +River, without any adventure worth relating. Before halting they forded +the river, which was, at the time, waist deep. Company B was sent out +on picket, under command of Lieutenant Molyneaux. The instructions were +to establish a chain of pickets, at short intervals, along the road +leading up the river. In case of an attack, the outer picket to fire +and fall back on the next, when another volley was to be delivered, and +so continue until the camp should be finally reached. The position +selected for the camp was at the base of a range of abrupt hills, which +were not accessible to cavalry, while many difficulties would present +themselves in the way of a force of infantry advancing to an attack +from that direction. The river ran at the very foot of these hills, too +deep to cross in the face of an enemy, and sufficiently wide to present +a decided obstacle in the way of an attacking party on the opposite +shore. The command felt, therefore, comparatively safe in this retreat. +As it afterwards proved, they were not mistaken; for it was ascertained +that, at the time the pickets were being stationed, seven hundred rebel +cavalry were a short distance up the river; indeed, they were so near +that a party of rebel officers heard the lieutenant give the +instructions to the outer picket. One of these officers, when +afterwards taken prisoner, being questioned by Molyneaux as to their +reason for not attacking, remarked that it would have been quite +impossible for them to reach the camp in case his instructions to the +picket should be carried out; and he and his brother-officers agreed in +the opinion, that the orders would be carried out; for no body of +troops, after having made so stubborn a resistance as at Cross Lanes, +would afterwards lose all by a want of vigilance or a disobedience of +orders. True it is that they did not attack, but suffered the camp to +remain quiet, and the command to move off at leisure in the morning. + +A dispatch being sent to Charleston, on the following day a +provision-train met them twelve miles from the latter place. In due +time the command arrived at Charleston, weary and foot-sore from their +long and toilsome march. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +REFLECTIONS ON THE SKIRMISH AT CROSS LANES.--BATTLE OF CARNIFEX +FERRY. + + +The occasion for the affair at Cross Lanes was brought about by a +series of blunders. The first blunder was committed by the officer who +ordered all the forces, with the exception of the Seventh Ohio, from a +position which enabled them to guard the ferries of the Gauley. If it +was deemed important to hold these ferries at all, it was certainly +advisable to retain a sufficient force to guard against surprise and +capture. But then, what would be considered a sufficient force? To +settle the question, it is necessary to take into account the size of +the army occupying the country, as well as the size of that of the +enemy. Neither army was large, and both were much scattered, scarcely +more than a brigade occupying one position. A regiment, therefore, may +perhaps be considered a sufficient force for an outpost. + +The army in Western Virginia was at no time sufficiently large to +accomplish any thing, under the best generalship, beyond simply holding +the country, and preventing invasion; and it was only for the want of a +moderately sized army that the rebel general failed to drive back our +forces. But the rebel authorities had no men to spare for the purpose +of winning barren victories; so the armies of Western Virginia were +left to watch each other, with an occasional skirmish. + +At the time the affair at Cross Lanes took place, our army occupied a +front of many miles, as did also the rebel army. It was quite +impossible to collect, in case of emergency, more than about six +thousand men. But, however it may be as to the first point, it is +clear, secondly, that the commanding officer at Cross Lanes committed +an error in not making a personal inspection of the grounds, adjacent +to the camp, immediately on his arrival. It is always considered highly +important that those in command should know precisely the ground their +commands are expected to defend, and not to trust to chance or a battle +to develop favorable points of defence or attack. By reason of this +want of knowledge, rumors as to the presence of the enemy in force +created uneasiness and alarm, which was entirely natural, although +without cause. While in this state of feeling, the commanding officer +sent dispatches to Generals Rosecrans and Cox, which created the +impression that their author was not to be trusted to hold these +ferries. Those generals attributed this alarm to a want of personal +courage, they being well informed as to the strength of the position at +Cross Lanes. It was not, however, a want of courage, but simply a +failure on his part to understand the real strength of the position, by +reason of not having visited it in person. + +When the order to withdraw came, Colonel Tyler regretted it as much as +any one; for he had that day examined the position, and knew that he +could hold it against any force the enemy could bring to the attack. +But this knowledge was obtained too late: lying on his table was a +positive order to withdraw. Reason said hold the position; military +law, which was higher in authority, said abandon it; so the place was +evacuated. The third and irremediable error was committed in not +returning to Cross Lanes when ordered. If that had been done, the +consequences resulting from the withdrawal would have been entirely +checked. The order to return was given on Wednesday, with the +expectation that it would be acted upon as soon as Thursday morning; +but it was not until the Saturday noon following that the command +started. There was no reason for this delay. The regiment had marched +but eighteen miles in as many days, and could, without any injustice +being done it, have returned the day the order was given. Even had the +command moved as late as Friday, with dispatch, it would not have been +too late, as it seems to be well settled that Floyd did not cross over +any considerable body of troops until Saturday. + +In the way of criticism on this affair, it has been said that, had a +spirited dash been made on the enemy on Saturday evening, the rebels +could have been driven across the river. I think this claim subject to +many doubts. In my opinion a reconnoissance should have been made that +night, instead of falling back to Panther Mountain. This would have +resulted in the discovery of their position and force, and thus given +the command an opportunity to take advantage of the night to withdraw. +Had this been done, the ferry might possibly have been reached. + +The result of these blunders was the fighting of two engagements, with +a heavy Federal loss, while the enemy suffered less. One of these, +Carnifex Ferry, has been dignified with the name of battle, while the +other is considered but an affair. + +After the repulse of the Seventh, Floyd intrenched himself on the bank +of the river, near the ferry. About two weeks later, "Rosecrans came +down with his legions," comprising about four thousand men. Approaching +the vicinity of the ferry, he threw forward General Benham's brigade, +with no design of bringing on an engagement, however; but the line +unwittingly advanced to within a short distance of the enemy's works, +when a sheet of flame shot along their entire line. The unequal contest +lasted five hours, when the Union forces withdrew, hungry and +supperless, with a loss of fourteen killed, and one hundred and four +wounded. The loss of the enemy was about twenty wounded. + +The troops awoke in the morning to find the rebel works abandoned. Thus +ended the battle of Carnifex Ferry, no less a blunder than Cross Lanes. + +General Benham was censured for having attacked their main works, when +he was ordered to make a reconnoissance only. But when it is understood +that the commanding general sent up reinforcements, the blame, if there +was any, attached itself to him. + +The loss to the Seventh, at Cross Lanes, was one killed, twenty +wounded, and ninety-six taken prisoners. Several of these were +recaptured at Carnifex Ferry, when Rosecrans attacked Floyd. Among the +number was Lieutenant Cross, Company C. The loss to the enemy has never +been known. There is no doubt, however, that it was considerable. They +attacked in large numbers, confident of an easy victory, therefore very +little caution attended their movements. But instead of a flag of +truce, accompanied by an offer to surrender, they were met by a shower +of bullets, which must have told fearfully on their heavy columns. The +fact that they were thrown into such confusion as to permit our men to +escape, shows that they were too severely punished to follow up their +victory. + +The force of Floyd has been variously estimated: some having placed it +as high as six thousand; while, in his official report of the +engagement at Carnifex Ferry, Floyd himself places it at only two +thousand. His force was probably four thousand, of all arms, with ten +pieces of artillery. This entire force must have been in the vicinity +at the time of the affair at Cross Lanes. + +The following is an unofficial list of the loss in the regiment: + +_Killed._--Captain John N. Dyer. + +_Wounded._--Corporal Frank Dutton, N. J. Holly, Thomas Shepley, Thomas +J. Scoville, Sergeant H. G. Orton, Joseph W. Collins, B. Yeakins, Lewis +J. Jones, Thomas S. Curran, William Meriman, B. F. Gill, William S. +Reed, David M. Daily, Robert J. Furguson, James R. Greer, E. J. +Kreiger, Sergeant James Grebe, John W. Doll, William W. Ritiche, Fred. +W. Steinbauer. + +The following is a list of those taken prisoners: + +Sergeant W. W. Parmeter, Sergeant E. R. Stiles, Sergeant G. C. C. +Ketchum, Sergeant F. F. Wilcoxson, Sergeant Edward Bohn, Sergeant A. +Kolman, Sergeant E. W. Morey, Corporal C. F. Mack, Corporal J. G. +Turner, Corporal T. A. Mohler, Corporal S. M. Cole, Corporal E. C. +Palmer, Corporal Charles Bersett, Privates Albert Osborn, Charles +Weber, Alex. Parker, R. Bears, L. Warren, A. M. Halbert, H. Keiser, S. +B. Kingsbury, E. Kennedy, A. Hubbell, C. C. Quinn, C. Burrows, E. +Evans, W. H. Scott, C. H. Howard, Charles Carrol, T. B. Myers, George +Sweet, John Massa, J. F. Curtis, W. E. Bartlett, W. Cherry, John Bark, +John Hann, L. M. Blakesly, Z. Fox, J. Butler, F. S. Stillwell, G. W. +Downing, G. C. Newton, William Biggs, Mathew Merkle, J. Sheloy, H. +Huntoon, G. W. Williams, George C. Robinson, H. Wessenbock, J. C. +Rafferty, J. Snyder, W. W. Wheeler, C. Haskell, J. W. Finch, James +Johnson, H. Johnson, L. C. Logue, A. Scoville, P. Wildson, F. Boole, +John Miller, P. Jenkins, John Smith, J. Wolf, Theodore Burt, A. +Schwartz, G. A. Akerman, Charles Sahl, G. W. Thompson, F. Williams, M. +H. Whaley, Z. Larkins, T. Hebbig, Z. A. Fuig, F. A. Noble, J. Hettlick, +J. McCabe, L. Beles, E. R. Smith, F. A. Rubicon, John Smith, E. Smith, +H. Smith, D. N. K. Hubbard, H. Wood, Charles Ottinger, R. S. Beel, N. +D. Claghorn, H. Thompson, N. Freidenburg, M. Levullen, S. Gill, fifer. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +CHARLESTON AND THE KANAWHA VALLEY.--A DOUBLE MURDER.--COLONEL TYLER +ASSUMES COMMAND OF THE POST. + + +After the engagement at Cross Lanes, five companies of the regiment +remained at Gauley Bridge, while the balance were at Charleston. The +latter part was commanded by Colonel Guthrie, of the First Kentucky +Regiment. At this time it was the seat of justice for Kanawha County, +and contained upwards of three thousand inhabitants. It is a neat +village, situated on the north bank of the Kanawha River, at a point +where the Elk empties into it. There is a fine suspension bridge over +the latter stream, which the rebels undertook to destroy in their +flight. Charleston is three hundred and eight miles west of Richmond, +and forty-six miles east of the Ohio River. It was named after Charles +Clendenin, an early settler, and an owner of the soil on which it is +built. + +The Valley of the Kanawha is famous for its beautiful scenery. The +mountains on either side of the river sometimes rise to the height of +five hundred feet and more, and are liberally supplied with rich beds +of minerals and coal. At their base is located the famous Kanawha salt +works. They commence near Charleston, and extend for about fifteen +miles above it. Before the rebellion they gave employment to nearly six +thousand persons. The following extract will be of interest: + +"It is a curious fact, and worthy of philosophical inquiry, that while +the salt water is obtained by boring to a depth of from three hundred +to five hundred feet below the bed of the Kanawha, it invariably rises +to a level with the river. When the latter is swollen by rains, or the +redundant waters of its tributaries, the saline fluid, inclosed in +suitable "gums" on the shore, ascends like the mercury in its tube, and +only falls when the river returns to its wonted channel. How this +mysterious correspondence is produced is a problem which remains to be +solved. Theories and speculations I have heard on the subject, but none +seem to me to be precisely consonant with the principles of science." + +Before the presence of the army interrupted the manufacture of salt, +these works yielded about two million bushels annually, and are capable +of yielding much more with an increase of capital. + +While Colonel Guthrie commanded the post at Charleston a most +disgraceful tragedy was enacted. An order had been issued that no +liquors of any description should be sold or given to the soldiers or +employees of the Government. During the time this order was in force, a +party of drunken rowdies from the First Kentucky Regiment stopped at +the grocery of an old man, and asked for some beer; when refused, they +demanded it. Being again refused they threatened violence, and +proceeded to put their threats into force, when a son of the old man, +occupying a room above, was brought to the window by the old +gentleman's cries for help, and, seeing his father thus set upon by a +mob, from the repeated assaults of which his life was endangered, fired +a revolver, the contents of which took effect on one of the assaulting +party, producing instant death. He was at once arrested and lodged in +jail, around which a strong guard was placed to prevent his being taken +out and hung. + +That night Colonel Guthrie, in a speech made to the excited throng, +which had collected around the jail, said, in substance, that the life +of the criminal should be taken if he had to do it with his own hand. +Similar remarks were made by others, among whom was a captain who +afterwards sat as judge-advocate on the trial. + +On the morning after the affair the members constituting the +court-martial assembled "in all the pomp and pride of glorious war," +decorated with all the paraphernalia belonging to an officer's +equipment, but to declare a prejudged opinion. + +During the trial the prisoner was as immovable as a statue, evincing in +his appearance a want of hope, as well as a preparation for the worst. +He made no defence. The announcement of the sentence of death produced +no change; he preserved a stoical appearance to the last. + +When the hour of execution arrived the prisoner was brought to the +gallows in a heavy wagon, guarded by a double file of soldiers, who +were laughing as gayly as if on their way to some place of amusement. +During the afternoon the sun had shone through a cloudless sky; but +just before this terrible scene was enacted, the heavens were draped +with heavy clouds, and the rain fell in torrents, casting a gloom on +all around. The wretched victim ascended the gallows with a firm tread, +and addressed a few words, in a fearless tone, to those assembled +around. As the rope was being adjusted around his neck, the crowd +involuntarily gave way, showing that, although they had been clamorous +for the enactment of the scene, yet when the time came, they had not +the nerve to witness the death-struggle of their victim. There was but +little movement of the body after the fatal drop fell. This last scene +was sickening in the extreme, and all of us, moved by a common impulse, +turned and walked away in silence, our hearts being too full for +utterance. + +This is one more testimony against the safety and justice of the death +penalty. + +On the 19th day of October, Colonel Tyler took command of the post at +Charleston. He issued the following proclamation: + + "In assuming the command of this post, one of my principal objects + will be to maintain order, and to see that the rights of persons + and property have the protection guaranteed by general orders from + department headquarters. To the faithful execution of this my + entire energies, together with the force at my command, will be + given. To this end I have established Camp Warren, where officers + and soldiers are required to be at all times, except when on duty + which calls them away, or on leave of absence, which will only be + granted at headquarters. Commissioned and non-commissioned officers + will be held personally responsible for any violation of this order + by members of their companies. Drunkenness, marauding, boisterous + and unsoldierlike conduct are strictly forbidden. To prevent this, + the sale of intoxicating liquors, directly or indirectly, to those + in the service of the United States, is positively and emphatically + prohibited; and I call upon the citizens to aid me in detecting + those who violate this order. The quiet of your town, the + protection of your property--in fact your lives and the lives of + your families--depend much upon the sobriety of our officers and + men; therefore, it becomes your duty as well as your interest to + lend me your aid in the execution of this order. + + "E. B. TYLER, + + "Colonel Commanding Post." + +Under the rule of Colonel Tyler the post at Charleston assumed order +and quiet. Under the former commandant drunkenness was common, while +marauding parties were free to patrol the streets on their errands of +mischief. The property of the citizens was at the mercy of these gangs, +while their lives were not unfrequently placed in jeopardy. The people, +therefore, were much gratified with the change of rule. Camps were now +established at some distance from the village, while no soldiers were +permitted to visit it unless they first obtained a pass from +headquarters, which, being established in town, was difficult to +procure. A provost-marshal was appointed, with a proper guard subject +to his orders. This guard was instructed to arrest all soldiers found +in the streets of the village without a proper pass, as well as those +committing any depredations on the property or persons of the citizens, +with or without a pass. + +About the middle of October the companies at Gauley Bridge came down to +Charleston. During their stay on the Gauley they performed much duty at +the outposts; several times being under the enemy's fire, though none +were injured. The detachment suffered severe loss, however, from +sickness. Lieutenant Robinson was among the number; he died of fever; +his loss was greatly felt by the regiment. When the news of his death +reached his company, they wept as for a brother. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +FLOYD ESTABLISHES BATTERIES ON COTTON HILL.--DRIVEN OFF BY THE FORCES +OF GENERAL COX.--BENHAM'S FAILURE TO INTERCEPT HIS RETREAT.--HIS +PURSUIT.--SKIRMISH AT MCCOY'S MILLS.--HIS FINAL ESCAPE. + + +Near the last of October General Floyd very suddenly appeared on Cotton +Hill, an abrupt eminence lying between the Kanawha and New rivers, at +the junction of the Gauley with the latter stream, which form the +Kanawha. The enemy immediately commenced shelling Gauley Bridge. +General Cox, who was some distance up New River, near the headquarters +of General Rosecrans, was ordered to proceed to Gauley Bridge and to +assume direction of affairs. He was also ordered to direct General +Benham, who was expected to arrive very soon with a brigade, to cross +his forces, at night, over the Kanawha River, and to carry the summit +of Cotton Hill by storm. A picket post had already been established +across the river by direction of General Cox. Benham protested against +the movement, and refused to execute the order received through General +Cox, but proceeded to confer, by telegraph, with General Rosecrans, +receiving in reply the same orders. Benham still protesting against +attempting to execute what he termed so hazardous a movement, at his +own request was permitted to pass down the river to the mouth of Loop +Creek, from whence he was to undertake a flank movement. Colonel Smith +joined General Benham in his protest, declaring the attempt to storm +these batteries as sheer madness. It is significant that General Cox +afterwards stormed and carried Cotton Hill, with barely a regiment of +troops. + +Floyd had constructed a line of fortifications at Dickerson's, on the +road to Fayetteville, which was his only avenue of retreat in case of +disaster. + +Soon after General Benham arrived opposite Loop Creek, he was joined by +five hundred selected men from the Seventh from Charleston. This +detachment of the regiment, having arrived on boats, was ordered to +disembark, and take up their position at the mouth of Loop Creek. The +following morning it moved up the creek some eight or ten miles, where +it took up its position at an old log barn. Lieutenant-Colonel +Creighton being in command, Colonel Tyler having remained at +Charleston, was instructed to picket the roads well in his front, as +well as the mountains lying between; and also to scout the country in +the vicinity, for the purpose of finding out the position of the camp +of the enemy, as well as his numbers. The latter part of the order was +well executed, and there can be no doubt that Benham was possessed of +accurate information of the enemy. + +After the third day of our occupation of this position we were joined +by a detachment of the Forty-fourth Ohio, under command of Major +Mitchell, and the Thirty-seventh Ohio, under command of Colonel +Seibert. Soon after, all of this force, with the exception of eight +companies of the Thirty-seventh Regiment, was ordered forward under +command of Lieutenant-Colonel Creighton. + +Proceeding for some distance on a road leading to the front, we struck +into a bridle path, and after passing through a wood, began ascending a +mountain. Single file, the command clambered up its steep and rocky +sides. Arriving on its summit we could see the heads of a line of men +extending for a mile beneath us. Descending the opposite side with some +difficulty, we marched some distance from the foot of the mountain, and +found ourselves at Cassady's Mills, a point from which the command was +to debouch on to the Fayetteville pike, should Floyd attempt a retreat. +But the movement, on the part of Benham, was so tardily executed, that +the balance of the command never arrived at this point; but instead, +the forces, other than the Seventh Ohio, were ordered away that night; +leaving a detachment of five hundred men, with no support, within three +miles of a well-equipped army of the enemy. We were so near that we +could plainly hear the bugle calls in Floyd's camp. Had Benham's entire +command been at that point, the retreat of the rebel army could have +been intercepted. Previous to this, Floyd had been driven back to his +intrenchments at Dickerson's, and all that was necessary to his +capture, was an attack on his rear on the part of Benham. But he either +feared to make the attack, or was too slow in doing it. The former is +probably true. That night the rebel general passed within three miles +of our position, and escaped with his entire army, together with the +artillery and baggage. + +On the 12th of November, Benham arrived at Cotton Hill, but to find the +forces of General Cox in possession. On the afternoon of the 13th, he +pushed on after Floyd's retreating army, arriving within four miles of +Fayetteville, at about eleven o'clock P.M. Here, evidences of the +hurried retreat of Floyd began to multiply. The fences were lined with +hides, but recently stripped from the carcasses of cattle, while in +many places the beef itself was left suspended from the fence. + +On the morning of the 4th, we pushed through Fayetteville before day, +in the pursuit. Floyd had but a few hours the start. Six miles ahead we +took breakfast, consisting of two army crackers to each man. After +which we pushed rapidly on. About noon, our skirmishers, the Thirteenth +Ohio, overtook the rear-guard of the enemy, when sharp firing occurred, +which continued during an advance of several miles, resulting in the +mortal wounding of St. George Croghan, colonel of the Second Georgia +cavalry, and formerly of the United States Army. The colonel was taken +to a house close by and left, where he was found in a dying condition +by our men. Having been a class-mate of his at West Point, Benham +stopped and passed a few words with him. When recognizing the general, +Croghan appeared to be much affected; and is reported to have said that +he knew he was fighting in a bad cause, and that he had been driven +into the army much against his wishes, for he was still attached to the +old flag. He soon after expired. + +While this conversation was being carried on between officers so +differently circumstanced, the Union forces had pressed the rebels so +closely, that the latter, to save their baggage train, were compelled +to make a stand. The Seventh Ohio was ordered to act as reserve, but +when the action grew hot, was ordered forward, with instructions to +send out two companies as skirmishers, which was immediately done; +Companies A and K being sent forward. + +About this time two pieces of rifled cannon were brought to bear on the +rebels, when they turned and fled, leaving six killed on the field. We +were so near, that we plainly heard the retreat sounded by their +bugles. From this time their retreat became a rout. In their flight, +they cast away every thing that would encumber their retreat. We were +now on the banks of a stream, over whose rocky cliffs numerous wagons, +with their contents, had been hurled. It was supposed, that several +pieces of cannon shared the same fate. + +The pursuit was continued with much vigor, until a late hour in the +evening, when General Schenck, having but just arrived at the front, +ordered it discontinued. This was the second error of the campaign. +Schenck, with his fresh troops, instead of ordering the pursuit to +cease, should have pressed with vigor. The enemy encamped but a short +distance in our front, on Three-mile Mountain. This position could have +been carried with ease, with the combined forces of Schenck and Benham, +with comparatively little loss. But the pursuit being the result of a +blunder, resulted in a blunder. + +A little after midnight the command fell back, arriving at Fayetteville +in the afternoon of the same day, after a fatiguing march over the +worst road that could be imagined, and with no provisions other than +beef with a very little salt. The Seventh marched to its old camp, four +miles out on the road to Cotton Hill. The officers and men lay on the +hill-side that night, exposed to a violent snow storm, with no other +covering than their blankets, except the snowy sheet that nature spread +over them during the long hours of night. + +During the night a demonstration was made on a drove of pigs which were +lurking close by; and it would not be strange if the soldiers could +relate tales of their descent on poultry yards and bee-hives. True it +is, that some first-class honey found its way into camp. + +The next day, marching over Cotton Hill, we arrived at our camp near +the mouth of Loop Creek. Embarking on the following day, we arrived at +Charleston on the 18th, after an absence of fourteen days. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +REFLECTIONS ON THE INSTITUTION OF SLAVERY. + + +While at Charleston, we were deeply impressed with the profound +interest the slaves were taking in passing events. That down-trodden +race, who had for years suffered every injustice at the hands of their +white oppressors, were now the first to assist the Federal commanders. +Through darkness and storm, they carried information, and acted as +scouts and guides on occasions when it would try the heart and nerve of +their white companions. + +From my own observation, I am confident that the slaves of the South, +were just as well informed with regard to their relation to their +masters, as we were. They were, from the very first, impressed with the +idea that this rebellion was to work some great change in their +condition. They were watching, with great interest, every movement of +troops, and were continually asking questions, as to the disposition to +be made of them; thus evincing an interest in military affairs, of +which their masters little dreamed. It is well enough to talk of the +deep devotion of slaves to their masters; but the latter have found ere +this, I trust, that this devotion on which they have relied, has not +prevented them from cutting their throats, when it was in the line of +their duty, and by means of which they could gain their freedom. An +instance of this great devotion on the part of a slave for his master, +was related to me while at Charleston. + +A Mr. R---- owned a colored servant by the name of John; he enjoyed the +unlimited confidence of his master, who was in the habit of trusting +him as he would one of his children. This confidence was reciprocated +by a like devotion on the part of the slave for his master. One day a +neighbor told Mr. R---- that his John was about to run away, as he had +repeated conversations with his servants on the subject. Mr. R---- flew +into a passion, feeling very much grieved that his neighbor should +think, for a moment, that his John, whom he had raised from infancy, +should prove so ungrateful as to leave him. The only attention he paid +to this timely warning was, to put still greater trust in his servant. +One day, shortly after this, John was missing; not only this, he had +been so ungrateful as to take his wife and three children. The last +heard from faithful John was, that he was safe in Ohio. Now Mr. R---- +is a very good man and a Christian, and treat his servants very kindly; +but that God-given principle, a desire for personal liberty, actuated +him in connection with other men of fairer complexion. John, +undoubtedly, left his old home and master with regret, but home and +friendship, when compared with freedom, were nothing. + +I was once told by a colored man, in whom the utmost confidence could +be placed, that there has been for years an association among the +negroes, which extends throughout the South, the purpose of which was +one day to liberate themselves from slavery. He said that hundreds of +slaves who, apparently, were as innocent as ignorant, were tolerably +well educated, and were secretly bending every energy to bring about an +insurrection, which should end in their being released from bondage. +When asked if the field-hands were members of this association, he said +they were; and although possessing less information than those living +in the cities and villages, yet they were aware of what was going on; +and after their work was done at night, they often met in their cabins, +and talked over the prospect before them. He also said, that in the +larger cities of the South this association had regular meetings and +officers; that they awaited only the proper time, when a tragedy would +be enacted all over the South, that would astonish the world. + +When we reflect that revolts have been common in the South, and that +they have been attended by partial success, it does not require a great +stretch of the imagination to believe that this association did really +exist. The fact of the intense feeling of hatred cherished by the +people of the South against Northern fanatics, as they were termed, who +came amongst them, is strong evidence in favor of the existence of some +organized course of policy among the negroes. The outward appearance of +the slave is usually gentle in the extreme, although his inward +feelings may be agitated to such a degree, that in a white man they +would burst forth in the wildest passion. Therefore, this hatred of the +South to the opponents of slavery must be traced to a fear of some +secret organization, the object of which lay deeply buried in the +reticent minds of the slaves. The Southern mind was more deeply +agitated, from the fact of the want of this outward emotion on the part +of their slaves; for had this strong desire for liberty, which was +awakened in them, burst out in wild enthusiasm, it would have been +readily checked by the severe punishment of individuals; but it was +this secret working of this deep-laid desire for freedom that troubled +them. The most guilty were, to all outward appearance, the most +innocent. + +While the Federal army occupied the country, the slaves were much less +guarded in what they said. One of these slaves, an old man, was passing +a tent one day, when a soldier said to him that he belonged to Jeff. +Davis. With a knowing look, he replied: "I did; but now, massa, I +belong to Uncle Sam." A colored woman, who had been a slave for years +(as she is very old), came into our room one day, and taking up a +paper, asked if we wanted it. Some one said to her, as she was about +leaving the room, that she had better not be seen with that paper, as +it was not the sort her mistress admired. Said she, "I know what missus +likes; I can take care of it;" and slipping it under her apron she left +the room. That slave could read and write, and yet her master knew +nothing of it. So it is with many others. It may be asked how they +acquire this knowledge. They gain it in a great many ways. Many of them +learn of their masters' children, with whom house-servants spend a +great deal of time. Having acquired a slight knowledge, it stimulates +them to greater exertion. They obtain scraps of newspapers and parts of +books, and thus gain a great deal of information entirely unobserved. +The slave knows how to keep secrets; consequently, any scheme that is +on foot is seldom discovered. Few persons, at the commencement of the +rebellion, had the least conception of the vast resources and power of +the slave population of the South. And it was not until they had fed +and clothed the Southern armies for two years, and by this means kept +them in the field, that it was acknowledged. Had it not been for its +slaves, the South, long ere this, would have been compelled to yield +obedience to the Government. The rebels appreciated and used this +element of strength from the beginning. The Federal Government, through +the influence of weak-minded politicians, rejected it; thus throwing an +element of its own strength into the hands of its enemies. + +Notwithstanding this harsh treatment, the slaves proved true to the +Government; and finally, through the medium of this faithfulness, their +vast services were acknowledged, and they have not only been taken into +the private service of the country, but they have been admitted into +the army, to swell its numbers, until the strength of their mighty +arms, and the nerve of their fearless hearts, are felt by the enemies +of the country on every battle-field. What a glorious thought! +thousands of the oppressed fighting for the redemption from slavery of +a race which has ever worn the chain. When it is remembered that by +this strife questions are to be settled which have ever disturbed the +harmony of this country, and not that only, but questions which, when +settled, will release millions of our fellow-men and women from the +power of the oppressor, ought we not to be thankful that we are +permitted to make great sacrifices in so good a cause? + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE SEVENTH ORDERED TO THE EAST.--EXPEDITION TO BLUE'S GAP.--SKIRMISH +ON THE BLOOMING PIKE. + + +After Floyd was driven from Cotton Hill, very few rebels remained in +that portion of Virginia. Many troops were sent to Kentucky and +elsewhere. Among the number was the Seventh Regiment. It was ordered to +join the forces under command of General Kelley, which were operating +on the upper waters of the Potomac, with headquarters at Cumberland, +Maryland. + +Accordingly, on the twelfth day of December, the regiment embarked on +steamers, and after paying its respects to General Cox, by way of +presenting arms and cheers, it moved down the river; thus leaving +forever the scene of its past dangers and privations. Little had, +apparently, been accomplished, during its summer campaign; but perils +had been braved, privations had been suffered, and obstacles had been +overcome. Many graves had been dug and filled with the pride of the +regiment. These were left as a record of its patient suffering in that +wild waste of hills. There was a sort of sadness attending the leaving +of all this for a new field of operations. But the soldier's life is +one continued change; and, therefore, he readily adapts himself to +circumstances. + +At Parkersburg the regiment left the boats, and took a train of cars, +which conveyed it to Green Spring Run, a station on the Baltimore and +Ohio Railroad, sixteen miles from Romney, Virginia. Here it remained +without tents for several days, when it was ordered to Romney, to which +place it proceeded immediately. It was now given a good ground for its +camp, and furnished with Sibley tents, which were both warm and roomy. +The weather being very fine for the time of year, the health and +spirits of the soldiers rapidly improved. + +During the occupation of Romney, quite a force of "bushwhackers" had +collected at Blue's Gap, which were under command of Colonel Blue. This +force of bandits had annoyed the Union citizens for some time. It was +finally resolved to break it up. The force chosen to do this work +consisted of the Fourth, Fifth, Seventh, and Eighth Ohio, Fourteenth +Indiana, and First Virginia, with Danver's two companies of cavalry, +and a section of Howard's Battery, in all about two thousand five +hundred men, under command of Colonel Dunning of the Fifth Ohio. A +little past midnight of January 6th, the force moved out from their +camp. The night was bitter cold, but the march was rapid; and just +after daybreak, the vicinity of the gap was reached, to find that the +rebels were tearing up the flooring of the bridge leading over the +stream coming through the gap. The skirmishers drove this force away, +and then advanced over the bridge, followed by the Fifth Ohio, which +took possession of Blue's house. Procuring a negro woman for a guide, +the force advanced to assault the rebel stronghold on the mountain. On +reaching the place, the intrenchments were handsomely carried, the +rebels standing for five rounds only, when they broke, and fled down +the side of the mountain. Their flight was so rapid that many of the +fugitives ran on to the Fourth Ohio, which was at hand, and were +captured. But they were hardly worth taking, for an uglier set of +ragamuffins the mountains of Virginia, or the whole world even, could +hardly produce. Blue's property was utterly destroyed. The loss of the +enemy in this affair was forty killed, and as many taken prisoners, +together with all their stores, wagons, and ammunition. A number of +cattle were also taken and driven back to Romney. On their return, the +Federals fired several houses, which was a lasting disgrace to all +those taking part in it. General Kelley was justly indignant at this +conduct. + +Nothing further occurred to break the _ennui_ of camp and picket duty +until the 10th, when an order came to break camp and prepare for a +march. Immediately following this order, all was bustle and confusion, +in anticipation of an advance. There being a lack of transportation, +some tents and commissary stores were burned. In early evening, the +regiment marched into the town, where it was compelled to wait, through +a fearful storm of sleet, until midnight, when, instead of an advance, +the entire force rapidly fell back through Springfield to Patterson's +Creek, on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. This camp was soon converted +into a mud-hole. If all of Virginia had been canvassed a worse place +for a camp could not have been found. After a few weeks contest with +this everlasting snow and mud, an order came, on the 5th of February, +to march, which was hailed with universal joy. + +The force passed down the railroad late in the afternoon, for a short +distance; when, leaving the tents and baggage, it took a road to the +right, and before night halted in a grove by the roadside. After a few +hours spent in preparing and eating supper, it moved off in the +direction of Romney, the Seventh in the advance. + +All night we marched, over mountains and streams, through snow and +sleet. In the morning we came to a halt at an old tannery, and after +remaining through the day, fell back four miles and bivouacked on the +banks of the Little Cacapon River. Tired and wet, the soldiers lay down +to rest on their bed of rails and straw, to gather strength for the +morrow. At last, day dawned, rainy and gloomy, and the command moved +five miles to the rear, to a place called the Levels,--a very high +table-land, exposed to severe wind and storm, which never fails to +visit that region. The regiment was ordered to bivouac, and soon the +pine forest was converted into a village of green houses, with hot +fires roaring and crackling before them. + +We remained here some fifteen days, within three miles of the tents; +but for some reason, better known to those in command, we were left on +a hilltop, exposed to the cold winds and snows of February, in brush +shanties. During some of the time it was so cold that a crust formed on +the snow sufficiently hard to hold up a person. During this time the +commanding officer of our brigade occupied a house close by, which was +very convenient as well as comfortable. + +The regiment, while here, did very little duty; in fact none, with the +exception of one brigade drill in the snow, which only vexed the +command, without accomplishing any good. + +Colonel Sprague, formerly captain of Company E, now paid the regiment a +visit, the first time he had met his old comrades since his capture. +Following that had intervened his long imprisonment. The meeting was a +pleasant one. + +On the 13th of March the regiment left camp, and, taking the Bradford +pike, crossed a range of hills, at the foot of which is the Baltimore +and Ohio Railroad. Taking this road, Pau-Pau Station was reached before +night. Here we found quite a number of troops. + +General Lander advanced with one brigade on the Blooming pike. Soon the +advance-guard, consisting of a part of a regiment of cavalry, came on +to an intrenched camp of militia. The general, taking command in +person, ordered a charge; but barely a dozen of these horsemen could be +made to follow their brave leader. But, nothing daunted, Lander, +followed by his staff and a few of the cavalry, dashed over the +intrenchments, when some fifty rebels surrendered; Colonel Baldwin, +their commander, giving himself up to Lander, after the latter had +seized him by the shoulder, despite the revolver which the rebel +colonel held in his hand. + +On the return of this expedition, the Seventh was ordered out on to the +pike. After advancing for nearly two miles, it halted by the roadside, +where it remained in the mud and snow till the following afternoon, +when it went into camp close by. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +GALLANTRY OF LIEUTENANT O'BRIEN.--DEATH OF GENERAL LANDER.--THE +SEVENTH ESCORT HIS REMAINS.--THE OCCUPATION OF WINCHESTER. + + +During the occupation of the country about Pau-Pau Station, the troops +were kept active. Skirmishes were of frequent occurrence. One of them +is deserving of mention. A reconnoissance was being made by Lieutenant +O'Brien, of Lander's staff, accompanied by twenty or more cavalry, when +they were met by a band of rebels, who immediately fired a volley; +following which, they demanded the small party of Federals to +surrender. O'Brien, riding to the front, declined, at the same time +emptying the saddle of the foremost rebel with a revolver, which he had +in his hand ready for use. The lieutenant soon after received a fatal +wound in the shoulder, from the effects of which he died some weeks +after. Seeing their leader disabled, the Union cavalry hurried him to +the rear, at the same time presenting a determined front. When he had +arrived at a safe distance they fell back, fighting as they went. They +thus brought the gallant O'Brien safe to headquarters. + +O'Brien was a writer of some note. Before the war he was a contributor +to several periodicals, among which was the Atlantic Monthly. For these +magazines he wrote many elegant things, which their readers will +probably remember. + +On the first day of March, the monotony of life in camp was broken by +an order to march. We moved out of camp, followed by the entire +division, on the road leading to Winchester. Towards evening we crossed +the Big Cacapon River, and after ascending a spur of the Shenandoah +Mountain, filed into a grove of pines, and remained till the following +afternoon, when an order was given to fall back. On returning to our +camp, we found that the retrograde movement was occasioned by the +sudden death of General Lander. The brave soldier and able commander +expired while his troops were moving on an important position of the +enemy,--a campaign which his fertile brain had conceived, and which his +daring and dash were to put into successful execution. No wonder, then, +when the spirit of its leader took its flight, that the division was +recalled. None were found competent to succeed him in the command of an +expedition which had occupied his every thought while he had been +connected with the department. + +On Monday, March 3d, the Seventh regiment escorted his remains to the +cars, in the presence of fifteen thousand troops, drawn up in line to +pay their respects, for the last time, to all that was left of a +commander whom they loved, and a soldier whom they admired. This slow, +sad march of the Seventh, to the strains of a solemn dirge, was +impressive. We returned to camp with the reflection that a master +spirit had taken its departure. + +After the death of General Lander, Brigadier-General Shields was given +the command of his division. He arrived soon after. + +The forces under General Banks, occupying the country in the vicinity +of Harper's Ferry, were ordered to make an immediate advance on +Winchester, General Shields was directed to co-operate in this +movement. He was ordered to move on Martinsburg, when General Banks +crossed the Potomac. + +Early in March the division moved down to the railroad, when on the +same day it took the cars for Martinsburg. On arriving at Back Creek, +ten miles east of Hancock, the bridge was found to be destroyed. The +command now bivouacked, while a party was set at work repairing the +bridge. The work progressed so slowly, that on the 10th the command +moved on in advance of the train, passing through Martinsburg, and +encamping some two miles out on the Winchester pike. + +On the following morning the column pushed vigorously forward to assist +General Banks in his attack on Winchester. The rebels, however, instead +of giving battle, fled as the command approached the city. Shields, +therefore, was ordered to encamp his troops before reaching Winchester. +The camp of the Seventh was about three miles north of the town, on the +Martinsburg road. The balance of the division encamped in the immediate +vicinity. + +Winchester had for a long time been occupied by the rebels. The extreme +left of Beauregard's army, under command of General Johnston, had taken +possession of the place, when the rebel troops first occupied Virginia. +From this point, troops were immediately sent forward to occupy and +destroy the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, as well as to menace our lines +in the direction of Harper's Ferry and Cumberland. The possession, +therefore, of the place by the Union forces was of great importance. It +not only resulted in the protection of this very important railroad, +but so menaced the left of the rebel army as to require its commander +to detach a large force to the Shenandoah Valley, and thus materially +weakening his main army. Under a leader less able than Jackson, it +would have greatly taxed his energies to hold the valley. But under +this indomitable general the army was enabled to make a good show of +resistance to the advance of the Federal forces. + +Winchester, the county seat of Frederick County, is seventy-four miles +west of Washington. The town is laid out in regular order, the streets +crossing at right angles. The place possesses some little of historical +interest. During the French and Indian War, Washington made it his +headquarters; and he also mentions it as one of the points which he +touched while on his mission to the French authorities on the Ohio +River. After the engagement at Great Meadows, July 4, 1774, Washington +returned to the place to recruit his regiment. It was also the base of +operations for the forces engaged in the reduction of Fort Duquesne. +During these wars a fort was built under the direction of Washington, +and named Fort Landon. A part of it is to be seen at this day. While +this fort was being constructed, Washington bought a lot in Winchester, +had a blacksmith shop built on it, and brought his own smith from Mount +Vernon to do the necessary iron-work for the fort. A well was sunk in +this fort to the depth of one hundred and three feet, the water from +which now runs over the top. The labor of erecting this fort was +performed by Washington's own regiment. The famous General Morgan, the +leader of the American forces at the battle of the Cowpens, is buried +here. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +A RECONNOISSANCE TO STRASBURG.--BATTLE OF WINCHESTER.--UTTER DEFEAT +AND ROUT OF JACKSON'S ARMY. + + +Immediately after the occupation of Winchester, the enemy's cavalry +advance becoming troublesome, a plan was laid for its capture. Colonel +Mason, of the Fourth Ohio, was sent out on the road to Front Royal, +with a brigade, composed of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, with +instructions to proceed until he arrived at the last road leading to +the right before reaching Front Royal; which road he was to take, and +by it strike the rear of the enemy at Middletown, a small hamlet +equally distant from both Winchester and Strasburg. He was soon after +followed by General Shields, with six thousand men, who moved on the +direct road to Middletown. Colonel Mason's command, arriving at this +place in advance of Shields' column, encountered the enemy's pickets, +and drove them to Cedar Creek Bridge, which, having covered with +combustibles, they fired. When the troops of Colonel Mason arrived in +the vicinity, they were opened upon by a battery, to which they +replied; with no effect, however, as the distance was too great. +Shields coming up with his division soon after, the entire force +bivouacked for the night. + +Early the following morning the command crossed the river without +opposition; but on arriving at Strasburg, the enemy opened fire from a +battery planted on a hill beyond the town. Shields, suspecting that the +entire force of Jackson was in the vicinity, made his dispositions for +immediate battle. The Seventh being ordered out on the road beyond the +town, were fired upon by a masked battery, but none injured. After +having been exposed to this fire for half an hour, it was withdrawn. +Soon after, our artillery was got into position, and after thirty +pieces of cannon had belched forth their fire, the rebels fled in +haste. During this fire, Mason's cavalry advanced so far out on the +road, that they were mistaken for the enemy by Captain Clark, of a +battery of regulars; he therefore sent a shell among them, with such +accuracy as to kill a few horses, and slightly wound one man. + +An advance being ordered, the pursuit was continued for five miles, +when the command returned to Strasburg, and encamped for the night. On +the following morning it fell back to its old camp, the Seventh +marching twenty-two miles in seven hours, with but one halt. + +This reconnoissance to Strasburg leaving no doubt on the minds of both +Banks and Shields that the enemy was not in the front in force, the +first division of Banks's corps, on the 20th, commenced its movement to +Manassas, in accordance with a letter of instruction from General +McClellan, of the 16th. General Banks did not follow this division +immediately, but remained at Winchester until twelve o'clock on Sunday, +the 23d, when he started for Harper's Ferry. + +All this time Shields thought he was being trifled with by the rebel +General Ashby. + +On Saturday, the 22d, there had been a good deal of firing in the early +part of the day, but what occasioned it did not seem to be well +understood, except to those engaged. But during the afternoon it was +thought prudent to make all needful preparation for battle, so as not +to be surprised in case it should prove that a greater force than +Ashby's was in front. Therefore the whole division was ordered up; the +third brigade, however, did not pass through the town. Shields went to +the front, followed by the first and second brigades. As these forces +emerged from the city, the rebel cavalry made a dash at the pickets, +who fled in some confusion through the little hamlet of Kernstown, but +rallied soon after, and by a well-directed volley of musketry emptied +several rebel saddles. This success enabled them to retire in safety. +The rebel cavalry soon after advanced, when a sharp skirmish ensued. +Our pickets having been re-enforced by several detached companies, were +enabled to maintain their ground. In the mean time the rebels opened on +our lines from a battery planted on an eminence; immediately after +which a Union battery wheeled into position, when a spirited artillery +duel took place. While directing the fire of this battery, Shields was +struck on the arm by a fragment of a shell, fracturing the arm, and +producing a painful wound. He, however, continued in the field for some +time after the accident occurred, but was finally taken to a house +close by, and his arm dressed, after which he was taken to town in an +ambulance. + +The firing having ceased, the first brigade went into camp on the spot, +while the second brigade encamped in the rear. The third brigade filed +into an open field near where they were stationed during the operations +in front. + +During Saturday night a strong picket was kept well out to the front, +while the remaining troops slept on their arms. Nothing occurred during +the night to disturb the several camps. + +Morning dawned bright and pleasant. The stillness which rested over the +field of the previous day's operations, gave token of the intention of +the belligerents to respect the Sabbath-day. In view of the general +quiet, the second and third brigades were ordered back to their camp on +the Martinsburg pike. + +It was nearly noon when the Seventh arrived, and before the men had +barely time to eat a hurriedly prepared dinner, it was again ordered +forward. This time the march was rapid. The distant booming of cannon, +induced many a disturbed reflection as to what lay before us. As we +passed through Winchester to the south, we emerged into an open plain. +This was crowded with people, as were also the house-tops. They had +assembled, apparently, for the purpose of seeing the Union army +defeated and crushed, and to welcome the victors into the city. + +Arriving on the field, we found our forces occupying a commanding +position in rear of a range of hills overlooking Kernstown; while the +batteries, posted at intervals on the crest of these hills, were +maintaining a heavy fire on the right of the enemy's position, which +alone seemed to give evidence of any purpose to advance. The left of +our line was held by the Second brigade, Colonel Sullivan; while the +centre and right were held by the First brigade. Colonel Kimball, +commanding the division, was stationed on a commanding eminence, from +which several batteries were pouring their shot and shell into the +enemy whenever he showed himself within range. + +Up to this time, the main fighting had occurred in front of our left; +but soon after a battery opened in front of the right, from a piece of +timber, which our batteries were unable to silence. It became evident, +from this, that the heavy skirmishing which the enemy had kept up from +their right was simply a feint, for the purpose of drawing the greater +part of our force to that part of the field, when a spirited onslaught +would be made on the other flank, which was expected to turn our right +wing, and thus give them the victory. It was a conception worthy the +genius of a Jackson, but it was entirely unsuccessful, as no troops +were sent to that part of the field beyond what ordinary prudence +required; but on the contrary, becoming satisfied of the intention of +the enemy, Colonel Kimball resolved to charge this battery. The work +was assigned to the Third brigade. Colonel Tyler, calling in the +Seventh, which had been supporting a battery from the time it arrived +on the field, formed his brigade in column, by divisions, and +immediately moved forward; at the same time changing direction to the +right, and passing up a ravine, shielded by a piece of timber which +skirted it on the side towards the enemy. + +After arriving at some distance to the right, the column changed +direction to the left; and after a march of nearly a mile, it arrived +on the flank, and partly in the rear of the enemy. It had now reached +an eminence in a dense wood. In front, the battery which was the object +of our movement was playing vigorously upon the First brigade, to which +a spirited fire was returned by Robinson's Battery, which had wheeled +into position on the extreme right. This acted as a cover to the +movements of our brigade. Breathless, and with anxious hearts, we +awaited the return of our scouts, which would be the signal for a +plunge into the unknown. We were not kept long in suspense, for in a +few minutes the order was given to change direction to the left, and +the column moved forward, preceded by a line of skirmishers. After +marching in silence for some distance, the sharpshooters opened a +destructive fire on us from behind trees. We were immediately ordered +to charge; and, with a prolonged yell, the command, led by the Seventh +Ohio, swept like a torrent down the hill. A ravine now lay in front, +and, at a short distance, a slight eminence, and still beyond, a solid +stone wall, behind which, in three lines, nine regiments of the enemy +lay concealed. It was a fearful moment. The rebel artillery, in the +rear of this stone wall, had been turned upon the advancing column. The +grape and canister was tearing the bark from the trees over our heads, +while the solid shot and shell made great gaps in their trunks. Under +our feet the turf was being torn up, and around and about us the air +was thick with flying missiles. Not a gun was fired on our side. The +head of the column soon reached the ravine, when a deafening discharge +of musketry greeted us. A sheet of flame shot along the stone wall, +followed by an explosion that shook the earth, and the missiles tore +through the solid ranks of the command with a fearful certainty. The +brigade staggered--halted. With breathless anxiety we anticipated a +counter-charge by the rebels; but it came not. Victory to our arms +followed that omission on the part of the enemy. The order being given +to fire, the column recovered from the confusion into which it had been +temporarily thrown. The Seventh now advanced to the eminence beyond the +ravine; and, from a partial cover, maintained the unequal contest till +the other regiments could form and come to its support. The One Hundred +and Tenth Pennsylvania Regiment was thrown into such confusion, that it +was of little service during the remainder of the day. + +An order was given to the Seventh to prolong its line to the left. An +attempt was made to execute the order, when the left wing, passing over +a fence into an open field, received such a well-directed fire as to +compel it to fall back to its old position. + +During this part of the contest, the rebels endeavored to extend their +left, so as to flank us on the right. To meet this movement, Tyler +ordered the First Virginia to move to the right. Passing into an open +field, it was exposed to a cross-fire, which soon drove it back to the +timber. + +The roar of musketry was now deafening. The dying and the dead were +lying thick upon the hillside, but neither army seemed to waver. The +confusion attending the getting of troops into action had ceased. The +great "dance of death" seemed to be going forward without a motion. The +only evidence of life on that gory field, was the vomiting forth of +flame and smoke from thousands of well-aimed muskets. From that blue +column, which rolled and tumbled in its ascent from the battle-field, +the unerring bullet sped on its errand of death. But other regiments +are seen coming to the rescue. The right wing of the gallant Eighth +Ohio takes position on the left, followed by the no less gallant +Thirteenth and Fourteenth Indiana, Fifth and Sixty-seventh Ohio, and +Eighty-fourth Pennsylvania. These regiments opened a heavy fire, which +was replied to by the enemy in gallant style. + +The battle now raged fiercely until near night, when the enemy began to +show signs of giving way. At this the Union forces advanced a little, +at the same time delivering their fire with accuracy. As the shades of +evening deepened into night, the enemy began to fall back. At this +crisis, Colonel Kimball ordered a charge along the whole line, when the +retreat became a rout. In their flight, the enemy left in front of the +Third brigade two pieces of artillery and four caissons. + +That night the Seventh bivouacked on the spot now made historic by its +gallantry. The wounded were being brought in all night long, while the +dead were lying in heaps around us, their increasing distortions and +ghastliness adding new horrors to the battle-field. + +At early dawn the next day, we were ready to renew the work of blood +and carnage; but there was no occasion; the victory of the day before +was complete, the rebels had no desire of renewing the contest. They +gave the advancing column a few parting salutes from a battery, and +then beat a hasty retreat. We followed them that day to Cedar Run, +where just at night a slight skirmish occurred, with some loss to the +rebels. The following day the Union forces occupied Strasburg, when the +pursuit ceased. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +GENERAL SHIELDS' ANXIETY FOR LAURELS.--SUMMING UP OF THE BATTLE. +--LOSSES IN THE SEVENTH. + + +After the battle of Winchester, General Shields showed a disposition to +appropriate the laurels won by others to himself. In a letter to a +friend at Washington, he claimed that, after the reconnoissance to +Strasburg, on the 18th, he fell back hurriedly, for the purpose of +deceiving the enemy into the belief that his force was small; and that +after arriving at Winchester, he moved his division beyond the town, so +as to create the belief in the minds of the citizens that most of his +force had been sent away. Now the fact is, this reconnoissance was +greatly the result of accident. The original design of it was to +capture the enemy's advance; this failing, the force proceeded to +Strasburg for the purpose of discovering whether or not the enemy was +in force in the vicinity. It was clearly shown by this advance, what +was afterwards well known, that nothing but a small cavalry force +occupied Strasburg, and that Jackson was some distance up the valley. +The hurried march of the division back to Winchester, was also the +result of accident. The command marched left in front, which brought a +regiment in the advance whose colonel cared little for the comfort of +his men; hence the rapid march. Shields reached Winchester in advance +of the command, having gone on before. After our return there was no +change of position, as our tents had not been disturbed, and we +reoccupied them as they were before leaving. If Jackson was deceived, +the credit of it is not due to Shields, for he was confident to the +very last that there was no other force in his front than Ashby. Even +as late as Sunday noon, when in reality the battle had begun, he +ridiculed the idea of Colonel Kimball calling for so many troops, +remarking, that "Kimball wanted more troops than was necessary for the +force in front of him." He also boastfully said, that "Jackson knew +him, and was afraid of him." + +His friends tried to make it appear that it was by his direction that +the troops were manoeuvred on the field of battle. Now the fact is, +he was four miles away, and in such a condition from a wound that he +compelled one of the best surgeons of the division to remain with him +till long after the battle, against the request of the medical +director, who represented to him, in the most earnest manner, that the +wounded were suffering for the want of medical attention. In thus +retaining a surgeon for his own purpose, while the wounded were +suffering for medical aid, he was criminal in the extreme. He committed +an offence which ought to have deprived him of his commission. + +Colonel Kimball was mainly instrumental in achieving the victory, +assisted, of course, by those under his command. The skilful manner, +however, in which the troops were managed was entirely due to him; and +the authorities regarded it in that light, for he was immediately made +a brigadier-general, as were both Tyler and Sullivan. + +The number of rebel forces engaged in the battle of Winchester has been +variously estimated. They probably numbered sixteen regiments of +infantry, four full batteries of artillery, together with one of four +guns; in the aggregate, twenty-eight pieces and three battalions of +cavalry, under Ashby and Stewart;--in all, eleven thousand men. The +Union forces consisted of thirteen regiments of infantry, four full +batteries of artillery and a section; in the aggregate, twenty-six +pieces, and a battalion of cavalry;--in all, nine thousand men. + +The rebel army was the attacking force, yet the engagement between the +infantry was on ground of their own choosing, by reason of the Third +brigade charging one of their batteries. It was in the vicinity of this +battery, which was at least a mile in advance of our selected line of +battle, that the fighting occurred which turned the tide of battle. At +this point the enemy had every advantage of position. He was securely +posted behind a stone wall, and in a belt of timber extending along a +ridge; while our forces were compelled to advance across a plain +exposed to a galling fire from infantry and artillery; and it was not +until they arrived within eighty yards of his line that any thing like +a fair ground could be obtained. Jackson, the famous commander of the +no-less famous "stone-wall brigade," a sobriquet it had obtained at +Bull Run, was fairly beaten; and that, too, by a force without a +general, and of inferior numbers. The victory was so complete, that the +enemy left two hundred and twenty-five dead on the field. Their killed +and wounded amounted to nearly nine hundred, while their loss in +prisoners was upwards of two hundred and fifty: adding stragglers and +deserters to these figures, and it will swell the number to about two +thousand. The Fifth Virginia rebel regiment was nearly annihilated: +there was hardly sufficient of it left to preserve its organization. + +The loss to the Seventh was fourteen killed and fifty-one wounded: but +few were taken prisoners, and those by accident. The following is the +list: + +_Killed._--Orderly-Sergeant A. C. Danforth; Corporal A. C. Griswold; +privates, Charles Stern, James Carroll, James Creiglow, Allen C. Lamb, +Stephen W. Rice, E. G. Sackett, Reuben Burnham, Louis Carven, Elias +Hall, John Fram, Fred. Groth, James Bish. + +_Wounded._--Captain J. F. Asper; Lieutenant Samuel McClelland; +Sergeant-Major J. P. Webb, and Sergeant A. J. Kelly, mortally; +sergeants, A. H. Fitch, E. M. Lazonny; corporals, Ed. Kelley, William +Saddler, Geo. Blandin, William E. Smith, Benjamin Gridley; privates, +Fred. Hoffman, Daniel Clancey, Leander Campbell, Joseph Miller, Hampton +Gardner, Arthur Lappin, Thomas Fresher, Duncan Reid, Joseph Smith, +Albert E. Withers, Charles Fagan, O. H. Worcester, W. Coleman, Stephen +Kellogg, John Gardner, F. M. Palmer, F. A. Warner, Daniel Kingsbury, +Richard Winsor, John Milliman, John Atwater, Geo. Anness, Fred. Bethel, +Charles W. Minnick, Moses Owens, Arba Pritchell, Edward Thompson, +Edward E. Tracy, A. A. Cavanaha, S. Bishop, Owen Gregory, James Hunt, +W. McClurg, H. M. McQuiston, D. O'Conner, P. Tenny, Richard Phillips, +T. B. Danon, Wm. Birch, Henry Clemens. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +PURSUIT OF JACKSON UP THE VALLEY.--MARCH TO FREDERICKSBURG, AND +RETURN TO FRONT ROYAL. + + +About the 1st of April the command left Strasburg, under command of +General Banks, driving the rear-guard of the enemy through the little +village of Woodstock, and taking a position on the banks of Stoney +Creek, four miles beyond the latter place. It remained here until the +17th, during which time the enemy kept up an artillery fire across the +creek, which resulted in the killing of several men in the division of +General Williams. + +On the morning of the 17th the command crossed the creek, and stormed +the enemy's battery on the opposite shore. The early dawn was +brightening up the eastern horizon with tints of red; and, as the +command emerged from the bridge, and ascended the steep hill beyond, +their bayonets glistened and sparkled. After firing one volley, the +rebels fled in haste, leaving the Federal forces to advance without +opposition. After falling back beyond the north branch of the +Shenandoah River, they made a stand, and endeavored to burn the bridge, +but were prevented by the Union cavalry. A flank movement being +ordered, and partly executed, the rebels again abandoned their +position. The Federals now pressed on to within a short distance of +New Market, where they encamped. + +Here the command remained ten days, when it moved two miles south of +the town, and on the 3d of May advanced to within a few miles of +Harrisonburg, but on the following day fell back about five miles to a +good defensive position. + +The tents were now ordered to be turned over to the quartermaster; and +on the following Monday we wound our way through Brook's Gap, in the +Massanutten Mountains, towards the smoky tops of the Blue Ridge, and +thus leaving forever the beautiful valley of the north branch of the +Shenandoah. Towards evening we crossed the south branch of the same +river at Columbia Bridge, and moved on in the direction of Luray, +encamping near that place. The next morning the command moved on down +the river until night, when it encamped. In the evening a hard rain +storm came up, which continued for several days. In early evening of +the following day the command reached Front Royal, a small village +situated at the base of the Blue Ridge, near the junction of the two +branches of the Shenandoah River. The following morning we crossed the +Blue Ridge, and immediately encountered the enemy's cavalry, which +annoyed us for several days. On the 17th we arrived at Warrenton, a +delightful village in Fauquier County. We remained in this camp until +Monday morning, when we again took the line of march for +Fredericksburg. We reached Falmouth, on the north bank of the +Rappahannock River, on the 23d of May. The corps of McDowell was in the +immediate vicinity, numbering thirty thousand men, and one hundred +pieces of artillery. + +When we arrived on the Rappahannock, we learned that this force of +McDowell's, now numbering forty-one thousand men, was ordered down to +Richmond, to form a junction with the right wing of the grand army +under McClellan. There were then only about twelve thousand of the +enemy in front of Fredericksburg. It was about fifty miles to the +extreme right of the army in front of Richmond. + +On Saturday the President and secretary of war came down for the +purpose of arranging the details. Shields' division was greatly in need +of shoes and clothing, while the ammunition for the artillery had been +condemned, and another supply, which had been ordered, had been very +much delayed. It was therefore arranged that the force should start +early on Monday morning, both the President and McDowell being averse +to starting on Sunday. + +That evening the President and secretary of war left for Washington. +Very soon after, General McDowell received a telegram, to the effect +that Jackson was making a raid down the Shenandoah Valley, with a +prospect of crushing the forces under General Banks. Soon after this +dispatch, another arrived from the secretary of war, by order of the +President, containing instructions to send a division after Jackson. +Here was the fatal blow to the campaign against Richmond. McDowell +promptly ordered General Shields' division to move, and at the same +time telegraphed the President that it was a fatal blow to them all. + +Little things control momentous events. Jackson's army of twenty +thousand veterans checkmated an army of one hundred and fifty thousand +men. In defending Washington, we lost Richmond; but Jackson risked his +own communication to break ours. Results more than realized his +expectations. Without risk there is little gain. Jackson adopted this +adage into his tactics, and endangered his army to save it. Events +proved his sagacity. + +In time of war the capital of a country, unless far removed from the +seat of war, is in the way. The City of Washington was a fatality. It +stood between the army and victory. Jackson knew this, and profited by +it. When this general menaced Washington, our army let go its hold on +the Confederacy, to make it doubly safe. The campaign against Richmond +was abandoned, but Washington was endangered still. The valleys and +swamps of the Chickahominy were paved with the bodies of heroes--the +little rivulets were swollen with the best blood of the land--an army +of cripples were given to charity;--and for what? That the City of +Washington might be safe. We have since then fought the ground over +again from Washington to Richmond; another graveyard has been planted; +and this time for a purpose. Washington has been set aside by the new +commander, and Richmond made the objective point. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE MARCH ON WAYNESBORO'.--TWO BRIGADES ENCOUNTER JACKSON AT PORT +REPUBLIC, AND AFTER FIVE HOURS' FIGHTING ARE COMPELLED TO FALL +BACK. + + +Nearly the entire corps of General McDowell followed the division of +General Shields. The latter took the direction of Manassas Junction, +and from there passed down the railroad, through Manassas Gap, arriving +at Front Royal on Friday noon, after a sharp engagement with a small +force of rebels. + +Soon after, Shields stationed one brigade on the Luray road, another to +watch the fords of the Shenandoah, another was sent out on the +Strasburg road, while the remaining one occupied the town. On +McDowell's arrival, Shields, with his entire division, was ordered out +on the road to Strasburg, for the purpose of intercepting the retreat +of the enemy. But, instead of taking the road which he was ordered to +take, he crossed over the north branch of the Shenandoah River on the +road to Winchester. It then being too late to repair the mischief, and +get ahead of Jackson, Shields was permitted to go in the direction of +Luray, and follow up Jackson as far as he thought advisable, with the +single instruction, that, in no event, should his division be +separated; so that each brigade would be in supporting distance of all +the others. + +On the second day we arrived in the vicinity of Columbia Bridge, and +pitched our tents for the purpose, as we supposed, of enjoying a +night's rest; but towards evening an order was received to fall back +six miles. Arriving at this new camp, we again pitched our tents; but +just at dark we received an order to move forward to the camp we had +but just left. We arrived about midnight, and slept on the ground; thus +wasting the strength of the command in a needless march of twelve +miles. + +On the following morning, June 7th, the Third brigade, by an order to +move on Waynesboro', took up the line of march, arriving in early +evening on the banks of Naked Creek, where it went into camp. Colonel +Carroll's Second brigade had passed over the road some time before. + +The command had nothing but flour and beef for supper, and nothing for +breakfast on the following morning; but being assured that some hard +bread was in waiting, some six miles ahead, it cheerfully pressed +forward at four o'clock A.M., and at about two o'clock the same day, +reached the vicinity of Port Republic, where Colonel Carroll's brigade +had met with a repulse the day before. + +Port Republic is situated at the junction of two forks of the south +branch of the Shenandoah River. Jackson's whole army was in the +vicinity of the place, the most of it occupying the west bank of the +river. In rear of Jackson's position, at Cross Keys, were General +Fremont's forces. At the latter place, on the previous day, Fremont had +defeated Jackson, with heavy loss to the latter. + +Jackson having thus failed to beat back Fremont, was compelled to cross +the river at Port Republic, and, defeating Shields' command, pass +through a gap in the mountain to Gordonsville. + +When General Tyler's command arrived on the field, Lieutenant-Colonel +Daum, chief of artillery, advised an immediate attack; but the general +wisely concluded to await the order of General Shields. Selecting a +good position for defence, the command bivouacked for the night. + +Early in the morning of June 9th, the enemy was seen to debouch into +the plain in our front, when our artillery, under Captains Clark, +Robinson, and Huntington, opened a heavy fire upon him. This force +moved into the woods on our left, and passing up a spur of the Blue +Ridge, threw themselves rapidly forward, with a view of turning that +wing of the army. Two companies of skirmishers and two regiments of +infantry were sent into the woods to counteract this movement. The +skirmishers having become warmly engaged, two more regiments were sent +forward to their support. The enemy now abandoned his intention, and +coming out of the woods, swept across the field to our right, uniting +with a column which was advancing to the attack. + +During this time, the Seventh was supporting a section of Huntington's +Battery. This new movement was directed against the position occupied +by it. When arriving within range of the guns, the enemy charged. The +regiment reserved its fire until the rebel column approached within +easy range, when, by order of Colonel Creighton, the regiment, which +had hitherto been concealed by the tall spires of wheat, rose to its +feet, and delivered its fire. This shower of lead made a fearful gap in +the lines of the advancing column. It staggered, and finally halted. +The Seventh now plunged into the midst of the foe, when an awful scene +of carnage followed. After a short struggle, the enemy was pressed +back, followed by the exultant victors. The Fifth and Twenty-ninth Ohio +regiments did gallant service in this charge. When the enemy had been +pressed back for half a mile, the column halted, reformed, and then +fell back to its old position. + +The enemy now made a furious attack on the extreme right of the +division, to meet which the Seventh changed front on the Fourth +company. The enemy was soon driven back in great confusion, and with +heavy loss. Immediately recovering from this temporary check, he made +an onslaught on the centre, which resulted in his repulse, with greater +loss than in any previous attack; the Fifth Ohio alone capturing a +piece of artillery and many prisoners. + +During these operations, the enemy sent a heavy column against our +left; and debouching from the timber, came down with such rapidity as +to overwhelm the small force of infantry supporting four guns of +Clark's Battery. This force, endeavoring to make a defence, came near +being captured. The guns, of course, fell into the hands of the enemy. +The Seventh and Fifth Ohio regiments were now directed to regain the +position. Moving by the left flank to the rear of the position under a +heavy fire, these two regiments dashed up the hill and over the guns, +into the midst of the terrified rebels. Five color-bearers had now been +shot down, while advancing as many rods. Lieutenant King seized the +colors and pressed forward, followed by the regiment, which sent volley +after volley after the fugitives, the firing ceasing only when the +rebels were covered by a friendly hill. We were soon ordered to drive +them from this position, which was done in gallant style, the command +charging up the steep sides of the hill, in the face of the foe. + +A large column of the enemy was now seen advancing from the bridge to +the scene of action. It was therefore thought advisable by General +Tyler to withdraw from the field during this check of the enemy, and +before these re-enforcements could be brought into the contest. + +This movement was executed under the direction of Colonel Carroll; and, +with few exceptions, the retreat was as orderly as the advance. + +After falling back some miles, we met the balance of the command under +General Shields, who assumed the direction of the forces. Eighteen +miles from the battle-field, the command halted for the night; and, on +the third day, reached the vicinity of Luray, where it went into camp. + +The importance of this engagement has been underrated. Great and +beneficial results to the Union army would have followed a victory; as +it was, a great disaster succeeded. The impetuous Jackson having thus +prevented McDowell's forces from uniting with the grand army, dashed +down in front of Richmond, and hurling his army against the right wing +of McClellan, gave the Federal army its first check, which finally +resulted in its overthrow. McClellan expecting McDowell, received +Jackson. Had the former formed a junction with him, the grand army +would have entered Richmond; but receiving Jackson, it entered +Washington. This failure to intercept Jackson was due to General +Shields' disobedience of orders. His entire division should have been +on the ground on Sunday, or none of it; and on its arrival, he should +have burned the bridge: then the capture of Jackson would have been +rendered probable, but, as events occurred, it was impossible. A part +of the division not being in supporting distance, rendered the burning +of the bridge a necessity; but Shields regarded it differently. His +order to save the bridge was the extreme of folly. To make himself a +name, he came near sacrificing his command. On Sunday, Colonel +Carroll's forces were in a position to have burned the bridge. Soon +after, the enemy commanded it, with eighteen pieces of cannon. Early in +the day it was safe to approach it--afterwards, madness. + +This bridge in his possession, gave the enemy an opportunity to debouch +on to the open plain. When there, the advance of Shields' division was +liable to be crushed. The preservation of the bridge rendered it +certain that he would be there, because this plain lay between him and +safety. To avoid entering it, was to surrender. The shrewd Jackson +chose to enter it. When there, he turned upon Tyler, and overwhelmed +him; then moved off at his leisure. The defeat of Tyler was certain; +his escape, marvellous. Jackson anticipated an easy victory, but met +with a stubborn resistance. This mistake of Jackson saved Tyler. + +When McDowell saw that the pursuit of Jackson was a failure, he +endeavored to collect his forces at Fredericksburg, for the purpose of +carrying out his original intention of joining McClellan; but Jackson +was there before him, and the grand army had been beaten back. + +Had the forces of Generals Banks and Fremont been left to take care of +Jackson, and thus left McDowell with his 41,000 men free to go down to +Richmond, the labor of historians would have been lessened. + +Soon after the battle of Port Republic, General Shields was relieved of +his command. This order received the approbation of both officers and +men. + +The following is a list of killed and wounded: + +_Killed._--Sergeant William Voges; corporals, Geo. R. Magary, Julius +Ruoff, L. R. Gates, John H. Woodward; privates, Adolf Snyder, Romaine +J. Kingsbury, John Mulligan, John Reber. + +_Wounded._--Captain Geo. L. Wood; First-lieutenant A. H. Day; sergeants, +Virgil E. Smalley, Samuel Whaler, James R. Loucks (mortally), Chas. L. +King, Wm. Lanterwasser (mortally); corporals, Townley Gillett +(mortally), Holland B. Fry, Mark V. Burt, A. C. Lovett, Cyrus H. +DeLong, A. C. Trimmer, Charles Knox; privates, J. H. Burton, S. E. +Buchanan, Isaac Maxfield, Charles Keller, F. Keller, Edwin B. Atwater, +M. N. Hamilton (mortally), Daniel S. Judson (mortally), Wm. H. Pelton, +Benjamin F. Hawkins, Lawson Hibbard, James L. Vancise, John Atwater, +Jay Haskins, Leroy Chapman, Sylvester B. Matthews, Alfred W. Morley, +Lawrence Remmel, George K. Carl, Franklin Eldridge, George Geyelin, +John T. Geary, Ira Herrick, Marion Hoover, W. W. Rogers (mortally), +Edwin Woods, Morris Osborn, G. W. Parker, M. Eckenrode, D. L. Hunt, +William Frasher, Anthony Williams, John Smith, James Decker, Michael +Campbell, Philip Anthony, John Colburn, John Hummel, John Luetke, John +Schoembs, Conrad Sommer, John Voelker, Herman Fetzer. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +BATTLE OF CEDAR MOUNTAIN.--GALLANTRY OF THE REGIMENT, AND TERRIBLE +LOSS. + + +After a few days' rest at Luray, the regiment marched to Front Royal, +and soon after left for Alexandria, where it arrived on the 27th of +June. It went into camp on a beautiful hill, just outside the +fortifications. + +Remaining in this camp for a month, the regiment was ordered to join +the forces under McDowell, at Warrenton. It arrived there on the +morning of June 26th, and soon after reported to General Banks, at +Little Washington. + +General Tyler had now been relieved from duty with the Third brigade, +and General Geary placed in command. + +As early as the 16th of July, the advance of Jackson's forces was at +Gordonsville; and by the 1st of August reached the vicinity of the +Rapidan River. To meet this movement, General Pope, commanding the Army +of Virginia, ordered forward the corps of General Banks; and on the 8th +of August ordered General Sigel's corps to Culpepper to co-operate with +Banks' forces; but Sigel, instead of moving promptly forward, sent a +courier to know what road he should take, when in fact there was but +one. This delayed the movement of his corps for several hours, so that +it was impossible to get it in position in time to render any +assistance to the forces under Banks. + +On the 7th day of August, Crawford's brigade, of Banks' corps, had been +pushed forward in the direction of Slaughter Mountain, to support +General Bayard, whose brigade of cavalry was being driven back in that +direction by the enemy; and on the 9th, to support this movement of +Crawford, Banks was directed to take up a strong position a short +distance in his rear. Rickett's division, of McDowell's corps, was +posted three miles in rear of Banks' position, and within easy +supporting distance. + +Desultory artillery firing was kept up all day on the 9th; yet General +Banks, apparently, did not think the enemy were in force, for, during +the afternoon, he left the strong position which he had taken, by order +of General Pope, and advanced to assault the enemy, believing that he +could crush his advance before the main body came up. + +The enemy was strongly posted, and sheltered by woods and ridges; while +Banks had to pass over an open field, which was swept by the fire of +the enemy thus concealed. + +The intention of Jackson, in this advance, was to crush a detachment of +Pope's army before the balance could come to its support. Banks, in +thus advancing to the assault, aided him in his design, which otherwise +would have been an entire failure. + +Cedar Mountain, the position occupied by Jackson, is thus described: +"The mountain is one of remarkable beauty. At a distance of four or +five miles from its base it seems to rise like a perfect cone from the +plain below, and from its base to its summit scarcely a deflection is +to be observed in its outline form--a perfectly straight line, as if +nature had formed it in the same manner that school-boys form +sand-hills. The sides of the mountain are covered with a heavy growth +of timber: its summit is reached by a poor road. The height of the +summit is, perhaps, eight hundred feet above Cedar Creek." + +Early in the day of the 9th, General Geary's brigade was sent to hold +Telegraph Hill, from which our signal-officers had been driven. To +approach this hill was sure slaughter; but the veteran brigade moved +on, through a storm of shot and shell, and occupied the position. + +Thirty pieces of cannon on our side, and as many on the side of the +enemy, were belching forth their fire. There was no part of the Federal +lines but that was swept by this fire. + +A little after three o'clock the Seventh Regiment was ordered over the +crest of the hill, into a cornfield beyond. While advancing to this +position, a most terrific cannonade was directed against it. It seemed +as if every cannon was being directed against this band of heroes; but +it never faltered in this march of death, moving coolly on, regardless +of the missiles that were tearing through its bleeding ranks. Comrades +were falling, and brothers dying; the mangled, bleeding victims of the +fury and violence of war were left thick, making the ground sacred on +which they fell; but the line wavered not. Reaching a low place, the +regiment halted, and the boys threw themselves upon the ground; and +thus for a long hour they lay, in an open field, exposed to a hot sun, +with a hail-storm of grape, canister, and shell falling thick and fast +around them. Men gave up their lives so gently, that it was almost +impossible to tell the living from the dead. The fatal missile struck +its victim, leaving the lifeless clay in the same attitude which the +living body but just before occupied. During that fatal period death +assumed a real character, while life seemed but a dream. + +The engagement had now become general. The brigade of General Prince +had advanced on the left of Geary, occupying the prolongation of the +line. Artillery replied to artillery, musketry to musketry, bayonet to +bayonet, in this deadly strife. Daring warmed into rashness, and +bravery into recklessness. + +About four o'clock the regiment was ordered into a meadow, which +position it promptly occupied, although the fire had not slackened, and +carnage marked its advance. After dressing the lines, the regiment +opened fire; and there it stood without a support, facing, in a +death-struggle, three times its number. The fiery Creighton received a +wound which compelled him to leave the field. The noble Crane was +disabled; and the brave Molyneaux, for the moment, took command. Seeing +the regiment nearly surrounded, and exposed to an enfilading fire, +which was fast thinning the ranks, he ordered it to retreat; but heroic +young Clarkey, mistaking it for an order to charge, dashed gallantly +forward, at the head of his command. After understanding the order, he +had barely time to fall back before the wings of the rebel host closed +in. + +Slowly and sadly the remaining few of the regiment fell back, keeping +their faces to the foe. Only one hundred and sixteen, out of three +hundred and seven, returned to the rear unhurt; and many of these were +disabled from service by severe exposure to the intense heat of the +sun, and lack of water. The regiment retired to a hill, and was not +again brought into action during the afternoon. At night, however, it +was ordered out on picket. After advancing to Cedar Creek it was +challenged, and no one answering, it received a terrible volley from +the front and both flanks. It fell back to the cover of a piece of +woods, and finally to the rear, about a mile, where it bivouacked. + +As night settled upon this field of carnage, Banks' entire corps +withdrew to the position it occupied early in the day; but the +artillery kept up an intermittent fire until near midnight. General +Jackson, from his mountain-top, could see every movement of troops, and +was enabled to calculate just how long it would take to re-enforce +General Banks. Had he not been so imprudent as to come down from his +mountain fastness, and attack the Federal forces after night, his loss +would have been comparatively little. But as Banks retired, he moved +twelve thousand men on to the battle-field, and kept them there during +the night; at the same time advancing one battery through the woods +into the open field beyond the battle-ground. From this position it +opened on the division of Union troops occupying the advance. As soon +as the first flash of his guns was seen, Major Davis, chief of +artillery in McDowell's corps, ordered two batteries into position, and +opened on the enemy. These batteries, being very close, and getting +good range, did fearful havoc among the rebels. It is said that General +Hartsuff sighted one of the guns that did the most execution. After the +battery had retired, Major Davis' guns shelled the battle-field. The +enemy being massed in small space, this fire told fearfully on their +ranks. After firing about one hundred shells, and the enemy not +responding, Major Davis ordered his guns silenced, little dreaming that +he had left more dead rebels on the field than all the random artillery +firing of the afternoon. + +Many deeds of daring were performed at this battle. Captain Ash, of +General Pope's staff, riding up to a battery with an order from the +general to stop firing, saw that it was a rebel battery; he, however, +had sufficient presence of mind to give the order, and ride off. It was +obeyed; the battery ceased to fire, and soon after moved off. Captain +Ball, of McDowell's staff, did the same thing, and with a like result. + +The following incident is from the pen of a correspondent of an Eastern +paper: + +"Just after the firing of musketry became interesting, I noticed a +private soldier coming off the field, and thinking perhaps he was +running away to avoid danger, I rode up to him, when I found he had two +fingers of his left hand shot away, and a third dreadfully lacerated. I +saw at once that he had at least a hand in the fight. I assisted him to +dress his wound as well as my limited knowledge of surgery would +permit, he, in the mean time, propping up my pluck by his quaint +remarks. Said he: 'I don't care a darn for that third finger, for it +warn't of no account, no how; but the 'pinter,' and t'other one, were +right good 'uns, and I hate to lose 'em. I shouldn't have come to the +rear, if I had been able to load my gun; but I wasn't.' After I had +dressed his hand, he looked over in the direction of the firing, and +stood a moment. Turning to me, he said: 'Stranger, I wish you would +just load up my shooting-iron for me; I want to have a little +satisfaction out of them cusses for spilling my fore paw.' I loaded +his gun for him, and he started back for the top of the hill at a +double-quick, in quest of satisfaction. His name is Lapham, of the Ohio +Seventh." + +During the action, General Banks was leaning against a tree, when a +cannon-ball struck it about eighteen inches above his head, passing +entirely through. It has been his singular fortune to meet with many +narrow escapes. While riding through Winchester, on his retreat before +Jackson, a rebel, from a window above, took deliberate aim at him, but +was shot by a private of a Massachusetts regiment before he could fire. + +The loss to the regiment in this engagement was very heavy, and shows +with what determination it maintained the contest. It went into the +engagement with three hundred and seven, rank and file, and came out +with a loss in killed and wounded of one hundred and ninety-one,--a +loss of more than sixty-two per cent. + +The following is the list: + +_Killed._--Lieutenants, James P. Brisbine, Joseph Ross, Frank Johnson; +sergeants, C. P. Bowler, Moses Martin; corporals, J. J. Evans, D. W. +Wright; privates, Joseph T. Blackwell, William Adams, Edward Burnet, E. +S. Shepherd, Charles G. Hettinger, Charles Masters, Benjamin F. Gill, +H. F. Dinger, H. Hight, John J. Hensher, Henry C. Case, M. Eckenroad, +N. H. McClurg, C. C. Miller, G. B. Swisher, E. Fox, James Stephenson, +Alvin H. Benton, John Manning, Michael Waldof, James Ray, Frank Miller, +John Weeland. + +_Wounded._--Colonel William R. Creighton, Lieut.-Colonel O. J. Crane, +Adjutant J. B. Molyneaux, Captain William R. Sterling; lieutenants, +Henry B. Eaton, W. D. Braden, S. S. Reed, Marcus Hopkins; sergeants, Z. +P. Davie, J. S. Cooper, J. C. Jones, A. S. Allen, Arvin Billings, +George W. Barnette, E. M. Lazarus, James R. Carter, E. G. Taylor, G. W. +Moore, Charles A. Brooks; corporals, M. D. Holmes, Henry J. Brown, L. +Wilson, Joseph Trotier, William E. Smith, Thomas C. Brown, Frank J. +Ware, Clark Wilson, C. H. Buxton, Norman L. Norris, F. A. Davis, Albert +A. Smith, James Alexander, Benjamin Gridley, W. T. Callors, Robert M. +Brisk, A. C. Trimmer, Christopher Nesper, James Grobe; privates, A. M. +Clinton, Thomas Sherwood, Edward St. Lawrence, Arthur Laffin, Leonard +Walker, Jacob C. Gaycly, F. N. Brund, Abraham Ginter, John G. Parsons, +Henry Hatfield, Andrew J. Crippin, Charles E. Preble, John H. Galvin, +F. Creque, Philip Kelley, T. Hammond, E. Lown, William Cammel, John +Boyle, James Dixon, Samuel E. Garden, Jacob E. Hine, Benjamin Hasfield, +Frank Henrickle, P. E. Hill, William L. Latch, Jacob Marks, Thomas C. +Riddle, John Stone, Ernest Zincker, Franklin Gaskill, N. Badger, George +Carrathurs, T. P. Dixon, Henry Fairchild, J. M. Rofflige, M. Richmond, +Theodore Wilder, Oliver Wise, A. Colwell, William Gardner, John Frank, +S. E. Hendrickson, N. R. Holcomb, E. Hobday, W. Lapham, F. Manley, John +McAdams, H. H. Rhodes, J. Harnner, Joseph L. Clark, James Kelley, +William W. Mecker, Charles Himpson, John Wickham, J. Roberts, J. R. +Green, Edward E. Day, Lewis Owens, S. A. Fuller, D. G. Burthroff, J. M. +Holcomb, Frank Strong, E. G. Meekins, H. Wallace, M. S. Gibbons, J. +Donthit, S. Reed, Arthur Adams, Ezra Brown, Ira M. Barlow, George M. +Caldwell, George W. Carter, John Downer, Thomas Ely, Sherman Collinger, +Stephen H. Hopkins, Daniel Jones, Perrin D. Loomis, David C. Nunemaker, +J. L. Oviatt, G. Russell, N. Twitchell, Ralph Winzenried, John C. Fox, +A. Inskeep, James Kincaid, John Lentz, R. D. Murray, John Pollock, E. +S. Mathews, A. Shaffer, C. Glendenning, Alfred Jackson, Hiram Deeds, +Ira S. Ray, Richard Freeman, Samuel Knap, John Fishcun, James A. Tell, +William Kelley, T. D. Williams, Charles Smith, George A. Earl, Maskell +Bispham, Frederick Michael, Henry Schmid, John Hammond, William Pfahl, +John Pike, George Sahl, George Zipp; George Rogers, musician. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +THE REGIMENT GOES INTO CAMP AT ALEXANDRIA, BUT IS SOON ORDERED TO +THE FRONT.--BATTLE OF ANTIETAM. + + +After the battle of Cedar Mountain, the regiment took part in the +memorable retreat of General Pope to the Potomac. During the time, it +was not engaged in immediate action; but was exposed, on several +occasions, to the shell from the enemy's batteries. After a fatiguing +march of sixteen days, it arrived, on the 2d day of September, under +the guns of the fortifications around Alexandria. On the following day +it was marched to Arlington Heights, to the support of Fort Albany, +near which it encamped in a beautiful meadow. + +At midnight of the same day an order was received to have the command +ready to march at half-past eight on the following morning; but it did +not leave, however, until near noon, when, crossing the Potomac to +Georgetown, it moved off in the direction of Poolesville, bivouacking +at night five miles from Georgetown. On the following morning the +command started before day had fairly dawned, and passing through +Rockville, bivouacked at night near the place. On the 5th it moved +forward, and leaving the small village of Darnstown on the left, formed +in line of battle, fronting Poolesville, and awaited the advance of the +enemy; but he failing to appear in that direction, but threatening +Pennsylvania, by the way of Frederick, the command, on the 9th, broke +camp and advanced in five columns towards the latter city. After a +brief skirmish, the advance entered the place on the 12th. On the 13th, +the regiment crossed the mountains into Pleasant Valley to Middletown. +While descending the side of the mountain, the progress of the battle +of South Mountain was plainly seen. This engagement was fought by the +division of General Cox, of Reno's corps. These troops won great praise +for their gallantry and good fighting qualities; and the general, an +additional star. + +On the 15th, the advance of the Federal army drove the enemy in the +direction of Boonesboro', and through the town towards Sharpsburg. +Generals Richardson's and Pleasanton's column of cavalry and light +artillery proved very annoying to the enemy in this day's retreat. + +On the following day, the 16th of September, the rebel army took up its +position across Antietam Creek, and there awaited the approach of the +Federals. + +[1]"This position consisted of a series of sharp points, rising from +the bank of the creek, and extending to the rear of Sharpsburg in a +succession of ridges; but, when viewed from a point a little in front, +has the appearance of table-land, the ravines being undistinguishable. +These points or ridges are for the most part surmounted by a heavy +copse of timber, which furnished admirable shelter for foot-soldiers; +while, with batteries flanking each hill, the position was all that a +general could wish for defence. + + [1] Charles Tenney. + +"Seeing the strength of the position, McClellan sent Hooker's and +Sumner's corps around to the left of the enemy's advance position, +across Antietam Creek, and, ere the close of day, they had succeeded in +driving him fully a mile. + +"We had lain down in line of battle, expecting to remain till the +morrow. The _tattoo_ had sounded, and an impressive silence had settled +upon the bivouac, broken only by the tread of the alarm-guard, as he +slowly paced his beat, and the occasional passing of an orderly, +conveying some order to be executed on the coming day. Not long were +we to rest. Our ears were soon assailed with--'_Attention, First +brigade!_' and we were soon in line, and moving around to the right, +to the support of Hooker and Sumner, where we arrived about one A.M., +and bivouacked upon the ground held by the rebels scarce six hours +previous. An occasional shot or volley, in an adjoining piece of woods, +reminded us of the close proximity of the enemy. Nevertheless, the rest +of the night was passed quietly enough by us. + +"The morning came, fresh and beautiful; but our _reveille_ was not +the rattle of the drum, nor the clear notes of the bugle. The day was +opened by a fierce volley of musketry, succeeded by another, and yet +another, which were soon so continuous as to be blended in one +unremittent roll. The struggle had commenced, and the sun that rose +shone upon a field already red with blood. Soon the heavy booming of +cannon was mingled with the sharp, crackling roll of small-arms, and +the din was terrific. Hooker was engaged, and hotly too. We were +immediately ordered under arms, and advanced in the direction of the +fight. Halting in easy supporting distance, we were given thirty +minutes in which to make coffee. At the end of this time the volume of +sound perceptibly increased, and was becoming nearer. The rebels were +re-enforced, and were slowly driving our men before them. 'Forward,' +shouted General Mansfield; and forward we went, in column of division, +as cool and regular as on drill. Changing direction to the left, we +advanced through a cornfield taken by Hooker the evening previous, and +which was now held by the rebels, having driven our boys back. An open +field lay before us, commanded by the direct and flank fire of the +rebel artillery, and the left flank of their infantry. Notwithstanding +the heavy fire we thus suddenly received, the advance was made +steadily, and in slow time. Arriving at the front, we deployed into +line of battle. The line now being complete, we advanced; _and the +work was begun_. No halt was made until the woods were ours; but the +enemy was to be dislodged from behind a rail fence. Then we occupied +the crest of the hill in the woods, and from this point we directed our +fire to the fence, where we could plainly see them level their pieces +at us, and fire. + +"For an hour and a half we thus remained, and fought: one side with the +energy of despair; the other, with an energy imparted with the +consciousness of right and justice. The contest was fair and equal, and +the right triumphed. At last the line began to waver, and General Green +shouted, 'Charge!' With a yell of triumph we started, with levelled +bayonets; and, terror-stricken, the rebels fled. Like hounds after the +frightened deer, we pursued them fully three-fourths of a mile, +killing, wounding, and taking prisoners almost every rod. Their colors +fell: a private soldier leaped forward, and tore them from the staff. + +"Across the fields we pursued the foe, who again took shelter in a +heavy piece of timber, flanked by their artillery. A battery of +twelve-pounder howitzers came to our support, and most efficient +service it rendered. We formed in two lines in rear of the battery, and +lay behind a low ridge, sufficiently high to protect from a direct +shot, but which offered no shelter from the fragments of shells +bursting near to and over us; these were continually striking amongst +us, often grazing a cap or an arm, but doing no particular harm. The +howitzers were doing splendidly, when suddenly we heard, 'But eight +rounds left!' Twenty more rounds would silence the rebel battery, but +we had them not. Soon the rebel fire was more rapid, and a yell in the +distance denoted an advance of their infantry. Shall we retreat? No! we +will hold our ground, or die! On they come, yelling defiantly: 'tis A. +P. Hill's division, second to none but Jackson's. We look anxiously for +another battery. It comes! It comes! We are safe! The gallant Eighth +Rhode Island Battery comes up in splendid style; our ranks open right +and left for them, the exhausted battery of howitzers wheeling out of +line. The Parrotts were unlimbered, and shell, five-second fuse, called +for, and they opened in glorious style. + +"But what means that shout so closely on our right? They have flanked +us, and are charging our battery! A half right wheel was made, and we +were partially under cover of a narrow ridge. A portion of our front +rank, with the colors, advanced, and opened a fire upon their column, +but, as it was intended, it only drew them on; shouting fiercely, they +dashed forward, expecting to have an easy capture. We waited until they +were within six rods, when, with a yell such as freemen know how to +give, we rose and poured the contents of our rifles into the mass of +graybacks emerging from the woods. They reeled and staggered for a +moment, then rallied, and returned our fire for half an hour, then +wavered. Perceiving this, Lieutenant-Colonel Tindell, commanding +brigade, ordered a charge. As we started, they broke and fled in +confusion. Our brigade advanced to the woods, but was soon replaced by +a New Jersey regiment, which quickly broke and fled. On came the +rebels, yelling and exultingly waving their colors, across a field, and +entered a cornfield to the south, to flank our men who were engaging a +division. Their triumph was short, for they suddenly found themselves +nearly surrounded by General Franklin's troops, who came in from the +north and east, over the identical ground we fought over, and +precipitated themselves upon the flank of the enemy, six hundred of +whom threw down their guns and surrendered, those remaining fleeing in +dismay from the field. + +"This _coup de grace_ closed the heavy fighting upon the right, and +we retired from the front, lacerated but cheerful, feeling that our +duty was faithfully performed, and knowing that the rebels were +defeated." + +The next two days were occupied in burying the dead and collecting the +wounded. + +On the 19th, the regiment left for Harper's Ferry, arriving at Maryland +Heights on the 20th. A few days after it forded the Potomac River, and +went into permanent camp on Loudon Heights. + +The regiment sustained a loss at the battle of Antietam of five killed +and thirty-eight wounded. The list is as follows: + +_Killed._--Sergeant James B. Carter; Corporal Martin Lazrus; privates, +John Bacon, Elbridge F. Meachum, George O. Sherick. + +_Wounded._--Lieutenant Ernest J. Kreiger; sergeants, George A. McKay, +Jerry G. Clafflin, Isaac Jones, James Hansell; corporals, Edward +Goodsell, Henry H. Bailey, Hiram J. Bell, John F. Ely, Austin Bull, +James Bryant, J. Kurly; privates, George A. Wood, Joseph Kubler, +Laurine Lamphier, Pliney E. Hill, George Steinberger, E. C. Miller, +Daniel Weatherlow, David Everett, Alfred W. Mosley, Averett C. Reed, +Alson Coe, Alfred E. May, Thomas Woolf, Henry Wilcox, George Houck, +William Cromwell, Caleb Bryant, George Wandal, Nick Bauer, Charles +Briedenbach, Charles Graiter. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE MARCH TO DUMFRIES.--SKIRMISH WITH HAMPTON'S CAVALRY, IN WHICH +THEY ARE BADLY DEFEATED BY A MUCH INFERIOR FORCE. + + +While at Loudon Heights, the monotony of life in camp was relieved by +drill, guard, and picket duty, with an occasional reconnoissance. On +the latter occasions some little skirmishing would usually occur. An +occasional dash was made by the rebels upon the Union picket-line. + +Soon after the occupation of this post the grand army crossed the +Potomac and Shenandoah into the Loudon Valley, on its way to +Fredericksburg. We copy a description of the march of a regiment in +Porter's corps.[2] + + [2] Lieutenant W. D. Shepherd. + +"I have been thinking of the difference between soldiering that we read +about--fancy soldiering, glory and honor soldiering--and real +soldiering of the rough and tumble kind. How well it sounds to read: 'A +regiment of brave men marched proudly through the streets of Harper's +Ferry, to strains of sweet music. Gallantly the veterans of a dozen +battles streamed along, their banners gayly floating in the breeze; +they go to join the Army of the Potomac.' What is it when divested of +its trimmings? 'About three hundred and fifty of what once was a +regiment one thousand strong, went through Harper's Ferry to-day. In +vain the tum, tum, tum of the drum, at the head of the column, urged +the men to keep time. Wearied, worn out by continued tramping, loaded +down with their knapsacks, three days' rations in their haversacks, and +the prospect of a long march before them, slowly they dragged +themselves along; their torn and tattered flag, as well as soiled +clothes, giving evidence of hard service.' Again let us quote: 'At +evening they halted, and bivouacked for the night; refreshed and ready +at early dawn to continue the line of march.' Sift that a little--that +bivouac. Almost worn out with incessant and continued tramping through +mud, and muck, and mire, great clumps of which would stick and cleave +on to the shoe at every step, the night fast closing in, the column +halted; slowly the lingering mass closed up, stacked arms, and broke +ranks. Some, too tired to make a fire and cook food, threw themselves +on the cold, damp ground, and, with their blankets wrapped around them, +shivered to sleep; others, having eaten scarcely any thing all day, +threw off their cumbrous loads, and started, in the now dark night, in +search of wood and water. An old fire-scorched tin cup answers for a +coffee-pot as well as tea-kettle. Into it the water, muddy with the +feet of perhaps a thousand water-hunting tired ones, is put; and while +the coffee is boiling, a piece of fat pork is drawn from the haversack, +and a slice cut off; a long stick, pointed, on which the slice is +secured, and frizzling, sizzling, half burned, half cooked, ready when +the coffee is. The pork, coffee, and hard bread form, for the hundredth +time, the meal of the hungry soldier. Perhaps on the roadside, right in +the mud, glad in truth to lie anywhere, one after another drops his +wearied form. The heavy rain comes down in torrents, wetting him +through and through, but tired nature heeds it not--must have rest. + +"Early dawn comes. Again the pork, coffee, and hard bread; and +the stiffened, sore, leg-weary patriot buckles on his saturated +knapsack, and, like a foundered horse, limps achingly along till +he gets heated up, with the same prospect before him of twenty miles +tramp--clamp--tramp." + +On the 10th day of December the regiment left Bolivar Heights, crossed +the Shenandoah on a pontoon, and winding round the bluff of Loudon, +passed up the Loudon Valley. + +While passing through Hillsboro', the command was given, by Lieutenant +Shepherd to his men, to "Close up!--get into your places!" General +Geary, on foot and unobserved, had marched along just in rear of the +company. Hearing the command, he remarked: "Well, here is a vacant +place, I guess I'll fill it up;" and stepped into the place. He +marched, in this manner, some distance, talking freely with those +nearest him, at the same time obeying orders promptly. + +The regiment encamped about a mile beyond Hillsboro'. + +Bright and early on the following morning the command moved on. Leaving +the battle-field where the brave Kearney fell, and Fairfax on the left, +on the 15th it arrived in sight of the Lower Potomac, and encamped +after crossing Naabsco Creek. + +Having passed Dumfries on the 17th, an order came that the Fifth, +Seventh, and Sixty-sixth regiments, under command of Colonel Candy, +should march back and hold that post. On the following day, crossing +Powell's Creek, two hours' march brought the brigade in the outskirts +of Dumfries, where it went into camp. + +Nothing transpired worthy of mention until the 27th of December, when +the heavy booming of cannon was heard in the vicinity of the +picket-line. It was evident that the enemy were making a descent on the +pickets. For several days this attack had been expected, therefore in a +few minutes the command was ready and in line of battle. The pickets +gradually gave way, under the command of the indomitable Creighton, +fighting their way back to the line of battle, in which they took +position. The rebels came gallantly forward, in anticipation of an easy +victory. When within short-range of our guns, they were met by such a +terrible fire of musketry from our partially concealed line, as to +check their advance. They, however, rallied, and returned the fire; but +in a moment staggered, and finally withdrew in confusion from the +field. Again forming their broken columns, they hurled themselves +against our line. They were again met by a determined front, and, with +a like result, were sent, broken and mangled, back upon their reserves. +A third time reforming their wasted ranks, they came down with great +impetuosity, and hurled their solid columns against the weak lines of +the Federals. They were again met with a sheet of flame, which sent up +its column of blue smoke along the entire front. For a moment it was +impossible to tell the effect produced on the rebels; but the smoke +clearing away before a light breeze, it was discovered that their +advance had been arrested. One more united effort, and the rebel line +was again sent back crushed and bleeding. They again organized for a +last desperate charge, and most gallantly did they sweep down upon our +line. Up the hill and over the brush and logs, which lay in their way, +with wild impetuosity, which threatened to crush every thing before +them. Aware of the avalanche that was sweeping down upon them, the +Union boys hugged the ground, awaiting, with breathless anxiety, the +command to fire. At last the stentorian voice of the sturdy Crane was +heard to shout the order, when a band of patriots, their eyes kindled +to a blaze with the ardor of their daring, with strong muscles and +steady nerves, rose, and with a shout that made the gray hills of old +Dumfries echo, poured a volley of death into the rebel host. Disdaining +to again take refuge under cover, the line stood manfully up, and met +the continued onsets of the foe. The brave Creighton stood on a hill +exposed to the fire--how could men falter while the noble form of their +leader was thus bared to the bullets of the enemy? They did not falter; +but the line stood like a wall. The rebels were soon seen to waver, and +as the night "cast its mantle over the combatants," they tardily and +solemnly withdrew, bearing with them the lacerated, bleeding victims to +their endurance. + +At night the line was drawn in, and after making every effort for the +security of the command, the boys lay down upon their arms, harassed by +an oppressive uncertainty which always haunts the soldier in the +bivouac upon the battle-field. + +During that long night the lonely picket-guard peered out into the +darkness, intent upon catching the first footfall of the cautious +foe. Slowly and with careful tread he paced his weary beat, fearful +that he might be pounced upon by the wily enemy ere he could give +the alarm to his slumbering companions. Through rain, and sleet, and +darkness--oppressed with the solemn stillness that at night hangs over +the earth--with a sense of loneliness weighing upon his feelings--he +stood like a spectre in the gloom, the guardian of the thousands +slumbering in the camp. While others dream of home, and friends, and +firesides, afar off on the hills of New England, or the starlit +prairies of the West, the wakeful picket keeps his vigil. May God +protect him in his watch! + +As day again dispelled the shadows that darkened the hills and the +valleys, the columns of the brave Sigel were seen winding their way +through the village. A shout of welcome greeted these heroes. The +dreadful suspense that had weighed upon the hearts of the combatants of +the day before, during that long night of watching, now gave place to +cheerfulness; and confidence was again restored. But the cautions +Hampton had fled; and nothing met the eye save the frowning hills. + +The following is the list of killed and wounded in this affair: + +_Killed._--Corporal Austin Ball. + +_Wounded._--Corporal E. M. Corrdett; privates, Sylvester Carter, Philip +Grigsby, Thomas Roff, Wm. P. Root, Wm. H. Kibbee, W. M. Perry, Stephen +Willock. + +_Prisoners._--John Gordon, Andrew Atleff, Richard M. Vreeland, Douglass +F. Pomeroy, Henry T. Benton, Lewis T. Butts, Henry Alderman, Charles +Bradly, James Snider, John Beiler, W. M. Perry. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE REGIMENT ORDERED TO THE FRONT.--BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE. + + +Near the middle of April, 1863, the regiment marched down to Aquia +Landing, where it remained in camp for two weeks. + +General Hooker was now in command of the grand Army of the Potomac, +having relieved Burnside after that general's unsuccessful attack on +Fredericksburg. Hooker resolved to make an attempt to drive the rebel +army from the vicinity of the Rappahannock. Burnside's failure had +demonstrated the impracticability of crossing the river at +Fredericksburg; for no army was safe for a moment with a strong army +behind three lines of well-constructed earthworks in its front, and a +wide and deep river in its rear. He therefore chose a flank movement by +the way of Banks and United States fords, thus striking the left flank +of the enemy near Chancellorsville Court-house, and avoiding their +strong fortifications in the rear of Fredericksburg. + +The Seventh Regiment arrived in the vicinity of Chancellorsville on the +afternoon of the 30th of April, and encamped for the night a little +southeast of the latter place, and near the Fredericksburg plankroad. + +Early on Friday morning it was ordered forward, and took position in +the second line of battle, in an open wood-lot, facing south. Late in +the afternoon it was ordered back; and it finally took position +directly south of the famous brick house, called the Chancellorsville +Place, where headquarters were established and maintained during most +of the action. + +Just before dark the rebels came up in great numbers, in an attack on +Knapp's Battery, which was stationed on the left. The Seventh was +ordered to its support, but the attack was repelled before the regiment +became warmly engaged. It remained in support of this battery during +the night and in the forenoon of the following day. About noon of the +2d of May, the regiment was ordered forward to support a line of +skirmishers; but this line, refusing to advance, was passed by the +regiment, when it took the advance, and most handsomely drove the enemy +back for some distance, holding the ground for several hours, when it +was ordered to retire. It did so without confusion, taking a new +position in rear of a piece of woods, where it remained until ordered +into the intrenchments. + +During this advance, the right wing was hotly engaged, and lost +heavily; the left wing suffering slightly. It remained during the night +in its old position near the brick house, in the second line of battle. + +On the 3d, the regiment advanced to what is known as "the old +rifle-pit," which it occupied while the other troops were falling back +across a cleared field south of the Fredericksburg plankroad. Here it +was exposed to a galling fire from the advancing rebel column; but it +stood firm. When the balance of the troops of the brigade were in +proper position, it formed under the protection of a battery, and +slowly moved off the field, exposed to a terrible fire of both musketry +and artillery, taking up its position in rear of the brigade. The +brigade, however, was soon driven back, and passed to the rear of the +regiment, exposing it to a severe fire. Soon the order came for a +general advance, when the brigade, with a loud shout, dashed at the +foe, led by the Seventh. The rebels were pushed back for a considerable +distance; but no support coming up, the brigade was compelled to fall +back to the south of the brick house, where it halted, and laid down in +the road; but about eleven o'clock at night the shelling became so +continuous and heavy that it was forced still further back, and finally +resulting in its withdrawal to the vicinity of United States Ford. That +night the regiment occupied a rifle-pit about half a mile from the +river. At four o'clock in the afternoon of the 5th, it was relieved by +the Fifth Ohio; and taking a circuitous route, arrived in a ravine on +the left of the column, and near the river, and was soon after employed +in the intrenchments. + +Early in the morning of the 6th, the regiment crossed the river on a +pontoon at United States Ford, and in the afternoon of the 7th arrived +at its old camp at Aquia Landing. + +In this battle the regiment was actively engaged but a small portion of +the time. The loss was not severe, when taking into account the +magnitude of the engagement, and its duration. + +Why the army recrossed the river has not been fully explained. The +immediate battle was not a defeat; at least it has not been considered +as such. However, the two columns of Sedgwick and Hooker failed to +unite, which fact may have had an influence in determining the retreat. +The attacks of the enemy had been repulsed at all points, while +Sedgwick had carried a portion of their fortifications in rear of +Fredericksburg. The retreat alone turned a prospective victory into a +humiliating defeat. The grand army failed to accomplish the purpose of +its advance, and was compelled to hasten its march across the river in +retreat, over which it had, but a week before, advanced in triumph. It +can be said by way of apology only, that while at Chancellorsville the +army maintained its reputation for bravery and endurance, the enemy +manifestly looked upon it as a fruitless victory to him. + +The following is a list of the killed and wounded: + +_Killed._--Orderly-Sergeant Henry Whiting; Color-Sergeant John D. +Creigh; Corporal A. C. Trimmer; privates, Charles H. Cheeney, E. N. +Larom, Henry A. Pratt, John Randle, Almon Lower, John Lee, Stafford +Penney, Thomas Carle, A. C. Steadman, Victor Perrley, Henry Ackman. + +_Wounded._--Orderly-Sergeant Elmon Hingston; sergeants, H. H. +Bailey, John S. Davis, James Lapham, H. L. Allen; corporals, A. A. +Austin, John Gardiner, S. M. Cole, J. S. Kellogg; privates, W. Furniss, +H. Owen, F. Eldridge, W. Van Wye, E. C. Palmer, D. L. Hunt, E. V. Nash, +Henry H. Pierce, O. Jackman, C. A. Wood, H. S. Smalley, Charles P. +Smith, S. P. Sherley, F. Rockefellow, Frank Randal, Joseph Kubler, +Michael St. Auge, David Boil, James Dixon, Oliver Wise, James Farron, +G. Breakman, F. Mauley, John Shelby, Andrew Copeland, S. G. Cone, W. W. +Hunt, E. Kennedy, H. G. Benton, A. S. Raymond, C. A. Parks, Isaac +Stratton, H. Thwing, James Baxter, J. W. Benson, S. Hughes, P. Smith, +S. A. Fuller, F. Hank, John Clonde, E. O. Whiting, G. W. Bonn, S. H. +Barnum, J. C. Brooks, W. H. Fox, I. H. Gregg, W. Hunter, H. Jones, S. +Moneysmith, S. S. Pelton, B. Wilson, D. W. Waters, W. H. Bannister, H. +Lewis, W. J. Evans, C. L. Cowden, H. Hoffman, S. Renz, M. Saiser, E. A. +Spurn, L. Knoble. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +ACCOMPANIES THE GRAND ARMY INTO PENNSYLVANIA.--BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. + + +After the battle of Chancellorsville, the regiment remained for some +time in its camp at Aquia Landing. The Army of the Potomac, as well as +that of Lee, was quietly reorganizing, preparatory to another struggle. +Soon Lee began to threaten the outer line of Hooker, by making +demonstrations on the various fords of the Rappahannock. At one time +threatening to move boldly across, and at another menacing the flank, +as if to attack one wing of the army. These various movements gave rise +to sharp skirmishes, nothing more. At last it was evident that Lee +meant an invasion of the North. The Army of the Potomac was therefore +set in motion. + +The Seventh left its camp early in June, and proceeded to Martinsburg +by the way of Fairfax. Lee continuing his flank movement, the grand +army was compelled to fall back across the Potomac; the Seventh +crossing at Edward's Ferry. The rebel army now crossed the river by the +way of Williamsport, and moved forward towards Pennsylvania. The Army +of the Potomac moved in the same direction, passing through Frederick +City, Maryland, and taking up its position in rear of Gettysburg, +Pennsylvania. The line of battle was formed a little distance from and +facing the town. On the first day of July the rebel army advanced and +occupied the town, but the day was exhausted in manoeuvring, attended +with slight skirmishing between the advance of the two armies. + +Hooker had been relieved, and General Meade ordered to assume command. + +After the Seventh arrived on the field it took its position on the left +side of the Gettysburg and Littletown pike. + +Early on the morning of the 2d it took a position on a hill on the +right of this road, at the same time sending Company H to the front, +under command of Captain McClelland. This company remained at the front +during the entire day. For the first time in its history, the regiment +occupied a position under cover, a stone wall being in its front. Up to +this time it had not been exposed to the fire of infantry; but during +the afternoon it suffered slight loss from a brisk artillery fire. At +eleven o'clock at night it advanced down the pike, and took a position +in a hollow, running at right angles with the road. It was now exposed +to a musketry fire, resulting in the wounding of one man. It soon fell +back to a stone wall, parallel with a road leading to the pike; and +shortly after it advanced to this road, from which twenty men were sent +forward as skirmishers, under command of Sergeant Stratton. This +gallant soldier was mortally wounded while bravely leading his command +against the foe. + +On the morning of the 3d the regiment moved forward, after having +called in the skirmishers, to the relief of the Sixtieth New York +Volunteers, occupying a line of intrenchments. In the evening it was +relieved, and withdrew to the breastworks in the rear; but was soon +after ordered forward to the relief of another regiment, where it +remained until late in the evening. During the entire day it was +exposed to a heavy fire of musketry, from which it suffered +considerable loss, considering the position it occupied. When relieved, +it withdrew to the position held by it in the morning. + +At one o'clock on the morning of the 4th of July, it again moved +forward to the intrenchments, where it remained till the brigade moved +off in the direction of Littletown. + +The following incidents occurred July the 3d: While occupying the +intrenchments, a white flag was seen flying from the front of the +enemy's lines. The firing being suspended, seventy-eight rebels came +forward and surrendered, including six officers. Lieutenant Leigh, of +Ewell's staff, came forward and endeavored to stop the surrender; but +was fired upon by the regiment, and instantly killed. + +Corporal John Pollock leaped over the breastworks and captured the flag +of the Fourteenth Virginia rebel regiment. + +Private James J. Melton was wounded, and afterwards taken to a +hospital, where he remained for some time; since which his friends have +heard nothing from him. The wound being in the head, he is supposed to +have become deranged and wandered away, unable to give any account of +himself. No means have been left untried to obtain information of his +whereabouts, but without avail. + +The regiment having fought under partial cover, the loss was slight: +one killed and seventeen wounded. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +AFTER REACHING THE RAPIDAN IT GOES TO GOVERNOR'S ISLAND.--AFTER ITS +RETURN IT ACCOMPANIES HOOKER'S CORPS TO THE WESTERN DEPARTMENT. + + +After the battle of Gettysburg, the regiment was with the grand army in +pursuit of the broken columns of General Lee. Passing through Frederick +City, it arrived at Harper's Ferry and went into camp. Here it remained +for two days, when it moved across the Potomac, and again passing up +the beautiful Loudon Valley, crossed the Blue Ridge to Fairfax and +Manassas Junction, over the old battle-field of Bull Run. Again taking +up the line of march, it crossed the Rappahannock below Culpepper +Court-house, and encamped on the banks of the Rapidan. + +About this time a riot broke out in New York city, which required the +presence of the military, as an assistance to the civil authorities. +The Government was therefore called upon to furnish troops. Several +regiments were at once dispatched to the scene of strife. Among these +was the Seventh. It left the vicinity of the Rapidan about one week +after its arrival there. It marched to Alexandria, and there taking the +United States ship Baltic, passed down the Potomac through Chesapeake +Bay to the ocean, arriving on Governor's Island in the latter part of +August. It remained until the first of September, when again embarking, +it sailed to Alexandria, from whence it marched to the Rapidan, near +its old camp. + +General Rosecrans had now been removed from the command of the Army of +the Cumberland, and General Grant assumed control. The army occupied +the vicinity of Chattanooga, Tennessee; while the rebel army under +General Bragg occupied Mission Ridge, immediately in front of and +overlooking the city. The task of driving Bragg from this position was +assigned to General Grant. + +Before entering upon this campaign, however, it was necessary to +re-enforce the Army of the Cumberland; for it had not entirely +recovered from the disastrous battle of Chickamauga. For this purpose +it was necessary to draw on the Army of the Potomac, now lying idle on +the banks of the Rapidan. At this time this army had, _positively_ +speaking, accomplished nothing. It had barely saved Washington from the +enemy. To be sure, it had seen many hard-fought battles, and on all +occasions sustained its reputation for courage and endurance. But the +results following these battles were entirely negative; and after more +than two years of marches, counter-marches, sieges, and battles, when +graves had been dug from the Potomac to the James, and filled with the +best blood of the land, and the country left in mourning for her fallen +braves, but little territory had been gained, and the possession of +this little being constantly disputed by a well-organized and gallant +army. A sort of fatality had thus settled down upon the Army of the +Potomac. Some of the best generals had been summoned to its command, +but to no purpose. The hand of fate rested upon it heavily. When about +to seize upon victory, some stream would rise in its rear, or some +unseen accident happen to its communications or line of supplies, +compelling it to let go its hold on victory, and in its stead to accept +defeat. No wonder, then, that the authorities saw fit to send a part of +this not very promising army to a department where victory sometimes +rested upon the Federal arms. Hooker's corps was therefore ordered to +report to Grant. + +The Seventh being a part of this command, left its camp on the Rapidan +in the latter part of September, and moving up to Washington, passed +over to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, when it left for Nashville, +Tennessee, by the way of Columbus, Indianapolis, and Louisville. It +soon after left for Wartrays, by the way of Murfreesboro'. It was now +ordered to construct winter-quarters, but having them nearly completed, +it was ordered to Bridgeport, Alabama, where it arrived in due time. + +This entire trip from the East was accomplished without any delay, and +nothing occurring to lessen the good opinion the people entertained for +this veteran corps. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +THE SEVENTH JOINS GRANT'S ARMY.--THE BATTLES OF LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, +MISSION RIDGE, AND RINGGOLD. + + +After remaining for some time at Bridgeport, the regiment was ordered +to the vicinity of Lookout Mountain. It marched to the little village +of Wahatcha, at the base of this mountain, and went into camp. It +remained, however, but a short time, and then returned to Bridgeport, +where it went into permanent camp. + +Late in the fall, General Grant had perfected his arrangements to +attack the rebel stronghold on Lookout Mountain; and, as a preparatory +measure, his vast army was concentrated in the vicinity of Chattanooga. +An immense quantity of stores had been gathered, while garrisons were +placed at points to be held for the purpose of keeping up communication +with the army after its advance. Early in November, the Seventh left +its quarters in Alabama, and joined the grand army. + +On the 24th of November, the army was set in motion. The Seventh passed +up the northern slope of the mountain, and crossing Lookout Creek, +formed in line of battle. It now steadily advanced, arriving at the +rebel camp to find it in the hands of our men. But desultory firing was +kept up by the rebel sharpshooters concealed in the timber and behind +rocks on the summit of the mountain. The regiment was now ordered on +picket. Passing around to the east side of the mountain, it was fired +upon by the enemy; but owing to their being entirely hidden from view +by the dense fog that had settled over the combatants, it did not +return the fire, but secured a safe harbor behind rocks and trees. This +fire was kept up for nearly two hours, with a loss to the regiment of +only four men wounded. Before night the regiment was relieved from duty +and marched to the rear, bivouacking in a peach orchard. + +About ten A.M. of the 25th, it moved down the opposite side of the +mountain, and passing through a small valley, soon reached Mission +Ridge. Without halting, the command moved steadily up this mountain, +and on arriving on its summit, found that the rebels had fled. Passing +into another valley, it bivouacked for the night. On the 26th, the +command moved to the vicinity of Pigeon Mountain, where it remained +till the following day. Early on the morning of the 27th, it moved on +to Ringgold, Georgia, where it found the enemy securely posted on +Taylor's Ridge. On arriving in this town, the brigade was ordered to +scale the mountain. It was formed on the railroad, in two lines of +battle; the second line being ordered to preserve a distance of one +hundred yards. Two Pennsylvania regiments formed the first line, and +the Sixty-sixth and Seventh Ohio the second line; the Seventh being on +the left. The enemy soon discovered the intention of our troops, and +made his dispositions to meet the attack by extending his right. As +soon as the advance began, the enemy opened fire. Arriving at the foot +of the hill, the first line halted to return the fire, and the second +line passed through. The Seventh now moved into a ravine, where it was +exposed to a terrible fire from the front and both flanks, but it +pressed on without firing a shot. Arriving almost on the crest of the +hill, the fire became too effective for even these gallant veterans to +withstand, and the line gave way, fighting as it went. In this manner, +the surviving few reached the foot of the hill. + +This engagement was short, but terrible in its results to the regiment. +It may be said that with this struggle its star of glory began to +fade--its pride and spirit were broken. But one officer escaped +uninjured, while many were killed. The number of men in the action was +two hundred and six, of whom fourteen was killed and forty-nine +wounded. + +For what purpose this handful of men were ordered to storm the enemy's +position on the hill has never been explained. There was no artillery +used to cover the assault, without which it was impossible to carry the +position with such a force, and hazardous to attempt it with any. +Within a short distance there was a large amount of artillery, which +could have been placed in position, after which Taylor's Ridge would +have been untenable by the enemy. On seeing such dispositions being +made, he would probably have anticipated the movement, and fled without +firing a gun. But thus far Hooker and his almost invincible corps had +carried every thing before them. This success seemed to bring with it a +contempt for the rebel soldiers, which finally resulted in the great +disaster at Taylor's Ridge. A good general will resist the influences +growing out of success, and not be led by these to undertake +impossibilities, and by such rashness endanger that which he has +already gained. It requires greater self-control to resist the +temptations following victory, than to overcome the demoralizing +influences of defeat. Victory must never elate a general, while defeat +must never depress him. + +After this battle, an unsuccessful attempt was made to get the regiment +ordered home. But the response of Halleck, to a similar application, +made after the battle of Cedar Mountain, was reiterated. "No!" said the +old warrior; "not so long as there is a lame drummer-boy left; not if +you will send us a whole new regiment in place of this handful. We know +these men--they are just such as we want." This compliment, from an +officer who was in command of all of the armies of the United States, +was worth many a hard march, as well as battle. + +The following is a list of the killed and wounded in the three battles +of Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, and Taylor's Ridge: + +_Killed._--Colonel W. R. Creighton; Lieutenant-Colonel O. J. Crane; +Adjutant Moris Baxter; second-lieutenants, Isaac C. Jones and Joseph +Cryne; sergeants, J. C. Corlet, William Van Wye; corporals, Alfred +Austin, W. H. Bennett; privates, C. F. King, C. E. Wall, D. P. Wood, J. +L. Fish, Thomas Sweet, Oliver Grinels, Lawrence Remmel, H. Hanson, J. +H. Merrill, William Pfuel. + +_Wounded._--Captains, W. D. Braden, Samuel McClelland; first-lieutenants, +George A. McKay, George D. Lockwood; second-lieutenants, D. H. Brown, +E. H. Bohm, H. N. Spencer, Christian Nesper; sergeants, M. M. Cutler, +John Gardner, L. Wilson, Isaac Stratton, Elmore Hemkston; corporals, +James W. Raymond, E. V. Nash, John Baptee, C. Glendenning, Hiram Deeds, +Thomas Dowse, George Spencer, William Senfert, J. E. Hine, W. H. +Petton, J. H. Cleverton, H. C. Hunt, M. H. Sheldon, John Phillips, W. +O. Barnes, M. Fitzgerald, J. Tuttle, George Eikler, W. J. Lowrie, H. O. +Pixley, W. H. Johnson, John Bergin, W. Wise, H. B. Pownell, J. N. Hall, +V. Reynolds, R. White, H. Wright, R. D. Gates, Otis Martin, Joseph +Kincaid, W. O. Johnson, J. Decker, J. Hall, C. Cowden, D. F. Dow, +George Mandall, H. Fezer, George Raynette, L. Habbig, John Schwinck, +Joseph Rowe, C. Deitz. + +The following were wounded at Lookout Mountain: + +John H. Galvin, M. C. Stone, M. W. Bartlett, James A. Garrison, Louis +Owen, A. Gordon. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +THE ADVANCE TOWARDS ATLANTA.--SKIRMISHING.--HOMEWARD MARCH.--ITS +RECEPTION.--MUSTER OUT. + + +The series of successes in the vicinity of Chattanooga made Grant a +lieutenant-general, and gave Sherman the command of the armies in +Tennessee. Preparations were now made to press back the forces +marshalled in rebellion at all points. Early in the spring the ball was +opened in the East by Lieutenant-General Grant in person, while in the +West the indomitable Sherman set his invincible army in motion towards +the very heart of the so-called Confederacy. The advance was sounded, +and the Union hosts pressed onward. + +By sunset on the 17th of May the Seventh Regiment reached Calhoun, and +on the 19th the vicinity of Cassville, where it hastily threw up some +breastworks; but after two hours was ordered forward in line of battle. +On the 23d it passed through the latter village, across the railroad, +and at four P.M., arrived on the banks of the Etawa River; and after +fording the stream, bivouacked for the night. On the 25th it took +the advance of the entire column, and deployed seven companies as +skirmishers. The march of these companies was very toilsome, and their +progress correspondingly slow. Near Pumpkin Vine Creek the advance was +fired upon by the enemy's pickets, and a sharp skirmish ensued. During +this time the enemy attempted to destroy the bridge over the creek, but +were driven back by the regiment; when it immediately crossed, and took +possession of a commanding hill. + +Generals Hooker and Geary, with staff and body-guard, had moved forward +with the skirmish-line, and sometimes in advance even of this. On one +of the latter occasions the body-guard was fired upon, and the three +reserve companies of the Seventh were ordered to their relief. + +The advance of the enemy was now held in check until the other +regiments of the brigade came up, when he was dispersed. + +In this skirmish, one man was killed and eight wounded. At this point +the command threw up some breastworks, where it remained until six +P.M., when it advanced in line of battle. In this movement the regiment +became hotly engaged, losing three killed and fifteen wounded. One of +the enemy's shell exploding in the ranks, occasioned the loss of eight +men. On the 28th and the previous night, considerable skirmishing was +kept up in front of the line of intrenchments, as well as some sharp +artillery firing; which, however, did very little damage. These pieces +were soon silenced by a New York battery. All day and night of the 30th +the regiment was engaged in sharp skirmishing; but one man, however, +was injured, and he severely. On the 2d of June it moved forward to +Allatoona, Georgia, where it built breastworks, and went into camp. + +Here it remained for some time, when its term of service having +expired, it hastened its steps homeward; thus severing the connecting +link between it and the army. The members of this veteran regiment now +felt that they were no longer soldiers: that, although they retained +the organization and uniform of a regiment, they were private citizens +hastening to enjoy home and friends, from which they had been so long +separated. They marched with joyous hearts, and yet there was sadness +present with this happiness. Many a comrade was left behind, never to +return. Fresh graves marked its line of march from Chattanooga to +Georgia. Friends and kindred were sleeping beneath these green mounds, +and they could not pass them by, in this homeward march, without a tear +of regret. + +Following the line of the railroad, the regiment finally halted and +awaited transportation. When this was furnished, it went to Nashville +by railroad, at which place it embarked on steamers and started down +the Cumberland River. Arriving in the vicinity of Harpeth Shoals, it +was fired on by guerrillas, and two men wounded. Both officers and men +were desirous of landing and punishing this band of outlaws for their +insolence, but could not prevail on the captain of the boat to permit +it. + +Arriving in the Ohio River, Sergeant Trembly fell from the boat and was +drowned. This was a sad occurrence. He had served faithfully during the +service of the regiment; and now, on the eve of being mustered out, he +lost his life by accident. The boat was stopped, and efforts made to +rescue him, but without success. + +When the regiment reached Cincinnati, the Fifth Ohio had already +arrived. The city being about to give an ovation to this gallant +regiment, the Seventh was invited to take part in it, by partaking of +the hospitality of the city. This demonstration, in honor of the two +regiments, was eminently fitting, for they were united by the ties of +long fellowship. From the very first they had been brigaded together. +The history of the one was the history of the other. They had marched, +bivouacked, and fought side by side. Each prized the honor and renown +of the other not less than its own. The city of Cincinnati, in thus +extending its hospitality to the Seventh Regiment, did much credit to +itself. The friends of the regiment will remember this magnanimous +conduct, while the members of the regiment will keep green the memory +of the gallant Fifth. + +The following is from the Cleveland Herald, of the 11th of June: + +"On Saturday afternoon, soon after the evening papers had been issued, +a dispatch was received, announcing that the Seventh Ohio had but just +left Cincinnati, and would not arrive in Cleveland until about seven +o'clock Sunday morning. Bulletins to this effect were at once printed, +and distributed through the city; but a large crowd of persons, not +aware of this fact, came down to watch the arrival of the evening +train, on which the Seventh was supposed to be coming. + +"On Sunday morning the population of the city were early astir, and by +seven o'clock a large and continually increasing crowd had assembled in +and around the depot. The police, in full uniform, marched down to the +depot, and were followed by the old members of the Seventh, bearing the +second regimental flag, the first having been deposited in the +State-house at Columbus. + +"At seven o'clock the ringing of the fire-bells announced the approach +of the time for the arrival of the train; and about half-past seven +o'clock a salute from the guns, manned by the Brooklyn Artillery, and +run down to the bluff at the foot of Water-street, announced the +arrival of the train. + +"As it moved into the depot it was received with cheers by the +assembled crowd; and the war-worn veterans were soon out of the cars, +and surrounded by anxious and joyful friends. Shouts of welcome, hearty +hand-shaking, embraces and kisses, were showered upon the sun-browned +soldiers. Many of the scenes were very affecting. In one place a young +wife, whose husband had left for the field just after their marriage, +hung with clinging embrace on her returned brave, and her moist eyes +sought his with unutterable affection, her hands trembling with excess +of joy. In another, an old man, with both hands grasped in those of his +son, mingled smiles of joy over his returned boy, with tears of sorrow +for the one who had laid down his life for his country. Mothers clung +to sons, sisters to brothers, wives to husbands, and some little +children climbed up for a father's embrace. + +"The number all told, men and officers, of those who returned, was two +hundred and forty-five. These were the remnants of nearly eleven +hundred men, who left Camp Dennison three years ago, on the +reorganization of the regiment. The whole number of the regiment is +five hundred and one, of whom the remainder were recruited at various +times, and their term of service not expired. Sixty of these were left +in Sherman's army; the rest are scattered in every direction, from the +James River to Atlanta. The greater part of those whose term of service +has not expired are to be consolidated with the same class in the Fifth +Ohio, which fought by its side in many a bloody fray, and which is to +retain its number. The slightly wounded were brought up with the +regiment, the more seriously wounded being left in different hospitals. + +"The following is the present organization of the Seventh: + +"Lieutenant-colonel, Sam. McClelland; surgeon, Dr. Bellows; assistant +surgeon, Dr. Ferguson; Captain Wilcox, Company E; Captain Kreiger, +Company K; Captain Clark, Company B; Captain Howe, Company A; Captain +Braden, Company G; Captain Davis, Company C, taken prisoner in last +fight; Captain Nesper, Company H; Captain McKay, Company F; Captain +Lockwood, Company D; Lieutenant Bohm, commanding Company I; +quartermaster, S. D. Loomis. + +"The regiment left Chattanooga with the Fifth Ohio; but parted company +on the way, the Fifth having left their arms behind them, and were +therefore compelled to come by railroad, no unarmed troops being +allowed to come by the river. The Seventh came up the Cumberland and +Ohio rivers by steamboats, and were fired on by guerrillas on the way. +One man was lost, Sergeant Trembly, of Company C, about thirty miles +below Cincinnati. He was on the guards of the steamer cleaning his gun, +when he fell overboard. The boat was stopped, and efforts made to save +him; but he was carried away by the current and drowned. + +"On reaching Cincinnati, they were ordered to Columbus to be mustered +out; but when the train got to Columbus, they were ordered to go on to +this city to be paid, and mustered out. + +"After leaving the cars, and the greetings of friends were ended, the +men were marched to one part of the depot, and given a chance to wash +themselves. They were then conducted to tables set along the north wing +of the depot, where a hot breakfast had been provided by Wheeler and +Russel, on the order of the military committee. Rev. Mr. Goodrich +invoked the blessing. + +"A number of ladies were on hand, who supplied the soldiers bountifully +with strawberries, after the more substantial part of the feast was +concluded. + +"As soon as the men had been properly fed and refreshed, they fell into +line, and proceeded through Water and Superior streets to the front of +the government buildings, where the formal reception was to take place. +The procession was headed by the police, followed by a brass band, and +by the military committee, members of the council, and city officers. +The old members of the Seventh, with the second flag of the regiment, +tattered and torn, immediately preceded the bronzed veterans, who, +fully armed, and bearing their last flag, rent with a hailstorm of +hostile bullets, marched with proud steps through the streets they had +left three years and three months since. Carriages followed with the +sick and wounded who were unable to march. The procession was +accompanied with a throng of people, and crowds lined the streets, +whilst flags fluttered in all directions. + +"On reaching the front of the government building, the regiment was +drawn up in double line, and Prosecuting-Attorney Grannis, in the +absence of Mayor Senter, addressed the regiment, in behalf of the +corporation and citizens, as follows: + +"SOLDIERS OF THE SEVENTH OHIO--The people of the city of Cleveland +welcome you home. More than three years ago, you went forth with full +ranks--more than a thousand strong. To-day a little remnant returns to +receive the greetings of friends, and to mingle again with society, as +was your wont in times gone by. But this is not all. You, and those who +went with you, whether present here to-day or absent, whether among the +living or the dead, shall be held forever in grateful remembrance. + +"We witnessed your departure with pride, not unmingled with sorrow. We +did not regret that the men of the glorious Seventh had gone out to +fight against a brutal and insolent foe, or fear that any member of it +would ever fail to do his whole duty in the perilous ridges of the +battle; but we did know that your departure was attended with many +sacrifices;--that you would be exposed to cold, fatigue, and hunger; +would suffer from disease, from honorable wounds, and in loathsome +prisons; and that many a noble form would bite the dust. We knew that +these things must needs be, that the nation might live. The half was +not told us. It did not enter into our hearts to believe what you would +suffer and what you would accomplish. Upon almost every battle-field, +from Cross Lanes to Dalton, the glorious banner of the Seventh has been +in the van of the battle. We have watched your course with painful +interest. After every battle, came the intelligence that your regiment +had fought bravely, and had come out with thinned ranks. + +"You have the grand consolation of knowing that the victories of +Gettysburg, of Lookout Mountain, of Ringgold, and of Resaca, were not +won without your aid. To have been in any one of those desperate +conflicts, is glory enough for any man. The record you have made will +seem almost like a tale of fiction. We have often had tidings of you, +but such as would not cause our cheeks to tingle with shame. It was +never said of the Seventh Ohio that it faltered in battle, that it +failed to do its whole duty. You have been faithful, uncomplaining, and +heroic. These things have not been accomplished without painful +sacrifices. How painful, let the honorable scars many will carry to +their graves answer. How painful, let this begrimed and tattered flag +answer. How painful, these thinned ranks will answer. Your gallant +colonel and lieutenant-colonel came home before you. Not as we could +have wished them to come, but wearing the habiliments which all must +wear; and now they lie yonder, and their graves are still wet with the +tears of their mourning countrymen. + +"Not so fortunate many of your countrymen, for they lie in unknown +seclusion, but not in unhonored graves. We will not mourn these dead as +those who die without hope, for their names shall be honored, so long +as liberty is prized among men. + + "'Death makes no conquest of these conquerors, + For now they live in fame, though not in life.' + +"It is an honor to be engaged in this conflict, which those who share +it should fully prize; and those who have been engaged in it have shown +a self-sacrificing devotion to duty, seldom excelled. It is a conflict +in favor of liberty against treason and traitors; against a desperate +and implacable foe, fighting with desperate energy, that fraud, +oppression, and crime may stalk abroad in daylight. + +"Let us hope that the final overthrow of rebellion is at hand; that +soon our soldiers may all return home, with-- + + "'Brows bound with victorious wreaths, + Their bruised arms hung up for monuments, + Their stern alarums changed to merry meetings, + Their dreadful marches to delightful measures.' + +"On concluding, Mr. Grannis introduced Governor Brough, who also +addressed the regiment. He said in substance as follows: + +"MEN OF THE SEVENTH OHIO--I know you are anxious to turn from this +public to private greetings, to clasp friends and acquaintances in your +hands and hearts. Under these circumstances I have not the courage to +detain you. I will not read the glorious record of your achievements, +for it would keep you so long. It is not necessary. We know your record +in all its glory, but not, like you, in all its pain. A little over +three years ago, on a Sabbath morning, you left Cleveland. Now, on a +Sabbath morning, you return to us. That Sabbath was hallowed, by the +purpose with which you went forth. This Sabbath is rendered sacred, by +the joy with which you are welcomed back to us. + +"On behalf of the State, I am here to give you a cordial greeting on +your return. For the people of Cleveland, no formal greeting is +necessary. In the crowd that gather around you, you can read the +cordial welcome, that needs no words to express it. + +"The Spartan mother, who sent her son to battle, bade him to return +with his shield in honor, or on his shield in death. You have returned +with your shields, and with honor reflected from them on you. But let +us not forget that many have come home on their shields. We cannot +forget those that, on another Sabbath morning, came home, and were +received by the city in the weeds of mourning. + +"We welcome you back, not only because you are back, but because you +have reflected honor on your State. Standing, as I do, in the position +of father of all of the regiments of the State, it will not do for me +to discriminate; but I will say, that no regiment has returned to the +bosom of the State, and none remains to come after it, that will bring +back a more glorious record than the gallant old Seventh. + +"There is no need to tell you what the lesson of this war is. You have +learned it in many a weary march, and on many a field of carnage. None +know better than you, that there are but two ways possible for the +termination of this war. One is an inglorious peace and disgraceful +submission, and the other is to completely crush the military power of +the rebellion. There is no other way; and he who goes about on +street-corners, and talks about a peace short of one or the other of +these alternatives, is either grossly ignorant or intentionally +attempting to deceive. More than that, no one knows better than +yourselves, that to secure a lasting peace, when the military power of +the rebellion is crushed, the cause of this infernal rebellion itself +must be thoroughly wiped out. You have been taught that in many a fiery +lesson, and know it to be a truth. + +"There are gallant men and brave generals in the army laboring to reach +this end; and we have confidence that their efforts will be crowned +with success. God grant that it may be so. I had almost said that God +and Grant will make it so. + +"But I will detain you no longer. There is another greeting awaiting +you in your homes--a greeting that no other eyes should witness. To +that sacred and precious greeting I remit you." + +The regiment now marched off to Camp Cleveland, escorted by the old +members of the Seventh. + +The men were given a brief furlough, after which preparations were made +to be mustered out. + +On the 4th of July, a grand ovation was given to the regiment, in +connection with the Eighth Ohio; in fact, while the regiment remained +in Cleveland, it was one continued ovation. The citizens vied with each +other, in caring for and honoring the old Seventh. It seemed as if they +could not do enough. These brave men will not soon forget the anxious +care bestowed upon them by the citizens of Cleveland, during this +closing period of their career in the service of their country. + +After remaining for a brief period in camp, the regiment was mustered +out; and after kindly farewells had been exchanged, each member +departed for his home, from which he had been so long absent in +protecting a Government that he loved from the ruthless touch of +treason and slavery. + +When the regiment entered the field, it numbered more than a thousand +men. As these began to dwindle away by the shock of battle and the +ravages of disease, new members came in, until we find nearly fourteen +hundred men on the rolls, exclusive of three months' men: the latter +would swell the number to about eighteen hundred men. Of the former, +over six hundred were killed and wounded--the killed alone amounting to +about one hundred and thirty. One hundred and upwards died from +disease; while more than six hundred were discharged on account of +disability arising from various causes. Many of those who were on the +rolls at the time the regiment was mustered out were disabled for life, +and were only retained for the want of an opportunity to be discharged. +The whole number of able-bodied officers and men returning with the +regiment was only two hundred and forty-five, leaving upwards of eleven +hundred dead and disabled. + + + + +BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. + + +BRIGADIER-GENERAL E. B. TYLER.[3] + +E. B. Tyler entered the service as colonel of the Seventh. He brought +with him some little military experience, having been a +brigadier-general of militia before the rebellion broke out. + + [3] General Tyler has failed to furnish us any data from + which to write an extended sketch, though often requested to + do so. + +When General McClellan was about to make his advance into Western +Virginia, he selected Tyler to lead the way, on account of his thorough +acquaintance with that wild region, he having been engaged in +purchasing furs from the people for many years. During the entire +summer he was kept well out to the front. He was finally given a +brigade, with which to assist General Cox in driving General Wise from +the valley. He moved as far as Somerville, in the very heart of the +enemy's country, and was soon after in the skirmish of Cross Lanes. +From this time, during the remainder of his stay in the department, he +was in command at Charleston, in the Kanawha Valley. In the winter +following, he was ordered to Kelley's department, where he was again +given a brigade, with which he did good service on the outposts. We +next find him at the battle of Winchester, where he commanded a +brigade. It was his command that charged the battery, for which it +acquired so much renown. His conduct at this battle won him a star. He +now served with his command in the Valley, accompanying it to the +Rappahannock and back. After which he commanded the forces in the +battle of Port Republic. His conduct in this engagement is above +criticism. No general could have made better dispositions than he, and +no one would have met with better success. Defeat was certain; and all +that the best generalship could do, was to save barely a remnant of the +command. It is a wonder that any artillery was saved. He gained much +reputation in his command for the manner in which he acquitted himself +in this battle. He soon after left his old brigade, and finally took +command of a Pennsylvania brigade, which he led in the battle of +Fredericksburg, in December, 1862. He had acquired a fine reputation +with Governor Curtin, and his conduct in this battle confirmed it. The +spring following he was assigned to a command in Baltimore, under +General Schenck. At the time of the raid on Washington, in the summer +of 1864, he was at the front. During an engagement he became separated +from his command, and only escaped by dint of hard riding. After +remaining concealed for some days, he escaped, and returned in safety +to our lines. After this campaign he returned to Baltimore, where he is +at the present time stationed. + + +BREVET BRIG.-GEN. J. S. CASEMENT. + +J. S. Casement came into the regiment as major, and was just the man +for the place. The regiment needed a practical, common-sense sort of a +man, and it found him in the person of Jack Casement. Many of his +previous years had been spent in the construction of railroads. In this +he had not a superior in the United States. He is of small stature, but +of iron frame; and for endurance has few equals. He will shoulder and +walk off under a load that would make the most athletic tremble. He has +probably superintended the laying of as much track as any man of his +age. + +On joining the regiment, the major at once made himself useful in +looking after matters for the comfort of the command, that really +belonged to no one to look to, and yet, when attended to, went far to +improve the condition of the men. He rapidly acquired a knowledge of +military tactics, which was afterwards to fit him for a leader. This +was not difficult for him to do, for he made it a practical study. He +was always on duty when the occasion required it. This habit of +promptness he acquired while working large parties of men, and it never +left him during his service. During the long marches in Western +Virginia, he was ever watchful as to how matters were going on in the +rear; and while other mounted officers were riding leisurely along, he +was ever watchful of the train, as well as all other matters connected +with the easy movement of the command. Arriving in camp, he made it his +business to see that all was snug. At the affair at Cross Lanes he +conducted himself with such gallantry as to endear him to the entire +regiment. He rode over that fatal field as calm and collected as on +drill. When his superior officers had escaped, he organized the balance +of the command, and then commenced that memorable march over the hills +and mountains, through the valleys and over the streams, of that wild +waste. It was finally crowned with success, and the regiment felt proud +of its major; and the Western Reserve felt proud, too, that they had +sent so brave a man to serve with so brave a regiment. He now did his +duty, until we find the regiment in the East, and in its expedition to +Blue's Gap, Major Casement at its head. Just before reaching the +fortifications, he made a speech. Said he: "Boys, you've not got much +of a daddy, but with such as you have, I want you to go for those +rebels." And they did go for them in earnest. It seems the boys did not +object to the character of the "daddy." He now went with the regiment +to Winchester, where he was engaged in that battle. He sat on his horse +where the bullets were flying thickest, and seemed to be a stranger to +fear. When the battle was nearly over, followed by a few men, he took +possession of a piece of artillery, and held it until the close of the +action. In the evening succeeding the battle, he found that ten +rifle-bullets had passed through the cape of his coat on the left side, +near to his arm. + +Major Casement accompanied the regiment on its march up the Valley, +making himself useful in the way of constructing bridges and roads. On +arriving at Falmouth, on the Rappahannock, he tendered his resignation, +which being accepted, he returned to his home. All missed the merry +laugh, as well as the merry jokes, of the ever happy major. + +He was not long permitted to enjoy home, however, as in the following +summer he was made colonel of the One Hundred and Third Ohio Regiment, +and immediately after left for the field. His regiment was ordered to +Kentucky, in which department he served until Sherman's triumphant +march on Atlanta, when he joined him, and soon after commanded a +brigade. In this campaign he distinguished himself. After Sherman left +for Savannah, Casement commanded a brigade in Thomas' army. At the +battle of Franklin, which followed, he conducted himself in such a +brilliant manner as to win a star by brevet. He now took part in the +pursuit of the disorganized forces of Hood, and when it ceased, went to +Wilmington, North Carolina, with the corps of General Schofield, where +he has since remained. + +The career of this dashing officer has been one of usefulness, and his +numerous friends, as well as the entire country, appreciate his +services. + + +BRIGADIER JOHN W. SPRAGUE.[4] + +General Sprague entered the service as captain of Company E. He +immediately gained a high character as an officer, both for his fine +military bearing and gentlemanly deportment. His company was first in +discipline, and during the time he was in command not one of his men +was under arrest. His influence was such, that they seldom disobeyed an +order. They regarded their captain as a fit person to lead them--one +whose example was worthy of imitation. + + [4] The writer has been unable to learn sufficient of General + Sprague's services, after leaving the Seventh, to enable him + to write an extended sketch, which he very much regrets, for + his gallant services entitle him to a more lengthy notice. + +During the trying marches in Western Virginia, Captain Sprague was ever +at his post to encourage and cheer his men. A few days previous to the +Cross Lanes affair, he was given a leave of absence; and soon after +leaving for his home, he was taken prisoner by the enemy's cavalry. He +remained in prison about a year, suffering all the hardships that the +imagination can picture. When he was released, his hair had become +gray, and his every appearance was indicative of great suffering. On +his return, he was immediately commissioned colonel of the Sixty-third +Ohio Regiment, and very soon after entered the field. From this time on +he did gallant service in the armies of the West. His great military +talent was at last acknowledged, and his vast services rewarded by +conferring on him a star. He is now serving in the West. + + +LIEUT.-COL. SAMUEL McCLELLAND. + +The subject of this sketch is a native of Ireland. He was born in 1829. +While in his youth, his parents emigrated to this country, landing at +Philadelphia, from whence they went to Pittsburgh. Remaining here for a +short time, they removed to Youngstown, Ohio, where they have since +resided. + +He entered the service as first-lieutenant of Company I, and was at +once active in the discharge of his duty. He accompanied the regiment +to Western Virginia, where he took part in all the hard marches that +followed. At the affair of Cross Lanes, he demonstrated, by his +gallantry, the fact of the possession of great military talent; for he +was brave, prudent, and skilful. Up to the battle of Winchester, he was +with the regiment in every march and skirmish. At this battle he +commanded a company, and had the honor of opening the battle, and +sustaining it for a few minutes, till other companies formed on his +flanks. + +He was engaged in the following battles and skirmishes, which embrace +every one in which the regiment was engaged: Cross Lanes, Winchester, +Port Republic, Cedar Mountain, Antietam, Dumfries, Chancellorsville, +Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, and Taylor's Ridge. The +various skirmishes and battles during the march of Sherman to Marietta, +are to be added to this list. At the battle of Winchester he was +slightly wounded in the head, but remained on the field, against the +urgent solicitations of his friends, until the close of the engagement. +At the battle of Taylor's Ridge he was severely wounded in the leg. He +now returned to his home, but remained but a short time, rejoining his +command before he was entirely recovered. + +While in the East he was made captain of Company H, and after the +battle of Taylor's Ridge, lieutenant-colonel. He now took command of +the regiment; leading it through the arduous campaign of Sherman, as +far as Marietta, in which service he won a fine reputation for ability +as an officer. He was known and recognized throughout the army as the +fighting colonel. At the above place, the old Seventh turned its steps +homeward, commanded by Colonel McClelland, who had the proud +satisfaction of leading the regiment into Cleveland, to do which the +lamented Creighton was ever ambitious. + +When encamped in the city, he set himself industriously at work +preparing the regiment to be mustered out; which was done in due time. + +McClelland was one of the few officers who were ever at their post. He +was brave, active, and zealous, a good officer in every particular. His +kindness and good feeling towards his fellow-soldiers won him many +friends. His family have suffered severe loss, two brave brothers +having died in battle. During all this affliction he has remained true +to his country, his patriotism never growing cold for a moment. + + +MAJOR FREDERICK A. SEYMOUR. + +The subject of this sketch came into the regiment as captain of Company +G, having organized the company immediately after the first call for +troops. He had seen a good deal of service in the militia of his native +State, which was of great assistance to him in this new position. When +the regiment was organized for the three-years' service, he was elected +to his old position, which was an indication of the esteem his company +had for him. + +During the terrible campaign among the mountains of Western Virginia, +his health became very much impaired; till just previous to the affair +at Cross Lanes, he was compelled to leave his command and seek to +restore it in his home. Therefore he was not in that skirmish. He soon +after returned, but after reaching the Shenandoah Valley his health +again failed him, and he once more sought to restore it by returning to +his home. While he was absent the battle of Winchester was fought, and +he therefore did not take part in the engagement. + +He now accompanied the regiment in its march up the Shenandoah River, +across the Blue Ridge, and back again to Front Royal; and from thence +to Port Republic. In the battle fought at the latter place he was +conspicuous for bravery. During that well-contested action be +contributed all that lay in his power towards winning a victory. But +valor alone cannot win a battle; numbers combined with it can only +accomplish that. This was his first experience under fire; but he stood +up to the work like a veteran; being second to none in deeds of daring. + +Soon after this action he was engaged in the battle of Cedar Mountain, +where he more than sustained the reputation acquired at Port Republic. +This was a terrible battle, and every officer and private who fought +there became a hero. + +From this time forward the writer has no knowledge of his services, +beyond the fact that he was promoted to major; which position he filled +till some time in the fall of 1863, when he resigned, and returned to +his home. It can be truly said that, wherever Major Seymour was placed, +he endeavored to do his duty. Among his fellow-soldiers he had many +friends, and he will always be remembered as a kind-hearted gentleman. + + +SURGEON FRANCIS SALTER. + +Francis Salter entered the service as assistant surgeon of the Seventh +Regiment; and on the resignation of Surgeon Cushing, was appointed +surgeon. He held this position until the latter part of 1862, when he +was made a medical director, and assigned to the staff of General +Crooks. As a surgeon, he hardly had a superior in the service. His +services were of great value in the hospitals, as he had had a long +experience in those of England, his native country. He has remained in +the service from the beginning of the war; and during that long period +has alleviated the suffering of many a soldier. + + +C. J. BELLOWS. + +The subject of this sketch was appointed surgeon of the regiment, from +the position of assistant in the Fifth Ohio. Before entering the +service he was enjoying a good practice in Northern Ohio, in which he +had acquired a good reputation. While with the regiment he was much +esteemed, by reason of his ability as a surgeon, as well as for his +kind and courteous behavior. + + +G. E. DENIG. + +On the appointment of Francis Salter to the post of surgeon, the +subject of this sketch was made assistant. While with the regiment he +was attentive to his duties, and always kind and obliging to those +seeking medical aid. He many times acted as surgeon of the regiment; +and on such occasions was always prompt in the discharge of his duty. + + +FREDERICK T. BROWN, D.D. + +The subject of this sketch was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, of +respectable and pious parents. His father was a wealthy merchant, and +therefore gave his son a liberal education. After arriving at a proper +age, he was sent to Princeton College, New Jersey, where he graduated. +He early developed those Christian qualities which he has possessed in +such an eminent degree during the whole course of his life. He was born +to be a minister. At an early age his mind took a lasting hold upon +religious truths; and it has never relaxed its energies in that +direction for a single moment. He has gone on doing good from a child, +his usefulness only increasing as his mind developed its powers. He has +been a close student of theology during his whole life; and it is doing +no discredit to others to say, that in this respect he has hardly a +peer in the United States. He graduated at the Theological Seminaries +at Princeton, New Jersey, and Geneva, Switzerland. + +The Westminster Church, of Cleveland, Ohio, was organized by him; and +in the course of his nine years' labor with it, increased from a small +congregation to one of the most respectable religious societies of the +city. He was pastor of this church at the breaking out of the +rebellion. + +While the Seventh Regiment was at Camp Dennison, he paid it a visit by +request of some of the officers, and was immediately chosen its +chaplain, there being but few dissenting voices. Immediately returning +to his home, he tendered his resignation to his church, which, however, +was not accepted; but in its stead, he was voted a leave of absence, +which he accepted, but refusing to draw pay during the time. He joined +the regiment early in July, while it was in Western Virginia, and at +once entered upon his duties. + +While here, he preached a sermon in one of the churches--to the rebel +as well as Union people of the town--which was noted for the powerful +arguments used against the position occupied by the South in relation +to the Federal Government. This effort made him many friends in the +village. He afterwards had a large influence over its people, being +often invited to their homes. On such occasions he was received with a +hearty welcome; although he never neglected an opportunity to reprove +them for the opinions cherished by them. + +While at Glenville, Gilmer County, he carried a message to General Cox, +whose forces were somewhere on the banks of the Kanawha River. This has +already been mentioned; but as it was an enterprise attended with much +danger, we here copy a detailed account of it. + +About the 15th day of July, Colonel Tyler, feeling it important to open +communication with General Cox's forces on the Kanawha, determined to +send a messenger with unwritten dispatches across the country through +the enemy's lines; and as our chaplain could more readily be spared +than any other member of the regiment deemed fitting to undertake the +enterprise, the expedition was proposed to him. He accepted it +willingly, though well aware of its difficulties and dangers. Colonel +Tyler suggested to him to go in the character of a merchant or trader, +so that, if arrested by roving guerillas or any of Wise's patrols, he +could say he was on business to Gauley Bridge, or some other place. But +he declined adopting the suggestion, as involving a possible lie, and +asked to be left to his own resources. + +Hastily divesting himself of every tell-tale mark of name, residence, +or connection with the service, mounted on a blooded mare, captured +from some guerrillas a few days before, and taking no rations but a +bunch of cigars, an hour after receiving the order he started. It was a +ride of a hundred and twenty miles through the enemy's country, by +highways, and by-ways, and no ways at all, nearly half of it at night, +sometimes alone, full of adventures, amusing and otherwise, and +involving some narrow escapes from the enemy, but completely +successful. + +On the morning of the third day, at daylight, he struck the Kanawha, +four miles below the mouth of the Pocotaligo; and there, for the first +time, got word of General Cox, and learned that his camp was only four +miles up the river. It was Sunday morning. He was soon at the general's +quarters, and in the language of the chaplain himself, "received such a +welcome as that genial man and accomplished Christian gentleman knows +how to give." General Cox refused permission to him to return to us by +the way he had come. He therefore remained with the general for the +time; was with him at the capture of Charleston, and in the pursuit of +Wise to Gauley Bridge, from whence he joined us again. Surviving +members of the old Seventh will remember "the three times-three" cheers +of each company in succession, as the chaplain rode along the line. We +were on the march, a long distance from where he had left us, had not +heard a word from him or of him, and had thought him lost; his arrival, +safe and sound, coming from the direction of the enemy, was as one from +the dead, or from Richmond. + +At the battle of Cross Lanes he bore a gallant part, remaining with the +command during the entire affair, and leaving only when all hope of +saving the day had expired. He escaped, with others, through a gap in +the enemy's lines, caused by well-directed volleys of musketry from the +regiment. The same day he came into Gauley Bridge, after having +rendered much service in bringing off the wagon-train. He soon after +visited Cross Lanes, under a flag of truce, for the purpose of looking +after our killed and wounded, as well as to learn the fate of those +taken prisoners. While within the enemy's lines, he was treated +civilly, but was refused the privilege of administering to the wounded, +as well as visiting the prisoners. He therefore returned, without +having accomplished, in the least degree, the object of his visit. The +chaplain was soon after ordered to Charleston, where the scattered +members of the Seventh had been collected. + +While at this place he formed an agreeable acquaintance with many +gentlemen of learning and ability, at whose houses he was a frequent +visitor; and it may be truly said that on such occasions he added much +to the fund of enjoyment. + +While the regiment was at Charleston, a misunderstanding arose between +the chaplain and Colonel Tyler, by reason of which the former felt it +his duty to resign. His resignation was in due time accepted, and he +was honorably mustered out of the service; the esteem and regrets of +the entire command going with him to his home. While with the regiment +his conduct had been above suspicion, and his sudden departure caused +universal gloom. + +Shortly after returning to his home in Cleveland, he was called to be +pastor of a church at Georgetown, District of Columbia, which is both +large and influential. + +Not forgetting the cause of his country and her suffering soldiery, he +is now engaged, in addition to his pastoral labors, in attending to the +wants of the sick and wounded soldiers at the various hospitals in the +vicinity of his home. Many a poor soldier of the republic will remember +the words of consolation which have fallen on his ear from the lips of +this devoted Christian. + +In the personal appearance of Chaplain Brown, alone, there is a +character. His light, fragile figure, erect and graceful carriage, +strikes one as peculiarly fitting to his elegant, chaste, and mature +intellect. He leaves an impression on the mind as lasting as it is +positive. In his company the dark moments are lighted up. Generous and +manly, he would distribute even his happiness among his fellows, were +it possible. There are few men more companionable than he; and few ever +won the love of their fellow-men equal to him. Endowed with rare +conversational powers and a pleasing address, he always commands the +attention of those around him. In public speaking, the first impression +he makes upon the mind of the hearer is not such as would lead him to +expect a flowery discourse; but as the speaker proceeds, it becomes +evident that dry logic is not his only gift. His life is a constant +reflection of truth. He takes a great grasp on eternal things; and +lives greatly by seeking, as the one high aim of his studies, his +labors, and his prayers, the supreme glory of God in the everlasting +welfare of man. May such samples of Christian character be multiplied, +till all the world has learned how great is God, and how great is +goodness. + + +CHAPLAIN D. C. WRIGHT. + +D. C. Wright was appointed chaplain during the winter of 1861. He +reported to the regiment at Patterson's Creek, Virginia. + +He was with the regiment at the battle of Winchester, where he rendered +much assistance in caring for the wounded. He now followed the fortunes +of the Seventh until its arrival at Port Republic, at which battle he +served as aid to General Tyler. During the entire engagement he was +much exposed, carrying dispatches in the most gallant style to +different parts of the field. He was mentioned in the official reports +for gallant conduct. After this battle he left for his home, and +finally sent in his resignation, which was duly accepted. + +Before the war broke out he was a minister of the Methodist Church, and +acquired no little reputation as a revivalist preacher. + + +LIEUT.-COL. GILES W. SHURTLIFF.[5] + +At the beginning of the rebellion, Giles W. Shurtliff was one of the +teachers in the college at Oberlin. Immediately after the bombardment +and capture of Fort Sumter, he organized a company, principally from +among his pupils, and reported at Camp Taylor. He was with the regiment +in its toilsome marches in Western Virginia, during which he was always +at his post. During the affair at Cross Lanes he was taken prisoner, +and now began those terrible hardships which no pen can describe, nor +imagination picture. Prison life is a sort of living death,--a state of +abeyance, where the mind is thrown back upon itself; where time, +although passing, seems to stop, and the great world outside, to stand +still. Through all this trial, and hardship, and misery, Colonel +Shurtliff passed, without weakening his faith or his patriotism. He +returned to his home, after more than a year's imprisonment, as firm in +the support of the Government as ever. After allowing himself a short +rest, he served in the Army of the Potomac on staff-duty; but was soon +after made lieutenant-colonel of the Fifth United States Colored +Infantry. He has since greatly distinguished himself in the numerous +battles in the vicinity of Richmond. He is at the present time at his +post, where he will probably remain until the rebellion is crushed, and +the Government vindicated. + + [5] The writer would be glad to give an extended account of + the gallant services of Colonel Shurtliff in the bloody + battles before Richmond and Petersburg, but has not received + the necessary facts. + + +COLONEL ARTHUR T. WILCOX. + +Arthur T. Wilcox is a native of Ohio, and entered the service as +second-lieutenant of Company E. On the organization of the regiment for +the three years' service, he was made a first-lieutenant, and assigned +to the same company. He served with much credit in Western Virginia, +until the Cross Lanes affair, when he was taken prisoner. He remained +within the prison-walls of the enemy for more than a year, most of the +time in Charleston, South Carolina, suffering every hardship; but +coming out as true and pure a patriot as when he went in, he again +joined his regiment, and was soon after made a captain. He now took +part in all the battles of the West, in which the regiment was +engaged,--Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Ringgold, and Sherman's +battles in the march on Atlanta. He came home with the regiment, and +was in due time mustered out. He was not, however, permitted to remain +long at home, for, when new regiments were forming, he was made a +colonel, and assigned to the One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Regiment. +He soon after joined his command, and was almost immediately ordered to +the front. He joined General Thomas' forces, then falling back before +the forces of General Hood. Arriving at Franklin, he was engaged in the +bloody battle fought there, and greatly distinguished himself. He soon +after arrived at Nashville with the army. The rebel army immediately +advanced; and the two armies stood face to face, at the same time +gathering strength for a desperate conflict. The Union army was +triumphant, and the rebel hosts were beaten and demoralized. In this +battle, Colonel Wilcox gained new laurels. He now took part in the +pursuit of the scattered forces of Hood. + +Every one who has fallen in company with Colonel Wilcox, will remember +him as a genial friend and true gentleman. He has made many friends in +the army as well as at home. He has chosen the law as a profession, and +when "this cruel war is over" the writer wishes him the success his +many virtues and talents merit. + + +LIEUT.-COL. JAMES T. STERLING. + +James T. Sterling entered the service as first-lieutenant of Captain De +Villiers' company. On the organization of the regiment for the three +years' service, he was made captain. While at Camp Dennison he labored +diligently to perfect his command in both drill and discipline; and +when it entered the field it was second to none, so far as these +essentials were concerned. + +While in Western Virginia, Captain Sterling was on many scouts, in +which service he showed great skill and bravery. Such adventures were +very much to his liking. + +In the affair at Cross Lanes he won the respect of all those who were +witness to his coolness and daring. During the march to Charleston he +made a good account of himself, being one of the most active in his +labors, and among the wisest in his opinions. + +He now followed the regiment to the East, where he engaged in all the +marches and skirmishes which took place. At the battle of Winchester he +commanded two companies; leading them into the hottest fire like a +veteran. During the entire action he stood on the hill urging the men +forward, regardless of the great danger to which he himself was +exposed. He came through the battle, however, without a scratch, but +with some holes in his clothing. + +He now took part in the long chase of Jackson up the Valley, and from +thence to Fredericksburg and back again; but was not in the battle of +Port Republic, his company having been detailed for headquarters guard. + +Very soon after this engagement he was made lieutenant-colonel of the +One Hundred and Third Regiment, at that time about to be raised in the +vicinity of Cleveland. He soon after reported to this regiment and was +assigned to duty. He went with it to the field; but, after a limited +period, was assigned the position of inspector-general on the staff of +General Cox. He filled this position with much credit to himself, until +early in the year 1864, when he resigned and returned to his home in +Cleveland. + +Colonel Sterling, as an officer, was much esteemed. As a companion, he +was much admired. His easy manners and agreeable conversation gathered +about him many friends. Every one regretted his departure from the +Seventh; he had been with it through so many trials and dangers, that +he was closely identified with it. His company thought well of him, +and, therefore, his unexpected departure caused many regrets. + + +COLONEL JOEL F. ASPER. + +Joel F. Asper was born in Huntington, Adams County, Pennsylvania, on +the 20th day of April, 1822. When he was but five years old his father +removed to Farmington, Ohio, by the slow process of a four-horse team +and Pennsylvania wagon. The county of Trumbull was then but sparsely +settled. + +Until eighteen years of age he assisted his father in clearing a farm, +at the same time attending a district school in winter. This is all the +school education he ever had; all other education being acquired by his +own exertion and application to study out of school. + +Having a passion for reading and writing, he was led to study law. But +previous to this, however, he commenced teaching a school in +Southington, but, for some reason, left it after one month's +experience. Early in the year 1842, we find him in the law-office of +Crowell and Abel, at Warren, Ohio, and working for his board at the +American Hotel. + +In 1843, he carried the Western Reserve Chronicle through several +townships, and during the entire year did not miss a trip. + +In August, 1844, he was admitted to the bar, but remained with General +Crowell till 1845, when he learned the daguerrean business, but not +succeeding in this, in October following opened a law-office at Warren. +His first year's practice netted him over four hundred dollars, and it +increased from year to year. + +In 1846 be was elected a justice of the peace, and in the following +year was married to Miss Elizabeth Brown. + +In 1847 he was elected prosecuting attorney. In 1849, was announced as +one of the editors of the Western Reserve Chronicle; and wrote, during +the campaign of that year, all of the leading political articles +published in its columns. During the summer of 1848, Mr. Parker, +proprietor of the paper, left for a pleasure excursion, and while +absent, Mr. Asper, being left in charge, took ground against General +Taylor. During this campaign he did much towards developing +anti-slavery sentiments in the party. For this conduct he was denounced +by the minority of his party. At this time he made a speech before a +Whig convention, which is said to have been the best effort of his +life. Carrying out these sentiments, he sustained Martin Van Buren for +the presidency, and in the following year ran for prosecuting attorney +on the Free-Soil ticket, but was defeated. + +In 1850 he moved to Chardon, Ohio, and edited a Free-Soil paper until +1852, when, it proving a losing business, he returned to Warren, where +he again commenced the practice of the law, which he continued until +the breaking out of the rebellion, in 1861. He was among the first in +Northern Ohio to tender a company to the Governor. It marched to camp +on the 25th of April. He served in the regiment until March, 1863, when +he was honorably mustered out of the United States service. During this +time he took part in the affair of Cross Lanes and the battle of +Winchester, in which last engagement he was severely wounded. After the +Cross Lanes affair he accompanied a detachment of four hundred men to +Charleston, rendering much assistance during the march. He was promoted +to lieutenant-colonel during his service with the regiment, in which +position he commanded the regiment in the retreat of Pope's army from +the Rapidan. + +On returning to Warren he opened an office, and in August organized the +Fifty-first Regiment National Guards, and was elected its colonel. + +When, in the spring of 1864, the corps was ordered into the field, his +regiment was among the first to move. It went to Johnson's Island, and +while there the noted John H. Morgan commenced a raid through Kentucky. +To resist him, several militia regiments were ordered to the front; +among them was the Fifty-first, now become the One Hundred and +Seventy-first. + +Arriving at Cincinnati, he reported to General Hobson, and was ordered +to Keller's Bridge by train. Soon after getting off the cars, it was +attacked by the enemy in overwhelming numbers. After a gallant fight of +six hours, the brave little band of heroes was compelled to surrender. +No regiment of new troops ever did better: it made itself a name which +history will perpetuate. + +The regiment was mustered out on the 20th of August, 1864. Asper now +perfected his arrangements to move to Missouri, which he put into +execution in October following. He is now engaged in the practice of +law at Chillicothe, in the above State. + + +MAJOR W. R. STERLING. + +The subject of this sketch entered the service as Captain of Company I. +He carried with him some considerable military experience, having been +connected with a company in his native State. He accompanied the +regiment in its Western Virginia campaign, taking an honorable part in +the affair at Cross Lanes. He was with the detachment in its march over +the mountains to Charleston, during which he rendered great assistance, +contributing largely towards bringing the command off in safety. + +From Charleston he returned to his home on leave, but soon after +returned to his command, accompanied by a number of recruits. He now +took part in the various marches and skirmishes occurring in the +mountain department of Eastern Virginia. He was not in the battles of +Winchester or Port Republic; but was in all the marches occurring +before and after those engagements. At the battle of Cedar Mountain he +did yeoman's service. His company was led with such coolness and +bravery, that many a rebel was made to bite the dust. He now remained +with the regiment until General Hooker came to the command of the Army +of the Potomac, when Captain Sterling was assigned a position on his +staff. In this capacity he served until after the battle of +Chancellorsville. A short time after this engagement he was taken +prisoner by a roving band of rebels, and conveyed to Richmond, where he +was for some time confined in prison. He was finally taken further +south to another prison, from which, in the summer of 1864, he escaped; +and after spending some time in the mountains, during which he suffered +many hardships, finally joined the Union forces in Tennessee. + +He was a brave and competent officer. While on Hooker's staff he was +promoted to major. + + +MAJOR E. J. KREIGER. + +The subject of this sketch is a native of Germany, and entered the +service as a sergeant in a company composed of his fellow-countrymen. +He very soon rose to the rank of lieutenant, and before the term of +service of the regiment expired, to that of captain. He was in the +following battles and skirmishes: Cross Lanes, Winchester, Port +Republic, Cedar Mountain, Antietam, Dumfries, Chancellorsville, +Gettysburg, Mission Ridge, Lookout Mountain, Ringgold, and in all the +engagements in which his regiment took part in Sherman's march on +Atlanta. No officer can show a prouder record. He was always with his +command, and on all occasions showed great bravery and gallantry, as +well as ability to command. + +Immediately after the Seventh was mustered out, he was appointed major +of the One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Regiment, and left soon after +for the field. He now added to the above glorious list of battles that +of Franklin, where he fully sustained the honors that he gained while +with the old Seventh. He is at the present time in General Thomas' +army, where he will remain, if his life is spared, until the overthrow +of the rebellion. + + +CAPTAIN J. B. MOLYNEAUX. + +The subject of this sketch was born, January 1, 1840, at Ann Arbor, in +the State of Michigan. At the age of four years his father removed to +Penn Yan, New York, and soon after to Bath and Elmira, in the same +State. In 1854, young Molyneaux went to Belville, Ohio, and commenced +the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Whitcomb. He remained for +nearly a year, when, not liking the study, he went to Cleveland, Ohio, +and entered the job-office of John Williston, where he learned the art +of printing. + +Having a natural liking for military life, he joined the Light Guards, +and afterwards the Sprague Cadets, of which he was appointed +drill-master. On the first call for troops, he joined a company being +raised by Captain De Villiers, as a private, being among the first to +enroll his name. Soon after arriving in camp, he was appointed a +sergeant, and, immediately after, drill-master for the non-commissioned +officers of the regiment. On the three years' organization, he was +unanimously chosen first-lieutenant by the vote of his company. He +remained with this company during the earlier part of the campaign in +Western Virginia, taking a gallant part in the affair of Cross Lanes, +as also in the final march of Major Casement's detachment to +Charleston. After this action, he was placed in command of Company E, +which command he held until January, 1862, and then being relieved, +only for the purpose of receiving the appointment of adjutant. + +He took part in all the marches and skirmishes in both Western and +Eastern Virginia. At the battle of Winchester, he was mentioned, in the +official report of his colonel, for gallantry on the battle-field. At +the battle of Port Republic, he won new laurels, being constantly under +the enemy's fire. In the fearful struggle at Cedar Mountain, he +particularly distinguished himself. He was, for a limited time, in +command of the regiment, during which he extricated it from a position, +where, under a less skilful leader, it would have been captured. In +this gallant exploit, Molyneaux lost two horses, one of them being +pierced by fourteen bullets. + +In September, 1862, he was appointed captain, after having waived rank +three times. This position he held until March, 1863, when, on account +of wounds and ill-health, he was compelled to resign. In the mean time, +he was with the regiment in all its marches, as well as the battle of +Antietam and the affair at Dumfries. + +On his return home he followed his occupation of a printer, until the +governor's call for the National Guard, when he again entered the +service as a captain. His regiment being stationed in the defences of +Washington, he was placed in command of a fort, which was, a part of +the time, garrisoned by several companies. After the expiration of his +term of service, he returned to his home in Cleveland, and resumed his +business. + + +CAPTAIN CHARLES A. WEED. + +Charles A. Weed was born, March 30, 1840, in Lake County, Ohio. He +enlisted in Captain John N. Dyer's company, on the 22d day of April, +1861. After its arrival in camp, he was made orderly-sergeant, in which +capacity he developed fine military talent, such as led his company, at +an early time, to look upon him as a proper person for promotion when a +vacancy should occur. Therefore, on the final organization of the +company for the three years' service, he was made a first-lieutenant. +He was with the regiment during the entire Western Virginia campaign, +taking part in the skirmish at Cross Lanes, in which he took command of +the company after the death of Captain Dyer, which position he held +until January, 1862, when he was relieved by an officer promoted to the +captaincy by reason of superiority of rank. He was soon after made +captain, February 5, 1862, and assigned to Company E. + +He now took part in all the marches and skirmishes in Eastern Virginia, +and also in the battle of Winchester, where he displayed great +gallantry. After this battle, he commanded his company in the pursuit +of Jackson to Harrisonburg, and in the toilsome march to +Fredericksburg, and the return to Front Royal. He was now in the +advance to Port Republic. In the battle which succeeded, he displayed +great courage, as well as ability to command. He took part in the +battle of Cedar Mountain and Antietam, and also in the skirmish at +Dumfries. On the 22d of February, 1863, he resigned, and returned to +his home. + +There were few better officers in the regiment. He was prompt in the +discharge of his duty, seldom questioning the propriety of an order +emanating from a superior, but executing it at once. In his intercourse +with his fellow-soldiers, he was frank and courteous, and all cherished +the kindest feelings towards him. + + +CAPTAIN JUDSON N. CROSS. + +The subject of this sketch is a native of Ohio. When the war broke out +he was attending college at Oberlin, Ohio. He immediately enrolled +himself in Captain Shurtliff's company, and was soon after made a +first-lieutenant. He served with his company in Western Virginia, with +much credit to himself and profit to his country. At the skirmish of +Cross Lanes he was brave, and showed that he was competent to command. +During the affair, he was severely wounded in the arm and taken +prisoner. At the battle of Carnifex Ferry, which followed soon after, +he was recaptured by the forces under General Rosecrans. Being unfit +for service, he now went to his home, where it was thought he might +recover sufficiently to rejoin his command. But after the expiration of +some months, being still unable for service, he was ordered on +recruiting service at Cleveland, Ohio. He was engaged in this work +until the fall of 1862, when he was honorably mustered out of the +service, on account of the unimproved condition of his wound. In the +mean time, however, he had been promoted to a captaincy. + + +CAPTAIN JOHN F. SCHUTTE. + +Entered the service as a lieutenant in Captain Wiseman's company, and +on its organization for three years, was made its captain. He was with +the regiment until just before its affair at Cross Lands, when, being +on picket duty on the banks of the Gauley River, he imprudently crossed +over, and after advancing some miles into the enemy's country, was +fired upon by a body of cavalry, concealed in the bushes, and mortally +wounded. After being taken to an old building close by, he was left, at +his own request, and soon after expired. The rebels buried him on the +spot. No braver officer ever entered the service. Had he lived, he +would undoubtedly have distinguished himself. + +At the time of his death, no officer had a better reputation. His +company was somewhat difficult to manage, but while he was in command, +it was not surpassed for discipline, and hardly equalled. He was kind +to every one who did his duty, but when one of his men failed to do +that, he came down upon him with a heavy hand. + +His loss was deeply felt throughout the entire command. His company had +recognized in him a leader, and they deplored his loss. + + +LIEUT. LOUIS G. DE FOREST. + +Louis G. De Forest was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on the 9th of +September, 1838. His youth was spent in the city schools, where he +acquired a fair education. In 1853, at the age of fifteen years, he +entered the store of N. E. Crittenden. It is a high compliment to his +industry and business habits, that he has remained in his employ since +that date, with the exception of the time that he spent in the military +service. + +Having a natural taste for military life, in 1859 he joined a company +of Light Guards as a private, but soon rose to the positions of +corporal, sergeant, and finally lieutenant. The latter position he +filled with credit, until the rebellion broke out, when, on the +organization of the Sprague Cadets, for three months' service, he +hastened to enroll his name. He was soon made orderly sergeant, which +position he held when the company went into camp. After the regiment +arrived in Camp Dennison, he was elected a second-lieutenant of his +company. And on its final organization for the three years' service, he +was chosen its adjutant, by a vote of its officers, and soon after +received his commission, with the rank of first-lieutenant. + +He accompanied the regiment in its arduous Western Virginia campaign, +and during the time Colonel Tyler commanded a brigade, he served as +acting assistant adjutant-general. At the affair at Cross Lanes, he +took a prominent as well as gallant part. He was among the number of +those who made the march over the mountains to Elk River and +Charleston. + +He accompanied the regiment to Kelly's department, where he again acted +as acting assistant adjutant-general to Colonel Tyler, serving in this +capacity until his resignation, which took place in March. + +When the National Guard was organized, he raised a company, and was +made its captain. In this position he served during the one hundred +days' campaign of this corps, being stationed in a fort in the vicinity +of Washington. + +Every one who came in connection with the Seventh Regiment will +remember the stentorian voice and soldierly bearing of its first +adjutant. + + +LIEUTENANT HALBERT B. CASE. + +Halbert B. Case was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, May 3, 1838. His +father being a farmer, he was bred to that occupation. At the age of +sixteen years he entered the W. R. Seminary, at Farmington, Ohio, +preparatory to entering college. After a year and a half spent in this +institution of learning, he went to Oberlin, where he pursued his +studies for more than three years, when, his health failing him, he was +compelled to leave college. + +During the winter of 1859, his health being somewhat improved, he went +to Tiffin, Ohio, and commenced the study of the law. He remained here +two winters. In the spring of 1860, being in indifferent health, he +returned to his home in Mecca, Ohio, where he pursued his studies +privately for some months. After which he went to Warren, and studied +law with Forrist and Burnett until the breaking out of the rebellion. + +On the 19th day of April, 1861, deeming it his duty to serve his +country, he enlisted in Asper's company, the first organized in the +county. He was soon after made orderly-sergeant. When the three years' +organization was made, he was unanimously chosen a lieutenant by a vote +of his company. + +He served honorably during the campaign in Western Virginia, taking an +active part in the affair of Cross Lanes, sharing the fortunes of the +detachment under Major Casement. + +Among the first promotions that were made in November, 1861, he was +remembered by the authorities, and appointed a first-lieutenant. He +accompanied the regiment to Eastern Virginia, where he joined the +expedition to Romney and Blue's Gap. + +While at Patterson's Creek he felt it his duty to resign his +commission, on account of a personal difficulty with Colonel Tyler. He +therefore left the regiment early in February, with the regrets of the +entire command. + +He was not long permitted to remain at home, for his former services +were acknowledged by giving him a commission as captain in the +Eighty-fourth Regiment, which was being organized for three months' +service. This position being accepted, he proceeded with his regiment +to Cumberland, Maryland. Soon after its arrival he was made +provost-marshal and commandant of the post. In this position he won an +enviable reputation. Among his first orders was one against the use and +sale of intoxicating liquors, which he proceeded to enforce in an +effectual manner; and thus materially aided in maintaining order and +quiet at the post. + +After nearly five months' service, when the regiment was mustered out, +he was appointed colonel, for the purpose of reorganizing it for three +years' service. He immediately entered upon this task; but owing to the +number of regiments at that time being organized in Northern Ohio, he +was but partially successful. The regiment being finally consolidated +with the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Ohio, he returned to his home. + +He soon after entered the law-school at Ann Arbor, Michigan; and after +a year and a half spent at this university, he graduated, with the +degree of L. L. B. Soon after, he returned home, married, and commenced +the practice of his profession at Youngstown, Ohio. + + +LIEUTENANT HENRY Z. EATON. + +Lieutenant Eaton entered the service as a private, but on the three +years' organization was made a second-lieutenant. He was with the +regiment constantly during the campaign in Western Virginia, and always +at his post. He took an important part in the Cross Lanes affair, and +in the march of Major Casement's detachment. + +He now went to the East with the regiment, when Colonel Tyler being +given a brigade, he was assigned to his staff as aid-de-camp. He held +this position at the battle of Winchester; and no one in the army did +better service. He was constantly in the saddle, riding fearlessly in +the heat of the battle, a fair mark for the rebels. During the +engagement his horse was wounded. He was mentioned in official reports +for gallant conduct. He soon after took part in the battle of Port +Republic, where he added much to his already well-earned reputation for +courage and other soldierly qualities. He now followed the regiment to +Alexandria, where he returned to his company and to the front of Pope's +army, where he was at the battle of Cedar Mountain, in which he was +severely wounded. He soon after returned to his home, and finally +resigned, on account of disability from wounds. + + +LIEUTENANT A. H. DAY. + +A. H. Day was a lieutenant in company F, in which capacity he +accompanied the regiment in Western and Eastern Virginia, taking part +in the battles of Winchester and Port Republic, in both of which he did +good service. In the latter he was severely wounded in the shoulder, by +reason of which he was soon after compelled to resign. + + +LIEUTENANT WILLIAM D. SHEPHERD. + +William D. Shepherd entered the service as a private in company D. He +was soon after made a sergeant, and at Camp Dennison, orderly. He +followed the fortunes of his company through the wilds of Western +Virginia till the affair at Cross Lanes, where he showed great +gallantry. He went with his company to Charleston, where, in the +absence of Lieutenant Weed, he took command. During this time the +company was detailed to guard a party who were engaged in erecting a +telegraph line from Point Pleasant to Gauley Bridge. In this service he +gave good satisfaction to all concerned in the undertaking. + +He now remained with his command until a few days before the battle of +Winchester, when he was compelled to leave the field on account of +inflammation in one of his eyes. It had become very painful long before +he would consent to go to the rear. A fever soon following, he was +completely prostrated. He now went to his home, where he was engaged in +the recruiting service. He returned to his regiment late in the summer, +and having been promoted to first-lieutenant, was immediately made +adjutant. He served with the regiment in this capacity until after the +affair at Dumfries, when he was compelled to resign on account of +ill-health. + +After his return home he did great service in recruiting. In the winter +of 1863-4 he canvassed Lake and Geanga counties, and was the means of +enlisting a large number of men. On these occasions he made speeches, +of which any public speaker might well be proud. + +In the fall of 1864 he raised a company for the National Guard, which +he commanded in the one hundred days' service. Returning to his home, +he was appointed a quartermaster, with the rank of captain, and +assigned to a division in the Twenty-third Army Corps. + +His promotion was won in the field, and therefore honorable. His +commission as second-lieutenant bears the date of November 25th, 1861; +and that of first-lieutenant early in the following year. + +Every one who has fallen in company with Lieutenant Shepherd will +remember him as a genial friend and profitable companion. His frankness +and courtesy have made him many friends. To know him, is to esteem him. +I doubt whether he has an enemy in the world. He has always been a warm +supporter of the Government, although not an American citizen by birth, +having been born in Canada. + + +LIEUTENANT E. HUDSON BAKER. + +Lieutenant Baker entered the service in Company C. He remained with the +regiment during its entire campaign in Western Virginia, doing good +service. At the affair at Cross Lanes, he was particularly conspicuous +for gallantry. He now took command of the company, which he held during +the remainder of his term of service. He was in the battle of +Winchester, where he commanded his company with great credit to +himself. As an officer, he was very popular with his command; as a +companion, he was sociable and benevolent. He was finally compelled to +resign from ill-health, but much against his wishes. He desired to +remain until the close of his regular term of service, and then return +with his old comrades; but his increasing debility would not admit. + + +LIEUTENANT RALPH LOCKWOOD. + +Lieutenant Ralph Lockwood entered the regiment, on its first +organization, in Company E. He served creditably through the Western +Virginia campaign, taking part in the skirmish at Cross Lanes, and the +battles of Winchester and Port Republic. In these battles he was +distinguished for personal courage. By constant exposure, he contracted +a rheumatic difficulty, which finally compelled him to resign, at a +time when his services were much needed in the regiment. + + +LIEUTENANT T. T. SWEENEY. + +Lieutenant T. T. Sweeney entered the service in Company B. He saw much +service in Western Virginia, and was in every respect a gallant +officer. At Cross Lanes, he made an honorable record. Soon after this +skirmish, he resigned his commission, and returned to his home in +Cleveland, Ohio. + + +LIEUTENANT EDWARD W. FITCH. + +Lieutenant Fitch entered the service in Company I. He served faithfully +until after the skirmish of Cross Lanes, in which he bore a gallant +part. While at Charleston, he resigned his commission, and returned to +his home. + + +LIEUTENANT A. J. WILLIAMS. + +Lieutenant Williams came into the regiment as second-lieutenant of +Company D, which position he filled with much credit till after the +affair at Cross Lanes, when he resigned his commission. At the time the +above skirmish took place he was sick, and therefore did not take part +in it. Previous to this he had toiled on with his company, through all +its terrible marches and dreary bivouacks; and for this is entitled to +the gratitude of the country. + + + + +OUR DEAD. + + +COLONEL WILLIAM R. CREIGHTON AND LIEUT.-COLONEL ORRIN J. CRANE. + +Colonel William R. Creighton was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in +June, 1837. At the age of ten years, he entered a shoe-store, where he +remained for two years; after which he entered a commercial college, +where he remained for six months. But these pursuits were not to his +liking--he had no taste for accounts. We next find him, at the age of +thirteen years, in the job-office of McMillin, in Pittsburgh, where he +remained for four years, completing his apprenticeship. The year +following, he went to Cleveland, Ohio, and entered the Herald office, +where he remained till the fall of 1860, with the exception of one +winter spent in a job-office in Chicago. + +He united with the fire companies of both Pittsburgh and Cleveland, and +was an active and zealous member. In 1858, he joined the military +organization known as the Cleveland Light Guards, and soon after became +a sergeant, and a lieutenant. He advanced in rank without any +effort--it was a matter of course. + +When the rebellion broke out, his love of adventure would not permit +him to remain at home; but he immediately set himself at work +organizing a company, which was completed in a few days, and, on the +22d day of April, marched to Camp Taylor. He immediately commenced +drilling his company, and with such success, that it took the lead of +all then in camp. + +At this time his military genius shone so conspicuously that he was +looked on by all as the future leader of the regiment. + +All will remember with what skill and pride he led the regiment in its +first march. It was on a beautiful Sabbath morning; and as the young +soldier, with a proud step, took his position at the head of the +column, every eye was turned upon him in admiration; one could see in +the countenances of the men, a willingness to follow such a leader amid +the hail and thunder of battle. Before reaching Camp Dennison, this +admiration warmed into a determination to place him in a position when, +at no distant day, he could be made available as the commander of the +regiment. Therefore, on its arrival at camp, he was elected +lieutenant-colonel, a position which he did not seek, nor intimate to +any that he desired. Very many were desirous of making him colonel. + +During the stay of the regiment at Camp Dennison, he took no active +part, seldom being seen on drill, or on duty of any kind. When the +regiment was about leaving, however, he took command, Colonel Tyler +having gone to Virginia in advance of the starting of the regiment. +Previous to the movement, every thing had been arranged in perfect +order; but this arrangement was partially defeated by the indecent +haste of a captain. An unutterable look of scorn and contempt settled +upon the features of Creighton; but not a word passed his lips. He +never entirely forgave that officer for this act of disobedience of +orders, till his death, when all feelings of animosity gave way to +regrets for his loss; for, outside of a disposition to criticise the +conduct of his superiors, he was a brave as well as competent officer. + +Arriving at Clarksburg, he turned over the command to Colonel Tyler; +but on arriving at Glenville, he again assumed command, which he held +until reaching Cross Lanes; in the mean time, drilling the regiment +daily when in camp. During this time it improved rapidly; in fact, it +acquired, during this short interval, most of the proficiency it +possessed. + +On the march back to Cross Lanes from Twenty-mile Creek, he was with +the advance, in command of the skirmishers. During the affair which +succeeded, at the above place, he bore himself creditably. During the +retreat, his horse fell with him: seizing the holsters, he started on +foot through the underbrush, but soon after saw his horse coming after +him at full speed. He again mounted; but in a short time his horse +again fell, when, for the second time, he abandoned him; but he was +soon joined by his faithful "Johnny," and this time the devoted horse +carried its gallant rider safely to Gauley Bridge. + +This misfortune to the regiment completely unmanned him. Meeting a +comrade on the retreat, who was not in the engagement, he burst into +tears, and, grasping his hand, in choked utterances related the story +of their encounter. + +While the regiment remained at Charleston, Creighton was in command, +and was untiring in his efforts to advance his command in both drill +and discipline; and I doubt whether any regiment in the field made more +rapid progress towards perfection. It seemed to emulate its leader, who +was ever at his post. + +When an order came for five hundred picked men from the regiment to +report to General Benham for duty, in the pursuit of Floyd, he was +chosen to command the detachment. On arriving at Benham's headquarters, +he was given the advance, and, for several days, was separated from +Floyd's camp by a range of mountains only. He was finally given a +brigade, although only a lieutenant-colonel, and ordered across a range +of mountains to the rear of the enemy; but for some reason no attack +was made, and soon after, half of the command was ordered back. + +During the pursuit of Floyd, he travelled on foot at the head of his +regiment. When the rebel army was likely to be overtaken, Benham +remarked to him, that "he depended on him to rout the enemy," and gave +him the post of honor; but when the firing became rapid, his regiment +was ordered to the front, where a part of it was engaged in +skirmishing, while the balance were smoking their pipes and engaging in +sports, almost under the guns of the enemy, Creighton enjoying the fun +as well as any in the command. + +The detachment returned, after fifteen days' absence, without the loss +of a man, save one injured by the accidental discharge of a gun. + +The regiment now went to the East, where, soon after, Tyler was given a +brigade, and Creighton again commanded the regiment. + +At the battle of Winchester, which followed soon after, his was the +first regiment in the famous charge of the Third brigade, for which it +acquired such renown. He disagreed with the commanding officer as to +the manner of making the charge, preferring to deploy before advancing, +than to charge a battery in close column. But throwing all personal +feelings and preferences aside, he dashed forward, and finally deployed +his regiment within eighty yards of the enemy's line of battle, and +under a terrible fire of both musketry and artillery. His horse being +shot from under him, he seized a musket, and engaged in the strife, +firing rapidly till near the close of the battle, when he was compelled +to cease for the purpose of executing some order. + +On the return of the command to New Market, after the pursuit of +Jackson to near Harrisonburg, the company tents were ordered to be +delivered up; whereupon Creighton was very indignant, and, in +connection with other officers, sent in his resignation. They were +ordered to report to General Shields the next morning. Accordingly, +dressed in their "best," they reported. They were received with all the +politeness that pompous general knew how to assume, with an invitation +to be seated. The general informed them that their resignations would +not be accepted; but remarked, that, "if they _desired_ it, he would +have their names stricken from the army rolls in disgrace." This +witticism rather amused Creighton than otherwise, and he returned to +camp with a much better opinion of the general than he was possessed of +before making his visit. + +He now commanded the regiment in its march to Fredericksburg, sharing +with his men the hardships attending the toilsome march; and when, a +few days after, the regiment returned to the Valley, he did much to +cheer the men in that discouraging march. + +At Front Royal he remained with his regiment during a heavy storm, to +which it was exposed without tents, disdaining to seek shelter and +comfort while his men were thus exposed. + +The men were now very destitute of clothing, especially shoes; but when +ordered, he moved to Columbia Bridge, followed by one hundred men +barefooted. He now went personally to General Shields, but was coldly +received by that general, being subjected to insulting remarks. He came +back to his regiment with that same unutterable expression of contempt +stamped upon his features, which all will remember who served with him +in the field; and getting his men in column, closed in mass, made a +speech. Said he: "I am unable to procure shoes or other comforts for +you; but I will follow these generals until there is not a man left in +the regiment. Forward, company H!" And he did follow them to Port +Republic, where his words came near proving true. + +At this battle his bravery and daring were observed by every one. He +made repeated charges with his regiment, the line being as correct as +on dress-parade. After one of these charges, the enemy's cavalry came +dashing towards his regiment, and dispositions were immediately made +for forming a square; but the enemy wisely wheeled, and charged another +regiment. The colonel of this regiment, being unable to get his men in +position, shouted in a stentorian voice: "Men of the ----th, look at +the Seventh Ohio; and d--n you, weep!" + +In this battle the regiment made five charges, under the leadership of +Creighton; and each time driving the enemy. + +After the battle was over, and the regiment on the retreat, seeing a +wounded captain lying almost within the enemy's lines, he rode up to +his company, and pointing to where he was lying, said: "Do you see your +captain over yonder? _Now, go for him!_" They did go for him, and +succeeded in bringing him from the field in safety. + +Only a few were missing from the regiment in this action, although the +list of killed and wounded was fearful. + +We next find Creighton at the battle of Cedar Mountain, where a small +division fought the whole of Jackson's army on ground of his own +choosing. Creighton handled his regiment with a dexterity that told +fearfully on the ranks of the enemy. He was finally severely wounded, +and compelled to leave the field. In doing so, he kept his face to the +foe, saying that "no rebel ever saw his back in battle; and never +would." He was taken to Washington, where the bullet was extracted from +his side, which was an exceedingly painful operation. Soon after this +he came to his home; but while still carrying his arm in a sling, he +reported to his regiment. + +While at home the battle of Antietam was fought, which was the only one +in which he failed to participate. Soon after his return, the affair at +Dumfries occurred, where, through his ingenuity and skill, Hampton's +cavalry command was defeated by a mere handful of men. For this he was +publicly thanked by Generals Slocum and Geary. + +He now took part in the battle of Chancellorsville, where he won new +laurels. It is said that being ordered by General Hooker to fall back, +he refused to do so until able to bring Knapp's Battery safely to the +rear; for which disobedience of orders he was recommended for +promotion. This battery was from his native city, and in it he had many +friends. + +Next he was at Gettysburg, where he fought with his accustomed valor. + +We now find him at Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge, in "Hooker's +battle above the clouds," where the victory was so suddenly and +unexpectedly won, that scarcely sufficient time intervened in which to +display valor. It was simply a race for the top of the mountain on the +part of our men; and a corresponding race on the part of the rebels for +the foot of the mountain on the opposite side. + +After this battle came the pursuit of Bragg. His rear-guard was +overtaken at Ringgold, Georgia, where it was securely posted on the top +of Taylor's Ridge--a naked eminence. It was madness to undertake to +drive them from this hill, without the use of artillery to cover the +assault; but in the excitement of the moment the order was given. In +this assault Creighton commanded a brigade. Forming his command, he +made a speech. "Boys," said he, "we are ordered to take that hill. I +want to see you walk right up it." After this characteristic speech, he +led his men up the hill. It soon became impossible to advance against +the terrible fire by which they were met; he, therefore, led them into +a ravine, but the rebels poured such a fire into it from all sides, +that the command was driven back. Reaching a fence, Creighton stopped, +and facing the foe, waited for his command to reach the opposite side. +While in this position he fell, pierced through the body with a rifle +bullet. His last words were: "Oh, my dear wife!" and he expired almost +immediately. The brigade now fell rapidly back, carrying the remains of +its idolized commander with it. + + +Lieutenant-Colonel Orrin J. Crane was born in Troy, New York, in the +year 1829. At three years of age his parents moved to their native +State, Vermont. Soon after, his father died, leaving but limited means +for the support and education of his children. His mother was a +Christian woman, and devoted to her children. From her he received his +first lessons of life; and a worthy teacher he had. He cherished his +mother with the utmost affection, dwelling upon her goodness with +almost child-like simplicity. It was touching to listen to the words of +love and confidence falling for her, from the lips of the sturdy +warrior, who braved the battle-fire without a tremor. + +In early youth he went to live with an uncle, and in about 1852 came +with him to Conneaut, Ohio, where he employed himself in mechanical +labor. He spent one year on the Isthmus, and after his return went to +Cleveland, where he engaged in the occupation of a ship-carpenter, +following this trade till the fall of Sumter. While in Cleveland he +associated himself with a military organization. + +He entered the service as first-lieutenant in Captain Creighton's +company; and on his promotion, was made captain. He early devoted +himself to the instruction of his company; and it can be said that it +lost nothing of the efficiency it acquired under the leadership of +Creighton. + +After the regiment entered the field, his services were invaluable. I +doubt if the entire army contains an officer who has performed more +service, in the same length of time, than Crane. If a bridge was to be +constructed, or a road repaired, he was sent for to superintend it. If +the commissary department became reduced, he was the one to procure +supplies. No undertaking was too arduous for his iron-will to brave. +There was no fear of starvation while the sturdy Crane was present. All +relied on him with the utmost confidence, and no one was ever +disappointed in him. + +At the affair of Cross Lanes, where he first came under fire, he was +more than a hero; he seemed possessed of attributes of a higher nature. +He moved amid that sheet of flame, as if possessed of a soul in +communion with a higher power. He inspired his men with true courage. +They stood like a wall, and fell back only when ordered by their +leader, then dashed through the strong line of the enemy with a bravery +which was truly sublime. The enemy, although five to one, hesitated, +swayed backward, and finally fled, so severely punished, that for the +time they did not pursue. In that long march, over the mountains to +Gauley Bridge, he was still the proud leader. + +After his arrival at the above place, he was sent out to the front, up +New River, where he rendered valuable service. + +He was in every march and skirmish in both Western and Eastern +Virginia, until, we find the regiment at the battle of Winchester. In +this engagement he showed the same indomitable and true courage. He +held his men to the work of carnage so fearfully, that the enemy's +slain almost equalled his command. + +We now find him in every battle in which his regiment was engaged in +the East. Port Republic, Cedar Mountain (where he was slightly +wounded), Antietam, Dumfries, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. In all +of these he _led_ his command, and the dead of the enemy left on the +field before it attest how well he led it. + +At the battle of Antietam, he commanded the regiment, and during the +latter part of the engagement, a brigade. + +Before the regiment left for the West, he was made lieutenant-colonel; +a position which his ability and long, as well as faithful, service of +his country rendered him eminently qualified to fill. + +Arriving in the West, he commanded the regiment in the battles of +Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge, where he added new laurels to his +already imperishable name. At fatal Ringgold, he again commanded the +regiment. He led it up the steep ascent, where the whistling of bullets +made the air musical; and where men dropped so quietly that they were +scarcely missed, except in the thinned ranks of the command. The +regiment had not recovered from the shock produced by the announcement +of the death of Creighton, when the noble Crane, on whom all hearts +were centred in the fearful peril of that hour, fell at the feet of his +devoted comrades, pierced through the forehead by a rifle bullet. He +spoke not a word--his strong heart ceased to beat; and his soul took +its flight from its blood-red tenement, and from the confusion of +battle, to the land of patriot spirits. He fell so far in the advance, +that his men were driven back before possessing themselves of his +body,--but soon after it was recovered. + + +The sketches of Creighton and Crane now lie in the same path. + +After the bodies of the fallen braves had been laid side by side, the +remaining few of a once full regiment gathered around and mourned,--the +silence alone being broken by the tears and sobs of a band of warriors, +grieving for the loss of their chieftains. Was such a scene ever +witnessed? Those forms, now cold and bloody, had often led them on the +field of carnage, to victory and glory; under their leadership the +regiment had been made immortal; and now, in all their pride, and +glory, and chivalry, they had gone down to rise no more. No wonder, +then, that their brave followers paid their last tribute to all that +was mortal of their renowned leaders. It seemed to these mourners, in +their loss the regiment itself was blotted out--that it would no more +be known and honored--that its sun had forever set. But no, many a +brave heart, that stood in that circle, was to be made a sacrifice to +his country; many more hearts were to be left crushed and bleeding for +the loved ones fallen in battle. When the last tear had been shed, and +the last vow made over these fallen braves, the regiment moved away in +profound silence. + +While this scene was being enacted afar off among the hills of Georgia, +the peaceful valleys of Ohio were echoing with the lamentations of +friends at home. The hearts of the people of the Western Reserve were +bound by the strong ties of kin and friendship to this gallant +regiment, which had but just made its great sacrifice, and they were +all in mourning. When the news came of this great disaster, it could +not be believed; the friends of the fallen would not give them up. And +it was not until a dispatch was received that their bodies were on the +way home, that it was generally believed. At last, when the people +realized that the sad news was indeed true, meetings were called by the +representatives of all branches of trade and industry. Resolutions of +respect were passed, and preparations made to receive the dead, on +their arrival, in a becoming manner. + +When General Hooker learned of the death of Creighton and Crane, he +raised both hands, in surprise and grief, exclaiming, "My God! are they +dead? Two braver men never lived!" + +General Butterfield, chief of staff, gave orders to remove the bodies +to the rear. They were conveyed to Chattanooga by Sergeant Tisdell, +where they were met by Quartermaster Loomis, and privates Wetzel, +Shepherd, and Meigs. General Slocum testified his appreciation of their +worth, by accompanying their bodies as far as Tullahoma. When the news +reached him of their death, his grief was so profound, that the stern +veteran burst into tears. + +They were taken to Nashville to be embalmed. But little, however, could +be done for Creighton, as he had bled inwardly; his body was therefore +put into a metallic case. Crane's body was embalmed, and placed in a +plain, but neat coffin, till it should arrive in Cleveland and be +transferred to a burial case. Dr. Newbury, of the Sanitary Commission, +rendered much service in this work, after which he accompanied the +remains to Louisville. From this place they were forwarded to +Cincinnati by train, where they were met by the special escort from +Cleveland, consisting of Colonel Hayward, Lieutenant-Colonel J. T. +Sterling, Lieutenant-Colonel Frazee, Captain Baird, Captain Molyneaux, +Captain De Forest, Captain Wiseman, Surgeon Cushing, and Quartermaster +Chapin. + +On Sunday morning the train dashed into Cleveland, and stopped at the +foot of Superior-street. Two hearses were in waiting. One for Colonel +Creighton, drawn by four white horses; the other for Lieutenant-Colonel +Crane, drawn by four black horses. Each was draped by American flags +and the usual insignia of mourning. + +The remains of Colonel Creighton were now removed from the car to the +hearse, and conveyed to the residence of Mrs. Creighton, on +Bolivar-street. The remains of Lieutenant-Colonel Crane remained under +guard, till the return of the escort, when they were taken to the +residence of the widow. + +This bright Sabbath will long be remembered. But a few short Sabbaths +before, the coffined dead left the city of their homes, possessed of +life and hope: looking forward with pride and happiness to the +termination of an honorable career in the service of their country. And +often in their night vigils, over the dying embers of their +picket-fires, had they conversed on the subject, passing the long night +in dreams never to be realized. The remaining few of your followers +have, indeed, long since returned; and although the hearts and feet of +these brave warriors were heavy with the tramp of weary months, yet +your slumber was not disturbed. Long years shall roll away, in which +war's tumult and carnage shall cease; but you shall only be known among +men by your good deeds left behind, and perpetuated in the hearts of +your countrymen. + +On the 7th of December the bodies of Creighton and Crane were brought +from the residences of their families and taken to the Council Hall, +for the purpose of lying in state, to be seen by the public. The same +hearses were used as on the arrival of the bodies from the South. + +The Council Hall was elegantly and appropriately decorated. In the +centre, within the railing, a handsome canopy had been placed, with +roof of national flags, draped with mourning emblems, suspended from +the ceiling, and trailing at the corners to the ground. Wreaths, loops, +and festoons of black and white edged the canopy. On the inside, from +the centre, hung a large pendant of mourning emblems, beneath which was +the bier on which lay the bodies of the gallant dead. + +On the president's desk, at the head of the hall, were portraits of +Colonel Creighton and Lieutenant-Colonel Crane, draped in mourning; and +against the wall, behind the place of the president's seat, was a +life-size portrait of Colonel Creighton, also draped in mourning. Above +this portrait was this inscription, in black letters on white ground: + + "My God! are they dead? + Two braver men never lived!" + + --GENERAL HOOKER. + +The windows were hung with black, and the gaslights threw a dim, solemn +light over the mournful scene. + +The bodies were placed in handsome burial-cases, and the covers +removed, so that they could be seen through the glass fronts. As we +have before mentioned, the body of Colonel Creighton, from the wounds +having bled inwardly, was so much changed, previously to reaching +Nashville, that it was impossible to properly embalm it; and therefore +did not present a natural appearance. That of Lieutenant-Colonel Crane +was in good preservation, and could easily be recognized. + +The bodies were guarded by a detachment of members of the old Seventh, +who formed the guard of honor. + +The following account of the funeral services is from the Cleveland +Herald of the 9th of December. + +"The sad pageant is over. A sorrowing people have paid their tribute of +affection and regret over the remains of the dead heroes. The brave +leaders of the glorious but ill-fated Seventh sleep in their quiet +tomb. + +"Tuesday, the 8th, was a bright and beautiful day. Its clear sky and +pleasant atmosphere were strangely similar to that bright Sunday in +May, two years and a half ago, when the Seventh Regiment marched out of +Cleveland on its way to the battle-fields where it was destined to win +such renown. The unclouded sun shed a halo of glory on all that was +left of the brave men who led the old Seventh in many a fight; but who +now were to be laid away in the silent and peaceful tomb. + +"The bright day opened on a city of mourners. People gathered on the +streets, waiting for the hour for the funeral. Business was unthought +of, even the latest news by telegraph, exciting as it was, and +calculated to stir the pulse with triumphant joy, failed to engross the +attention. Men spoke of the dead heroes, of their first departure for +the war, of their terrible battles and bloody sacrifices; and of that +last fearful struggle on the hill at Ringgold, where the gallant +leaders laid down their lives for their country, amid their dead and +wounded comrades. + +"From every flag-staff the national colors hung at half-mast, and signs +of mourning were everywhere visible. As the hour set for the +commencement of the solemn exercises drew near, business was entirely +suspended throughout the city. The stores were closed, the Federal, +State, and city offices shut their doors, and a Sabbath-like stillness +reigned over the city. Soon came the tramp of armed men, the mournful +wail of bugles, and the funeral roll of the drums, as the troops moved +up to take part in the funeral procession. + +"The bodies had remained in the Council Hall over-night, guarded by the +old comrades of the gallant dead. The families and relatives were in +the mayor's office, waiting for the hour of moving the procession. At +half past ten o'clock the bodies were removed from the Council Hall and +placed in hearses which were draped with the national colors, looped up +with mourning emblems. + +"The pall-bearers were as follows: For Colonel Creighton--Colonel +Senter, Colonel Whittlesey, Major Mygatt, Lieutenant-Colonel Asper, +Major Seymour, Captain McIlrath, Captain Ransom, Captain Stratton. For +Lieutenant-Colonel Crane--Lieutenant-Colonel Goddard, Lieutenant-Colonel +Sterling, Major Palmer, Captain Drummond, Captain Douglass, Captain +Wilson, Captain Standart, Captain Hill. + +"The burial-cases were the best that money could buy. On one was the +following inscription: + + COL. W. R. CREIGHTON, + 7th O. V. I, + In his 27th year. + Killed at the Battle of Ringgold, + Nov. 27th, 1863. + +"On the other was the inscription: + + LIEUT.-COL. O. J. CRANE, + Fell at the Battle of Ringgold, + Nov. 27th, 1863. + +"On each coffin was laid a handsome wreath of immortelles, with the +sword of the dead officer. + +"The Twenty-ninth Volunteer Militia were drawn up in line each side of +the way between the Council Hall and the Stone Church, and the mournful +_cortege_ passed through the lane so formed, Leland's Band playing +a dirge. The hearse was followed by the mourners in carriages--Governor +Brough, Surgeon McClurg, of the United States Military Hospital, the +City Council, and City and County Officers, all wearing crape badges. + +"Thousands of people lined the way, and crowded around the church with +the hope of getting in; but there was not a sound from them, as the +procession passed on to the church. And such perfect order and decorum +we never before saw in such a vast concourse. + + +IN THE CHURCH. + +"At the church--as indeed throughout the whole of the obsequies--the +most perfect arrangements had been made, and were carried out. The +reading-desk was draped with flags and crape. Directly in front was a +stand with an elegant bouquet of flowers, and below this another stand, +draped with national colors, on which rested the two coffins, side by +side. + +"The silk banner of the Seventh, presented by the city after Cross +Lanes, and bearing the names of several battles, was displayed against +the reading-desk. It was pierced and rent by showers of bullets and +shell in many a hard-fought battle. + +"The families and relatives of the deceased were placed in the seats +immediately in front of the bodies. On either side of the coffins sat +the pallbearers. Directly behind the mourners sat about a dozen or more +of the members of the old Cleveland Light Guard, the company commanded +by Colonel Creighton before the war, and of which Lieutenant-Colonel +Crane was a member. They wore crape badges, and had with them the +company flag, draped in mourning. + +"Near the reading-desk were seated Governor Brough, Surgeon McClurg, +and other invited guests, the committees, city council, city officers, +county officers, the clergy of the city and neighborhood, members of +the old Seventh, members of the old Cleveland Light Guard, soldiers +from the Military Hospital, members of the Typographical Union, +ship-carpenters, and other friends of the deceased. The body of the +church was packed tightly with citizens, of whom the greater part were +ladies, preference being given to them in the selection of seats. The +Twenty-ninth Regiment stood in the aisles. + +"During the entry of the procession to the church, the organ played a +voluntary suitable to the occasion. At half-past eleven o'clock the +funeral ceremonies in the church commenced with an invocation of the +Divine blessing by Rev. S. W. Adams, of the First Baptist Church, who +afterwards read appropriate passages of Scripture. + +"The choir then sang the Ninetieth Psalm: + + "'O God! our help in ages past, + Our help in years to come; + Our shelter from the stormy blast, + And our eternal home; + + "'Beneath the shadow of Thy throne, + Thy saints have dwelt secure; + Sufficient is Thine arm alone, + And our defence is sure. + + "'Before the hills in order stood, + Or earth received her name, + From everlasting Thou art God-- + To endless years the same. + + "'Thy word commands our flesh to dust: + Return ye sons of men! + All nations rose from earth at first, + And turn to earth again. + + "'O God! our help in ages past, + Our help for years to come: + Be Thou our guide while troubles last, + And our eternal home.' + +"Rev. Adam Crooks, of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, then made the +following address, at the request of the family of the late Colonel +Creighton: + +"'To-day we are in the solemn presence of inexorable death. We are +impressedly reminded that dust we are, and unto dust we must return; +that "death is the mighty leveller of us all;" that "the tall, the +wise, the heroic dead must lie as low as ours." Two lifeless heroes are +before us-- + + "'Their swords in rust; + Their souls with God in heaven, we trust.' + +We would do well to pray with the hero of other days: "So teach us to +number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." Before us +are two more rich offerings which the State of Ohio and Cleveland have +laid upon our country's altar! They were preceded by Wheeler, Lantry, +Pickands, Mahan, Vail, and others. We are here to mourn, to honor, and +to bury the noble dead! They were the pride of our city and of Northern +Ohio. Brave and honored representatives of a brave and honored +constituency! Of one thousand eight hundred soldiers who have filled +the ranks of the Seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, but little +over a hundred now report for duty. Many of them sleep in patriots' and +heroes' graves. Most of the remainder bear on their persons honorable +marks of their patriotism and bravery. In honoring the representative, +we honor the constituency. + +"'But _general_ remarks are not appropriate from me. At the request of +the stricken widow and relatives of Colonel Creighton, I come to utter +a few words of condolence, sympathy, and comfort, in this hour, to +_them_ and _to us all_, of deep affliction. Brother Foot will speak +in behalf of the relatives of Lieutenant-Colonel Crane. + +"'Colonel William R. Creighton was born in the City of Pittsburgh, +in the year 1836 or 1837--the records are not in this city. In early +childhood he was bereft of a father. He was baptized by the Rev. Bishop +Uphold, now bishop of Indiana, of the Protestant Episcopal Church. + +"'In his early teens, he served in the employ of Mr. A----, in an +extensive shoe establishment. Subsequently, he chose the occupation of +a printer, and spent three years in making himself master of his trade. +Eight years ago he came to this city--was four years in the office of +the Cleveland Herald. Also some six months in the City of Chicago. At +the time of enlistment, he was in the employ of Mr. Nevans of this +city. Early in life, he gave evidence that the tendencies of his nature +were strongly _military_. + +"'This was evinced by his connection with companies for drill in +Pittsburgh, Chicago, and this city. When the bloody drama of this +dreadful war was inaugurated, he was lieutenant of the 'Cleveland Light +Guard.' He was not willing that the fair and majestic superstructure, +reared by the superior skill, patient labor, and heroic suffering of +our honored fathers--resting its deep foundations in the inalienability +of the natural rights of all men, and in which the most indigent son of +toil stands before the law the equal peer of merchant princes--should +be torn down by perjured traitors and sworn enemies of mankind; not +willing that these traitors and enemies should bury beneath the +magnificent ruins of this superstructure our strength, and greatness, +and safety, and peace, and very liberties; not willing that this young, +yet powerful republic, should be so dismembered and disintegrated as to +tempt the rapacity, and be an easy prey of the weakest of adverse +powers; not willing that the principle, that '_Capital shall own +labor_,' the non-capitalled be the chattel of the rich, should rule +all over this continent--that labor should be at once unremunerative +and the badge of infamy, that thus there should be eternal antagonism +between the indigent and the affluent, developing in intestine broils +and civil feuds,--nor that the sun of liberty should go down upon an +entire hemisphere, to rise not again for many generations; not willing +that the forum, pulpit, and press should all be enslaved, and +intelligence among the masses be rendered contraband; in brief, not +willing that our _Paradise_ should be converted into a _Pandemonium_. + +"'Hence, no sooner had the news reached us of the assault upon Fort +Sumter, and the call of the President for seventy-five thousand +volunteers to rush to the defence of the life of the republic, than, +with all the ardor of his earnest nature, Colonel William R. Creighton +threw his _all_ upon his country's altar, and appealed to his +associates and compeers to do likewise. + +"'His success in securing enlistments was commensurate with his zeal +and known military skill. In a few days he was captain of a full +company--the first enlisted in this city--which afterwards became +Company A of the immortal Seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. On +the morning of the 3d of May, 1861, a beautiful Sabbath morning in the +spring, emblem of life, youth, and beauty, this regiment started for +the field of conflict, glory, and of death. And now, on a clear, serene +Sabbath of the December of 1863, the dying month of the year, the first +Sabbath of the month, and in the morning, after many hard-fought +battles, the brave colonel and lieutenant-colonel of the gallant +Seventh came back to say to us, in the mute silence of death, 'We have +done what we could.' In terms and strains of true eloquence you will +soon be told by Brother Peck, how bravely the colonel led the charges +at Cross Lanes, Winchester, Port Republic, Cedar Mountain (not at +Antietam, for he was at home wounded), Dumfries, Chancellorsville, +Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain, and fatal Ringgold,--and how he loved his +brave command, and how they idolized him. But I will not anticipate, +nor need I attempt encomium. His _deeds_ praise him beyond the +capacity of all human eloquence. + +"'Of his _social_ and _manly_ qualities, one who knew him well is +permitted to speak, in a letter of Christian sympathy, addressed to his +widow--for the 2d of May, 1861, three days before leaving with his +command, he was united in wedlock with Eleanor L. Quirk, of this city. +In a letter, such as described above, the Rev. Mr. Brown, former pastor +of Westminster Church, and for some months chaplain of the Seventh +Regiment, says: + + "'MRS. COLONEL CREIGHTON: My dear Friend--I have just read in the + dispatches that your brave husband and Lieutenant-Colonel Crane + were killed in the late battle at Ringgold, Georgia. Oh, how sad + this is! Sad to me who loved him; but how _terribly_ sad to you, + his beloved wife! I cannot write about it. Precious memories of + hours and days of dangers and hardships, shared together in Western + Virginia (and of one long, serious conversation about death and + eternity, as we rode together at midnight through the woods) crowd + upon me. He was warm-hearted, generous, and noble. He loved his + country unto death. He was brave, even to rashness. But he has + gone!' + +"'Yes, the warm-hearted friend, the loving brother, the affectionate +son, the devoted husband, the brave soldier, the undying patriot, the +fearless and fiery Creighton, is gone! We are here to-day to honor his +memory, recount his heroic deeds of noble daring, mourn his fall, and +convey his lifeless remains--with those of his brave comrade, +Lieutenant-Colonel Crane--to the tomb of a hero and a patriot. + +"'What words of elegiac comfort shall I speak to his numerous personal +and sorrowful friends; his brothers in the union of the same useful and +honorable handicraft; his brave comrades in arms of the noble Seventh, +and other regiments, who are here to attest their affection and sorrow; +his brother in the flesh, who is now left without a brother; his aged +and sorely bereaved mother; and his youthful, but grief-stricken, +widow? How shall _I_, who would take my place with the mourners, speak +words of comfort to you? + +"'Let us remember that although our _dear_, _dear_ friend will no +longer mingle with us in the social or domestic circle,--will not again +lead regiment or brigade of fearless braves in the thickest and hottest +of the fight, inspiring to feats of exalted heroism--his brave and +generous heart now cold and lifeless--dim and sightless those eyes +whose radiant and enlivening orbs beamed, now with kindness, and now +with fiery bravery--his intercourse with the living world, brought to a +final period,--let us remember, that although Colonel Creighton is +gone, yet he is not lost; he is not lost to his country, for it has his +noble example of true bravery and practical patriotism. + +"'He is not lost to us who knew him, for he lives, and will ever live, +templed in our brightest memories and best affections. Nor can he be +lost to history, for he has made the offering which places his name on +its brightest page. + +"'Death never comes alone, but is always attended by an escort of +sadness. Whenever the silver cord is loosed, the golden bowl broken, +the pitcher broken at the fountain, the wheel broken at the cistern, +and dust returns to the earth, as it was, mourners go about the +streets. But it is especially sad, when, as in this case, sister, +mother, and wife are denied the sorrowful pleasure of being present, +and ministering to the wants of the dying, and speaking words of +Christian hope. But even this finds an offset in the fact that it was +his honored privilege to die for country--to fall, covered with glory! +Also, in the fact that his body was not mangled--that he did not suffer +long--in the assurance furnished by the words, 'Oh, my dear wife!' +uttered in dying accents after he fell, and before he expired, that his +last thoughts were of home and kindred; and may not we hope that these +words were breathed in prayer, and that he threw his whole soul +helpless, but trustfully, upon the merits of the Saviour? Again, it is +a source of great gratification to us all, and especially to the +relatives, that he does not fill a distant and unknown grave--that he +was tenderly borne from the field, and promptly forwarded for honorable +interment. His grave is to be in our midst, marked by a marble shaft, +which will scarcely crumble beneath the tread of the coming ages. You +can go there and pay the mournful tribute which nature and affection +prompt. And may it not be believed, that from their patriotic ashes +(for Creighton and Crane fought and fell together, and they are to rest +side by side)--is it not to be believed, that from their patriotic +ashes will spring a rich harvest _in kind_ to at once avenge their +fall, and save our imperilled country? And will not fathers and mothers +conduct their children to these honored graves, and there put upon them +vows of eternal hostility to treason and to traitors, be they secret or +armed, even as Hamilcar caused his son Hannibal to swear, at the altar, +eternal hatred to Rome? And will not every one who visits their tombs, +and reads their epitaphs, whisper, "Peace and honor." And when this +cruel war is over, and the God of our fathers shall crown our labors +and sufferings with success, and bestow upon us, as a nation, an +honorable, righteous, and perpetual peace, then, amid the light, and +songs, and joy of the nation's jubilee, let their epitaphs be written +anew. And during all ages, peace to their ashes, peace to their memory, +and peace to their heroic spirits. + +"'Let us this day, around the lifeless forms of these fallen heroes, +not profanely, but solemnly and religiously, swear that the lives of +these, together with the lives of hundreds of thousands of the flower +of the nation, given for the salvation of the country, shall not be +given in vain; that we will complete well, what they have so well +begun. + +"'I need not ask of you, in behalf of the aged mother and bereaved +widow of Colonel Creighton, your warm, your practical, your continued +sympathies: these, I am sure, will not be withheld. But I now ask you +to join me in one fervent prayer to the God of the aged, the +fatherless, and the widow, our fathers' God, and the God of battles, +that He will, by His almighty arm, sustain, and, by His abundant grace, +comfort the aged mothers, and bereaved widows, and afflicted friends of +our brave soldiers, and their departed sons, husbands, and brothers; +that He will thus sustain and comfort all whose hearts have been cloven +by the battle-axe of war; that He will abundantly shield, help, bless, +and comfort our brave soldiers upon the field, in the hospitals, and +prisoners in the hands of our enemies; and that He will speedily bestow +upon our imperilled country the inestimable blessing of an honorable, +righteous, and lasting peace. Amen.' + +"Rev. C. C. Foot, at the request of the family of the late +Lieutenant-Colonel Crane, made the following address: + +"'The duties we are called to perform--the bearing of our dead brave to +their final rest--is indeed solemn and sad. That those who admired and +loved them in life, and delight to honor them when dead, should, with +sympathizing hearts and grateful hands, minister such a funeral +ovation, is due to them in view of the sacrifice they made, the toils +they endured, and their deeds of patriotism and valor. When the bugle +was first sounded in Washington, calling the North to the defence of +our institutions, these were among the first to respond; leaving their +business, their friends, and their families, for the field of strife, +they unsheathed their swords to strike for freedom's sacred cause. In +many skirmishes, and in every battle of their brigade, they struck with +such bravery and success as to have secured perpetual illustriousness; +while ever a nation exists to feel the throb of a nation's heart, while +a man lives to read the annals of America, their noble deeds shall be +known, and their illustrious names shall be honored. + +"'They passed through so many dangers almost unscarred, that they +feared no ill, and their families began to expect with confidence their +return to the enjoyments of home, ere many months more should have +flown. But when on Ringgold's hillside they raised their swords to +gleam as never before, from a volley of Confederate musketry their +death-warrant came. Their bodies sank to the ground--their spirits +ascended through the smoke-cloud of battle to the patriot's God, to +join the slain of the Seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, where the stars +forever shine in original splendor and glory. On the morrow, instead of +the ready pen reporting to loved ones at home that "all is well with +us," the telegraph was put in requisition to announce that never more +should their voices be heard by friend, companion, or offspring. Oh, +how sad such intelligence! How many families, how many tender, loving, +trembling hearts throughout the land, have been made sorrowful by like +intelligence since this war was so cruelly hurled upon us? From what +our soldier friends do and suffer from the myriad untimely deaths, +shall we not learn the magnitude of the work of the army, and our great +indebtedness to all who have gone to fight for us, our homes, and our +country? Let us render them the honor due. When men become illustrious, +it is but natural that their friends review their lives, and that +others inquire who they are, whence they came, and what circumstances +molded them for their greatness. To answer briefly and in part such +inquiries about one of these brave men--Lieutenant-Colonel O. J. +Crane--is the work to which I have been invited. Lieutenant-Colonel +Crane was born in Chautauque County, New York, in the year 1829. When +about three years old, his parents removed to their native State, +Vermont. Soon after this, his father died, and he was left to climb +life's rugged hill from his mother's arms to manhood, without the +invaluable aid of a father's counsels and assistance. He was blest with +a kind, intelligent, and prayerful mother, to whom he owed no small +amount of gratitude. + +"'Her care and labor for his health, and even his life, were constant +and great. While quite young, he once received a burn, so severe that +his life was despaired of. The attendant physician said he could not +live--or living, would always be helpless. But his mother loved him +into _life_ and _health_, little thinking that she had saved him from +one fire, only to see him exposed and becoming a victim to a more +galling one; little thinking that to him, for whose life she struggled, +she and the nation would become indebted for liberty and political +security. During his youth he lived chiefly with an uncle, and with +whom, about thirteen years ago, he located in Conneaut, Ohio. While +there, he was employed in mechanical labor. He spent one year on the +Isthmus. On his return from the Isthmus, he came to Cleveland, and +found employment as a ship-carpenter. In this city, and this business, +he remained till called to participate in our national conflict. + +"'As a mechanic, he enjoyed the confidence and esteem of his employers +and his fellows. As a man, he drew around him a pleasant circle of +friends, constant and affectionate, who deeply mourn his loss. In +disposition, he was frank, manly, kind, and ever cheerful. He leaves a +sorrowing wife, to whom he was married nine years ago, three small +children, a mother, brothers and sisters. Their bereavement is too +great, their grief too deep, for even them to express in language. Yet +not till weary weeks shall fail to bring letters from the +battle-field--not till months confirm that no husband returns--not till +years reveal the need of a father to guide the orphans, and a companion +to sustain an aching heart, shall be fully realized the magnitude of +the sacrifice made, in laying upon a nation's altar a husband and a +father. + +"'The subject of these remarks had never made a public profession of +faith in Jesus. He had respected religion. He showed great kindness and +respect to the chaplain of his regiment, and consequently had a good +chaplain. He also, after entering the service, became interested in +personal religion. He professed a readiness to die when called. Let us +pray and hope that beyond the turmoil of this life, he may receive his +dear ones to everlasting fellowship of joy. + +"'Some months ago he became a member of the Masonic fraternity. Though +so soon taken from them, yet-- + + "'By the hieroglyphic bright, + Which none but craftsmen ever saw, + Strange memory on our minds shall write + His honored name that's far awa.' + +"'Citizens of Cleveland and Ohio, as we embalm his name in our memory, +let us not fail to remember, also, the dear family he has left. Let us +give them our heartfelt sympathy--not the sympathy of _pity_, but +that of _gratitude_--for his and their debtors we are. He gave his +life; not for himself, but for us who live, for our homes, and our +posterity. Surrounding the husbandless with what comforts we can, and +supplying the fatherless with fatherly care, and aid, and sympathy, let +us, to our utmost, discharge our indebtedness. Let us work and pray +that but few more brave need fall; and that the time be speeded when +the defenders of our liberties shall be welcomed home to the enjoyment +of their triumphs, with the jubilant acclamation of many millions of +freemen.' + +"Professor H. E. Peck, at the request of the General Committee, +delivered the address on behalf of the city, as follows: + +"'On a fair Sabbath in May, only three short seasons ago, just as the +bells were calling the town to worship, a regiment passed down yonder +street. That, citizens, was a spectacle which you who saw it will never +forget. Not because the marching column was striking to the eye. There +was no pageant. There were no arms, no banners. There was not even a +uniform. The farmer, the student, and the smith, were in that line; +and the farmer marched in the garments he brought from the furrow, +and the student and the smith were attired as they had been in the +recitation-room and shop. But for all that, the display was profoundly +impressive. Here was the flower of the Reserve. Lake, Mahoning, +Trumbull, Lorain, and Erie, each had a hundred; Portage, twice a +hundred; and Cuyahoga, thrice a hundred in the line. And each hundred +was made up, not of the rabble, but of sons, whom worthy fathers and +mothers dearly loved; of men, who, if they should stay at home, would +soon be conspicuous for wealth, or learning, or skill in useful arts. +And these thousand true men, loved well at home, made of sterling +stuff, were on their way to _war_--to actual war. To serve the +imperilled country, they had quit all,--farms, shops, books, friends, +hopes, the past, the future,--all but duty and honor. They might never +return. The vow on them might take them to bloody fields, from which +there should be no passage except down through the gates of death. Oh, +kinsman, was not that an impressive scene? Did you ever see the like? +Did not tears wet your eyes as you looked on? Were not the cheers with +which you sent the heroes on their way divided, as shouts of yours had +never before been, nor have been since, between admiration and sorrow? + +"'This, friends, was the first march of our gallant Seventh. You do not +forget that in that march the column was led by a young captain, whose +high carriage and soldierly bearing were almost the only signs of real +military display. The body of that young captain lies in one of yonder +coffins. Of him, and his brave comrade who sleeps beside him, I am to +speak on this occasion. The history of the noble Seventh is _their_ +late history. With it, therefore, let me begin. + +"'The Seventh left Cleveland May 5, 1861. It went hence to Camp +Dennison, where E. B. Tyler, of Ravenna; W. R. Creighton, of Cleveland; +and John S. Casement, of Painesville, were made its first +field-officers. In the June following, while it was still at Camp +Dennison, the regiment was reorganized and sworn into the three-years' +service. I well remember seeing Captain Crane, whose remains are +yonder, on a sweet Sabbath afternoon--men, sun, air, and earth, all +were glad, and the harmonies of nature were tunefully praising +God--bringing his company to the colonel's quarters to be sworn in. I +well remember the impression which the strong voice of the sombre +captain made upon me, as, after the young soldiers, with bare heads and +uplifted hands, had taken the oath, he cried, "Company, right face; +forward, march!" The tone of the command was as if he would say, "Now, +men, there is no retreat. Only service, perhaps death, is before you." + +"'A week later, General McClellan, who had then just taken command of +the Western Department, came looking for the right material with which +to begin his Western Virginia campaign, and inspected the regiment. But +it was not at garments the shrewd leader looked. It was the _person_ he +studied. He sought the eye. He narrowly scanned the look. Down the line +and back again he slowly went. I saw the expression on his face, as at +the end, he seemed to say to himself, "_They are the right sort!_" In +the reorganization of the regiment, the staff remained as it was +before. + +"'On the 26th of June, 1861, the Seventh left Camp Dennison, to enter +on active service in Western Virginia. With many long marches it sought +the foe. It had begun to doubt whether it would ever meet him, when, at +Cross Lanes, on the 26th of August, he came, with overwhelming force. +For a brief space, the companies, separated from each other, held their +ground. Then, from bare and irresistible necessity, they gave way. +Twenty-four gallant men were left on the field, dead or wounded. One +hundred were carried away prisoners, and the remainder were scattered +like partridges which have received the sportsman's fire. At first, +tidings came to us that the Seventh was wholly destroyed. How ached our +hearts! Presently, better news came. Major Casement had brought four +hundred men through the wilderness into Charleston, and Captain Crane +had come to Gauley, bringing, not only almost his entire company, but a +flag which he had captured from the enemy. + +"'Then came to the regiment days of distraction and despondency. You, +and others of the Reserve, heard of, and agonized over its condition. +To encourage and cheer it, you sent it a stand of beautiful colors. At +the Academy of Music, as you will remember, before a throng of your +best citizens, the standards were dedicated. + +"'On a mountain-side, in Western Virginia, with Rosecrans' army lying +miles up and down, and with the smoke of the enemy's camp-fires rising +in the distance, they were presented to the regiment. I wish I could +picture the scene, the splendors of the magnificent landscape, the +exquisite beauty of the colors as they proudly glowed in the clear +sunlight, the enthusiasm of the men and the pride of the officers. Your +present helped to rouse the spirit of the regiment. The words of love +and considerate regard, which you sent with the gift, assured it that +its honor was not yet lost. How thrilling, how hopeful, was the cheer +which rolled off among the hills, as the color-guard took its trust! + +"'From the Kanawha the Seventh went, on the 17th of December, 1861, to +the Potomac. There, now led by Lieutenant Colonel Creighton--Colonel +Tyler having taken temporary command of a brigade--it met, at +Winchester, March 23, 1862, Jackson's celebrated "Stonewall Legion." +Hot was the fire, when the Northern iron met the Southern flint. The +Seventh left fifty-six dead and wounded on the field. But it won a +name in the fight. The story told of them, the land over, was, _they +fought like veterans_. Then came the long chase up the Shenandoah, +then the hard march across to Eastern Virginia, and back to the gates +of the Shenandoah. Then came Port Republic, the first square stand-up +fight which the regiment had, when, led by Creighton, in an open field, +in a line trim enough for a dress parade, and with "Cross Lanes" for +its battle-cry, the glorious Seventh charged down on Jackson's +steadfast front. Ah, how the list of the dead and wounded was again +fearfully swelled! Seventy-two names were added to it. + +"'By this time the regiment had become so reduced by the casualties of +war, that its friends on the Reserve asked that it might be sent home +to recruit. "No," promptly replied discriminating Halleck, "not so long +as there is a lame drummer left; not if you will send us a whole new +regiment in place of this handful. We know these men, they are just +such as we want." Colonel Tyler's promotion to a brigadiership brought +Lieutenant-Colonel Creighton to the head of the regiment, and this, and +other changes, presently made Captain Crane a Lieutenant-Colonel. The +regiment now had plenty of duty. It fought at Cedar Mountain, and +there, on the extreme advance, it met the brunt of danger. + +"'In one company, out of twenty-one men engaged, eighteen fell killed +or wounded. The whole regiment suffered in hardly less proportion. One +hundred and ninety-six, of the two hundred and ninety-seven heroes +engaged, fell. There, fiery Creighton, as usual, not content to be +elsewhere than on the extreme front, was so severely wounded that he +was compelled to come home to recover. + +"'Soon the regiment was at Antietam, and there it shared the toils and +honors of that honorable field. Thirty-eight fallen men, out of one +hundred engaged, was the price it paid for its opportunity. Presently +it fought and prevailed against great odds at Dumfries. Here it lost +ten more of its scant few. + +"'In the next year's campaign, after lying in camp and being +considerably recruited, the regiment was at Chancellorsville. There it +did good service, by catching and holding on its steady line droves of +fugitives, who were ingloriously seeking the rear, and by covering the +retreat of its corps. It lost, at Chancellorsville, ninety-nine men. +Next the regiment was at Gettysburg. There, for the first time in its +history, it fought behind defences; nor could Ewell, surging with fiery +valor up against the rocky rampart, break the line which it, and its +compeers of the Twelfth Corps, held. The Seventh lost at Gettysburg +nineteen men; and, as from every field before, so from this, it brought +honor and a new name. From the Potomac the regiment went, in September +last, to the Tennessee. There, on the 24th of last month, it shared in +that brilliant "battle above the clouds," by which Hooker cleared +Lookout Mountain. Decisive as the result of its courage here was, it +seems to have left behind but one wounded man as its share of the +sacrifice which the victory cost. Then came the pursuit of Bragg, and +the overtaking of his rear-guard at Ringgold; then the climbing, by the +Twelfth Corps, of that bare hill, on the top of which the enemy was +securely posted. Staunch Creighton was in command of a brigade, and +Crane led the Seventh. The charge was a desperate one, but Creighton +did not falter. Kindling to that ardor of which he was so susceptible, +he urged his command on. "Boys," he said, "we are ordered to take that +hill. I want to see you walk right up it." Then putting himself, not in +the rear, as being temporarily a brigadier he might have done, but far +in the advance, he led the way. And Crane, close behind, stoutly held +the Seventh to its bloody work. The men were ready for the task. The +zeal of Cross Lanes, of Winchester, of Port Republic, burned to a white +heat. The gallant Seventh, leading the column, flung itself into the +billows of fire, as if it were rescuing home from robber hands. But, +ah! chivalric Creighton fell, and, alas! sturdy Crane, too; and of the +commissioned officers of the Seventh, but one remained unhurt. Is it +wonderful that the grand old regiment, losing the inspiring command of +the brave soldiers whose voices had so often aroused its purposes, fell +back? Oh, Creighton and Crane, had you lived, the Seventh would, +perhaps, without help, have carried the dear old colors, tattered by so +many leaden storms, into the enemy's defiant works! Sad tale that I +must tell, of the two hundred and ten sons and brothers of ours who +went into the fight, ninety fell; of the fourteen commissioned officers +on the field, thirteen were killed or wounded. + +"'My story of the Seventh is done. Yes, the Sabbath comes; sweet, clear +day, as bright as that holy morn on which the Seventh first went its +way. A sad cortege passes up the same street yonder. Music wails at its +head. A downcast guard of honor marches, with mourning colors, behind +hearses trimmed with the badges of woe. Look you, kindred, the band +which follows the dead is made up of the men who marched in that May +Sabbath line two years ago. But the farmer, the student, the smith, +are not there. These are soldiers all. They are scarred with the marks +of Cross Lanes, of Winchester--nay, let me not stop to recite the long +list of battles through which they have passed. Yes, here is part of +the scant few left out of the eighteen hundred staunch men who have +stood under the flag of the Seventh; and here, hearse-borne, are the +bodies of the good leaders who shall head the regiment no more. Pause +now, citizens, while I tell you about these noble men. Colonel +Creighton was born in Pittsburgh. He was but twenty-six years of age +when he fell. For several years he followed the trade of a printer in +this city. But he was born to be a soldier, and years ago he learned, +in civic schools, a soldier's trade. So, when the war broke out, he was +fit to take command. He raised a company in this city. At once his +military talent was revealed. He had not a peer in the camp as a +drill-master, and there was something about his ardent nature which +made men feel that he was fit to command. Thus superior office came to +him--he did not seek it. But getting it, he discharged his duties well. +He was affectionate to his men, erring only in being, perhaps, too free +with them. And when battle came, he was a master-spirit in the dreadful +storm. Burning with enthusiasm, almost rash with courage, he could +inspire his "gamecocks"--as he familiarly called his men--with such +qualities as are most needed in the charge and in the deadly breach. I +have often asked sound thinking members of the Seventh, "What of +Creighton?" The answer has always been, "_He is a soldier, every +inch._" + +"'Lieutenant-Colonel Crane was born in Troy, New York, in the year +1828. He, too, has been a mechanic here for many years. Like his chief, +he, too, had learned the use of arms before the war commenced. He was, +therefore, amply qualified to take command of his company when Captain +Creighton was promoted. And no ordinary disciplinarian was Captain +Crane. He had a difficult company, but it was with a strong hand that +he laid hold of his work. Headstrong men had a master in him. Withal, +he was the soul of kindness to those he commanded. His rugged nature, +despising military finery, and the pomps and forms of military life, +came down at once to plain, blunt, frank, but sincere and hearty +intercourse with the men under him. If you wished to find Captain +Crane, you must look for him where his boys were; and if his boys had +had a trying or toilsome work, you might be sure he was lightening the +load by his own example of brave and sturdy patience. He did not have +an impulsive nature. He was not a thunderbolt on the field. He was +rock, rather. Fiery floods might break against him, and yet he was +always the same; always imperturbable, honest, strong. + +"'I should have said before, that Colonel Creighton was in every battle +which the Seventh ever fought, except Antietam. It is in place for me +to say here, that Lieutenant-Colonel Crane took part in every battle in +which his regiment shared. I doubt if another instance of the kind is +on record. Would that the Hand which had so often averted danger, could +have turned the fatal bullets aside at Ringgold! + +"'And now, friends, I am, at the invitation of the joint-committee of +the city council, the military, the Typographical Union, the +ship-carpenters, and yourselves, and as the representative of other +towns, who helped raise the Seventh, to bring a tribute of gratitude +and praise to the memory of the gallant dead. In my poor way, I here +certify to the noble qualities, to the brave deeds of the soldiers +coffined yonder. I come to say, that the honor done them by the city, +by the military, by yourselves, by good men who, in other towns, mourn +their loss, is well bestowed. The heroes have earned their honors. They +have bought them with such high conduct, with such self-sacrifices, as +the brightest laurels poorly reward. I know not how those souls, which +lately inhabited yonder clay, stand in the other world (would that your +prayers and mine could reach them), but I do know, that their names +shall live in this world forever. The marble you shall put up over +their dust will itself have gone to dust before their renown shall have +passed from the hearts and lips of men. + +"'Would, friends, that you and I, by any ministry of love, could +staunch these widows' and half-orphans' tears. Oh! sisters bereaved, +and dear little children, now fatherless, may God in His mercy keep +you! May He be help and hope to you! Remember, I pray you, that the +spilled blood which was so dear to you, was precious also to God; that +it is from such seed that He makes freedom, peace, social order, and +prosperity to grow. + +"'And, citizens, what shall I say of the Seventh, which mourns its +noble dead? Shall I summon here the spirits of those who have fallen on +the half-score fields, where the staunch old regiment has left its +dead? Shall I call from the shadowy world those who have died in +festering prisons? Shall I order the rally for those who, broken in +body, shall engage in active pursuits no more? Shall I bring from the +field the little remnant--headed by the one unhurt commissioned +officer, and under this dear, chafed, and rent old flag, which no +longer shines with the glory of color and figure which it displayed +when first unfurled in your Academy of Music, but which is lustrous +with the light with which brave deeds have invested it--shall I tell +them of your love for, and your gratitude to them? Nay, this I cannot +do. But I can say to these representatives of the regiment who are with +us, and through them to that little handful of bronzed veterans who, +huddling around a single camp-fire at Chattanooga, are the last remnant +of the Seventh--to you, honored men, we owe a debt we can never +discharge. You sprang to arms, when others hesitated. You entered the +flinty paths of war with feet shod only for the gentle ways of peace. +Often have you been tried, never have you failed; and the honor of the +Reserve, which we committed to you, has been proudly kept on every +field. And in this hour of weighty bereavement, our feelings towards +you and your comrades, living and dead, is like that of the pious +Scotch woman who, when grim Claverhouse having first shot her husband, +laughing, asked, "Well, woman, what thinkest thou of thy good man now?" +quietly replied, as she drew the pierced head to her bosom, and wiped +the death-damp from his brow: "I aye thought much of him, but now more +than ever." + +"'Now, bearers, take out your dead. Put the cherished remains in an +honored place. Tell art to lift above them worthy marble. Write upon +the stone the names of the battles in which our heroes have fought. +Write also the virtues of the dead. Write, too, that gratitude has +lifted the monument, partly to do honor to them, worthy of it, whom +human praise can never reach; and to teach the living that it is well +to make even life a sacrifice to duty. And when our war has been ended, +when peace and freedom shall be in all our borders, thronging feet +shall, through all the generations, come up to your memorial, and learn +lessons of heroism and self-sacrifice.' + +"Rev. William Goodrich, of the First Presbyterian Church, made the +closing prayer; after which the choir chanted impressively the +following hymn: + + "'With tearful eyes I look around, + Life seems a dark and gloomy sea; + Yet midst the gloom I hear a sound, + A heavenly whisper, 'Come to Me.' + + "'It tells me of a place of rest-- + It tells me where my soul may flee; + Oh! to the weary, faint, oppressed, + How sweet the bidding, 'Come to Me!' + + "'When nature shudders, loth to part + From all I love, enjoy, and see, + When a faint chill steals o'er thy heart, + A sweet voice utters, 'Come to Me.' + + "'Come, for all else must fade and die, + Earth is no resting place for thee; + Heavenward direct thy weeping eye, + I am thy portion, 'Come to Me.' + + "'Oh, voice of mercy! voice of love! + In conflict, grief, and agony; + Support me, cheer me from above! + And gently whisper, Come to Me.' + +"This closed the exercises at the church. + + +THE FUNERAL PROCESSION. + +"As soon as the exercises in the church closed, the Brooklyn Light +Artillery commenced firing minute-guns from the field-piece planted on +the square in front of the church. At the same time, the chimes of +Trinity rang a muffled peal, and the bells in all the other churches +commenced tolling. The square and the streets leading to it were packed +with people from the city and surrounding country, the latter having +been pouring in all the morning. It seemed almost impossible to keep an +open space in so great a crowd, but the admirable management of the +marshals of the day and the city police, aided by the spirit of order +and decorum in the crowd, succeeded in preventing any trouble or +confusion. + +"The procession was formed in nearly the order as at first arranged. +First came Leland's band, playing the "Dead March." Then the +Twenty-ninth Regiment, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Frazee, with +arms reversed and bound with crape. Next the discharged officers and +soldiers of the Seventh, headed by their old band. These old members of +the regiment numbered sixty, and were formed into a company, under +Captain Molyneaux. They were followed by the clergymen of the city, +after which came the bodies. + +"Colonel Creighton's body was in a hearse drawn by four white horses, +from undertaker Duty; and the body of Lieutenant-Colonel Crane, in a +hearse drawn by four black horses, from undertaker Howland. Behind the +hearses were led two horses fully caparisoned. The pall-bearers, whose +names have been previously given, walked beside the hearses. Eleven +carriages, containing the mourners, came next, followed by a carriage +containing Lieutenant Loomis, Sergeant-Major Tisdel, Bugler Welzel, and +privates Shepherd and Meigs, forming the escort from the Seventh. Next +were the members of the old Cleveland Light Guard, with their badges +and flags; Governor Brough and other invited guests, committee of +arrangements, city council, city officers, county military committee, +two hundred sick and wounded soldiers from the United States Military +Hospital, soldiers from the Twelfth Cavalry, Brooklyn Light Artillery, +Captain Pelton; other military and officers of the United States +regular and volunteer services; United States Court officers, +Typographical Union, ship-carpenters, old Light Guard, under Captain J. +Robinson, students from Commercial College, County Court officers, +citizens on foot, citizens in carriages. + +"The procession was of great length, and passed through a dense crowd +of thousands of people during the whole way. It was well managed by +Colonel William H. Hayward, chief marshal of the day, and his +assistants, H. M. Chapin, William Edwards, John M. Sterling, junior, +and C. Busch. The police were again of incalculable value in clearing +the way and keeping perfect order. + + +AT THE TOMB. + +"The lot in the Woodland Cemetery, intended as the final resting-place +of the heroic dead, not having yet been selected, the bodies were taken +to the City Cemetery, and deposited temporarily in the Bradburn Vault, +the use of which had been generously tendered. The police again, ever +vigilant and effective, had kept the cemetery and its approaches free +from the vast crowd until the procession had entered, and then secured +ample room, so that there was no crowding or confusion. + +"The Twenty-ninth Regiment was drawn up in line, with colors +immediately opposite the tomb. The company of the old members of the +Seventh, with reversed arms, stood at the right of the tomb. + +"As the procession moved up to the tomb the band played a dirge. The +Rev. W. A. Fiske, rector of Grace Church, read the beautiful and +impressive burial-service of the Episcopal Church, the bodies were +placed in the vault, the final prayer said, and then the door of the +tomb was closed. The old members of the Seventh fired three volleys +over the tomb, and all was over. The heroic dead sleep undisturbed. + +"So ended the grandest and the most mournful pageant that has passed +through the streets of Cleveland for many a year." + + +LIEUT.-COL. MERVIN CLARK. + +On a gloomy night in May, 1861, when the wind was howling in fitful +gusts, and the rain pouring down in merciless rapidity, the writer was +awakened by the stentorian voice of the adjutant in front of the tent, +followed by an order that Lieutenant ---- would report for guard-duty. +After wading half-knee deep in mud and water, narrowly escaping a cold +bath in an over-friendly ditch, I arrived at the headquarters of the +guard. Soon after my arrival, a boy reported to me for duty, as +sergeant of the guard; a position no less responsible than my own. At +first I felt that, on such a fearful night, I needed more than a boy to +assist me in the performance of my task. His form was fragile; his face +was smooth as that of a girl, and in the dim, shadowy light of a +camp-fire, struggling against the heavy rain, I took him to be about +fifteen years of age. We immediately entered into conversation, and +between admiration and surprise, the rain was forgotten, and the +moments sped so rapidly, that it was nearing the time to change the +guard. But my boy companion had forgotten nothing, and as the moment +arrived, he called in the relief. As he moved among those sturdy +warriors, it occurred to me that I had never before met a boy, who was +at the same time a man--a brave, prudent, reliable man. All night he +did his duty, and when we parted in the morning, I both loved and +admired him. This was my first meeting with Colonel Clark. + +Mervin Clark was a native of Ohio, having been born in the city of +Cleveland, in 1843. When but three years of age his mother died, and at +the age of nine his surviving parent, leaving him an orphan. He was now +taken, into the family of Henry W. Clark, an uncle, where he found a +home, and kind friends, during the remainder of his life. + +The flash of the last gun at Sumter had hardly died away, when he +enrolled himself as a private in Captain De Villiers' company, at the +same time declaring that he would, by no act of his, leave the service +of his country, until rebels in arms were met and subdued. How well he +kept that pledge, it is the office of this brief sketch to show. + +He left Camp Dennison as an orderly-sergeant, and during the trying +marches and skirmishes in Western Virginia, won a commission. Arriving +in the East, he was made a first-lieutenant. At the battle of +Winchester, he surprised and delighted every one who saw him. When the +bullets flew thickest, he stepped on to the brink of the hill, over +which our men were firing, and, with revolver in hand, took part in the +strife. His captain, seeing his danger, directed him to get behind a +tree which stood close by. He obeyed orders, but with his back to the +tree, and his face to the foe. At the battle of Cedar Mountain, he +commanded a company, and during that fearful day, led his men with +great bravery. At last, when the order was given to retreat, he mistook +it for an order to charge, and, with a dozen men, dashed at the double +line of a whole brigade of rebels. It was not until an officer of +authority conveyed the true order to him, that he would withdraw. He +now took part in all the battles in which his regiment was engaged in +the East, except Antietam. When the regiment left for the West, he +accompanied it, and soon after took part in the battles of Lookout +Mountain, Mission Ridge, Taylor's Ridge, and the series of engagements +taking place while with Sherman. Before his term of service expired, he +was made a captain, and commanded his company on its homeward march. He +was soon after mustered out with his company. He now sought quiet and +rest at his home, giving no evidence of an intention to again enter the +service. But before he had been at home many weeks, he surprised and +disappointed his friends by enlisting as a private in the regular army. +His fame, however, was too wide-spread in Ohio to suffer him to +re-enter the service as a private. Governor Brough had already selected +him for promotion, and when learning of his enlistment in the regular +service, procured an order for his discharge, and immediately appointed +him lieutenant-colonel of the One Hundred and Eighty-third Regiment, +then about to enter the field. He had now come of age, November 5th, +and on the 8th of November cast his first vote; on the 12th, he +received his commission; and on the 15th, he left for the front. His +regiment joined the army of General Thomas, on its retreat before the +rebel forces under Hood. On the 30th of November, the regiment was +engaged in the terrible battle of Franklin. During the engagement, the +regiment was ordered to charge the enemy's works. The color bearer was +soon shot down, when Clark seized the colors, and calling to his men, +"Who will follow me to retake these works?" mounted the rebel works, +and immediately fell, a minie ball having passed through his head. +Every effort was made to take his body from the field, but to no +purpose, and the "boy officer" was wrapped in his blanket, and buried +on the field of his fame, to be finally removed by careful hands, when +the earth had covered every vestige of the strife in its friendly +bosom. + + +LIEUTENANT HENRY ROBINSON. + +Henry Robinson was a native of Ohio, and entered the service as +first-lieutenant of Company G. He was always attentive to his duties, +and soon took a position among the first of his rank. He was constantly +with his command during its early service. He was in the skirmish at +Cross Lanes, where he won the respect and confidence of the entire +command by his gallant conduct. In this affair, he commanded Company G. +Arriving at Charleston, he was sent to Gauley Bridge, and soon after +was taken violently sick with a fever. He soon after died. + +In the death of Lieutenant Robinson, the regiment made one of its +greatest sacrifices. He was esteemed by every one for his kind and +courteous manners, as well as for his ability as a soldier. He had many +friends in the army, and at home, and I doubt very much if he had an +enemy in the world. His military career was short, but of such a +character that his friends can refer to it with pride. + + +LIEUTENANT E. S. QUAY. + +E. S. Quay entered the service as second-lieutenant of Company G. He +was with the regiment at Cross Lanes, where he gave promise of much +future usefulness as a soldier. He accompanied the regiment to Eastern +Virginia, where he was acting assistant adjutant-general to Colonel +Tyler. He took part in the battle of Winchester, where he did splendid +service. After Tyler's promotion to a general, he was made +adjutant-general, and assigned to his staff. In this capacity, he +served in the battle of Port Republic, where he gained new laurels. He +finally went to his home on account of ill-health, and after a time, +died of consumption. He was a good soldier. + + +LIEUTENANT JAMES P. BRISBINE. + +James P. Brisbine was a native of Trumbull County, Ohio. He was born in +1836. His parents dying while he was quite young, he went to live with +an uncle by the name of Applegate. He received a fair education, and +during the time, in part, maintaining himself by teaching school in +winter. In the spring of 1860, he commenced reading law in Warren, +Ohio, which he continued until the breaking out of the rebellion. +During his course of study, he gave promise of an able and useful +lawyer. When it became evident that the rebellion could not be +suppressed but by the force of arms, he deemed it his duty to leave the +study of the profession of his choice, and enroll himself among the +defenders of his country. This step he considered as a decided +sacrifice to him; for, by nature, he was in no way inclined to the life +of a soldier; he preferred the quiet life of a citizen, which is alone +to be found at home. It was with many misgivings that he finally placed +his name on the roll. In doing this, he was alone influenced by +patriotic motives. When urged to be a candidate for the position of +sergeant, he declined to have any thing to do with the matter; but was +elected, notwithstanding his indifference. + +At Camp Dennison, he was made orderly-sergeant. He took part in the +skirmish at Cross Lanes, where he made a good record as a soldier. Soon +after entering the field, his health failed him. The long marches often +taxed him beyond his strength; but he seldom complained. He was not in +the battle of Winchester on account of sickness, being disabled from +the effects of the severe march from Strasburg, which took place a +short time before. He expressed many regrets on account of his absence. +But he very soon had an opportunity to test his courage on the +battle-field. The engagement of Port Republic occurred shortly after. +He was in no respect second in gallantry to those who were in the +previous battle. He was ever at his post, doing his duty. During the +latter part of the battle, a captain, an intimate friend, fell, +severely wounded. He caught him in his arms, and laid him gently on the +ground, pillowing his head in his lap. The regiment moved off, and the +rebels advanced; but he refused to leave his friend. And he did not +leave until the captain was borne away by his comrades. He passed +through this battle without a scratch. He accompanied the regiment to +Alexandria, and from there to the front of Pope's army. He now took +part in the battle of Cedar Mountain. While cheering his men forward, +he was wounded. Two men took him in their arms, and started in search +of the hospital; but before they were off the field a bullet struck him +in the groin, severing the femoral artery. Said he, "Remember, boys, I +die for my country," and expired in their arms. Thus, a true and +devoted friend of his country died to preserve it from the attacks of +those who had been educated and supported by it from boyhood. + +As an officer, Lieutenant Brisbine was much esteemed; as a companion, +he was admired by every one. I doubt if he had an enemy in the army or +at home. He won his promotion in the field; and it was, therefore, a +much greater prize than a higher rank conferred by favor. He was +commissioned early in 1862. + + +LIEUTENANT CHARLES A. BROOKS. + +The subject of this sketch was born in Bristol, Trumbull County, in the +year 1843. He early developed those good qualities of head and heart +for which he was afterwards so distinguished. Being a good student, +attentive to his books, as he was to every other good purpose, he +acquired a good education, which would have enabled him to engage in +any occupation with credit to himself and profit to the community. + +He was desirous of entering the service when the war first began, but +was held back by domestic ties which bound him strongly to home. But on +the second call for troops, he could no longer remain out of the army; +and, hastening to a recruiting station, he enlisted in Company H, of +the Seventh Regiment. He arrived at Camp Dennison on the 30th of May, +and, with others, was mustered into the service. His tall, commanding +figure, connected with his sterling qualities of mind, pointed him out +as a proper person for promotion. He was, therefore made a corporal, +and, as soon as a vacancy occurred, a sergeant. His officers soon put +unlimited confidence in him. If a hazardous enterprise was to be +performed, he was deemed fitting to undertake it. While still a +sergeant, Creighton would often point him out as his future adjutant. +Finally, when Adjutant Shepherd was compelled to resign, on account of +growing ill health, Creighton procured his appointment as +first-lieutenant, and at once detailed him as his adjutant. He came to +this position entirely qualified; for, from the time he had been made +orderly of Company H, he transacted all of the business of the company. +He was in the affair at Cross Lanes, and all other skirmishes in which +the regiment was engaged, as well as the following battles: Port +Republic, Cedar Mountain, Dumfries, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. + +Near the close of the battle of Port Republic, he saw one of his old +officers lying, seriously wounded, so near the enemy's lines as to be +in danger of capture. Throwing down his gun, in company with Charles +Garrard, he braved the battle-fire, and brought his old comrade safely +from the field; thus, probably, saving his life. + +At the battle of Cedar Mountain he was slightly wounded, losing a +finger. + +In July he was sent to Ohio to bring forward the drafted men assigned +to the Seventh. While on his way from Columbus to his home in Bristol, +he met with a frightful accident resulting in death. While seated in an +omnibus, it was driven on to the railroad track, directly in front of a +train. In jumping out, he was knocked down by the cars and run over, +mangling both legs frightfully. He was taken to the New England House, +but nothing could be done for him, and he expired early the following +morning. The following is from the pen of one who knew him and prized +him:[6] + + [6] Colonel J. F. Asper. + +"The career of this young man has been short but brilliant. He has been +a soldier and a man; pure, noble-hearted, sympathetic, and always ready +for any duty. He has been brave, courageous, and trustworthy. He has +gone from us with no stain upon his honor, no spots upon his +escutcheon, but with his armor begrimed with the dust of many battles. +Although young in years, he had lived long, if you count the hardships +he had endured, the stirring and momentous events through which he had +passed, and in the transpiring of which he had been an actor, the +service he rendered his country, and humanity at large, and the good he +had done; if gauged by this standard, he had become more mature than +many men who have attained their threescore and ten years. So bright +an example cannot fail to have a good influence upon the young men of +the country. His violent death will bring his virtues prominently +before their minds, and cannot fail to make an impression. Let all be +exhorted to emulate his patriotism, his gallantry, his valor, his +promptness in the discharge of duty, his kindness of heart, suavity of +manner, his manly and soldier-like qualities; and if in civil life, +they will become manlier men--if in military life, they cannot fail to +become better and braver soldiers." + +He was buried near where he was born, on the banks of a rippling brook, +under the shade of beautiful trees, through the boughs of which will +sing an everlasting requiem fitting so brave and active a spirit. The +citizens of the vicinity turned out in mass to honor his memory with +their presence, and tearful eyes and expressive looks showed their +heartfelt sympathy for the afflicted mother, sister, brother, and +relatives; while a military organization from Warren gave him the +fitting escort, and fired three volleys over his grave. + +A grateful public will not forget this heroic and noble sacrifice. Let +an enduring monument be erected. Not of marble, which may crumble; but +let his manly deeds be engraved upon the tablets of their memory, and +let his virtues and sacrifices be interwoven with the affections, the +sympathies, and the lives of the people, so that while time lasts, and +all that is noble in human action, good in thought, and true in +conception and motive, shall be treasured as sacred memories, this hero +will not be forgotten, because kept fresh with the watering of many +tears. + + +LIEUTENANT JOSEPH H. ROSS. + +Joseph H. Ross entered the service as a private in Captain W. R. +Sterling's company. Soon after arriving in camp he was made a sergeant, +and finally orderly. He was engaged in all the marches and skirmishes +in Western Virginia, and at Cross Lanes fought like a veteran. He was +in the battle of Winchester, where he displayed such reckless bravery +as to attract the attention of the entire command. While the regiment +was partially concealed behind a ridge, within eighty yards of the +enemy, Ross was not content with remaining at such a distance, but +creeping over the hill, crawled forward on his hands and knees till he +was midway between the lines, and taking a position behind a rock, +swung his hat to those behind. None but Sergeant Whiting, of Company D, +had the courage to follow him. From behind this rock, the two heroes +kept up a constant fire on the enemy, hitting their man at every shot. + +Ross was now made a lieutenant, and assigned to Company C. He was in +the battle of Port Republic, where he fought with his usual bravery. At +the battle of Cedar Mountain he commanded Company C. During the entire +day he led his men with such certainty, that they slaughtered the enemy +fearfully. Night came, and he had not received a scratch, while the +thinned ranks testified how many had fallen around him. Soon after +dark, as if the regiment had not already suffered sufficiently, it was +ordered on picket. When about a mile out, it was fired upon from all +quarters, and Lieutenant Ross fell, mortally wounded. He died soon +after. His loss was deeply felt, both in the army and at home; for he +was a true soldier and friend. + + +LIEUTENANT FRANK JOHNSON. + +At this same bloody battle of Cedar Mountain, another youthful hero +fell, Frank Johnson, Company F. He had entered the service as a private +in John Man's company, and had risen through the different grades +of corporal and sergeant to be a lieutenant. He had toiled along +through the hard marches of the Seventh, struggling against a weak +constitution, which was every day being impaired by hardships and +exposure. He had fought nobly in the battles of Winchester and Port +Republic,--recognized by the authorities by giving him a commission; +and now, in the morning of his new life as a _leader_, he fell at the +head of his company. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Seventh Regiment, by George L. Wood + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44783 *** diff --git a/44783-h/44783-h.htm b/44783-h/44783-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b04de0b --- /dev/null +++ b/44783-h/44783-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8771 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> +<title>The Seventh Regiment: A Record, by George L. 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WOOD. +</p> + +<br> +<p class="ctrsmall"> +NEW YORK:<br> +PUBLISHED BY JAMES MILLER,<br> +(SUCCESSOR TO C. S. FRANCIS & CO.,)<br> +522 BROADWAY. +1865. +</p> + +<br> +<p class="ctrsmaller"> +Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, +</p> + +<p class="ctrsmaller"> +<span class="sc">By</span> JAMES MILLER, +</p> + +<p class="ctrsmaller"> +In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for +the Southern District of New York. +</p> +</div> + + +<hr class="med"> +<h2> +AUTHOR'S PREFACE. +</h2> + + +<p> +The following pages were written for the purpose of making a permanent +record of the facts within the author's knowledge relating to the +Seventh Ohio Regiment. The work was undertaken with the belief that the +doings and sufferings of the regiment were of sufficient magnitude and +importance to entitle it to a separate record. It has been extremely +difficult to obtain facts, on account of so large a portion of the +members still being in the service. The book is, therefore, written +principally from memory. If it serves to perpetuate in the minds of the +public the hardships, as well as long and faithful service, of this +gallant regiment, then the object of the author is accomplished. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="sc">Warren</span>, <i>May, 1865</i>. +</p> + + + + +<h2> +PREFACE. +</h2> + + +<p> +This preface to the history of the Seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry is +written at the request of the accomplished author of the book; but +without having read it, seen it, or heard its contents. I have, +however, such confidence in the ability, honesty, candor, good +judgment, and good taste of my old friend and "companion in arms," +that, for myself, I take his work on trust, and in cheerful faith +commend it to others. +</p> + +<p> +But was there a demand for another book on the war? Or were the doings +and sufferings of one regiment, among the thousands engaged in the war, +of such interest as to demand a separate history? These are questions +the author doubtless weighed carefully before he began to write; and +his answer to them is his book. I agree with him. This nation has a +deep, and will have a lasting, interest in the war. We have been making +history of unrivalled, perhaps of unequalled, importance to the world +during the past four years. We ourselves cannot comprehend the +magnitude of the work we have been doing, or, rather, that God has been +doing through us. The successful revolts of the Netherlanders against +the tyranny of Philip II.—of the Puritans against the tyranny of +Charles I.—of the republicans against the tyranny of George III., +dwindle to insignificance (important as they were) in comparison with +the successful revolt of the loyal, Union-loving, freedom-loving +citizens of this Republic against the tyranny of treason and slavery. +It was a great fight for a great cause, and God has given us a great +victory. There was not a nation on earth that was not interested in the +conflict. Ay, it concerned our common humanity. All this will be seen +more clearly and felt more deeply twenty, fifty, a hundred years hence +than now. But to transmit and perpetuate the fruits of this victory we +must have records of the war—many records, made from many different +points of view, and of many kinds, great and small. The history of this +war is not yet written, perhaps cannot be successfully written for many +years yet. And that it may one day be written as it should be, every +regiment that has a story to tell should tell it. These regimental +histories will be invaluable to the Bancroft who, fifty years hence, +shall write the history of this war. The world is only beginning to +understand the true character and vocation of history—<i>to make the +past live in the present</i>; not in great pageants, not in processions +of kings, princes, and mighty conquerors, but <i>in the common +every-day speech and deeds of the people</i>. When Merle d'Aubigné +would write the History of the Reformation, he wrote to Guizot for +counsel. Guizot encouraged him, and counselled him to proceed, but +added, "<i>Give us facts, incidents, details.</i>" This counsel chimed +with the purpose and genius of d'Aubigné, and the result was a history +that, though it discusses doctrines and themes commonly held to be dry +and uninteresting, has for old and young, and men of all classes, all +the charm of romance. In this, his "facts, incidents, details," equally +with his fascinating style, lies the charm of the histories of +Macaulay. But that historians may write such histories—that the +historian of this war may write such a history, the "facts, incidents, +details" must be on record. There is a demand, therefore, for another +book, for many other books, on the war. +</p> + +<p> +In addition to this, every regiment of the grand Army of the Union in +this war has its own history, of peculiar interest to its own especial +friends. And I have faith in what Dr. O. W. Holmes once said: "I would +not give a fig for a man every one of whose geese were not better than +any other man's swans." To us of the old Seventh "all our geese were +swans." Whether others believed in us or not, we had faith in ourselves +and in one another; we were a mutual admiration society of a thousand +and odd men. And the fact is, that, for some reason, but what I cannot +say, the Seventh Regiment, from the day it was mustered into service to +the day it was mustered out, was always the pride and pet of Ohio, of +Northern Ohio especially. In this respect it never had a rival. True, +it was a well-disciplined, gallant, fighting regiment; but so were many +others. True, it had brave and accomplished officers; but so had many +others. True, it had in the ranks men of refinement, education, and +high social position; but so had many others. I am at a loss to account +for it, but the fact nevertheless was as I have stated it; and as its +deeds corresponded with its renown, <i>its</i> doings, of all others, +demand a permanent record. And, if I am not mistaken, the reader of the +following pages who shall follow the Seventh from the day it was +mustered into service, in Cleveland, in 1861, to the day the pitiful +remnant of it, after tramping and fighting over almost half the Union, +were mustered out of service, in Cleveland, in 1864, will find in them +ample compensation for his time. +</p> + +<p class="ralign"> +F. T. B. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="sc">Chicago, Ill.</span>, <i>May, 1865</i>. +</p> + + + + +<h2> +CONTENTS. +</h2> + +<table summary="Contents"> +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"><a href="#I">CHAPTER I.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">The fall of Sumter. — Civil war +begun. — Preparations by the +South. — Nobility.</td> +<td class="pg">13</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"><a href="#II"> +CHAPTER II.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">The President's call for troops. — Organization of +the Seventh. — Its departure for Camp +Dennison. — Its reorganization and departure for the +field.</td> +<td class="pg">19</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"><a href="#III"> +CHAPTER III.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">The pursuit of General Wise. — Tyler +ordered to menace Gauley Bridge and threaten Wise's communications.</td> +<td class="pg">30</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"><a href="#IV"> +CHAPTER IV.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">The skirmish at Cross Lanes. — Gallant +conduct and final escape of the Seventh Regiment.</td> +<td class="pg">43</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"><a href="#V"> +CHAPTER V.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">Reflections on the skirmish at Cross +Lanes. — Battle of Carnifex Ferry.</td> +<td class="pg">56</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"><a href="#VI"> +CHAPTER VI.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">Charleston and the Kanawha Valley. — A double +murder. —  Colonel Tyler assumes command of the +post.</td> +<td class="pg">63</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"><a href="#VII"> +CHAPTER VII.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">Floyd establishes batteries on Cotton +Hill. — Driven off by the forces of General +Cox. — Benham's failure to intercept his +retreat. — His pursuit. — Skirmish +at McCoy's Mills. — His final escape.</td> +<td class="pg">70</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"><a href="#VIII"> +CHAPTER VIII.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">Reflections on the Institution of Slavery.</td> +<td class="pg">77</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"><a href="#IX"> +CHAPTER IX.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">The Seventh ordered to the +East. — Expedition to Blue's +Gap. — Skirmish on the Blooming pike.</td> +<td class="pg">83</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"><a href="#X"> +CHAPTER X.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">Gallantry of Lieutenant O'Brien. — Death of +General Lander. —  The Seventh escort his +remains. — The occupation of Winchester.</td> +<td class="pg">89</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"><a href="#XI"> +CHAPTER XI.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">The Reconnoissance to Strasburg. — Battle of +Winchester.  — Utter defeat and rout of Jackson's +Army.</td> +<td class="pg">94</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"><a href="#XII"> +CHAPTER XII.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">General Shields' anxiety for laurels. — Summing up +of the battle. — Losses in the Seventh.</td> +<td class="pg">104</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"><a href="#XIII"> +CHAPTER XIII.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">Pursuit of Jackson up the Valley. — March to +Fredericksburg, and return to Front Royal.</td> +<td class="pg">109</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"><a href="#XIV"> +CHAPTER XIV.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">The march on Waynesboro. — Two +brigades encounter Jackson at Port Republic, and after five hours' +fighting are compelled to fall back.</td> +<td class="pg">114</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"><a href="#XV"> +CHAPTER XV.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">Battle of Cedar Mountain. — Gallantry of the +regiment, and terrible loss.</td> +<td class="pg">123</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"><a href="#XVI"> +CHAPTER XVI.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">The regiment goes into camp at Alexandria, but is soon +ordered to the front. — Battle of Antietam.</td> +<td class="pg">134</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"><a href="#XVII"> +CHAPTER XVII.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">The march to Dumfries. — Skirmish with +Hampton's cavalry, in which they are badly defeated by a much inferior +force.</td> +<td class="pg">142</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"><a href="#XVIII"> +CHAPTER XVIII.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">The regiment ordered to the front. — Battle of +Chancellorsville.</td> +<td class="pg">150</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"><a href="#XIX"> +CHAPTER XIX.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">Accompanies the grand army into +Pennsylvania. — Battle of Gettysburg.</td> +<td class="pg">156</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"><a href="#XX"> +CHAPTER XX.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">After reaching the Rapidan it goes to Governor's Island. + — After its return it accompanies Hooker's corps to +the Western department.</td> +<td class="pg">160</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"> +<a href="#XXI">CHAPTER XXI.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">The Seventh joins Grant's army. — The +battles of Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, and Ringgold.</td> +<td class="pg">164</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"> +<a href="#XXII">CHAPTER XXII.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">The advance towards +Atlanta. — Skirmishing. — Homeward +march.  — Its reception. — Muster +out.</td> +<td class="pg">170</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"> +<a href="#sketches">BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">Brigadier-General E. B. Tyler.</td> +<td class="pg">185</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Brevet Brigadier-General J. S. Casement.</td> +<td class="pg">189</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Brigadier-General John W. Sprague.</td> +<td class="pg">192</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel McClelland.</td> +<td class="pg">193</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Major Frederick A. Seymour.</td> +<td class="pg">196</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Surgeon Francis Salter.</td> +<td class="pg">197</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">C. J. Bellows.</td> +<td class="pg">198</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">G. E. Denig.</td> +<td class="pg">198</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Frederick T. Brown, D.D.</td> +<td class="pg">199</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Chaplain D. C. Wright.</td> +<td class="pg">205</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Lieutenant-Colonel Giles W. Shurtliff.</td> +<td class="pg">206</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Colonel Arthur T. Wilcox.</td> +<td class="pg">207</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Lieutenant-Colonel James T. Sterling.</td> +<td class="pg">208</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Colonel Joel F. Asper.</td> +<td class="pg">210</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Major W. R. Sterling.</td> +<td class="pg">214</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Major E. J. Kreger.</td> +<td class="pg">215</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Captain J. B. Molyneaux.</td> +<td class="pg">216</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Captain Charles A. Weed.</td> +<td class="pg">219</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Captain Judson N. Cross.</td> +<td class="pg">220</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Captain John F. S. Chutte.</td> +<td class="pg">221</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Lieutenant Louis G. De Forest.</td> +<td class="pg">222</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Lieutenant Halbert B. Case.</td> +<td class="pg">224</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Lieutenant Henry Z. Eaton.</td> +<td class="pg">226</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Lieutenant A. H. Day.</td> +<td class="pg">227</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Lieutenant William D. Shepherd.</td> +<td class="pg">227</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Lieutenant E. Hudson Baker.</td> +<td class="pg">229</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Lieutenant Ralph Lockwood.</td> +<td class="pg">230</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">Lieutenant T. T. Sweeney.</td> +<td class="pg">230</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">Lieutenant Edward W. Fitch.</td> +<td class="pg">231</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">Lieutenant A. J. Williams.</td> +<td class="pg">231</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"> +<a href="#dead">OUR DEAD.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">Colonel William R. Creighton and Lieutenant-Colonel +Orrin J. Crane.</td> +<td class="pg">235</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Lieutenant-Colonel Mervin Clark.</td> +<td class="pg">291</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Lieutenant Henry Robinson.</td> +<td class="pg">295</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Lieutenant E. S. Quay.</td> +<td class="pg">296</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Lieutenant James P. Brisbine.</td> +<td class="pg">296</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Lieutenant Charles A. Brooks.</td> +<td class="pg">299</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Lieutenant Joseph H. Ross.</td> +<td class="pg">303</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Lieutenant Frank Johnson.</td> +<td class="pg">304</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<hr class="med"> + +<p class="booktitle"> +<span class="smallest">THE</span> +<br> +SEVENTH REGIMENT. +</p> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="I"> </a> +CHAPTER I. +<br><br> +<span class="smallsc"> +The fall of Sumter. — Civil war +begun. — Preparations by the +South. — Nobility. +</span> +</h2> + + +<p> +On a gloomy day in April, 1861, the telegraph flashed the news over the +country that Fort Sumter, a fortress belonging to the United States, +had been fired upon by a body of rebels, and thus inaugurating all the +horrors of civil war. +</p> + +<p> +By the great mass of people, civil war in our hitherto peaceful country +was entirely unlooked for. It burst so suddenly, that the entire +country was convulsed. The people had become so accustomed to clamor in +Congress and elsewhere, that they looked upon these threats to dissolve +the Union as mere bravado. +</p> + +<p> +After the first clash of arms at Fort Sumter, both North and South drew +back in alarm, as if in fear of the coming storm. The Southern people, +however, better prepared by education for scenes of strife and +bloodshed, received the news of the inauguration of civil war with less +alarm than did those of the North. The latter received it with a +fearful dignity, conscious of the power to crush the rebellion. The +South, with that arrogance that becomes her so well, expected to make +an easy conquest. Long-continued exercise of power in national matters, +had taught her to look upon the people of the Free States as her +inferiors, needing but a master-stroke for their subjugation,—willing +to lay down their arms, and seek safety in dishonor. They had taken us +for a race of cowards, because we had given way to their selfish +demands in our public councils, for the sake of peace. To be sure, we +had some daring spirits in Congress who met these bullying traitors, +making them feel the full force of Northern valor. But these were +isolated cases, and won the respect of the Southern people to the +persons of the actors rather than to the North as a people. They looked +upon these spirited examples as rather proving the fact of our want of +chivalry than otherwise, and therefore were not corrected in their +false estimate of a people whom they were about to meet on bloody +fields. +</p> + +<p> +One reason the South had for cherishing so mean an opinion of the North +as a military power, was on account of her having entirely neglected +the cultivation of the art of war. She had so few representatives in +the army and navy, that they were both almost entirely within the +control of the South. +</p> + +<p> +This control the latter had exercised for years, until her people came +to look upon themselves as the only persons in the country fit to bear +arms. They flattered themselves that they were the army, and we but a +rabble, to be dispersed beyond the hope of reorganization at the first +clash of arms. But in this strife, like all others where aristocratic +privilege comes in contact with the freedom of democracy, these +arrogant lords were to meet with a bitter disappointment; they were to +be made to respect the strong muscle and brave hearts of the so-styled +plebeian North. +</p> + +<p> +This avowed hostility of the South to the North had caused the former +to take a military direction, and forced her into a course of policy +which, however outrageous it might appear, was yet a matter of +necessity in her attempt at independence. The first step was to put +herself upon a war-footing. This she had been perfecting for several +years. The next was to get the Government so in her control as to make +it powerless in the incipient stages of the rebellion, that it might +gain sufficient strength to withstand the first shock, and thus gain +precedence. +</p> + +<p> +During a period of thirty years the South was gradually assuming a +war-footing. The militia was organized; independent companies were +formed with no warlike object, as was generally supposed, but really to +resist any encroachment of the Federal Government upon what the leaders +deemed the rights of the Southern people. The election of Abraham +Lincoln to the presidency was not the cause of civil war, but only its +apology. There had existed in the minds of the Southern people a desire +for an independent government, which would give the aristocracy a +firmer footing. In other words, the Federal Government was too +democratic. But it was necessary that these conspirators have some +apparently good reason for civil war; else the people who were at heart +right, would desert them at a time when they were most needed. The time +for the inauguration of civil war was therefore most fitly chosen. The +people were made to believe that the inauguration of President Lincoln +was a sufficient reason; and thus the dream of thirty years of these +disunionists was at last realized. The apology for the war had been +substituted for its cause, and the mass of the Southern people made +eager to meet those on bloody fields whom they were led to suppose were +about to deprive them of their rights and precipitate them into ruin. +</p> + +<p> +There is always a class styled the nobility in every nation. But the +true nobility in America is that class who have won that distinction by +noble deeds; who are great, not in titles and garters of nobility, but +in great achievements: not that class who base their right to that +title upon the number and character of human beings they may own. The +American people hold that distinction must be given to those by whom it +is merited; and that it cannot be the subject of monopoly. Each person, +however mean his birth, has the same right to enter the list for the +prize as he who was born of a higher rank. It is this freedom, which is +given to all, that has caused the Northern States to make such rapid +progress towards civilization and greatness; and it is the crippling of +this great principle that has cast a shadow over the enslaved South. +One great object of the leaders of the South had been to arrest the +rapid growth of the North, which, they were conscious, would one day +throw them into a helpless minority, for they could not themselves keep +pace with this rapid progress. Their ambition was to have capital +control labor, while the laboring classes were to be subservient to the +capitalists, and a sort of serfdom forced upon them. The wealthy class +were to live in luxury and indolence upon the unrequited toil of their +slaves. These facts, the leaders of the wicked rebellion, which they +were to inaugurate, were careful to conceal from their followers. This +was so well done, that the people of the South thought that these +imaginary wrongs of the Government, which had been pictured to them by +their masters, was the true reason of their attempt at separation from +the Union. It is hoped that the masses will soon see the difference +between serving a privileged class of aristocrats, and being members of +a free Republic. +</p> + + + + +<a name="II"> </a> +<h2> +CHAPTER II. +<br><br> +<span class="smallsc"> +The President's call for +troops. — Organization of the +Seventh. — Its departure for Camp +Dennison. — Its reorganization and departure for the +field.</span> +</h2> + + +<p> +On Monday, April 15, the President issued a call for 75,000 volunteers +for three months' service. The States responded immediately to this +call in double the number required. Never in the history of the world +was such a response witnessed to the call of any country. Men left +their implements of husbandry in the fields and rushed to the +recruiting stations. The executives of the States were pressed with +applications to raise companies and batteries under the call of the +President. +</p> + +<p> +Under this call thirteen regiments of infantry were assigned to Ohio. +In fifteen days 71,000 troops were offered to Governor Dennison to fill +the quota of the State. Camps were now established at different points +in the State, and troops ordered to rendezvous. Camp Taylor, at +Cleveland, Ohio, was organized on the 22d day of April, and by the 27th +contained several thousand troops. Of these, the city of Cleveland had +three companies of infantry; Trumbull County, one; Mahoning County, one +company of infantry and a section of artillery; Portage County, two; +Lake County, one; Lorain County, one; Huron County, one; while the city +of Toledo was represented by an entire regiment. The latter part of +April these detached companies were formed into a regiment, +constituting the Seventh Ohio. It contained the right material for a +fighting regiment. The majority of its members were of a floating +class, fond of adventure, while many were of the best class. The +regiment, as a whole, combined rare military talent. Many of its +officers and privates were skilled in tactics; and those who were not, +immediately set themselves about acquiring the necessary information, +rather by practice than study; for, with some exceptions, it was not a +scholarly regiment. The members took too much the character of +adventurers, to indulge in close study or profound thinking. But for +practical purposes, I doubt whether the regiment had a superior in the +State. It readily acquired discipline while on duty; but while off +duty, its members were not over-nice in their conduct, seldom indulging +in sports that were absolutely wrong, but, at the same time, gratifying +that propensity for fun which characterized them through their entire +career. It contained no drones; there was no companionship in it for +such. +</p> + +<p> +On a beautiful Sabbath in early May, as the morning, with its +freshness, was dispelling the damps and shadows of the night from city +and country, a regiment was seen passing down the streets of the city +of Cleveland. The sweet strains of music and the heavy tramp of the +soldiers alone broke the silence. There was nothing but this martial +bearing, which marked the carriage of the members of the regiment, to +distinguish them from the multitude which was hastening in the same +direction; for there were no arms and no uniforms. Each member was +dressed in his citizen's garb, and there was no attempt at military +evolutions. It was a simple march of determined men to the defence of +their country. Solemnity and a becoming absence of unnecessary +enthusiasm marked the occasion with sublimity and grandeur. The faces +of those brave men were saddened with the thought of the perils which +lay before them, and the endearments that were behind. They were +marching to perform a sacred trust, confided to them by their +countrymen. "This was the first march of the gallant Seventh." Arriving +at the depot of the Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati Railroad, it +took a train of cars for Camp Dennison, where it arrived in the +afternoon of the next day. Here they were totally unprepared to receive +it, no barracks having been erected, although one hundred men had been +sent there for that purpose several days previous. The ground was +perfectly saturated with water from a three days' rain, and the camp in +what had been a cornfield. But notwithstanding these difficulties, by +sunset the regiment had constructed barracks, and were comparatively +comfortable. In a few days the companies began to drill in earnest, and +their advancement was correspondingly rapid. +</p> + +<p> +On the 11th day of May the regiment was ordered to elect, by ballot, +three field-officers. The candidates for colonel were, E. B. Tyler, of +Ravenna; a former brigadier of militia, and James A. Garfield. The +former was elected. Garfield afterwards became colonel of the +Forty-second regiment, and, in command of a brigade, defeated Humphrey +Marshall in Kentucky, for which he was given a star. Captain W. R. +Creighton was elected lieutenant-colonel, and J. S. Casement, of +Painesville, major. +</p> + +<p> +On the 13th day of May, the President having issued a call for 42,032 +volunteers for three years, a meeting was held in the Seventh Regiment, +when all but one of the officers were in favor of organizing under this +call. The subject being brought before the regiment on the following +day, about three-fourths of the command enlisted for the three years' +service. Recruiting officers were sent home, and by the middle of June +the regiment was full. It was mustered into the three years' service on +the 19th and 20th of June. +</p> + +<p> +The companies were officered as follows: Company A, O. J. Crane, captain; +A. C. Burgess, first-lieutenant; D. A. Kimball, second-lieutenant. +Company B, James T. Sterling, captain; Joseph B. Molyneaux, +first-lieutenant; H. Z. Eaton, second-lieutenant. Company C, Giles W. +Shurtliff, captain; Judson N. Cross, first-lieutenant; E. Hudson Baker, +second-lieutenant. Company D, John N. Dyer, captain; Charles A. Weed, +first-lieutenant; A. J. Williams, second-lieutenant. Company E, John W. +Sprague, captain; Arthur T. Wilcox, first-lieutenant; Ralph Lockwood, +second-lieutenant. Company F, D. B. Clayton, captain; John B. Rouse, +first-lieutenant; A. C. Day, second-lieutenant. Company G, F. A. +Seymour, captain; W. H. Robinson, first-lieutenant; E. S. Quay, +second-lieutenant. Company H, Joel F. Asper, captain; Geo. L. Wood, +first-lieutenant; Halbert B. Case, second-lieutenant. Company I, W. R. +Sterling, captain; Samuel McClelland, first-lieutenant; E. F. Fitch, +second-lieutenant. Company K, John F. Schutte, captain; Oscar W. Sterl, +first-lieutenant; C. A. Nitchelm, second-lieutenant. H. K. Cushing was +appointed surgeon, and F. Salter assistant surgeon. John Morris was +appointed quartermaster, Louis G. De Forest, adjutant, and Rev. F. T. +Brown, chaplain. +</p> + +<p> +Camp Dennison was well calculated for a camp of instruction. It is +separated into two parts by the track of the Little Miami Railroad, +while the river of the same name flows along its border. It is situated +between sloping hills of some magnitude, in a slightly undulating +valley. In summer it is beautiful; in winter, gloomy. +</p> + +<p> +Soon after being mustered into service, the regiment was reviewed by +George B. McClellan, then major-general of Ohio militia, commanding the +Department of the Ohio. Immediately after, we were ordered to join his +forces in the field. +</p> + +<p> +Accordingly, on the afternoon of the 26th of June, the regiment took +the cars for Columbus, Ohio, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel +Creighton, Colonel Tyler having gone in advance. Arriving in Columbus +late at night, it was transferred to the Central Ohio Railroad, +arriving at Bell air in the afternoon of the succeeding day. It was +immediately ordered across the river to Benwood, a small station on the +Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, a few miles below Wheeling. Here the +regiment was, for the first time, supplied with ammunition. It encamped +on the common, after the pieces were loaded. Much fatigued by their +long ride, the men threw themselves upon the hard ground, and were soon +enjoying a sound sleep. +</p> + +<p> +In the mean time Major Casement was superintending the transportation +of the baggage and supplies across the river to a train of cars in +waiting. +</p> + +<p> +Here and there the dusky forms of men were seen grouped over the fires, +which were dimly burning, discussing the stories which were floating +about camp, with no apparent starting place, of ambuscades, masked +batteries, and other concealed horrors. +</p> + +<p> +Early on the morning of the 28th of June, three trains of cars were +slowly conveying the regiment into the wilds of Western Virginia, where +war, in its madness, was to confront it. +</p> + +<p> +It arrived at Grafton early in the afternoon, and taking the +Parkersburg branch of the railroad, it arrived at Clarksburg before the +close of the day, and encamped in the outskirts of the village. The +entire regiment occupied tents, which were looked upon with much more +favor than densely crowded barracks. +</p> + +<p> +While encamped at this place, a stand of colors was presented to the +regiment, the gift of the Turners, a society of Germans in Cleveland. +</p> + +<p> +Near thirty miles from the village of Clarksburg is the small hamlet of +Weston, then a notorious haunt for rebels. In the place was a bank, in +which the deposits, to the amount of about thirty thousand dollars, +still remained. The authorities were desirous of procuring this +treasure. The undertaking was intrusted to the Seventh. It was proposed +to surprise the town early in the morning, before any one was astir to +give the alarm. +</p> + +<p> +In the afternoon of the last day of June, the regiment wound its way +through the village, across the river, on to what is called the +Clarksburg pike, leading to Weston. The clay was intensely hot, and the +men entirely unused to marching. At sunset but little distance had been +made, and all were much fatigued, but still the gallant band pressed +onward. Weary and footsore, it moved on till daylight, when some +considerable distance intervened between it and the village. Men were +beginning to fall out by the wayside, unable to proceed further. At +this unfortunate moment the river appeared in view, which makes a bend +to the road, about a mile from Weston. On the opposite side of the road +was a gradual slope of cultivated land, with here and there a clump of +trees. From behind one of these a man was seen to emerge, and being +taken for one of the enemy's scouts, the command was given to "fire," +when several pieces were discharged, without injury, however, to the +object of their aim. A double-quick was now ordered, when the men, +unable to proceed with their knapsacks, scattered them along the road. +</p> + +<p> +Arriving at the town the right wing made a detour to the left, while +the left wing made a similar one to right, deploying as they went. In +this manner the village was entirely surrounded. The first intimation +the citizens had of the presence of the military was the playing of the +"Star Spangled Banner" by the band stationed in the park. A guard was +placed over the bank, and a member of the regiment detailed to look to +the business. +</p> + +<p> +The Union citizens were overjoyed at the presence of the Federal +forces. They prepared a breakfast for the entire regiment, and other +charitable acts, which attested their devotion to the Union cause. The +regiment encamped on the bank of the river, near the cemetery. +</p> + +<p> +During the first days of our stay at Weston many arrests were made of +disloyal citizens, a few of whom were sent to Columbus, Ohio, to await +the action of the Federal Government. +</p> + +<p> +At this time a small force, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Pond, +of the Seventeenth Ohio Volunteers, was besieged at Glenville, a small +village on the banks of the Little Kanawha, by a superior force of +rebels, under command of Major Patton, assisted by Captain O. Jennings +Wise. Companies H and B were sent to his relief. After a fatiguing +march of two days and one night they opened communication with Colonel +Pond, the rebels withdrawing at their approach. +</p> + +<p> +Six more companies of the regiment arrived at Glenville on the +following day, Colonel Tyler being fearful that the first detachment +might meet with a reverse. Several other regiments arrived about the +same time, but left soon after. +</p> + +<p> +During the stay of the regiment at this place, many scouting +expeditions were sent out; on which occasions many dangers and +hardships were encountered. +</p> + +<p> +Just before our arrival at Glenville, a Union lady rode in the saddle +through the rebel camp, with the stars and stripes in one hand and a +pistol in the other, while she defied the rebel host. Being pursued, +she sought refuge in our camp, and finally accompanied the advance of +our forces to her home, with the proud satisfaction of seeing the old +banner once more planted on her native soil. During the progress of the +war she had suffered many perils. At one time she went to visit her +brother, who was concealed in the woods, for the purpose of giving him +food, when she was challenged by a rebel picket. She wheeled her horse, +and, by hard riding, escaped, the rebel bullets passing harmlessly over +her head. +</p> + +<p> +Private Adams, of Company C, was wounded while on picket, being the +first casualty in the regiment produced by the enemy. About the same +time Captain Shurtliff had a horse shot from under him, while riding in +the vicinity of the camp, and within the Federal lines. +</p> + +<p> +Some difficulty was experienced at this place in procuring supplies. +The regiment was fed for some time on corn meal and fresh beef. A mill, +however, was soon set in operation, and supplies of flour and meal were +furnished in abundance. +</p> + + + + +<a name="III"> </a> +<h2> +CHAPTER III. +<br><br> +<span class="smallsc"> +The pursuit of General Wise. — Tyler +ordered to menace Gauley Bridge and threaten Wise's +communications.</span> +</h2> + + +<p> +On the 11th day of July General Rosecrans, by order of General +McClellan, marched his brigade eight miles through a mountain-path to +the rear of the rebel force, occupying the crest of Rich Mountain, +commanded by Colonel Pegram. This movement resulted in the fighting of +the battle of that name. The rebels were completely defeated, and made +a precipitate retreat towards Carrick's Ford, where, on the 13th, they +were again routed, with the loss of their general. +</p> + +<p> +In the mean time the rebel General Wise had occupied the Kanawha +Valley, with a few regular troops and a considerable force of militia. +</p> + +<p> +The advance of this force extended as far down the river as Buffalo, +while numerous incursions were made by the rebel cavalry in the +vicinity of Point Pleasant, a village situated at the junction of the +Kanawha with the Ohio River. +</p> + +<p> +To oppose this force General Cox was sent with a brigade of Ohio +troops. His main force passed up the river in boats, while a sufficient +force was kept on each flank to prevent surprise. +</p> + +<p> +General Wise gradually retired at the advance of this force until, +arriving on the banks of Scarey Creek, he threw up some breastworks, +and awaited the approach of the Union troops. +</p> + +<p> +While these movements were being executed in the valley, Colonel Tyler +was ordered to advance with a brigade by the way of Sutton, to menace +Gauley Bridge, and threaten Wise's communications. +</p> + +<p> +On the 22d of July the Seventh Regiment moved out of Glenville, on what +is called the Braxton road, towards Bulltown, where it was to be joined +by Colonel Tyler with the Seventeenth Ohio, two companies of the First +Virginia, with Captain Mack's battery, United States Artillery, and +Captain Snyder's section of twelve-pounders, making a force of fifteen +hundred. +</p> + +<p> +We arrived at Bulltown in the evening of the next day, meeting with no +resistance from the rebels, who were scattered in small parties through +this entire region of country. We had expected to meet with opposition +at the ford, on the Little Kanawha, some twenty miles from Glenville, +but with the exception of a small band of guerillas, who were very +careful to keep the river between ourselves and them, we saw no rebels. +</p> + +<p> +It was not until the evening of the 25th that we broke camp, and then +to cross a range of hills only, into the valley of the Elk, where we +remained until the 27th of July. +</p> + +<p> +At this camp we learned of a rebel force at Flat Woods, distant six +miles, in the direction of Sutton. On the 27th we moved out, in a heavy +rain, to attack their camp, but at our approach they fled in dismay. +</p> + +<p> +We remained at Flat Woods till the following Sunday, when we moved on +to Sutton, a distance of ten miles. +</p> + +<p> +Sutton, the county-seat of Braxton County, is situated at the base of a +high range of hills, on the right bank of the Elk River. The river is +crossed by a suspension bridge. Back of the village, and about two +hundred feet above it, is a fine table land, with a range of hills for +a back ground. This table land was to be approached only by a narrow +defile fronting the river, which was easily defended; for a battery +properly planted would command every approach for a mile around; +besides, the enemy would have to cross the Elk River under fire. Nature +had made the position a strong one. +</p> + +<p> +The command, now swelled to about two thousand, encamped on this table +land, with the two companies of the First Virginia, and Mack's Battery +thrown forward across the river, to keep open the road in front. +</p> + +<p> +The command at once proceeded to erect fortifications, Captain Asper +being sent to the front of Captain Mack's position on the Summerville +pike, with instructions to select a proper position, after which to +erect a fortification commanding the road. Finding a point where the +road makes a sharp angle, the captain constructed the work, which, +although of no account during the stay of the regiment at Sutton, +afterwards proved a good point of defence, when the wreak garrison +stationed there was attacked. +</p> + +<p> +The second day of August, the regiment left Sutton, and crossing the +river again advanced towards Gauley Bridge. The day was one of the +hottest, which, added to the hilly nature of the country, made the +advance difficult. Both officers and men fell out of the line, unable +to proceed, being so oppressed by the heat, and wearied by the +difficult state of the roads. At night we had crossed but one range of +hills, and found ourselves in the valley of the Little Birch River, at +the foot of Birch Mountain. The following morning we again took up the +line of march, reaching the Great Birch River at early twilight, having +made but a few miles during the day. +</p> + +<p> +In the afternoon we were joined by our chaplain, who, when we were at +Glenville, volunteered to make his way across the country with a +message to General Cox. And now, after an absence of more than two +weeks, on a perilous message, he was again with us, as fresh and +light-hearted as when he left for his daring enterprise. He joined us +by the way of Gauley Bridge, having been the first to make the trip. +Alone, through a country infested by murderous bands of guerrillas and +outlaws, he traveled more than a hundred and fifty miles. Before such +deeds of individual heroism, all but the grandeur and magnitude of +large battles fade into obscurity. In such single exploits there is a +stern, silent daring, that obscures the maddened bravery of a +battle-field. +</p> + +<p> +From our chaplain we learned that General Wise had left the valley, +burning the bridge over the Gauley River, after crossing his command. +He had become frightened and fled. And thus the rebel general, who at +Charleston had said: "By G—, the stars and stripes shall never wave +over this town again;" on the Wednesday following exclaimed: "The enemy +are on us, why the h—ll don't you pack my wagon," and, taking counsel +of his fears, fled in dismay. +</p> + +<p> +But let us return to the Seventh Regiment, which we left at its camp +near the Big Birch River. +</p> + +<p> +On the morning of August 6, we broke camp, and taking a mountain road +arrived at Summerville on the following Wednesday, and encamped on +Addison Hill. +</p> + +<p> +The country about Summerville is beautiful in the extreme. It is +slightly undulating, having more the appearance of an open country, or +in some respects a prairie, than of a valley between two very high +ridges. It is sufficiently rolling to hide the mountains which separate +the Gauley from the Elk River. +</p> + +<p> +At our former camp we were surrounded by very high, precipitous +mountains, with large rocks projecting from their summits. After +passing over Powell Mountain, we came into the valley of the Gauley, +and after marching a short distance, entirely lost sight of these +mountains, over whose rocky crests we had, but a short time before, +pursued our slow and weary way. +</p> + +<p> +The contrast between this camp and the one at Big Birch was striking. +Here we were reminded of Ohio, our native State, the one which had more +attractions for us than any other; while at the latter camp we were +constantly reminded of some lonely country, described only by the +novelist, and inhabited alone by robbers and outlaws. And yet, upon +this mountain region, nature was lavish with her charms. The scenery is +grand beyond description. Peak after peak rises, one above another, +until the tired eye arrows dim in its endeavor to trace the outlines of +the distant mountain, and seeks the beautiful valley, wherein to +restore its lost vision. +</p> + +<p> +From the top of Powell's Mountain, the beauty of the scenery is lost +sight of in its magnificence. This mountain is the highest in Western +Virginia, and commands the finest view. The first time I ascended it +was on horseback. When near the top we struck into a bridle path, and, +urging our horses into a gallop, we were soon at the base of the +projecting rocks. Below, a lovely panorama was open to our view. The +side of the mountain, as well as the distant valley, seemed covered +with a carpet of green, for both were densely wooded, and in the +distance the foliage seemed to blend with the earth. We could see far +away into the smaller valleys, and from them trace the ravines, in +which the small rivulets make their merry descent from the side of the +mountain. +</p> + +<p> +At last, tired of gazing at this beautiful spot in nature's varied +scenery, we again urged our horses forward, and, after partially +winding around the mountain, we were at the very summit of this mass of +earth, rocks, and herbage. We now obtained a view of the opposite side +of the mountain from which we had ascended, where beauty expands into +sublimity. We could plainly trace the course of the Kanawha River, as +on its banks the mountains rise higher, and are more abrupt, while +beyond they lessen into hills, and the hills waste into a valley. On +the side of the distant hills we could see an occasional farm, with its +fields of golden grain ready for the harvest. On the very top of this +mountain was living a family. +</p> + +<p> +Notwithstanding their great height, these mountains seemed fertile; and +the farms are apparently as good as those in the valley. Springs +frequently make their way out of the rocks by the roadside. Water is +abundant in any part of these mountains, and springs more common than +in the valley. +</p> + +<p> +Near the top of Powell's Mountain, in a kind of basin, is a very fine +farm. It is well watered, and well timbered, and quite fertile. The +owner lives and flourishes in this quiet home, and, I should say, is +quite as happy as if in a city. He has become accustomed to the +loneliness of his mountain retreat. The wild scenery has become +familiar—its very wildness has a charm. He is content with two visits +each year to the distant settlement. It is literally true that "home is +where the heart is." +</p> + +<p> +Although this country was well supplied with provisions of every kind, +we were not allowed to appropriate any of it. The property of rebels +was considered sacred. The authorities were confident of putting down +the rebellion through clemency, and, therefore, were both ready and +willing to put our soldiers upon half rations, rather than incur the +ill-will of traitors. When prisoners were captured, they had what was +called an oath of allegiance administered to them, when they were +liberated, to again rob and plunder. Occasionally we captured a horse, +but it was invariably given up, on the owner taking this oath of +allegiance. In view of this moderate method of dealing with them, they +risked nothing in prowling about our lines, for they knew that they had +only to take this oath to procure an honorable discharge; while the +soldiers of the Federal army, if they stole but an onion to make a +piece of hard bread palatable, were subjected to the severest +punishments. Experience has finally taught us, that hard blows alone +will conquer a rebellion, and that to reduce a foe, starvation is quite +as good as the bayonet. +</p> + +<p> +I do not know that any one was criminal in this early practice of +clemency towards rebels; it seemed rather to be a sort of national +weakness, growing out of the universal opinion that the rebellion was, +at the greatest, but a weak effort of a deluded people; and that +kindness, connected with a show of strength, rather than its exercise, +would induce them to return to their former allegiance. It seems to be, +at this day, of little consequence why this practice prevailed, or who +was responsible for it, as it has almost entirely ceased. +</p> + +<p> +On the 11th day of August, Captain John W. Sprague was given a leave of +absence, to go to his home, and was intrusted with dispatches to +General Rosecrans. He was to proceed by the way of Sutton and +Clarksburg. When near the Big Birch River he was suddenly confronted by +a band of rebel cavalry, belonging to Colonel Croghan's Second Georgia +Regiment, who was not far from the spot, with his entire command. The +mail carrier and two dragoons, who accompanied Captain Sprague, +attempted to make their escape; only one, however, was successful; the +mail carrier receiving a mortal wound in the attempt. +</p> + +<p> +Securing their prisoners, the rebel cavalry crossed the Gauley River, +and were soon out of reach of the Federal forces. An unsuccessful +attempt was made to rescue the captors; but infantry, of course, could +make but a fruitless attempt at recapturing prisoners in the hands of +well-mounted cavalry. +</p> + +<p> +This occurrence spread a gloom over the entire camp. One of the best +officers of the regiment had been captured almost within our lines, and +borne away to a Southern prison, to endure the privations of prison +life, with the fond anticipation of seeing home and friends blighted +and withered. To be lost to one's country, within the prison walls of +her enemies, when the arm of every true patriot is needed in her +defence, is a sad fate. +</p> + +<p> +I am not inclined to blame any one for this unfortunate occurrence, +though it may occur to the mind of the reader that good generalship +would require that the commandant of a body of troops, in the heart of +an enemy's country, should know whether or not the cavalry of that +enemy was hanging on his flank and rear. And then, again, it may be +urged with truth that the command was almost entirely without cavalry, +though it was furnished with one company, as well as one of Snake +Hunters, as they were called. The legitimate business in the army of +the latter was scouting. They had no other duty to perform. +</p> + +<p> +But however these facts may be, yet true it is that a regiment of the +enemy's regular cavalry was not only hanging on the flank of our +column, but occupied our rear—thus severing our communications, and +cutting off our supplies. +</p> + +<p> +On the 15th day of August we again moved forward, after first sending a +company down to Hugh's Ferry. We proceeded through a densely wooded +country, abounding in laurel and pau-pau, arriving at Cross Lanes, two +and a half miles from Carnifex Ferry, on the Gauley River, in time to +prepare our camp before night. +</p> + +<p> +Soon after our arrival Captain Schutte, of Company K, was on picket +duty at Carnifex Ferry. During the day the captain, for some unknown +reason, conceived the idea of a scout across the river. Selecting +fourteen of his men, he crossed over to the opposite bank, and, taking +the main road, immediately pushed into the country. The march was made, +apparently, without any apprehension of the presence of an enemy; at +least, no steps appear to have been taken to prevent a surprise. All +went well, however, until the party had made a distance of several +miles, when, the first intimation they had of danger, they were fired +upon by a party of cavalry, concealed in an adjacent thicket, and all +but four of the party killed or wounded—Captain Schutte being wounded +mortally. The survivors conveyed him to an old building, and, at his +own request, left him. He expired soon after, and was buried on the +spot by the rebels. The four men fled towards the river, and, being +pursued, took to the woods. One, being separated from his companions, +was pursued to the bank of the river, and was only saved by throwing +himself into the stream from the projecting rocks. He concealed his +body under water, keeping sufficient of his face above to sustain life. +He could plainly distinguish the conversation of the rebels, and knew +by it that they were in search of him. Here he remained during the day, +and at night dragged himself upon the rocks. The next morning, tired +and hungry, he floated himself down stream by clinging to the almost +perpendicular rocks, until, arriving opposite a house, he was hailed by +a woman, to whom he made known his condition. She immediately +unfastened a canoe, and, paddling directly across the river to where he +was lying, half famished in the water, helped him over its sides, and +conveyed him to the other shore. Before they landed, however, the +rebels discovered them, and gave the order to "halt." It not being +obeyed, they fired, the bullets sinking harmlessly into the water. In a +moment the two were lost to view in the pau-pau, which lined the river +bank. The woman guided the soldier to her home, where she cared for him +during a short illness, which succeeded his escape. When he was +sufficiently recovered to join his command, he found the regiment had +abandoned Cross Lanes, which had been occupied by the rebel forces. He +returned to his former retreat, where he was concealed until the day of +the disaster to the Seventh, when, taking advantage of the confusion +into which the rebel forces were thrown during the affair, he escaped +towards Gauley Bridge, which place he reached in safety the following +day. +</p> + + + + +<a name="IV"> </a> +<h2> +CHAPTER IV. +<br><br> +<span class="smallsc"> +The skirmish at Cross +Lanes. — Gallant conduct and final escape of the +Seventh Regiment.</span> +</h2> + + +<p> +The occupation of Cross Lanes was considered by the authorities of the +gravest importance. It was contiguous to three fords on the Gauley +River, which, when possessed by the Federal forces, was a perfect +protection to the left of the army occupying Gauley Bridge. Carnifex +Ferry was immediately south two and one-half miles. There was a road +leading from the vicinity of Gauley Bridge, on the south bank of the +Gauley River, which unites with the Sunday road, crossing the river at +this ferry. This road afforded the enemy a means of gaining the left of +our forces, at Gauley Bridge. The occupation of Cross Lanes, therefore, +by the enemy, would sever the communication between our forces at the +above point, and the main army under Rosecrans, occupying the country +from the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, along Cheat Mountain. +</p> + +<p> +Carnifex Ferry, was a point easily defended against a much superior +force. Indeed, it had so many natural defences, that it elicited +exclamations of surprise from men accustomed to the selection of places +for defence. The current of the river was rapid, while the abrupt rocks +on its banks afforded secure hiding places for a considerable body of +troops. It was quite impossible to bring artillery to bear in such a +manner on the position as to interfere materially with troops concealed +there. It seems to be the opinion of most persons familiar with the +place, that it would be quite impossible to dislodge a body of troops +properly posted on the north bank of the river at this ferry, provided +a stubborn resistance was made. +</p> + +<p> +It was for the purpose of preventing the crossing of the enemy at this +point that the force of Colonel Tyler was ordered to Cross Lanes. By +keeping pickets well on the line of the river, to watch any advance of +the enemy, the regiment was entirely safe at its camp, from which it +was comparatively easy to re-enforce any portion of the line. But for +some reason, the commanding officer failed to visit the ferry in +person, until the afternoon of the day on which a peremptory order was +received to report with his command at Gauley Bridge. Hitherto he had +been entirely unable to give correct information, as to the probability +of his being able to hold the ferry. He was ordered to abandon the +position, because his dispatches were such, that they created an +uneasiness in the minds of Generals Rosecrans and Cox, as to the +propriety of trusting him to hold so important a position. Here was the +fatal mistake. A lesser error had already been made, in withdrawing all +the forces from Tyler, other than the Seventh. Had these forces +remained, the position would probably not have been abandoned, as all +would have felt secure. When the order to withdraw was received, the +commanding officer regretted it as much as any one. But the mischief +was already done; the order was imperative. On that evening, Monday, +the regiment left Cross Lanes at 11 o'clock <span class="smc">P.M.</span>, and the +next day, by noon, was at Twenty Mile Creek, some eight miles from +Gauley Bridge. +</p> + +<p> +On the Wednesday morning following, Colonel Tyler reported in person to +General Cox. In the mean time, the general having become satisfied that +Colonel Tyler could be trusted to hold Cross Lanes, and being confident +that the contemplated attack of the enemy on Gauley Bridge had been +abandoned, ordered him to return as soon as the troops were rested, +expecting him to start back, at least the next morning. But Tyler did +not move. On Friday afternoon, General Cox, on learning that he had not +moved, was much excited, and said to an officer present— +</p> + +<p> +"He must move; he must move at once; it is all important that Cross +Lanes be held, and Floyd be kept on the other side of the river; ride +back to camp and tell him from me, to move early in the morning, <i>and +with speed, to secure the position</i>." +</p> + +<p> +The order was delivered in nearly the same language as given, but +notwithstanding its directness, he did not move till noon on Saturday, +and then made a distance of only fourteen miles, over good roads, +encamping at the foot of Panther Mountain, after having fallen back +from Peter's Creek, on learning of the presence of the enemy. +</p> + +<p> +On arriving in camp, a dispatch was sent to General Cox, representing +to him that the enemy were in force in front, and asking instructions. +On Sunday morning at about 3 o'clock, a courier arrived with an order +from General Cox, substantially as follows: The force in your front +cannot be as large as you estimate it. Advance cautiously, feeling your +way; if the enemy is too strong, fall back, if not, occupy Cross Lanes +at once, as it is of the utmost importance. +</p> + +<p> +About nine o'clock Sunday morning, August 25th, the regiment moved +towards Cross Lanes, casting lots as to which company should be left in +charge of the baggage. It fell upon Company F, which was temporarily +commanded by Lieutenant Kimball. The entire day was occupied in +reaching Cross Lanes. It was not until dark of that day that the +regiment went into camp. +</p> + +<p> +In the days' advance some slight skirmishing occurred with the enemy's +cavalry videttes, but beyond these few horsemen no enemy was +encountered, the regiment encamping in apparent security near the +church, after having driven away a cavalry picket of the enemy. +</p> + +<p> +Companies were sent out on picket, as follows: Company A, on the road +leading to Summerville; Company K, on the road leading to Carnifex +Ferry; Company C, on the road leading in the opposite direction, while +Company E was sent on a diagonal road leading to a ferry some distance +below Carnifex. The balance of the command remained near headquarters, +which were established in the church. +</p> + +<p> +Each company on picket was divided into three reliefs, with +instructions to be vigilant. +</p> + +<p> +The silence of the enemy, together with his neglect to attack, created +the impression that he had withdrawn his forces to the other side of +the river, fearing that this small force was but the advance of a +well-equipped army. But these theories were destined to fade into +sadder realities, as the shadows of night melted into morning. +</p> + +<p> +Nothing occurred during the night to disturb the general repose. A +short time before day fires were kindled, and those who were up had +pieces of meat on sticks, which they were roasting. Some had obtained +green corn during the night, which they were also roasting. Before day +had fairly dawned, the command was almost entirely astir. As it became +sufficiently light to distinguish objects at a considerable distance, +several musket shots were heard in the direction of the river, followed +in quick succession by others. It soon became evident that a determined +attack was being made on Company K. About this time a column of rebels +was seen advancing from the river road, across the fields, towards +Company A's position on the Summerville road. Arriving in the vicinity +of this road, the column halted, formed in line of battle, at the same +time swinging round its right to the Summerville road, driving Company +A back to the point where the roads cross. In the mean time Companies +B, D, G, H, and I were ordered to the support of Company K; but on +arriving at the cross roads, Company K was seen falling back in some +confusion, before a superior force, therefore they remained at that +point. Meanwhile a heavy fire was opened from a dense wood opposite the +church, to resist which Company K, having been joined by Companies A +and C, which had advanced to its support on the ferry road, took +position on a hill midway between this belt of timber and the crossing +of the roads. From this point these companies delivered several +effective volleys, which soon drove the rebels from their position. +Taking advantage of this partial check of the enemy, Captain Crane +ordered a charge, which resulted in piercing the lines, and the capture +of a stand of rebel colors. The three companies now escaped, with a +loss, however, of Captain Shurtliff, Lieutenant Wilcox, and Lieutenant +Cross, taken prisoners, the latter being severely wounded in the arm. +</p> + +<p> +During this time the rebel column from the direction of Summerville had +advanced so as to lap over the road opposite the Ferry road, exposing +the companies occupying the road in front of the church to an +enfilading fire, at the same time being exposed to a severe fire from +the front, from a column of infantry and cavalry coming up the Ferry +road. These companies were now ordered to rally on a hill near the +church. In executing this movement Companies D and H passed through a +corn field, exposed to a deadly fire from almost every direction. Soon +after reaching this field Captain Dyer, Company D, fell dead, pierced +in the heart by a rifle bullet. Lieutenant Weed succeeded him in +command. On reaching the hill these companies attempted to rally, but +being in an open field, combated by a much superior and partially +hidden foe, were compelled to fall back to a piece of woods skirting +the road. The balance of the command, other than those who had followed +the fortunes of Captain Crane, now joined them, and soon organized for +a systematic retreat. +</p> + +<p> +Captain Crane and his followers, after putting some distance between +themselves and the enemy, crossed the Gauley road, and hastened to the +mountains, where they would be entirely free from the attacks of +cavalry, and where they would have a chance, at least, of partially +defending themselves against attack from the rebel infantry. +</p> + +<p> +Arriving in the mountains, they took a direction as nearly as possible +towards Gauley Bridge, where they arrived in safety, meeting with +little of adventure on the way. Thus a small body of Federals had +fought their way out from the very grasp of the enemy, and, eluding +pursuit, traversed a mountain range, with no guide, over rocks and deep +gorges, arriving safely within the Union lines. Their arrival, however, +did little to cheer the hearts of those in camp, for they were a small +body compared with those still unheard from. +</p> + +<p> +The news of the sad disaster to the Seventh had already been sent to +the friends at home; universal gloom had settled over the camp, and the +prospect looked dark for saving the organization, even, of a regiment +which was the pride of the Western Reserve. +</p> + +<p> +A flag of truce was sent to Cross Lanes to ascertain, if possible, the +fate of those left behind. Chaplain Brown and Surgeon Cushing were +selected to undertake this enterprise. They, however, returned without +having accomplished their object. +</p> + +<p> +One dark, rainy night, as if nature was in sympathy with the feelings +of those in camp, the band commenced playing a patriotic air in front +of the colonel's quarters, accompanied with cheers. I knew that this +indicated good news. Hastening to the spot I learned that a dispatch +had just arrived from Charleston with the comforting news that four +hundred of the regiment had arrived in safety on the Elk River, twelve +miles from the above place. But let us accompany these four hundred +heroes in their march from the battlefield. +</p> + +<p> +Organizing the troops, Major Casement, being first in rank, Colonels +Tyler and Creighton having already escaped, assumed command. Losing no +time the detachment immediately took up the line of march. Avoiding all +highways, and keeping well in the timber, they moved on for some time, +when, considering themselves out of immediate danger, they ventured out +to the road, to find themselves only three miles from the place of +starting. It was now concluded that it was not advisable to attempt +reaching Gauley Bridge, as the enemy would be likely to interpose a +considerable body of troops between them and that point. It was +considered to be more practicable to make in the direction of Elk +River, and by this means reach Charleston. This course being adopted, +the command crossed the road and took to the mountains. Very soon after +a party of rebel cavalry came dashing down as if in pursuit, barely +missing the object of their search. +</p> + +<p> +The command, aided by a compass, took their course over the mountains +in a direction which they supposed would ultimately lead them to the +banks of the Elk River. +</p> + +<p> +During the afternoon Captain W. R. Sterling procured a guide, who +conducted them by narrow pathways, in which they were compelled to +march single file, towards a house which was situated at some distance +on the mountain. Night setting in, before reaching the spot, without +even a star visible to light them on the way, the column halted, and +passed the word back for a candle. The line extended for nearly half a +mile, and it was not until the last company, H, had been reached, that +one was procured. On its arriving at the front, it was discovered that +the head of the column had arrived on the brink of a deep chasm, into +which it would be sure death to plunge. One step more, and the unlucky +leader of the line would have been precipitated into the dreadful +crater. But these daring adventurers were spared the misfortune of such +an accident. +</p> + +<p> +Two hours of valuable time having been lost, the line now pressed +forward, each man holding on to the man preceding him. About midnight +the house was reached, and the weary band laid themselves down; not, +however, to sleep, for the only provisions they had had during the day +was roasted corn, for in the morning they were attacked while preparing +breakfast, which they were compelled to abandon. The woman of the house +was kept cooking the good old-fashioned corn-dodger, and by morning the +command was tolerably well fed, and ready for the toilsome as well as +hazardous march of the succeeding day. +</p> + +<p> +As the day again dawned, the line moved on. Procuring another guide +during the day, they arrived, in early evening, on the banks of the Elk +River, without any adventure worth relating. Before halting they forded +the river, which was, at the time, waist deep. Company B was sent out +on picket, under command of Lieutenant Molyneaux. The instructions were +to establish a chain of pickets, at short intervals, along the road +leading up the river. In case of an attack, the outer picket to fire +and fall back on the next, when another volley was to be delivered, and +so continue until the camp should be finally reached. The position +selected for the camp was at the base of a range of abrupt hills, which +were not accessible to cavalry, while many difficulties would present +themselves in the way of a force of infantry advancing to an attack +from that direction. The river ran at the very foot of these hills, too +deep to cross in the face of an enemy, and sufficiently wide to present +a decided obstacle in the way of an attacking party on the opposite +shore. The command felt, therefore, comparatively safe in this retreat. +As it afterwards proved, they were not mistaken; for it was ascertained +that, at the time the pickets were being stationed, seven hundred rebel +cavalry were a short distance up the river; indeed, they were so near +that a party of rebel officers heard the lieutenant give the +instructions to the outer picket. One of these officers, when +afterwards taken prisoner, being questioned by Molyneaux as to their +reason for not attacking, remarked that it would have been quite +impossible for them to reach the camp in case his instructions to the +picket should be carried out; and he and his brother-officers agreed in +the opinion, that the orders would be carried out; for no body of +troops, after having made so stubborn a resistance as at Cross Lanes, +would afterwards lose all by a want of vigilance or a disobedience of +orders. True it is that they did not attack, but suffered the camp to +remain quiet, and the command to move off at leisure in the morning. +</p> + +<p> +A dispatch being sent to Charleston, on the following day a +provision-train met them twelve miles from the latter place. In due +time the command arrived at Charleston, weary and foot-sore from their +long and toilsome march. +</p> + + + + +<a name="V"> </a> +<h2> +CHAPTER V. +<br><br> +<span class="smallsc"> +Reflections on the Skirmish at Cross +Lanes. — Battle of Carnifex Ferry.</span> +</h2> + + +<p> +The occasion for the affair at Cross Lanes was brought about by a +series of blunders. The first blunder was committed by the officer who +ordered all the forces, with the exception of the Seventh Ohio, from a +position which enabled them to guard the ferries of the Gauley. If it +was deemed important to hold these ferries at all, it was certainly +advisable to retain a sufficient force to guard against surprise and +capture. But then, what would be considered a sufficient force? To +settle the question, it is necessary to take into account the size of +the army occupying the country, as well as the size of that of the +enemy. Neither army was large, and both were much scattered, scarcely +more than a brigade occupying one position. A regiment, therefore, may +perhaps be considered a sufficient force for an outpost. +</p> + +<p> +The army in Western Virginia was at no time sufficiently large to +accomplish any thing, under the best generalship, beyond simply holding +the country, and preventing invasion; and it was only for the want of a +moderately sized army that the rebel general failed to drive back our +forces. But the rebel authorities had no men to spare for the purpose +of winning barren victories; so the armies of Western Virginia were +left to watch each other, with an occasional skirmish. +</p> + +<p> +At the time the affair at Cross Lanes took place, our army occupied a +front of many miles, as did also the rebel army. It was quite +impossible to collect, in case of emergency, more than about six +thousand men. But, however it may be as to the first point, it is +clear, secondly, that the commanding officer at Cross Lanes committed +an error in not making a personal inspection of the grounds, adjacent +to the camp, immediately on his arrival. It is always considered highly +important that those in command should know precisely the ground their +commands are expected to defend, and not to trust to chance or a battle +to develop favorable points of defence or attack. By reason of this +want of knowledge, rumors as to the presence of the enemy in force +created uneasiness and alarm, which was entirely natural, although +without cause. While in this state of feeling, the commanding officer +sent dispatches to Generals Rosecrans and Cox, which created the +impression that their author was not to be trusted to hold these +ferries. Those generals attributed this alarm to a want of personal +courage, they being well informed as to the strength of the position at +Cross Lanes. It was not, however, a want of courage, but simply a +failure on his part to understand the real strength of the position, by +reason of not having visited it in person. +</p> + +<p> +When the order to withdraw came, Colonel Tyler regretted it as much as +any one; for he had that day examined the position, and knew that he +could hold it against any force the enemy could bring to the attack. +But this knowledge was obtained too late: lying on his table was a +positive order to withdraw. Reason said hold the position; military +law, which was higher in authority, said abandon it; so the place was +evacuated. The third and irremediable error was committed in not +returning to Cross Lanes when ordered. If that had been done, the +consequences resulting from the withdrawal would have been entirely +checked. The order to return was given on Wednesday, with the +expectation that it would be acted upon as soon as Thursday morning; +but it was not until the Saturday noon following that the command +started. There was no reason for this delay. The regiment had marched +but eighteen miles in as many days, and could, without any injustice +being done it, have returned the day the order was given. Even had the +command moved as late as Friday, with dispatch, it would not have been +too late, as it seems to be well settled that Floyd did not cross over +any considerable body of troops until Saturday. +</p> + +<p> +In the way of criticism on this affair, it has been said that, had a +spirited dash been made on the enemy on Saturday evening, the rebels +could have been driven across the river. I think this claim subject to +many doubts. In my opinion a reconnoissance should have been made that +night, instead of falling back to Panther Mountain. This would have +resulted in the discovery of their position and force, and thus given +the command an opportunity to take advantage of the night to withdraw. +Had this been done, the ferry might possibly have been reached. +</p> + +<p> +The result of these blunders was the fighting of two engagements, with +a heavy Federal loss, while the enemy suffered less. One of these, +Carnifex Ferry, has been dignified with the name of battle, while the +other is considered but an affair. +</p> + +<p> +After the repulse of the Seventh, Floyd intrenched himself on the bank +of the river, near the ferry. About two weeks later, "Rosecrans came +down with his legions," comprising about four thousand men. Approaching +the vicinity of the ferry, he threw forward General Benham's brigade, +with no design of bringing on an engagement, however; but the line +unwittingly advanced to within a short distance of the enemy's works, +when a sheet of flame shot along their entire line. The unequal contest +lasted five hours, when the Union forces withdrew, hungry and +supperless, with a loss of fourteen killed, and one hundred and four +wounded. The loss of the enemy was about twenty wounded. +</p> + +<p> +The troops awoke in the morning to find the rebel works abandoned. Thus +ended the battle of Carnifex Ferry, no less a blunder than Cross Lanes. +</p> + +<p> +General Benham was censured for having attacked their main works, when +he was ordered to make a reconnoissance only. But when it is understood +that the commanding general sent up reinforcements, the blame, if there +was any, attached itself to him. +</p> + +<p> +The loss to the Seventh, at Cross Lanes, was one killed, twenty +wounded, and ninety-six taken prisoners. Several of these were +recaptured at Carnifex Ferry, when Rosecrans attacked Floyd. Among the +number was Lieutenant Cross, Company C. The loss to the enemy has never +been known. There is no doubt, however, that it was considerable. They +attacked in large numbers, confident of an easy victory, therefore very +little caution attended their movements. But instead of a flag of +truce, accompanied by an offer to surrender, they were met by a shower +of bullets, which must have told fearfully on their heavy columns. The +fact that they were thrown into such confusion as to permit our men to +escape, shows that they were too severely punished to follow up their +victory. +</p> + +<p> +The force of Floyd has been variously estimated: some having placed it +as high as six thousand; while, in his official report of the +engagement at Carnifex Ferry, Floyd himself places it at only two +thousand. His force was probably four thousand, of all arms, with ten +pieces of artillery. This entire force must have been in the vicinity +at the time of the affair at Cross Lanes. +</p> + +<p> +The following is an unofficial list of the loss in the regiment: +</p> + +<p> +<i>Killed.</i>—Captain John N. Dyer. +</p> + +<p> +<i>Wounded.</i>—Corporal Frank Dutton, N. J. Holly, Thomas Shepley, +Thomas J. Scoville, Sergeant H. G. Orton, Joseph W. Collins, B. +Yeakins, Lewis J. Jones, Thomas S. Curran, William Meriman, B. F. Gill, +William S. Reed, David M. Daily, Robert J. Furguson, James R. Greer, E. +J. Kreiger, Sergeant James Grebe, John W. Doll, William W. Ritiche, +Fred. W. Steinbauer. +</p> + +<p> +The following is a list of those taken prisoners: +</p> + +<p> +Sergeant W. W. Parmeter, Sergeant E. R. Stiles, Sergeant G. C. C. +Ketchum, Sergeant F. F. Wilcoxson, Sergeant Edward Bohn, Sergeant A. +Kolman, Sergeant E. W. Morey, Corporal C. F. Mack, Corporal J. G. +Turner, Corporal T. A. Mohler, Corporal S. M. Cole, Corporal E. C. +Palmer, Corporal Charles Bersett, Privates Albert Osborn, Charles +Weber, Alex. Parker, R. Bears, L. Warren, A. M. Halbert, H. Keiser, S. +B. Kingsbury, E. Kennedy, A. Hubbell, C. C. Quinn, C. Burrows, E. +Evans, W. H. Scott, C. H. Howard, Charles Carrol, T. B. Myers, George +Sweet, John Massa, J. F. Curtis, W. E. Bartlett, W. Cherry, John Bark, +John Hann, L. M. Blakesly, Z. Fox, J. Butler, F. S. Stillwell, G. W. +Downing, G. C. Newton, William Biggs, Mathew Merkle, J. Sheloy, H. +Huntoon, G. W. Williams, George C. Robinson, H. Wessenbock, J. C. +Rafferty, J. Snyder, W. W. Wheeler, C. Haskell, J. W. Finch, James +Johnson, H. Johnson, L. C. Logue, A. Scoville, P. Wildson, F. Boole, +John Miller, P. Jenkins, John Smith, J. Wolf, Theodore Burt, A. +Schwartz, G. A. Akerman, Charles Sahl, G. W. Thompson, F. Williams, M. +H. Whaley, Z. Larkins, T. Hebbig, Z. A. Fuig, F. A. Noble, J. Hettlick, +J. McCabe, L. Beles, E. R. Smith, F. A. Rubicon, John Smith, E. Smith, +H. Smith, D. N. K. Hubbard, H. Wood, Charles Ottinger, R. S. Beel, N. +D. Claghorn, H. Thompson, N. Freidenburg, M. Levullen, S. Gill, fifer. +</p> + + + + +<a name="VI"> </a> +<h2> +CHAPTER VI. +<br><br> +<span class="smallsc"> +Charleston and the Kanawha +Valley. — A double murder. — Colonel +Tyler assumes command of the post.</span> +</h2> + + +<p> +After the engagement at Cross Lanes, five companies of the regiment +remained at Gauley Bridge, while the balance were at Charleston. The +latter part was commanded by Colonel Guthrie, of the First Kentucky +Regiment. At this time it was the seat of justice for Kanawha County, +and contained upwards of three thousand inhabitants. It is a neat +village, situated on the north bank of the Kanawha River, at a point +where the Elk empties into it. There is a fine suspension bridge over +the latter stream, which the rebels undertook to destroy in their +flight. Charleston is three hundred and eight miles west of Richmond, +and forty-six miles east of the Ohio River. It was named after Charles +Clendenin, an early settler, and an owner of the soil on which it is +built. +</p> + +<p> +The Valley of the Kanawha is famous for its beautiful scenery. The +mountains on either side of the river sometimes rise to the height of +five hundred feet and more, and are liberally supplied with rich beds +of minerals and coal. At their base is located the famous Kanawha salt +works. They commence near Charleston, and extend for about fifteen +miles above it. Before the rebellion they gave employment to nearly six +thousand persons. The following extract will be of interest: +</p> + +<p> +"It is a curious fact, and worthy of philosophical inquiry, that while +the salt water is obtained by boring to a depth of from three hundred +to five hundred feet below the bed of the Kanawha, it invariably rises +to a level with the river. When the latter is swollen by rains, or the +redundant waters of its tributaries, the saline fluid, inclosed in +suitable "gums" on the shore, ascends like the mercury in its tube, and +only falls when the river returns to its wonted channel. How this +mysterious correspondence is produced is a problem which remains to be +solved. Theories and speculations I have heard on the subject, but none +seem to me to be precisely consonant with the principles of science." +</p> + +<p> +Before the presence of the army interrupted the manufacture of salt, +these works yielded about two million bushels annually, and are capable +of yielding much more with an increase of capital. +</p> + +<p> +While Colonel Guthrie commanded the post at Charleston a most +disgraceful tragedy was enacted. An order had been issued that no +liquors of any description should be sold or given to the soldiers or +employees of the Government. During the time this order was in force, a +party of drunken rowdies from the First Kentucky Regiment stopped at +the grocery of an old man, and asked for some beer; when refused, they +demanded it. Being again refused they threatened violence, and +proceeded to put their threats into force, when a son of the old man, +occupying a room above, was brought to the window by the old +gentleman's cries for help, and, seeing his father thus set upon by a +mob, from the repeated assaults of which his life was endangered, fired +a revolver, the contents of which took effect on one of the assaulting +party, producing instant death. He was at once arrested and lodged in +jail, around which a strong guard was placed to prevent his being taken +out and hung. +</p> + +<p> +That night Colonel Guthrie, in a speech made to the excited throng, +which had collected around the jail, said, in substance, that the life +of the criminal should be taken if he had to do it with his own hand. +Similar remarks were made by others, among whom was a captain who +afterwards sat as judge-advocate on the trial. +</p> + +<p> +On the morning after the affair the members constituting the +court-martial assembled "in all the pomp and pride of glorious war," +decorated with all the paraphernalia belonging to an officer's +equipment, but to declare a prejudged opinion. +</p> + +<p> +During the trial the prisoner was as immovable as a statue, evincing in +his appearance a want of hope, as well as a preparation for the worst. +He made no defence. The announcement of the sentence of death produced +no change; he preserved a stoical appearance to the last. +</p> + +<p> +When the hour of execution arrived the prisoner was brought to the +gallows in a heavy wagon, guarded by a double file of soldiers, who +were laughing as gayly as if on their way to some place of amusement. +During the afternoon the sun had shone through a cloudless sky; but +just before this terrible scene was enacted, the heavens were draped +with heavy clouds, and the rain fell in torrents, casting a gloom on +all around. The wretched victim ascended the gallows with a firm tread, +and addressed a few words, in a fearless tone, to those assembled +around. As the rope was being adjusted around his neck, the crowd +involuntarily gave way, showing that, although they had been clamorous +for the enactment of the scene, yet when the time came, they had not +the nerve to witness the death-struggle of their victim. There was but +little movement of the body after the fatal drop fell. This last scene +was sickening in the extreme, and all of us, moved by a common impulse, +turned and walked away in silence, our hearts being too full for +utterance. +</p> + +<p> +This is one more testimony against the safety and justice of the death +penalty. +</p> + +<p> +On the 19th day of October, Colonel Tyler took command of the post at +Charleston. He issued the following proclamation: +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> +"In assuming the command of this post, one of my principal objects will +be to maintain order, and to see that the rights of persons and property +have the protection guaranteed by general orders from department +headquarters. To the faithful execution of this my entire energies, +together with the force at my command, will be given. To this end I have +established Camp Warren, where officers and soldiers are required to be +at all times, except when on duty which calls them away, or on leave of +absence, which will only be granted at headquarters. Commissioned and +non-commissioned officers will be held personally responsible for any +violation of this order by members of their companies. Drunkenness, +marauding, boisterous and unsoldierlike conduct are strictly forbidden. +To prevent this, the sale of intoxicating liquors, directly or +indirectly, to those in the service of the United States, is positively +and emphatically prohibited; and I call upon the citizens to aid me in +detecting those who violate this order. The quiet of your town, the +protection of your property—in fact your lives and the lives of +your families—depend much upon the sobriety of our officers and +men; therefore, it becomes your duty as well as your interest to lend me +your aid in the execution of this order. +</p> + +<p class="sig"> +"<span class="sc">E. B. Tyler</span>, +<br> +"Colonel Commanding Post." +</p> +</div> + +<p> +Under the rule of Colonel Tyler the post at Charleston assumed order +and quiet. Under the former commandant drunkenness was common, while +marauding parties were free to patrol the streets on their errands of +mischief. The property of the citizens was at the mercy of these gangs, +while their lives were not unfrequently placed in jeopardy. The people, +therefore, were much gratified with the change of rule. Camps were now +established at some distance from the village, while no soldiers were +permitted to visit it unless they first obtained a pass from +headquarters, which, being established in town, was difficult to +procure. A provost-marshal was appointed, with a proper guard subject +to his orders. This guard was instructed to arrest all soldiers found +in the streets of the village without a proper pass, as well as those +committing any depredations on the property or persons of the citizens, +with or without a pass. +</p> + +<p> +About the middle of October the companies at Gauley Bridge came down to +Charleston. During their stay on the Gauley they performed much duty at +the outposts; several times being under the enemy's fire, though none +were injured. The detachment suffered severe loss, however, from +sickness. Lieutenant Robinson was among the number; he died of fever; +his loss was greatly felt by the regiment. When the news of his death +reached his company, they wept as for a brother. +</p> + + + + +<a name="VII"> </a> +<h2> +CHAPTER VII. +<br><br> +<span class="smallsc"> +Floyd establishes batteries on Cotton +Hill. — Driven off by the forces of general +Cox. — Benham's failure to intercept his +retreat. — His pursuit. — Skirmish +at McCoy's Mills. — His final escape.</span> +</h2> + + +<p> +Near the last of October General Floyd very suddenly appeared on Cotton +Hill, an abrupt eminence lying between the Kanawha and New rivers, at +the junction of the Gauley with the latter stream, which form the +Kanawha. The enemy immediately commenced shelling Gauley Bridge. +General Cox, who was some distance up New River, near the headquarters +of General Rosecrans, was ordered to proceed to Gauley Bridge and to +assume direction of affairs. He was also ordered to direct General +Benham, who was expected to arrive very soon with a brigade, to cross +his forces, at night, over the Kanawha River, and to carry the summit +of Cotton Hill by storm. A picket post had already been established +across the river by direction of General Cox. Benham protested against +the movement, and refused to execute the order received through General +Cox, but proceeded to confer, by telegraph, with General Rosecrans, +receiving in reply the same orders. Benham still protesting against +attempting to execute what he termed so hazardous a movement, at his +own request was permitted to pass down the river to the mouth of Loop +Creek, from whence he was to undertake a flank movement. Colonel Smith +joined General Benham in his protest, declaring the attempt to storm +these batteries as sheer madness. It is significant that General Cox +afterwards stormed and carried Cotton Hill, with barely a regiment of +troops. +</p> + +<p> +Floyd had constructed a line of fortifications at Dickerson's, on the +road to Fayetteville, which was his only avenue of retreat in case of +disaster. +</p> + +<p> +Soon after General Benham arrived opposite Loop Creek, he was joined by +five hundred selected men from the Seventh from Charleston. This +detachment of the regiment, having arrived on boats, was ordered to +disembark, and take up their position at the mouth of Loop Creek. The +following morning it moved up the creek some eight or ten miles, where +it took up its position at an old log barn. Lieutenant-Colonel +Creighton being in command, Colonel Tyler having remained at +Charleston, was instructed to picket the roads well in his front, as +well as the mountains lying between; and also to scout the country in +the vicinity, for the purpose of finding out the position of the camp +of the enemy, as well as his numbers. The latter part of the order was +well executed, and there can be no doubt that Benham was possessed of +accurate information of the enemy. +</p> + +<p> +After the third day of our occupation of this position we were joined +by a detachment of the Forty-fourth Ohio, under command of Major +Mitchell, and the Thirty-seventh Ohio, under command of Colonel +Seibert. Soon after, all of this force, with the exception of eight +companies of the Thirty-seventh Regiment, was ordered forward under +command of Lieutenant-Colonel Creighton. +</p> + +<p> +Proceeding for some distance on a road leading to the front, we struck +into a bridle path, and after passing through a wood, began ascending a +mountain. Single file, the command clambered up its steep and rocky +sides. Arriving on its summit we could see the heads of a line of men +extending for a mile beneath us. Descending the opposite side with some +difficulty, we marched some distance from the foot of the mountain, and +found ourselves at Cassady's Mills, a point from which the command was +to debouch on to the Fayetteville pike, should Floyd attempt a retreat. +But the movement, on the part of Benham, was so tardily executed, that +the balance of the command never arrived at this point; but instead, +the forces, other than the Seventh Ohio, were ordered away that night; +leaving a detachment of five hundred men, with no support, within three +miles of a well-equipped army of the enemy. We were so near that we +could plainly hear the bugle calls in Floyd's camp. Had Benham's entire +command been at that point, the retreat of the rebel army could have +been intercepted. Previous to this, Floyd had been driven back to his +intrenchments at Dickerson's, and all that was necessary to his +capture, was an attack on his rear on the part of Benham. But he either +feared to make the attack, or was too slow in doing it. The former is +probably true. That night the rebel general passed within three miles +of our position, and escaped with his entire army, together with the +artillery and baggage. +</p> + +<p> +On the 12th of November, Benham arrived at Cotton Hill, but to find the +forces of General Cox in possession. On the afternoon of the 13th, he +pushed on after Floyd's retreating army, arriving within four miles of +Fayetteville, at about eleven o'clock <span class="smc">P.M.</span> Here, evidences of the +hurried retreat of Floyd began to multiply. The fences were lined with +hides, but recently stripped from the carcasses of cattle, while in +many places the beef itself was left suspended from the fence. +</p> + +<p> +On the morning of the 4th, we pushed through Fayetteville before day, +in the pursuit. Floyd had but a few hours the start. Six miles ahead we +took breakfast, consisting of two army crackers to each man. After +which we pushed rapidly on. About noon, our skirmishers, the Thirteenth +Ohio, overtook the rear-guard of the enemy, when sharp firing occurred, +which continued during an advance of several miles, resulting in the +mortal wounding of St. George Croghan, colonel of the Second Georgia +cavalry, and formerly of the United States Army. The colonel was taken +to a house close by and left, where he was found in a dying condition +by our men. Having been a class-mate of his at West Point, Benham +stopped and passed a few words with him. When recognizing the general, +Croghan appeared to be much affected; and is reported to have said that +he knew he was fighting in a bad cause, and that he had been driven +into the army much against his wishes, for he was still attached to the +old flag. He soon after expired. +</p> + +<p> +While this conversation was being carried on between officers so +differently circumstanced, the Union forces had pressed the rebels so +closely, that the latter, to save their baggage train, were compelled +to make a stand. The Seventh Ohio was ordered to act as reserve, but +when the action grew hot, was ordered forward, with instructions to +send out two companies as skirmishers, which was immediately done; +Companies A and K being sent forward. +</p> + +<p> +About this time two pieces of rifled cannon were brought to bear on the +rebels, when they turned and fled, leaving six killed on the field. We +were so near, that we plainly heard the retreat sounded by their +bugles. From this time their retreat became a rout. In their flight, +they cast away every thing that would encumber their retreat. We were +now on the banks of a stream, over whose rocky cliffs numerous wagons, +with their contents, had been hurled. It was supposed, that several +pieces of cannon shared the same fate. +</p> + +<p> +The pursuit was continued with much vigor, until a late hour in the +evening, when General Schenck, having but just arrived at the front, +ordered it discontinued. This was the second error of the campaign. +Schenck, with his fresh troops, instead of ordering the pursuit to +cease, should have pressed with vigor. The enemy encamped but a short +distance in our front, on Three-mile Mountain. This position could have +been carried with ease, with the combined forces of Schenck and Benham, +with comparatively little loss. But the pursuit being the result of a +blunder, resulted in a blunder. +</p> + +<p> +A little after midnight the command fell back, arriving at Fayetteville +in the afternoon of the same day, after a fatiguing march over the +worst road that could be imagined, and with no provisions other than +beef with a very little salt. The Seventh marched to its old camp, four +miles out on the road to Cotton Hill. The officers and men lay on the +hill-side that night, exposed to a violent snow storm, with no other +covering than their blankets, except the snowy sheet that nature spread +over them during the long hours of night. +</p> + +<p> +During the night a demonstration was made on a drove of pigs which were +lurking close by; and it would not be strange if the soldiers could +relate tales of their descent on poultry yards and bee-hives. True it +is, that some first-class honey found its way into camp. +</p> + +<p> +The next day, marching over Cotton Hill, we arrived at our camp near +the mouth of Loop Creek. Embarking on the following day, we arrived at +Charleston on the 18th, after an absence of fourteen days. +</p> + + + + +<a name="VIII"> </a> +<h2> +CHAPTER VIII. +<br><br> +<span class="smallsc"> +Reflections on the Institution of Slavery.</span> +</h2> + + +<p> +While at Charleston, we were deeply impressed with the profound +interest the slaves were taking in passing events. That down-trodden +race, who had for years suffered every injustice at the hands of their +white oppressors, were now the first to assist the Federal commanders. +Through darkness and storm, they carried information, and acted as +scouts and guides on occasions when it would try the heart and nerve of +their white companions. +</p> + +<p> +From my own observation, I am confident that the slaves of the South, +were just as well informed with regard to their relation to their +masters, as we were. They were, from the very first, impressed with the +idea that this rebellion was to work some great change in their +condition. They were watching, with great interest, every movement of +troops, and were continually asking questions, as to the disposition to +be made of them; thus evincing an interest in military affairs, of +which their masters little dreamed. It is well enough to talk of the +deep devotion of slaves to their masters; but the latter have found ere +this, I trust, that this devotion on which they have relied, has not +prevented them from cutting their throats, when it was in the line of +their duty, and by means of which they could gain their freedom. An +instance of this great devotion on the part of a slave for his master, +was related to me while at Charleston. +</p> + +<p> +A Mr. R—— owned a colored servant by the name of John; he +enjoyed the unlimited confidence of his master, who was in the habit of +trusting him as he would one of his children. This confidence was +reciprocated by a like devotion on the part of the slave for his master. +One day a neighbor told Mr. R—— that his John was about to +run away, as he had repeated conversations with his servants on the +subject. Mr. R—— flew into a passion, feeling very much +grieved that his neighbor should think, for a moment, that his John, +whom he had raised from infancy, should prove so ungrateful as to leave +him. The only attention he paid to this timely warning was, to put still +greater trust in his servant. One day, shortly after this, John was +missing; not only this, he had been so ungrateful as to take his wife +and three children. The last heard from faithful John was, that he was +safe in Ohio. Now Mr. R—— is a very good man and a +Christian, and treat his servants very kindly; but that God-given +principle, a desire for personal liberty, actuated him in connection +with other men of fairer complexion. John, undoubtedly, left his old +home and master with regret, but home and friendship, when compared with +freedom, were nothing. +</p> + +<p> +I was once told by a colored man, in whom the utmost confidence could +be placed, that there has been for years an association among the +negroes, which extends throughout the South, the purpose of which was +one day to liberate themselves from slavery. He said that hundreds of +slaves who, apparently, were as innocent as ignorant, were tolerably +well educated, and were secretly bending every energy to bring about an +insurrection, which should end in their being released from bondage. +When asked if the field-hands were members of this association, he said +they were; and although possessing less information than those living +in the cities and villages, yet they were aware of what was going on; +and after their work was done at night, they often met in their cabins, +and talked over the prospect before them. He also said, that in the +larger cities of the South this association had regular meetings and +officers; that they awaited only the proper time, when a tragedy would +be enacted all over the South, that would astonish the world. +</p> + +<p> +When we reflect that revolts have been common in the South, and that +they have been attended by partial success, it does not require a great +stretch of the imagination to believe that this association did really +exist. The fact of the intense feeling of hatred cherished by the +people of the South against Northern fanatics, as they were termed, who +came amongst them, is strong evidence in favor of the existence of some +organized course of policy among the negroes. The outward appearance of +the slave is usually gentle in the extreme, although his inward +feelings may be agitated to such a degree, that in a white man they +would burst forth in the wildest passion. Therefore, this hatred of the +South to the opponents of slavery must be traced to a fear of some +secret organization, the object of which lay deeply buried in the +reticent minds of the slaves. The Southern mind was more deeply +agitated, from the fact of the want of this outward emotion on the part +of their slaves; for had this strong desire for liberty, which was +awakened in them, burst out in wild enthusiasm, it would have been +readily checked by the severe punishment of individuals; but it was +this secret working of this deep-laid desire for freedom that troubled +them. The most guilty were, to all outward appearance, the most +innocent. +</p> + +<p> +While the Federal army occupied the country, the slaves were much less +guarded in what they said. One of these slaves, an old man, was passing +a tent one day, when a soldier said to him that he belonged to Jeff. +Davis. With a knowing look, he replied: "I did; but now, massa, I +belong to Uncle Sam." A colored woman, who had been a slave for years +(as she is very old), came into our room one day, and taking up a +paper, asked if we wanted it. Some one said to her, as she was about +leaving the room, that she had better not be seen with that paper, as +it was not the sort her mistress admired. Said she, "I know what missus +likes; I can take care of it;" and slipping it under her apron she left +the room. That slave could read and write, and yet her master knew +nothing of it. So it is with many others. It may be asked how they +acquire this knowledge. They gain it in a great many ways. Many of them +learn of their masters' children, with whom house-servants spend a +great deal of time. Having acquired a slight knowledge, it stimulates +them to greater exertion. They obtain scraps of newspapers and parts of +books, and thus gain a great deal of information entirely unobserved. +The slave knows how to keep secrets; consequently, any scheme that is +on foot is seldom discovered. Few persons, at the commencement of the +rebellion, had the least conception of the vast resources and power of +the slave population of the South. And it was not until they had fed +and clothed the Southern armies for two years, and by this means kept +them in the field, that it was acknowledged. Had it not been for its +slaves, the South, long ere this, would have been compelled to yield +obedience to the Government. The rebels appreciated and used this +element of strength from the beginning. The Federal Government, through +the influence of weak-minded politicians, rejected it; thus throwing an +element of its own strength into the hands of its enemies. +</p> + +<p> +Notwithstanding this harsh treatment, the slaves proved true to the +Government; and finally, through the medium of this faithfulness, their +vast services were acknowledged, and they have not only been taken into +the private service of the country, but they have been admitted into +the army, to swell its numbers, until the strength of their mighty +arms, and the nerve of their fearless hearts, are felt by the enemies +of the country on every battle-field. What a glorious thought! +thousands of the oppressed fighting for the redemption from slavery of +a race which has ever worn the chain. When it is remembered that by +this strife questions are to be settled which have ever disturbed the +harmony of this country, and not that only, but questions which, when +settled, will release millions of our fellow-men and women from the +power of the oppressor, ought we not to be thankful that we are +permitted to make great sacrifices in so good a cause? +</p> + + + + +<a name="IX"> </a> +<h2> +CHAPTER IX. +<br><br> +<span class="smallsc"> +The Seventh ordered to the +East. — Expedition to Blue's +Gap. — Skirmish on the Blooming pike.</span> +</h2> + + +<p> +After Floyd was driven from Cotton Hill, very few rebels remained in +that portion of Virginia. Many troops were sent to Kentucky and +elsewhere. Among the number was the Seventh Regiment. It was ordered to +join the forces under command of General Kelley, which were operating +on the upper waters of the Potomac, with headquarters at Cumberland, +Maryland. +</p> + +<p> +Accordingly, on the twelfth day of December, the regiment embarked on +steamers, and after paying its respects to General Cox, by way of +presenting arms and cheers, it moved down the river; thus leaving +forever the scene of its past dangers and privations. Little had, +apparently, been accomplished, during its summer campaign; but perils +had been braved, privations had been suffered, and obstacles had been +overcome. Many graves had been dug and filled with the pride of the +regiment. These were left as a record of its patient suffering in that +wild waste of hills. There was a sort of sadness attending the leaving +of all this for a new field of operations. But the soldier's life is +one continued change; and, therefore, he readily adapts himself to +circumstances. +</p> + +<p> +At Parkersburg the regiment left the boats, and took a train of cars, +which conveyed it to Green Spring Run, a station on the Baltimore and +Ohio Railroad, sixteen miles from Romney, Virginia. Here it remained +without tents for several days, when it was ordered to Romney, to which +place it proceeded immediately. It was now given a good ground for its +camp, and furnished with Sibley tents, which were both warm and roomy. +The weather being very fine for the time of year, the health and +spirits of the soldiers rapidly improved. +</p> + +<p> +During the occupation of Romney, quite a force of "bushwhackers" had +collected at Blue's Gap, which were under command of Colonel Blue. This +force of bandits had annoyed the Union citizens for some time. It was +finally resolved to break it up. The force chosen to do this work +consisted of the Fourth, Fifth, Seventh, and Eighth Ohio, Fourteenth +Indiana, and First Virginia, with Danver's two companies of cavalry, +and a section of Howard's Battery, in all about two thousand five +hundred men, under command of Colonel Dunning of the Fifth Ohio. A +little past midnight of January 6th, the force moved out from their +camp. The night was bitter cold, but the march was rapid; and just +after daybreak, the vicinity of the gap was reached, to find that the +rebels were tearing up the flooring of the bridge leading over the +stream coming through the gap. The skirmishers drove this force away, +and then advanced over the bridge, followed by the Fifth Ohio, which +took possession of Blue's house. Procuring a negro woman for a guide, +the force advanced to assault the rebel stronghold on the mountain. On +reaching the place, the intrenchments were handsomely carried, the +rebels standing for five rounds only, when they broke, and fled down +the side of the mountain. Their flight was so rapid that many of the +fugitives ran on to the Fourth Ohio, which was at hand, and were +captured. But they were hardly worth taking, for an uglier set of +ragamuffins the mountains of Virginia, or the whole world even, could +hardly produce. Blue's property was utterly destroyed. The loss of the +enemy in this affair was forty killed, and as many taken prisoners, +together with all their stores, wagons, and ammunition. A number of +cattle were also taken and driven back to Romney. On their return, the +Federals fired several houses, which was a lasting disgrace to all +those taking part in it. General Kelley was justly indignant at this +conduct. +</p> + +<p> +Nothing further occurred to break the <i>ennui</i> of camp and picket +duty until the 10th, when an order came to break camp and prepare for a +march. Immediately following this order, all was bustle and confusion, +in anticipation of an advance. There being a lack of transportation, +some tents and commissary stores were burned. In early evening, the +regiment marched into the town, where it was compelled to wait, through +a fearful storm of sleet, until midnight, when, instead of an advance, +the entire force rapidly fell back through Springfield to Patterson's +Creek, on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. This camp was soon converted +into a mud-hole. If all of Virginia had been canvassed a worse place +for a camp could not have been found. After a few weeks contest with +this everlasting snow and mud, an order came, on the 5th of February, +to march, which was hailed with universal joy. +</p> + +<p> +The force passed down the railroad late in the afternoon, for a short +distance; when, leaving the tents and baggage, it took a road to the +right, and before night halted in a grove by the roadside. After a few +hours spent in preparing and eating supper, it moved off in the +direction of Romney, the Seventh in the advance. +</p> + +<p> +All night we marched, over mountains and streams, through snow and +sleet. In the morning we came to a halt at an old tannery, and after +remaining through the day, fell back four miles and bivouacked on the +banks of the Little Cacapon River. Tired and wet, the soldiers lay down +to rest on their bed of rails and straw, to gather strength for the +morrow. At last, day dawned, rainy and gloomy, and the command moved +five miles to the rear, to a place called the Levels,—a very high +table-land, exposed to severe wind and storm, which never fails to +visit that region. The regiment was ordered to bivouac, and soon the +pine forest was converted into a village of green houses, with hot +fires roaring and crackling before them. +</p> + +<p> +We remained here some fifteen days, within three miles of the tents; +but for some reason, better known to those in command, we were left on +a hilltop, exposed to the cold winds and snows of February, in brush +shanties. During some of the time it was so cold that a crust formed on +the snow sufficiently hard to hold up a person. During this time the +commanding officer of our brigade occupied a house close by, which was +very convenient as well as comfortable. +</p> + +<p> +The regiment, while here, did very little duty; in fact none, with the +exception of one brigade drill in the snow, which only vexed the +command, without accomplishing any good. +</p> + +<p> +Colonel Sprague, formerly captain of Company E, now paid the regiment a +visit, the first time he had met his old comrades since his capture. +Following that had intervened his long imprisonment. The meeting was a +pleasant one. +</p> + +<p> +On the 13th of March the regiment left camp, and, taking the Bradford +pike, crossed a range of hills, at the foot of which is the Baltimore +and Ohio Railroad. Taking this road, Pau-Pau Station was reached before +night. Here we found quite a number of troops. +</p> + +<p> +General Lander advanced with one brigade on the Blooming pike. Soon the +advance-guard, consisting of a part of a regiment of cavalry, came on +to an intrenched camp of militia. The general, taking command in +person, ordered a charge; but barely a dozen of these horsemen could be +made to follow their brave leader. But, nothing daunted, Lander, +followed by his staff and a few of the cavalry, dashed over the +intrenchments, when some fifty rebels surrendered; Colonel Baldwin, +their commander, giving himself up to Lander, after the latter had +seized him by the shoulder, despite the revolver which the rebel +colonel held in his hand. +</p> + +<p> +On the return of this expedition, the Seventh was ordered out on to the +pike. After advancing for nearly two miles, it halted by the roadside, +where it remained in the mud and snow till the following afternoon, +when it went into camp close by. +</p> + + + + +<a name="X"> </a> +<h2> +CHAPTER X. +<br><br> +<span class="smallsc"> +Gallantry of Lieutenant +O'Brien. — Death of General +Lander. — The Seventh escort his +remains. — The occupation of Winchester.</span> +</h2> + + +<p> +During the occupation of the country about Pau-Pau Station, the troops +were kept active. Skirmishes were of frequent occurrence. One of them +is deserving of mention. A reconnoissance was being made by Lieutenant +O'Brien, of Lander's staff, accompanied by twenty or more cavalry, when +they were met by a band of rebels, who immediately fired a volley; +following which, they demanded the small party of Federals to +surrender. O'Brien, riding to the front, declined, at the same time +emptying the saddle of the foremost rebel with a revolver, which he had +in his hand ready for use. The lieutenant soon after received a fatal +wound in the shoulder, from the effects of which he died some weeks +after. Seeing their leader disabled, the Union cavalry hurried him to +the rear, at the same time presenting a determined front. When he had +arrived at a safe distance they fell back, fighting as they went. They +thus brought the gallant O'Brien safe to headquarters. +</p> + +<p> +O'Brien was a writer of some note. Before the war he was a contributor +to several periodicals, among which was the Atlantic Monthly. For these +magazines he wrote many elegant things, which their readers will +probably remember. +</p> + +<p> +On the first day of March, the monotony of life in camp was broken by +an order to march. We moved out of camp, followed by the entire +division, on the road leading to Winchester. Towards evening we crossed +the Big Cacapon River, and after ascending a spur of the Shenandoah +Mountain, filed into a grove of pines, and remained till the following +afternoon, when an order was given to fall back. On returning to our +camp, we found that the retrograde movement was occasioned by the +sudden death of General Lander. The brave soldier and able commander +expired while his troops were moving on an important position of the +enemy,—a campaign which his fertile brain had conceived, and which his +daring and dash were to put into successful execution. No wonder, then, +when the spirit of its leader took its flight, that the division was +recalled. None were found competent to succeed him in the command of an +expedition which had occupied his every thought while he had been +connected with the department. +</p> + +<p> +On Monday, March 3d, the Seventh regiment escorted his remains to the +cars, in the presence of fifteen thousand troops, drawn up in line to +pay their respects, for the last time, to all that was left of a +commander whom they loved, and a soldier whom they admired. This slow, +sad march of the Seventh, to the strains of a solemn dirge, was +impressive. We returned to camp with the reflection that a master +spirit had taken its departure. +</p> + +<p> +After the death of General Lander, Brigadier-General Shields was given +the command of his division. He arrived soon after. +</p> + +<p> +The forces under General Banks, occupying the country in the vicinity +of Harper's Ferry, were ordered to make an immediate advance on +Winchester, General Shields was directed to co-operate in this +movement. He was ordered to move on Martinsburg, when General Banks +crossed the Potomac. +</p> + +<p> +Early in March the division moved down to the railroad, when on the +same day it took the cars for Martinsburg. On arriving at Back Creek, +ten miles east of Hancock, the bridge was found to be destroyed. The +command now bivouacked, while a party was set at work repairing the +bridge. The work progressed so slowly, that on the 10th the command +moved on in advance of the train, passing through Martinsburg, and +encamping some two miles out on the Winchester pike. +</p> + +<p> +On the following morning the column pushed vigorously forward to assist +General Banks in his attack on Winchester. The rebels, however, instead +of giving battle, fled as the command approached the city. Shields, +therefore, was ordered to encamp his troops before reaching Winchester. +The camp of the Seventh was about three miles north of the town, on the +Martinsburg road. The balance of the division encamped in the immediate +vicinity. +</p> + +<p> +Winchester had for a long time been occupied by the rebels. The extreme +left of Beauregard's army, under command of General Johnston, had taken +possession of the place, when the rebel troops first occupied Virginia. +From this point, troops were immediately sent forward to occupy and +destroy the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, as well as to menace our lines +in the direction of Harper's Ferry and Cumberland. The possession, +therefore, of the place by the Union forces was of great importance. It +not only resulted in the protection of this very important railroad, +but so menaced the left of the rebel army as to require its commander +to detach a large force to the Shenandoah Valley, and thus materially +weakening his main army. Under a leader less able than Jackson, it +would have greatly taxed his energies to hold the valley. But under +this indomitable general the army was enabled to make a good show of +resistance to the advance of the Federal forces. +</p> + +<p> +Winchester, the county seat of Frederick County, is seventy-four miles +west of Washington. The town is laid out in regular order, the streets +crossing at right angles. The place possesses some little of historical +interest. During the French and Indian War, Washington made it his +headquarters; and he also mentions it as one of the points which he +touched while on his mission to the French authorities on the Ohio +River. After the engagement at Great Meadows, July 4, 1774, Washington +returned to the place to recruit his regiment. It was also the base of +operations for the forces engaged in the reduction of Fort Duquesne. +During these wars a fort was built under the direction of Washington, +and named Fort Landon. A part of it is to be seen at this day. While +this fort was being constructed, Washington bought a lot in Winchester, +had a blacksmith shop built on it, and brought his own smith from Mount +Vernon to do the necessary iron-work for the fort. A well was sunk in +this fort to the depth of one hundred and three feet, the water from +which now runs over the top. The labor of erecting this fort was +performed by Washington's own regiment. The famous General Morgan, the +leader of the American forces at the battle of the Cowpens, is buried +here. +</p> + + + + +<a name="XI"> </a> +<h2> +CHAPTER XI. +<br><br> +<span class="smallsc"> +A Reconnoissance to +Strasburg. — Battle of +Winchester. — Utter defeat and rout of Jackson's +army.</span> +</h2> + + +<p> +Immediately after the occupation of Winchester, the enemy's cavalry +advance becoming troublesome, a plan was laid for its capture. Colonel +Mason, of the Fourth Ohio, was sent out on the road to Front Royal, +with a brigade, composed of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, with +instructions to proceed until he arrived at the last road leading to +the right before reaching Front Royal; which road he was to take, and +by it strike the rear of the enemy at Middletown, a small hamlet +equally distant from both Winchester and Strasburg. He was soon after +followed by General Shields, with six thousand men, who moved on the +direct road to Middletown. Colonel Mason's command, arriving at this +place in advance of Shields' column, encountered the enemy's pickets, +and drove them to Cedar Creek Bridge, which, having covered with +combustibles, they fired. When the troops of Colonel Mason arrived in +the vicinity, they were opened upon by a battery, to which they +replied; with no effect, however, as the distance was too great. +Shields coming up with his division soon after, the entire force +bivouacked for the night. +</p> + +<p> +Early the following morning the command crossed the river without +opposition; but on arriving at Strasburg, the enemy opened fire from a +battery planted on a hill beyond the town. Shields, suspecting that the +entire force of Jackson was in the vicinity, made his dispositions for +immediate battle. The Seventh being ordered out on the road beyond the +town, were fired upon by a masked battery, but none injured. After +having been exposed to this fire for half an hour, it was withdrawn. +Soon after, our artillery was got into position, and after thirty +pieces of cannon had belched forth their fire, the rebels fled in +haste. During this fire, Mason's cavalry advanced so far out on the +road, that they were mistaken for the enemy by Captain Clark, of a +battery of regulars; he therefore sent a shell among them, with such +accuracy as to kill a few horses, and slightly wound one man. +</p> + +<p> +An advance being ordered, the pursuit was continued for five miles, +when the command returned to Strasburg, and encamped for the night. On +the following morning it fell back to its old camp, the Seventh +marching twenty-two miles in seven hours, with but one halt. +</p> + +<p> +This reconnoissance to Strasburg leaving no doubt on the minds of both +Banks and Shields that the enemy was not in the front in force, the +first division of Banks's corps, on the 20th, commenced its movement to +Manassas, in accordance with a letter of instruction from General +McClellan, of the 16th. General Banks did not follow this division +immediately, but remained at Winchester until twelve o'clock on Sunday, +the 23d, when he started for Harper's Ferry. +</p> + +<p> +All this time Shields thought he was being trifled with by the rebel +General Ashby. +</p> + +<p> +On Saturday, the 22d, there had been a good deal of firing in the early +part of the day, but what occasioned it did not seem to be well +understood, except to those engaged. But during the afternoon it was +thought prudent to make all needful preparation for battle, so as not +to be surprised in case it should prove that a greater force than +Ashby's was in front. Therefore the whole division was ordered up; the +third brigade, however, did not pass through the town. Shields went to +the front, followed by the first and second brigades. As these forces +emerged from the city, the rebel cavalry made a dash at the pickets, +who fled in some confusion through the little hamlet of Kernstown, but +rallied soon after, and by a well-directed volley of musketry emptied +several rebel saddles. This success enabled them to retire in safety. +The rebel cavalry soon after advanced, when a sharp skirmish ensued. +Our pickets having been re-enforced by several detached companies, were +enabled to maintain their ground. In the mean time the rebels opened on +our lines from a battery planted on an eminence; immediately after +which a Union battery wheeled into position, when a spirited artillery +duel took place. While directing the fire of this battery, Shields was +struck on the arm by a fragment of a shell, fracturing the arm, and +producing a painful wound. He, however, continued in the field for some +time after the accident occurred, but was finally taken to a house +close by, and his arm dressed, after which he was taken to town in an +ambulance. +</p> + +<p> +The firing having ceased, the first brigade went into camp on the spot, +while the second brigade encamped in the rear. The third brigade filed +into an open field near where they were stationed during the operations +in front. +</p> + +<p> +During Saturday night a strong picket was kept well out to the front, +while the remaining troops slept on their arms. Nothing occurred during +the night to disturb the several camps. +</p> + +<p> +Morning dawned bright and pleasant. The stillness which rested over the +field of the previous day's operations, gave token of the intention of +the belligerents to respect the Sabbath-day. In view of the general +quiet, the second and third brigades were ordered back to their camp on +the Martinsburg pike. +</p> + +<p> +It was nearly noon when the Seventh arrived, and before the men had +barely time to eat a hurriedly prepared dinner, it was again ordered +forward. This time the march was rapid. The distant booming of cannon, +induced many a disturbed reflection as to what lay before us. As we +passed through Winchester to the south, we emerged into an open plain. +This was crowded with people, as were also the house-tops. They had +assembled, apparently, for the purpose of seeing the Union army +defeated and crushed, and to welcome the victors into the city. +</p> + +<p> +Arriving on the field, we found our forces occupying a commanding +position in rear of a range of hills overlooking Kernstown; while the +batteries, posted at intervals on the crest of these hills, were +maintaining a heavy fire on the right of the enemy's position, which +alone seemed to give evidence of any purpose to advance. The left of +our line was held by the Second brigade, Colonel Sullivan; while the +centre and right were held by the First brigade. Colonel Kimball, +commanding the division, was stationed on a commanding eminence, from +which several batteries were pouring their shot and shell into the +enemy whenever he showed himself within range. +</p> + +<p> +Up to this time, the main fighting had occurred in front of our left; +but soon after a battery opened in front of the right, from a piece of +timber, which our batteries were unable to silence. It became evident, +from this, that the heavy skirmishing which the enemy had kept up from +their right was simply a feint, for the purpose of drawing the greater +part of our force to that part of the field, when a spirited onslaught +would be made on the other flank, which was expected to turn our right +wing, and thus give them the victory. It was a conception worthy the +genius of a Jackson, but it was entirely unsuccessful, as no troops +were sent to that part of the field beyond what ordinary prudence +required; but on the contrary, becoming satisfied of the intention of +the enemy, Colonel Kimball resolved to charge this battery. The work +was assigned to the Third brigade. Colonel Tyler, calling in the +Seventh, which had been supporting a battery from the time it arrived +on the field, formed his brigade in column, by divisions, and +immediately moved forward; at the same time changing direction to the +right, and passing up a ravine, shielded by a piece of timber which +skirted it on the side towards the enemy. +</p> + +<p> +After arriving at some distance to the right, the column changed +direction to the left; and after a march of nearly a mile, it arrived +on the flank, and partly in the rear of the enemy. It had now reached +an eminence in a dense wood. In front, the battery which was the object +of our movement was playing vigorously upon the First brigade, to which +a spirited fire was returned by Robinson's Battery, which had wheeled +into position on the extreme right. This acted as a cover to the +movements of our brigade. Breathless, and with anxious hearts, we +awaited the return of our scouts, which would be the signal for a +plunge into the unknown. We were not kept long in suspense, for in a +few minutes the order was given to change direction to the left, and +the column moved forward, preceded by a line of skirmishers. After +marching in silence for some distance, the sharpshooters opened a +destructive fire on us from behind trees. We were immediately ordered +to charge; and, with a prolonged yell, the command, led by the Seventh +Ohio, swept like a torrent down the hill. A ravine now lay in front, +and, at a short distance, a slight eminence, and still beyond, a solid +stone wall, behind which, in three lines, nine regiments of the enemy +lay concealed. It was a fearful moment. The rebel artillery, in the +rear of this stone wall, had been turned upon the advancing column. The +grape and canister was tearing the bark from the trees over our heads, +while the solid shot and shell made great gaps in their trunks. Under +our feet the turf was being torn up, and around and about us the air +was thick with flying missiles. Not a gun was fired on our side. The +head of the column soon reached the ravine, when a deafening discharge +of musketry greeted us. A sheet of flame shot along the stone wall, +followed by an explosion that shook the earth, and the missiles tore +through the solid ranks of the command with a fearful certainty. The +brigade staggered—halted. With breathless anxiety we anticipated a +counter-charge by the rebels; but it came not. Victory to our arms +followed that omission on the part of the enemy. The order being given +to fire, the column recovered from the confusion into which it had been +temporarily thrown. The Seventh now advanced to the eminence beyond the +ravine; and, from a partial cover, maintained the unequal contest till +the other regiments could form and come to its support. The One Hundred +and Tenth Pennsylvania Regiment was thrown into such confusion, that it +was of little service during the remainder of the day. +</p> + +<p> +An order was given to the Seventh to prolong its line to the left. An +attempt was made to execute the order, when the left wing, passing over +a fence into an open field, received such a well-directed fire as to +compel it to fall back to its old position. +</p> + +<p> +During this part of the contest, the rebels endeavored to extend their +left, so as to flank us on the right. To meet this movement, Tyler +ordered the First Virginia to move to the right. Passing into an open +field, it was exposed to a cross-fire, which soon drove it back to the +timber. +</p> + +<p> +The roar of musketry was now deafening. The dying and the dead were +lying thick upon the hillside, but neither army seemed to waver. The +confusion attending the getting of troops into action had ceased. The +great "dance of death" seemed to be going forward without a motion. The +only evidence of life on that gory field, was the vomiting forth of +flame and smoke from thousands of well-aimed muskets. From that blue +column, which rolled and tumbled in its ascent from the battle-field, +the unerring bullet sped on its errand of death. But other regiments +are seen coming to the rescue. The right wing of the gallant Eighth +Ohio takes position on the left, followed by the no less gallant +Thirteenth and Fourteenth Indiana, Fifth and Sixty-seventh Ohio, and +Eighty-fourth Pennsylvania. These regiments opened a heavy fire, which +was replied to by the enemy in gallant style. +</p> + +<p> +The battle now raged fiercely until near night, when the enemy began to +show signs of giving way. At this the Union forces advanced a little, +at the same time delivering their fire with accuracy. As the shades of +evening deepened into night, the enemy began to fall back. At this +crisis, Colonel Kimball ordered a charge along the whole line, when the +retreat became a rout. In their flight, the enemy left in front of the +Third brigade two pieces of artillery and four caissons. +</p> + +<p> +That night the Seventh bivouacked on the spot now made historic by its +gallantry. The wounded were being brought in all night long, while the +dead were lying in heaps around us, their increasing distortions and +ghastliness adding new horrors to the battle-field. +</p> + +<p> +At early dawn the next day, we were ready to renew the work of blood +and carnage; but there was no occasion; the victory of the day before +was complete, the rebels had no desire of renewing the contest. They +gave the advancing column a few parting salutes from a battery, and +then beat a hasty retreat. We followed them that day to Cedar Run, +where just at night a slight skirmish occurred, with some loss to the +rebels. The following day the Union forces occupied Strasburg, when the +pursuit ceased. +</p> + + + + +<a name="XII"> </a> +<h2> +CHAPTER XII. +<br><br> +<span class="smallsc"> +General Shields' anxiety for +laurels. — Summing up of the +battle. — Losses in the Seventh.</span> +</h2> + + +<p> +After the battle of Winchester, General Shields showed a disposition to +appropriate the laurels won by others to himself. In a letter to a +friend at Washington, he claimed that, after the reconnoissance to +Strasburg, on the 18th, he fell back hurriedly, for the purpose of +deceiving the enemy into the belief that his force was small; and that +after arriving at Winchester, he moved his division beyond the town, so +as to create the belief in the minds of the citizens that most of his +force had been sent away. Now the fact is, this reconnoissance was +greatly the result of accident. The original design of it was to +capture the enemy's advance; this failing, the force proceeded to +Strasburg for the purpose of discovering whether or not the enemy was +in force in the vicinity. It was clearly shown by this advance, what +was afterwards well known, that nothing but a small cavalry force +occupied Strasburg, and that Jackson was some distance up the valley. +The hurried march of the division back to Winchester, was also the +result of accident. The command marched left in front, which brought a +regiment in the advance whose colonel cared little for the comfort of +his men; hence the rapid march. Shields reached Winchester in advance +of the command, having gone on before. After our return there was no +change of position, as our tents had not been disturbed, and we +reoccupied them as they were before leaving. If Jackson was deceived, +the credit of it is not due to Shields, for he was confident to the +very last that there was no other force in his front than Ashby. Even +as late as Sunday noon, when in reality the battle had begun, he +ridiculed the idea of Colonel Kimball calling for so many troops, +remarking, that "Kimball wanted more troops than was necessary for the +force in front of him." He also boastfully said, that "Jackson knew +him, and was afraid of him." +</p> + +<p> +His friends tried to make it appear that it was by his direction that +the troops were manÅ“uvred on the field of battle. Now the fact is, +he was four miles away, and in such a condition from a wound that he +compelled one of the best surgeons of the division to remain with him +till long after the battle, against the request of the medical +director, who represented to him, in the most earnest manner, that the +wounded were suffering for the want of medical attention. In thus +retaining a surgeon for his own purpose, while the wounded were +suffering for medical aid, he was criminal in the extreme. He committed +an offence which ought to have deprived him of his commission. +</p> + +<p> +Colonel Kimball was mainly instrumental in achieving the victory, +assisted, of course, by those under his command. The skilful manner, +however, in which the troops were managed was entirely due to him; and +the authorities regarded it in that light, for he was immediately made +a brigadier-general, as were both Tyler and Sullivan. +</p> + +<p> +The number of rebel forces engaged in the battle of Winchester has been +variously estimated. They probably numbered sixteen regiments of +infantry, four full batteries of artillery, together with one of four +guns; in the aggregate, twenty-eight pieces and three battalions of +cavalry, under Ashby and Stewart;—in all, eleven thousand men. The +Union forces consisted of thirteen regiments of infantry, four full +batteries of artillery and a section; in the aggregate, twenty-six +pieces, and a battalion of cavalry;—in all, nine thousand men. +</p> + +<p> +The rebel army was the attacking force, yet the engagement between the +infantry was on ground of their own choosing, by reason of the Third +brigade charging one of their batteries. It was in the vicinity of this +battery, which was at least a mile in advance of our selected line of +battle, that the fighting occurred which turned the tide of battle. At +this point the enemy had every advantage of position. He was securely +posted behind a stone wall, and in a belt of timber extending along a +ridge; while our forces were compelled to advance across a plain +exposed to a galling fire from infantry and artillery; and it was not +until they arrived within eighty yards of his line that any thing like +a fair ground could be obtained. Jackson, the famous commander of the +no-less famous "stone-wall brigade," a sobriquet it had obtained at +Bull Run, was fairly beaten; and that, too, by a force without a +general, and of inferior numbers. The victory was so complete, that the +enemy left two hundred and twenty-five dead on the field. Their killed +and wounded amounted to nearly nine hundred, while their loss in +prisoners was upwards of two hundred and fifty: adding stragglers and +deserters to these figures, and it will swell the number to about two +thousand. The Fifth Virginia rebel regiment was nearly annihilated: +there was hardly sufficient of it left to preserve its organization. +</p> + +<p> +The loss to the Seventh was fourteen killed and fifty-one wounded: but +few were taken prisoners, and those by accident. The following is the +list: +</p> + +<p> +<i>Killed.</i>—Orderly-Sergeant A. C. Danforth; Corporal A. C. +Griswold; privates, Charles Stern, James Carroll, James Creiglow, Allen +C. Lamb, Stephen W. Rice, E. G. Sackett, Reuben Burnham, Louis Carven, +Elias Hall, John Fram, Fred. Groth, James Bish. +</p> + +<p> +<i>Wounded.</i>—Captain J. F. Asper; Lieutenant Samuel McClelland; +Sergeant-Major J. P. Webb, and Sergeant A. J. Kelly, mortally; +sergeants, A. H. Fitch, E. M. Lazonny; corporals, Ed. Kelley, William +Saddler, Geo. Blandin, William E. Smith, Benjamin Gridley; privates, +Fred. Hoffman, Daniel Clancey, Leander Campbell, Joseph Miller, Hampton +Gardner, Arthur Lappin, Thomas Fresher, Duncan Reid, Joseph Smith, +Albert E. Withers, Charles Fagan, O. H. Worcester, W. Coleman, Stephen +Kellogg, John Gardner, F. M. Palmer, F. A. Warner, Daniel Kingsbury, +Richard Winsor, John Milliman, John Atwater, Geo. Anness, Fred. Bethel, +Charles W. Minnick, Moses Owens, Arba Pritchell, Edward Thompson, +Edward E. Tracy, A. A. Cavanaha, S. Bishop, Owen Gregory, James Hunt, +W. McClurg, H. M. McQuiston, D. O'Conner, P. Tenny, Richard Phillips, +T. B. Danon, Wm. Birch, Henry Clemens. +</p> + + + + +<a name="XIII"> </a> +<h2> +CHAPTER XIII. +<br><br> +<span class="smallsc"> +Pursuit of Jackson up the +Valley. — March to Fredericksburg, and return to Front +Royal.</span> +</h2> + + +<p> +About the 1st of April the command left Strasburg, under command of +General Banks, driving the rear-guard of the enemy through the little +village of Woodstock, and taking a position on the banks of Stoney +Creek, four miles beyond the latter place. It remained here until the +17th, during which time the enemy kept up an artillery fire across the +creek, which resulted in the killing of several men in the division of +General Williams. +</p> + +<p> +On the morning of the 17th the command crossed the creek, and stormed +the enemy's battery on the opposite shore. The early dawn was +brightening up the eastern horizon with tints of red; and, as the +command emerged from the bridge, and ascended the steep hill beyond, +their bayonets glistened and sparkled. After firing one volley, the +rebels fled in haste, leaving the Federal forces to advance without +opposition. After falling back beyond the north branch of the +Shenandoah River, they made a stand, and endeavored to burn the bridge, +but were prevented by the Union cavalry. A flank movement being +ordered, and partly executed, the rebels again abandoned their +position. The Federals now pressed on to within a short distance of +New Market, where they encamped. +</p> + +<p> +Here the command remained ten days, when it moved two miles south of +the town, and on the 3d of May advanced to within a few miles of +Harrisonburg, but on the following day fell back about five miles to a +good defensive position. +</p> + +<p> +The tents were now ordered to be turned over to the quartermaster; and +on the following Monday we wound our way through Brook's Gap, in the +Massanutten Mountains, towards the smoky tops of the Blue Ridge, and +thus leaving forever the beautiful valley of the north branch of the +Shenandoah. Towards evening we crossed the south branch of the same +river at Columbia Bridge, and moved on in the direction of Luray, +encamping near that place. The next morning the command moved on down +the river until night, when it encamped. In the evening a hard rain +storm came up, which continued for several days. In early evening of +the following day the command reached Front Royal, a small village +situated at the base of the Blue Ridge, near the junction of the two +branches of the Shenandoah River. The following morning we crossed the +Blue Ridge, and immediately encountered the enemy's cavalry, which +annoyed us for several days. On the 17th we arrived at Warrenton, a +delightful village in Fauquier County. We remained in this camp until +Monday morning, when we again took the line of march for +Fredericksburg. We reached Falmouth, on the north bank of the +Rappahannock River, on the 23d of May. The corps of McDowell was in the +immediate vicinity, numbering thirty thousand men, and one hundred +pieces of artillery. +</p> + +<p> +When we arrived on the Rappahannock, we learned that this force of +McDowell's, now numbering forty-one thousand men, was ordered down to +Richmond, to form a junction with the right wing of the grand army +under McClellan. There were then only about twelve thousand of the +enemy in front of Fredericksburg. It was about fifty miles to the +extreme right of the army in front of Richmond. +</p> + +<p> +On Saturday the President and secretary of war came down for the +purpose of arranging the details. Shields' division was greatly in need +of shoes and clothing, while the ammunition for the artillery had been +condemned, and another supply, which had been ordered, had been very +much delayed. It was therefore arranged that the force should start +early on Monday morning, both the President and McDowell being averse +to starting on Sunday. +</p> + +<p> +That evening the President and secretary of war left for Washington. +Very soon after, General McDowell received a telegram, to the effect +that Jackson was making a raid down the Shenandoah Valley, with a +prospect of crushing the forces under General Banks. Soon after this +dispatch, another arrived from the secretary of war, by order of the +President, containing instructions to send a division after Jackson. +Here was the fatal blow to the campaign against Richmond. McDowell +promptly ordered General Shields' division to move, and at the same +time telegraphed the President that it was a fatal blow to them all. +</p> + +<p> +Little things control momentous events. Jackson's army of twenty +thousand veterans checkmated an army of one hundred and fifty thousand +men. In defending Washington, we lost Richmond; but Jackson risked his +own communication to break ours. Results more than realized his +expectations. Without risk there is little gain. Jackson adopted this +adage into his tactics, and endangered his army to save it. Events +proved his sagacity. +</p> + +<p> +In time of war the capital of a country, unless far removed from the +seat of war, is in the way. The City of Washington was a fatality. It +stood between the army and victory. Jackson knew this, and profited by +it. When this general menaced Washington, our army let go its hold on +the Confederacy, to make it doubly safe. The campaign against Richmond +was abandoned, but Washington was endangered still. The valleys and +swamps of the Chickahominy were paved with the bodies of heroes—the +little rivulets were swollen with the best blood of the land—an army +of cripples were given to charity;—and for what? That the City of +Washington might be safe. We have since then fought the ground over +again from Washington to Richmond; another graveyard has been planted; +and this time for a purpose. Washington has been set aside by the new +commander, and Richmond made the objective point. +</p> + + + + +<a name="XIV"> </a> +<h2> +CHAPTER XIV. +<br><br> +<span class="smallsc"> +The march on Waynesboro'. — Two +brigades encounter Jackson at Port Republic, and after five hours' +fighting are compelled to fall back.</span> +</h2> + + +<p> +Nearly the entire corps of General McDowell followed the division of +General Shields. The latter took the direction of Manassas Junction, +and from there passed down the railroad, through Manassas Gap, arriving +at Front Royal on Friday noon, after a sharp engagement with a small +force of rebels. +</p> + +<p> +Soon after, Shields stationed one brigade on the Luray road, another to +watch the fords of the Shenandoah, another was sent out on the +Strasburg road, while the remaining one occupied the town. On +McDowell's arrival, Shields, with his entire division, was ordered out +on the road to Strasburg, for the purpose of intercepting the retreat +of the enemy. But, instead of taking the road which he was ordered to +take, he crossed over the north branch of the Shenandoah River on the +road to Winchester. It then being too late to repair the mischief, and +get ahead of Jackson, Shields was permitted to go in the direction of +Luray, and follow up Jackson as far as he thought advisable, with the +single instruction, that, in no event, should his division be +separated; so that each brigade would be in supporting distance of all +the others. +</p> + +<p> +On the second day we arrived in the vicinity of Columbia Bridge, and +pitched our tents for the purpose, as we supposed, of enjoying a +night's rest; but towards evening an order was received to fall back +six miles. Arriving at this new camp, we again pitched our tents; but +just at dark we received an order to move forward to the camp we had +but just left. We arrived about midnight, and slept on the ground; thus +wasting the strength of the command in a needless march of twelve +miles. +</p> + +<p> +On the following morning, June 7th, the Third brigade, by an order to +move on Waynesboro', took up the line of march, arriving in early +evening on the banks of Naked Creek, where it went into camp. Colonel +Carroll's Second brigade had passed over the road some time before. +</p> + +<p> +The command had nothing but flour and beef for supper, and nothing for +breakfast on the following morning; but being assured that some hard +bread was in waiting, some six miles ahead, it cheerfully pressed +forward at four o'clock <span class="smc">A.M.</span>, and at about two +o'clock the same day, reached the vicinity of Port Republic, where +Colonel Carroll's brigade had met with a repulse the day before. +</p> + +<p> +Port Republic is situated at the junction of two forks of the south +branch of the Shenandoah River. Jackson's whole army was in the +vicinity of the place, the most of it occupying the west bank of the +river. In rear of Jackson's position, at Cross Keys, were General +Fremont's forces. At the latter place, on the previous day, Fremont had +defeated Jackson, with heavy loss to the latter. +</p> + +<p> +Jackson having thus failed to beat back Fremont, was compelled to cross +the river at Port Republic, and, defeating Shields' command, pass +through a gap in the mountain to Gordonsville. +</p> + +<p> +When General Tyler's command arrived on the field, Lieutenant-Colonel +Daum, chief of artillery, advised an immediate attack; but the general +wisely concluded to await the order of General Shields. Selecting a +good position for defence, the command bivouacked for the night. +</p> + +<p> +Early in the morning of June 9th, the enemy was seen to debouch into +the plain in our front, when our artillery, under Captains Clark, +Robinson, and Huntington, opened a heavy fire upon him. This force +moved into the woods on our left, and passing up a spur of the Blue +Ridge, threw themselves rapidly forward, with a view of turning that +wing of the army. Two companies of skirmishers and two regiments of +infantry were sent into the woods to counteract this movement. The +skirmishers having become warmly engaged, two more regiments were sent +forward to their support. The enemy now abandoned his intention, and +coming out of the woods, swept across the field to our right, uniting +with a column which was advancing to the attack. +</p> + +<p> +During this time, the Seventh was supporting a section of Huntington's +Battery. This new movement was directed against the position occupied +by it. When arriving within range of the guns, the enemy charged. The +regiment reserved its fire until the rebel column approached within +easy range, when, by order of Colonel Creighton, the regiment, which +had hitherto been concealed by the tall spires of wheat, rose to its +feet, and delivered its fire. This shower of lead made a fearful gap in +the lines of the advancing column. It staggered, and finally halted. +The Seventh now plunged into the midst of the foe, when an awful scene +of carnage followed. After a short struggle, the enemy was pressed +back, followed by the exultant victors. The Fifth and Twenty-ninth Ohio +regiments did gallant service in this charge. When the enemy had been +pressed back for half a mile, the column halted, reformed, and then +fell back to its old position. +</p> + +<p> +The enemy now made a furious attack on the extreme right of the +division, to meet which the Seventh changed front on the Fourth +company. The enemy was soon driven back in great confusion, and with +heavy loss. Immediately recovering from this temporary check, he made +an onslaught on the centre, which resulted in his repulse, with greater +loss than in any previous attack; the Fifth Ohio alone capturing a +piece of artillery and many prisoners. +</p> + +<p> +During these operations, the enemy sent a heavy column against our +left; and debouching from the timber, came down with such rapidity as +to overwhelm the small force of infantry supporting four guns of +Clark's Battery. This force, endeavoring to make a defence, came near +being captured. The guns, of course, fell into the hands of the enemy. +The Seventh and Fifth Ohio regiments were now directed to regain the +position. Moving by the left flank to the rear of the position under a +heavy fire, these two regiments dashed up the hill and over the guns, +into the midst of the terrified rebels. Five color-bearers had now been +shot down, while advancing as many rods. Lieutenant King seized the +colors and pressed forward, followed by the regiment, which sent volley +after volley after the fugitives, the firing ceasing only when the +rebels were covered by a friendly hill. We were soon ordered to drive +them from this position, which was done in gallant style, the command +charging up the steep sides of the hill, in the face of the foe. +</p> + +<p> +A large column of the enemy was now seen advancing from the bridge to +the scene of action. It was therefore thought advisable by General +Tyler to withdraw from the field during this check of the enemy, and +before these re-enforcements could be brought into the contest. +</p> + +<p> +This movement was executed under the direction of Colonel Carroll; and, +with few exceptions, the retreat was as orderly as the advance. +</p> + +<p> +After falling back some miles, we met the balance of the command under +General Shields, who assumed the direction of the forces. Eighteen +miles from the battle-field, the command halted for the night; and, on +the third day, reached the vicinity of Luray, where it went into camp. +</p> + +<p> +The importance of this engagement has been underrated. Great and +beneficial results to the Union army would have followed a victory; as +it was, a great disaster succeeded. The impetuous Jackson having thus +prevented McDowell's forces from uniting with the grand army, dashed +down in front of Richmond, and hurling his army against the right wing +of McClellan, gave the Federal army its first check, which finally +resulted in its overthrow. McClellan expecting McDowell, received +Jackson. Had the former formed a junction with him, the grand army +would have entered Richmond; but receiving Jackson, it entered +Washington. This failure to intercept Jackson was due to General +Shields' disobedience of orders. His entire division should have been +on the ground on Sunday, or none of it; and on its arrival, he should +have burned the bridge: then the capture of Jackson would have been +rendered probable, but, as events occurred, it was impossible. A part +of the division not being in supporting distance, rendered the burning +of the bridge a necessity; but Shields regarded it differently. His +order to save the bridge was the extreme of folly. To make himself a +name, he came near sacrificing his command. On Sunday, Colonel +Carroll's forces were in a position to have burned the bridge. Soon +after, the enemy commanded it, with eighteen pieces of cannon. Early in +the day it was safe to approach it—afterwards, madness. +</p> + +<p> +This bridge in his possession, gave the enemy an opportunity to debouch +on to the open plain. When there, the advance of Shields' division was +liable to be crushed. The preservation of the bridge rendered it +certain that he would be there, because this plain lay between him and +safety. To avoid entering it, was to surrender. The shrewd Jackson +chose to enter it. When there, he turned upon Tyler, and overwhelmed +him; then moved off at his leisure. The defeat of Tyler was certain; +his escape, marvellous. Jackson anticipated an easy victory, but met +with a stubborn resistance. This mistake of Jackson saved Tyler. +</p> + +<p> +When McDowell saw that the pursuit of Jackson was a failure, he +endeavored to collect his forces at Fredericksburg, for the purpose of +carrying out his original intention of joining McClellan; but Jackson +was there before him, and the grand army had been beaten back. +</p> + +<p> +Had the forces of Generals Banks and Fremont been left to take care of +Jackson, and thus left McDowell with his 41,000 men free to go down to +Richmond, the labor of historians would have been lessened. +</p> + +<p> +Soon after the battle of Port Republic, General Shields was relieved of +his command. This order received the approbation of both officers and +men. +</p> + +<p> +The following is a list of killed and wounded: +</p> + +<p> +<i>Killed.</i>—Sergeant William Voges; corporals, Geo. R. Magary, +Julius Ruoff, L. R. Gates, John H. Woodward; privates, Adolf Snyder, +Romaine J. Kingsbury, John Mulligan, John Reber. +</p> + +<p> +<i>Wounded.</i>—Captain Geo. L. Wood; First-lieutenant A. H. Day; +sergeants, Virgil E. Smalley, Samuel Whaler, James R. Loucks +(mortally), Chas. L. King, Wm. Lanterwasser (mortally); corporals, +Townley Gillett (mortally), Holland B. Fry, Mark V. Burt, A. C. Lovett, +Cyrus H. DeLong, A. C. Trimmer, Charles Knox; privates, J. H. Burton, +S. E. Buchanan, Isaac Maxfield, Charles Keller, F. Keller, Edwin B. +Atwater, M. N. Hamilton (mortally), Daniel S. Judson (mortally), Wm. H. +Pelton, Benjamin F. Hawkins, Lawson Hibbard, James L. Vancise, John +Atwater, Jay Haskins, Leroy Chapman, Sylvester B. Matthews, Alfred W. +Morley, Lawrence Remmel, George K. Carl, Franklin Eldridge, George +Geyelin, John T. Geary, Ira Herrick, Marion Hoover, W. W. Rogers +(mortally), Edwin Woods, Morris Osborn, G. W. Parker, M. Eckenrode, D. +L. Hunt, William Frasher, Anthony Williams, John Smith, James Decker, +Michael Campbell, Philip Anthony, John Colburn, John Hummel, John +Luetke, John Schoembs, Conrad Sommer, John Voelker, Herman Fetzer. +</p> + + + + +<a name="XV"> </a> +<h2> +CHAPTER XV. +<br><br> +<span class="smallsc"> +Battle of Cedar Mountain. — Gallantry +of the regiment, and terrible loss.</span> +</h2> + + +<p> +After a few days' rest at Luray, the regiment marched to Front Royal, +and soon after left for Alexandria, where it arrived on the 27th of +June. It went into camp on a beautiful hill, just outside the +fortifications. +</p> + +<p> +Remaining in this camp for a month, the regiment was ordered to join +the forces under McDowell, at Warrenton. It arrived there on the +morning of June 26th, and soon after reported to General Banks, at +Little Washington. +</p> + +<p> +General Tyler had now been relieved from duty with the Third brigade, +and General Geary placed in command. +</p> + +<p> +As early as the 16th of July, the advance of Jackson's forces was at +Gordonsville; and by the 1st of August reached the vicinity of the +Rapidan River. To meet this movement, General Pope, commanding the Army +of Virginia, ordered forward the corps of General Banks; and on the 8th +of August ordered General Sigel's corps to Culpepper to co-operate with +Banks' forces; but Sigel, instead of moving promptly forward, sent a +courier to know what road he should take, when in fact there was but +one. This delayed the movement of his corps for several hours, so that +it was impossible to get it in position in time to render any +assistance to the forces under Banks. +</p> + +<p> +On the 7th day of August, Crawford's brigade, of Banks' corps, had been +pushed forward in the direction of Slaughter Mountain, to support +General Bayard, whose brigade of cavalry was being driven back in that +direction by the enemy; and on the 9th, to support this movement of +Crawford, Banks was directed to take up a strong position a short +distance in his rear. Rickett's division, of McDowell's corps, was +posted three miles in rear of Banks' position, and within easy +supporting distance. +</p> + +<p> +Desultory artillery firing was kept up all day on the 9th; yet General +Banks, apparently, did not think the enemy were in force, for, during +the afternoon, he left the strong position which he had taken, by order +of General Pope, and advanced to assault the enemy, believing that he +could crush his advance before the main body came up. +</p> + +<p> +The enemy was strongly posted, and sheltered by woods and ridges; while +Banks had to pass over an open field, which was swept by the fire of +the enemy thus concealed. +</p> + +<p> +The intention of Jackson, in this advance, was to crush a detachment of +Pope's army before the balance could come to its support. Banks, in +thus advancing to the assault, aided him in his design, which otherwise +would have been an entire failure. +</p> + +<p> +Cedar Mountain, the position occupied by Jackson, is thus described: +"The mountain is one of remarkable beauty. At a distance of four or +five miles from its base it seems to rise like a perfect cone from the +plain below, and from its base to its summit scarcely a deflection is +to be observed in its outline form—a perfectly straight line, as if +nature had formed it in the same manner that school-boys form +sand-hills. The sides of the mountain are covered with a heavy growth +of timber: its summit is reached by a poor road. The height of the +summit is, perhaps, eight hundred feet above Cedar Creek." +</p> + +<p> +Early in the day of the 9th, General Geary's brigade was sent to hold +Telegraph Hill, from which our signal-officers had been driven. To +approach this hill was sure slaughter; but the veteran brigade moved +on, through a storm of shot and shell, and occupied the position. +</p> + +<p> +Thirty pieces of cannon on our side, and as many on the side of the +enemy, were belching forth their fire. There was no part of the Federal +lines but that was swept by this fire. +</p> + +<p> +A little after three o'clock the Seventh Regiment was ordered over the +crest of the hill, into a cornfield beyond. While advancing to this +position, a most terrific cannonade was directed against it. It seemed +as if every cannon was being directed against this band of heroes; but +it never faltered in this march of death, moving coolly on, regardless +of the missiles that were tearing through its bleeding ranks. Comrades +were falling, and brothers dying; the mangled, bleeding victims of the +fury and violence of war were left thick, making the ground sacred on +which they fell; but the line wavered not. Reaching a low place, the +regiment halted, and the boys threw themselves upon the ground; and +thus for a long hour they lay, in an open field, exposed to a hot sun, +with a hail-storm of grape, canister, and shell falling thick and fast +around them. Men gave up their lives so gently, that it was almost +impossible to tell the living from the dead. The fatal missile struck +its victim, leaving the lifeless clay in the same attitude which the +living body but just before occupied. During that fatal period death +assumed a real character, while life seemed but a dream. +</p> + +<p> +The engagement had now become general. The brigade of General Prince +had advanced on the left of Geary, occupying the prolongation of the +line. Artillery replied to artillery, musketry to musketry, bayonet to +bayonet, in this deadly strife. Daring warmed into rashness, and +bravery into recklessness. +</p> + +<p> +About four o'clock the regiment was ordered into a meadow, which +position it promptly occupied, although the fire had not slackened, and +carnage marked its advance. After dressing the lines, the regiment +opened fire; and there it stood without a support, facing, in a +death-struggle, three times its number. The fiery Creighton received a +wound which compelled him to leave the field. The noble Crane was +disabled; and the brave Molyneaux, for the moment, took command. Seeing +the regiment nearly surrounded, and exposed to an enfilading fire, +which was fast thinning the ranks, he ordered it to retreat; but heroic +young Clarkey, mistaking it for an order to charge, dashed gallantly +forward, at the head of his command. After understanding the order, he +had barely time to fall back before the wings of the rebel host closed +in. +</p> + +<p> +Slowly and sadly the remaining few of the regiment fell back, keeping +their faces to the foe. Only one hundred and sixteen, out of three +hundred and seven, returned to the rear unhurt; and many of these were +disabled from service by severe exposure to the intense heat of the +sun, and lack of water. The regiment retired to a hill, and was not +again brought into action during the afternoon. At night, however, it +was ordered out on picket. After advancing to Cedar Creek it was +challenged, and no one answering, it received a terrible volley from +the front and both flanks. It fell back to the cover of a piece of +woods, and finally to the rear, about a mile, where it bivouacked. +</p> + +<p> +As night settled upon this field of carnage, Banks' entire corps +withdrew to the position it occupied early in the day; but the +artillery kept up an intermittent fire until near midnight. General +Jackson, from his mountain-top, could see every movement of troops, and +was enabled to calculate just how long it would take to re-enforce +General Banks. Had he not been so imprudent as to come down from his +mountain fastness, and attack the Federal forces after night, his loss +would have been comparatively little. But as Banks retired, he moved +twelve thousand men on to the battle-field, and kept them there during +the night; at the same time advancing one battery through the woods +into the open field beyond the battle-ground. From this position it +opened on the division of Union troops occupying the advance. As soon +as the first flash of his guns was seen, Major Davis, chief of +artillery in McDowell's corps, ordered two batteries into position, and +opened on the enemy. These batteries, being very close, and getting +good range, did fearful havoc among the rebels. It is said that General +Hartsuff sighted one of the guns that did the most execution. After the +battery had retired, Major Davis' guns shelled the battle-field. The +enemy being massed in small space, this fire told fearfully on their +ranks. After firing about one hundred shells, and the enemy not +responding, Major Davis ordered his guns silenced, little dreaming that +he had left more dead rebels on the field than all the random artillery +firing of the afternoon. +</p> + +<p> +Many deeds of daring were performed at this battle. Captain Ash, of +General Pope's staff, riding up to a battery with an order from the +general to stop firing, saw that it was a rebel battery; he, however, +had sufficient presence of mind to give the order, and ride off. It was +obeyed; the battery ceased to fire, and soon after moved off. Captain +Ball, of McDowell's staff, did the same thing, and with a like result. +</p> + +<p> +The following incident is from the pen of a correspondent of an Eastern +paper: +</p> + +<p> +"Just after the firing of musketry became interesting, I noticed a +private soldier coming off the field, and thinking perhaps he was +running away to avoid danger, I rode up to him, when I found he had two +fingers of his left hand shot away, and a third dreadfully lacerated. I +saw at once that he had at least a hand in the fight. I assisted him to +dress his wound as well as my limited knowledge of surgery would +permit, he, in the mean time, propping up my pluck by his quaint +remarks. Said he: 'I don't care a darn for that third finger, for it +warn't of no account, no how; but the 'pinter,' and t'other one, were +right good 'uns, and I hate to lose 'em. I shouldn't have come to the +rear, if I had been able to load my gun; but I wasn't.' After I had +dressed his hand, he looked over in the direction of the firing, and +stood a moment. Turning to me, he said: 'Stranger, I wish you would +just load up my shooting-iron for me; I want to have a little +satisfaction out of them cusses for spilling my fore paw.' I loaded +his gun for him, and he started back for the top of the hill at a +double-quick, in quest of satisfaction. His name is Lapham, of the Ohio +Seventh." +</p> + +<p> +During the action, General Banks was leaning against a tree, when a +cannon-ball struck it about eighteen inches above his head, passing +entirely through. It has been his singular fortune to meet with many +narrow escapes. While riding through Winchester, on his retreat before +Jackson, a rebel, from a window above, took deliberate aim at him, but +was shot by a private of a Massachusetts regiment before he could fire. +</p> + +<p> +The loss to the regiment in this engagement was very heavy, and shows +with what determination it maintained the contest. It went into the +engagement with three hundred and seven, rank and file, and came out +with a loss in killed and wounded of one hundred and ninety-one,—a +loss of more than sixty-two per cent. +</p> + +<p> +The following is the list: +</p> + +<p> +<i>Killed.</i>—Lieutenants, James P. Brisbine, Joseph Ross, Frank +Johnson; sergeants, C. P. Bowler, Moses Martin; corporals, J. J. Evans, +D. W. Wright; privates, Joseph T. Blackwell, William Adams, Edward +Burnet, E. S. Shepherd, Charles G. Hettinger, Charles Masters, Benjamin +F. Gill, H. F. Dinger, H. Hight, John J. Hensher, Henry C. Case, M. +Eckenroad, N. H. McClurg, C. C. Miller, G. B. Swisher, E. Fox, James +Stephenson, Alvin H. Benton, John Manning, Michael Waldof, James Ray, +Frank Miller, John Weeland. +</p> + +<p> +<i>Wounded.</i>—Colonel William R. Creighton, Lieut.-Colonel O. J. +Crane, Adjutant J. B. Molyneaux, Captain William R. Sterling; +lieutenants, Henry B. Eaton, W. D. Braden, S. S. Reed, Marcus Hopkins; +sergeants, Z. P. Davie, J. S. Cooper, J. C. Jones, A. S. Allen, Arvin +Billings, George W. Barnette, E. M. Lazarus, James R. Carter, E. G. +Taylor, G. W. Moore, Charles A. Brooks; corporals, M. D. Holmes, Henry +J. Brown, L. Wilson, Joseph Trotier, William E. Smith, Thomas C. Brown, +Frank J. Ware, Clark Wilson, C. H. Buxton, Norman L. Norris, F. A. +Davis, Albert A. Smith, James Alexander, Benjamin Gridley, W. T. +Callors, Robert M. Brisk, A. C. Trimmer, Christopher Nesper, James +Grobe; privates, A. M. Clinton, Thomas Sherwood, Edward St. Lawrence, +Arthur Laffin, Leonard Walker, Jacob C. Gaycly, F. N. Brund, Abraham +Ginter, John G. Parsons, Henry Hatfield, Andrew J. Crippin, Charles E. +Preble, John H. Galvin, F. Creque, Philip Kelley, T. Hammond, E. Lown, +William Cammel, John Boyle, James Dixon, Samuel E. Garden, Jacob E. +Hine, Benjamin Hasfield, Frank Henrickle, P. E. Hill, William L. Latch, +Jacob Marks, Thomas C. Riddle, John Stone, Ernest Zincker, Franklin +Gaskill, N. Badger, George Carrathurs, T. P. Dixon, Henry Fairchild, J. +M. Rofflige, M. Richmond, Theodore Wilder, Oliver Wise, A. Colwell, +William Gardner, John Frank, S. E. Hendrickson, N. R. Holcomb, E. +Hobday, W. Lapham, F. Manley, John McAdams, H. H. Rhodes, J. Harnner, +Joseph L. Clark, James Kelley, William W. Mecker, Charles Himpson, John +Wickham, J. Roberts, J. R. Green, Edward E. Day, Lewis Owens, S. A. +Fuller, D. G. Burthroff, J. M. Holcomb, Frank Strong, E. G. Meekins, H. +Wallace, M. S. Gibbons, J. Donthit, S. Reed, Arthur Adams, Ezra Brown, +Ira M. Barlow, George M. Caldwell, George W. Carter, John Downer, +Thomas Ely, Sherman Collinger, Stephen H. Hopkins, Daniel Jones, Perrin +D. Loomis, David C. Nunemaker, J. L. Oviatt, G. Russell, N. Twitchell, +Ralph Winzenried, John C. Fox, A. Inskeep, James Kincaid, John Lentz, +R. D. Murray, John Pollock, E. S. Mathews, A. Shaffer, C. Glendenning, +Alfred Jackson, Hiram Deeds, Ira S. Ray, Richard Freeman, Samuel Knap, +John Fishcun, James A. Tell, William Kelley, T. D. Williams, Charles +Smith, George A. Earl, Maskell Bispham, Frederick Michael, Henry +Schmid, John Hammond, William Pfahl, John Pike, George Sahl, George +Zipp; George Rogers, musician. +</p> + + + + +<a name="XVI"> </a> +<h2> +CHAPTER XVI. +<br><br> +<span class="smallsc"> +The regiment goes into camp at Alexandria, but is soon +ordered to the front. — Battle of Antietam.</span> +</h2> + + +<p> +After the battle of Cedar Mountain, the regiment took part in the +memorable retreat of General Pope to the Potomac. During the time, it +was not engaged in immediate action; but was exposed, on several +occasions, to the shell from the enemy's batteries. After a fatiguing +march of sixteen days, it arrived, on the 2d day of September, under +the guns of the fortifications around Alexandria. On the following day +it was marched to Arlington Heights, to the support of Fort Albany, +near which it encamped in a beautiful meadow. +</p> + +<p> +At midnight of the same day an order was received to have the command +ready to march at half-past eight on the following morning; but it did +not leave, however, until near noon, when, crossing the Potomac to +Georgetown, it moved off in the direction of Poolesville, bivouacking +at night five miles from Georgetown. On the following morning the +command started before day had fairly dawned, and passing through +Rockville, bivouacked at night near the place. On the 5th it moved +forward, and leaving the small village of Darnstown on the left, formed +in line of battle, fronting Poolesville, and awaited the advance of the +enemy; but he failing to appear in that direction, but threatening +Pennsylvania, by the way of Frederick, the command, on the 9th, broke +camp and advanced in five columns towards the latter city. After a +brief skirmish, the advance entered the place on the 12th. On the 13th, +the regiment crossed the mountains into Pleasant Valley to Middletown. +While descending the side of the mountain, the progress of the battle +of South Mountain was plainly seen. This engagement was fought by the +division of General Cox, of Reno's corps. These troops won great praise +for their gallantry and good fighting qualities; and the general, an +additional star. +</p> + +<p> +On the 15th, the advance of the Federal army drove the enemy in the +direction of Boonesboro', and through the town towards Sharpsburg. +Generals Richardson's and Pleasanton's column of cavalry and light +artillery proved very annoying to the enemy in this day's retreat. +</p> + +<p> +On the following day, the 16th of September, the rebel army took up its +position across Antietam Creek, and there awaited the approach of the +Federals. +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#note1" name="noteref1"><small>[1]</small></a>"This position consisted of a series of sharp points, rising from +the bank of the creek, and extending to the rear of Sharpsburg in a +succession of ridges; but, when viewed from a point a little in front, +has the appearance of table-land, the ravines being undistinguishable. +These points or ridges are for the most part surmounted by a heavy +copse of timber, which furnished admirable shelter for foot-soldiers; +while, with batteries flanking each hill, the position was all that a +general could wish for defence. +</p> + +<p> +"Seeing the strength of the position, McClellan sent Hooker's and +Sumner's corps around to the left of the enemy's advance position, +across Antietam Creek, and, ere the close of day, they had succeeded in +driving him fully a mile. +</p> + +<p> +"We had lain down in line of battle, expecting to remain till the +morrow. The <i>tattoo</i> had sounded, and an impressive silence had +settled upon the bivouac, broken only by the tread of the alarm-guard, +as he slowly paced his beat, and the occasional passing of an orderly, +conveying some order to be executed on the coming day. Not long were we +to rest. Our ears were soon assailed with—'<i>Attention, First +brigade!</i>' and we were soon in line, and moving around to the right, +to the support of Hooker and Sumner, where we arrived about one +<span class="smc">A.M.</span>, and bivouacked upon the ground held by the rebels +scarce six hours previous. An occasional shot or volley, in an +adjoining piece of woods, reminded us of the close proximity of the +enemy. Nevertheless, the rest of the night was passed quietly enough by +us. +</p> + +<p> +"The morning came, fresh and beautiful; but our <i>reveille</i> was not +the rattle of the drum, nor the clear notes of the bugle. The day was +opened by a fierce volley of musketry, succeeded by another, and yet +another, which were soon so continuous as to be blended in one +unremittent roll. The struggle had commenced, and the sun that rose +shone upon a field already red with blood. Soon the heavy booming of +cannon was mingled with the sharp, crackling roll of small-arms, and +the din was terrific. Hooker was engaged, and hotly too. We were +immediately ordered under arms, and advanced in the direction of the +fight. Halting in easy supporting distance, we were given thirty +minutes in which to make coffee. At the end of this time the volume of +sound perceptibly increased, and was becoming nearer. The rebels were +re-enforced, and were slowly driving our men before them. 'Forward,' +shouted General Mansfield; and forward we went, in column of division, +as cool and regular as on drill. Changing direction to the left, we +advanced through a cornfield taken by Hooker the evening previous, and +which was now held by the rebels, having driven our boys back. An open +field lay before us, commanded by the direct and flank fire of the +rebel artillery, and the left flank of their infantry. Notwithstanding +the heavy fire we thus suddenly received, the advance was made +steadily, and in slow time. Arriving at the front, we deployed into +line of battle. The line now being complete, we advanced; <i>and the +work was begun</i>. No halt was made until the woods were ours; but the +enemy was to be dislodged from behind a rail fence. Then we occupied +the crest of the hill in the woods, and from this point we directed our +fire to the fence, where we could plainly see them level their pieces +at us, and fire. +</p> + +<p> +"For an hour and a half we thus remained, and fought: one side with the +energy of despair; the other, with an energy imparted with the +consciousness of right and justice. The contest was fair and equal, and +the right triumphed. At last the line began to waver, and General Green +shouted, 'Charge!' With a yell of triumph we started, with levelled +bayonets; and, terror-stricken, the rebels fled. Like hounds after the +frightened deer, we pursued them fully three-fourths of a mile, +killing, wounding, and taking prisoners almost every rod. Their colors +fell: a private soldier leaped forward, and tore them from the staff. +</p> + +<p> +"Across the fields we pursued the foe, who again took shelter in a +heavy piece of timber, flanked by their artillery. A battery of +twelve-pounder howitzers came to our support, and most efficient +service it rendered. We formed in two lines in rear of the battery, and +lay behind a low ridge, sufficiently high to protect from a direct +shot, but which offered no shelter from the fragments of shells +bursting near to and over us; these were continually striking amongst +us, often grazing a cap or an arm, but doing no particular harm. The +howitzers were doing splendidly, when suddenly we heard, 'But eight +rounds left!' Twenty more rounds would silence the rebel battery, but +we had them not. Soon the rebel fire was more rapid, and a yell in the +distance denoted an advance of their infantry. Shall we retreat? No! we +will hold our ground, or die! On they come, yelling defiantly: 'tis A. +P. Hill's division, second to none but Jackson's. We look anxiously for +another battery. It comes! It comes! We are safe! The gallant Eighth +Rhode Island Battery comes up in splendid style; our ranks open right +and left for them, the exhausted battery of howitzers wheeling out of +line. The Parrotts were unlimbered, and shell, five-second fuse, called +for, and they opened in glorious style. +</p> + +<p> +"But what means that shout so closely on our right? They have flanked +us, and are charging our battery! A half right wheel was made, and we +were partially under cover of a narrow ridge. A portion of our front +rank, with the colors, advanced, and opened a fire upon their column, +but, as it was intended, it only drew them on; shouting fiercely, they +dashed forward, expecting to have an easy capture. We waited until they +were within six rods, when, with a yell such as freemen know how to +give, we rose and poured the contents of our rifles into the mass of +graybacks emerging from the woods. They reeled and staggered for a +moment, then rallied, and returned our fire for half an hour, then +wavered. Perceiving this, Lieutenant-Colonel Tindell, commanding +brigade, ordered a charge. As we started, they broke and fled in +confusion. Our brigade advanced to the woods, but was soon replaced by +a New Jersey regiment, which quickly broke and fled. On came the +rebels, yelling and exultingly waving their colors, across a field, and +entered a cornfield to the south, to flank our men who were engaging a +division. Their triumph was short, for they suddenly found themselves +nearly surrounded by General Franklin's troops, who came in from the +north and east, over the identical ground we fought over, and +precipitated themselves upon the flank of the enemy, six hundred of +whom threw down their guns and surrendered, those remaining fleeing in +dismay from the field. +</p> + +<p> +"This <i>coup de grace</i> closed the heavy fighting upon the right, +and we retired from the front, lacerated but cheerful, feeling that our +duty was faithfully performed, and knowing that the rebels were +defeated." +</p> + +<p> +The next two days were occupied in burying the dead and collecting the +wounded. +</p> + +<p> +On the 19th, the regiment left for Harper's Ferry, arriving at Maryland +Heights on the 20th. A few days after it forded the Potomac River, and +went into permanent camp on Loudon Heights. +</p> + +<p> +The regiment sustained a loss at the battle of Antietam of five killed +and thirty-eight wounded. The list is as follows: +</p> + +<p> +<i>Killed.</i>—Sergeant James B. Carter; Corporal Martin Lazrus; +privates, John Bacon, Elbridge F. Meachum, George O. Sherick. +</p> + +<p> +<i>Wounded.</i>—Lieutenant Ernest J. Kreiger; sergeants, George A. +McKay, Jerry G. Clafflin, Isaac Jones, James Hansell; corporals, Edward +Goodsell, Henry H. Bailey, Hiram J. Bell, John F. Ely, Austin Bull, +James Bryant, J. Kurly; privates, George A. Wood, Joseph Kubler, +Laurine Lamphier, Pliney E. Hill, George Steinberger, E. C. Miller, +Daniel Weatherlow, David Everett, Alfred W. Mosley, Averett C. Reed, +Alson Coe, Alfred E. May, Thomas Woolf, Henry Wilcox, George Houck, +William Cromwell, Caleb Bryant, George Wandal, Nick Bauer, Charles +Briedenbach, Charles Graiter. +</p> + + + + +<a name="XVII"> </a> +<h2> +CHAPTER XVII. +<br><br> +<span class="smallsc"> +The march to Dumfries. — Skirmish +with Hampton's cavalry, in which they are badly defeated by a much +inferior force.</span> +</h2> + + +<p> +While at Loudon Heights, the monotony of life in camp was relieved by +drill, guard, and picket duty, with an occasional reconnoissance. On +the latter occasions some little skirmishing would usually occur. An +occasional dash was made by the rebels upon the Union picket-line. +</p> + +<p> +Soon after the occupation of this post the grand army crossed the +Potomac and Shenandoah into the Loudon Valley, on its way to +Fredericksburg. We copy a description of the march of a regiment in +Porter's corps.<a href="#note2" name="noteref2"><small>[2]</small></a> +</p> + +<p> +"I have been thinking of the difference between soldiering that we read +about—fancy soldiering, glory and honor soldiering—and real +soldiering of the rough and tumble kind. How well it sounds to read: 'A +regiment of brave men marched proudly through the streets of Harper's +Ferry, to strains of sweet music. Gallantly the veterans of a dozen +battles streamed along, their banners gayly floating in the breeze; +they go to join the Army of the Potomac.' What is it when divested of +its trimmings? 'About three hundred and fifty of what once was a +regiment one thousand strong, went through Harper's Ferry to-day. In +vain the tum, tum, tum of the drum, at the head of the column, urged +the men to keep time. Wearied, worn out by continued tramping, loaded +down with their knapsacks, three days' rations in their haversacks, and +the prospect of a long march before them, slowly they dragged +themselves along; their torn and tattered flag, as well as soiled +clothes, giving evidence of hard service.' Again let us quote: 'At +evening they halted, and bivouacked for the night; refreshed and ready +at early dawn to continue the line of march.' Sift that a little—that +bivouac. Almost worn out with incessant and continued tramping through +mud, and muck, and mire, great clumps of which would stick and cleave +on to the shoe at every step, the night fast closing in, the column +halted; slowly the lingering mass closed up, stacked arms, and broke +ranks. Some, too tired to make a fire and cook food, threw themselves +on the cold, damp ground, and, with their blankets wrapped around them, +shivered to sleep; others, having eaten scarcely any thing all day, +threw off their cumbrous loads, and started, in the now dark night, in +search of wood and water. An old fire-scorched tin cup answers for a +coffee-pot as well as tea-kettle. Into it the water, muddy with the +feet of perhaps a thousand water-hunting tired ones, is put; and while +the coffee is boiling, a piece of fat pork is drawn from the haversack, +and a slice cut off; a long stick, pointed, on which the slice is +secured, and frizzling, sizzling, half burned, half cooked, ready when +the coffee is. The pork, coffee, and hard bread form, for the hundredth +time, the meal of the hungry soldier. Perhaps on the roadside, right in +the mud, glad in truth to lie anywhere, one after another drops his +wearied form. The heavy rain comes down in torrents, wetting him +through and through, but tired nature heeds it not—must have rest. +</p> + +<p> +"Early dawn comes. Again the pork, coffee, and hard bread; and the +stiffened, sore, leg-weary patriot buckles on his saturated knapsack, +and, like a foundered horse, limps achingly along till he gets heated +up, with the same prospect before him of twenty miles +tramp—clamp—tramp." +</p> + +<p> +On the 10th day of December the regiment left Bolivar Heights, crossed +the Shenandoah on a pontoon, and winding round the bluff of Loudon, +passed up the Loudon Valley. +</p> + +<p> +While passing through Hillsboro', the command was given, by Lieutenant +Shepherd to his men, to "Close up!—get into your places!" General +Geary, on foot and unobserved, had marched along just in rear of the +company. Hearing the command, he remarked: "Well, here is a vacant +place, I guess I'll fill it up;" and stepped into the place. He +marched, in this manner, some distance, talking freely with those +nearest him, at the same time obeying orders promptly. +</p> + +<p> +The regiment encamped about a mile beyond Hillsboro'. +</p> + +<p> +Bright and early on the following morning the command moved on. Leaving +the battle-field where the brave Kearney fell, and Fairfax on the left, +on the 15th it arrived in sight of the Lower Potomac, and encamped +after crossing Naabsco Creek. +</p> + +<p> +Having passed Dumfries on the 17th, an order came that the Fifth, +Seventh, and Sixty-sixth regiments, under command of Colonel Candy, +should march back and hold that post. On the following day, crossing +Powell's Creek, two hours' march brought the brigade in the outskirts +of Dumfries, where it went into camp. +</p> + +<p> +Nothing transpired worthy of mention until the 27th of December, when +the heavy booming of cannon was heard in the vicinity of the +picket-line. It was evident that the enemy were making a descent on the +pickets. For several days this attack had been expected, therefore in a +few minutes the command was ready and in line of battle. The pickets +gradually gave way, under the command of the indomitable Creighton, +fighting their way back to the line of battle, in which they took +position. The rebels came gallantly forward, in anticipation of an easy +victory. When within short-range of our guns, they were met by such a +terrible fire of musketry from our partially concealed line, as to +check their advance. They, however, rallied, and returned the fire; but +in a moment staggered, and finally withdrew in confusion from the +field. Again forming their broken columns, they hurled themselves +against our line. They were again met by a determined front, and, with +a like result, were sent, broken and mangled, back upon their reserves. +A third time reforming their wasted ranks, they came down with great +impetuosity, and hurled their solid columns against the weak lines of +the Federals. They were again met with a sheet of flame, which sent up +its column of blue smoke along the entire front. For a moment it was +impossible to tell the effect produced on the rebels; but the smoke +clearing away before a light breeze, it was discovered that their +advance had been arrested. One more united effort, and the rebel line +was again sent back crushed and bleeding. They again organized for a +last desperate charge, and most gallantly did they sweep down upon our +line. Up the hill and over the brush and logs, which lay in their way, +with wild impetuosity, which threatened to crush every thing before +them. Aware of the avalanche that was sweeping down upon them, the +Union boys hugged the ground, awaiting, with breathless anxiety, the +command to fire. At last the stentorian voice of the sturdy Crane was +heard to shout the order, when a band of patriots, their eyes kindled +to a blaze with the ardor of their daring, with strong muscles and +steady nerves, rose, and with a shout that made the gray hills of old +Dumfries echo, poured a volley of death into the rebel host. Disdaining +to again take refuge under cover, the line stood manfully up, and met +the continued onsets of the foe. The brave Creighton stood on a hill +exposed to the fire—how could men falter while the noble form of their +leader was thus bared to the bullets of the enemy? They did not falter; +but the line stood like a wall. The rebels were soon seen to waver, and +as the night "cast its mantle over the combatants," they tardily and +solemnly withdrew, bearing with them the lacerated, bleeding victims to +their endurance. +</p> + +<p> +At night the line was drawn in, and after making every effort for the +security of the command, the boys lay down upon their arms, harassed by +an oppressive uncertainty which always haunts the soldier in the +bivouac upon the battle-field. +</p> + +<p> +During that long night the lonely picket-guard peered out into the +darkness, intent upon catching the first footfall of the cautious foe. +Slowly and with careful tread he paced his weary beat, fearful that he +might be pounced upon by the wily enemy ere he could give the alarm to +his slumbering companions. Through rain, and sleet, and +darkness—oppressed with the solemn stillness that at night hangs +over the earth—with a sense of loneliness weighing upon his +feelings—he stood like a spectre in the gloom, the guardian of the +thousands slumbering in the camp. While others dream of home, and +friends, and firesides, afar off on the hills of New England, or the +starlit prairies of the West, the wakeful picket keeps his vigil. May +God protect him in his watch! +</p> + +<p> +As day again dispelled the shadows that darkened the hills and the +valleys, the columns of the brave Sigel were seen winding their way +through the village. A shout of welcome greeted these heroes. The +dreadful suspense that had weighed upon the hearts of the combatants of +the day before, during that long night of watching, now gave place to +cheerfulness; and confidence was again restored. But the cautions +Hampton had fled; and nothing met the eye save the frowning hills. +</p> + +<p> +The following is the list of killed and wounded in this affair: +</p> + +<p> +<i>Killed.</i>—Corporal Austin Ball. +</p> + +<p> +<i>Wounded.</i>—Corporal E. M. Corrdett; privates, Sylvester Carter, +Philip Grigsby, Thomas Roff, Wm. P. Root, Wm. H. Kibbee, W. M. Perry, +Stephen Willock. +</p> + +<p> +<i>Prisoners.</i>—John Gordon, Andrew Atleff, Richard M. Vreeland, +Douglass F. Pomeroy, Henry T. Benton, Lewis T. Butts, Henry Alderman, +Charles Bradly, James Snider, John Beiler, W. M. Perry. +</p> + + + + +<a name="XVIII"> </a> +<h2> +CHAPTER XVIII. +<br><br> +<span class="smallsc"> +The regiment ordered to the +front. — Battle of Chancellorsville.</span> +</h2> + + +<p> +Near the middle of April, 1863, the regiment marched down to Aquia +Landing, where it remained in camp for two weeks. +</p> + +<p> +General Hooker was now in command of the grand Army of the Potomac, +having relieved Burnside after that general's unsuccessful attack on +Fredericksburg. Hooker resolved to make an attempt to drive the rebel +army from the vicinity of the Rappahannock. Burnside's failure had +demonstrated the impracticability of crossing the river at +Fredericksburg; for no army was safe for a moment with a strong army +behind three lines of well-constructed earthworks in its front, and a +wide and deep river in its rear. He therefore chose a flank movement by +the way of Banks and United States fords, thus striking the left flank +of the enemy near Chancellorsville Court-house, and avoiding their +strong fortifications in the rear of Fredericksburg. +</p> + +<p> +The Seventh Regiment arrived in the vicinity of Chancellorsville on the +afternoon of the 30th of April, and encamped for the night a little +southeast of the latter place, and near the Fredericksburg plankroad. +</p> + +<p> +Early on Friday morning it was ordered forward, and took position in +the second line of battle, in an open wood-lot, facing south. Late in +the afternoon it was ordered back; and it finally took position +directly south of the famous brick house, called the Chancellorsville +Place, where headquarters were established and maintained during most +of the action. +</p> + +<p> +Just before dark the rebels came up in great numbers, in an attack on +Knapp's Battery, which was stationed on the left. The Seventh was +ordered to its support, but the attack was repelled before the regiment +became warmly engaged. It remained in support of this battery during +the night and in the forenoon of the following day. About noon of the +2d of May, the regiment was ordered forward to support a line of +skirmishers; but this line, refusing to advance, was passed by the +regiment, when it took the advance, and most handsomely drove the enemy +back for some distance, holding the ground for several hours, when it +was ordered to retire. It did so without confusion, taking a new +position in rear of a piece of woods, where it remained until ordered +into the intrenchments. +</p> + +<p> +During this advance, the right wing was hotly engaged, and lost +heavily; the left wing suffering slightly. It remained during the night +in its old position near the brick house, in the second line of battle. +</p> + +<p> +On the 3d, the regiment advanced to what is known as "the old +rifle-pit," which it occupied while the other troops were falling back +across a cleared field south of the Fredericksburg plankroad. Here it +was exposed to a galling fire from the advancing rebel column; but it +stood firm. When the balance of the troops of the brigade were in +proper position, it formed under the protection of a battery, and +slowly moved off the field, exposed to a terrible fire of both musketry +and artillery, taking up its position in rear of the brigade. The +brigade, however, was soon driven back, and passed to the rear of the +regiment, exposing it to a severe fire. Soon the order came for a +general advance, when the brigade, with a loud shout, dashed at the +foe, led by the Seventh. The rebels were pushed back for a considerable +distance; but no support coming up, the brigade was compelled to fall +back to the south of the brick house, where it halted, and laid down in +the road; but about eleven o'clock at night the shelling became so +continuous and heavy that it was forced still further back, and finally +resulting in its withdrawal to the vicinity of United States Ford. That +night the regiment occupied a rifle-pit about half a mile from the +river. At four o'clock in the afternoon of the 5th, it was relieved by +the Fifth Ohio; and taking a circuitous route, arrived in a ravine on +the left of the column, and near the river, and was soon after employed +in the intrenchments. +</p> + +<p> +Early in the morning of the 6th, the regiment crossed the river on a +pontoon at United States Ford, and in the afternoon of the 7th arrived +at its old camp at Aquia Landing. +</p> + +<p> +In this battle the regiment was actively engaged but a small portion of +the time. The loss was not severe, when taking into account the +magnitude of the engagement, and its duration. +</p> + +<p> +Why the army recrossed the river has not been fully explained. The +immediate battle was not a defeat; at least it has not been considered +as such. However, the two columns of Sedgwick and Hooker failed to +unite, which fact may have had an influence in determining the retreat. +The attacks of the enemy had been repulsed at all points, while +Sedgwick had carried a portion of their fortifications in rear of +Fredericksburg. The retreat alone turned a prospective victory into a +humiliating defeat. The grand army failed to accomplish the purpose of +its advance, and was compelled to hasten its march across the river in +retreat, over which it had, but a week before, advanced in triumph. It +can be said by way of apology only, that while at Chancellorsville the +army maintained its reputation for bravery and endurance, the enemy +manifestly looked upon it as a fruitless victory to him. +</p> + +<p> +The following is a list of the killed and wounded: +</p> + +<p> +<i>Killed.</i>—Orderly-Sergeant Henry Whiting; Color-Sergeant John D. +Creigh; Corporal A. C. Trimmer; privates, Charles H. Cheeney, E. N. +Larom, Henry A. Pratt, John Randle, Almon Lower, John Lee, Stafford +Penney, Thomas Carle, A. C. Steadman, Victor Perrley, Henry Ackman. +</p> + +<p> +<i>Wounded.</i>—Orderly-Sergeant Elmon Hingston; sergeants, H. H. +Bailey, John S. Davis, James Lapham, H. L. Allen; corporals, A. A. +Austin, John Gardiner, S. M. Cole, J. S. Kellogg; privates, W. Furniss, +H. Owen, F. Eldridge, W. Van Wye, E. C. Palmer, D. L. Hunt, E. V. Nash, +Henry H. Pierce, O. Jackman, C. A. Wood, H. S. Smalley, Charles P. +Smith, S. P. Sherley, F. Rockefellow, Frank Randal, Joseph Kubler, +Michael St. Auge, David Boil, James Dixon, Oliver Wise, James Farron, +G. Breakman, F. Mauley, John Shelby, Andrew Copeland, S. G. Cone, W. W. +Hunt, E. Kennedy, H. G. Benton, A. S. Raymond, C. A. Parks, Isaac +Stratton, H. Thwing, James Baxter, J. W. Benson, S. Hughes, P. Smith, +S. A. Fuller, F. Hank, John Clonde, E. O. Whiting, G. W. Bonn, S. H. +Barnum, J. C. Brooks, W. H. Fox, I. H. Gregg, W. Hunter, H. Jones, S. +Moneysmith, S. S. Pelton, B. Wilson, D. W. Waters, W. H. Bannister, H. +Lewis, W. J. Evans, C. L. Cowden, H. Hoffman, S. Renz, M. Saiser, E. A. +Spurn, L. Knoble. +</p> + + + + +<a name="XIX"> </a> +<h2> +CHAPTER XIX. +<br><br> +<span class="smallsc"> +Accompanies the grand army into +Pennsylvania. — Battle of Gettysburg.</span> +</h2> + + +<p> +After the battle of Chancellorsville, the regiment remained for some +time in its camp at Aquia Landing. The Army of the Potomac, as well as +that of Lee, was quietly reorganizing, preparatory to another struggle. +Soon Lee began to threaten the outer line of Hooker, by making +demonstrations on the various fords of the Rappahannock. At one time +threatening to move boldly across, and at another menacing the flank, +as if to attack one wing of the army. These various movements gave rise +to sharp skirmishes, nothing more. At last it was evident that Lee +meant an invasion of the North. The Army of the Potomac was therefore +set in motion. +</p> + +<p> +The Seventh left its camp early in June, and proceeded to Martinsburg +by the way of Fairfax. Lee continuing his flank movement, the grand +army was compelled to fall back across the Potomac; the Seventh +crossing at Edward's Ferry. The rebel army now crossed the river by the +way of Williamsport, and moved forward towards Pennsylvania. The Army +of the Potomac moved in the same direction, passing through Frederick +City, Maryland, and taking up its position in rear of Gettysburg, +Pennsylvania. The line of battle was formed a little distance from and +facing the town. On the first day of July the rebel army advanced and +occupied the town, but the day was exhausted in manÅ“uvring, attended +with slight skirmishing between the advance of the two armies. +</p> + +<p> +Hooker had been relieved, and General Meade ordered to assume command. +</p> + +<p> +After the Seventh arrived on the field it took its position on the left +side of the Gettysburg and Littletown pike. +</p> + +<p> +Early on the morning of the 2d it took a position on a hill on the +right of this road, at the same time sending Company H to the front, +under command of Captain McClelland. This company remained at the front +during the entire day. For the first time in its history, the regiment +occupied a position under cover, a stone wall being in its front. Up to +this time it had not been exposed to the fire of infantry; but during +the afternoon it suffered slight loss from a brisk artillery fire. At +eleven o'clock at night it advanced down the pike, and took a position +in a hollow, running at right angles with the road. It was now exposed +to a musketry fire, resulting in the wounding of one man. It soon fell +back to a stone wall, parallel with a road leading to the pike; and +shortly after it advanced to this road, from which twenty men were sent +forward as skirmishers, under command of Sergeant Stratton. This +gallant soldier was mortally wounded while bravely leading his command +against the foe. +</p> + +<p> +On the morning of the 3d the regiment moved forward, after having +called in the skirmishers, to the relief of the Sixtieth New York +Volunteers, occupying a line of intrenchments. In the evening it was +relieved, and withdrew to the breastworks in the rear; but was soon +after ordered forward to the relief of another regiment, where it +remained until late in the evening. During the entire day it was +exposed to a heavy fire of musketry, from which it suffered +considerable loss, considering the position it occupied. When relieved, +it withdrew to the position held by it in the morning. +</p> + +<p> +At one o'clock on the morning of the 4th of July, it again moved +forward to the intrenchments, where it remained till the brigade moved +off in the direction of Littletown. +</p> + +<p> +The following incidents occurred July the 3d: While occupying the +intrenchments, a white flag was seen flying from the front of the +enemy's lines. The firing being suspended, seventy-eight rebels came +forward and surrendered, including six officers. Lieutenant Leigh, of +Ewell's staff, came forward and endeavored to stop the surrender; but +was fired upon by the regiment, and instantly killed. +</p> + +<p> +Corporal John Pollock leaped over the breastworks and captured the flag +of the Fourteenth Virginia rebel regiment. +</p> + +<p> +Private James J. Melton was wounded, and afterwards taken to a +hospital, where he remained for some time; since which his friends have +heard nothing from him. The wound being in the head, he is supposed to +have become deranged and wandered away, unable to give any account of +himself. No means have been left untried to obtain information of his +whereabouts, but without avail. +</p> + +<p> +The regiment having fought under partial cover, the loss was slight: +one killed and seventeen wounded. +</p> + + + + +<a name="XX"> </a> +<h2> +CHAPTER XX. +<br><br> +<span class="smallsc"> +After reaching the Rapidan it goes to Governor's +Island. — After its return it accompanies Hooker's +corps to the Western department.</span> +</h2> + + +<p> +After the battle of Gettysburg, the regiment was with the grand army in +pursuit of the broken columns of General Lee. Passing through Frederick +City, it arrived at Harper's Ferry and went into camp. Here it remained +for two days, when it moved across the Potomac, and again passing up +the beautiful Loudon Valley, crossed the Blue Ridge to Fairfax and +Manassas Junction, over the old battle-field of Bull Run. Again taking +up the line of march, it crossed the Rappahannock below Culpepper +Court-house, and encamped on the banks of the Rapidan. +</p> + +<p> +About this time a riot broke out in New York city, which required the +presence of the military, as an assistance to the civil authorities. +The Government was therefore called upon to furnish troops. Several +regiments were at once dispatched to the scene of strife. Among these +was the Seventh. It left the vicinity of the Rapidan about one week +after its arrival there. It marched to Alexandria, and there taking the +United States ship Baltic, passed down the Potomac through Chesapeake +Bay to the ocean, arriving on Governor's Island in the latter part of +August. It remained until the first of September, when again embarking, +it sailed to Alexandria, from whence it marched to the Rapidan, near +its old camp. +</p> + +<p> +General Rosecrans had now been removed from the command of the Army of +the Cumberland, and General Grant assumed control. The army occupied +the vicinity of Chattanooga, Tennessee; while the rebel army under +General Bragg occupied Mission Ridge, immediately in front of and +overlooking the city. The task of driving Bragg from this position was +assigned to General Grant. +</p> + +<p> +Before entering upon this campaign, however, it was necessary to +re-enforce the Army of the Cumberland; for it had not entirely +recovered from the disastrous battle of Chickamauga. For this purpose +it was necessary to draw on the Army of the Potomac, now lying idle on +the banks of the Rapidan. At this time this army had, <i>positively</i> +speaking, accomplished nothing. It had barely saved Washington from the +enemy. To be sure, it had seen many hard-fought battles, and on all +occasions sustained its reputation for courage and endurance. But the +results following these battles were entirely negative; and after more +than two years of marches, counter-marches, sieges, and battles, when +graves had been dug from the Potomac to the James, and filled with the +best blood of the land, and the country left in mourning for her fallen +braves, but little territory had been gained, and the possession of +this little being constantly disputed by a well-organized and gallant +army. A sort of fatality had thus settled down upon the Army of the +Potomac. Some of the best generals had been summoned to its command, +but to no purpose. The hand of fate rested upon it heavily. When about +to seize upon victory, some stream would rise in its rear, or some +unseen accident happen to its communications or line of supplies, +compelling it to let go its hold on victory, and in its stead to accept +defeat. No wonder, then, that the authorities saw fit to send a part of +this not very promising army to a department where victory sometimes +rested upon the Federal arms. Hooker's corps was therefore ordered to +report to Grant. +</p> + +<p> +The Seventh being a part of this command, left its camp on the Rapidan +in the latter part of September, and moving up to Washington, passed +over to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, when it left for Nashville, +Tennessee, by the way of Columbus, Indianapolis, and Louisville. It +soon after left for Wartrays, by the way of Murfreesboro'. It was now +ordered to construct winter-quarters, but having them nearly completed, +it was ordered to Bridgeport, Alabama, where it arrived in due time. +</p> + +<p> +This entire trip from the East was accomplished without any delay, and +nothing occurring to lessen the good opinion the people entertained for +this veteran corps. +</p> + + + + +<a name="XXI"> </a> +<h2> +CHAPTER XXI. +<br><br> +<span class="smallsc"> +The Seventh joins Grant's army. — The +battles of Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, and Ringgold.</span> +</h2> + + +<p> +After remaining for some time at Bridgeport, the regiment was ordered +to the vicinity of Lookout Mountain. It marched to the little village +of Wahatcha, at the base of this mountain, and went into camp. It +remained, however, but a short time, and then returned to Bridgeport, +where it went into permanent camp. +</p> + +<p> +Late in the fall, General Grant had perfected his arrangements to +attack the rebel stronghold on Lookout Mountain; and, as a preparatory +measure, his vast army was concentrated in the vicinity of Chattanooga. +An immense quantity of stores had been gathered, while garrisons were +placed at points to be held for the purpose of keeping up communication +with the army after its advance. Early in November, the Seventh left +its quarters in Alabama, and joined the grand army. +</p> + +<p> +On the 24th of November, the army was set in motion. The Seventh passed +up the northern slope of the mountain, and crossing Lookout Creek, +formed in line of battle. It now steadily advanced, arriving at the +rebel camp to find it in the hands of our men. But desultory firing was +kept up by the rebel sharpshooters concealed in the timber and behind +rocks on the summit of the mountain. The regiment was now ordered on +picket. Passing around to the east side of the mountain, it was fired +upon by the enemy; but owing to their being entirely hidden from view +by the dense fog that had settled over the combatants, it did not +return the fire, but secured a safe harbor behind rocks and trees. This +fire was kept up for nearly two hours, with a loss to the regiment of +only four men wounded. Before night the regiment was relieved from duty +and marched to the rear, bivouacking in a peach orchard. +</p> + +<p> +About ten <span class="smc">A.M.</span> of the 25th, it moved down the opposite side +of the mountain, and passing through a small valley, soon reached +Mission Ridge. Without halting, the command moved steadily up this +mountain, and on arriving on its summit, found that the rebels had +fled. Passing into another valley, it bivouacked for the night. On the +26th, the command moved to the vicinity of Pigeon Mountain, where it +remained till the following day. Early on the morning of the 27th, it +moved on to Ringgold, Georgia, where it found the enemy securely posted +on Taylor's Ridge. On arriving in this town, the brigade was ordered to +scale the mountain. It was formed on the railroad, in two lines of +battle; the second line being ordered to preserve a distance of one +hundred yards. Two Pennsylvania regiments formed the first line, and +the Sixty-sixth and Seventh Ohio the second line; the Seventh being on +the left. The enemy soon discovered the intention of our troops, and +made his dispositions to meet the attack by extending his right. As +soon as the advance began, the enemy opened fire. Arriving at the foot +of the hill, the first line halted to return the fire, and the second +line passed through. The Seventh now moved into a ravine, where it was +exposed to a terrible fire from the front and both flanks, but it +pressed on without firing a shot. Arriving almost on the crest of the +hill, the fire became too effective for even these gallant veterans to +withstand, and the line gave way, fighting as it went. In this manner, +the surviving few reached the foot of the hill. +</p> + +<p> +This engagement was short, but terrible in its results to the regiment. +It may be said that with this struggle its star of glory began to +fade—its pride and spirit were broken. But one officer escaped +uninjured, while many were killed. The number of men in the action was +two hundred and six, of whom fourteen was killed and forty-nine +wounded. +</p> + +<p> +For what purpose this handful of men were ordered to storm the enemy's +position on the hill has never been explained. There was no artillery +used to cover the assault, without which it was impossible to carry the +position with such a force, and hazardous to attempt it with any. +Within a short distance there was a large amount of artillery, which +could have been placed in position, after which Taylor's Ridge would +have been untenable by the enemy. On seeing such dispositions being +made, he would probably have anticipated the movement, and fled without +firing a gun. But thus far Hooker and his almost invincible corps had +carried every thing before them. This success seemed to bring with it a +contempt for the rebel soldiers, which finally resulted in the great +disaster at Taylor's Ridge. A good general will resist the influences +growing out of success, and not be led by these to undertake +impossibilities, and by such rashness endanger that which he has +already gained. It requires greater self-control to resist the +temptations following victory, than to overcome the demoralizing +influences of defeat. Victory must never elate a general, while defeat +must never depress him. +</p> + +<p> +After this battle, an unsuccessful attempt was made to get the regiment +ordered home. But the response of Halleck, to a similar application, +made after the battle of Cedar Mountain, was reiterated. "No!" said the +old warrior; "not so long as there is a lame drummer-boy left; not if +you will send us a whole new regiment in place of this handful. We know +these men—they are just such as we want." This compliment, from an +officer who was in command of all of the armies of the United States, +was worth many a hard march, as well as battle. +</p> + +<p> +The following is a list of the killed and wounded in the three battles +of Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, and Taylor's Ridge: +</p> + +<p> +<i>Killed.</i>—Colonel W. R. Creighton; Lieutenant-Colonel O. J. +Crane; Adjutant Moris Baxter; second-lieutenants, Isaac C. Jones and +Joseph Cryne; sergeants, J. C. Corlet, William Van Wye; corporals, +Alfred Austin, W. H. Bennett; privates, C. F. King, C. E. Wall, D. P. +Wood, J. L. Fish, Thomas Sweet, Oliver Grinels, Lawrence Remmel, H. +Hanson, J. H. Merrill, William Pfuel. +</p> + +<p> +<i>Wounded.</i>—Captains, W. D. Braden, Samuel McClelland; +first-lieutenants, George A. McKay, George D. Lockwood; +second-lieutenants, D. H. Brown, E. H. Bohm, H. N. Spencer, Christian +Nesper; sergeants, M. M. Cutler, John Gardner, L. Wilson, Isaac +Stratton, Elmore Hemkston; corporals, James W. Raymond, E. V. Nash, +John Baptee, C. Glendenning, Hiram Deeds, Thomas Dowse, George Spencer, +William Senfert, J. E. Hine, W. H. Petton, J. H. Cleverton, H. C. Hunt, +M. H. Sheldon, John Phillips, W. O. Barnes, M. Fitzgerald, J. Tuttle, +George Eikler, W. J. Lowrie, H. O. Pixley, W. H. Johnson, John Bergin, +W. Wise, H. B. Pownell, J. N. Hall, V. Reynolds, R. White, H. Wright, +R. D. Gates, Otis Martin, Joseph Kincaid, W. O. Johnson, J. Decker, J. +Hall, C. Cowden, D. F. Dow, George Mandall, H. Fezer, George Raynette, +L. Habbig, John Schwinck, Joseph Rowe, C. Deitz. +</p> + +<p> +The following were wounded at Lookout Mountain: +</p> + +<p> +John H. Galvin, M. C. Stone, M. W. Bartlett, James A. Garrison, Louis +Owen, A. Gordon. +</p> + + + + +<a name="XXII"> </a> +<h2> +CHAPTER XXII. +<br><br> +<span class="smallsc"> +The advance towards +Atlanta. — Skirmishing. — Homeward +march. — Its reception. — Muster +out.</span> +</h2> + + +<p> +The series of successes in the vicinity of Chattanooga made Grant a +lieutenant-general, and gave Sherman the command of the armies in +Tennessee. Preparations were now made to press back the forces +marshalled in rebellion at all points. Early in the spring the ball was +opened in the East by Lieutenant-General Grant in person, while in the +West the indomitable Sherman set his invincible army in motion towards +the very heart of the so-called Confederacy. The advance was sounded, +and the Union hosts pressed onward. +</p> + +<p> +By sunset on the 17th of May the Seventh Regiment reached Calhoun, and +on the 19th the vicinity of Cassville, where it hastily threw up some +breastworks; but after two hours was ordered forward in line of battle. +On the 23d it passed through the latter village, across the railroad, +and at four <span class="smc">P.M.</span>, arrived on the banks of the Etawa River; +and after fording the stream, bivouacked for the night. On the 25th it +took the advance of the entire column, and deployed seven companies as +skirmishers. The march of these companies was very toilsome, and their +progress correspondingly slow. Near Pumpkin Vine Creek the advance was +fired upon by the enemy's pickets, and a sharp skirmish ensued. During +this time the enemy attempted to destroy the bridge over the creek, but +were driven back by the regiment; when it immediately crossed, and took +possession of a commanding hill. +</p> + +<p> +Generals Hooker and Geary, with staff and body-guard, had moved forward +with the skirmish-line, and sometimes in advance even of this. On one +of the latter occasions the body-guard was fired upon, and the three +reserve companies of the Seventh were ordered to their relief. +</p> + +<p> +The advance of the enemy was now held in check until the other +regiments of the brigade came up, when he was dispersed. +</p> + +<p> +In this skirmish, one man was killed and eight wounded. At this point +the command threw up some breastworks, where it remained until six +<span class="smc">P.M.</span>, when it advanced in line of battle. In this movement +the regiment became hotly engaged, losing three killed and fifteen +wounded. One of the enemy's shell exploding in the ranks, occasioned +the loss of eight men. On the 28th and the previous night, considerable +skirmishing was kept up in front of the line of intrenchments, as well +as some sharp artillery firing; which, however, did very little damage. +These pieces were soon silenced by a New York battery. All day and +night of the 30th the regiment was engaged in sharp skirmishing; but +one man, however, was injured, and he severely. On the 2d of June it +moved forward to Allatoona, Georgia, where it built breastworks, and +went into camp. +</p> + +<p> +Here it remained for some time, when its term of service having +expired, it hastened its steps homeward; thus severing the connecting +link between it and the army. The members of this veteran regiment now +felt that they were no longer soldiers: that, although they retained +the organization and uniform of a regiment, they were private citizens +hastening to enjoy home and friends, from which they had been so long +separated. They marched with joyous hearts, and yet there was sadness +present with this happiness. Many a comrade was left behind, never to +return. Fresh graves marked its line of march from Chattanooga to +Georgia. Friends and kindred were sleeping beneath these green mounds, +and they could not pass them by, in this homeward march, without a tear +of regret. +</p> + +<p> +Following the line of the railroad, the regiment finally halted and +awaited transportation. When this was furnished, it went to Nashville +by railroad, at which place it embarked on steamers and started down +the Cumberland River. Arriving in the vicinity of Harpeth Shoals, it +was fired on by guerrillas, and two men wounded. Both officers and men +were desirous of landing and punishing this band of outlaws for their +insolence, but could not prevail on the captain of the boat to permit +it. +</p> + +<p> +Arriving in the Ohio River, Sergeant Trembly fell from the boat and was +drowned. This was a sad occurrence. He had served faithfully during the +service of the regiment; and now, on the eve of being mustered out, he +lost his life by accident. The boat was stopped, and efforts made to +rescue him, but without success. +</p> + +<p> +When the regiment reached Cincinnati, the Fifth Ohio had already +arrived. The city being about to give an ovation to this gallant +regiment, the Seventh was invited to take part in it, by partaking of +the hospitality of the city. This demonstration, in honor of the two +regiments, was eminently fitting, for they were united by the ties of +long fellowship. From the very first they had been brigaded together. +The history of the one was the history of the other. They had marched, +bivouacked, and fought side by side. Each prized the honor and renown +of the other not less than its own. The city of Cincinnati, in thus +extending its hospitality to the Seventh Regiment, did much credit to +itself. The friends of the regiment will remember this magnanimous +conduct, while the members of the regiment will keep green the memory +of the gallant Fifth. +</p> + +<p> +The following is from the Cleveland Herald, of the 11th of June: +</p> + +<p> +"On Saturday afternoon, soon after the evening papers had been issued, +a dispatch was received, announcing that the Seventh Ohio had but just +left Cincinnati, and would not arrive in Cleveland until about seven +o'clock Sunday morning. Bulletins to this effect were at once printed, +and distributed through the city; but a large crowd of persons, not +aware of this fact, came down to watch the arrival of the evening +train, on which the Seventh was supposed to be coming. +</p> + +<p> +"On Sunday morning the population of the city were early astir, and by +seven o'clock a large and continually increasing crowd had assembled in +and around the depot. The police, in full uniform, marched down to the +depot, and were followed by the old members of the Seventh, bearing the +second regimental flag, the first having been deposited in the +State-house at Columbus. +</p> + +<p> +"At seven o'clock the ringing of the fire-bells announced the approach +of the time for the arrival of the train; and about half-past seven +o'clock a salute from the guns, manned by the Brooklyn Artillery, and +run down to the bluff at the foot of Water-street, announced the +arrival of the train. +</p> + +<p> +"As it moved into the depot it was received with cheers by the +assembled crowd; and the war-worn veterans were soon out of the cars, +and surrounded by anxious and joyful friends. Shouts of welcome, hearty +hand-shaking, embraces and kisses, were showered upon the sun-browned +soldiers. Many of the scenes were very affecting. In one place a young +wife, whose husband had left for the field just after their marriage, +hung with clinging embrace on her returned brave, and her moist eyes +sought his with unutterable affection, her hands trembling with excess +of joy. In another, an old man, with both hands grasped in those of his +son, mingled smiles of joy over his returned boy, with tears of sorrow +for the one who had laid down his life for his country. Mothers clung +to sons, sisters to brothers, wives to husbands, and some little +children climbed up for a father's embrace. +</p> + +<p> +"The number all told, men and officers, of those who returned, was two +hundred and forty-five. These were the remnants of nearly eleven +hundred men, who left Camp Dennison three years ago, on the +reorganization of the regiment. The whole number of the regiment is +five hundred and one, of whom the remainder were recruited at various +times, and their term of service not expired. Sixty of these were left +in Sherman's army; the rest are scattered in every direction, from the +James River to Atlanta. The greater part of those whose term of service +has not expired are to be consolidated with the same class in the Fifth +Ohio, which fought by its side in many a bloody fray, and which is to +retain its number. The slightly wounded were brought up with the +regiment, the more seriously wounded being left in different hospitals. +</p> + +<p> +"The following is the present organization of the Seventh: +</p> + +<p> +"Lieutenant-colonel, Sam. McClelland; surgeon, Dr. Bellows; assistant +surgeon, Dr. Ferguson; Captain Wilcox, Company E; Captain Kreiger, +Company K; Captain Clark, Company B; Captain Howe, Company A; Captain +Braden, Company G; Captain Davis, Company C, taken prisoner in last +fight; Captain Nesper, Company H; Captain McKay, Company F; Captain +Lockwood, Company D; Lieutenant Bohm, commanding Company I; +quartermaster, S. D. Loomis. +</p> + +<p> +"The regiment left Chattanooga with the Fifth Ohio; but parted company +on the way, the Fifth having left their arms behind them, and were +therefore compelled to come by railroad, no unarmed troops being +allowed to come by the river. The Seventh came up the Cumberland and +Ohio rivers by steamboats, and were fired on by guerrillas on the way. +One man was lost, Sergeant Trembly, of Company C, about thirty miles +below Cincinnati. He was on the guards of the steamer cleaning his gun, +when he fell overboard. The boat was stopped, and efforts made to save +him; but he was carried away by the current and drowned. +</p> + +<p> +"On reaching Cincinnati, they were ordered to Columbus to be mustered +out; but when the train got to Columbus, they were ordered to go on to +this city to be paid, and mustered out. +</p> + +<p> +"After leaving the cars, and the greetings of friends were ended, the +men were marched to one part of the depot, and given a chance to wash +themselves. They were then conducted to tables set along the north wing +of the depot, where a hot breakfast had been provided by Wheeler and +Russel, on the order of the military committee. Rev. Mr. Goodrich +invoked the blessing. +</p> + +<p> +"A number of ladies were on hand, who supplied the soldiers bountifully +with strawberries, after the more substantial part of the feast was +concluded. +</p> + +<p> +"As soon as the men had been properly fed and refreshed, they fell into +line, and proceeded through Water and Superior streets to the front of +the government buildings, where the formal reception was to take place. +The procession was headed by the police, followed by a brass band, and +by the military committee, members of the council, and city officers. +The old members of the Seventh, with the second flag of the regiment, +tattered and torn, immediately preceded the bronzed veterans, who, +fully armed, and bearing their last flag, rent with a hailstorm of +hostile bullets, marched with proud steps through the streets they had +left three years and three months since. Carriages followed with the +sick and wounded who were unable to march. The procession was +accompanied with a throng of people, and crowds lined the streets, +whilst flags fluttered in all directions. +</p> + +<p> +"On reaching the front of the government building, the regiment was +drawn up in double line, and Prosecuting-Attorney Grannis, in the +absence of Mayor Senter, addressed the regiment, in behalf of the +corporation and citizens, as follows: +</p> + +<p> +"<span class="sc">Soldiers of the Seventh Ohio</span>—The people of the +city of Cleveland welcome you home. More than three years ago, you went +forth with full ranks—more than a thousand strong. To-day a little +remnant returns to receive the greetings of friends, and to mingle again +with society, as was your wont in times gone by. But this is not all. +You, and those who went with you, whether present here to-day or absent, +whether among the living or the dead, shall be held forever in grateful +remembrance. +</p> + +<p> +"We witnessed your departure with pride, not unmingled with sorrow. We +did not regret that the men of the glorious Seventh had gone out to +fight against a brutal and insolent foe, or fear that any member of it +would ever fail to do his whole duty in the perilous ridges of the +battle; but we did know that your departure was attended with many +sacrifices;—that you would be exposed to cold, fatigue, and hunger; +would suffer from disease, from honorable wounds, and in loathsome +prisons; and that many a noble form would bite the dust. We knew that +these things must needs be, that the nation might live. The half was +not told us. It did not enter into our hearts to believe what you would +suffer and what you would accomplish. Upon almost every battle-field, +from Cross Lanes to Dalton, the glorious banner of the Seventh has been +in the van of the battle. We have watched your course with painful +interest. After every battle, came the intelligence that your regiment +had fought bravely, and had come out with thinned ranks. +</p> + +<p> +"You have the grand consolation of knowing that the victories of +Gettysburg, of Lookout Mountain, of Ringgold, and of Resaca, were not +won without your aid. To have been in any one of those desperate +conflicts, is glory enough for any man. The record you have made will +seem almost like a tale of fiction. We have often had tidings of you, +but such as would not cause our cheeks to tingle with shame. It was +never said of the Seventh Ohio that it faltered in battle, that it +failed to do its whole duty. You have been faithful, uncomplaining, and +heroic. These things have not been accomplished without painful +sacrifices. How painful, let the honorable scars many will carry to +their graves answer. How painful, let this begrimed and tattered flag +answer. How painful, these thinned ranks will answer. Your gallant +colonel and lieutenant-colonel came home before you. Not as we could +have wished them to come, but wearing the habiliments which all must +wear; and now they lie yonder, and their graves are still wet with the +tears of their mourning countrymen. +</p> + +<p> +"Not so fortunate many of your countrymen, for they lie in unknown +seclusion, but not in unhonored graves. We will not mourn these dead as +those who die without hope, for their names shall be honored, so long +as liberty is prized among men. +</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> +<div class="stanza"> +<div>"'Death makes no conquest of these conquerors,</div> +<div>For now they live in fame, though not in life.'</div></div></div></div> + +<p> +"It is an honor to be engaged in this conflict, which those who share +it should fully prize; and those who have been engaged in it have shown +a self-sacrificing devotion to duty, seldom excelled. It is a conflict +in favor of liberty against treason and traitors; against a desperate +and implacable foe, fighting with desperate energy, that fraud, +oppression, and crime may stalk abroad in daylight. +</p> + +<p> +"Let us hope that the final overthrow of rebellion is at hand; that +soon our soldiers may all return home, with— +</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="i4">"'Brows bound with victorious wreaths,</div> +<div>Their bruised arms hung up for monuments,</div> +<div>Their stern alarums changed to merry meetings,</div> +<div>Their dreadful marches to delightful measures.'</div></div></div></div> + +<p> +"On concluding, Mr. Grannis introduced Governor Brough, who also +addressed the regiment. He said in substance as follows: +</p> + +<p> +"<span class="sc">Men of the Seventh Ohio</span>—I know you are anxious +to turn from this public to private greetings, to clasp friends and +acquaintances in your hands and hearts. Under these circumstances I have +not the courage to detain you. I will not read the glorious record of +your achievements, for it would keep you so long. It is not necessary. +We know your record in all its glory, but not, like you, in all its +pain. A little over three years ago, on a Sabbath morning, you left +Cleveland. Now, on a Sabbath morning, you return to us. That Sabbath was +hallowed, by the purpose with which you went forth. This Sabbath is +rendered sacred, by the joy with which you are welcomed back to us. +</p> + +<p> +"On behalf of the State, I am here to give you a cordial greeting on +your return. For the people of Cleveland, no formal greeting is +necessary. In the crowd that gather around you, you can read the +cordial welcome, that needs no words to express it. +</p> + +<p> +"The Spartan mother, who sent her son to battle, bade him to return +with his shield in honor, or on his shield in death. You have returned +with your shields, and with honor reflected from them on you. But let +us not forget that many have come home on their shields. We cannot +forget those that, on another Sabbath morning, came home, and were +received by the city in the weeds of mourning. +</p> + +<p> +"We welcome you back, not only because you are back, but because you +have reflected honor on your State. Standing, as I do, in the position +of father of all of the regiments of the State, it will not do for me +to discriminate; but I will say, that no regiment has returned to the +bosom of the State, and none remains to come after it, that will bring +back a more glorious record than the gallant old Seventh. +</p> + +<p> +"There is no need to tell you what the lesson of this war is. You have +learned it in many a weary march, and on many a field of carnage. None +know better than you, that there are but two ways possible for the +termination of this war. One is an inglorious peace and disgraceful +submission, and the other is to completely crush the military power of +the rebellion. There is no other way; and he who goes about on +street-corners, and talks about a peace short of one or the other of +these alternatives, is either grossly ignorant or intentionally +attempting to deceive. More than that, no one knows better than +yourselves, that to secure a lasting peace, when the military power of +the rebellion is crushed, the cause of this infernal rebellion itself +must be thoroughly wiped out. You have been taught that in many a fiery +lesson, and know it to be a truth. +</p> + +<p> +"There are gallant men and brave generals in the army laboring to reach +this end; and we have confidence that their efforts will be crowned +with success. God grant that it may be so. I had almost said that God +and Grant will make it so. +</p> + +<p> +"But I will detain you no longer. There is another greeting awaiting +you in your homes—a greeting that no other eyes should witness. To +that sacred and precious greeting I remit you." +</p> + +<p> +The regiment now marched off to Camp Cleveland, escorted by the old +members of the Seventh. +</p> + +<p> +The men were given a brief furlough, after which preparations were made +to be mustered out. +</p> + +<p> +On the 4th of July, a grand ovation was given to the regiment, in +connection with the Eighth Ohio; in fact, while the regiment remained +in Cleveland, it was one continued ovation. The citizens vied with each +other, in caring for and honoring the old Seventh. It seemed as if they +could not do enough. These brave men will not soon forget the anxious +care bestowed upon them by the citizens of Cleveland, during this +closing period of their career in the service of their country. +</p> + +<p> +After remaining for a brief period in camp, the regiment was mustered +out; and after kindly farewells had been exchanged, each member +departed for his home, from which he had been so long absent in +protecting a Government that he loved from the ruthless touch of +treason and slavery. +</p> + +<p> +When the regiment entered the field, it numbered more than a thousand +men. As these began to dwindle away by the shock of battle and the +ravages of disease, new members came in, until we find nearly fourteen +hundred men on the rolls, exclusive of three months' men: the latter +would swell the number to about eighteen hundred men. Of the former, +over six hundred were killed and wounded—the killed alone amounting to +about one hundred and thirty. One hundred and upwards died from +disease; while more than six hundred were discharged on account of +disability arising from various causes. Many of those who were on the +rolls at the time the regiment was mustered out were disabled for life, +and were only retained for the want of an opportunity to be discharged. +The whole number of able-bodied officers and men returning with the +regiment was only two hundred and forty-five, leaving upwards of eleven +hundred dead and disabled. +</p> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="sketches"> </a> +BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. +</h2> + + +<p class="section"> +BRIGADIER-GENERAL E. B. TYLER.<a href="#note3" name="noteref3"><small>[3]</small></a> +</p> + +<p> +E. B. Tyler entered the service as colonel of the Seventh. He brought +with him some little military experience, having been a +brigadier-general of militia before the rebellion broke out. +</p> + +<p> +When General McClellan was about to make his advance into Western +Virginia, he selected Tyler to lead the way, on account of his thorough +acquaintance with that wild region, he having been engaged in +purchasing furs from the people for many years. During the entire +summer he was kept well out to the front. He was finally given a +brigade, with which to assist General Cox in driving General Wise from +the valley. He moved as far as Somerville, in the very heart of the +enemy's country, and was soon after in the skirmish of Cross Lanes. +From this time, during the remainder of his stay in the department, he +was in command at Charleston, in the Kanawha Valley. In the winter +following, he was ordered to Kelley's department, where he was again +given a brigade, with which he did good service on the outposts. We +next find him at the battle of Winchester, where he commanded a +brigade. It was his command that charged the battery, for which it +acquired so much renown. His conduct at this battle won him a star. He +now served with his command in the Valley, accompanying it to the +Rappahannock and back. After which he commanded the forces in the +battle of Port Republic. His conduct in this engagement is above +criticism. No general could have made better dispositions than he, and +no one would have met with better success. Defeat was certain; and all +that the best generalship could do, was to save barely a remnant of the +command. It is a wonder that any artillery was saved. He gained much +reputation in his command for the manner in which he acquitted himself +in this battle. He soon after left his old brigade, and finally took +command of a Pennsylvania brigade, which he led in the battle of +Fredericksburg, in December, 1862. He had acquired a fine reputation +with Governor Curtin, and his conduct in this battle confirmed it. The +spring following he was assigned to a command in Baltimore, under +General Schenck. At the time of the raid on Washington, in the summer +of 1864, he was at the front. During an engagement he became separated +from his command, and only escaped by dint of hard riding. After +remaining concealed for some days, he escaped, and returned in safety +to our lines. After this campaign he returned to Baltimore, where he is +at the present time stationed. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +BREVET BRIG.-GEN. J. S. CASEMENT. +</p> + +<p> +J. S. Casement came into the regiment as major, and was just the man +for the place. The regiment needed a practical, common-sense sort of a +man, and it found him in the person of Jack Casement. Many of his +previous years had been spent in the construction of railroads. In this +he had not a superior in the United States. He is of small stature, but +of iron frame; and for endurance has few equals. He will shoulder and +walk off under a load that would make the most athletic tremble. He has +probably superintended the laying of as much track as any man of his +age. +</p> + +<p> +On joining the regiment, the major at once made himself useful in +looking after matters for the comfort of the command, that really +belonged to no one to look to, and yet, when attended to, went far to +improve the condition of the men. He rapidly acquired a knowledge of +military tactics, which was afterwards to fit him for a leader. This +was not difficult for him to do, for he made it a practical study. He +was always on duty when the occasion required it. This habit of +promptness he acquired while working large parties of men, and it never +left him during his service. During the long marches in Western +Virginia, he was ever watchful as to how matters were going on in the +rear; and while other mounted officers were riding leisurely along, he +was ever watchful of the train, as well as all other matters connected +with the easy movement of the command. Arriving in camp, he made it his +business to see that all was snug. At the affair at Cross Lanes he +conducted himself with such gallantry as to endear him to the entire +regiment. He rode over that fatal field as calm and collected as on +drill. When his superior officers had escaped, he organized the balance +of the command, and then commenced that memorable march over the hills +and mountains, through the valleys and over the streams, of that wild +waste. It was finally crowned with success, and the regiment felt proud +of its major; and the Western Reserve felt proud, too, that they had +sent so brave a man to serve with so brave a regiment. He now did his +duty, until we find the regiment in the East, and in its expedition to +Blue's Gap, Major Casement at its head. Just before reaching the +fortifications, he made a speech. Said he: "Boys, you've not got much +of a daddy, but with such as you have, I want you to go for those +rebels." And they did go for them in earnest. It seems the boys did not +object to the character of the "daddy." He now went with the regiment +to Winchester, where he was engaged in that battle. He sat on his horse +where the bullets were flying thickest, and seemed to be a stranger to +fear. When the battle was nearly over, followed by a few men, he took +possession of a piece of artillery, and held it until the close of the +action. In the evening succeeding the battle, he found that ten +rifle-bullets had passed through the cape of his coat on the left side, +near to his arm. +</p> + +<p> +Major Casement accompanied the regiment on its march up the Valley, +making himself useful in the way of constructing bridges and roads. On +arriving at Falmouth, on the Rappahannock, he tendered his resignation, +which being accepted, he returned to his home. All missed the merry +laugh, as well as the merry jokes, of the ever happy major. +</p> + +<p> +He was not long permitted to enjoy home, however, as in the following +summer he was made colonel of the One Hundred and Third Ohio Regiment, +and immediately after left for the field. His regiment was ordered to +Kentucky, in which department he served until Sherman's triumphant +march on Atlanta, when he joined him, and soon after commanded a +brigade. In this campaign he distinguished himself. After Sherman left +for Savannah, Casement commanded a brigade in Thomas' army. At the +battle of Franklin, which followed, he conducted himself in such a +brilliant manner as to win a star by brevet. He now took part in the +pursuit of the disorganized forces of Hood, and when it ceased, went to +Wilmington, North Carolina, with the corps of General Schofield, where +he has since remained. +</p> + +<p> +The career of this dashing officer has been one of usefulness, and his +numerous friends, as well as the entire country, appreciate his +services. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +BRIGADIER JOHN W. SPRAGUE.<a href="#note4" name="noteref4"><small>[4]</small></a> +</p> + +<p> +General Sprague entered the service as captain of Company E. He +immediately gained a high character as an officer, both for his fine +military bearing and gentlemanly deportment. His company was first in +discipline, and during the time he was in command not one of his men +was under arrest. His influence was such, that they seldom disobeyed an +order. They regarded their captain as a fit person to lead them—one +whose example was worthy of imitation. +</p> + +<p> +During the trying marches in Western Virginia, Captain Sprague was ever +at his post to encourage and cheer his men. A few days previous to the +Cross Lanes affair, he was given a leave of absence; and soon after +leaving for his home, he was taken prisoner by the enemy's cavalry. He +remained in prison about a year, suffering all the hardships that the +imagination can picture. When he was released, his hair had become +gray, and his every appearance was indicative of great suffering. On +his return, he was immediately commissioned colonel of the Sixty-third +Ohio Regiment, and very soon after entered the field. From this time on +he did gallant service in the armies of the West. His great military +talent was at last acknowledged, and his vast services rewarded by +conferring on him a star. He is now serving in the West. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +LIEUT.-COL. SAMUEL McCLELLAND. +</p> + +<p> +The subject of this sketch is a native of Ireland. He was born in 1829. +While in his youth, his parents emigrated to this country, landing at +Philadelphia, from whence they went to Pittsburgh. Remaining here for a +short time, they removed to Youngstown, Ohio, where they have since +resided. +</p> + +<p> +He entered the service as first-lieutenant of Company I, and was at +once active in the discharge of his duty. He accompanied the regiment +to Western Virginia, where he took part in all the hard marches that +followed. At the affair of Cross Lanes, he demonstrated, by his +gallantry, the fact of the possession of great military talent; for he +was brave, prudent, and skilful. Up to the battle of Winchester, he was +with the regiment in every march and skirmish. At this battle he +commanded a company, and had the honor of opening the battle, and +sustaining it for a few minutes, till other companies formed on his +flanks. +</p> + +<p> +He was engaged in the following battles and skirmishes, which embrace +every one in which the regiment was engaged: Cross Lanes, Winchester, +Port Republic, Cedar Mountain, Antietam, Dumfries, Chancellorsville, +Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, and Taylor's Ridge. The +various skirmishes and battles during the march of Sherman to Marietta, +are to be added to this list. At the battle of Winchester he was +slightly wounded in the head, but remained on the field, against the +urgent solicitations of his friends, until the close of the engagement. +At the battle of Taylor's Ridge he was severely wounded in the leg. He +now returned to his home, but remained but a short time, rejoining his +command before he was entirely recovered. +</p> + +<p> +While in the East he was made captain of Company H, and after the +battle of Taylor's Ridge, lieutenant-colonel. He now took command of +the regiment; leading it through the arduous campaign of Sherman, as +far as Marietta, in which service he won a fine reputation for ability +as an officer. He was known and recognized throughout the army as the +fighting colonel. At the above place, the old Seventh turned its steps +homeward, commanded by Colonel McClelland, who had the proud +satisfaction of leading the regiment into Cleveland, to do which the +lamented Creighton was ever ambitious. +</p> + +<p> +When encamped in the city, he set himself industriously at work +preparing the regiment to be mustered out; which was done in due time. +</p> + +<p> +McClelland was one of the few officers who were ever at their post. He +was brave, active, and zealous, a good officer in every particular. His +kindness and good feeling towards his fellow-soldiers won him many +friends. His family have suffered severe loss, two brave brothers +having died in battle. During all this affliction he has remained true +to his country, his patriotism never growing cold for a moment. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +MAJOR FREDERICK A. SEYMOUR. +</p> + +<p> +The subject of this sketch came into the regiment as captain of Company +G, having organized the company immediately after the first call for +troops. He had seen a good deal of service in the militia of his native +State, which was of great assistance to him in this new position. When +the regiment was organized for the three-years' service, he was elected +to his old position, which was an indication of the esteem his company +had for him. +</p> + +<p> +During the terrible campaign among the mountains of Western Virginia, +his health became very much impaired; till just previous to the affair +at Cross Lanes, he was compelled to leave his command and seek to +restore it in his home. Therefore he was not in that skirmish. He soon +after returned, but after reaching the Shenandoah Valley his health +again failed him, and he once more sought to restore it by returning to +his home. While he was absent the battle of Winchester was fought, and +he therefore did not take part in the engagement. +</p> + +<p> +He now accompanied the regiment in its march up the Shenandoah River, +across the Blue Ridge, and back again to Front Royal; and from thence +to Port Republic. In the battle fought at the latter place he was +conspicuous for bravery. During that well-contested action be +contributed all that lay in his power towards winning a victory. But +valor alone cannot win a battle; numbers combined with it can only +accomplish that. This was his first experience under fire; but he stood +up to the work like a veteran; being second to none in deeds of daring. +</p> + +<p> +Soon after this action he was engaged in the battle of Cedar Mountain, +where he more than sustained the reputation acquired at Port Republic. +This was a terrible battle, and every officer and private who fought +there became a hero. +</p> + +<p> +From this time forward the writer has no knowledge of his services, +beyond the fact that he was promoted to major; which position he filled +till some time in the fall of 1863, when he resigned, and returned to +his home. It can be truly said that, wherever Major Seymour was placed, +he endeavored to do his duty. Among his fellow-soldiers he had many +friends, and he will always be remembered as a kind-hearted gentleman. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +SURGEON FRANCIS SALTER. +</p> + +<p> +Francis Salter entered the service as assistant surgeon of the Seventh +Regiment; and on the resignation of Surgeon Cushing, was appointed +surgeon. He held this position until the latter part of 1862, when he +was made a medical director, and assigned to the staff of General +Crooks. As a surgeon, he hardly had a superior in the service. His +services were of great value in the hospitals, as he had had a long +experience in those of England, his native country. He has remained in +the service from the beginning of the war; and during that long period +has alleviated the suffering of many a soldier. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +C. J. BELLOWS. +</p> + +<p> +The subject of this sketch was appointed surgeon of the regiment, from +the position of assistant in the Fifth Ohio. Before entering the +service he was enjoying a good practice in Northern Ohio, in which he +had acquired a good reputation. While with the regiment he was much +esteemed, by reason of his ability as a surgeon, as well as for his +kind and courteous behavior. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +G. E. DENIG. +</p> + +<p> +On the appointment of Francis Salter to the post of surgeon, the +subject of this sketch was made assistant. While with the regiment he +was attentive to his duties, and always kind and obliging to those +seeking medical aid. He many times acted as surgeon of the regiment; +and on such occasions was always prompt in the discharge of his duty. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +FREDERICK T. BROWN, D.D. +</p> + +<p> +The subject of this sketch was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, of +respectable and pious parents. His father was a wealthy merchant, and +therefore gave his son a liberal education. After arriving at a proper +age, he was sent to Princeton College, New Jersey, where he graduated. +He early developed those Christian qualities which he has possessed in +such an eminent degree during the whole course of his life. He was born +to be a minister. At an early age his mind took a lasting hold upon +religious truths; and it has never relaxed its energies in that +direction for a single moment. He has gone on doing good from a child, +his usefulness only increasing as his mind developed its powers. He has +been a close student of theology during his whole life; and it is doing +no discredit to others to say, that in this respect he has hardly a +peer in the United States. He graduated at the Theological Seminaries +at Princeton, New Jersey, and Geneva, Switzerland. +</p> + +<p> +The Westminster Church, of Cleveland, Ohio, was organized by him; and +in the course of his nine years' labor with it, increased from a small +congregation to one of the most respectable religious societies of the +city. He was pastor of this church at the breaking out of the +rebellion. +</p> + +<p> +While the Seventh Regiment was at Camp Dennison, he paid it a visit by +request of some of the officers, and was immediately chosen its +chaplain, there being but few dissenting voices. Immediately returning +to his home, he tendered his resignation to his church, which, however, +was not accepted; but in its stead, he was voted a leave of absence, +which he accepted, but refusing to draw pay during the time. He joined +the regiment early in July, while it was in Western Virginia, and at +once entered upon his duties. +</p> + +<p> +While here, he preached a sermon in one of the churches—to the rebel +as well as Union people of the town—which was noted for the powerful +arguments used against the position occupied by the South in relation +to the Federal Government. This effort made him many friends in the +village. He afterwards had a large influence over its people, being +often invited to their homes. On such occasions he was received with a +hearty welcome; although he never neglected an opportunity to reprove +them for the opinions cherished by them. +</p> + +<p> +While at Glenville, Gilmer County, he carried a message to General Cox, +whose forces were somewhere on the banks of the Kanawha River. This has +already been mentioned; but as it was an enterprise attended with much +danger, we here copy a detailed account of it. +</p> + +<p> +About the 15th day of July, Colonel Tyler, feeling it important to open +communication with General Cox's forces on the Kanawha, determined to +send a messenger with unwritten dispatches across the country through +the enemy's lines; and as our chaplain could more readily be spared +than any other member of the regiment deemed fitting to undertake the +enterprise, the expedition was proposed to him. He accepted it +willingly, though well aware of its difficulties and dangers. Colonel +Tyler suggested to him to go in the character of a merchant or trader, +so that, if arrested by roving guerillas or any of Wise's patrols, he +could say he was on business to Gauley Bridge, or some other place. But +he declined adopting the suggestion, as involving a possible lie, and +asked to be left to his own resources. +</p> + +<p> +Hastily divesting himself of every tell-tale mark of name, residence, +or connection with the service, mounted on a blooded mare, captured +from some guerrillas a few days before, and taking no rations but a +bunch of cigars, an hour after receiving the order he started. It was a +ride of a hundred and twenty miles through the enemy's country, by +highways, and by-ways, and no ways at all, nearly half of it at night, +sometimes alone, full of adventures, amusing and otherwise, and +involving some narrow escapes from the enemy, but completely +successful. +</p> + +<p> +On the morning of the third day, at daylight, he struck the Kanawha, +four miles below the mouth of the Pocotaligo; and there, for the first +time, got word of General Cox, and learned that his camp was only four +miles up the river. It was Sunday morning. He was soon at the general's +quarters, and in the language of the chaplain himself, "received such a +welcome as that genial man and accomplished Christian gentleman knows +how to give." General Cox refused permission to him to return to us by +the way he had come. He therefore remained with the general for the +time; was with him at the capture of Charleston, and in the pursuit of +Wise to Gauley Bridge, from whence he joined us again. Surviving +members of the old Seventh will remember "the three times-three" cheers +of each company in succession, as the chaplain rode along the line. We +were on the march, a long distance from where he had left us, had not +heard a word from him or of him, and had thought him lost; his arrival, +safe and sound, coming from the direction of the enemy, was as one from +the dead, or from Richmond. +</p> + +<p> +At the battle of Cross Lanes he bore a gallant part, remaining with the +command during the entire affair, and leaving only when all hope of +saving the day had expired. He escaped, with others, through a gap in +the enemy's lines, caused by well-directed volleys of musketry from the +regiment. The same day he came into Gauley Bridge, after having +rendered much service in bringing off the wagon-train. He soon after +visited Cross Lanes, under a flag of truce, for the purpose of looking +after our killed and wounded, as well as to learn the fate of those +taken prisoners. While within the enemy's lines, he was treated +civilly, but was refused the privilege of administering to the wounded, +as well as visiting the prisoners. He therefore returned, without +having accomplished, in the least degree, the object of his visit. The +chaplain was soon after ordered to Charleston, where the scattered +members of the Seventh had been collected. +</p> + +<p> +While at this place he formed an agreeable acquaintance with many +gentlemen of learning and ability, at whose houses he was a frequent +visitor; and it may be truly said that on such occasions he added much +to the fund of enjoyment. +</p> + +<p> +While the regiment was at Charleston, a misunderstanding arose between +the chaplain and Colonel Tyler, by reason of which the former felt it +his duty to resign. His resignation was in due time accepted, and he +was honorably mustered out of the service; the esteem and regrets of +the entire command going with him to his home. While with the regiment +his conduct had been above suspicion, and his sudden departure caused +universal gloom. +</p> + +<p> +Shortly after returning to his home in Cleveland, he was called to be +pastor of a church at Georgetown, District of Columbia, which is both +large and influential. +</p> + +<p> +Not forgetting the cause of his country and her suffering soldiery, he +is now engaged, in addition to his pastoral labors, in attending to the +wants of the sick and wounded soldiers at the various hospitals in the +vicinity of his home. Many a poor soldier of the republic will remember +the words of consolation which have fallen on his ear from the lips of +this devoted Christian. +</p> + +<p> +In the personal appearance of Chaplain Brown, alone, there is a +character. His light, fragile figure, erect and graceful carriage, +strikes one as peculiarly fitting to his elegant, chaste, and mature +intellect. He leaves an impression on the mind as lasting as it is +positive. In his company the dark moments are lighted up. Generous and +manly, he would distribute even his happiness among his fellows, were +it possible. There are few men more companionable than he; and few ever +won the love of their fellow-men equal to him. Endowed with rare +conversational powers and a pleasing address, he always commands the +attention of those around him. In public speaking, the first impression +he makes upon the mind of the hearer is not such as would lead him to +expect a flowery discourse; but as the speaker proceeds, it becomes +evident that dry logic is not his only gift. His life is a constant +reflection of truth. He takes a great grasp on eternal things; and +lives greatly by seeking, as the one high aim of his studies, his +labors, and his prayers, the supreme glory of God in the everlasting +welfare of man. May such samples of Christian character be multiplied, +till all the world has learned how great is God, and how great is +goodness. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +CHAPLAIN D. C. WRIGHT. +</p> + +<p> +D. C. Wright was appointed chaplain during the winter of 1861. He +reported to the regiment at Patterson's Creek, Virginia. +</p> + +<p> +He was with the regiment at the battle of Winchester, where he rendered +much assistance in caring for the wounded. He now followed the fortunes +of the Seventh until its arrival at Port Republic, at which battle he +served as aid to General Tyler. During the entire engagement he was +much exposed, carrying dispatches in the most gallant style to +different parts of the field. He was mentioned in the official reports +for gallant conduct. After this battle he left for his home, and +finally sent in his resignation, which was duly accepted. +</p> + +<p> +Before the war broke out he was a minister of the Methodist Church, and +acquired no little reputation as a revivalist preacher. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +LIEUT.-COL. GILES W. SHURTLIFF.<a href="#note5" name="noteref5"><small>[5]</small></a> +</p> + +<p> +At the beginning of the rebellion, Giles W. Shurtliff was one of the +teachers in the college at Oberlin. Immediately after the bombardment +and capture of Fort Sumter, he organized a company, principally from +among his pupils, and reported at Camp Taylor. He was with the regiment +in its toilsome marches in Western Virginia, during which he was always +at his post. During the affair at Cross Lanes he was taken prisoner, +and now began those terrible hardships which no pen can describe, nor +imagination picture. Prison life is a sort of living death,—a state of +abeyance, where the mind is thrown back upon itself; where time, +although passing, seems to stop, and the great world outside, to stand +still. Through all this trial, and hardship, and misery, Colonel +Shurtliff passed, without weakening his faith or his patriotism. He +returned to his home, after more than a year's imprisonment, as firm in +the support of the Government as ever. After allowing himself a short +rest, he served in the Army of the Potomac on staff-duty; but was soon +after made lieutenant-colonel of the Fifth United States Colored +Infantry. He has since greatly distinguished himself in the numerous +battles in the vicinity of Richmond. He is at the present time at his +post, where he will probably remain until the rebellion is crushed, and +the Government vindicated. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +COLONEL ARTHUR T. WILCOX. +</p> + +<p> +Arthur T. Wilcox is a native of Ohio, and entered the service as +second-lieutenant of Company E. On the organization of the regiment for +the three years' service, he was made a first-lieutenant, and assigned +to the same company. He served with much credit in Western Virginia, +until the Cross Lanes affair, when he was taken prisoner. He remained +within the prison-walls of the enemy for more than a year, most of the +time in Charleston, South Carolina, suffering every hardship; but +coming out as true and pure a patriot as when he went in, he again +joined his regiment, and was soon after made a captain. He now took +part in all the battles of the West, in which the regiment was +engaged,—Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Ringgold, and Sherman's +battles in the march on Atlanta. He came home with the regiment, and +was in due time mustered out. He was not, however, permitted to remain +long at home, for, when new regiments were forming, he was made a +colonel, and assigned to the One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Regiment. +He soon after joined his command, and was almost immediately ordered to +the front. He joined General Thomas' forces, then falling back before +the forces of General Hood. Arriving at Franklin, he was engaged in the +bloody battle fought there, and greatly distinguished himself. He soon +after arrived at Nashville with the army. The rebel army immediately +advanced; and the two armies stood face to face, at the same time +gathering strength for a desperate conflict. The Union army was +triumphant, and the rebel hosts were beaten and demoralized. In this +battle, Colonel Wilcox gained new laurels. He now took part in the +pursuit of the scattered forces of Hood. +</p> + +<p> +Every one who has fallen in company with Colonel Wilcox, will remember +him as a genial friend and true gentleman. He has made many friends in +the army as well as at home. He has chosen the law as a profession, and +when "this cruel war is over" the writer wishes him the success his +many virtues and talents merit. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +LIEUT.-COL. JAMES T. STERLING. +</p> + +<p> +James T. Sterling entered the service as first-lieutenant of Captain De +Villiers' company. On the organization of the regiment for the three +years' service, he was made captain. While at Camp Dennison he labored +diligently to perfect his command in both drill and discipline; and +when it entered the field it was second to none, so far as these +essentials were concerned. +</p> + +<p> +While in Western Virginia, Captain Sterling was on many scouts, in +which service he showed great skill and bravery. Such adventures were +very much to his liking. +</p> + +<p> +In the affair at Cross Lanes he won the respect of all those who were +witness to his coolness and daring. During the march to Charleston he +made a good account of himself, being one of the most active in his +labors, and among the wisest in his opinions. +</p> + +<p> +He now followed the regiment to the East, where he engaged in all the +marches and skirmishes which took place. At the battle of Winchester he +commanded two companies; leading them into the hottest fire like a +veteran. During the entire action he stood on the hill urging the men +forward, regardless of the great danger to which he himself was +exposed. He came through the battle, however, without a scratch, but +with some holes in his clothing. +</p> + +<p> +He now took part in the long chase of Jackson up the Valley, and from +thence to Fredericksburg and back again; but was not in the battle of +Port Republic, his company having been detailed for headquarters guard. +</p> + +<p> +Very soon after this engagement he was made lieutenant-colonel of the +One Hundred and Third Regiment, at that time about to be raised in the +vicinity of Cleveland. He soon after reported to this regiment and was +assigned to duty. He went with it to the field; but, after a limited +period, was assigned the position of inspector-general on the staff of +General Cox. He filled this position with much credit to himself, until +early in the year 1864, when he resigned and returned to his home in +Cleveland. +</p> + +<p> +Colonel Sterling, as an officer, was much esteemed. As a companion, he +was much admired. His easy manners and agreeable conversation gathered +about him many friends. Every one regretted his departure from the +Seventh; he had been with it through so many trials and dangers, that +he was closely identified with it. His company thought well of him, +and, therefore, his unexpected departure caused many regrets. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +COLONEL JOEL F. ASPER. +</p> + +<p> +Joel F. Asper was born in Huntington, Adams County, Pennsylvania, on +the 20th day of April, 1822. When he was but five years old his father +removed to Farmington, Ohio, by the slow process of a four-horse team +and Pennsylvania wagon. The county of Trumbull was then but sparsely +settled. +</p> + +<p> +Until eighteen years of age he assisted his father in clearing a farm, +at the same time attending a district school in winter. This is all the +school education he ever had; all other education being acquired by his +own exertion and application to study out of school. +</p> + +<p> +Having a passion for reading and writing, he was led to study law. But +previous to this, however, he commenced teaching a school in +Southington, but, for some reason, left it after one month's +experience. Early in the year 1842, we find him in the law-office of +Crowell and Abel, at Warren, Ohio, and working for his board at the +American Hotel. +</p> + +<p> +In 1843, he carried the Western Reserve Chronicle through several +townships, and during the entire year did not miss a trip. +</p> + +<p> +In August, 1844, he was admitted to the bar, but remained with General +Crowell till 1845, when he learned the daguerrean business, but not +succeeding in this, in October following opened a law-office at Warren. +His first year's practice netted him over four hundred dollars, and it +increased from year to year. +</p> + +<p> +In 1846 be was elected a justice of the peace, and in the following +year was married to Miss Elizabeth Brown. +</p> + +<p> +In 1847 he was elected prosecuting attorney. In 1849, was announced as +one of the editors of the Western Reserve Chronicle; and wrote, during +the campaign of that year, all of the leading political articles +published in its columns. During the summer of 1848, Mr. Parker, +proprietor of the paper, left for a pleasure excursion, and while +absent, Mr. Asper, being left in charge, took ground against General +Taylor. During this campaign he did much towards developing +anti-slavery sentiments in the party. For this conduct he was denounced +by the minority of his party. At this time he made a speech before a +Whig convention, which is said to have been the best effort of his +life. Carrying out these sentiments, he sustained Martin Van Buren for +the presidency, and in the following year ran for prosecuting attorney +on the Free-Soil ticket, but was defeated. +</p> + +<p> +In 1850 he moved to Chardon, Ohio, and edited a Free-Soil paper until +1852, when, it proving a losing business, he returned to Warren, where +he again commenced the practice of the law, which he continued until +the breaking out of the rebellion, in 1861. He was among the first in +Northern Ohio to tender a company to the Governor. It marched to camp +on the 25th of April. He served in the regiment until March, 1863, when +he was honorably mustered out of the United States service. During this +time he took part in the affair of Cross Lanes and the battle of +Winchester, in which last engagement he was severely wounded. After the +Cross Lanes affair he accompanied a detachment of four hundred men to +Charleston, rendering much assistance during the march. He was promoted +to lieutenant-colonel during his service with the regiment, in which +position he commanded the regiment in the retreat of Pope's army from +the Rapidan. +</p> + +<p> +On returning to Warren he opened an office, and in August organized the +Fifty-first Regiment National Guards, and was elected its colonel. +</p> + +<p> +When, in the spring of 1864, the corps was ordered into the field, his +regiment was among the first to move. It went to Johnson's Island, and +while there the noted John H. Morgan commenced a raid through Kentucky. +To resist him, several militia regiments were ordered to the front; +among them was the Fifty-first, now become the One Hundred and +Seventy-first. +</p> + +<p> +Arriving at Cincinnati, he reported to General Hobson, and was ordered +to Keller's Bridge by train. Soon after getting off the cars, it was +attacked by the enemy in overwhelming numbers. After a gallant fight of +six hours, the brave little band of heroes was compelled to surrender. +No regiment of new troops ever did better: it made itself a name which +history will perpetuate. +</p> + +<p> +The regiment was mustered out on the 20th of August, 1864. Asper now +perfected his arrangements to move to Missouri, which he put into +execution in October following. He is now engaged in the practice of +law at Chillicothe, in the above State. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +MAJOR W. R. STERLING. +</p> + +<p> +The subject of this sketch entered the service as Captain of Company I. +He carried with him some considerable military experience, having been +connected with a company in his native State. He accompanied the +regiment in its Western Virginia campaign, taking an honorable part in +the affair at Cross Lanes. He was with the detachment in its march over +the mountains to Charleston, during which he rendered great assistance, +contributing largely towards bringing the command off in safety. +</p> + +<p> +From Charleston he returned to his home on leave, but soon after +returned to his command, accompanied by a number of recruits. He now +took part in the various marches and skirmishes occurring in the +mountain department of Eastern Virginia. He was not in the battles of +Winchester or Port Republic; but was in all the marches occurring +before and after those engagements. At the battle of Cedar Mountain he +did yeoman's service. His company was led with such coolness and +bravery, that many a rebel was made to bite the dust. He now remained +with the regiment until General Hooker came to the command of the Army +of the Potomac, when Captain Sterling was assigned a position on his +staff. In this capacity he served until after the battle of +Chancellorsville. A short time after this engagement he was taken +prisoner by a roving band of rebels, and conveyed to Richmond, where he +was for some time confined in prison. He was finally taken further +south to another prison, from which, in the summer of 1864, he escaped; +and after spending some time in the mountains, during which he suffered +many hardships, finally joined the Union forces in Tennessee. +</p> + +<p> +He was a brave and competent officer. While on Hooker's staff he was +promoted to major. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +MAJOR E. J. KREIGER. +</p> + +<p> +The subject of this sketch is a native of Germany, and entered the +service as a sergeant in a company composed of his fellow-countrymen. +He very soon rose to the rank of lieutenant, and before the term of +service of the regiment expired, to that of captain. He was in the +following battles and skirmishes: Cross Lanes, Winchester, Port +Republic, Cedar Mountain, Antietam, Dumfries, Chancellorsville, +Gettysburg, Mission Ridge, Lookout Mountain, Ringgold, and in all the +engagements in which his regiment took part in Sherman's march on +Atlanta. No officer can show a prouder record. He was always with his +command, and on all occasions showed great bravery and gallantry, as +well as ability to command. +</p> + +<p> +Immediately after the Seventh was mustered out, he was appointed major +of the One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Regiment, and left soon after +for the field. He now added to the above glorious list of battles that +of Franklin, where he fully sustained the honors that he gained while +with the old Seventh. He is at the present time in General Thomas' +army, where he will remain, if his life is spared, until the overthrow +of the rebellion. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +CAPTAIN J. B. MOLYNEAUX. +</p> + +<p> +The subject of this sketch was born, January 1, 1840, at Ann Arbor, in +the State of Michigan. At the age of four years his father removed to +Penn Yan, New York, and soon after to Bath and Elmira, in the same +State. In 1854, young Molyneaux went to Belville, Ohio, and commenced +the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Whitcomb. He remained for +nearly a year, when, not liking the study, he went to Cleveland, Ohio, +and entered the job-office of John Williston, where he learned the art +of printing. +</p> + +<p> +Having a natural liking for military life, he joined the Light Guards, +and afterwards the Sprague Cadets, of which he was appointed +drill-master. On the first call for troops, he joined a company being +raised by Captain De Villiers, as a private, being among the first to +enroll his name. Soon after arriving in camp, he was appointed a +sergeant, and, immediately after, drill-master for the non-commissioned +officers of the regiment. On the three years' organization, he was +unanimously chosen first-lieutenant by the vote of his company. He +remained with this company during the earlier part of the campaign in +Western Virginia, taking a gallant part in the affair of Cross Lanes, +as also in the final march of Major Casement's detachment to +Charleston. After this action, he was placed in command of Company E, +which command he held until January, 1862, and then being relieved, +only for the purpose of receiving the appointment of adjutant. +</p> + +<p> +He took part in all the marches and skirmishes in both Western and +Eastern Virginia. At the battle of Winchester, he was mentioned, in the +official report of his colonel, for gallantry on the battle-field. At +the battle of Port Republic, he won new laurels, being constantly under +the enemy's fire. In the fearful struggle at Cedar Mountain, he +particularly distinguished himself. He was, for a limited time, in +command of the regiment, during which he extricated it from a position, +where, under a less skilful leader, it would have been captured. In +this gallant exploit, Molyneaux lost two horses, one of them being +pierced by fourteen bullets. +</p> + +<p> +In September, 1862, he was appointed captain, after having waived rank +three times. This position he held until March, 1863, when, on account +of wounds and ill-health, he was compelled to resign. In the mean time, +he was with the regiment in all its marches, as well as the battle of +Antietam and the affair at Dumfries. +</p> + +<p> +On his return home he followed his occupation of a printer, until the +governor's call for the National Guard, when he again entered the +service as a captain. His regiment being stationed in the defences of +Washington, he was placed in command of a fort, which was, a part of +the time, garrisoned by several companies. After the expiration of his +term of service, he returned to his home in Cleveland, and resumed his +business. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +CAPTAIN CHARLES A. WEED. +</p> + +<p> +Charles A. Weed was born, March 30, 1840, in Lake County, Ohio. He +enlisted in Captain John N. Dyer's company, on the 22d day of April, +1861. After its arrival in camp, he was made orderly-sergeant, in which +capacity he developed fine military talent, such as led his company, at +an early time, to look upon him as a proper person for promotion when a +vacancy should occur. Therefore, on the final organization of the +company for the three years' service, he was made a first-lieutenant. +He was with the regiment during the entire Western Virginia campaign, +taking part in the skirmish at Cross Lanes, in which he took command of +the company after the death of Captain Dyer, which position he held +until January, 1862, when he was relieved by an officer promoted to the +captaincy by reason of superiority of rank. He was soon after made +captain, February 5, 1862, and assigned to Company E. +</p> + +<p> +He now took part in all the marches and skirmishes in Eastern Virginia, +and also in the battle of Winchester, where he displayed great +gallantry. After this battle, he commanded his company in the pursuit +of Jackson to Harrisonburg, and in the toilsome march to +Fredericksburg, and the return to Front Royal. He was now in the +advance to Port Republic. In the battle which succeeded, he displayed +great courage, as well as ability to command. He took part in the +battle of Cedar Mountain and Antietam, and also in the skirmish at +Dumfries. On the 22d of February, 1863, he resigned, and returned to +his home. +</p> + +<p> +There were few better officers in the regiment. He was prompt in the +discharge of his duty, seldom questioning the propriety of an order +emanating from a superior, but executing it at once. In his intercourse +with his fellow-soldiers, he was frank and courteous, and all cherished +the kindest feelings towards him. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +CAPTAIN JUDSON N. CROSS. +</p> + +<p> +The subject of this sketch is a native of Ohio. When the war broke out +he was attending college at Oberlin, Ohio. He immediately enrolled +himself in Captain Shurtliff's company, and was soon after made a +first-lieutenant. He served with his company in Western Virginia, with +much credit to himself and profit to his country. At the skirmish of +Cross Lanes he was brave, and showed that he was competent to command. +During the affair, he was severely wounded in the arm and taken +prisoner. At the battle of Carnifex Ferry, which followed soon after, +he was recaptured by the forces under General Rosecrans. Being unfit +for service, he now went to his home, where it was thought he might +recover sufficiently to rejoin his command. But after the expiration of +some months, being still unable for service, he was ordered on +recruiting service at Cleveland, Ohio. He was engaged in this work +until the fall of 1862, when he was honorably mustered out of the +service, on account of the unimproved condition of his wound. In the +mean time, however, he had been promoted to a captaincy. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +CAPTAIN JOHN F. SCHUTTE. +</p> + +<p> +Entered the service as a lieutenant in Captain Wiseman's company, and +on its organization for three years, was made its captain. He was with +the regiment until just before its affair at Cross Lands, when, being +on picket duty on the banks of the Gauley River, he imprudently crossed +over, and after advancing some miles into the enemy's country, was +fired upon by a body of cavalry, concealed in the bushes, and mortally +wounded. After being taken to an old building close by, he was left, at +his own request, and soon after expired. The rebels buried him on the +spot. No braver officer ever entered the service. Had he lived, he +would undoubtedly have distinguished himself. +</p> + +<p> +At the time of his death, no officer had a better reputation. His +company was somewhat difficult to manage, but while he was in command, +it was not surpassed for discipline, and hardly equalled. He was kind +to every one who did his duty, but when one of his men failed to do +that, he came down upon him with a heavy hand. +</p> + +<p> +His loss was deeply felt throughout the entire command. His company had +recognized in him a leader, and they deplored his loss. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +LIEUT. LOUIS G. DE FOREST. +</p> + +<p> +Louis G. De Forest was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on the 9th of +September, 1838. His youth was spent in the city schools, where he +acquired a fair education. In 1853, at the age of fifteen years, he +entered the store of N. E. Crittenden. It is a high compliment to his +industry and business habits, that he has remained in his employ since +that date, with the exception of the time that he spent in the military +service. +</p> + +<p> +Having a natural taste for military life, in 1859 he joined a company +of Light Guards as a private, but soon rose to the positions of +corporal, sergeant, and finally lieutenant. The latter position he +filled with credit, until the rebellion broke out, when, on the +organization of the Sprague Cadets, for three months' service, he +hastened to enroll his name. He was soon made orderly sergeant, which +position he held when the company went into camp. After the regiment +arrived in Camp Dennison, he was elected a second-lieutenant of his +company. And on its final organization for the three years' service, he +was chosen its adjutant, by a vote of its officers, and soon after +received his commission, with the rank of first-lieutenant. +</p> + +<p> +He accompanied the regiment in its arduous Western Virginia campaign, +and during the time Colonel Tyler commanded a brigade, he served as +acting assistant adjutant-general. At the affair at Cross Lanes, he +took a prominent as well as gallant part. He was among the number of +those who made the march over the mountains to Elk River and +Charleston. +</p> + +<p> +He accompanied the regiment to Kelly's department, where he again acted +as acting assistant adjutant-general to Colonel Tyler, serving in this +capacity until his resignation, which took place in March. +</p> + +<p> +When the National Guard was organized, he raised a company, and was +made its captain. In this position he served during the one hundred +days' campaign of this corps, being stationed in a fort in the vicinity +of Washington. +</p> + +<p> +Every one who came in connection with the Seventh Regiment will +remember the stentorian voice and soldierly bearing of its first +adjutant. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +LIEUTENANT HALBERT B. CASE. +</p> + +<p> +Halbert B. Case was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, May 3, 1838. His +father being a farmer, he was bred to that occupation. At the age of +sixteen years he entered the W. R. Seminary, at Farmington, Ohio, +preparatory to entering college. After a year and a half spent in this +institution of learning, he went to Oberlin, where he pursued his +studies for more than three years, when, his health failing him, he was +compelled to leave college. +</p> + +<p> +During the winter of 1859, his health being somewhat improved, he went +to Tiffin, Ohio, and commenced the study of the law. He remained here +two winters. In the spring of 1860, being in indifferent health, he +returned to his home in Mecca, Ohio, where he pursued his studies +privately for some months. After which he went to Warren, and studied +law with Forrist and Burnett until the breaking out of the rebellion. +</p> + +<p> +On the 19th day of April, 1861, deeming it his duty to serve his +country, he enlisted in Asper's company, the first organized in the +county. He was soon after made orderly-sergeant. When the three years' +organization was made, he was unanimously chosen a lieutenant by a vote +of his company. +</p> + +<p> +He served honorably during the campaign in Western Virginia, taking an +active part in the affair of Cross Lanes, sharing the fortunes of the +detachment under Major Casement. +</p> + +<p> +Among the first promotions that were made in November, 1861, he was +remembered by the authorities, and appointed a first-lieutenant. He +accompanied the regiment to Eastern Virginia, where he joined the +expedition to Romney and Blue's Gap. +</p> + +<p> +While at Patterson's Creek he felt it his duty to resign his +commission, on account of a personal difficulty with Colonel Tyler. He +therefore left the regiment early in February, with the regrets of the +entire command. +</p> + +<p> +He was not long permitted to remain at home, for his former services +were acknowledged by giving him a commission as captain in the +Eighty-fourth Regiment, which was being organized for three months' +service. This position being accepted, he proceeded with his regiment +to Cumberland, Maryland. Soon after its arrival he was made +provost-marshal and commandant of the post. In this position he won an +enviable reputation. Among his first orders was one against the use and +sale of intoxicating liquors, which he proceeded to enforce in an +effectual manner; and thus materially aided in maintaining order and +quiet at the post. +</p> + +<p> +After nearly five months' service, when the regiment was mustered out, +he was appointed colonel, for the purpose of reorganizing it for three +years' service. He immediately entered upon this task; but owing to the +number of regiments at that time being organized in Northern Ohio, he +was but partially successful. The regiment being finally consolidated +with the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Ohio, he returned to his home. +</p> + +<p> +He soon after entered the law-school at Ann Arbor, Michigan; and after +a year and a half spent at this university, he graduated, with the +degree of L. L. B. Soon after, he returned home, married, and commenced +the practice of his profession at Youngstown, Ohio. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +LIEUTENANT HENRY Z. EATON. +</p> + +<p> +Lieutenant Eaton entered the service as a private, but on the three +years' organization was made a second-lieutenant. He was with the +regiment constantly during the campaign in Western Virginia, and always +at his post. He took an important part in the Cross Lanes affair, and +in the march of Major Casement's detachment. +</p> + +<p> +He now went to the East with the regiment, when Colonel Tyler being +given a brigade, he was assigned to his staff as aid-de-camp. He held +this position at the battle of Winchester; and no one in the army did +better service. He was constantly in the saddle, riding fearlessly in +the heat of the battle, a fair mark for the rebels. During the +engagement his horse was wounded. He was mentioned in official reports +for gallant conduct. He soon after took part in the battle of Port +Republic, where he added much to his already well-earned reputation for +courage and other soldierly qualities. He now followed the regiment to +Alexandria, where he returned to his company and to the front of Pope's +army, where he was at the battle of Cedar Mountain, in which he was +severely wounded. He soon after returned to his home, and finally +resigned, on account of disability from wounds. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +LIEUTENANT A. H. DAY. +</p> + +<p> +A. H. Day was a lieutenant in company F, in which capacity he +accompanied the regiment in Western and Eastern Virginia, taking part +in the battles of Winchester and Port Republic, in both of which he did +good service. In the latter he was severely wounded in the shoulder, by +reason of which he was soon after compelled to resign. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +LIEUTENANT WILLIAM D. SHEPHERD. +</p> + +<p> +William D. Shepherd entered the service as a private in company D. He +was soon after made a sergeant, and at Camp Dennison, orderly. He +followed the fortunes of his company through the wilds of Western +Virginia till the affair at Cross Lanes, where he showed great +gallantry. He went with his company to Charleston, where, in the +absence of Lieutenant Weed, he took command. During this time the +company was detailed to guard a party who were engaged in erecting a +telegraph line from Point Pleasant to Gauley Bridge. In this service he +gave good satisfaction to all concerned in the undertaking. +</p> + +<p> +He now remained with his command until a few days before the battle of +Winchester, when he was compelled to leave the field on account of +inflammation in one of his eyes. It had become very painful long before +he would consent to go to the rear. A fever soon following, he was +completely prostrated. He now went to his home, where he was engaged in +the recruiting service. He returned to his regiment late in the summer, +and having been promoted to first-lieutenant, was immediately made +adjutant. He served with the regiment in this capacity until after the +affair at Dumfries, when he was compelled to resign on account of +ill-health. +</p> + +<p> +After his return home he did great service in recruiting. In the winter +of 1863-4 he canvassed Lake and Geanga counties, and was the means of +enlisting a large number of men. On these occasions he made speeches, +of which any public speaker might well be proud. +</p> + +<p> +In the fall of 1864 he raised a company for the National Guard, which +he commanded in the one hundred days' service. Returning to his home, +he was appointed a quartermaster, with the rank of captain, and +assigned to a division in the Twenty-third Army Corps. +</p> + +<p> +His promotion was won in the field, and therefore honorable. His +commission as second-lieutenant bears the date of November 25th, 1861; +and that of first-lieutenant early in the following year. +</p> + +<p> +Every one who has fallen in company with Lieutenant Shepherd will +remember him as a genial friend and profitable companion. His frankness +and courtesy have made him many friends. To know him, is to esteem him. +I doubt whether he has an enemy in the world. He has always been a warm +supporter of the Government, although not an American citizen by birth, +having been born in Canada. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +LIEUTENANT E. HUDSON BAKER. +</p> + +<p> +Lieutenant Baker entered the service in Company C. He remained with the +regiment during its entire campaign in Western Virginia, doing good +service. At the affair at Cross Lanes, he was particularly conspicuous +for gallantry. He now took command of the company, which he held during +the remainder of his term of service. He was in the battle of +Winchester, where he commanded his company with great credit to +himself. As an officer, he was very popular with his command; as a +companion, he was sociable and benevolent. He was finally compelled to +resign from ill-health, but much against his wishes. He desired to +remain until the close of his regular term of service, and then return +with his old comrades; but his increasing debility would not admit. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +LIEUTENANT RALPH LOCKWOOD. +</p> + +<p> +Lieutenant Ralph Lockwood entered the regiment, on its first +organization, in Company E. He served creditably through the Western +Virginia campaign, taking part in the skirmish at Cross Lanes, and the +battles of Winchester and Port Republic. In these battles he was +distinguished for personal courage. By constant exposure, he contracted +a rheumatic difficulty, which finally compelled him to resign, at a +time when his services were much needed in the regiment. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +LIEUTENANT T. T. SWEENEY. +</p> + +<p> +Lieutenant T. T. Sweeney entered the service in Company B. He saw much +service in Western Virginia, and was in every respect a gallant +officer. At Cross Lanes, he made an honorable record. Soon after this +skirmish, he resigned his commission, and returned to his home in +Cleveland, Ohio. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +LIEUTENANT EDWARD W. FITCH. +</p> + +<p> +Lieutenant Fitch entered the service in Company I. He served faithfully +until after the skirmish of Cross Lanes, in which he bore a gallant +part. While at Charleston, he resigned his commission, and returned to +his home. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +LIEUTENANT A. J. WILLIAMS. +</p> + +<p> +Lieutenant Williams came into the regiment as second-lieutenant of +Company D, which position he filled with much credit till after the +affair at Cross Lanes, when he resigned his commission. At the time the +above skirmish took place he was sick, and therefore did not take part +in it. Previous to this he had toiled on with his company, through all +its terrible marches and dreary bivouacks; and for this is entitled to +the gratitude of the country. +</p> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="dead"> </a> +OUR DEAD. +</h2> + + +<p class="section"> +COLONEL WILLIAM R. CREIGHTON AND LIEUT.-COLONEL ORRIN J. CRANE. +</p> + +<p> +Colonel William R. Creighton was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in +June, 1837. At the age of ten years, he entered a shoe-store, where he +remained for two years; after which he entered a commercial college, +where he remained for six months. But these pursuits were not to his +liking—he had no taste for accounts. We next find him, at the age of +thirteen years, in the job-office of McMillin, in Pittsburgh, where he +remained for four years, completing his apprenticeship. The year +following, he went to Cleveland, Ohio, and entered the Herald office, +where he remained till the fall of 1860, with the exception of one +winter spent in a job-office in Chicago. +</p> + +<p> +He united with the fire companies of both Pittsburgh and Cleveland, and +was an active and zealous member. In 1858, he joined the military +organization known as the Cleveland Light Guards, and soon after became +a sergeant, and a lieutenant. He advanced in rank without any +effort—it was a matter of course. +</p> + +<p> +When the rebellion broke out, his love of adventure would not permit +him to remain at home; but he immediately set himself at work +organizing a company, which was completed in a few days, and, on the +22d day of April, marched to Camp Taylor. He immediately commenced +drilling his company, and with such success, that it took the lead of +all then in camp. +</p> + +<p> +At this time his military genius shone so conspicuously that he was +looked on by all as the future leader of the regiment. +</p> + +<p> +All will remember with what skill and pride he led the regiment in its +first march. It was on a beautiful Sabbath morning; and as the young +soldier, with a proud step, took his position at the head of the +column, every eye was turned upon him in admiration; one could see in +the countenances of the men, a willingness to follow such a leader amid +the hail and thunder of battle. Before reaching Camp Dennison, this +admiration warmed into a determination to place him in a position when, +at no distant day, he could be made available as the commander of the +regiment. Therefore, on its arrival at camp, he was elected +lieutenant-colonel, a position which he did not seek, nor intimate to +any that he desired. Very many were desirous of making him colonel. +</p> + +<p> +During the stay of the regiment at Camp Dennison, he took no active +part, seldom being seen on drill, or on duty of any kind. When the +regiment was about leaving, however, he took command, Colonel Tyler +having gone to Virginia in advance of the starting of the regiment. +Previous to the movement, every thing had been arranged in perfect +order; but this arrangement was partially defeated by the indecent +haste of a captain. An unutterable look of scorn and contempt settled +upon the features of Creighton; but not a word passed his lips. He +never entirely forgave that officer for this act of disobedience of +orders, till his death, when all feelings of animosity gave way to +regrets for his loss; for, outside of a disposition to criticise the +conduct of his superiors, he was a brave as well as competent officer. +</p> + +<p> +Arriving at Clarksburg, he turned over the command to Colonel Tyler; +but on arriving at Glenville, he again assumed command, which he held +until reaching Cross Lanes; in the mean time, drilling the regiment +daily when in camp. During this time it improved rapidly; in fact, it +acquired, during this short interval, most of the proficiency it +possessed. +</p> + +<p> +On the march back to Cross Lanes from Twenty-mile Creek, he was with +the advance, in command of the skirmishers. During the affair which +succeeded, at the above place, he bore himself creditably. During the +retreat, his horse fell with him: seizing the holsters, he started on +foot through the underbrush, but soon after saw his horse coming after +him at full speed. He again mounted; but in a short time his horse +again fell, when, for the second time, he abandoned him; but he was +soon joined by his faithful "Johnny," and this time the devoted horse +carried its gallant rider safely to Gauley Bridge. +</p> + +<p> +This misfortune to the regiment completely unmanned him. Meeting a +comrade on the retreat, who was not in the engagement, he burst into +tears, and, grasping his hand, in choked utterances related the story +of their encounter. +</p> + +<p> +While the regiment remained at Charleston, Creighton was in command, +and was untiring in his efforts to advance his command in both drill +and discipline; and I doubt whether any regiment in the field made more +rapid progress towards perfection. It seemed to emulate its leader, who +was ever at his post. +</p> + +<p> +When an order came for five hundred picked men from the regiment to +report to General Benham for duty, in the pursuit of Floyd, he was +chosen to command the detachment. On arriving at Benham's headquarters, +he was given the advance, and, for several days, was separated from +Floyd's camp by a range of mountains only. He was finally given a +brigade, although only a lieutenant-colonel, and ordered across a range +of mountains to the rear of the enemy; but for some reason no attack +was made, and soon after, half of the command was ordered back. +</p> + +<p> +During the pursuit of Floyd, he travelled on foot at the head of his +regiment. When the rebel army was likely to be overtaken, Benham +remarked to him, that "he depended on him to rout the enemy," and gave +him the post of honor; but when the firing became rapid, his regiment +was ordered to the front, where a part of it was engaged in +skirmishing, while the balance were smoking their pipes and engaging in +sports, almost under the guns of the enemy, Creighton enjoying the fun +as well as any in the command. +</p> + +<p> +The detachment returned, after fifteen days' absence, without the loss +of a man, save one injured by the accidental discharge of a gun. +</p> + +<p> +The regiment now went to the East, where, soon after, Tyler was given a +brigade, and Creighton again commanded the regiment. +</p> + +<p> +At the battle of Winchester, which followed soon after, his was the +first regiment in the famous charge of the Third brigade, for which it +acquired such renown. He disagreed with the commanding officer as to +the manner of making the charge, preferring to deploy before advancing, +than to charge a battery in close column. But throwing all personal +feelings and preferences aside, he dashed forward, and finally deployed +his regiment within eighty yards of the enemy's line of battle, and +under a terrible fire of both musketry and artillery. His horse being +shot from under him, he seized a musket, and engaged in the strife, +firing rapidly till near the close of the battle, when he was compelled +to cease for the purpose of executing some order. +</p> + +<p> +On the return of the command to New Market, after the pursuit of +Jackson to near Harrisonburg, the company tents were ordered to be +delivered up; whereupon Creighton was very indignant, and, in +connection with other officers, sent in his resignation. They were +ordered to report to General Shields the next morning. Accordingly, +dressed in their "best," they reported. They were received with all the +politeness that pompous general knew how to assume, with an invitation +to be seated. The general informed them that their resignations would +not be accepted; but remarked, that, "if they <i>desired</i> it, he +would have their names stricken from the army rolls in disgrace." This +witticism rather amused Creighton than otherwise, and he returned to +camp with a much better opinion of the general than he was possessed of +before making his visit. +</p> + +<p> +He now commanded the regiment in its march to Fredericksburg, sharing +with his men the hardships attending the toilsome march; and when, a +few days after, the regiment returned to the Valley, he did much to +cheer the men in that discouraging march. +</p> + +<p> +At Front Royal he remained with his regiment during a heavy storm, to +which it was exposed without tents, disdaining to seek shelter and +comfort while his men were thus exposed. +</p> + +<p> +The men were now very destitute of clothing, especially shoes; but when +ordered, he moved to Columbia Bridge, followed by one hundred men +barefooted. He now went personally to General Shields, but was coldly +received by that general, being subjected to insulting remarks. He came +back to his regiment with that same unutterable expression of contempt +stamped upon his features, which all will remember who served with him +in the field; and getting his men in column, closed in mass, made a +speech. Said he: "I am unable to procure shoes or other comforts for +you; but I will follow these generals until there is not a man left in +the regiment. Forward, company H!" And he did follow them to Port +Republic, where his words came near proving true. +</p> + +<p> +At this battle his bravery and daring were observed by every one. He +made repeated charges with his regiment, the line being as correct as +on dress-parade. After one of these charges, the enemy's cavalry came +dashing towards his regiment, and dispositions were immediately made +for forming a square; but the enemy wisely wheeled, and charged another +regiment. The colonel of this regiment, being unable to get his men in +position, shouted in a stentorian voice: "Men of the ——th, +look at the Seventh Ohio; and d—n you, weep!" +</p> + +<p> +In this battle the regiment made five charges, under the leadership of +Creighton; and each time driving the enemy. +</p> + +<p> +After the battle was over, and the regiment on the retreat, seeing a +wounded captain lying almost within the enemy's lines, he rode up to +his company, and pointing to where he was lying, said: "Do you see your +captain over yonder? <i>Now, go for him!</i>" They did go for him, and +succeeded in bringing him from the field in safety. +</p> + +<p> +Only a few were missing from the regiment in this action, although the +list of killed and wounded was fearful. +</p> + +<p> +We next find Creighton at the battle of Cedar Mountain, where a small +division fought the whole of Jackson's army on ground of his own +choosing. Creighton handled his regiment with a dexterity that told +fearfully on the ranks of the enemy. He was finally severely wounded, +and compelled to leave the field. In doing so, he kept his face to the +foe, saying that "no rebel ever saw his back in battle; and never +would." He was taken to Washington, where the bullet was extracted from +his side, which was an exceedingly painful operation. Soon after this +he came to his home; but while still carrying his arm in a sling, he +reported to his regiment. +</p> + +<p> +While at home the battle of Antietam was fought, which was the only one +in which he failed to participate. Soon after his return, the affair at +Dumfries occurred, where, through his ingenuity and skill, Hampton's +cavalry command was defeated by a mere handful of men. For this he was +publicly thanked by Generals Slocum and Geary. +</p> + +<p> +He now took part in the battle of Chancellorsville, where he won new +laurels. It is said that being ordered by General Hooker to fall back, +he refused to do so until able to bring Knapp's Battery safely to the +rear; for which disobedience of orders he was recommended for +promotion. This battery was from his native city, and in it he had many +friends. +</p> + +<p> +Next he was at Gettysburg, where he fought with his accustomed valor. +</p> + +<p> +We now find him at Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge, in "Hooker's +battle above the clouds," where the victory was so suddenly and +unexpectedly won, that scarcely sufficient time intervened in which to +display valor. It was simply a race for the top of the mountain on the +part of our men; and a corresponding race on the part of the rebels for +the foot of the mountain on the opposite side. +</p> + +<p> +After this battle came the pursuit of Bragg. His rear-guard was +overtaken at Ringgold, Georgia, where it was securely posted on the top +of Taylor's Ridge—a naked eminence. It was madness to undertake to +drive them from this hill, without the use of artillery to cover the +assault; but in the excitement of the moment the order was given. In +this assault Creighton commanded a brigade. Forming his command, he +made a speech. "Boys," said he, "we are ordered to take that hill. I +want to see you walk right up it." After this characteristic speech, he +led his men up the hill. It soon became impossible to advance against +the terrible fire by which they were met; he, therefore, led them into +a ravine, but the rebels poured such a fire into it from all sides, +that the command was driven back. Reaching a fence, Creighton stopped, +and facing the foe, waited for his command to reach the opposite side. +While in this position he fell, pierced through the body with a rifle +bullet. His last words were: "Oh, my dear wife!" and he expired almost +immediately. The brigade now fell rapidly back, carrying the remains of +its idolized commander with it. +</p> + +<p> + +</p> + +<p> +Lieutenant-Colonel Orrin J. Crane was born in Troy, New York, in the +year 1829. At three years of age his parents moved to their native +State, Vermont. Soon after, his father died, leaving but limited means +for the support and education of his children. His mother was a +Christian woman, and devoted to her children. From her he received his +first lessons of life; and a worthy teacher he had. He cherished his +mother with the utmost affection, dwelling upon her goodness with +almost child-like simplicity. It was touching to listen to the words of +love and confidence falling for her, from the lips of the sturdy +warrior, who braved the battle-fire without a tremor. +</p> + +<p> +In early youth he went to live with an uncle, and in about 1852 came +with him to Conneaut, Ohio, where he employed himself in mechanical +labor. He spent one year on the Isthmus, and after his return went to +Cleveland, where he engaged in the occupation of a ship-carpenter, +following this trade till the fall of Sumter. While in Cleveland he +associated himself with a military organization. +</p> + +<p> +He entered the service as first-lieutenant in Captain Creighton's +company; and on his promotion, was made captain. He early devoted +himself to the instruction of his company; and it can be said that it +lost nothing of the efficiency it acquired under the leadership of +Creighton. +</p> + +<p> +After the regiment entered the field, his services were invaluable. I +doubt if the entire army contains an officer who has performed more +service, in the same length of time, than Crane. If a bridge was to be +constructed, or a road repaired, he was sent for to superintend it. If +the commissary department became reduced, he was the one to procure +supplies. No undertaking was too arduous for his iron-will to brave. +There was no fear of starvation while the sturdy Crane was present. All +relied on him with the utmost confidence, and no one was ever +disappointed in him. +</p> + +<p> +At the affair of Cross Lanes, where he first came under fire, he was +more than a hero; he seemed possessed of attributes of a higher nature. +He moved amid that sheet of flame, as if possessed of a soul in +communion with a higher power. He inspired his men with true courage. +They stood like a wall, and fell back only when ordered by their +leader, then dashed through the strong line of the enemy with a bravery +which was truly sublime. The enemy, although five to one, hesitated, +swayed backward, and finally fled, so severely punished, that for the +time they did not pursue. In that long march, over the mountains to +Gauley Bridge, he was still the proud leader. +</p> + +<p> +After his arrival at the above place, he was sent out to the front, up +New River, where he rendered valuable service. +</p> + +<p> +He was in every march and skirmish in both Western and Eastern +Virginia, until, we find the regiment at the battle of Winchester. In +this engagement he showed the same indomitable and true courage. He +held his men to the work of carnage so fearfully, that the enemy's +slain almost equalled his command. +</p> + +<p> +We now find him in every battle in which his regiment was engaged in +the East. Port Republic, Cedar Mountain (where he was slightly +wounded), Antietam, Dumfries, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. In all +of these he <i>led</i> his command, and the dead of the enemy left on +the field before it attest how well he led it. +</p> + +<p> +At the battle of Antietam, he commanded the regiment, and during the +latter part of the engagement, a brigade. +</p> + +<p> +Before the regiment left for the West, he was made lieutenant-colonel; +a position which his ability and long, as well as faithful, service of +his country rendered him eminently qualified to fill. +</p> + +<p> +Arriving in the West, he commanded the regiment in the battles of +Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge, where he added new laurels to his +already imperishable name. At fatal Ringgold, he again commanded the +regiment. He led it up the steep ascent, where the whistling of bullets +made the air musical; and where men dropped so quietly that they were +scarcely missed, except in the thinned ranks of the command. The +regiment had not recovered from the shock produced by the announcement +of the death of Creighton, when the noble Crane, on whom all hearts +were centred in the fearful peril of that hour, fell at the feet of his +devoted comrades, pierced through the forehead by a rifle bullet. He +spoke not a word—his strong heart ceased to beat; and his soul took +its flight from its blood-red tenement, and from the confusion of +battle, to the land of patriot spirits. He fell so far in the advance, +that his men were driven back before possessing themselves of his +body,—but soon after it was recovered. +</p> + +<p> + +</p> + +<p> +The sketches of Creighton and Crane now lie in the same path. +</p> + +<p> +After the bodies of the fallen braves had been laid side by side, the +remaining few of a once full regiment gathered around and mourned,—the +silence alone being broken by the tears and sobs of a band of warriors, +grieving for the loss of their chieftains. Was such a scene ever +witnessed? Those forms, now cold and bloody, had often led them on the +field of carnage, to victory and glory; under their leadership the +regiment had been made immortal; and now, in all their pride, and +glory, and chivalry, they had gone down to rise no more. No wonder, +then, that their brave followers paid their last tribute to all that +was mortal of their renowned leaders. It seemed to these mourners, in +their loss the regiment itself was blotted out—that it would no more +be known and honored—that its sun had forever set. But no, many a +brave heart, that stood in that circle, was to be made a sacrifice to +his country; many more hearts were to be left crushed and bleeding for +the loved ones fallen in battle. When the last tear had been shed, and +the last vow made over these fallen braves, the regiment moved away in +profound silence. +</p> + +<p> +While this scene was being enacted afar off among the hills of Georgia, +the peaceful valleys of Ohio were echoing with the lamentations of +friends at home. The hearts of the people of the Western Reserve were +bound by the strong ties of kin and friendship to this gallant +regiment, which had but just made its great sacrifice, and they were +all in mourning. When the news came of this great disaster, it could +not be believed; the friends of the fallen would not give them up. And +it was not until a dispatch was received that their bodies were on the +way home, that it was generally believed. At last, when the people +realized that the sad news was indeed true, meetings were called by the +representatives of all branches of trade and industry. Resolutions of +respect were passed, and preparations made to receive the dead, on +their arrival, in a becoming manner. +</p> + +<p> +When General Hooker learned of the death of Creighton and Crane, he +raised both hands, in surprise and grief, exclaiming, "My God! are they +dead? Two braver men never lived!" +</p> + +<p> +General Butterfield, chief of staff, gave orders to remove the bodies +to the rear. They were conveyed to Chattanooga by Sergeant Tisdell, +where they were met by Quartermaster Loomis, and privates Wetzel, +Shepherd, and Meigs. General Slocum testified his appreciation of their +worth, by accompanying their bodies as far as Tullahoma. When the news +reached him of their death, his grief was so profound, that the stern +veteran burst into tears. +</p> + +<p> +They were taken to Nashville to be embalmed. But little, however, could +be done for Creighton, as he had bled inwardly; his body was therefore +put into a metallic case. Crane's body was embalmed, and placed in a +plain, but neat coffin, till it should arrive in Cleveland and be +transferred to a burial case. Dr. Newbury, of the Sanitary Commission, +rendered much service in this work, after which he accompanied the +remains to Louisville. From this place they were forwarded to +Cincinnati by train, where they were met by the special escort from +Cleveland, consisting of Colonel Hayward, Lieutenant-Colonel J. T. +Sterling, Lieutenant-Colonel Frazee, Captain Baird, Captain Molyneaux, +Captain De Forest, Captain Wiseman, Surgeon Cushing, and Quartermaster +Chapin. +</p> + +<p> +On Sunday morning the train dashed into Cleveland, and stopped at the +foot of Superior-street. Two hearses were in waiting. One for Colonel +Creighton, drawn by four white horses; the other for Lieutenant-Colonel +Crane, drawn by four black horses. Each was draped by American flags +and the usual insignia of mourning. +</p> + +<p> +The remains of Colonel Creighton were now removed from the car to the +hearse, and conveyed to the residence of Mrs. Creighton, on +Bolivar-street. The remains of Lieutenant-Colonel Crane remained under +guard, till the return of the escort, when they were taken to the +residence of the widow. +</p> + +<p> +This bright Sabbath will long be remembered. But a few short Sabbaths +before, the coffined dead left the city of their homes, possessed of +life and hope: looking forward with pride and happiness to the +termination of an honorable career in the service of their country. And +often in their night vigils, over the dying embers of their +picket-fires, had they conversed on the subject, passing the long night +in dreams never to be realized. The remaining few of your followers +have, indeed, long since returned; and although the hearts and feet of +these brave warriors were heavy with the tramp of weary months, yet +your slumber was not disturbed. Long years shall roll away, in which +war's tumult and carnage shall cease; but you shall only be known among +men by your good deeds left behind, and perpetuated in the hearts of +your countrymen. +</p> + +<p> +On the 7th of December the bodies of Creighton and Crane were brought +from the residences of their families and taken to the Council Hall, +for the purpose of lying in state, to be seen by the public. The same +hearses were used as on the arrival of the bodies from the South. +</p> + +<p> +The Council Hall was elegantly and appropriately decorated. In the +centre, within the railing, a handsome canopy had been placed, with +roof of national flags, draped with mourning emblems, suspended from +the ceiling, and trailing at the corners to the ground. Wreaths, loops, +and festoons of black and white edged the canopy. On the inside, from +the centre, hung a large pendant of mourning emblems, beneath which was +the bier on which lay the bodies of the gallant dead. +</p> + +<p> +On the president's desk, at the head of the hall, were portraits of +Colonel Creighton and Lieutenant-Colonel Crane, draped in mourning; and +against the wall, behind the place of the president's seat, was a +life-size portrait of Colonel Creighton, also draped in mourning. Above +this portrait was this inscription, in black letters on white ground: +</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> +<div class="stanza"> +<div>"My God! are they dead?</div> +<div>Two braver men never lived!"</div></div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="i10">—<span class="sc">General Hooker.</span></div></div></div></div> + +<p> +The windows were hung with black, and the gaslights threw a dim, solemn +light over the mournful scene. +</p> + +<p> +The bodies were placed in handsome burial-cases, and the covers +removed, so that they could be seen through the glass fronts. As we +have before mentioned, the body of Colonel Creighton, from the wounds +having bled inwardly, was so much changed, previously to reaching +Nashville, that it was impossible to properly embalm it; and therefore +did not present a natural appearance. That of Lieutenant-Colonel Crane +was in good preservation, and could easily be recognized. +</p> + +<p> +The bodies were guarded by a detachment of members of the old Seventh, +who formed the guard of honor. +</p> + +<p> +The following account of the funeral services is from the Cleveland +Herald of the 9th of December. +</p> + +<p> +"The sad pageant is over. A sorrowing people have paid their tribute of +affection and regret over the remains of the dead heroes. The brave +leaders of the glorious but ill-fated Seventh sleep in their quiet +tomb. +</p> + +<p> +"Tuesday, the 8th, was a bright and beautiful day. Its clear sky and +pleasant atmosphere were strangely similar to that bright Sunday in +May, two years and a half ago, when the Seventh Regiment marched out of +Cleveland on its way to the battle-fields where it was destined to win +such renown. The unclouded sun shed a halo of glory on all that was +left of the brave men who led the old Seventh in many a fight; but who +now were to be laid away in the silent and peaceful tomb. +</p> + +<p> +"The bright day opened on a city of mourners. People gathered on the +streets, waiting for the hour for the funeral. Business was unthought +of, even the latest news by telegraph, exciting as it was, and +calculated to stir the pulse with triumphant joy, failed to engross the +attention. Men spoke of the dead heroes, of their first departure for +the war, of their terrible battles and bloody sacrifices; and of that +last fearful struggle on the hill at Ringgold, where the gallant +leaders laid down their lives for their country, amid their dead and +wounded comrades. +</p> + +<p> +"From every flag-staff the national colors hung at half-mast, and signs +of mourning were everywhere visible. As the hour set for the +commencement of the solemn exercises drew near, business was entirely +suspended throughout the city. The stores were closed, the Federal, +State, and city offices shut their doors, and a Sabbath-like stillness +reigned over the city. Soon came the tramp of armed men, the mournful +wail of bugles, and the funeral roll of the drums, as the troops moved +up to take part in the funeral procession. +</p> + +<p> +"The bodies had remained in the Council Hall over-night, guarded by the +old comrades of the gallant dead. The families and relatives were in +the mayor's office, waiting for the hour of moving the procession. At +half past ten o'clock the bodies were removed from the Council Hall and +placed in hearses which were draped with the national colors, looped up +with mourning emblems. +</p> + +<p> +"The pall-bearers were as follows: For Colonel Creighton—Colonel +Senter, Colonel Whittlesey, Major Mygatt, Lieutenant-Colonel Asper, +Major Seymour, Captain McIlrath, Captain Ransom, Captain Stratton. For +Lieutenant-Colonel Crane—Lieutenant-Colonel Goddard, Lieutenant-Colonel +Sterling, Major Palmer, Captain Drummond, Captain Douglass, Captain +Wilson, Captain Standart, Captain Hill. +</p> + +<p> +"The burial-cases were the best that money could buy. On one was the +following inscription: +</p> + +<p class="ctr"> +<span class="sc">Col. W. R. Creighton</span>, +<br>7th O. V. I, +<br>In his 27th year. +<br>Killed at the Battle of Ringgold, +<br>Nov. 27th, 1863. +</p> + +<p> +"On the other was the inscription: +</p> + +<p class="ctr"> +<span class="sc">Lieut.-Col. O. J. Crane</span>, +<br>Fell at the Battle of Ringgold, +<br>Nov. 27th, 1863. +</p> + +<p> +"On each coffin was laid a handsome wreath of immortelles, with the +sword of the dead officer. +</p> + +<p> +"The Twenty-ninth Volunteer Militia were drawn up in line each side of +the way between the Council Hall and the Stone Church, and the mournful +<i>cortege</i> passed through the lane so formed, Leland's Band playing +a dirge. The hearse was followed by the mourners in carriages—Governor +Brough, Surgeon McClurg, of the United States Military Hospital, the +City Council, and City and County Officers, all wearing crape badges. +</p> + +<p> +"Thousands of people lined the way, and crowded around the church with +the hope of getting in; but there was not a sound from them, as the +procession passed on to the church. And such perfect order and decorum +we never before saw in such a vast concourse. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +IN THE CHURCH. +</p> + +<p> +"At the church—as indeed throughout the whole of the obsequies—the +most perfect arrangements had been made, and were carried out. The +reading-desk was draped with flags and crape. Directly in front was a +stand with an elegant bouquet of flowers, and below this another stand, +draped with national colors, on which rested the two coffins, side by +side. +</p> + +<p> +"The silk banner of the Seventh, presented by the city after Cross +Lanes, and bearing the names of several battles, was displayed against +the reading-desk. It was pierced and rent by showers of bullets and +shell in many a hard-fought battle. +</p> + +<p> +"The families and relatives of the deceased were placed in the seats +immediately in front of the bodies. On either side of the coffins sat +the pallbearers. Directly behind the mourners sat about a dozen or more +of the members of the old Cleveland Light Guard, the company commanded +by Colonel Creighton before the war, and of which Lieutenant-Colonel +Crane was a member. They wore crape badges, and had with them the +company flag, draped in mourning. +</p> + +<p> +"Near the reading-desk were seated Governor Brough, Surgeon McClurg, +and other invited guests, the committees, city council, city officers, +county officers, the clergy of the city and neighborhood, members of +the old Seventh, members of the old Cleveland Light Guard, soldiers +from the Military Hospital, members of the Typographical Union, +ship-carpenters, and other friends of the deceased. The body of the +church was packed tightly with citizens, of whom the greater part were +ladies, preference being given to them in the selection of seats. The +Twenty-ninth Regiment stood in the aisles. +</p> + +<p> +"During the entry of the procession to the church, the organ played a +voluntary suitable to the occasion. At half-past eleven o'clock the +funeral ceremonies in the church commenced with an invocation of the +Divine blessing by Rev. S. W. Adams, of the First Baptist Church, who +afterwards read appropriate passages of Scripture. +</p> + +<p> +"The choir then sang the Ninetieth Psalm: +</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> +<div class="stanza"> +<div>"'O God! our help in ages past,</div> +<div class="i1">Our help in years to come;</div> +<div>Our shelter from the stormy blast,</div> +<div class="i1">And our eternal home;</div></div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<div>"'Beneath the shadow of Thy throne,</div> +<div class="i1">Thy saints have dwelt secure;</div> +<div>Sufficient is Thine arm alone,</div> +<div class="i1">And our defence is sure.</div></div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<div>"'Before the hills in order stood,</div> +<div class="i1">Or earth received her name,</div> +<div>From everlasting Thou art God—</div> +<div class="i1">To endless years the same.</div></div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<div>"'Thy word commands our flesh to dust:</div> +<div class="i1">Return ye sons of men!</div> +<div>All nations rose from earth at first,</div> +<div class="i1">And turn to earth again.</div></div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<div>"'O God! our help in ages past,</div> +<div class="i1">Our help for years to come:</div> +<div>Be Thou our guide while troubles last,</div> +<div class="i1">And our eternal home.'</div></div></div></div> + +<p> +"Rev. Adam Crooks, of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, then made the +following address, at the request of the family of the late Colonel +Creighton: +</p> + +<p> +"'To-day we are in the solemn presence of inexorable death. We are +impressedly reminded that dust we are, and unto dust we must return; +that "death is the mighty leveller of us all;" that "the tall, the +wise, the heroic dead must lie as low as ours." Two lifeless heroes are +before us— +</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> +<div class="stanza"> +<div>"'Their swords in rust;</div> +<div>Their souls with God in heaven, we trust.'</div></div></div></div> + +<p> +We would do well to pray with the hero of other days: "So teach us to +number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." Before us +are two more rich offerings which the State of Ohio and Cleveland have +laid upon our country's altar! They were preceded by Wheeler, Lantry, +Pickands, Mahan, Vail, and others. We are here to mourn, to honor, and +to bury the noble dead! They were the pride of our city and of Northern +Ohio. Brave and honored representatives of a brave and honored +constituency! Of one thousand eight hundred soldiers who have filled +the ranks of the Seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, but little +over a hundred now report for duty. Many of them sleep in patriots' and +heroes' graves. Most of the remainder bear on their persons honorable +marks of their patriotism and bravery. In honoring the representative, +we honor the constituency. +</p> + +<p> +"'But <i>general</i> remarks are not appropriate from me. At the +request of the stricken widow and relatives of Colonel Creighton, I +come to utter a few words of condolence, sympathy, and comfort, in this +hour, to <i>them</i> and <i>to us all</i>, of deep affliction. Brother +Foot will speak in behalf of the relatives of Lieutenant-Colonel Crane. +</p> + +<p> +"'Colonel William R. Creighton was born in the City of Pittsburgh, +in the year 1836 or 1837—the records are not in this city. In early +childhood he was bereft of a father. He was baptized by the Rev. Bishop +Uphold, now bishop of Indiana, of the Protestant Episcopal Church. +</p> + +<p> +"'In his early teens, he served in the employ of Mr. A——, in an +extensive shoe establishment. Subsequently, he chose the occupation of +a printer, and spent three years in making himself master of his trade. +Eight years ago he came to this city—was four years in the office of +the Cleveland Herald. Also some six months in the City of Chicago. At +the time of enlistment, he was in the employ of Mr. Nevans of this +city. Early in life, he gave evidence that the tendencies of his nature +were strongly <i>military</i>. +</p> + +<p> +"'This was evinced by his connection with companies for drill in +Pittsburgh, Chicago, and this city. When the bloody drama of this +dreadful war was inaugurated, he was lieutenant of the 'Cleveland Light +Guard.' He was not willing that the fair and majestic superstructure, +reared by the superior skill, patient labor, and heroic suffering of +our honored fathers—resting its deep foundations in the inalienability +of the natural rights of all men, and in which the most indigent son of +toil stands before the law the equal peer of merchant princes—should +be torn down by perjured traitors and sworn enemies of mankind; not +willing that these traitors and enemies should bury beneath the +magnificent ruins of this superstructure our strength, and greatness, +and safety, and peace, and very liberties; not willing that this young, +yet powerful republic, should be so dismembered and disintegrated as to +tempt the rapacity, and be an easy prey of the weakest of adverse +powers; not willing that the principle, that '<i>Capital shall own +labor</i>,' the non-capitalled be the chattel of the rich, should rule +all over this continent—that labor should be at once unremunerative +and the badge of infamy, that thus there should be eternal antagonism +between the indigent and the affluent, developing in intestine broils +and civil feuds,—nor that the sun of liberty should go down upon an +entire hemisphere, to rise not again for many generations; not willing +that the forum, pulpit, and press should all be enslaved, and +intelligence among the masses be rendered contraband; in brief, not +willing that our <i>Paradise</i> should be converted into a +<i>Pandemonium</i>. +</p> + +<p> +"'Hence, no sooner had the news reached us of the assault upon Fort +Sumter, and the call of the President for seventy-five thousand +volunteers to rush to the defence of the life of the republic, than, +with all the ardor of his earnest nature, Colonel William R. Creighton +threw his <i>all</i> upon his country's altar, and appealed to his +associates and compeers to do likewise. +</p> + +<p> +"'His success in securing enlistments was commensurate with his zeal +and known military skill. In a few days he was captain of a full +company—the first enlisted in this city—which afterwards became +Company A of the immortal Seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. On +the morning of the 3d of May, 1861, a beautiful Sabbath morning in the +spring, emblem of life, youth, and beauty, this regiment started for +the field of conflict, glory, and of death. And now, on a clear, serene +Sabbath of the December of 1863, the dying month of the year, the first +Sabbath of the month, and in the morning, after many hard-fought +battles, the brave colonel and lieutenant-colonel of the gallant +Seventh came back to say to us, in the mute silence of death, 'We have +done what we could.' In terms and strains of true eloquence you will +soon be told by Brother Peck, how bravely the colonel led the charges +at Cross Lanes, Winchester, Port Republic, Cedar Mountain (not at +Antietam, for he was at home wounded), Dumfries, Chancellorsville, +Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain, and fatal Ringgold,—and how he loved his +brave command, and how they idolized him. But I will not anticipate, +nor need I attempt encomium. His <i>deeds</i> praise him beyond the +capacity of all human eloquence. +</p> + +<p> +"'Of his <i>social</i> and <i>manly</i> qualities, one who knew him +well is permitted to speak, in a letter of Christian sympathy, +addressed to his widow—for the 2d of May, 1861, three days before +leaving with his command, he was united in wedlock with Eleanor L. +Quirk, of this city. In a letter, such as described above, the Rev. Mr. +Brown, former pastor of Westminster Church, and for some months +chaplain of the Seventh Regiment, says: +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> +"'<span class="sc">Mrs. Colonel Creighton</span>: My dear Friend—I +have just read in the dispatches that your brave husband and +Lieutenant-Colonel Crane were killed in the late battle at Ringgold, +Georgia. Oh, how sad this is! Sad to me who loved him; but how +<i>terribly</i> sad to you, his beloved wife! I cannot write about +it. Precious memories of hours and days of dangers and hardships, +shared together in Western Virginia (and of one long, serious +conversation about death and eternity, as we rode together at +midnight through the woods) crowd upon me. He was warm-hearted, +generous, and noble. He loved his country unto death. He was brave, +even to rashness. But he has gone!' +</p> +</div> + +<p> +"'Yes, the warm-hearted friend, the loving brother, the affectionate +son, the devoted husband, the brave soldier, the undying patriot, the +fearless and fiery Creighton, is gone! We are here to-day to honor his +memory, recount his heroic deeds of noble daring, mourn his fall, and +convey his lifeless remains—with those of his brave comrade, +Lieutenant-Colonel Crane—to the tomb of a hero and a patriot. +</p> + +<p> +"'What words of elegiac comfort shall I speak to his numerous personal +and sorrowful friends; his brothers in the union of the same useful and +honorable handicraft; his brave comrades in arms of the noble Seventh, +and other regiments, who are here to attest their affection and sorrow; +his brother in the flesh, who is now left without a brother; his aged +and sorely bereaved mother; and his youthful, but grief-stricken, +widow? How shall <i>I</i>, who would take my place with the mourners, +speak words of comfort to you? +</p> + +<p> +"'Let us remember that although our <i>dear</i>, <i>dear</i> friend +will no longer mingle with us in the social or domestic circle,—will +not again lead regiment or brigade of fearless braves in the thickest +and hottest of the fight, inspiring to feats of exalted heroism—his +brave and generous heart now cold and lifeless—dim and sightless those +eyes whose radiant and enlivening orbs beamed, now with kindness, and +now with fiery bravery—his intercourse with the living world, brought +to a final period,—let us remember, that although Colonel Creighton is +gone, yet he is not lost; he is not lost to his country, for it has his +noble example of true bravery and practical patriotism. +</p> + +<p> +"'He is not lost to us who knew him, for he lives, and will ever live, +templed in our brightest memories and best affections. Nor can he be +lost to history, for he has made the offering which places his name on +its brightest page. +</p> + +<p> +"'Death never comes alone, but is always attended by an escort of +sadness. Whenever the silver cord is loosed, the golden bowl broken, +the pitcher broken at the fountain, the wheel broken at the cistern, +and dust returns to the earth, as it was, mourners go about the +streets. But it is especially sad, when, as in this case, sister, +mother, and wife are denied the sorrowful pleasure of being present, +and ministering to the wants of the dying, and speaking words of +Christian hope. But even this finds an offset in the fact that it was +his honored privilege to die for country—to fall, covered with glory! +Also, in the fact that his body was not mangled—that he did not suffer +long—in the assurance furnished by the words, 'Oh, my dear wife!' +uttered in dying accents after he fell, and before he expired, that his +last thoughts were of home and kindred; and may not we hope that these +words were breathed in prayer, and that he threw his whole soul +helpless, but trustfully, upon the merits of the Saviour? Again, it is +a source of great gratification to us all, and especially to the +relatives, that he does not fill a distant and unknown grave—that he +was tenderly borne from the field, and promptly forwarded for honorable +interment. His grave is to be in our midst, marked by a marble shaft, +which will scarcely crumble beneath the tread of the coming ages. You +can go there and pay the mournful tribute which nature and affection +prompt. And may it not be believed, that from their patriotic ashes +(for Creighton and Crane fought and fell together, and they are to rest +side by side)—is it not to be believed, that from their patriotic +ashes will spring a rich harvest <i>in kind</i> to at once avenge their +fall, and save our imperilled country? And will not fathers and mothers +conduct their children to these honored graves, and there put upon them +vows of eternal hostility to treason and to traitors, be they secret or +armed, even as Hamilcar caused his son Hannibal to swear, at the altar, +eternal hatred to Rome? And will not every one who visits their tombs, +and reads their epitaphs, whisper, "Peace and honor." And when this +cruel war is over, and the God of our fathers shall crown our labors +and sufferings with success, and bestow upon us, as a nation, an +honorable, righteous, and perpetual peace, then, amid the light, and +songs, and joy of the nation's jubilee, let their epitaphs be written +anew. And during all ages, peace to their ashes, peace to their memory, +and peace to their heroic spirits. +</p> + +<p> +"'Let us this day, around the lifeless forms of these fallen heroes, +not profanely, but solemnly and religiously, swear that the lives of +these, together with the lives of hundreds of thousands of the flower +of the nation, given for the salvation of the country, shall not be +given in vain; that we will complete well, what they have so well +begun. +</p> + +<p> +"'I need not ask of you, in behalf of the aged mother and bereaved +widow of Colonel Creighton, your warm, your practical, your continued +sympathies: these, I am sure, will not be withheld. But I now ask you +to join me in one fervent prayer to the God of the aged, the +fatherless, and the widow, our fathers' God, and the God of battles, +that He will, by His almighty arm, sustain, and, by His abundant grace, +comfort the aged mothers, and bereaved widows, and afflicted friends of +our brave soldiers, and their departed sons, husbands, and brothers; +that He will thus sustain and comfort all whose hearts have been cloven +by the battle-axe of war; that He will abundantly shield, help, bless, +and comfort our brave soldiers upon the field, in the hospitals, and +prisoners in the hands of our enemies; and that He will speedily bestow +upon our imperilled country the inestimable blessing of an honorable, +righteous, and lasting peace. Amen.' +</p> + +<p> +"Rev. C. C. Foot, at the request of the family of the late +Lieutenant-Colonel Crane, made the following address: +</p> + +<p> +"'The duties we are called to perform—the bearing of our dead brave to +their final rest—is indeed solemn and sad. That those who admired and +loved them in life, and delight to honor them when dead, should, with +sympathizing hearts and grateful hands, minister such a funeral +ovation, is due to them in view of the sacrifice they made, the toils +they endured, and their deeds of patriotism and valor. When the bugle +was first sounded in Washington, calling the North to the defence of +our institutions, these were among the first to respond; leaving their +business, their friends, and their families, for the field of strife, +they unsheathed their swords to strike for freedom's sacred cause. In +many skirmishes, and in every battle of their brigade, they struck with +such bravery and success as to have secured perpetual illustriousness; +while ever a nation exists to feel the throb of a nation's heart, while +a man lives to read the annals of America, their noble deeds shall be +known, and their illustrious names shall be honored. +</p> + +<p> +"'They passed through so many dangers almost unscarred, that they +feared no ill, and their families began to expect with confidence their +return to the enjoyments of home, ere many months more should have +flown. But when on Ringgold's hillside they raised their swords to +gleam as never before, from a volley of Confederate musketry their +death-warrant came. Their bodies sank to the ground—their spirits +ascended through the smoke-cloud of battle to the patriot's God, to +join the slain of the Seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, where the stars +forever shine in original splendor and glory. On the morrow, instead of +the ready pen reporting to loved ones at home that "all is well with +us," the telegraph was put in requisition to announce that never more +should their voices be heard by friend, companion, or offspring. Oh, +how sad such intelligence! How many families, how many tender, loving, +trembling hearts throughout the land, have been made sorrowful by like +intelligence since this war was so cruelly hurled upon us? From what +our soldier friends do and suffer from the myriad untimely deaths, +shall we not learn the magnitude of the work of the army, and our great +indebtedness to all who have gone to fight for us, our homes, and our +country? Let us render them the honor due. When men become illustrious, +it is but natural that their friends review their lives, and that +others inquire who they are, whence they came, and what circumstances +molded them for their greatness. To answer briefly and in part such +inquiries about one of these brave men—Lieutenant-Colonel O. J. +Crane—is the work to which I have been invited. Lieutenant-Colonel +Crane was born in Chautauque County, New York, in the year 1829. When +about three years old, his parents removed to their native State, +Vermont. Soon after this, his father died, and he was left to climb +life's rugged hill from his mother's arms to manhood, without the +invaluable aid of a father's counsels and assistance. He was blest with +a kind, intelligent, and prayerful mother, to whom he owed no small +amount of gratitude. +</p> + +<p> +"'Her care and labor for his health, and even his life, were constant +and great. While quite young, he once received a burn, so severe that +his life was despaired of. The attendant physician said he could not +live—or living, would always be helpless. But his mother loved him +into <i>life</i> and <i>health</i>, little thinking that she had saved +him from one fire, only to see him exposed and becoming a victim to a +more galling one; little thinking that to him, for whose life she +struggled, she and the nation would become indebted for liberty and +political security. During his youth he lived chiefly with an uncle, +and with whom, about thirteen years ago, he located in Conneaut, Ohio. +While there, he was employed in mechanical labor. He spent one year on +the Isthmus. On his return from the Isthmus, he came to Cleveland, and +found employment as a ship-carpenter. In this city, and this business, +he remained till called to participate in our national conflict. +</p> + +<p> +"'As a mechanic, he enjoyed the confidence and esteem of his employers +and his fellows. As a man, he drew around him a pleasant circle of +friends, constant and affectionate, who deeply mourn his loss. In +disposition, he was frank, manly, kind, and ever cheerful. He leaves a +sorrowing wife, to whom he was married nine years ago, three small +children, a mother, brothers and sisters. Their bereavement is too +great, their grief too deep, for even them to express in language. Yet +not till weary weeks shall fail to bring letters from the +battle-field—not till months confirm that no husband returns—not till +years reveal the need of a father to guide the orphans, and a companion +to sustain an aching heart, shall be fully realized the magnitude of +the sacrifice made, in laying upon a nation's altar a husband and a +father. +</p> + +<p> +"'The subject of these remarks had never made a public profession of +faith in Jesus. He had respected religion. He showed great kindness and +respect to the chaplain of his regiment, and consequently had a good +chaplain. He also, after entering the service, became interested in +personal religion. He professed a readiness to die when called. Let us +pray and hope that beyond the turmoil of this life, he may receive his +dear ones to everlasting fellowship of joy. +</p> + +<p> +"'Some months ago he became a member of the Masonic fraternity. Though +so soon taken from them, yet— +</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> +<div class="stanza"> +<div>"'By the hieroglyphic bright,</div> +<div class="i1">Which none but craftsmen ever saw,</div> +<div>Strange memory on our minds shall write</div> +<div class="i1">His honored name that's far awa.'</div></div></div></div> + +<p> +"'Citizens of Cleveland and Ohio, as we embalm his name in our memory, +let us not fail to remember, also, the dear family he has left. Let us +give them our heartfelt sympathy—not the sympathy of <i>pity</i>, but +that of <i>gratitude</i>—for his and their debtors we are. He gave his +life; not for himself, but for us who live, for our homes, and our +posterity. Surrounding the husbandless with what comforts we can, and +supplying the fatherless with fatherly care, and aid, and sympathy, let +us, to our utmost, discharge our indebtedness. Let us work and pray +that but few more brave need fall; and that the time be speeded when +the defenders of our liberties shall be welcomed home to the enjoyment +of their triumphs, with the jubilant acclamation of many millions of +freemen.' +</p> + +<p> +"Professor H. E. Peck, at the request of the General Committee, +delivered the address on behalf of the city, as follows: +</p> + +<p> +"'On a fair Sabbath in May, only three short seasons ago, just as the +bells were calling the town to worship, a regiment passed down yonder +street. That, citizens, was a spectacle which you who saw it will never +forget. Not because the marching column was striking to the eye. There +was no pageant. There were no arms, no banners. There was not even a +uniform. The farmer, the student, and the smith, were in that line; +and the farmer marched in the garments he brought from the furrow, +and the student and the smith were attired as they had been in the +recitation-room and shop. But for all that, the display was profoundly +impressive. Here was the flower of the Reserve. Lake, Mahoning, +Trumbull, Lorain, and Erie, each had a hundred; Portage, twice a +hundred; and Cuyahoga, thrice a hundred in the line. And each hundred +was made up, not of the rabble, but of sons, whom worthy fathers and +mothers dearly loved; of men, who, if they should stay at home, would +soon be conspicuous for wealth, or learning, or skill in useful arts. +And these thousand true men, loved well at home, made of sterling +stuff, were on their way to <i>war</i>—to actual war. To serve the +imperilled country, they had quit all,—farms, shops, books, friends, +hopes, the past, the future,—all but duty and honor. They might never +return. The vow on them might take them to bloody fields, from which +there should be no passage except down through the gates of death. Oh, +kinsman, was not that an impressive scene? Did you ever see the like? +Did not tears wet your eyes as you looked on? Were not the cheers with +which you sent the heroes on their way divided, as shouts of yours had +never before been, nor have been since, between admiration and sorrow? +</p> + +<p> +"'This, friends, was the first march of our gallant Seventh. You do not +forget that in that march the column was led by a young captain, whose +high carriage and soldierly bearing were almost the only signs of real +military display. The body of that young captain lies in one of yonder +coffins. Of him, and his brave comrade who sleeps beside him, I am to +speak on this occasion. The history of the noble Seventh is +<i>their</i> late history. With it, therefore, let me begin. +</p> + +<p> +"'The Seventh left Cleveland May 5, 1861. It went hence to Camp +Dennison, where E. B. Tyler, of Ravenna; W. R. Creighton, of Cleveland; +and John S. Casement, of Painesville, were made its first +field-officers. In the June following, while it was still at Camp +Dennison, the regiment was reorganized and sworn into the three-years' +service. I well remember seeing Captain Crane, whose remains are +yonder, on a sweet Sabbath afternoon—men, sun, air, and earth, all +were glad, and the harmonies of nature were tunefully praising +God—bringing his company to the colonel's quarters to be sworn in. I +well remember the impression which the strong voice of the sombre +captain made upon me, as, after the young soldiers, with bare heads and +uplifted hands, had taken the oath, he cried, "Company, right face; +forward, march!" The tone of the command was as if he would say, "Now, +men, there is no retreat. Only service, perhaps death, is before you." +</p> + +<p> +"'A week later, General McClellan, who had then just taken command of +the Western Department, came looking for the right material with which +to begin his Western Virginia campaign, and inspected the regiment. But +it was not at garments the shrewd leader looked. It was the +<i>person</i> he studied. He sought the eye. He narrowly scanned the +look. Down the line and back again he slowly went. I saw the expression +on his face, as at the end, he seemed to say to himself, "<i>They are +the right sort!</i>" In the reorganization of the regiment, the staff +remained as it was before. +</p> + +<p> +"'On the 26th of June, 1861, the Seventh left Camp Dennison, to enter +on active service in Western Virginia. With many long marches it sought +the foe. It had begun to doubt whether it would ever meet him, when, at +Cross Lanes, on the 26th of August, he came, with overwhelming force. +For a brief space, the companies, separated from each other, held their +ground. Then, from bare and irresistible necessity, they gave way. +Twenty-four gallant men were left on the field, dead or wounded. One +hundred were carried away prisoners, and the remainder were scattered +like partridges which have received the sportsman's fire. At first, +tidings came to us that the Seventh was wholly destroyed. How ached our +hearts! Presently, better news came. Major Casement had brought four +hundred men through the wilderness into Charleston, and Captain Crane +had come to Gauley, bringing, not only almost his entire company, but a +flag which he had captured from the enemy. +</p> + +<p> +"'Then came to the regiment days of distraction and despondency. You, +and others of the Reserve, heard of, and agonized over its condition. +To encourage and cheer it, you sent it a stand of beautiful colors. At +the Academy of Music, as you will remember, before a throng of your +best citizens, the standards were dedicated. +</p> + +<p> +"'On a mountain-side, in Western Virginia, with Rosecrans' army lying +miles up and down, and with the smoke of the enemy's camp-fires rising +in the distance, they were presented to the regiment. I wish I could +picture the scene, the splendors of the magnificent landscape, the +exquisite beauty of the colors as they proudly glowed in the clear +sunlight, the enthusiasm of the men and the pride of the officers. Your +present helped to rouse the spirit of the regiment. The words of love +and considerate regard, which you sent with the gift, assured it that +its honor was not yet lost. How thrilling, how hopeful, was the cheer +which rolled off among the hills, as the color-guard took its trust! +</p> + +<p> +"'From the Kanawha the Seventh went, on the 17th of December, 1861, to +the Potomac. There, now led by Lieutenant Colonel Creighton—Colonel +Tyler having taken temporary command of a brigade—it met, at +Winchester, March 23, 1862, Jackson's celebrated "Stonewall Legion." +Hot was the fire, when the Northern iron met the Southern flint. The +Seventh left fifty-six dead and wounded on the field. But it won a name +in the fight. The story told of them, the land over, was, <i>they +fought like veterans</i>. Then came the long chase up the Shenandoah, +then the hard march across to Eastern Virginia, and back to the gates +of the Shenandoah. Then came Port Republic, the first square stand-up +fight which the regiment had, when, led by Creighton, in an open field, +in a line trim enough for a dress parade, and with "Cross Lanes" for +its battle-cry, the glorious Seventh charged down on Jackson's +steadfast front. Ah, how the list of the dead and wounded was again +fearfully swelled! Seventy-two names were added to it. +</p> + +<p> +"'By this time the regiment had become so reduced by the casualties of +war, that its friends on the Reserve asked that it might be sent home +to recruit. "No," promptly replied discriminating Halleck, "not so long +as there is a lame drummer left; not if you will send us a whole new +regiment in place of this handful. We know these men, they are just +such as we want." Colonel Tyler's promotion to a brigadiership brought +Lieutenant-Colonel Creighton to the head of the regiment, and this, and +other changes, presently made Captain Crane a Lieutenant-Colonel. The +regiment now had plenty of duty. It fought at Cedar Mountain, and +there, on the extreme advance, it met the brunt of danger. +</p> + +<p> +"'In one company, out of twenty-one men engaged, eighteen fell killed +or wounded. The whole regiment suffered in hardly less proportion. One +hundred and ninety-six, of the two hundred and ninety-seven heroes +engaged, fell. There, fiery Creighton, as usual, not content to be +elsewhere than on the extreme front, was so severely wounded that he +was compelled to come home to recover. +</p> + +<p> +"'Soon the regiment was at Antietam, and there it shared the toils and +honors of that honorable field. Thirty-eight fallen men, out of one +hundred engaged, was the price it paid for its opportunity. Presently +it fought and prevailed against great odds at Dumfries. Here it lost +ten more of its scant few. +</p> + +<p> +"'In the next year's campaign, after lying in camp and being +considerably recruited, the regiment was at Chancellorsville. There it +did good service, by catching and holding on its steady line droves of +fugitives, who were ingloriously seeking the rear, and by covering the +retreat of its corps. It lost, at Chancellorsville, ninety-nine men. +Next the regiment was at Gettysburg. There, for the first time in its +history, it fought behind defences; nor could Ewell, surging with fiery +valor up against the rocky rampart, break the line which it, and its +compeers of the Twelfth Corps, held. The Seventh lost at Gettysburg +nineteen men; and, as from every field before, so from this, it brought +honor and a new name. From the Potomac the regiment went, in September +last, to the Tennessee. There, on the 24th of last month, it shared in +that brilliant "battle above the clouds," by which Hooker cleared +Lookout Mountain. Decisive as the result of its courage here was, it +seems to have left behind but one wounded man as its share of the +sacrifice which the victory cost. Then came the pursuit of Bragg, and +the overtaking of his rear-guard at Ringgold; then the climbing, by the +Twelfth Corps, of that bare hill, on the top of which the enemy was +securely posted. Staunch Creighton was in command of a brigade, and +Crane led the Seventh. The charge was a desperate one, but Creighton +did not falter. Kindling to that ardor of which he was so susceptible, +he urged his command on. "Boys," he said, "we are ordered to take that +hill. I want to see you walk right up it." Then putting himself, not in +the rear, as being temporarily a brigadier he might have done, but far +in the advance, he led the way. And Crane, close behind, stoutly held +the Seventh to its bloody work. The men were ready for the task. The +zeal of Cross Lanes, of Winchester, of Port Republic, burned to a white +heat. The gallant Seventh, leading the column, flung itself into the +billows of fire, as if it were rescuing home from robber hands. But, +ah! chivalric Creighton fell, and, alas! sturdy Crane, too; and of the +commissioned officers of the Seventh, but one remained unhurt. Is it +wonderful that the grand old regiment, losing the inspiring command of +the brave soldiers whose voices had so often aroused its purposes, fell +back? Oh, Creighton and Crane, had you lived, the Seventh would, +perhaps, without help, have carried the dear old colors, tattered by so +many leaden storms, into the enemy's defiant works! Sad tale that I +must tell, of the two hundred and ten sons and brothers of ours who +went into the fight, ninety fell; of the fourteen commissioned officers +on the field, thirteen were killed or wounded. +</p> + +<p> +"'My story of the Seventh is done. Yes, the Sabbath comes; sweet, clear +day, as bright as that holy morn on which the Seventh first went its +way. A sad cortege passes up the same street yonder. Music wails at its +head. A downcast guard of honor marches, with mourning colors, behind +hearses trimmed with the badges of woe. Look you, kindred, the band +which follows the dead is made up of the men who marched in that May +Sabbath line two years ago. But the farmer, the student, the smith, +are not there. These are soldiers all. They are scarred with the marks +of Cross Lanes, of Winchester—nay, let me not stop to recite the long +list of battles through which they have passed. Yes, here is part of +the scant few left out of the eighteen hundred staunch men who have +stood under the flag of the Seventh; and here, hearse-borne, are the +bodies of the good leaders who shall head the regiment no more. Pause +now, citizens, while I tell you about these noble men. Colonel +Creighton was born in Pittsburgh. He was but twenty-six years of age +when he fell. For several years he followed the trade of a printer in +this city. But he was born to be a soldier, and years ago he learned, +in civic schools, a soldier's trade. So, when the war broke out, he was +fit to take command. He raised a company in this city. At once his +military talent was revealed. He had not a peer in the camp as a +drill-master, and there was something about his ardent nature which +made men feel that he was fit to command. Thus superior office came to +him—he did not seek it. But getting it, he discharged his duties well. +He was affectionate to his men, erring only in being, perhaps, too free +with them. And when battle came, he was a master-spirit in the dreadful +storm. Burning with enthusiasm, almost rash with courage, he could +inspire his "gamecocks"—as he familiarly called his men—with such +qualities as are most needed in the charge and in the deadly breach. I +have often asked sound thinking members of the Seventh, "What of +Creighton?" The answer has always been, "<i>He is a soldier, every +inch.</i>" +</p> + +<p> +"'Lieutenant-Colonel Crane was born in Troy, New York, in the year +1828. He, too, has been a mechanic here for many years. Like his chief, +he, too, had learned the use of arms before the war commenced. He was, +therefore, amply qualified to take command of his company when Captain +Creighton was promoted. And no ordinary disciplinarian was Captain +Crane. He had a difficult company, but it was with a strong hand that +he laid hold of his work. Headstrong men had a master in him. Withal, +he was the soul of kindness to those he commanded. His rugged nature, +despising military finery, and the pomps and forms of military life, +came down at once to plain, blunt, frank, but sincere and hearty +intercourse with the men under him. If you wished to find Captain +Crane, you must look for him where his boys were; and if his boys had +had a trying or toilsome work, you might be sure he was lightening the +load by his own example of brave and sturdy patience. He did not have +an impulsive nature. He was not a thunderbolt on the field. He was +rock, rather. Fiery floods might break against him, and yet he was +always the same; always imperturbable, honest, strong. +</p> + +<p> +"'I should have said before, that Colonel Creighton was in every battle +which the Seventh ever fought, except Antietam. It is in place for me +to say here, that Lieutenant-Colonel Crane took part in every battle in +which his regiment shared. I doubt if another instance of the kind is +on record. Would that the Hand which had so often averted danger, could +have turned the fatal bullets aside at Ringgold! +</p> + +<p> +"'And now, friends, I am, at the invitation of the joint-committee of +the city council, the military, the Typographical Union, the +ship-carpenters, and yourselves, and as the representative of other +towns, who helped raise the Seventh, to bring a tribute of gratitude +and praise to the memory of the gallant dead. In my poor way, I here +certify to the noble qualities, to the brave deeds of the soldiers +coffined yonder. I come to say, that the honor done them by the city, +by the military, by yourselves, by good men who, in other towns, mourn +their loss, is well bestowed. The heroes have earned their honors. They +have bought them with such high conduct, with such self-sacrifices, as +the brightest laurels poorly reward. I know not how those souls, which +lately inhabited yonder clay, stand in the other world (would that your +prayers and mine could reach them), but I do know, that their names +shall live in this world forever. The marble you shall put up over +their dust will itself have gone to dust before their renown shall have +passed from the hearts and lips of men. +</p> + +<p> +"'Would, friends, that you and I, by any ministry of love, could +staunch these widows' and half-orphans' tears. Oh! sisters bereaved, +and dear little children, now fatherless, may God in His mercy keep +you! May He be help and hope to you! Remember, I pray you, that the +spilled blood which was so dear to you, was precious also to God; that +it is from such seed that He makes freedom, peace, social order, and +prosperity to grow. +</p> + +<p> +"'And, citizens, what shall I say of the Seventh, which mourns its +noble dead? Shall I summon here the spirits of those who have fallen on +the half-score fields, where the staunch old regiment has left its +dead? Shall I call from the shadowy world those who have died in +festering prisons? Shall I order the rally for those who, broken in +body, shall engage in active pursuits no more? Shall I bring from the +field the little remnant—headed by the one unhurt commissioned +officer, and under this dear, chafed, and rent old flag, which no +longer shines with the glory of color and figure which it displayed +when first unfurled in your Academy of Music, but which is lustrous +with the light with which brave deeds have invested it—shall I tell +them of your love for, and your gratitude to them? Nay, this I cannot +do. But I can say to these representatives of the regiment who are with +us, and through them to that little handful of bronzed veterans who, +huddling around a single camp-fire at Chattanooga, are the last remnant +of the Seventh—to you, honored men, we owe a debt we can never +discharge. You sprang to arms, when others hesitated. You entered the +flinty paths of war with feet shod only for the gentle ways of peace. +Often have you been tried, never have you failed; and the honor of the +Reserve, which we committed to you, has been proudly kept on every +field. And in this hour of weighty bereavement, our feelings towards +you and your comrades, living and dead, is like that of the pious +Scotch woman who, when grim Claverhouse having first shot her husband, +laughing, asked, "Well, woman, what thinkest thou of thy good man now?" +quietly replied, as she drew the pierced head to her bosom, and wiped +the death-damp from his brow: "I aye thought much of him, but now more +than ever." +</p> + +<p> +"'Now, bearers, take out your dead. Put the cherished remains in an +honored place. Tell art to lift above them worthy marble. Write upon +the stone the names of the battles in which our heroes have fought. +Write also the virtues of the dead. Write, too, that gratitude has +lifted the monument, partly to do honor to them, worthy of it, whom +human praise can never reach; and to teach the living that it is well +to make even life a sacrifice to duty. And when our war has been ended, +when peace and freedom shall be in all our borders, thronging feet +shall, through all the generations, come up to your memorial, and learn +lessons of heroism and self-sacrifice.' +</p> + +<p> +"Rev. William Goodrich, of the First Presbyterian Church, made the +closing prayer; after which the choir chanted impressively the +following hymn: +</p> + + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> +<div class="stanza"> +<div>"'With tearful eyes I look around,</div> +<div class="i1">Life seems a dark and gloomy sea;</div> +<div>Yet midst the gloom I hear a sound,</div> +<div class="i1">A heavenly whisper, 'Come to Me.'</div></div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<div>"'It tells me of a place of rest—</div> +<div class="i1">It tells me where my soul may flee;</div> +<div>Oh! to the weary, faint, oppressed,</div> +<div class="i1">How sweet the bidding, 'Come to Me!'</div></div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<div>"'When nature shudders, loth to part</div> +<div class="i1">From all I love, enjoy, and see,</div> +<div>When a faint chill steals o'er thy heart,</div> +<div class="i1">A sweet voice utters, 'Come to Me.'</div></div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<div>"'Come, for all else must fade and die,</div> +<div class="i1">Earth is no resting place for thee;</div> +<div>Heavenward direct thy weeping eye,</div> +<div class="i1">I am thy portion, 'Come to Me.'</div></div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<div>"'Oh, voice of mercy! voice of love!</div> +<div class="i1">In conflict, grief, and agony;</div> +<div>Support me, cheer me from above!</div> +<div class="i1">And gently whisper, Come to Me.'</div></div></div></div> + +<p> +"This closed the exercises at the church. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +THE FUNERAL PROCESSION. +</p> + +<p> +"As soon as the exercises in the church closed, the Brooklyn Light +Artillery commenced firing minute-guns from the field-piece planted on +the square in front of the church. At the same time, the chimes of +Trinity rang a muffled peal, and the bells in all the other churches +commenced tolling. The square and the streets leading to it were packed +with people from the city and surrounding country, the latter having +been pouring in all the morning. It seemed almost impossible to keep an +open space in so great a crowd, but the admirable management of the +marshals of the day and the city police, aided by the spirit of order +and decorum in the crowd, succeeded in preventing any trouble or +confusion. +</p> + +<p> +"The procession was formed in nearly the order as at first arranged. +First came Leland's band, playing the "Dead March." Then the +Twenty-ninth Regiment, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Frazee, with +arms reversed and bound with crape. Next the discharged officers and +soldiers of the Seventh, headed by their old band. These old members of +the regiment numbered sixty, and were formed into a company, under +Captain Molyneaux. They were followed by the clergymen of the city, +after which came the bodies. +</p> + +<p> +"Colonel Creighton's body was in a hearse drawn by four white horses, +from undertaker Duty; and the body of Lieutenant-Colonel Crane, in a +hearse drawn by four black horses, from undertaker Howland. Behind the +hearses were led two horses fully caparisoned. The pall-bearers, whose +names have been previously given, walked beside the hearses. Eleven +carriages, containing the mourners, came next, followed by a carriage +containing Lieutenant Loomis, Sergeant-Major Tisdel, Bugler Welzel, and +privates Shepherd and Meigs, forming the escort from the Seventh. Next +were the members of the old Cleveland Light Guard, with their badges +and flags; Governor Brough and other invited guests, committee of +arrangements, city council, city officers, county military committee, +two hundred sick and wounded soldiers from the United States Military +Hospital, soldiers from the Twelfth Cavalry, Brooklyn Light Artillery, +Captain Pelton; other military and officers of the United States +regular and volunteer services; United States Court officers, +Typographical Union, ship-carpenters, old Light Guard, under Captain J. +Robinson, students from Commercial College, County Court officers, +citizens on foot, citizens in carriages. +</p> + +<p> +"The procession was of great length, and passed through a dense crowd +of thousands of people during the whole way. It was well managed by +Colonel William H. Hayward, chief marshal of the day, and his +assistants, H. M. Chapin, William Edwards, John M. Sterling, junior, +and C. Busch. The police were again of incalculable value in clearing +the way and keeping perfect order. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +AT THE TOMB. +</p> + +<p> +"The lot in the Woodland Cemetery, intended as the final resting-place +of the heroic dead, not having yet been selected, the bodies were taken +to the City Cemetery, and deposited temporarily in the Bradburn Vault, +the use of which had been generously tendered. The police again, ever +vigilant and effective, had kept the cemetery and its approaches free +from the vast crowd until the procession had entered, and then secured +ample room, so that there was no crowding or confusion. +</p> + +<p> +"The Twenty-ninth Regiment was drawn up in line, with colors +immediately opposite the tomb. The company of the old members of the +Seventh, with reversed arms, stood at the right of the tomb. +</p> + +<p> +"As the procession moved up to the tomb the band played a dirge. The +Rev. W. A. Fiske, rector of Grace Church, read the beautiful and +impressive burial-service of the Episcopal Church, the bodies were +placed in the vault, the final prayer said, and then the door of the +tomb was closed. The old members of the Seventh fired three volleys +over the tomb, and all was over. The heroic dead sleep undisturbed. +</p> + +<p> +"So ended the grandest and the most mournful pageant that has passed +through the streets of Cleveland for many a year." +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +LIEUT.-COL. MERVIN CLARK. +</p> + +<p> +On a gloomy night in May, 1861, when the wind was howling in fitful +gusts, and the rain pouring down in merciless rapidity, the writer was +awakened by the stentorian voice of the adjutant in front of the tent, +followed by an order that Lieutenant —— would report for guard-duty. +After wading half-knee deep in mud and water, narrowly escaping a cold +bath in an over-friendly ditch, I arrived at the headquarters of the +guard. Soon after my arrival, a boy reported to me for duty, as +sergeant of the guard; a position no less responsible than my own. At +first I felt that, on such a fearful night, I needed more than a boy to +assist me in the performance of my task. His form was fragile; his face +was smooth as that of a girl, and in the dim, shadowy light of a +camp-fire, struggling against the heavy rain, I took him to be about +fifteen years of age. We immediately entered into conversation, and +between admiration and surprise, the rain was forgotten, and the +moments sped so rapidly, that it was nearing the time to change the +guard. But my boy companion had forgotten nothing, and as the moment +arrived, he called in the relief. As he moved among those sturdy +warriors, it occurred to me that I had never before met a boy, who was +at the same time a man—a brave, prudent, reliable man. All night he +did his duty, and when we parted in the morning, I both loved and +admired him. This was my first meeting with Colonel Clark. +</p> + +<p> +Mervin Clark was a native of Ohio, having been born in the city of +Cleveland, in 1843. When but three years of age his mother died, and at +the age of nine his surviving parent, leaving him an orphan. He was now +taken, into the family of Henry W. Clark, an uncle, where he found a +home, and kind friends, during the remainder of his life. +</p> + +<p> +The flash of the last gun at Sumter had hardly died away, when he +enrolled himself as a private in Captain De Villiers' company, at the +same time declaring that he would, by no act of his, leave the service +of his country, until rebels in arms were met and subdued. How well he +kept that pledge, it is the office of this brief sketch to show. +</p> + +<p> +He left Camp Dennison as an orderly-sergeant, and during the trying +marches and skirmishes in Western Virginia, won a commission. Arriving +in the East, he was made a first-lieutenant. At the battle of +Winchester, he surprised and delighted every one who saw him. When the +bullets flew thickest, he stepped on to the brink of the hill, over +which our men were firing, and, with revolver in hand, took part in the +strife. His captain, seeing his danger, directed him to get behind a +tree which stood close by. He obeyed orders, but with his back to the +tree, and his face to the foe. At the battle of Cedar Mountain, he +commanded a company, and during that fearful day, led his men with +great bravery. At last, when the order was given to retreat, he mistook +it for an order to charge, and, with a dozen men, dashed at the double +line of a whole brigade of rebels. It was not until an officer of +authority conveyed the true order to him, that he would withdraw. He +now took part in all the battles in which his regiment was engaged in +the East, except Antietam. When the regiment left for the West, he +accompanied it, and soon after took part in the battles of Lookout +Mountain, Mission Ridge, Taylor's Ridge, and the series of engagements +taking place while with Sherman. Before his term of service expired, he +was made a captain, and commanded his company on its homeward march. He +was soon after mustered out with his company. He now sought quiet and +rest at his home, giving no evidence of an intention to again enter the +service. But before he had been at home many weeks, he surprised and +disappointed his friends by enlisting as a private in the regular army. +His fame, however, was too wide-spread in Ohio to suffer him to +re-enter the service as a private. Governor Brough had already selected +him for promotion, and when learning of his enlistment in the regular +service, procured an order for his discharge, and immediately appointed +him lieutenant-colonel of the One Hundred and Eighty-third Regiment, +then about to enter the field. He had now come of age, November 5th, +and on the 8th of November cast his first vote; on the 12th, he +received his commission; and on the 15th, he left for the front. His +regiment joined the army of General Thomas, on its retreat before the +rebel forces under Hood. On the 30th of November, the regiment was +engaged in the terrible battle of Franklin. During the engagement, the +regiment was ordered to charge the enemy's works. The color bearer was +soon shot down, when Clark seized the colors, and calling to his men, +"Who will follow me to retake these works?" mounted the rebel works, +and immediately fell, a minie ball having passed through his head. +Every effort was made to take his body from the field, but to no +purpose, and the "boy officer" was wrapped in his blanket, and buried +on the field of his fame, to be finally removed by careful hands, when +the earth had covered every vestige of the strife in its friendly +bosom. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +LIEUTENANT HENRY ROBINSON. +</p> + +<p> +Henry Robinson was a native of Ohio, and entered the service as +first-lieutenant of Company G. He was always attentive to his duties, +and soon took a position among the first of his rank. He was constantly +with his command during its early service. He was in the skirmish at +Cross Lanes, where he won the respect and confidence of the entire +command by his gallant conduct. In this affair, he commanded Company G. +Arriving at Charleston, he was sent to Gauley Bridge, and soon after +was taken violently sick with a fever. He soon after died. +</p> + +<p> +In the death of Lieutenant Robinson, the regiment made one of its +greatest sacrifices. He was esteemed by every one for his kind and +courteous manners, as well as for his ability as a soldier. He had many +friends in the army, and at home, and I doubt very much if he had an +enemy in the world. His military career was short, but of such a +character that his friends can refer to it with pride. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +LIEUTENANT E. S. QUAY. +</p> + +<p> +E. S. Quay entered the service as second-lieutenant of Company G. He +was with the regiment at Cross Lanes, where he gave promise of much +future usefulness as a soldier. He accompanied the regiment to Eastern +Virginia, where he was acting assistant adjutant-general to Colonel +Tyler. He took part in the battle of Winchester, where he did splendid +service. After Tyler's promotion to a general, he was made +adjutant-general, and assigned to his staff. In this capacity, he +served in the battle of Port Republic, where he gained new laurels. He +finally went to his home on account of ill-health, and after a time, +died of consumption. He was a good soldier. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +LIEUTENANT JAMES P. BRISBINE. +</p> + +<p> +James P. Brisbine was a native of Trumbull County, Ohio. He was born in +1836. His parents dying while he was quite young, he went to live with +an uncle by the name of Applegate. He received a fair education, and +during the time, in part, maintaining himself by teaching school in +winter. In the spring of 1860, he commenced reading law in Warren, +Ohio, which he continued until the breaking out of the rebellion. +During his course of study, he gave promise of an able and useful +lawyer. When it became evident that the rebellion could not be +suppressed but by the force of arms, he deemed it his duty to leave the +study of the profession of his choice, and enroll himself among the +defenders of his country. This step he considered as a decided +sacrifice to him; for, by nature, he was in no way inclined to the life +of a soldier; he preferred the quiet life of a citizen, which is alone +to be found at home. It was with many misgivings that he finally placed +his name on the roll. In doing this, he was alone influenced by +patriotic motives. When urged to be a candidate for the position of +sergeant, he declined to have any thing to do with the matter; but was +elected, notwithstanding his indifference. +</p> + +<p> +At Camp Dennison, he was made orderly-sergeant. He took part in the +skirmish at Cross Lanes, where he made a good record as a soldier. Soon +after entering the field, his health failed him. The long marches often +taxed him beyond his strength; but he seldom complained. He was not in +the battle of Winchester on account of sickness, being disabled from +the effects of the severe march from Strasburg, which took place a +short time before. He expressed many regrets on account of his absence. +But he very soon had an opportunity to test his courage on the +battle-field. The engagement of Port Republic occurred shortly after. +He was in no respect second in gallantry to those who were in the +previous battle. He was ever at his post, doing his duty. During the +latter part of the battle, a captain, an intimate friend, fell, +severely wounded. He caught him in his arms, and laid him gently on the +ground, pillowing his head in his lap. The regiment moved off, and the +rebels advanced; but he refused to leave his friend. And he did not +leave until the captain was borne away by his comrades. He passed +through this battle without a scratch. He accompanied the regiment to +Alexandria, and from there to the front of Pope's army. He now took +part in the battle of Cedar Mountain. While cheering his men forward, +he was wounded. Two men took him in their arms, and started in search +of the hospital; but before they were off the field a bullet struck him +in the groin, severing the femoral artery. Said he, "Remember, boys, I +die for my country," and expired in their arms. Thus, a true and +devoted friend of his country died to preserve it from the attacks of +those who had been educated and supported by it from boyhood. +</p> + +<p> +As an officer, Lieutenant Brisbine was much esteemed; as a companion, +he was admired by every one. I doubt if he had an enemy in the army or +at home. He won his promotion in the field; and it was, therefore, a +much greater prize than a higher rank conferred by favor. He was +commissioned early in 1862. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +LIEUTENANT CHARLES A. BROOKS. +</p> + +<p> +The subject of this sketch was born in Bristol, Trumbull County, in the +year 1843. He early developed those good qualities of head and heart +for which he was afterwards so distinguished. Being a good student, +attentive to his books, as he was to every other good purpose, he +acquired a good education, which would have enabled him to engage in +any occupation with credit to himself and profit to the community. +</p> + +<p> +He was desirous of entering the service when the war first began, but +was held back by domestic ties which bound him strongly to home. But on +the second call for troops, he could no longer remain out of the army; +and, hastening to a recruiting station, he enlisted in Company H, of +the Seventh Regiment. He arrived at Camp Dennison on the 30th of May, +and, with others, was mustered into the service. His tall, commanding +figure, connected with his sterling qualities of mind, pointed him out +as a proper person for promotion. He was, therefore made a corporal, +and, as soon as a vacancy occurred, a sergeant. His officers soon put +unlimited confidence in him. If a hazardous enterprise was to be +performed, he was deemed fitting to undertake it. While still a +sergeant, Creighton would often point him out as his future adjutant. +Finally, when Adjutant Shepherd was compelled to resign, on account of +growing ill health, Creighton procured his appointment as +first-lieutenant, and at once detailed him as his adjutant. He came to +this position entirely qualified; for, from the time he had been made +orderly of Company H, he transacted all of the business of the company. +He was in the affair at Cross Lanes, and all other skirmishes in which +the regiment was engaged, as well as the following battles: Port +Republic, Cedar Mountain, Dumfries, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. +</p> + +<p> +Near the close of the battle of Port Republic, he saw one of his old +officers lying, seriously wounded, so near the enemy's lines as to be +in danger of capture. Throwing down his gun, in company with Charles +Garrard, he braved the battle-fire, and brought his old comrade safely +from the field; thus, probably, saving his life. +</p> + +<p> +At the battle of Cedar Mountain he was slightly wounded, losing a +finger. +</p> + +<p> +In July he was sent to Ohio to bring forward the drafted men assigned +to the Seventh. While on his way from Columbus to his home in Bristol, +he met with a frightful accident resulting in death. While seated in an +omnibus, it was driven on to the railroad track, directly in front of a +train. In jumping out, he was knocked down by the cars and run over, +mangling both legs frightfully. He was taken to the New England House, +but nothing could be done for him, and he expired early the following +morning. The following is from the pen of one who knew him and prized +him:<a href="#note6" name="noteref6"><small>[6]</small></a> +</p> + +<p> +"The career of this young man has been short but brilliant. He has been +a soldier and a man; pure, noble-hearted, sympathetic, and always ready +for any duty. He has been brave, courageous, and trustworthy. He has +gone from us with no stain upon his honor, no spots upon his +escutcheon, but with his armor begrimed with the dust of many battles. +Although young in years, he had lived long, if you count the hardships +he had endured, the stirring and momentous events through which he had +passed, and in the transpiring of which he had been an actor, the +service he rendered his country, and humanity at large, and the good he +had done; if gauged by this standard, he had become more mature than +many men who have attained their threescore and ten years. So bright +an example cannot fail to have a good influence upon the young men of +the country. His violent death will bring his virtues prominently +before their minds, and cannot fail to make an impression. Let all be +exhorted to emulate his patriotism, his gallantry, his valor, his +promptness in the discharge of duty, his kindness of heart, suavity of +manner, his manly and soldier-like qualities; and if in civil life, +they will become manlier men—if in military life, they cannot fail to +become better and braver soldiers." +</p> + +<p> +He was buried near where he was born, on the banks of a rippling brook, +under the shade of beautiful trees, through the boughs of which will +sing an everlasting requiem fitting so brave and active a spirit. The +citizens of the vicinity turned out in mass to honor his memory with +their presence, and tearful eyes and expressive looks showed their +heartfelt sympathy for the afflicted mother, sister, brother, and +relatives; while a military organization from Warren gave him the +fitting escort, and fired three volleys over his grave. +</p> + +<p> +A grateful public will not forget this heroic and noble sacrifice. Let +an enduring monument be erected. Not of marble, which may crumble; but +let his manly deeds be engraved upon the tablets of their memory, and +let his virtues and sacrifices be interwoven with the affections, the +sympathies, and the lives of the people, so that while time lasts, and +all that is noble in human action, good in thought, and true in +conception and motive, shall be treasured as sacred memories, this hero +will not be forgotten, because kept fresh with the watering of many +tears. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +LIEUTENANT JOSEPH H. ROSS. +</p> + +<p> +Joseph H. Ross entered the service as a private in Captain W. R. +Sterling's company. Soon after arriving in camp he was made a sergeant, +and finally orderly. He was engaged in all the marches and skirmishes +in Western Virginia, and at Cross Lanes fought like a veteran. He was +in the battle of Winchester, where he displayed such reckless bravery +as to attract the attention of the entire command. While the regiment +was partially concealed behind a ridge, within eighty yards of the +enemy, Ross was not content with remaining at such a distance, but +creeping over the hill, crawled forward on his hands and knees till he +was midway between the lines, and taking a position behind a rock, +swung his hat to those behind. None but Sergeant Whiting, of Company D, +had the courage to follow him. From behind this rock, the two heroes +kept up a constant fire on the enemy, hitting their man at every shot. +</p> + +<p> +Ross was now made a lieutenant, and assigned to Company C. He was in +the battle of Port Republic, where he fought with his usual bravery. At +the battle of Cedar Mountain he commanded Company C. During the entire +day he led his men with such certainty, that they slaughtered the enemy +fearfully. Night came, and he had not received a scratch, while the +thinned ranks testified how many had fallen around him. Soon after +dark, as if the regiment had not already suffered sufficiently, it was +ordered on picket. When about a mile out, it was fired upon from all +quarters, and Lieutenant Ross fell, mortally wounded. He died soon +after. His loss was deeply felt, both in the army and at home; for he +was a true soldier and friend. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +LIEUTENANT FRANK JOHNSON. +</p> + +<p> +At this same bloody battle of Cedar Mountain, another youthful hero +fell, Frank Johnson, Company F. He had entered the service as a private +in John Man's company, and had risen through the different grades of +corporal and sergeant to be a lieutenant. He had toiled along through +the hard marches of the Seventh, struggling against a weak +constitution, which was every day being impaired by hardships and +exposure. He had fought nobly in the battles of Winchester and Port +Republic,—recognized by the authorities by giving him a commission; +and now, in the morning of his new life as a <i>leader</i>, he fell at +the head of his company. +</p> + +<hr class="med"> + +<h2> +Footnotes +</h2> + + +<dl> +<dt class="notelabel"><a name="note1"> </a><a +href="#noteref1"><small>[1] +</small></a></dt> +<dd class="notetext"> Charles Tenney. +</dd></dl> + +<dl> +<dt class="notelabel"><a name="note2"> </a><a +href="#noteref2"><small>[2] +</small></a></dt> +<dd class="notetext"> Lieutenant W. D. Shepherd. +</dd></dl> + +<dl> +<dt class="notelabel"><a name="note3"> </a><a +href="#noteref3"><small>[3] +</small></a></dt> +<dd class="notetext"> General Tyler has failed to furnish us any data from which to write +an extended sketch, though often requested to do so. +</dd></dl> + +<dl> +<dt class="notelabel"><a name="note4"> </a><a +href="#noteref4"><small>[4] +</small></a></dt> +<dd class="notetext"> The writer has been unable to learn sufficient of General Sprague's +services, after leaving the Seventh, to enable him to write an extended +sketch, which he very much regrets, for his gallant services entitle +him to a more lengthy notice. +</dd></dl> + +<dl> +<dt class="notelabel"><a name="note5"> </a><a +href="#noteref5"><small>[5] +</small></a></dt> +<dd class="notetext"> The writer would be glad to give an extended account of the gallant +services of Colonel Shurtliff in the bloody battles before Richmond and +Petersburg, but has not received the necessary facts. +</dd></dl> + +<dl> +<dt class="notelabel"><a name="note6"> </a><a +href="#noteref6"><small>[6] +</small></a></dt> +<dd class="notetext"> Colonel J. F. Asper. +</dd></dl> + +<br> +<div class="tn"> +<p class="ctr"> +Transcriber's Note: +</p> + +<p> +Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note. +</p> + +<p> +Irregularities and inconsistencies in the text have been retained as +printed. +</p> + +<p> +The cover of this ebook was created by the transcriber and is hereby +placed in the public domain. +</p> +</div> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44783 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + diff --git a/44783-h/images/cover.jpg b/44783-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a0856b5 --- /dev/null +++ b/44783-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8936add --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #44783 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/44783) diff --git a/old/44783-8.txt b/old/44783-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6043f00 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/44783-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7132 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Seventh Regiment, by George L. Wood + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Seventh Regiment + A Record + +Author: George L. Wood + +Release Date: January 28, 2014 [EBook #44783] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SEVENTH REGIMENT *** + + + + +Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive) + + + + + + +Transcriber's Note: Minor typographical errors have been corrected +without note. Irregularities and inconsistencies in the text have +been retained as printed. + +Words printed in italics are noted with underscores: _italics_. + +The cover of this ebook was created by the transcriber and is hereby +placed in the public domain. + + + + +THE SEVENTH REGIMENT: + +A RECORD. + + +BY + +MAJOR GEORGE L. WOOD. + + +NEW YORK: +PUBLISHED BY JAMES MILLER, +(SUCCESSOR TO C. S. FRANCIS & CO.,) +522 BROADWAY. +1865. + + +Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, + +BY JAMES MILLER, + +In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for +the Southern District of New York. + + + + +AUTHOR'S PREFACE. + + +The following pages were written for the purpose of making a permanent +record of the facts within the author's knowledge relating to the +Seventh Ohio Regiment. The work was undertaken with the belief that the +doings and sufferings of the regiment were of sufficient magnitude and +importance to entitle it to a separate record. It has been extremely +difficult to obtain facts, on account of so large a portion of the +members still being in the service. The book is, therefore, written +principally from memory. If it serves to perpetuate in the minds of the +public the hardships, as well as long and faithful service, of this +gallant regiment, then the object of the author is accomplished. + +WARREN, _May, 1865_. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +This preface to the history of the Seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry is +written at the request of the accomplished author of the book; but +without having read it, seen it, or heard its contents. I have, +however, such confidence in the ability, honesty, candor, good +judgment, and good taste of my old friend and "companion in arms," +that, for myself, I take his work on trust, and in cheerful faith +commend it to others. + +But was there a demand for another book on the war? Or were the doings +and sufferings of one regiment, among the thousands engaged in the war, +of such interest as to demand a separate history? These are questions +the author doubtless weighed carefully before he began to write; and +his answer to them is his book. I agree with him. This nation has a +deep, and will have a lasting, interest in the war. We have been making +history of unrivalled, perhaps of unequalled, importance to the world +during the past four years. We ourselves cannot comprehend the +magnitude of the work we have been doing, or, rather, that God has been +doing through us. The successful revolts of the Netherlanders against +the tyranny of Philip II.--of the Puritans against the tyranny of +Charles I.--of the republicans against the tyranny of George III., +dwindle to insignificance (important as they were) in comparison with +the successful revolt of the loyal, Union-loving, freedom-loving +citizens of this Republic against the tyranny of treason and slavery. +It was a great fight for a great cause, and God has given us a great +victory. There was not a nation on earth that was not interested in the +conflict. Ay, it concerned our common humanity. All this will be seen +more clearly and felt more deeply twenty, fifty, a hundred years hence +than now. But to transmit and perpetuate the fruits of this victory we +must have records of the war--many records, made from many different +points of view, and of many kinds, great and small. The history of this +war is not yet written, perhaps cannot be successfully written for many +years yet. And that it may one day be written as it should be, every +regiment that has a story to tell should tell it. These regimental +histories will be invaluable to the Bancroft who, fifty years hence, +shall write the history of this war. The world is only beginning to +understand the true character and vocation of history--_to make the +past live in the present_; not in great pageants, not in processions +of kings, princes, and mighty conquerors, but _in the common every-day +speech and deeds of the people_. When Merle d'Aubigné would write the +History of the Reformation, he wrote to Guizot for counsel. Guizot +encouraged him, and counselled him to proceed, but added, "_Give us +facts, incidents, details._" This counsel chimed with the purpose +and genius of d'Aubigné, and the result was a history that, though +it discusses doctrines and themes commonly held to be dry and +uninteresting, has for old and young, and men of all classes, all the +charm of romance. In this, his "facts, incidents, details," equally +with his fascinating style, lies the charm of the histories of +Macaulay. But that historians may write such histories--that the +historian of this war may write such a history, the "facts, incidents, +details" must be on record. There is a demand, therefore, for another +book, for many other books, on the war. + +In addition to this, every regiment of the grand Army of the Union in +this war has its own history, of peculiar interest to its own especial +friends. And I have faith in what Dr. O. W. Holmes once said: "I would +not give a fig for a man every one of whose geese were not better than +any other man's swans." To us of the old Seventh "all our geese were +swans." Whether others believed in us or not, we had faith in ourselves +and in one another; we were a mutual admiration society of a thousand +and odd men. And the fact is, that, for some reason, but what I cannot +say, the Seventh Regiment, from the day it was mustered into service to +the day it was mustered out, was always the pride and pet of Ohio, of +Northern Ohio especially. In this respect it never had a rival. True, +it was a well-disciplined, gallant, fighting regiment; but so were many +others. True, it had brave and accomplished officers; but so had many +others. True, it had in the ranks men of refinement, education, and +high social position; but so had many others. I am at a loss to account +for it, but the fact nevertheless was as I have stated it; and as its +deeds corresponded with its renown, _its_ doings, of all others, demand +a permanent record. And, if I am not mistaken, the reader of the +following pages who shall follow the Seventh from the day it was +mustered into service, in Cleveland, in 1861, to the day the pitiful +remnant of it, after tramping and fighting over almost half the Union, +were mustered out of service, in Cleveland, in 1864, will find in them +ample compensation for his time. + +F. T. B. + +CHICAGO, ILL., _May, 1865_. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE FALL OF SUMTER.--CIVIL WAR BEGUN.--PREPARATIONS BY THE SOUTH. +--NOBILITY. 13 + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE PRESIDENT'S CALL FOR TROOPS.--ORGANIZATION OF THE SEVENTH.-- +ITS DEPARTURE FOR CAMP DENNISON.--ITS REORGANIZATION AND DEPARTURE +FOR THE FIELD. 19 + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE PURSUIT OF GENERAL WISE.--TYLER ORDERED TO MENACE GAULEY +BRIDGE AND THREATEN WISE'S COMMUNICATIONS. 30 + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE SKIRMISH AT CROSS LANES.--GALLANT CONDUCT AND FINAL ESCAPE +OF THE SEVENTH REGIMENT. 43 + + +CHAPTER V. + +REFLECTIONS ON THE SKIRMISH AT CROSS LANES.--BATTLE OF CARNIFEX +FERRY. 56 + + +CHAPTER VI. + +CHARLESTON AND THE KANAWHA VALLEY.--A DOUBLE MURDER.--COLONEL +TYLER ASSUMES COMMAND OF THE POST. 63 + + +CHAPTER VII. + +FLOYD ESTABLISHES BATTERIES ON COTTON HILL.--DRIVEN OFF BY +THE FORCES OF GENERAL COX.--BENHAM'S FAILURE TO INTERCEPT HIS +RETREAT.--HIS PURSUIT.--SKIRMISH AT MCCOY'S MILLS.--HIS FINAL +ESCAPE. 70 + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +REFLECTIONS ON THE INSTITUTION OF SLAVERY. 77 + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE SEVENTH ORDERED TO THE EAST.--EXPEDITION TO BLUE'S GAP.-- +KIRMISH ON THE BLOOMING PIKE. 83 + + +CHAPTER X. + +GALLANTRY OF LIEUTENANT O'BRIEN.--DEATH OF GENERAL LANDER.--THE +SEVENTH ESCORT HIS REMAINS.--THE OCCUPATION OF WINCHESTER. 89 + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE RECONNOISSANCE TO STRASBURG.--BATTLE OF WINCHESTER.--UTTER +DEFEAT AND ROUT OF JACKSON'S ARMY. 94 + + +CHAPTER XII. + +GENERAL SHIELDS' ANXIETY FOR LAURELS.--SUMMING UP OF THE BATTLE. +--LOSSES IN THE SEVENTH. 104 + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +PURSUIT OF JACKSON UP THE VALLEY.--MARCH TO FREDERICKSBURG, AND +RETURN TO FRONT ROYAL. 109 + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE MARCH ON WAYNESBORO.--TWO BRIGADES ENCOUNTER JACKSON AT +PORT REPUBLIC, AND AFTER FIVE HOURS' FIGHTING ARE COMPELLED +TO FALL BACK. 114 + + +CHAPTER XV. + +BATTLE OF CEDAR MOUNTAIN.--GALLANTRY OF THE REGIMENT, AND +TERRIBLE LOSS. 123 + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +THE REGIMENT GOES INTO CAMP AT ALEXANDRIA, BUT IS SOON ORDERED +TO THE FRONT.--BATTLE OF ANTIETAM. 134 + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE MARCH TO DUMFRIES.--SKIRMISH WITH HAMPTON'S CAVALRY, IN +WHICH THEY ARE BADLY DEFEATED BY A MUCH INFERIOR FORCE. 142 + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE REGIMENT ORDERED TO THE FRONT.--BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE. 150 + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +ACCOMPANIES THE GRAND ARMY INTO PENNSYLVANIA.--BATTLE OF +GETTYSBURG. 156 + + +CHAPTER XX. + +AFTER REACHING THE RAPIDAN IT GOES TO GOVERNOR'S ISLAND.-- +AFTER ITS RETURN IT ACCOMPANIES HOOKER'S CORPS TO THE WESTERN +DEPARTMENT. 160 + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +THE SEVENTH JOINS GRANT'S ARMY.--THE BATTLES OF LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, +MISSION RIDGE, AND RINGGOLD. 164 + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +THE ADVANCE TOWARDS ATLANTA.--SKIRMISHING.--HOMEWARD MARCH.--ITS +RECEPTION.--MUSTER OUT. 170 + + +BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. + + BRIGADIER-GENERAL E. B. TYLER. 185 + BREVET BRIGADIER-GENERAL J. S. CASEMENT. 189 + BRIGADIER-GENERAL JOHN W. SPRAGUE. 192 + LIEUTENANT-COLONEL SAMUEL MCCLELLAND. 193 + MAJOR FREDERICK A. SEYMOUR. 196 + SURGEON FRANCIS SALTER. 197 + C. J. BELLOWS. 198 + G. E. DENIG. 198 + FREDERICK T. BROWN, D.D. 199 + CHAPLAIN D. C. WRIGHT. 205 + LIEUTENANT-COLONEL GILES W. SHURTLIFF. 206 + COLONEL ARTHUR T. WILCOX. 207 + LIEUTENANT-COLONEL JAMES T. STERLING. 208 + COLONEL JOEL F. ASPER. 210 + MAJOR W. R. STERLING. 214 + MAJOR E. J. KREGER. 215 + CAPTAIN J. B. MOLYNEAUX. 216 + CAPTAIN CHARLES A. WEED. 219 + CAPTAIN JUDSON N. CROSS. 220 + CAPTAIN JOHN F. S. CHUTTE. 221 + LIEUTENANT LOUIS G. DE FOREST. 222 + LIEUTENANT HALBERT B. CASE. 224 + LIEUTENANT HENRY Z. EATON. 226 + LIEUTENANT A. H. DAY. 227 + LIEUTENANT WILLIAM D. SHEPHERD. 227 + LIEUTENANT E. HUDSON BAKER. 229 + LIEUTENANT RALPH LOCKWOOD. 230 + LIEUTENANT T. T. SWEENEY. 230 + LIEUTENANT EDWARD W. FITCH. 231 + LIEUTENANT A. J. WILLIAMS. 231 + + +OUR DEAD. + + COLONEL WILLIAM R. CREIGHTON AND LIEUTENANT-COLONEL + ORRIN J. CRANE. 235 + LIEUTENANT-COLONEL MERVIN CLARK. 291 + LIEUTENANT HENRY ROBINSON. 295 + LIEUTENANT E. S. QUAY. 296 + LIEUTENANT JAMES P. BRISBINE. 296 + LIEUTENANT CHARLES A. BROOKS. 299 + LIEUTENANT JOSEPH H. ROSS. 303 + LIEUTENANT FRANK JOHNSON. 304 + + + + +THE SEVENTH REGIMENT. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE FALL OF SUMTER.--CIVIL WAR BEGUN.--PREPARATIONS BY THE SOUTH.-- +NOBILITY. + + +On a gloomy day in April, 1861, the telegraph flashed the news over the +country that Fort Sumter, a fortress belonging to the United States, +had been fired upon by a body of rebels, and thus inaugurating all the +horrors of civil war. + +By the great mass of people, civil war in our hitherto peaceful country +was entirely unlooked for. It burst so suddenly, that the entire +country was convulsed. The people had become so accustomed to clamor in +Congress and elsewhere, that they looked upon these threats to dissolve +the Union as mere bravado. + +After the first clash of arms at Fort Sumter, both North and South drew +back in alarm, as if in fear of the coming storm. The Southern people, +however, better prepared by education for scenes of strife and +bloodshed, received the news of the inauguration of civil war with less +alarm than did those of the North. The latter received it with a +fearful dignity, conscious of the power to crush the rebellion. The +South, with that arrogance that becomes her so well, expected to make +an easy conquest. Long-continued exercise of power in national matters, +had taught her to look upon the people of the Free States as her +inferiors, needing but a master-stroke for their subjugation,--willing +to lay down their arms, and seek safety in dishonor. They had taken us +for a race of cowards, because we had given way to their selfish +demands in our public councils, for the sake of peace. To be sure, we +had some daring spirits in Congress who met these bullying traitors, +making them feel the full force of Northern valor. But these were +isolated cases, and won the respect of the Southern people to the +persons of the actors rather than to the North as a people. They looked +upon these spirited examples as rather proving the fact of our want of +chivalry than otherwise, and therefore were not corrected in their +false estimate of a people whom they were about to meet on bloody +fields. + +One reason the South had for cherishing so mean an opinion of the North +as a military power, was on account of her having entirely neglected +the cultivation of the art of war. She had so few representatives in +the army and navy, that they were both almost entirely within the +control of the South. + +This control the latter had exercised for years, until her people came +to look upon themselves as the only persons in the country fit to bear +arms. They flattered themselves that they were the army, and we but a +rabble, to be dispersed beyond the hope of reorganization at the first +clash of arms. But in this strife, like all others where aristocratic +privilege comes in contact with the freedom of democracy, these +arrogant lords were to meet with a bitter disappointment; they were to +be made to respect the strong muscle and brave hearts of the so-styled +plebeian North. + +This avowed hostility of the South to the North had caused the former +to take a military direction, and forced her into a course of policy +which, however outrageous it might appear, was yet a matter of +necessity in her attempt at independence. The first step was to put +herself upon a war-footing. This she had been perfecting for several +years. The next was to get the Government so in her control as to make +it powerless in the incipient stages of the rebellion, that it might +gain sufficient strength to withstand the first shock, and thus gain +precedence. + +During a period of thirty years the South was gradually assuming a +war-footing. The militia was organized; independent companies were +formed with no warlike object, as was generally supposed, but really to +resist any encroachment of the Federal Government upon what the leaders +deemed the rights of the Southern people. The election of Abraham +Lincoln to the presidency was not the cause of civil war, but only its +apology. There had existed in the minds of the Southern people a desire +for an independent government, which would give the aristocracy a +firmer footing. In other words, the Federal Government was too +democratic. But it was necessary that these conspirators have some +apparently good reason for civil war; else the people who were at heart +right, would desert them at a time when they were most needed. The time +for the inauguration of civil war was therefore most fitly chosen. The +people were made to believe that the inauguration of President Lincoln +was a sufficient reason; and thus the dream of thirty years of these +disunionists was at last realized. The apology for the war had been +substituted for its cause, and the mass of the Southern people made +eager to meet those on bloody fields whom they were led to suppose were +about to deprive them of their rights and precipitate them into ruin. + +There is always a class styled the nobility in every nation. But the +true nobility in America is that class who have won that distinction by +noble deeds; who are great, not in titles and garters of nobility, but +in great achievements: not that class who base their right to that +title upon the number and character of human beings they may own. The +American people hold that distinction must be given to those by whom it +is merited; and that it cannot be the subject of monopoly. Each person, +however mean his birth, has the same right to enter the list for the +prize as he who was born of a higher rank. It is this freedom, which is +given to all, that has caused the Northern States to make such rapid +progress towards civilization and greatness; and it is the crippling of +this great principle that has cast a shadow over the enslaved South. +One great object of the leaders of the South had been to arrest the +rapid growth of the North, which, they were conscious, would one day +throw them into a helpless minority, for they could not themselves keep +pace with this rapid progress. Their ambition was to have capital +control labor, while the laboring classes were to be subservient to the +capitalists, and a sort of serfdom forced upon them. The wealthy class +were to live in luxury and indolence upon the unrequited toil of their +slaves. These facts, the leaders of the wicked rebellion, which they +were to inaugurate, were careful to conceal from their followers. This +was so well done, that the people of the South thought that these +imaginary wrongs of the Government, which had been pictured to them by +their masters, was the true reason of their attempt at separation from +the Union. It is hoped that the masses will soon see the difference +between serving a privileged class of aristocrats, and being members of +a free Republic. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE PRESIDENT'S CALL FOR TROOPS.--ORGANIZATION OF THE SEVENTH.--ITS +DEPARTURE FOR CAMP DENNISON.--ITS REORGANIZATION AND DEPARTURE FOR +THE FIELD. + + +On Monday, April 15, the President issued a call for 75,000 volunteers +for three months' service. The States responded immediately to this +call in double the number required. Never in the history of the world +was such a response witnessed to the call of any country. Men left +their implements of husbandry in the fields and rushed to the +recruiting stations. The executives of the States were pressed with +applications to raise companies and batteries under the call of the +President. + +Under this call thirteen regiments of infantry were assigned to Ohio. +In fifteen days 71,000 troops were offered to Governor Dennison to fill +the quota of the State. Camps were now established at different points +in the State, and troops ordered to rendezvous. Camp Taylor, at +Cleveland, Ohio, was organized on the 22d day of April, and by the 27th +contained several thousand troops. Of these, the city of Cleveland had +three companies of infantry; Trumbull County, one; Mahoning County, one +company of infantry and a section of artillery; Portage County, two; +Lake County, one; Lorain County, one; Huron County, one; while the city +of Toledo was represented by an entire regiment. The latter part of +April these detached companies were formed into a regiment, +constituting the Seventh Ohio. It contained the right material for a +fighting regiment. The majority of its members were of a floating +class, fond of adventure, while many were of the best class. The +regiment, as a whole, combined rare military talent. Many of its +officers and privates were skilled in tactics; and those who were not, +immediately set themselves about acquiring the necessary information, +rather by practice than study; for, with some exceptions, it was not a +scholarly regiment. The members took too much the character of +adventurers, to indulge in close study or profound thinking. But for +practical purposes, I doubt whether the regiment had a superior in the +State. It readily acquired discipline while on duty; but while off +duty, its members were not over-nice in their conduct, seldom indulging +in sports that were absolutely wrong, but, at the same time, gratifying +that propensity for fun which characterized them through their entire +career. It contained no drones; there was no companionship in it for +such. + +On a beautiful Sabbath in early May, as the morning, with its +freshness, was dispelling the damps and shadows of the night from city +and country, a regiment was seen passing down the streets of the city +of Cleveland. The sweet strains of music and the heavy tramp of the +soldiers alone broke the silence. There was nothing but this martial +bearing, which marked the carriage of the members of the regiment, to +distinguish them from the multitude which was hastening in the same +direction; for there were no arms and no uniforms. Each member was +dressed in his citizen's garb, and there was no attempt at military +evolutions. It was a simple march of determined men to the defence of +their country. Solemnity and a becoming absence of unnecessary +enthusiasm marked the occasion with sublimity and grandeur. The faces +of those brave men were saddened with the thought of the perils which +lay before them, and the endearments that were behind. They were +marching to perform a sacred trust, confided to them by their +countrymen. "This was the first march of the gallant Seventh." Arriving +at the depot of the Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati Railroad, it +took a train of cars for Camp Dennison, where it arrived in the +afternoon of the next day. Here they were totally unprepared to receive +it, no barracks having been erected, although one hundred men had been +sent there for that purpose several days previous. The ground was +perfectly saturated with water from a three days' rain, and the camp in +what had been a cornfield. But notwithstanding these difficulties, by +sunset the regiment had constructed barracks, and were comparatively +comfortable. In a few days the companies began to drill in earnest, and +their advancement was correspondingly rapid. + +On the 11th day of May the regiment was ordered to elect, by ballot, +three field-officers. The candidates for colonel were, E. B. Tyler, of +Ravenna; a former brigadier of militia, and James A. Garfield. The +former was elected. Garfield afterwards became colonel of the +Forty-second regiment, and, in command of a brigade, defeated Humphrey +Marshall in Kentucky, for which he was given a star. Captain W. R. +Creighton was elected lieutenant-colonel, and J. S. Casement, of +Painesville, major. + +On the 13th day of May, the President having issued a call for 42,032 +volunteers for three years, a meeting was held in the Seventh Regiment, +when all but one of the officers were in favor of organizing under this +call. The subject being brought before the regiment on the following +day, about three-fourths of the command enlisted for the three years' +service. Recruiting officers were sent home, and by the middle of June +the regiment was full. It was mustered into the three years' service on +the 19th and 20th of June. + +The companies were officered as follows: Company A, O. J. Crane, captain; +A. C. Burgess, first-lieutenant; D. A. Kimball, second-lieutenant. +Company B, James T. Sterling, captain; Joseph B. Molyneaux, +first-lieutenant; H. Z. Eaton, second-lieutenant. Company C, Giles W. +Shurtliff, captain; Judson N. Cross, first-lieutenant; E. Hudson Baker, +second-lieutenant. Company D, John N. Dyer, captain; Charles A. Weed, +first-lieutenant; A. J. Williams, second-lieutenant. Company E, John W. +Sprague, captain; Arthur T. Wilcox, first-lieutenant; Ralph Lockwood, +second-lieutenant. Company F, D. B. Clayton, captain; John B. Rouse, +first-lieutenant; A. C. Day, second-lieutenant. Company G, F. A. +Seymour, captain; W. H. Robinson, first-lieutenant; E. S. Quay, +second-lieutenant. Company H, Joel F. Asper, captain; Geo. L. Wood, +first-lieutenant; Halbert B. Case, second-lieutenant. Company I, W. R. +Sterling, captain; Samuel McClelland, first-lieutenant; E. F. Fitch, +second-lieutenant. Company K, John F. Schutte, captain; Oscar W. Sterl, +first-lieutenant; C. A. Nitchelm, second-lieutenant. H. K. Cushing was +appointed surgeon, and F. Salter assistant surgeon. John Morris was +appointed quartermaster, Louis G. De Forest, adjutant, and Rev. F. T. +Brown, chaplain. + +Camp Dennison was well calculated for a camp of instruction. It is +separated into two parts by the track of the Little Miami Railroad, +while the river of the same name flows along its border. It is situated +between sloping hills of some magnitude, in a slightly undulating +valley. In summer it is beautiful; in winter, gloomy. + +Soon after being mustered into service, the regiment was reviewed by +George B. McClellan, then major-general of Ohio militia, commanding the +Department of the Ohio. Immediately after, we were ordered to join his +forces in the field. + +Accordingly, on the afternoon of the 26th of June, the regiment took +the cars for Columbus, Ohio, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel +Creighton, Colonel Tyler having gone in advance. Arriving in Columbus +late at night, it was transferred to the Central Ohio Railroad, +arriving at Bell air in the afternoon of the succeeding day. It was +immediately ordered across the river to Benwood, a small station on the +Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, a few miles below Wheeling. Here the +regiment was, for the first time, supplied with ammunition. It encamped +on the common, after the pieces were loaded. Much fatigued by their +long ride, the men threw themselves upon the hard ground, and were soon +enjoying a sound sleep. + +In the mean time Major Casement was superintending the transportation +of the baggage and supplies across the river to a train of cars in +waiting. + +Here and there the dusky forms of men were seen grouped over the fires, +which were dimly burning, discussing the stories which were floating +about camp, with no apparent starting place, of ambuscades, masked +batteries, and other concealed horrors. + +Early on the morning of the 28th of June, three trains of cars were +slowly conveying the regiment into the wilds of Western Virginia, where +war, in its madness, was to confront it. + +It arrived at Grafton early in the afternoon, and taking the +Parkersburg branch of the railroad, it arrived at Clarksburg before the +close of the day, and encamped in the outskirts of the village. The +entire regiment occupied tents, which were looked upon with much more +favor than densely crowded barracks. + +While encamped at this place, a stand of colors was presented to the +regiment, the gift of the Turners, a society of Germans in Cleveland. + +Near thirty miles from the village of Clarksburg is the small hamlet of +Weston, then a notorious haunt for rebels. In the place was a bank, in +which the deposits, to the amount of about thirty thousand dollars, +still remained. The authorities were desirous of procuring this +treasure. The undertaking was intrusted to the Seventh. It was proposed +to surprise the town early in the morning, before any one was astir to +give the alarm. + +In the afternoon of the last day of June, the regiment wound its way +through the village, across the river, on to what is called the +Clarksburg pike, leading to Weston. The clay was intensely hot, and the +men entirely unused to marching. At sunset but little distance had been +made, and all were much fatigued, but still the gallant band pressed +onward. Weary and footsore, it moved on till daylight, when some +considerable distance intervened between it and the village. Men were +beginning to fall out by the wayside, unable to proceed further. At +this unfortunate moment the river appeared in view, which makes a bend +to the road, about a mile from Weston. On the opposite side of the road +was a gradual slope of cultivated land, with here and there a clump of +trees. From behind one of these a man was seen to emerge, and being +taken for one of the enemy's scouts, the command was given to "fire," +when several pieces were discharged, without injury, however, to the +object of their aim. A double-quick was now ordered, when the men, +unable to proceed with their knapsacks, scattered them along the road. + +Arriving at the town the right wing made a detour to the left, while +the left wing made a similar one to right, deploying as they went. In +this manner the village was entirely surrounded. The first intimation +the citizens had of the presence of the military was the playing of the +"Star Spangled Banner" by the band stationed in the park. A guard was +placed over the bank, and a member of the regiment detailed to look to +the business. + +The Union citizens were overjoyed at the presence of the Federal +forces. They prepared a breakfast for the entire regiment, and other +charitable acts, which attested their devotion to the Union cause. The +regiment encamped on the bank of the river, near the cemetery. + +During the first days of our stay at Weston many arrests were made of +disloyal citizens, a few of whom were sent to Columbus, Ohio, to await +the action of the Federal Government. + +At this time a small force, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Pond, +of the Seventeenth Ohio Volunteers, was besieged at Glenville, a small +village on the banks of the Little Kanawha, by a superior force of +rebels, under command of Major Patton, assisted by Captain O. Jennings +Wise. Companies H and B were sent to his relief. After a fatiguing +march of two days and one night they opened communication with Colonel +Pond, the rebels withdrawing at their approach. + +Six more companies of the regiment arrived at Glenville on the +following day, Colonel Tyler being fearful that the first detachment +might meet with a reverse. Several other regiments arrived about the +same time, but left soon after. + +During the stay of the regiment at this place, many scouting +expeditions were sent out; on which occasions many dangers and +hardships were encountered. + +Just before our arrival at Glenville, a Union lady rode in the saddle +through the rebel camp, with the stars and stripes in one hand and a +pistol in the other, while she defied the rebel host. Being pursued, +she sought refuge in our camp, and finally accompanied the advance of +our forces to her home, with the proud satisfaction of seeing the old +banner once more planted on her native soil. During the progress of the +war she had suffered many perils. At one time she went to visit her +brother, who was concealed in the woods, for the purpose of giving him +food, when she was challenged by a rebel picket. She wheeled her horse, +and, by hard riding, escaped, the rebel bullets passing harmlessly over +her head. + +Private Adams, of Company C, was wounded while on picket, being the +first casualty in the regiment produced by the enemy. About the same +time Captain Shurtliff had a horse shot from under him, while riding in +the vicinity of the camp, and within the Federal lines. + +Some difficulty was experienced at this place in procuring supplies. +The regiment was fed for some time on corn meal and fresh beef. A mill, +however, was soon set in operation, and supplies of flour and meal were +furnished in abundance. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE PURSUIT OF GENERAL WISE.--TYLER ORDERED TO MENACE GAULEY BRIDGE +AND THREATEN WISE'S COMMUNICATIONS. + + +On the 11th day of July General Rosecrans, by order of General +McClellan, marched his brigade eight miles through a mountain-path to +the rear of the rebel force, occupying the crest of Rich Mountain, +commanded by Colonel Pegram. This movement resulted in the fighting of +the battle of that name. The rebels were completely defeated, and made +a precipitate retreat towards Carrick's Ford, where, on the 13th, they +were again routed, with the loss of their general. + +In the mean time the rebel General Wise had occupied the Kanawha +Valley, with a few regular troops and a considerable force of militia. + +The advance of this force extended as far down the river as Buffalo, +while numerous incursions were made by the rebel cavalry in the +vicinity of Point Pleasant, a village situated at the junction of the +Kanawha with the Ohio River. + +To oppose this force General Cox was sent with a brigade of Ohio +troops. His main force passed up the river in boats, while a sufficient +force was kept on each flank to prevent surprise. + +General Wise gradually retired at the advance of this force until, +arriving on the banks of Scarey Creek, he threw up some breastworks, +and awaited the approach of the Union troops. + +While these movements were being executed in the valley, Colonel Tyler +was ordered to advance with a brigade by the way of Sutton, to menace +Gauley Bridge, and threaten Wise's communications. + +On the 22d of July the Seventh Regiment moved out of Glenville, on what +is called the Braxton road, towards Bulltown, where it was to be joined +by Colonel Tyler with the Seventeenth Ohio, two companies of the First +Virginia, with Captain Mack's battery, United States Artillery, and +Captain Snyder's section of twelve-pounders, making a force of fifteen +hundred. + +We arrived at Bulltown in the evening of the next day, meeting with no +resistance from the rebels, who were scattered in small parties through +this entire region of country. We had expected to meet with opposition +at the ford, on the Little Kanawha, some twenty miles from Glenville, +but with the exception of a small band of guerillas, who were very +careful to keep the river between ourselves and them, we saw no rebels. + +It was not until the evening of the 25th that we broke camp, and then +to cross a range of hills only, into the valley of the Elk, where we +remained until the 27th of July. + +At this camp we learned of a rebel force at Flat Woods, distant six +miles, in the direction of Sutton. On the 27th we moved out, in a heavy +rain, to attack their camp, but at our approach they fled in dismay. + +We remained at Flat Woods till the following Sunday, when we moved on +to Sutton, a distance of ten miles. + +Sutton, the county-seat of Braxton County, is situated at the base of a +high range of hills, on the right bank of the Elk River. The river is +crossed by a suspension bridge. Back of the village, and about two +hundred feet above it, is a fine table land, with a range of hills for +a back ground. This table land was to be approached only by a narrow +defile fronting the river, which was easily defended; for a battery +properly planted would command every approach for a mile around; +besides, the enemy would have to cross the Elk River under fire. Nature +had made the position a strong one. + +The command, now swelled to about two thousand, encamped on this table +land, with the two companies of the First Virginia, and Mack's Battery +thrown forward across the river, to keep open the road in front. + +The command at once proceeded to erect fortifications, Captain Asper +being sent to the front of Captain Mack's position on the Summerville +pike, with instructions to select a proper position, after which to +erect a fortification commanding the road. Finding a point where the +road makes a sharp angle, the captain constructed the work, which, +although of no account during the stay of the regiment at Sutton, +afterwards proved a good point of defence, when the wreak garrison +stationed there was attacked. + +The second day of August, the regiment left Sutton, and crossing the +river again advanced towards Gauley Bridge. The day was one of the +hottest, which, added to the hilly nature of the country, made the +advance difficult. Both officers and men fell out of the line, unable +to proceed, being so oppressed by the heat, and wearied by the +difficult state of the roads. At night we had crossed but one range of +hills, and found ourselves in the valley of the Little Birch River, at +the foot of Birch Mountain. The following morning we again took up the +line of march, reaching the Great Birch River at early twilight, having +made but a few miles during the day. + +In the afternoon we were joined by our chaplain, who, when we were at +Glenville, volunteered to make his way across the country with a +message to General Cox. And now, after an absence of more than two +weeks, on a perilous message, he was again with us, as fresh and +light-hearted as when he left for his daring enterprise. He joined us +by the way of Gauley Bridge, having been the first to make the trip. +Alone, through a country infested by murderous bands of guerrillas and +outlaws, he traveled more than a hundred and fifty miles. Before such +deeds of individual heroism, all but the grandeur and magnitude of +large battles fade into obscurity. In such single exploits there is a +stern, silent daring, that obscures the maddened bravery of a +battle-field. + +From our chaplain we learned that General Wise had left the valley, +burning the bridge over the Gauley River, after crossing his command. +He had become frightened and fled. And thus the rebel general, who at +Charleston had said: "By G--, the stars and stripes shall never wave +over this town again;" on the Wednesday following exclaimed: "The enemy +are on us, why the h--ll don't you pack my wagon," and, taking counsel +of his fears, fled in dismay. + +But let us return to the Seventh Regiment, which we left at its camp +near the Big Birch River. + +On the morning of August 6, we broke camp, and taking a mountain road +arrived at Summerville on the following Wednesday, and encamped on +Addison Hill. + +The country about Summerville is beautiful in the extreme. It is +slightly undulating, having more the appearance of an open country, or +in some respects a prairie, than of a valley between two very high +ridges. It is sufficiently rolling to hide the mountains which separate +the Gauley from the Elk River. + +At our former camp we were surrounded by very high, precipitous +mountains, with large rocks projecting from their summits. After +passing over Powell Mountain, we came into the valley of the Gauley, +and after marching a short distance, entirely lost sight of these +mountains, over whose rocky crests we had, but a short time before, +pursued our slow and weary way. + +The contrast between this camp and the one at Big Birch was striking. +Here we were reminded of Ohio, our native State, the one which had more +attractions for us than any other; while at the latter camp we were +constantly reminded of some lonely country, described only by the +novelist, and inhabited alone by robbers and outlaws. And yet, upon +this mountain region, nature was lavish with her charms. The scenery is +grand beyond description. Peak after peak rises, one above another, +until the tired eye arrows dim in its endeavor to trace the outlines of +the distant mountain, and seeks the beautiful valley, wherein to +restore its lost vision. + +From the top of Powell's Mountain, the beauty of the scenery is lost +sight of in its magnificence. This mountain is the highest in Western +Virginia, and commands the finest view. The first time I ascended it +was on horseback. When near the top we struck into a bridle path, and, +urging our horses into a gallop, we were soon at the base of the +projecting rocks. Below, a lovely panorama was open to our view. The +side of the mountain, as well as the distant valley, seemed covered +with a carpet of green, for both were densely wooded, and in the +distance the foliage seemed to blend with the earth. We could see far +away into the smaller valleys, and from them trace the ravines, in +which the small rivulets make their merry descent from the side of the +mountain. + +At last, tired of gazing at this beautiful spot in nature's varied +scenery, we again urged our horses forward, and, after partially +winding around the mountain, we were at the very summit of this mass of +earth, rocks, and herbage. We now obtained a view of the opposite side +of the mountain from which we had ascended, where beauty expands into +sublimity. We could plainly trace the course of the Kanawha River, as +on its banks the mountains rise higher, and are more abrupt, while +beyond they lessen into hills, and the hills waste into a valley. On +the side of the distant hills we could see an occasional farm, with its +fields of golden grain ready for the harvest. On the very top of this +mountain was living a family. + +Notwithstanding their great height, these mountains seemed fertile; and +the farms are apparently as good as those in the valley. Springs +frequently make their way out of the rocks by the roadside. Water is +abundant in any part of these mountains, and springs more common than +in the valley. + +Near the top of Powell's Mountain, in a kind of basin, is a very fine +farm. It is well watered, and well timbered, and quite fertile. The +owner lives and flourishes in this quiet home, and, I should say, is +quite as happy as if in a city. He has become accustomed to the +loneliness of his mountain retreat. The wild scenery has become +familiar--its very wildness has a charm. He is content with two visits +each year to the distant settlement. It is literally true that "home is +where the heart is." + +Although this country was well supplied with provisions of every kind, +we were not allowed to appropriate any of it. The property of rebels +was considered sacred. The authorities were confident of putting down +the rebellion through clemency, and, therefore, were both ready and +willing to put our soldiers upon half rations, rather than incur the +ill-will of traitors. When prisoners were captured, they had what was +called an oath of allegiance administered to them, when they were +liberated, to again rob and plunder. Occasionally we captured a horse, +but it was invariably given up, on the owner taking this oath of +allegiance. In view of this moderate method of dealing with them, they +risked nothing in prowling about our lines, for they knew that they had +only to take this oath to procure an honorable discharge; while the +soldiers of the Federal army, if they stole but an onion to make a +piece of hard bread palatable, were subjected to the severest +punishments. Experience has finally taught us, that hard blows alone +will conquer a rebellion, and that to reduce a foe, starvation is quite +as good as the bayonet. + +I do not know that any one was criminal in this early practice of +clemency towards rebels; it seemed rather to be a sort of national +weakness, growing out of the universal opinion that the rebellion was, +at the greatest, but a weak effort of a deluded people; and that +kindness, connected with a show of strength, rather than its exercise, +would induce them to return to their former allegiance. It seems to be, +at this day, of little consequence why this practice prevailed, or who +was responsible for it, as it has almost entirely ceased. + +On the 11th day of August, Captain John W. Sprague was given a leave of +absence, to go to his home, and was intrusted with dispatches to +General Rosecrans. He was to proceed by the way of Sutton and +Clarksburg. When near the Big Birch River he was suddenly confronted by +a band of rebel cavalry, belonging to Colonel Croghan's Second Georgia +Regiment, who was not far from the spot, with his entire command. The +mail carrier and two dragoons, who accompanied Captain Sprague, +attempted to make their escape; only one, however, was successful; the +mail carrier receiving a mortal wound in the attempt. + +Securing their prisoners, the rebel cavalry crossed the Gauley River, +and were soon out of reach of the Federal forces. An unsuccessful +attempt was made to rescue the captors; but infantry, of course, could +make but a fruitless attempt at recapturing prisoners in the hands of +well-mounted cavalry. + +This occurrence spread a gloom over the entire camp. One of the best +officers of the regiment had been captured almost within our lines, and +borne away to a Southern prison, to endure the privations of prison +life, with the fond anticipation of seeing home and friends blighted +and withered. To be lost to one's country, within the prison walls of +her enemies, when the arm of every true patriot is needed in her +defence, is a sad fate. + +I am not inclined to blame any one for this unfortunate occurrence, +though it may occur to the mind of the reader that good generalship +would require that the commandant of a body of troops, in the heart of +an enemy's country, should know whether or not the cavalry of that +enemy was hanging on his flank and rear. And then, again, it may be +urged with truth that the command was almost entirely without cavalry, +though it was furnished with one company, as well as one of Snake +Hunters, as they were called. The legitimate business in the army of +the latter was scouting. They had no other duty to perform. + +But however these facts may be, yet true it is that a regiment of the +enemy's regular cavalry was not only hanging on the flank of our +column, but occupied our rear--thus severing our communications, and +cutting off our supplies. + +On the 15th day of August we again moved forward, after first sending a +company down to Hugh's Ferry. We proceeded through a densely wooded +country, abounding in laurel and pau-pau, arriving at Cross Lanes, two +and a half miles from Carnifex Ferry, on the Gauley River, in time to +prepare our camp before night. + +Soon after our arrival Captain Schutte, of Company K, was on picket +duty at Carnifex Ferry. During the day the captain, for some unknown +reason, conceived the idea of a scout across the river. Selecting +fourteen of his men, he crossed over to the opposite bank, and, taking +the main road, immediately pushed into the country. The march was made, +apparently, without any apprehension of the presence of an enemy; at +least, no steps appear to have been taken to prevent a surprise. All +went well, however, until the party had made a distance of several +miles, when, the first intimation they had of danger, they were fired +upon by a party of cavalry, concealed in an adjacent thicket, and all +but four of the party killed or wounded--Captain Schutte being wounded +mortally. The survivors conveyed him to an old building, and, at his +own request, left him. He expired soon after, and was buried on the +spot by the rebels. The four men fled towards the river, and, being +pursued, took to the woods. One, being separated from his companions, +was pursued to the bank of the river, and was only saved by throwing +himself into the stream from the projecting rocks. He concealed his +body under water, keeping sufficient of his face above to sustain life. +He could plainly distinguish the conversation of the rebels, and knew +by it that they were in search of him. Here he remained during the day, +and at night dragged himself upon the rocks. The next morning, tired +and hungry, he floated himself down stream by clinging to the almost +perpendicular rocks, until, arriving opposite a house, he was hailed by +a woman, to whom he made known his condition. She immediately +unfastened a canoe, and, paddling directly across the river to where he +was lying, half famished in the water, helped him over its sides, and +conveyed him to the other shore. Before they landed, however, the +rebels discovered them, and gave the order to "halt." It not being +obeyed, they fired, the bullets sinking harmlessly into the water. In a +moment the two were lost to view in the pau-pau, which lined the river +bank. The woman guided the soldier to her home, where she cared for him +during a short illness, which succeeded his escape. When he was +sufficiently recovered to join his command, he found the regiment had +abandoned Cross Lanes, which had been occupied by the rebel forces. He +returned to his former retreat, where he was concealed until the day of +the disaster to the Seventh, when, taking advantage of the confusion +into which the rebel forces were thrown during the affair, he escaped +towards Gauley Bridge, which place he reached in safety the following +day. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE SKIRMISH AT CROSS LANES.--GALLANT CONDUCT AND FINAL ESCAPE OF +THE SEVENTH REGIMENT. + + +The occupation of Cross Lanes was considered by the authorities of the +gravest importance. It was contiguous to three fords on the Gauley +River, which, when possessed by the Federal forces, was a perfect +protection to the left of the army occupying Gauley Bridge. Carnifex +Ferry was immediately south two and one-half miles. There was a road +leading from the vicinity of Gauley Bridge, on the south bank of the +Gauley River, which unites with the Sunday road, crossing the river at +this ferry. This road afforded the enemy a means of gaining the left of +our forces, at Gauley Bridge. The occupation of Cross Lanes, therefore, +by the enemy, would sever the communication between our forces at the +above point, and the main army under Rosecrans, occupying the country +from the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, along Cheat Mountain. + +Carnifex Ferry, was a point easily defended against a much superior +force. Indeed, it had so many natural defences, that it elicited +exclamations of surprise from men accustomed to the selection of places +for defence. The current of the river was rapid, while the abrupt rocks +on its banks afforded secure hiding places for a considerable body of +troops. It was quite impossible to bring artillery to bear in such a +manner on the position as to interfere materially with troops concealed +there. It seems to be the opinion of most persons familiar with the +place, that it would be quite impossible to dislodge a body of troops +properly posted on the north bank of the river at this ferry, provided +a stubborn resistance was made. + +It was for the purpose of preventing the crossing of the enemy at this +point that the force of Colonel Tyler was ordered to Cross Lanes. By +keeping pickets well on the line of the river, to watch any advance of +the enemy, the regiment was entirely safe at its camp, from which it +was comparatively easy to re-enforce any portion of the line. But for +some reason, the commanding officer failed to visit the ferry in +person, until the afternoon of the day on which a peremptory order was +received to report with his command at Gauley Bridge. Hitherto he had +been entirely unable to give correct information, as to the probability +of his being able to hold the ferry. He was ordered to abandon the +position, because his dispatches were such, that they created an +uneasiness in the minds of Generals Rosecrans and Cox, as to the +propriety of trusting him to hold so important a position. Here was the +fatal mistake. A lesser error had already been made, in withdrawing all +the forces from Tyler, other than the Seventh. Had these forces +remained, the position would probably not have been abandoned, as all +would have felt secure. When the order to withdraw was received, the +commanding officer regretted it as much as any one. But the mischief +was already done; the order was imperative. On that evening, Monday, +the regiment left Cross Lanes at 11 o'clock P.M., and the next day, by +noon, was at Twenty Mile Creek, some eight miles from Gauley Bridge. + +On the Wednesday morning following, Colonel Tyler reported in person to +General Cox. In the mean time, the general having become satisfied that +Colonel Tyler could be trusted to hold Cross Lanes, and being confident +that the contemplated attack of the enemy on Gauley Bridge had been +abandoned, ordered him to return as soon as the troops were rested, +expecting him to start back, at least the next morning. But Tyler did +not move. On Friday afternoon, General Cox, on learning that he had not +moved, was much excited, and said to an officer present-- + +"He must move; he must move at once; it is all important that Cross +Lanes be held, and Floyd be kept on the other side of the river; ride +back to camp and tell him from me, to move early in the morning, _and +with speed, to secure the position_." + +The order was delivered in nearly the same language as given, but +notwithstanding its directness, he did not move till noon on Saturday, +and then made a distance of only fourteen miles, over good roads, +encamping at the foot of Panther Mountain, after having fallen back +from Peter's Creek, on learning of the presence of the enemy. + +On arriving in camp, a dispatch was sent to General Cox, representing +to him that the enemy were in force in front, and asking instructions. +On Sunday morning at about 3 o'clock, a courier arrived with an order +from General Cox, substantially as follows: The force in your front +cannot be as large as you estimate it. Advance cautiously, feeling your +way; if the enemy is too strong, fall back, if not, occupy Cross Lanes +at once, as it is of the utmost importance. + +About nine o'clock Sunday morning, August 25th, the regiment moved +towards Cross Lanes, casting lots as to which company should be left in +charge of the baggage. It fell upon Company F, which was temporarily +commanded by Lieutenant Kimball. The entire day was occupied in +reaching Cross Lanes. It was not until dark of that day that the +regiment went into camp. + +In the days' advance some slight skirmishing occurred with the enemy's +cavalry videttes, but beyond these few horsemen no enemy was +encountered, the regiment encamping in apparent security near the +church, after having driven away a cavalry picket of the enemy. + +Companies were sent out on picket, as follows: Company A, on the road +leading to Summerville; Company K, on the road leading to Carnifex +Ferry; Company C, on the road leading in the opposite direction, while +Company E was sent on a diagonal road leading to a ferry some distance +below Carnifex. The balance of the command remained near headquarters, +which were established in the church. + +Each company on picket was divided into three reliefs, with +instructions to be vigilant. + +The silence of the enemy, together with his neglect to attack, created +the impression that he had withdrawn his forces to the other side of +the river, fearing that this small force was but the advance of a +well-equipped army. But these theories were destined to fade into +sadder realities, as the shadows of night melted into morning. + +Nothing occurred during the night to disturb the general repose. A +short time before day fires were kindled, and those who were up had +pieces of meat on sticks, which they were roasting. Some had obtained +green corn during the night, which they were also roasting. Before day +had fairly dawned, the command was almost entirely astir. As it became +sufficiently light to distinguish objects at a considerable distance, +several musket shots were heard in the direction of the river, followed +in quick succession by others. It soon became evident that a determined +attack was being made on Company K. About this time a column of rebels +was seen advancing from the river road, across the fields, towards +Company A's position on the Summerville road. Arriving in the vicinity +of this road, the column halted, formed in line of battle, at the same +time swinging round its right to the Summerville road, driving Company +A back to the point where the roads cross. In the mean time Companies +B, D, G, H, and I were ordered to the support of Company K; but on +arriving at the cross roads, Company K was seen falling back in some +confusion, before a superior force, therefore they remained at that +point. Meanwhile a heavy fire was opened from a dense wood opposite the +church, to resist which Company K, having been joined by Companies A +and C, which had advanced to its support on the ferry road, took +position on a hill midway between this belt of timber and the crossing +of the roads. From this point these companies delivered several +effective volleys, which soon drove the rebels from their position. +Taking advantage of this partial check of the enemy, Captain Crane +ordered a charge, which resulted in piercing the lines, and the capture +of a stand of rebel colors. The three companies now escaped, with a +loss, however, of Captain Shurtliff, Lieutenant Wilcox, and Lieutenant +Cross, taken prisoners, the latter being severely wounded in the arm. + +During this time the rebel column from the direction of Summerville had +advanced so as to lap over the road opposite the Ferry road, exposing +the companies occupying the road in front of the church to an +enfilading fire, at the same time being exposed to a severe fire from +the front, from a column of infantry and cavalry coming up the Ferry +road. These companies were now ordered to rally on a hill near the +church. In executing this movement Companies D and H passed through a +corn field, exposed to a deadly fire from almost every direction. Soon +after reaching this field Captain Dyer, Company D, fell dead, pierced +in the heart by a rifle bullet. Lieutenant Weed succeeded him in +command. On reaching the hill these companies attempted to rally, but +being in an open field, combated by a much superior and partially +hidden foe, were compelled to fall back to a piece of woods skirting +the road. The balance of the command, other than those who had followed +the fortunes of Captain Crane, now joined them, and soon organized for +a systematic retreat. + +Captain Crane and his followers, after putting some distance between +themselves and the enemy, crossed the Gauley road, and hastened to the +mountains, where they would be entirely free from the attacks of +cavalry, and where they would have a chance, at least, of partially +defending themselves against attack from the rebel infantry. + +Arriving in the mountains, they took a direction as nearly as possible +towards Gauley Bridge, where they arrived in safety, meeting with +little of adventure on the way. Thus a small body of Federals had +fought their way out from the very grasp of the enemy, and, eluding +pursuit, traversed a mountain range, with no guide, over rocks and deep +gorges, arriving safely within the Union lines. Their arrival, however, +did little to cheer the hearts of those in camp, for they were a small +body compared with those still unheard from. + +The news of the sad disaster to the Seventh had already been sent to +the friends at home; universal gloom had settled over the camp, and the +prospect looked dark for saving the organization, even, of a regiment +which was the pride of the Western Reserve. + +A flag of truce was sent to Cross Lanes to ascertain, if possible, the +fate of those left behind. Chaplain Brown and Surgeon Cushing were +selected to undertake this enterprise. They, however, returned without +having accomplished their object. + +One dark, rainy night, as if nature was in sympathy with the feelings +of those in camp, the band commenced playing a patriotic air in front +of the colonel's quarters, accompanied with cheers. I knew that this +indicated good news. Hastening to the spot I learned that a dispatch +had just arrived from Charleston with the comforting news that four +hundred of the regiment had arrived in safety on the Elk River, twelve +miles from the above place. But let us accompany these four hundred +heroes in their march from the battlefield. + +Organizing the troops, Major Casement, being first in rank, Colonels +Tyler and Creighton having already escaped, assumed command. Losing no +time the detachment immediately took up the line of march. Avoiding all +highways, and keeping well in the timber, they moved on for some time, +when, considering themselves out of immediate danger, they ventured out +to the road, to find themselves only three miles from the place of +starting. It was now concluded that it was not advisable to attempt +reaching Gauley Bridge, as the enemy would be likely to interpose a +considerable body of troops between them and that point. It was +considered to be more practicable to make in the direction of Elk +River, and by this means reach Charleston. This course being adopted, +the command crossed the road and took to the mountains. Very soon after +a party of rebel cavalry came dashing down as if in pursuit, barely +missing the object of their search. + +The command, aided by a compass, took their course over the mountains +in a direction which they supposed would ultimately lead them to the +banks of the Elk River. + +During the afternoon Captain W. R. Sterling procured a guide, who +conducted them by narrow pathways, in which they were compelled to +march single file, towards a house which was situated at some distance +on the mountain. Night setting in, before reaching the spot, without +even a star visible to light them on the way, the column halted, and +passed the word back for a candle. The line extended for nearly half a +mile, and it was not until the last company, H, had been reached, that +one was procured. On its arriving at the front, it was discovered that +the head of the column had arrived on the brink of a deep chasm, into +which it would be sure death to plunge. One step more, and the unlucky +leader of the line would have been precipitated into the dreadful +crater. But these daring adventurers were spared the misfortune of such +an accident. + +Two hours of valuable time having been lost, the line now pressed +forward, each man holding on to the man preceding him. About midnight +the house was reached, and the weary band laid themselves down; not, +however, to sleep, for the only provisions they had had during the day +was roasted corn, for in the morning they were attacked while preparing +breakfast, which they were compelled to abandon. The woman of the house +was kept cooking the good old-fashioned corn-dodger, and by morning the +command was tolerably well fed, and ready for the toilsome as well as +hazardous march of the succeeding day. + +As the day again dawned, the line moved on. Procuring another guide +during the day, they arrived, in early evening, on the banks of the Elk +River, without any adventure worth relating. Before halting they forded +the river, which was, at the time, waist deep. Company B was sent out +on picket, under command of Lieutenant Molyneaux. The instructions were +to establish a chain of pickets, at short intervals, along the road +leading up the river. In case of an attack, the outer picket to fire +and fall back on the next, when another volley was to be delivered, and +so continue until the camp should be finally reached. The position +selected for the camp was at the base of a range of abrupt hills, which +were not accessible to cavalry, while many difficulties would present +themselves in the way of a force of infantry advancing to an attack +from that direction. The river ran at the very foot of these hills, too +deep to cross in the face of an enemy, and sufficiently wide to present +a decided obstacle in the way of an attacking party on the opposite +shore. The command felt, therefore, comparatively safe in this retreat. +As it afterwards proved, they were not mistaken; for it was ascertained +that, at the time the pickets were being stationed, seven hundred rebel +cavalry were a short distance up the river; indeed, they were so near +that a party of rebel officers heard the lieutenant give the +instructions to the outer picket. One of these officers, when +afterwards taken prisoner, being questioned by Molyneaux as to their +reason for not attacking, remarked that it would have been quite +impossible for them to reach the camp in case his instructions to the +picket should be carried out; and he and his brother-officers agreed in +the opinion, that the orders would be carried out; for no body of +troops, after having made so stubborn a resistance as at Cross Lanes, +would afterwards lose all by a want of vigilance or a disobedience of +orders. True it is that they did not attack, but suffered the camp to +remain quiet, and the command to move off at leisure in the morning. + +A dispatch being sent to Charleston, on the following day a +provision-train met them twelve miles from the latter place. In due +time the command arrived at Charleston, weary and foot-sore from their +long and toilsome march. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +REFLECTIONS ON THE SKIRMISH AT CROSS LANES.--BATTLE OF CARNIFEX +FERRY. + + +The occasion for the affair at Cross Lanes was brought about by a +series of blunders. The first blunder was committed by the officer who +ordered all the forces, with the exception of the Seventh Ohio, from a +position which enabled them to guard the ferries of the Gauley. If it +was deemed important to hold these ferries at all, it was certainly +advisable to retain a sufficient force to guard against surprise and +capture. But then, what would be considered a sufficient force? To +settle the question, it is necessary to take into account the size of +the army occupying the country, as well as the size of that of the +enemy. Neither army was large, and both were much scattered, scarcely +more than a brigade occupying one position. A regiment, therefore, may +perhaps be considered a sufficient force for an outpost. + +The army in Western Virginia was at no time sufficiently large to +accomplish any thing, under the best generalship, beyond simply holding +the country, and preventing invasion; and it was only for the want of a +moderately sized army that the rebel general failed to drive back our +forces. But the rebel authorities had no men to spare for the purpose +of winning barren victories; so the armies of Western Virginia were +left to watch each other, with an occasional skirmish. + +At the time the affair at Cross Lanes took place, our army occupied a +front of many miles, as did also the rebel army. It was quite +impossible to collect, in case of emergency, more than about six +thousand men. But, however it may be as to the first point, it is +clear, secondly, that the commanding officer at Cross Lanes committed +an error in not making a personal inspection of the grounds, adjacent +to the camp, immediately on his arrival. It is always considered highly +important that those in command should know precisely the ground their +commands are expected to defend, and not to trust to chance or a battle +to develop favorable points of defence or attack. By reason of this +want of knowledge, rumors as to the presence of the enemy in force +created uneasiness and alarm, which was entirely natural, although +without cause. While in this state of feeling, the commanding officer +sent dispatches to Generals Rosecrans and Cox, which created the +impression that their author was not to be trusted to hold these +ferries. Those generals attributed this alarm to a want of personal +courage, they being well informed as to the strength of the position at +Cross Lanes. It was not, however, a want of courage, but simply a +failure on his part to understand the real strength of the position, by +reason of not having visited it in person. + +When the order to withdraw came, Colonel Tyler regretted it as much as +any one; for he had that day examined the position, and knew that he +could hold it against any force the enemy could bring to the attack. +But this knowledge was obtained too late: lying on his table was a +positive order to withdraw. Reason said hold the position; military +law, which was higher in authority, said abandon it; so the place was +evacuated. The third and irremediable error was committed in not +returning to Cross Lanes when ordered. If that had been done, the +consequences resulting from the withdrawal would have been entirely +checked. The order to return was given on Wednesday, with the +expectation that it would be acted upon as soon as Thursday morning; +but it was not until the Saturday noon following that the command +started. There was no reason for this delay. The regiment had marched +but eighteen miles in as many days, and could, without any injustice +being done it, have returned the day the order was given. Even had the +command moved as late as Friday, with dispatch, it would not have been +too late, as it seems to be well settled that Floyd did not cross over +any considerable body of troops until Saturday. + +In the way of criticism on this affair, it has been said that, had a +spirited dash been made on the enemy on Saturday evening, the rebels +could have been driven across the river. I think this claim subject to +many doubts. In my opinion a reconnoissance should have been made that +night, instead of falling back to Panther Mountain. This would have +resulted in the discovery of their position and force, and thus given +the command an opportunity to take advantage of the night to withdraw. +Had this been done, the ferry might possibly have been reached. + +The result of these blunders was the fighting of two engagements, with +a heavy Federal loss, while the enemy suffered less. One of these, +Carnifex Ferry, has been dignified with the name of battle, while the +other is considered but an affair. + +After the repulse of the Seventh, Floyd intrenched himself on the bank +of the river, near the ferry. About two weeks later, "Rosecrans came +down with his legions," comprising about four thousand men. Approaching +the vicinity of the ferry, he threw forward General Benham's brigade, +with no design of bringing on an engagement, however; but the line +unwittingly advanced to within a short distance of the enemy's works, +when a sheet of flame shot along their entire line. The unequal contest +lasted five hours, when the Union forces withdrew, hungry and +supperless, with a loss of fourteen killed, and one hundred and four +wounded. The loss of the enemy was about twenty wounded. + +The troops awoke in the morning to find the rebel works abandoned. Thus +ended the battle of Carnifex Ferry, no less a blunder than Cross Lanes. + +General Benham was censured for having attacked their main works, when +he was ordered to make a reconnoissance only. But when it is understood +that the commanding general sent up reinforcements, the blame, if there +was any, attached itself to him. + +The loss to the Seventh, at Cross Lanes, was one killed, twenty +wounded, and ninety-six taken prisoners. Several of these were +recaptured at Carnifex Ferry, when Rosecrans attacked Floyd. Among the +number was Lieutenant Cross, Company C. The loss to the enemy has never +been known. There is no doubt, however, that it was considerable. They +attacked in large numbers, confident of an easy victory, therefore very +little caution attended their movements. But instead of a flag of +truce, accompanied by an offer to surrender, they were met by a shower +of bullets, which must have told fearfully on their heavy columns. The +fact that they were thrown into such confusion as to permit our men to +escape, shows that they were too severely punished to follow up their +victory. + +The force of Floyd has been variously estimated: some having placed it +as high as six thousand; while, in his official report of the +engagement at Carnifex Ferry, Floyd himself places it at only two +thousand. His force was probably four thousand, of all arms, with ten +pieces of artillery. This entire force must have been in the vicinity +at the time of the affair at Cross Lanes. + +The following is an unofficial list of the loss in the regiment: + +_Killed._--Captain John N. Dyer. + +_Wounded._--Corporal Frank Dutton, N. J. Holly, Thomas Shepley, Thomas +J. Scoville, Sergeant H. G. Orton, Joseph W. Collins, B. Yeakins, Lewis +J. Jones, Thomas S. Curran, William Meriman, B. F. Gill, William S. +Reed, David M. Daily, Robert J. Furguson, James R. Greer, E. J. +Kreiger, Sergeant James Grebe, John W. Doll, William W. Ritiche, Fred. +W. Steinbauer. + +The following is a list of those taken prisoners: + +Sergeant W. W. Parmeter, Sergeant E. R. Stiles, Sergeant G. C. C. +Ketchum, Sergeant F. F. Wilcoxson, Sergeant Edward Bohn, Sergeant A. +Kolman, Sergeant E. W. Morey, Corporal C. F. Mack, Corporal J. G. +Turner, Corporal T. A. Mohler, Corporal S. M. Cole, Corporal E. C. +Palmer, Corporal Charles Bersett, Privates Albert Osborn, Charles +Weber, Alex. Parker, R. Bears, L. Warren, A. M. Halbert, H. Keiser, S. +B. Kingsbury, E. Kennedy, A. Hubbell, C. C. Quinn, C. Burrows, E. +Evans, W. H. Scott, C. H. Howard, Charles Carrol, T. B. Myers, George +Sweet, John Massa, J. F. Curtis, W. E. Bartlett, W. Cherry, John Bark, +John Hann, L. M. Blakesly, Z. Fox, J. Butler, F. S. Stillwell, G. W. +Downing, G. C. Newton, William Biggs, Mathew Merkle, J. Sheloy, H. +Huntoon, G. W. Williams, George C. Robinson, H. Wessenbock, J. C. +Rafferty, J. Snyder, W. W. Wheeler, C. Haskell, J. W. Finch, James +Johnson, H. Johnson, L. C. Logue, A. Scoville, P. Wildson, F. Boole, +John Miller, P. Jenkins, John Smith, J. Wolf, Theodore Burt, A. +Schwartz, G. A. Akerman, Charles Sahl, G. W. Thompson, F. Williams, M. +H. Whaley, Z. Larkins, T. Hebbig, Z. A. Fuig, F. A. Noble, J. Hettlick, +J. McCabe, L. Beles, E. R. Smith, F. A. Rubicon, John Smith, E. Smith, +H. Smith, D. N. K. Hubbard, H. Wood, Charles Ottinger, R. S. Beel, N. +D. Claghorn, H. Thompson, N. Freidenburg, M. Levullen, S. Gill, fifer. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +CHARLESTON AND THE KANAWHA VALLEY.--A DOUBLE MURDER.--COLONEL TYLER +ASSUMES COMMAND OF THE POST. + + +After the engagement at Cross Lanes, five companies of the regiment +remained at Gauley Bridge, while the balance were at Charleston. The +latter part was commanded by Colonel Guthrie, of the First Kentucky +Regiment. At this time it was the seat of justice for Kanawha County, +and contained upwards of three thousand inhabitants. It is a neat +village, situated on the north bank of the Kanawha River, at a point +where the Elk empties into it. There is a fine suspension bridge over +the latter stream, which the rebels undertook to destroy in their +flight. Charleston is three hundred and eight miles west of Richmond, +and forty-six miles east of the Ohio River. It was named after Charles +Clendenin, an early settler, and an owner of the soil on which it is +built. + +The Valley of the Kanawha is famous for its beautiful scenery. The +mountains on either side of the river sometimes rise to the height of +five hundred feet and more, and are liberally supplied with rich beds +of minerals and coal. At their base is located the famous Kanawha salt +works. They commence near Charleston, and extend for about fifteen +miles above it. Before the rebellion they gave employment to nearly six +thousand persons. The following extract will be of interest: + +"It is a curious fact, and worthy of philosophical inquiry, that while +the salt water is obtained by boring to a depth of from three hundred +to five hundred feet below the bed of the Kanawha, it invariably rises +to a level with the river. When the latter is swollen by rains, or the +redundant waters of its tributaries, the saline fluid, inclosed in +suitable "gums" on the shore, ascends like the mercury in its tube, and +only falls when the river returns to its wonted channel. How this +mysterious correspondence is produced is a problem which remains to be +solved. Theories and speculations I have heard on the subject, but none +seem to me to be precisely consonant with the principles of science." + +Before the presence of the army interrupted the manufacture of salt, +these works yielded about two million bushels annually, and are capable +of yielding much more with an increase of capital. + +While Colonel Guthrie commanded the post at Charleston a most +disgraceful tragedy was enacted. An order had been issued that no +liquors of any description should be sold or given to the soldiers or +employees of the Government. During the time this order was in force, a +party of drunken rowdies from the First Kentucky Regiment stopped at +the grocery of an old man, and asked for some beer; when refused, they +demanded it. Being again refused they threatened violence, and +proceeded to put their threats into force, when a son of the old man, +occupying a room above, was brought to the window by the old +gentleman's cries for help, and, seeing his father thus set upon by a +mob, from the repeated assaults of which his life was endangered, fired +a revolver, the contents of which took effect on one of the assaulting +party, producing instant death. He was at once arrested and lodged in +jail, around which a strong guard was placed to prevent his being taken +out and hung. + +That night Colonel Guthrie, in a speech made to the excited throng, +which had collected around the jail, said, in substance, that the life +of the criminal should be taken if he had to do it with his own hand. +Similar remarks were made by others, among whom was a captain who +afterwards sat as judge-advocate on the trial. + +On the morning after the affair the members constituting the +court-martial assembled "in all the pomp and pride of glorious war," +decorated with all the paraphernalia belonging to an officer's +equipment, but to declare a prejudged opinion. + +During the trial the prisoner was as immovable as a statue, evincing in +his appearance a want of hope, as well as a preparation for the worst. +He made no defence. The announcement of the sentence of death produced +no change; he preserved a stoical appearance to the last. + +When the hour of execution arrived the prisoner was brought to the +gallows in a heavy wagon, guarded by a double file of soldiers, who +were laughing as gayly as if on their way to some place of amusement. +During the afternoon the sun had shone through a cloudless sky; but +just before this terrible scene was enacted, the heavens were draped +with heavy clouds, and the rain fell in torrents, casting a gloom on +all around. The wretched victim ascended the gallows with a firm tread, +and addressed a few words, in a fearless tone, to those assembled +around. As the rope was being adjusted around his neck, the crowd +involuntarily gave way, showing that, although they had been clamorous +for the enactment of the scene, yet when the time came, they had not +the nerve to witness the death-struggle of their victim. There was but +little movement of the body after the fatal drop fell. This last scene +was sickening in the extreme, and all of us, moved by a common impulse, +turned and walked away in silence, our hearts being too full for +utterance. + +This is one more testimony against the safety and justice of the death +penalty. + +On the 19th day of October, Colonel Tyler took command of the post at +Charleston. He issued the following proclamation: + + "In assuming the command of this post, one of my principal objects + will be to maintain order, and to see that the rights of persons + and property have the protection guaranteed by general orders from + department headquarters. To the faithful execution of this my + entire energies, together with the force at my command, will be + given. To this end I have established Camp Warren, where officers + and soldiers are required to be at all times, except when on duty + which calls them away, or on leave of absence, which will only be + granted at headquarters. Commissioned and non-commissioned officers + will be held personally responsible for any violation of this order + by members of their companies. Drunkenness, marauding, boisterous + and unsoldierlike conduct are strictly forbidden. To prevent this, + the sale of intoxicating liquors, directly or indirectly, to those + in the service of the United States, is positively and emphatically + prohibited; and I call upon the citizens to aid me in detecting + those who violate this order. The quiet of your town, the + protection of your property--in fact your lives and the lives of + your families--depend much upon the sobriety of our officers and + men; therefore, it becomes your duty as well as your interest to + lend me your aid in the execution of this order. + + "E. B. TYLER, + + "Colonel Commanding Post." + +Under the rule of Colonel Tyler the post at Charleston assumed order +and quiet. Under the former commandant drunkenness was common, while +marauding parties were free to patrol the streets on their errands of +mischief. The property of the citizens was at the mercy of these gangs, +while their lives were not unfrequently placed in jeopardy. The people, +therefore, were much gratified with the change of rule. Camps were now +established at some distance from the village, while no soldiers were +permitted to visit it unless they first obtained a pass from +headquarters, which, being established in town, was difficult to +procure. A provost-marshal was appointed, with a proper guard subject +to his orders. This guard was instructed to arrest all soldiers found +in the streets of the village without a proper pass, as well as those +committing any depredations on the property or persons of the citizens, +with or without a pass. + +About the middle of October the companies at Gauley Bridge came down to +Charleston. During their stay on the Gauley they performed much duty at +the outposts; several times being under the enemy's fire, though none +were injured. The detachment suffered severe loss, however, from +sickness. Lieutenant Robinson was among the number; he died of fever; +his loss was greatly felt by the regiment. When the news of his death +reached his company, they wept as for a brother. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +FLOYD ESTABLISHES BATTERIES ON COTTON HILL.--DRIVEN OFF BY THE FORCES +OF GENERAL COX.--BENHAM'S FAILURE TO INTERCEPT HIS RETREAT.--HIS +PURSUIT.--SKIRMISH AT MCCOY'S MILLS.--HIS FINAL ESCAPE. + + +Near the last of October General Floyd very suddenly appeared on Cotton +Hill, an abrupt eminence lying between the Kanawha and New rivers, at +the junction of the Gauley with the latter stream, which form the +Kanawha. The enemy immediately commenced shelling Gauley Bridge. +General Cox, who was some distance up New River, near the headquarters +of General Rosecrans, was ordered to proceed to Gauley Bridge and to +assume direction of affairs. He was also ordered to direct General +Benham, who was expected to arrive very soon with a brigade, to cross +his forces, at night, over the Kanawha River, and to carry the summit +of Cotton Hill by storm. A picket post had already been established +across the river by direction of General Cox. Benham protested against +the movement, and refused to execute the order received through General +Cox, but proceeded to confer, by telegraph, with General Rosecrans, +receiving in reply the same orders. Benham still protesting against +attempting to execute what he termed so hazardous a movement, at his +own request was permitted to pass down the river to the mouth of Loop +Creek, from whence he was to undertake a flank movement. Colonel Smith +joined General Benham in his protest, declaring the attempt to storm +these batteries as sheer madness. It is significant that General Cox +afterwards stormed and carried Cotton Hill, with barely a regiment of +troops. + +Floyd had constructed a line of fortifications at Dickerson's, on the +road to Fayetteville, which was his only avenue of retreat in case of +disaster. + +Soon after General Benham arrived opposite Loop Creek, he was joined by +five hundred selected men from the Seventh from Charleston. This +detachment of the regiment, having arrived on boats, was ordered to +disembark, and take up their position at the mouth of Loop Creek. The +following morning it moved up the creek some eight or ten miles, where +it took up its position at an old log barn. Lieutenant-Colonel +Creighton being in command, Colonel Tyler having remained at +Charleston, was instructed to picket the roads well in his front, as +well as the mountains lying between; and also to scout the country in +the vicinity, for the purpose of finding out the position of the camp +of the enemy, as well as his numbers. The latter part of the order was +well executed, and there can be no doubt that Benham was possessed of +accurate information of the enemy. + +After the third day of our occupation of this position we were joined +by a detachment of the Forty-fourth Ohio, under command of Major +Mitchell, and the Thirty-seventh Ohio, under command of Colonel +Seibert. Soon after, all of this force, with the exception of eight +companies of the Thirty-seventh Regiment, was ordered forward under +command of Lieutenant-Colonel Creighton. + +Proceeding for some distance on a road leading to the front, we struck +into a bridle path, and after passing through a wood, began ascending a +mountain. Single file, the command clambered up its steep and rocky +sides. Arriving on its summit we could see the heads of a line of men +extending for a mile beneath us. Descending the opposite side with some +difficulty, we marched some distance from the foot of the mountain, and +found ourselves at Cassady's Mills, a point from which the command was +to debouch on to the Fayetteville pike, should Floyd attempt a retreat. +But the movement, on the part of Benham, was so tardily executed, that +the balance of the command never arrived at this point; but instead, +the forces, other than the Seventh Ohio, were ordered away that night; +leaving a detachment of five hundred men, with no support, within three +miles of a well-equipped army of the enemy. We were so near that we +could plainly hear the bugle calls in Floyd's camp. Had Benham's entire +command been at that point, the retreat of the rebel army could have +been intercepted. Previous to this, Floyd had been driven back to his +intrenchments at Dickerson's, and all that was necessary to his +capture, was an attack on his rear on the part of Benham. But he either +feared to make the attack, or was too slow in doing it. The former is +probably true. That night the rebel general passed within three miles +of our position, and escaped with his entire army, together with the +artillery and baggage. + +On the 12th of November, Benham arrived at Cotton Hill, but to find the +forces of General Cox in possession. On the afternoon of the 13th, he +pushed on after Floyd's retreating army, arriving within four miles of +Fayetteville, at about eleven o'clock P.M. Here, evidences of the +hurried retreat of Floyd began to multiply. The fences were lined with +hides, but recently stripped from the carcasses of cattle, while in +many places the beef itself was left suspended from the fence. + +On the morning of the 4th, we pushed through Fayetteville before day, +in the pursuit. Floyd had but a few hours the start. Six miles ahead we +took breakfast, consisting of two army crackers to each man. After +which we pushed rapidly on. About noon, our skirmishers, the Thirteenth +Ohio, overtook the rear-guard of the enemy, when sharp firing occurred, +which continued during an advance of several miles, resulting in the +mortal wounding of St. George Croghan, colonel of the Second Georgia +cavalry, and formerly of the United States Army. The colonel was taken +to a house close by and left, where he was found in a dying condition +by our men. Having been a class-mate of his at West Point, Benham +stopped and passed a few words with him. When recognizing the general, +Croghan appeared to be much affected; and is reported to have said that +he knew he was fighting in a bad cause, and that he had been driven +into the army much against his wishes, for he was still attached to the +old flag. He soon after expired. + +While this conversation was being carried on between officers so +differently circumstanced, the Union forces had pressed the rebels so +closely, that the latter, to save their baggage train, were compelled +to make a stand. The Seventh Ohio was ordered to act as reserve, but +when the action grew hot, was ordered forward, with instructions to +send out two companies as skirmishers, which was immediately done; +Companies A and K being sent forward. + +About this time two pieces of rifled cannon were brought to bear on the +rebels, when they turned and fled, leaving six killed on the field. We +were so near, that we plainly heard the retreat sounded by their +bugles. From this time their retreat became a rout. In their flight, +they cast away every thing that would encumber their retreat. We were +now on the banks of a stream, over whose rocky cliffs numerous wagons, +with their contents, had been hurled. It was supposed, that several +pieces of cannon shared the same fate. + +The pursuit was continued with much vigor, until a late hour in the +evening, when General Schenck, having but just arrived at the front, +ordered it discontinued. This was the second error of the campaign. +Schenck, with his fresh troops, instead of ordering the pursuit to +cease, should have pressed with vigor. The enemy encamped but a short +distance in our front, on Three-mile Mountain. This position could have +been carried with ease, with the combined forces of Schenck and Benham, +with comparatively little loss. But the pursuit being the result of a +blunder, resulted in a blunder. + +A little after midnight the command fell back, arriving at Fayetteville +in the afternoon of the same day, after a fatiguing march over the +worst road that could be imagined, and with no provisions other than +beef with a very little salt. The Seventh marched to its old camp, four +miles out on the road to Cotton Hill. The officers and men lay on the +hill-side that night, exposed to a violent snow storm, with no other +covering than their blankets, except the snowy sheet that nature spread +over them during the long hours of night. + +During the night a demonstration was made on a drove of pigs which were +lurking close by; and it would not be strange if the soldiers could +relate tales of their descent on poultry yards and bee-hives. True it +is, that some first-class honey found its way into camp. + +The next day, marching over Cotton Hill, we arrived at our camp near +the mouth of Loop Creek. Embarking on the following day, we arrived at +Charleston on the 18th, after an absence of fourteen days. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +REFLECTIONS ON THE INSTITUTION OF SLAVERY. + + +While at Charleston, we were deeply impressed with the profound +interest the slaves were taking in passing events. That down-trodden +race, who had for years suffered every injustice at the hands of their +white oppressors, were now the first to assist the Federal commanders. +Through darkness and storm, they carried information, and acted as +scouts and guides on occasions when it would try the heart and nerve of +their white companions. + +From my own observation, I am confident that the slaves of the South, +were just as well informed with regard to their relation to their +masters, as we were. They were, from the very first, impressed with the +idea that this rebellion was to work some great change in their +condition. They were watching, with great interest, every movement of +troops, and were continually asking questions, as to the disposition to +be made of them; thus evincing an interest in military affairs, of +which their masters little dreamed. It is well enough to talk of the +deep devotion of slaves to their masters; but the latter have found ere +this, I trust, that this devotion on which they have relied, has not +prevented them from cutting their throats, when it was in the line of +their duty, and by means of which they could gain their freedom. An +instance of this great devotion on the part of a slave for his master, +was related to me while at Charleston. + +A Mr. R---- owned a colored servant by the name of John; he enjoyed the +unlimited confidence of his master, who was in the habit of trusting +him as he would one of his children. This confidence was reciprocated +by a like devotion on the part of the slave for his master. One day a +neighbor told Mr. R---- that his John was about to run away, as he had +repeated conversations with his servants on the subject. Mr. R---- flew +into a passion, feeling very much grieved that his neighbor should +think, for a moment, that his John, whom he had raised from infancy, +should prove so ungrateful as to leave him. The only attention he paid +to this timely warning was, to put still greater trust in his servant. +One day, shortly after this, John was missing; not only this, he had +been so ungrateful as to take his wife and three children. The last +heard from faithful John was, that he was safe in Ohio. Now Mr. R---- +is a very good man and a Christian, and treat his servants very kindly; +but that God-given principle, a desire for personal liberty, actuated +him in connection with other men of fairer complexion. John, +undoubtedly, left his old home and master with regret, but home and +friendship, when compared with freedom, were nothing. + +I was once told by a colored man, in whom the utmost confidence could +be placed, that there has been for years an association among the +negroes, which extends throughout the South, the purpose of which was +one day to liberate themselves from slavery. He said that hundreds of +slaves who, apparently, were as innocent as ignorant, were tolerably +well educated, and were secretly bending every energy to bring about an +insurrection, which should end in their being released from bondage. +When asked if the field-hands were members of this association, he said +they were; and although possessing less information than those living +in the cities and villages, yet they were aware of what was going on; +and after their work was done at night, they often met in their cabins, +and talked over the prospect before them. He also said, that in the +larger cities of the South this association had regular meetings and +officers; that they awaited only the proper time, when a tragedy would +be enacted all over the South, that would astonish the world. + +When we reflect that revolts have been common in the South, and that +they have been attended by partial success, it does not require a great +stretch of the imagination to believe that this association did really +exist. The fact of the intense feeling of hatred cherished by the +people of the South against Northern fanatics, as they were termed, who +came amongst them, is strong evidence in favor of the existence of some +organized course of policy among the negroes. The outward appearance of +the slave is usually gentle in the extreme, although his inward +feelings may be agitated to such a degree, that in a white man they +would burst forth in the wildest passion. Therefore, this hatred of the +South to the opponents of slavery must be traced to a fear of some +secret organization, the object of which lay deeply buried in the +reticent minds of the slaves. The Southern mind was more deeply +agitated, from the fact of the want of this outward emotion on the part +of their slaves; for had this strong desire for liberty, which was +awakened in them, burst out in wild enthusiasm, it would have been +readily checked by the severe punishment of individuals; but it was +this secret working of this deep-laid desire for freedom that troubled +them. The most guilty were, to all outward appearance, the most +innocent. + +While the Federal army occupied the country, the slaves were much less +guarded in what they said. One of these slaves, an old man, was passing +a tent one day, when a soldier said to him that he belonged to Jeff. +Davis. With a knowing look, he replied: "I did; but now, massa, I +belong to Uncle Sam." A colored woman, who had been a slave for years +(as she is very old), came into our room one day, and taking up a +paper, asked if we wanted it. Some one said to her, as she was about +leaving the room, that she had better not be seen with that paper, as +it was not the sort her mistress admired. Said she, "I know what missus +likes; I can take care of it;" and slipping it under her apron she left +the room. That slave could read and write, and yet her master knew +nothing of it. So it is with many others. It may be asked how they +acquire this knowledge. They gain it in a great many ways. Many of them +learn of their masters' children, with whom house-servants spend a +great deal of time. Having acquired a slight knowledge, it stimulates +them to greater exertion. They obtain scraps of newspapers and parts of +books, and thus gain a great deal of information entirely unobserved. +The slave knows how to keep secrets; consequently, any scheme that is +on foot is seldom discovered. Few persons, at the commencement of the +rebellion, had the least conception of the vast resources and power of +the slave population of the South. And it was not until they had fed +and clothed the Southern armies for two years, and by this means kept +them in the field, that it was acknowledged. Had it not been for its +slaves, the South, long ere this, would have been compelled to yield +obedience to the Government. The rebels appreciated and used this +element of strength from the beginning. The Federal Government, through +the influence of weak-minded politicians, rejected it; thus throwing an +element of its own strength into the hands of its enemies. + +Notwithstanding this harsh treatment, the slaves proved true to the +Government; and finally, through the medium of this faithfulness, their +vast services were acknowledged, and they have not only been taken into +the private service of the country, but they have been admitted into +the army, to swell its numbers, until the strength of their mighty +arms, and the nerve of their fearless hearts, are felt by the enemies +of the country on every battle-field. What a glorious thought! +thousands of the oppressed fighting for the redemption from slavery of +a race which has ever worn the chain. When it is remembered that by +this strife questions are to be settled which have ever disturbed the +harmony of this country, and not that only, but questions which, when +settled, will release millions of our fellow-men and women from the +power of the oppressor, ought we not to be thankful that we are +permitted to make great sacrifices in so good a cause? + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE SEVENTH ORDERED TO THE EAST.--EXPEDITION TO BLUE'S GAP.--SKIRMISH +ON THE BLOOMING PIKE. + + +After Floyd was driven from Cotton Hill, very few rebels remained in +that portion of Virginia. Many troops were sent to Kentucky and +elsewhere. Among the number was the Seventh Regiment. It was ordered to +join the forces under command of General Kelley, which were operating +on the upper waters of the Potomac, with headquarters at Cumberland, +Maryland. + +Accordingly, on the twelfth day of December, the regiment embarked on +steamers, and after paying its respects to General Cox, by way of +presenting arms and cheers, it moved down the river; thus leaving +forever the scene of its past dangers and privations. Little had, +apparently, been accomplished, during its summer campaign; but perils +had been braved, privations had been suffered, and obstacles had been +overcome. Many graves had been dug and filled with the pride of the +regiment. These were left as a record of its patient suffering in that +wild waste of hills. There was a sort of sadness attending the leaving +of all this for a new field of operations. But the soldier's life is +one continued change; and, therefore, he readily adapts himself to +circumstances. + +At Parkersburg the regiment left the boats, and took a train of cars, +which conveyed it to Green Spring Run, a station on the Baltimore and +Ohio Railroad, sixteen miles from Romney, Virginia. Here it remained +without tents for several days, when it was ordered to Romney, to which +place it proceeded immediately. It was now given a good ground for its +camp, and furnished with Sibley tents, which were both warm and roomy. +The weather being very fine for the time of year, the health and +spirits of the soldiers rapidly improved. + +During the occupation of Romney, quite a force of "bushwhackers" had +collected at Blue's Gap, which were under command of Colonel Blue. This +force of bandits had annoyed the Union citizens for some time. It was +finally resolved to break it up. The force chosen to do this work +consisted of the Fourth, Fifth, Seventh, and Eighth Ohio, Fourteenth +Indiana, and First Virginia, with Danver's two companies of cavalry, +and a section of Howard's Battery, in all about two thousand five +hundred men, under command of Colonel Dunning of the Fifth Ohio. A +little past midnight of January 6th, the force moved out from their +camp. The night was bitter cold, but the march was rapid; and just +after daybreak, the vicinity of the gap was reached, to find that the +rebels were tearing up the flooring of the bridge leading over the +stream coming through the gap. The skirmishers drove this force away, +and then advanced over the bridge, followed by the Fifth Ohio, which +took possession of Blue's house. Procuring a negro woman for a guide, +the force advanced to assault the rebel stronghold on the mountain. On +reaching the place, the intrenchments were handsomely carried, the +rebels standing for five rounds only, when they broke, and fled down +the side of the mountain. Their flight was so rapid that many of the +fugitives ran on to the Fourth Ohio, which was at hand, and were +captured. But they were hardly worth taking, for an uglier set of +ragamuffins the mountains of Virginia, or the whole world even, could +hardly produce. Blue's property was utterly destroyed. The loss of the +enemy in this affair was forty killed, and as many taken prisoners, +together with all their stores, wagons, and ammunition. A number of +cattle were also taken and driven back to Romney. On their return, the +Federals fired several houses, which was a lasting disgrace to all +those taking part in it. General Kelley was justly indignant at this +conduct. + +Nothing further occurred to break the _ennui_ of camp and picket duty +until the 10th, when an order came to break camp and prepare for a +march. Immediately following this order, all was bustle and confusion, +in anticipation of an advance. There being a lack of transportation, +some tents and commissary stores were burned. In early evening, the +regiment marched into the town, where it was compelled to wait, through +a fearful storm of sleet, until midnight, when, instead of an advance, +the entire force rapidly fell back through Springfield to Patterson's +Creek, on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. This camp was soon converted +into a mud-hole. If all of Virginia had been canvassed a worse place +for a camp could not have been found. After a few weeks contest with +this everlasting snow and mud, an order came, on the 5th of February, +to march, which was hailed with universal joy. + +The force passed down the railroad late in the afternoon, for a short +distance; when, leaving the tents and baggage, it took a road to the +right, and before night halted in a grove by the roadside. After a few +hours spent in preparing and eating supper, it moved off in the +direction of Romney, the Seventh in the advance. + +All night we marched, over mountains and streams, through snow and +sleet. In the morning we came to a halt at an old tannery, and after +remaining through the day, fell back four miles and bivouacked on the +banks of the Little Cacapon River. Tired and wet, the soldiers lay down +to rest on their bed of rails and straw, to gather strength for the +morrow. At last, day dawned, rainy and gloomy, and the command moved +five miles to the rear, to a place called the Levels,--a very high +table-land, exposed to severe wind and storm, which never fails to +visit that region. The regiment was ordered to bivouac, and soon the +pine forest was converted into a village of green houses, with hot +fires roaring and crackling before them. + +We remained here some fifteen days, within three miles of the tents; +but for some reason, better known to those in command, we were left on +a hilltop, exposed to the cold winds and snows of February, in brush +shanties. During some of the time it was so cold that a crust formed on +the snow sufficiently hard to hold up a person. During this time the +commanding officer of our brigade occupied a house close by, which was +very convenient as well as comfortable. + +The regiment, while here, did very little duty; in fact none, with the +exception of one brigade drill in the snow, which only vexed the +command, without accomplishing any good. + +Colonel Sprague, formerly captain of Company E, now paid the regiment a +visit, the first time he had met his old comrades since his capture. +Following that had intervened his long imprisonment. The meeting was a +pleasant one. + +On the 13th of March the regiment left camp, and, taking the Bradford +pike, crossed a range of hills, at the foot of which is the Baltimore +and Ohio Railroad. Taking this road, Pau-Pau Station was reached before +night. Here we found quite a number of troops. + +General Lander advanced with one brigade on the Blooming pike. Soon the +advance-guard, consisting of a part of a regiment of cavalry, came on +to an intrenched camp of militia. The general, taking command in +person, ordered a charge; but barely a dozen of these horsemen could be +made to follow their brave leader. But, nothing daunted, Lander, +followed by his staff and a few of the cavalry, dashed over the +intrenchments, when some fifty rebels surrendered; Colonel Baldwin, +their commander, giving himself up to Lander, after the latter had +seized him by the shoulder, despite the revolver which the rebel +colonel held in his hand. + +On the return of this expedition, the Seventh was ordered out on to the +pike. After advancing for nearly two miles, it halted by the roadside, +where it remained in the mud and snow till the following afternoon, +when it went into camp close by. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +GALLANTRY OF LIEUTENANT O'BRIEN.--DEATH OF GENERAL LANDER.--THE +SEVENTH ESCORT HIS REMAINS.--THE OCCUPATION OF WINCHESTER. + + +During the occupation of the country about Pau-Pau Station, the troops +were kept active. Skirmishes were of frequent occurrence. One of them +is deserving of mention. A reconnoissance was being made by Lieutenant +O'Brien, of Lander's staff, accompanied by twenty or more cavalry, when +they were met by a band of rebels, who immediately fired a volley; +following which, they demanded the small party of Federals to +surrender. O'Brien, riding to the front, declined, at the same time +emptying the saddle of the foremost rebel with a revolver, which he had +in his hand ready for use. The lieutenant soon after received a fatal +wound in the shoulder, from the effects of which he died some weeks +after. Seeing their leader disabled, the Union cavalry hurried him to +the rear, at the same time presenting a determined front. When he had +arrived at a safe distance they fell back, fighting as they went. They +thus brought the gallant O'Brien safe to headquarters. + +O'Brien was a writer of some note. Before the war he was a contributor +to several periodicals, among which was the Atlantic Monthly. For these +magazines he wrote many elegant things, which their readers will +probably remember. + +On the first day of March, the monotony of life in camp was broken by +an order to march. We moved out of camp, followed by the entire +division, on the road leading to Winchester. Towards evening we crossed +the Big Cacapon River, and after ascending a spur of the Shenandoah +Mountain, filed into a grove of pines, and remained till the following +afternoon, when an order was given to fall back. On returning to our +camp, we found that the retrograde movement was occasioned by the +sudden death of General Lander. The brave soldier and able commander +expired while his troops were moving on an important position of the +enemy,--a campaign which his fertile brain had conceived, and which his +daring and dash were to put into successful execution. No wonder, then, +when the spirit of its leader took its flight, that the division was +recalled. None were found competent to succeed him in the command of an +expedition which had occupied his every thought while he had been +connected with the department. + +On Monday, March 3d, the Seventh regiment escorted his remains to the +cars, in the presence of fifteen thousand troops, drawn up in line to +pay their respects, for the last time, to all that was left of a +commander whom they loved, and a soldier whom they admired. This slow, +sad march of the Seventh, to the strains of a solemn dirge, was +impressive. We returned to camp with the reflection that a master +spirit had taken its departure. + +After the death of General Lander, Brigadier-General Shields was given +the command of his division. He arrived soon after. + +The forces under General Banks, occupying the country in the vicinity +of Harper's Ferry, were ordered to make an immediate advance on +Winchester, General Shields was directed to co-operate in this +movement. He was ordered to move on Martinsburg, when General Banks +crossed the Potomac. + +Early in March the division moved down to the railroad, when on the +same day it took the cars for Martinsburg. On arriving at Back Creek, +ten miles east of Hancock, the bridge was found to be destroyed. The +command now bivouacked, while a party was set at work repairing the +bridge. The work progressed so slowly, that on the 10th the command +moved on in advance of the train, passing through Martinsburg, and +encamping some two miles out on the Winchester pike. + +On the following morning the column pushed vigorously forward to assist +General Banks in his attack on Winchester. The rebels, however, instead +of giving battle, fled as the command approached the city. Shields, +therefore, was ordered to encamp his troops before reaching Winchester. +The camp of the Seventh was about three miles north of the town, on the +Martinsburg road. The balance of the division encamped in the immediate +vicinity. + +Winchester had for a long time been occupied by the rebels. The extreme +left of Beauregard's army, under command of General Johnston, had taken +possession of the place, when the rebel troops first occupied Virginia. +From this point, troops were immediately sent forward to occupy and +destroy the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, as well as to menace our lines +in the direction of Harper's Ferry and Cumberland. The possession, +therefore, of the place by the Union forces was of great importance. It +not only resulted in the protection of this very important railroad, +but so menaced the left of the rebel army as to require its commander +to detach a large force to the Shenandoah Valley, and thus materially +weakening his main army. Under a leader less able than Jackson, it +would have greatly taxed his energies to hold the valley. But under +this indomitable general the army was enabled to make a good show of +resistance to the advance of the Federal forces. + +Winchester, the county seat of Frederick County, is seventy-four miles +west of Washington. The town is laid out in regular order, the streets +crossing at right angles. The place possesses some little of historical +interest. During the French and Indian War, Washington made it his +headquarters; and he also mentions it as one of the points which he +touched while on his mission to the French authorities on the Ohio +River. After the engagement at Great Meadows, July 4, 1774, Washington +returned to the place to recruit his regiment. It was also the base of +operations for the forces engaged in the reduction of Fort Duquesne. +During these wars a fort was built under the direction of Washington, +and named Fort Landon. A part of it is to be seen at this day. While +this fort was being constructed, Washington bought a lot in Winchester, +had a blacksmith shop built on it, and brought his own smith from Mount +Vernon to do the necessary iron-work for the fort. A well was sunk in +this fort to the depth of one hundred and three feet, the water from +which now runs over the top. The labor of erecting this fort was +performed by Washington's own regiment. The famous General Morgan, the +leader of the American forces at the battle of the Cowpens, is buried +here. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +A RECONNOISSANCE TO STRASBURG.--BATTLE OF WINCHESTER.--UTTER DEFEAT +AND ROUT OF JACKSON'S ARMY. + + +Immediately after the occupation of Winchester, the enemy's cavalry +advance becoming troublesome, a plan was laid for its capture. Colonel +Mason, of the Fourth Ohio, was sent out on the road to Front Royal, +with a brigade, composed of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, with +instructions to proceed until he arrived at the last road leading to +the right before reaching Front Royal; which road he was to take, and +by it strike the rear of the enemy at Middletown, a small hamlet +equally distant from both Winchester and Strasburg. He was soon after +followed by General Shields, with six thousand men, who moved on the +direct road to Middletown. Colonel Mason's command, arriving at this +place in advance of Shields' column, encountered the enemy's pickets, +and drove them to Cedar Creek Bridge, which, having covered with +combustibles, they fired. When the troops of Colonel Mason arrived in +the vicinity, they were opened upon by a battery, to which they +replied; with no effect, however, as the distance was too great. +Shields coming up with his division soon after, the entire force +bivouacked for the night. + +Early the following morning the command crossed the river without +opposition; but on arriving at Strasburg, the enemy opened fire from a +battery planted on a hill beyond the town. Shields, suspecting that the +entire force of Jackson was in the vicinity, made his dispositions for +immediate battle. The Seventh being ordered out on the road beyond the +town, were fired upon by a masked battery, but none injured. After +having been exposed to this fire for half an hour, it was withdrawn. +Soon after, our artillery was got into position, and after thirty +pieces of cannon had belched forth their fire, the rebels fled in +haste. During this fire, Mason's cavalry advanced so far out on the +road, that they were mistaken for the enemy by Captain Clark, of a +battery of regulars; he therefore sent a shell among them, with such +accuracy as to kill a few horses, and slightly wound one man. + +An advance being ordered, the pursuit was continued for five miles, +when the command returned to Strasburg, and encamped for the night. On +the following morning it fell back to its old camp, the Seventh +marching twenty-two miles in seven hours, with but one halt. + +This reconnoissance to Strasburg leaving no doubt on the minds of both +Banks and Shields that the enemy was not in the front in force, the +first division of Banks's corps, on the 20th, commenced its movement to +Manassas, in accordance with a letter of instruction from General +McClellan, of the 16th. General Banks did not follow this division +immediately, but remained at Winchester until twelve o'clock on Sunday, +the 23d, when he started for Harper's Ferry. + +All this time Shields thought he was being trifled with by the rebel +General Ashby. + +On Saturday, the 22d, there had been a good deal of firing in the early +part of the day, but what occasioned it did not seem to be well +understood, except to those engaged. But during the afternoon it was +thought prudent to make all needful preparation for battle, so as not +to be surprised in case it should prove that a greater force than +Ashby's was in front. Therefore the whole division was ordered up; the +third brigade, however, did not pass through the town. Shields went to +the front, followed by the first and second brigades. As these forces +emerged from the city, the rebel cavalry made a dash at the pickets, +who fled in some confusion through the little hamlet of Kernstown, but +rallied soon after, and by a well-directed volley of musketry emptied +several rebel saddles. This success enabled them to retire in safety. +The rebel cavalry soon after advanced, when a sharp skirmish ensued. +Our pickets having been re-enforced by several detached companies, were +enabled to maintain their ground. In the mean time the rebels opened on +our lines from a battery planted on an eminence; immediately after +which a Union battery wheeled into position, when a spirited artillery +duel took place. While directing the fire of this battery, Shields was +struck on the arm by a fragment of a shell, fracturing the arm, and +producing a painful wound. He, however, continued in the field for some +time after the accident occurred, but was finally taken to a house +close by, and his arm dressed, after which he was taken to town in an +ambulance. + +The firing having ceased, the first brigade went into camp on the spot, +while the second brigade encamped in the rear. The third brigade filed +into an open field near where they were stationed during the operations +in front. + +During Saturday night a strong picket was kept well out to the front, +while the remaining troops slept on their arms. Nothing occurred during +the night to disturb the several camps. + +Morning dawned bright and pleasant. The stillness which rested over the +field of the previous day's operations, gave token of the intention of +the belligerents to respect the Sabbath-day. In view of the general +quiet, the second and third brigades were ordered back to their camp on +the Martinsburg pike. + +It was nearly noon when the Seventh arrived, and before the men had +barely time to eat a hurriedly prepared dinner, it was again ordered +forward. This time the march was rapid. The distant booming of cannon, +induced many a disturbed reflection as to what lay before us. As we +passed through Winchester to the south, we emerged into an open plain. +This was crowded with people, as were also the house-tops. They had +assembled, apparently, for the purpose of seeing the Union army +defeated and crushed, and to welcome the victors into the city. + +Arriving on the field, we found our forces occupying a commanding +position in rear of a range of hills overlooking Kernstown; while the +batteries, posted at intervals on the crest of these hills, were +maintaining a heavy fire on the right of the enemy's position, which +alone seemed to give evidence of any purpose to advance. The left of +our line was held by the Second brigade, Colonel Sullivan; while the +centre and right were held by the First brigade. Colonel Kimball, +commanding the division, was stationed on a commanding eminence, from +which several batteries were pouring their shot and shell into the +enemy whenever he showed himself within range. + +Up to this time, the main fighting had occurred in front of our left; +but soon after a battery opened in front of the right, from a piece of +timber, which our batteries were unable to silence. It became evident, +from this, that the heavy skirmishing which the enemy had kept up from +their right was simply a feint, for the purpose of drawing the greater +part of our force to that part of the field, when a spirited onslaught +would be made on the other flank, which was expected to turn our right +wing, and thus give them the victory. It was a conception worthy the +genius of a Jackson, but it was entirely unsuccessful, as no troops +were sent to that part of the field beyond what ordinary prudence +required; but on the contrary, becoming satisfied of the intention of +the enemy, Colonel Kimball resolved to charge this battery. The work +was assigned to the Third brigade. Colonel Tyler, calling in the +Seventh, which had been supporting a battery from the time it arrived +on the field, formed his brigade in column, by divisions, and +immediately moved forward; at the same time changing direction to the +right, and passing up a ravine, shielded by a piece of timber which +skirted it on the side towards the enemy. + +After arriving at some distance to the right, the column changed +direction to the left; and after a march of nearly a mile, it arrived +on the flank, and partly in the rear of the enemy. It had now reached +an eminence in a dense wood. In front, the battery which was the object +of our movement was playing vigorously upon the First brigade, to which +a spirited fire was returned by Robinson's Battery, which had wheeled +into position on the extreme right. This acted as a cover to the +movements of our brigade. Breathless, and with anxious hearts, we +awaited the return of our scouts, which would be the signal for a +plunge into the unknown. We were not kept long in suspense, for in a +few minutes the order was given to change direction to the left, and +the column moved forward, preceded by a line of skirmishers. After +marching in silence for some distance, the sharpshooters opened a +destructive fire on us from behind trees. We were immediately ordered +to charge; and, with a prolonged yell, the command, led by the Seventh +Ohio, swept like a torrent down the hill. A ravine now lay in front, +and, at a short distance, a slight eminence, and still beyond, a solid +stone wall, behind which, in three lines, nine regiments of the enemy +lay concealed. It was a fearful moment. The rebel artillery, in the +rear of this stone wall, had been turned upon the advancing column. The +grape and canister was tearing the bark from the trees over our heads, +while the solid shot and shell made great gaps in their trunks. Under +our feet the turf was being torn up, and around and about us the air +was thick with flying missiles. Not a gun was fired on our side. The +head of the column soon reached the ravine, when a deafening discharge +of musketry greeted us. A sheet of flame shot along the stone wall, +followed by an explosion that shook the earth, and the missiles tore +through the solid ranks of the command with a fearful certainty. The +brigade staggered--halted. With breathless anxiety we anticipated a +counter-charge by the rebels; but it came not. Victory to our arms +followed that omission on the part of the enemy. The order being given +to fire, the column recovered from the confusion into which it had been +temporarily thrown. The Seventh now advanced to the eminence beyond the +ravine; and, from a partial cover, maintained the unequal contest till +the other regiments could form and come to its support. The One Hundred +and Tenth Pennsylvania Regiment was thrown into such confusion, that it +was of little service during the remainder of the day. + +An order was given to the Seventh to prolong its line to the left. An +attempt was made to execute the order, when the left wing, passing over +a fence into an open field, received such a well-directed fire as to +compel it to fall back to its old position. + +During this part of the contest, the rebels endeavored to extend their +left, so as to flank us on the right. To meet this movement, Tyler +ordered the First Virginia to move to the right. Passing into an open +field, it was exposed to a cross-fire, which soon drove it back to the +timber. + +The roar of musketry was now deafening. The dying and the dead were +lying thick upon the hillside, but neither army seemed to waver. The +confusion attending the getting of troops into action had ceased. The +great "dance of death" seemed to be going forward without a motion. The +only evidence of life on that gory field, was the vomiting forth of +flame and smoke from thousands of well-aimed muskets. From that blue +column, which rolled and tumbled in its ascent from the battle-field, +the unerring bullet sped on its errand of death. But other regiments +are seen coming to the rescue. The right wing of the gallant Eighth +Ohio takes position on the left, followed by the no less gallant +Thirteenth and Fourteenth Indiana, Fifth and Sixty-seventh Ohio, and +Eighty-fourth Pennsylvania. These regiments opened a heavy fire, which +was replied to by the enemy in gallant style. + +The battle now raged fiercely until near night, when the enemy began to +show signs of giving way. At this the Union forces advanced a little, +at the same time delivering their fire with accuracy. As the shades of +evening deepened into night, the enemy began to fall back. At this +crisis, Colonel Kimball ordered a charge along the whole line, when the +retreat became a rout. In their flight, the enemy left in front of the +Third brigade two pieces of artillery and four caissons. + +That night the Seventh bivouacked on the spot now made historic by its +gallantry. The wounded were being brought in all night long, while the +dead were lying in heaps around us, their increasing distortions and +ghastliness adding new horrors to the battle-field. + +At early dawn the next day, we were ready to renew the work of blood +and carnage; but there was no occasion; the victory of the day before +was complete, the rebels had no desire of renewing the contest. They +gave the advancing column a few parting salutes from a battery, and +then beat a hasty retreat. We followed them that day to Cedar Run, +where just at night a slight skirmish occurred, with some loss to the +rebels. The following day the Union forces occupied Strasburg, when the +pursuit ceased. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +GENERAL SHIELDS' ANXIETY FOR LAURELS.--SUMMING UP OF THE BATTLE. +--LOSSES IN THE SEVENTH. + + +After the battle of Winchester, General Shields showed a disposition to +appropriate the laurels won by others to himself. In a letter to a +friend at Washington, he claimed that, after the reconnoissance to +Strasburg, on the 18th, he fell back hurriedly, for the purpose of +deceiving the enemy into the belief that his force was small; and that +after arriving at Winchester, he moved his division beyond the town, so +as to create the belief in the minds of the citizens that most of his +force had been sent away. Now the fact is, this reconnoissance was +greatly the result of accident. The original design of it was to +capture the enemy's advance; this failing, the force proceeded to +Strasburg for the purpose of discovering whether or not the enemy was +in force in the vicinity. It was clearly shown by this advance, what +was afterwards well known, that nothing but a small cavalry force +occupied Strasburg, and that Jackson was some distance up the valley. +The hurried march of the division back to Winchester, was also the +result of accident. The command marched left in front, which brought a +regiment in the advance whose colonel cared little for the comfort of +his men; hence the rapid march. Shields reached Winchester in advance +of the command, having gone on before. After our return there was no +change of position, as our tents had not been disturbed, and we +reoccupied them as they were before leaving. If Jackson was deceived, +the credit of it is not due to Shields, for he was confident to the +very last that there was no other force in his front than Ashby. Even +as late as Sunday noon, when in reality the battle had begun, he +ridiculed the idea of Colonel Kimball calling for so many troops, +remarking, that "Kimball wanted more troops than was necessary for the +force in front of him." He also boastfully said, that "Jackson knew +him, and was afraid of him." + +His friends tried to make it appear that it was by his direction that +the troops were manoeuvred on the field of battle. Now the fact is, +he was four miles away, and in such a condition from a wound that he +compelled one of the best surgeons of the division to remain with him +till long after the battle, against the request of the medical +director, who represented to him, in the most earnest manner, that the +wounded were suffering for the want of medical attention. In thus +retaining a surgeon for his own purpose, while the wounded were +suffering for medical aid, he was criminal in the extreme. He committed +an offence which ought to have deprived him of his commission. + +Colonel Kimball was mainly instrumental in achieving the victory, +assisted, of course, by those under his command. The skilful manner, +however, in which the troops were managed was entirely due to him; and +the authorities regarded it in that light, for he was immediately made +a brigadier-general, as were both Tyler and Sullivan. + +The number of rebel forces engaged in the battle of Winchester has been +variously estimated. They probably numbered sixteen regiments of +infantry, four full batteries of artillery, together with one of four +guns; in the aggregate, twenty-eight pieces and three battalions of +cavalry, under Ashby and Stewart;--in all, eleven thousand men. The +Union forces consisted of thirteen regiments of infantry, four full +batteries of artillery and a section; in the aggregate, twenty-six +pieces, and a battalion of cavalry;--in all, nine thousand men. + +The rebel army was the attacking force, yet the engagement between the +infantry was on ground of their own choosing, by reason of the Third +brigade charging one of their batteries. It was in the vicinity of this +battery, which was at least a mile in advance of our selected line of +battle, that the fighting occurred which turned the tide of battle. At +this point the enemy had every advantage of position. He was securely +posted behind a stone wall, and in a belt of timber extending along a +ridge; while our forces were compelled to advance across a plain +exposed to a galling fire from infantry and artillery; and it was not +until they arrived within eighty yards of his line that any thing like +a fair ground could be obtained. Jackson, the famous commander of the +no-less famous "stone-wall brigade," a sobriquet it had obtained at +Bull Run, was fairly beaten; and that, too, by a force without a +general, and of inferior numbers. The victory was so complete, that the +enemy left two hundred and twenty-five dead on the field. Their killed +and wounded amounted to nearly nine hundred, while their loss in +prisoners was upwards of two hundred and fifty: adding stragglers and +deserters to these figures, and it will swell the number to about two +thousand. The Fifth Virginia rebel regiment was nearly annihilated: +there was hardly sufficient of it left to preserve its organization. + +The loss to the Seventh was fourteen killed and fifty-one wounded: but +few were taken prisoners, and those by accident. The following is the +list: + +_Killed._--Orderly-Sergeant A. C. Danforth; Corporal A. C. Griswold; +privates, Charles Stern, James Carroll, James Creiglow, Allen C. Lamb, +Stephen W. Rice, E. G. Sackett, Reuben Burnham, Louis Carven, Elias +Hall, John Fram, Fred. Groth, James Bish. + +_Wounded._--Captain J. F. Asper; Lieutenant Samuel McClelland; +Sergeant-Major J. P. Webb, and Sergeant A. J. Kelly, mortally; +sergeants, A. H. Fitch, E. M. Lazonny; corporals, Ed. Kelley, William +Saddler, Geo. Blandin, William E. Smith, Benjamin Gridley; privates, +Fred. Hoffman, Daniel Clancey, Leander Campbell, Joseph Miller, Hampton +Gardner, Arthur Lappin, Thomas Fresher, Duncan Reid, Joseph Smith, +Albert E. Withers, Charles Fagan, O. H. Worcester, W. Coleman, Stephen +Kellogg, John Gardner, F. M. Palmer, F. A. Warner, Daniel Kingsbury, +Richard Winsor, John Milliman, John Atwater, Geo. Anness, Fred. Bethel, +Charles W. Minnick, Moses Owens, Arba Pritchell, Edward Thompson, +Edward E. Tracy, A. A. Cavanaha, S. Bishop, Owen Gregory, James Hunt, +W. McClurg, H. M. McQuiston, D. O'Conner, P. Tenny, Richard Phillips, +T. B. Danon, Wm. Birch, Henry Clemens. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +PURSUIT OF JACKSON UP THE VALLEY.--MARCH TO FREDERICKSBURG, AND +RETURN TO FRONT ROYAL. + + +About the 1st of April the command left Strasburg, under command of +General Banks, driving the rear-guard of the enemy through the little +village of Woodstock, and taking a position on the banks of Stoney +Creek, four miles beyond the latter place. It remained here until the +17th, during which time the enemy kept up an artillery fire across the +creek, which resulted in the killing of several men in the division of +General Williams. + +On the morning of the 17th the command crossed the creek, and stormed +the enemy's battery on the opposite shore. The early dawn was +brightening up the eastern horizon with tints of red; and, as the +command emerged from the bridge, and ascended the steep hill beyond, +their bayonets glistened and sparkled. After firing one volley, the +rebels fled in haste, leaving the Federal forces to advance without +opposition. After falling back beyond the north branch of the +Shenandoah River, they made a stand, and endeavored to burn the bridge, +but were prevented by the Union cavalry. A flank movement being +ordered, and partly executed, the rebels again abandoned their +position. The Federals now pressed on to within a short distance of +New Market, where they encamped. + +Here the command remained ten days, when it moved two miles south of +the town, and on the 3d of May advanced to within a few miles of +Harrisonburg, but on the following day fell back about five miles to a +good defensive position. + +The tents were now ordered to be turned over to the quartermaster; and +on the following Monday we wound our way through Brook's Gap, in the +Massanutten Mountains, towards the smoky tops of the Blue Ridge, and +thus leaving forever the beautiful valley of the north branch of the +Shenandoah. Towards evening we crossed the south branch of the same +river at Columbia Bridge, and moved on in the direction of Luray, +encamping near that place. The next morning the command moved on down +the river until night, when it encamped. In the evening a hard rain +storm came up, which continued for several days. In early evening of +the following day the command reached Front Royal, a small village +situated at the base of the Blue Ridge, near the junction of the two +branches of the Shenandoah River. The following morning we crossed the +Blue Ridge, and immediately encountered the enemy's cavalry, which +annoyed us for several days. On the 17th we arrived at Warrenton, a +delightful village in Fauquier County. We remained in this camp until +Monday morning, when we again took the line of march for +Fredericksburg. We reached Falmouth, on the north bank of the +Rappahannock River, on the 23d of May. The corps of McDowell was in the +immediate vicinity, numbering thirty thousand men, and one hundred +pieces of artillery. + +When we arrived on the Rappahannock, we learned that this force of +McDowell's, now numbering forty-one thousand men, was ordered down to +Richmond, to form a junction with the right wing of the grand army +under McClellan. There were then only about twelve thousand of the +enemy in front of Fredericksburg. It was about fifty miles to the +extreme right of the army in front of Richmond. + +On Saturday the President and secretary of war came down for the +purpose of arranging the details. Shields' division was greatly in need +of shoes and clothing, while the ammunition for the artillery had been +condemned, and another supply, which had been ordered, had been very +much delayed. It was therefore arranged that the force should start +early on Monday morning, both the President and McDowell being averse +to starting on Sunday. + +That evening the President and secretary of war left for Washington. +Very soon after, General McDowell received a telegram, to the effect +that Jackson was making a raid down the Shenandoah Valley, with a +prospect of crushing the forces under General Banks. Soon after this +dispatch, another arrived from the secretary of war, by order of the +President, containing instructions to send a division after Jackson. +Here was the fatal blow to the campaign against Richmond. McDowell +promptly ordered General Shields' division to move, and at the same +time telegraphed the President that it was a fatal blow to them all. + +Little things control momentous events. Jackson's army of twenty +thousand veterans checkmated an army of one hundred and fifty thousand +men. In defending Washington, we lost Richmond; but Jackson risked his +own communication to break ours. Results more than realized his +expectations. Without risk there is little gain. Jackson adopted this +adage into his tactics, and endangered his army to save it. Events +proved his sagacity. + +In time of war the capital of a country, unless far removed from the +seat of war, is in the way. The City of Washington was a fatality. It +stood between the army and victory. Jackson knew this, and profited by +it. When this general menaced Washington, our army let go its hold on +the Confederacy, to make it doubly safe. The campaign against Richmond +was abandoned, but Washington was endangered still. The valleys and +swamps of the Chickahominy were paved with the bodies of heroes--the +little rivulets were swollen with the best blood of the land--an army +of cripples were given to charity;--and for what? That the City of +Washington might be safe. We have since then fought the ground over +again from Washington to Richmond; another graveyard has been planted; +and this time for a purpose. Washington has been set aside by the new +commander, and Richmond made the objective point. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE MARCH ON WAYNESBORO'.--TWO BRIGADES ENCOUNTER JACKSON AT PORT +REPUBLIC, AND AFTER FIVE HOURS' FIGHTING ARE COMPELLED TO FALL +BACK. + + +Nearly the entire corps of General McDowell followed the division of +General Shields. The latter took the direction of Manassas Junction, +and from there passed down the railroad, through Manassas Gap, arriving +at Front Royal on Friday noon, after a sharp engagement with a small +force of rebels. + +Soon after, Shields stationed one brigade on the Luray road, another to +watch the fords of the Shenandoah, another was sent out on the +Strasburg road, while the remaining one occupied the town. On +McDowell's arrival, Shields, with his entire division, was ordered out +on the road to Strasburg, for the purpose of intercepting the retreat +of the enemy. But, instead of taking the road which he was ordered to +take, he crossed over the north branch of the Shenandoah River on the +road to Winchester. It then being too late to repair the mischief, and +get ahead of Jackson, Shields was permitted to go in the direction of +Luray, and follow up Jackson as far as he thought advisable, with the +single instruction, that, in no event, should his division be +separated; so that each brigade would be in supporting distance of all +the others. + +On the second day we arrived in the vicinity of Columbia Bridge, and +pitched our tents for the purpose, as we supposed, of enjoying a +night's rest; but towards evening an order was received to fall back +six miles. Arriving at this new camp, we again pitched our tents; but +just at dark we received an order to move forward to the camp we had +but just left. We arrived about midnight, and slept on the ground; thus +wasting the strength of the command in a needless march of twelve +miles. + +On the following morning, June 7th, the Third brigade, by an order to +move on Waynesboro', took up the line of march, arriving in early +evening on the banks of Naked Creek, where it went into camp. Colonel +Carroll's Second brigade had passed over the road some time before. + +The command had nothing but flour and beef for supper, and nothing for +breakfast on the following morning; but being assured that some hard +bread was in waiting, some six miles ahead, it cheerfully pressed +forward at four o'clock A.M., and at about two o'clock the same day, +reached the vicinity of Port Republic, where Colonel Carroll's brigade +had met with a repulse the day before. + +Port Republic is situated at the junction of two forks of the south +branch of the Shenandoah River. Jackson's whole army was in the +vicinity of the place, the most of it occupying the west bank of the +river. In rear of Jackson's position, at Cross Keys, were General +Fremont's forces. At the latter place, on the previous day, Fremont had +defeated Jackson, with heavy loss to the latter. + +Jackson having thus failed to beat back Fremont, was compelled to cross +the river at Port Republic, and, defeating Shields' command, pass +through a gap in the mountain to Gordonsville. + +When General Tyler's command arrived on the field, Lieutenant-Colonel +Daum, chief of artillery, advised an immediate attack; but the general +wisely concluded to await the order of General Shields. Selecting a +good position for defence, the command bivouacked for the night. + +Early in the morning of June 9th, the enemy was seen to debouch into +the plain in our front, when our artillery, under Captains Clark, +Robinson, and Huntington, opened a heavy fire upon him. This force +moved into the woods on our left, and passing up a spur of the Blue +Ridge, threw themselves rapidly forward, with a view of turning that +wing of the army. Two companies of skirmishers and two regiments of +infantry were sent into the woods to counteract this movement. The +skirmishers having become warmly engaged, two more regiments were sent +forward to their support. The enemy now abandoned his intention, and +coming out of the woods, swept across the field to our right, uniting +with a column which was advancing to the attack. + +During this time, the Seventh was supporting a section of Huntington's +Battery. This new movement was directed against the position occupied +by it. When arriving within range of the guns, the enemy charged. The +regiment reserved its fire until the rebel column approached within +easy range, when, by order of Colonel Creighton, the regiment, which +had hitherto been concealed by the tall spires of wheat, rose to its +feet, and delivered its fire. This shower of lead made a fearful gap in +the lines of the advancing column. It staggered, and finally halted. +The Seventh now plunged into the midst of the foe, when an awful scene +of carnage followed. After a short struggle, the enemy was pressed +back, followed by the exultant victors. The Fifth and Twenty-ninth Ohio +regiments did gallant service in this charge. When the enemy had been +pressed back for half a mile, the column halted, reformed, and then +fell back to its old position. + +The enemy now made a furious attack on the extreme right of the +division, to meet which the Seventh changed front on the Fourth +company. The enemy was soon driven back in great confusion, and with +heavy loss. Immediately recovering from this temporary check, he made +an onslaught on the centre, which resulted in his repulse, with greater +loss than in any previous attack; the Fifth Ohio alone capturing a +piece of artillery and many prisoners. + +During these operations, the enemy sent a heavy column against our +left; and debouching from the timber, came down with such rapidity as +to overwhelm the small force of infantry supporting four guns of +Clark's Battery. This force, endeavoring to make a defence, came near +being captured. The guns, of course, fell into the hands of the enemy. +The Seventh and Fifth Ohio regiments were now directed to regain the +position. Moving by the left flank to the rear of the position under a +heavy fire, these two regiments dashed up the hill and over the guns, +into the midst of the terrified rebels. Five color-bearers had now been +shot down, while advancing as many rods. Lieutenant King seized the +colors and pressed forward, followed by the regiment, which sent volley +after volley after the fugitives, the firing ceasing only when the +rebels were covered by a friendly hill. We were soon ordered to drive +them from this position, which was done in gallant style, the command +charging up the steep sides of the hill, in the face of the foe. + +A large column of the enemy was now seen advancing from the bridge to +the scene of action. It was therefore thought advisable by General +Tyler to withdraw from the field during this check of the enemy, and +before these re-enforcements could be brought into the contest. + +This movement was executed under the direction of Colonel Carroll; and, +with few exceptions, the retreat was as orderly as the advance. + +After falling back some miles, we met the balance of the command under +General Shields, who assumed the direction of the forces. Eighteen +miles from the battle-field, the command halted for the night; and, on +the third day, reached the vicinity of Luray, where it went into camp. + +The importance of this engagement has been underrated. Great and +beneficial results to the Union army would have followed a victory; as +it was, a great disaster succeeded. The impetuous Jackson having thus +prevented McDowell's forces from uniting with the grand army, dashed +down in front of Richmond, and hurling his army against the right wing +of McClellan, gave the Federal army its first check, which finally +resulted in its overthrow. McClellan expecting McDowell, received +Jackson. Had the former formed a junction with him, the grand army +would have entered Richmond; but receiving Jackson, it entered +Washington. This failure to intercept Jackson was due to General +Shields' disobedience of orders. His entire division should have been +on the ground on Sunday, or none of it; and on its arrival, he should +have burned the bridge: then the capture of Jackson would have been +rendered probable, but, as events occurred, it was impossible. A part +of the division not being in supporting distance, rendered the burning +of the bridge a necessity; but Shields regarded it differently. His +order to save the bridge was the extreme of folly. To make himself a +name, he came near sacrificing his command. On Sunday, Colonel +Carroll's forces were in a position to have burned the bridge. Soon +after, the enemy commanded it, with eighteen pieces of cannon. Early in +the day it was safe to approach it--afterwards, madness. + +This bridge in his possession, gave the enemy an opportunity to debouch +on to the open plain. When there, the advance of Shields' division was +liable to be crushed. The preservation of the bridge rendered it +certain that he would be there, because this plain lay between him and +safety. To avoid entering it, was to surrender. The shrewd Jackson +chose to enter it. When there, he turned upon Tyler, and overwhelmed +him; then moved off at his leisure. The defeat of Tyler was certain; +his escape, marvellous. Jackson anticipated an easy victory, but met +with a stubborn resistance. This mistake of Jackson saved Tyler. + +When McDowell saw that the pursuit of Jackson was a failure, he +endeavored to collect his forces at Fredericksburg, for the purpose of +carrying out his original intention of joining McClellan; but Jackson +was there before him, and the grand army had been beaten back. + +Had the forces of Generals Banks and Fremont been left to take care of +Jackson, and thus left McDowell with his 41,000 men free to go down to +Richmond, the labor of historians would have been lessened. + +Soon after the battle of Port Republic, General Shields was relieved of +his command. This order received the approbation of both officers and +men. + +The following is a list of killed and wounded: + +_Killed._--Sergeant William Voges; corporals, Geo. R. Magary, Julius +Ruoff, L. R. Gates, John H. Woodward; privates, Adolf Snyder, Romaine +J. Kingsbury, John Mulligan, John Reber. + +_Wounded._--Captain Geo. L. Wood; First-lieutenant A. H. Day; sergeants, +Virgil E. Smalley, Samuel Whaler, James R. Loucks (mortally), Chas. L. +King, Wm. Lanterwasser (mortally); corporals, Townley Gillett +(mortally), Holland B. Fry, Mark V. Burt, A. C. Lovett, Cyrus H. +DeLong, A. C. Trimmer, Charles Knox; privates, J. H. Burton, S. E. +Buchanan, Isaac Maxfield, Charles Keller, F. Keller, Edwin B. Atwater, +M. N. Hamilton (mortally), Daniel S. Judson (mortally), Wm. H. Pelton, +Benjamin F. Hawkins, Lawson Hibbard, James L. Vancise, John Atwater, +Jay Haskins, Leroy Chapman, Sylvester B. Matthews, Alfred W. Morley, +Lawrence Remmel, George K. Carl, Franklin Eldridge, George Geyelin, +John T. Geary, Ira Herrick, Marion Hoover, W. W. Rogers (mortally), +Edwin Woods, Morris Osborn, G. W. Parker, M. Eckenrode, D. L. Hunt, +William Frasher, Anthony Williams, John Smith, James Decker, Michael +Campbell, Philip Anthony, John Colburn, John Hummel, John Luetke, John +Schoembs, Conrad Sommer, John Voelker, Herman Fetzer. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +BATTLE OF CEDAR MOUNTAIN.--GALLANTRY OF THE REGIMENT, AND TERRIBLE +LOSS. + + +After a few days' rest at Luray, the regiment marched to Front Royal, +and soon after left for Alexandria, where it arrived on the 27th of +June. It went into camp on a beautiful hill, just outside the +fortifications. + +Remaining in this camp for a month, the regiment was ordered to join +the forces under McDowell, at Warrenton. It arrived there on the +morning of June 26th, and soon after reported to General Banks, at +Little Washington. + +General Tyler had now been relieved from duty with the Third brigade, +and General Geary placed in command. + +As early as the 16th of July, the advance of Jackson's forces was at +Gordonsville; and by the 1st of August reached the vicinity of the +Rapidan River. To meet this movement, General Pope, commanding the Army +of Virginia, ordered forward the corps of General Banks; and on the 8th +of August ordered General Sigel's corps to Culpepper to co-operate with +Banks' forces; but Sigel, instead of moving promptly forward, sent a +courier to know what road he should take, when in fact there was but +one. This delayed the movement of his corps for several hours, so that +it was impossible to get it in position in time to render any +assistance to the forces under Banks. + +On the 7th day of August, Crawford's brigade, of Banks' corps, had been +pushed forward in the direction of Slaughter Mountain, to support +General Bayard, whose brigade of cavalry was being driven back in that +direction by the enemy; and on the 9th, to support this movement of +Crawford, Banks was directed to take up a strong position a short +distance in his rear. Rickett's division, of McDowell's corps, was +posted three miles in rear of Banks' position, and within easy +supporting distance. + +Desultory artillery firing was kept up all day on the 9th; yet General +Banks, apparently, did not think the enemy were in force, for, during +the afternoon, he left the strong position which he had taken, by order +of General Pope, and advanced to assault the enemy, believing that he +could crush his advance before the main body came up. + +The enemy was strongly posted, and sheltered by woods and ridges; while +Banks had to pass over an open field, which was swept by the fire of +the enemy thus concealed. + +The intention of Jackson, in this advance, was to crush a detachment of +Pope's army before the balance could come to its support. Banks, in +thus advancing to the assault, aided him in his design, which otherwise +would have been an entire failure. + +Cedar Mountain, the position occupied by Jackson, is thus described: +"The mountain is one of remarkable beauty. At a distance of four or +five miles from its base it seems to rise like a perfect cone from the +plain below, and from its base to its summit scarcely a deflection is +to be observed in its outline form--a perfectly straight line, as if +nature had formed it in the same manner that school-boys form +sand-hills. The sides of the mountain are covered with a heavy growth +of timber: its summit is reached by a poor road. The height of the +summit is, perhaps, eight hundred feet above Cedar Creek." + +Early in the day of the 9th, General Geary's brigade was sent to hold +Telegraph Hill, from which our signal-officers had been driven. To +approach this hill was sure slaughter; but the veteran brigade moved +on, through a storm of shot and shell, and occupied the position. + +Thirty pieces of cannon on our side, and as many on the side of the +enemy, were belching forth their fire. There was no part of the Federal +lines but that was swept by this fire. + +A little after three o'clock the Seventh Regiment was ordered over the +crest of the hill, into a cornfield beyond. While advancing to this +position, a most terrific cannonade was directed against it. It seemed +as if every cannon was being directed against this band of heroes; but +it never faltered in this march of death, moving coolly on, regardless +of the missiles that were tearing through its bleeding ranks. Comrades +were falling, and brothers dying; the mangled, bleeding victims of the +fury and violence of war were left thick, making the ground sacred on +which they fell; but the line wavered not. Reaching a low place, the +regiment halted, and the boys threw themselves upon the ground; and +thus for a long hour they lay, in an open field, exposed to a hot sun, +with a hail-storm of grape, canister, and shell falling thick and fast +around them. Men gave up their lives so gently, that it was almost +impossible to tell the living from the dead. The fatal missile struck +its victim, leaving the lifeless clay in the same attitude which the +living body but just before occupied. During that fatal period death +assumed a real character, while life seemed but a dream. + +The engagement had now become general. The brigade of General Prince +had advanced on the left of Geary, occupying the prolongation of the +line. Artillery replied to artillery, musketry to musketry, bayonet to +bayonet, in this deadly strife. Daring warmed into rashness, and +bravery into recklessness. + +About four o'clock the regiment was ordered into a meadow, which +position it promptly occupied, although the fire had not slackened, and +carnage marked its advance. After dressing the lines, the regiment +opened fire; and there it stood without a support, facing, in a +death-struggle, three times its number. The fiery Creighton received a +wound which compelled him to leave the field. The noble Crane was +disabled; and the brave Molyneaux, for the moment, took command. Seeing +the regiment nearly surrounded, and exposed to an enfilading fire, +which was fast thinning the ranks, he ordered it to retreat; but heroic +young Clarkey, mistaking it for an order to charge, dashed gallantly +forward, at the head of his command. After understanding the order, he +had barely time to fall back before the wings of the rebel host closed +in. + +Slowly and sadly the remaining few of the regiment fell back, keeping +their faces to the foe. Only one hundred and sixteen, out of three +hundred and seven, returned to the rear unhurt; and many of these were +disabled from service by severe exposure to the intense heat of the +sun, and lack of water. The regiment retired to a hill, and was not +again brought into action during the afternoon. At night, however, it +was ordered out on picket. After advancing to Cedar Creek it was +challenged, and no one answering, it received a terrible volley from +the front and both flanks. It fell back to the cover of a piece of +woods, and finally to the rear, about a mile, where it bivouacked. + +As night settled upon this field of carnage, Banks' entire corps +withdrew to the position it occupied early in the day; but the +artillery kept up an intermittent fire until near midnight. General +Jackson, from his mountain-top, could see every movement of troops, and +was enabled to calculate just how long it would take to re-enforce +General Banks. Had he not been so imprudent as to come down from his +mountain fastness, and attack the Federal forces after night, his loss +would have been comparatively little. But as Banks retired, he moved +twelve thousand men on to the battle-field, and kept them there during +the night; at the same time advancing one battery through the woods +into the open field beyond the battle-ground. From this position it +opened on the division of Union troops occupying the advance. As soon +as the first flash of his guns was seen, Major Davis, chief of +artillery in McDowell's corps, ordered two batteries into position, and +opened on the enemy. These batteries, being very close, and getting +good range, did fearful havoc among the rebels. It is said that General +Hartsuff sighted one of the guns that did the most execution. After the +battery had retired, Major Davis' guns shelled the battle-field. The +enemy being massed in small space, this fire told fearfully on their +ranks. After firing about one hundred shells, and the enemy not +responding, Major Davis ordered his guns silenced, little dreaming that +he had left more dead rebels on the field than all the random artillery +firing of the afternoon. + +Many deeds of daring were performed at this battle. Captain Ash, of +General Pope's staff, riding up to a battery with an order from the +general to stop firing, saw that it was a rebel battery; he, however, +had sufficient presence of mind to give the order, and ride off. It was +obeyed; the battery ceased to fire, and soon after moved off. Captain +Ball, of McDowell's staff, did the same thing, and with a like result. + +The following incident is from the pen of a correspondent of an Eastern +paper: + +"Just after the firing of musketry became interesting, I noticed a +private soldier coming off the field, and thinking perhaps he was +running away to avoid danger, I rode up to him, when I found he had two +fingers of his left hand shot away, and a third dreadfully lacerated. I +saw at once that he had at least a hand in the fight. I assisted him to +dress his wound as well as my limited knowledge of surgery would +permit, he, in the mean time, propping up my pluck by his quaint +remarks. Said he: 'I don't care a darn for that third finger, for it +warn't of no account, no how; but the 'pinter,' and t'other one, were +right good 'uns, and I hate to lose 'em. I shouldn't have come to the +rear, if I had been able to load my gun; but I wasn't.' After I had +dressed his hand, he looked over in the direction of the firing, and +stood a moment. Turning to me, he said: 'Stranger, I wish you would +just load up my shooting-iron for me; I want to have a little +satisfaction out of them cusses for spilling my fore paw.' I loaded +his gun for him, and he started back for the top of the hill at a +double-quick, in quest of satisfaction. His name is Lapham, of the Ohio +Seventh." + +During the action, General Banks was leaning against a tree, when a +cannon-ball struck it about eighteen inches above his head, passing +entirely through. It has been his singular fortune to meet with many +narrow escapes. While riding through Winchester, on his retreat before +Jackson, a rebel, from a window above, took deliberate aim at him, but +was shot by a private of a Massachusetts regiment before he could fire. + +The loss to the regiment in this engagement was very heavy, and shows +with what determination it maintained the contest. It went into the +engagement with three hundred and seven, rank and file, and came out +with a loss in killed and wounded of one hundred and ninety-one,--a +loss of more than sixty-two per cent. + +The following is the list: + +_Killed._--Lieutenants, James P. Brisbine, Joseph Ross, Frank Johnson; +sergeants, C. P. Bowler, Moses Martin; corporals, J. J. Evans, D. W. +Wright; privates, Joseph T. Blackwell, William Adams, Edward Burnet, E. +S. Shepherd, Charles G. Hettinger, Charles Masters, Benjamin F. Gill, +H. F. Dinger, H. Hight, John J. Hensher, Henry C. Case, M. Eckenroad, +N. H. McClurg, C. C. Miller, G. B. Swisher, E. Fox, James Stephenson, +Alvin H. Benton, John Manning, Michael Waldof, James Ray, Frank Miller, +John Weeland. + +_Wounded._--Colonel William R. Creighton, Lieut.-Colonel O. J. Crane, +Adjutant J. B. Molyneaux, Captain William R. Sterling; lieutenants, +Henry B. Eaton, W. D. Braden, S. S. Reed, Marcus Hopkins; sergeants, Z. +P. Davie, J. S. Cooper, J. C. Jones, A. S. Allen, Arvin Billings, +George W. Barnette, E. M. Lazarus, James R. Carter, E. G. Taylor, G. W. +Moore, Charles A. Brooks; corporals, M. D. Holmes, Henry J. Brown, L. +Wilson, Joseph Trotier, William E. Smith, Thomas C. Brown, Frank J. +Ware, Clark Wilson, C. H. Buxton, Norman L. Norris, F. A. Davis, Albert +A. Smith, James Alexander, Benjamin Gridley, W. T. Callors, Robert M. +Brisk, A. C. Trimmer, Christopher Nesper, James Grobe; privates, A. M. +Clinton, Thomas Sherwood, Edward St. Lawrence, Arthur Laffin, Leonard +Walker, Jacob C. Gaycly, F. N. Brund, Abraham Ginter, John G. Parsons, +Henry Hatfield, Andrew J. Crippin, Charles E. Preble, John H. Galvin, +F. Creque, Philip Kelley, T. Hammond, E. Lown, William Cammel, John +Boyle, James Dixon, Samuel E. Garden, Jacob E. Hine, Benjamin Hasfield, +Frank Henrickle, P. E. Hill, William L. Latch, Jacob Marks, Thomas C. +Riddle, John Stone, Ernest Zincker, Franklin Gaskill, N. Badger, George +Carrathurs, T. P. Dixon, Henry Fairchild, J. M. Rofflige, M. Richmond, +Theodore Wilder, Oliver Wise, A. Colwell, William Gardner, John Frank, +S. E. Hendrickson, N. R. Holcomb, E. Hobday, W. Lapham, F. Manley, John +McAdams, H. H. Rhodes, J. Harnner, Joseph L. Clark, James Kelley, +William W. Mecker, Charles Himpson, John Wickham, J. Roberts, J. R. +Green, Edward E. Day, Lewis Owens, S. A. Fuller, D. G. Burthroff, J. M. +Holcomb, Frank Strong, E. G. Meekins, H. Wallace, M. S. Gibbons, J. +Donthit, S. Reed, Arthur Adams, Ezra Brown, Ira M. Barlow, George M. +Caldwell, George W. Carter, John Downer, Thomas Ely, Sherman Collinger, +Stephen H. Hopkins, Daniel Jones, Perrin D. Loomis, David C. Nunemaker, +J. L. Oviatt, G. Russell, N. Twitchell, Ralph Winzenried, John C. Fox, +A. Inskeep, James Kincaid, John Lentz, R. D. Murray, John Pollock, E. +S. Mathews, A. Shaffer, C. Glendenning, Alfred Jackson, Hiram Deeds, +Ira S. Ray, Richard Freeman, Samuel Knap, John Fishcun, James A. Tell, +William Kelley, T. D. Williams, Charles Smith, George A. Earl, Maskell +Bispham, Frederick Michael, Henry Schmid, John Hammond, William Pfahl, +John Pike, George Sahl, George Zipp; George Rogers, musician. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +THE REGIMENT GOES INTO CAMP AT ALEXANDRIA, BUT IS SOON ORDERED TO +THE FRONT.--BATTLE OF ANTIETAM. + + +After the battle of Cedar Mountain, the regiment took part in the +memorable retreat of General Pope to the Potomac. During the time, it +was not engaged in immediate action; but was exposed, on several +occasions, to the shell from the enemy's batteries. After a fatiguing +march of sixteen days, it arrived, on the 2d day of September, under +the guns of the fortifications around Alexandria. On the following day +it was marched to Arlington Heights, to the support of Fort Albany, +near which it encamped in a beautiful meadow. + +At midnight of the same day an order was received to have the command +ready to march at half-past eight on the following morning; but it did +not leave, however, until near noon, when, crossing the Potomac to +Georgetown, it moved off in the direction of Poolesville, bivouacking +at night five miles from Georgetown. On the following morning the +command started before day had fairly dawned, and passing through +Rockville, bivouacked at night near the place. On the 5th it moved +forward, and leaving the small village of Darnstown on the left, formed +in line of battle, fronting Poolesville, and awaited the advance of the +enemy; but he failing to appear in that direction, but threatening +Pennsylvania, by the way of Frederick, the command, on the 9th, broke +camp and advanced in five columns towards the latter city. After a +brief skirmish, the advance entered the place on the 12th. On the 13th, +the regiment crossed the mountains into Pleasant Valley to Middletown. +While descending the side of the mountain, the progress of the battle +of South Mountain was plainly seen. This engagement was fought by the +division of General Cox, of Reno's corps. These troops won great praise +for their gallantry and good fighting qualities; and the general, an +additional star. + +On the 15th, the advance of the Federal army drove the enemy in the +direction of Boonesboro', and through the town towards Sharpsburg. +Generals Richardson's and Pleasanton's column of cavalry and light +artillery proved very annoying to the enemy in this day's retreat. + +On the following day, the 16th of September, the rebel army took up its +position across Antietam Creek, and there awaited the approach of the +Federals. + +[1]"This position consisted of a series of sharp points, rising from +the bank of the creek, and extending to the rear of Sharpsburg in a +succession of ridges; but, when viewed from a point a little in front, +has the appearance of table-land, the ravines being undistinguishable. +These points or ridges are for the most part surmounted by a heavy +copse of timber, which furnished admirable shelter for foot-soldiers; +while, with batteries flanking each hill, the position was all that a +general could wish for defence. + + [1] Charles Tenney. + +"Seeing the strength of the position, McClellan sent Hooker's and +Sumner's corps around to the left of the enemy's advance position, +across Antietam Creek, and, ere the close of day, they had succeeded in +driving him fully a mile. + +"We had lain down in line of battle, expecting to remain till the +morrow. The _tattoo_ had sounded, and an impressive silence had settled +upon the bivouac, broken only by the tread of the alarm-guard, as he +slowly paced his beat, and the occasional passing of an orderly, +conveying some order to be executed on the coming day. Not long were +we to rest. Our ears were soon assailed with--'_Attention, First +brigade!_' and we were soon in line, and moving around to the right, +to the support of Hooker and Sumner, where we arrived about one A.M., +and bivouacked upon the ground held by the rebels scarce six hours +previous. An occasional shot or volley, in an adjoining piece of woods, +reminded us of the close proximity of the enemy. Nevertheless, the rest +of the night was passed quietly enough by us. + +"The morning came, fresh and beautiful; but our _reveille_ was not +the rattle of the drum, nor the clear notes of the bugle. The day was +opened by a fierce volley of musketry, succeeded by another, and yet +another, which were soon so continuous as to be blended in one +unremittent roll. The struggle had commenced, and the sun that rose +shone upon a field already red with blood. Soon the heavy booming of +cannon was mingled with the sharp, crackling roll of small-arms, and +the din was terrific. Hooker was engaged, and hotly too. We were +immediately ordered under arms, and advanced in the direction of the +fight. Halting in easy supporting distance, we were given thirty +minutes in which to make coffee. At the end of this time the volume of +sound perceptibly increased, and was becoming nearer. The rebels were +re-enforced, and were slowly driving our men before them. 'Forward,' +shouted General Mansfield; and forward we went, in column of division, +as cool and regular as on drill. Changing direction to the left, we +advanced through a cornfield taken by Hooker the evening previous, and +which was now held by the rebels, having driven our boys back. An open +field lay before us, commanded by the direct and flank fire of the +rebel artillery, and the left flank of their infantry. Notwithstanding +the heavy fire we thus suddenly received, the advance was made +steadily, and in slow time. Arriving at the front, we deployed into +line of battle. The line now being complete, we advanced; _and the +work was begun_. No halt was made until the woods were ours; but the +enemy was to be dislodged from behind a rail fence. Then we occupied +the crest of the hill in the woods, and from this point we directed our +fire to the fence, where we could plainly see them level their pieces +at us, and fire. + +"For an hour and a half we thus remained, and fought: one side with the +energy of despair; the other, with an energy imparted with the +consciousness of right and justice. The contest was fair and equal, and +the right triumphed. At last the line began to waver, and General Green +shouted, 'Charge!' With a yell of triumph we started, with levelled +bayonets; and, terror-stricken, the rebels fled. Like hounds after the +frightened deer, we pursued them fully three-fourths of a mile, +killing, wounding, and taking prisoners almost every rod. Their colors +fell: a private soldier leaped forward, and tore them from the staff. + +"Across the fields we pursued the foe, who again took shelter in a +heavy piece of timber, flanked by their artillery. A battery of +twelve-pounder howitzers came to our support, and most efficient +service it rendered. We formed in two lines in rear of the battery, and +lay behind a low ridge, sufficiently high to protect from a direct +shot, but which offered no shelter from the fragments of shells +bursting near to and over us; these were continually striking amongst +us, often grazing a cap or an arm, but doing no particular harm. The +howitzers were doing splendidly, when suddenly we heard, 'But eight +rounds left!' Twenty more rounds would silence the rebel battery, but +we had them not. Soon the rebel fire was more rapid, and a yell in the +distance denoted an advance of their infantry. Shall we retreat? No! we +will hold our ground, or die! On they come, yelling defiantly: 'tis A. +P. Hill's division, second to none but Jackson's. We look anxiously for +another battery. It comes! It comes! We are safe! The gallant Eighth +Rhode Island Battery comes up in splendid style; our ranks open right +and left for them, the exhausted battery of howitzers wheeling out of +line. The Parrotts were unlimbered, and shell, five-second fuse, called +for, and they opened in glorious style. + +"But what means that shout so closely on our right? They have flanked +us, and are charging our battery! A half right wheel was made, and we +were partially under cover of a narrow ridge. A portion of our front +rank, with the colors, advanced, and opened a fire upon their column, +but, as it was intended, it only drew them on; shouting fiercely, they +dashed forward, expecting to have an easy capture. We waited until they +were within six rods, when, with a yell such as freemen know how to +give, we rose and poured the contents of our rifles into the mass of +graybacks emerging from the woods. They reeled and staggered for a +moment, then rallied, and returned our fire for half an hour, then +wavered. Perceiving this, Lieutenant-Colonel Tindell, commanding +brigade, ordered a charge. As we started, they broke and fled in +confusion. Our brigade advanced to the woods, but was soon replaced by +a New Jersey regiment, which quickly broke and fled. On came the +rebels, yelling and exultingly waving their colors, across a field, and +entered a cornfield to the south, to flank our men who were engaging a +division. Their triumph was short, for they suddenly found themselves +nearly surrounded by General Franklin's troops, who came in from the +north and east, over the identical ground we fought over, and +precipitated themselves upon the flank of the enemy, six hundred of +whom threw down their guns and surrendered, those remaining fleeing in +dismay from the field. + +"This _coup de grace_ closed the heavy fighting upon the right, and +we retired from the front, lacerated but cheerful, feeling that our +duty was faithfully performed, and knowing that the rebels were +defeated." + +The next two days were occupied in burying the dead and collecting the +wounded. + +On the 19th, the regiment left for Harper's Ferry, arriving at Maryland +Heights on the 20th. A few days after it forded the Potomac River, and +went into permanent camp on Loudon Heights. + +The regiment sustained a loss at the battle of Antietam of five killed +and thirty-eight wounded. The list is as follows: + +_Killed._--Sergeant James B. Carter; Corporal Martin Lazrus; privates, +John Bacon, Elbridge F. Meachum, George O. Sherick. + +_Wounded._--Lieutenant Ernest J. Kreiger; sergeants, George A. McKay, +Jerry G. Clafflin, Isaac Jones, James Hansell; corporals, Edward +Goodsell, Henry H. Bailey, Hiram J. Bell, John F. Ely, Austin Bull, +James Bryant, J. Kurly; privates, George A. Wood, Joseph Kubler, +Laurine Lamphier, Pliney E. Hill, George Steinberger, E. C. Miller, +Daniel Weatherlow, David Everett, Alfred W. Mosley, Averett C. Reed, +Alson Coe, Alfred E. May, Thomas Woolf, Henry Wilcox, George Houck, +William Cromwell, Caleb Bryant, George Wandal, Nick Bauer, Charles +Briedenbach, Charles Graiter. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE MARCH TO DUMFRIES.--SKIRMISH WITH HAMPTON'S CAVALRY, IN WHICH +THEY ARE BADLY DEFEATED BY A MUCH INFERIOR FORCE. + + +While at Loudon Heights, the monotony of life in camp was relieved by +drill, guard, and picket duty, with an occasional reconnoissance. On +the latter occasions some little skirmishing would usually occur. An +occasional dash was made by the rebels upon the Union picket-line. + +Soon after the occupation of this post the grand army crossed the +Potomac and Shenandoah into the Loudon Valley, on its way to +Fredericksburg. We copy a description of the march of a regiment in +Porter's corps.[2] + + [2] Lieutenant W. D. Shepherd. + +"I have been thinking of the difference between soldiering that we read +about--fancy soldiering, glory and honor soldiering--and real +soldiering of the rough and tumble kind. How well it sounds to read: 'A +regiment of brave men marched proudly through the streets of Harper's +Ferry, to strains of sweet music. Gallantly the veterans of a dozen +battles streamed along, their banners gayly floating in the breeze; +they go to join the Army of the Potomac.' What is it when divested of +its trimmings? 'About three hundred and fifty of what once was a +regiment one thousand strong, went through Harper's Ferry to-day. In +vain the tum, tum, tum of the drum, at the head of the column, urged +the men to keep time. Wearied, worn out by continued tramping, loaded +down with their knapsacks, three days' rations in their haversacks, and +the prospect of a long march before them, slowly they dragged +themselves along; their torn and tattered flag, as well as soiled +clothes, giving evidence of hard service.' Again let us quote: 'At +evening they halted, and bivouacked for the night; refreshed and ready +at early dawn to continue the line of march.' Sift that a little--that +bivouac. Almost worn out with incessant and continued tramping through +mud, and muck, and mire, great clumps of which would stick and cleave +on to the shoe at every step, the night fast closing in, the column +halted; slowly the lingering mass closed up, stacked arms, and broke +ranks. Some, too tired to make a fire and cook food, threw themselves +on the cold, damp ground, and, with their blankets wrapped around them, +shivered to sleep; others, having eaten scarcely any thing all day, +threw off their cumbrous loads, and started, in the now dark night, in +search of wood and water. An old fire-scorched tin cup answers for a +coffee-pot as well as tea-kettle. Into it the water, muddy with the +feet of perhaps a thousand water-hunting tired ones, is put; and while +the coffee is boiling, a piece of fat pork is drawn from the haversack, +and a slice cut off; a long stick, pointed, on which the slice is +secured, and frizzling, sizzling, half burned, half cooked, ready when +the coffee is. The pork, coffee, and hard bread form, for the hundredth +time, the meal of the hungry soldier. Perhaps on the roadside, right in +the mud, glad in truth to lie anywhere, one after another drops his +wearied form. The heavy rain comes down in torrents, wetting him +through and through, but tired nature heeds it not--must have rest. + +"Early dawn comes. Again the pork, coffee, and hard bread; and +the stiffened, sore, leg-weary patriot buckles on his saturated +knapsack, and, like a foundered horse, limps achingly along till +he gets heated up, with the same prospect before him of twenty miles +tramp--clamp--tramp." + +On the 10th day of December the regiment left Bolivar Heights, crossed +the Shenandoah on a pontoon, and winding round the bluff of Loudon, +passed up the Loudon Valley. + +While passing through Hillsboro', the command was given, by Lieutenant +Shepherd to his men, to "Close up!--get into your places!" General +Geary, on foot and unobserved, had marched along just in rear of the +company. Hearing the command, he remarked: "Well, here is a vacant +place, I guess I'll fill it up;" and stepped into the place. He +marched, in this manner, some distance, talking freely with those +nearest him, at the same time obeying orders promptly. + +The regiment encamped about a mile beyond Hillsboro'. + +Bright and early on the following morning the command moved on. Leaving +the battle-field where the brave Kearney fell, and Fairfax on the left, +on the 15th it arrived in sight of the Lower Potomac, and encamped +after crossing Naabsco Creek. + +Having passed Dumfries on the 17th, an order came that the Fifth, +Seventh, and Sixty-sixth regiments, under command of Colonel Candy, +should march back and hold that post. On the following day, crossing +Powell's Creek, two hours' march brought the brigade in the outskirts +of Dumfries, where it went into camp. + +Nothing transpired worthy of mention until the 27th of December, when +the heavy booming of cannon was heard in the vicinity of the +picket-line. It was evident that the enemy were making a descent on the +pickets. For several days this attack had been expected, therefore in a +few minutes the command was ready and in line of battle. The pickets +gradually gave way, under the command of the indomitable Creighton, +fighting their way back to the line of battle, in which they took +position. The rebels came gallantly forward, in anticipation of an easy +victory. When within short-range of our guns, they were met by such a +terrible fire of musketry from our partially concealed line, as to +check their advance. They, however, rallied, and returned the fire; but +in a moment staggered, and finally withdrew in confusion from the +field. Again forming their broken columns, they hurled themselves +against our line. They were again met by a determined front, and, with +a like result, were sent, broken and mangled, back upon their reserves. +A third time reforming their wasted ranks, they came down with great +impetuosity, and hurled their solid columns against the weak lines of +the Federals. They were again met with a sheet of flame, which sent up +its column of blue smoke along the entire front. For a moment it was +impossible to tell the effect produced on the rebels; but the smoke +clearing away before a light breeze, it was discovered that their +advance had been arrested. One more united effort, and the rebel line +was again sent back crushed and bleeding. They again organized for a +last desperate charge, and most gallantly did they sweep down upon our +line. Up the hill and over the brush and logs, which lay in their way, +with wild impetuosity, which threatened to crush every thing before +them. Aware of the avalanche that was sweeping down upon them, the +Union boys hugged the ground, awaiting, with breathless anxiety, the +command to fire. At last the stentorian voice of the sturdy Crane was +heard to shout the order, when a band of patriots, their eyes kindled +to a blaze with the ardor of their daring, with strong muscles and +steady nerves, rose, and with a shout that made the gray hills of old +Dumfries echo, poured a volley of death into the rebel host. Disdaining +to again take refuge under cover, the line stood manfully up, and met +the continued onsets of the foe. The brave Creighton stood on a hill +exposed to the fire--how could men falter while the noble form of their +leader was thus bared to the bullets of the enemy? They did not falter; +but the line stood like a wall. The rebels were soon seen to waver, and +as the night "cast its mantle over the combatants," they tardily and +solemnly withdrew, bearing with them the lacerated, bleeding victims to +their endurance. + +At night the line was drawn in, and after making every effort for the +security of the command, the boys lay down upon their arms, harassed by +an oppressive uncertainty which always haunts the soldier in the +bivouac upon the battle-field. + +During that long night the lonely picket-guard peered out into the +darkness, intent upon catching the first footfall of the cautious +foe. Slowly and with careful tread he paced his weary beat, fearful +that he might be pounced upon by the wily enemy ere he could give +the alarm to his slumbering companions. Through rain, and sleet, and +darkness--oppressed with the solemn stillness that at night hangs over +the earth--with a sense of loneliness weighing upon his feelings--he +stood like a spectre in the gloom, the guardian of the thousands +slumbering in the camp. While others dream of home, and friends, and +firesides, afar off on the hills of New England, or the starlit +prairies of the West, the wakeful picket keeps his vigil. May God +protect him in his watch! + +As day again dispelled the shadows that darkened the hills and the +valleys, the columns of the brave Sigel were seen winding their way +through the village. A shout of welcome greeted these heroes. The +dreadful suspense that had weighed upon the hearts of the combatants of +the day before, during that long night of watching, now gave place to +cheerfulness; and confidence was again restored. But the cautions +Hampton had fled; and nothing met the eye save the frowning hills. + +The following is the list of killed and wounded in this affair: + +_Killed._--Corporal Austin Ball. + +_Wounded._--Corporal E. M. Corrdett; privates, Sylvester Carter, Philip +Grigsby, Thomas Roff, Wm. P. Root, Wm. H. Kibbee, W. M. Perry, Stephen +Willock. + +_Prisoners._--John Gordon, Andrew Atleff, Richard M. Vreeland, Douglass +F. Pomeroy, Henry T. Benton, Lewis T. Butts, Henry Alderman, Charles +Bradly, James Snider, John Beiler, W. M. Perry. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE REGIMENT ORDERED TO THE FRONT.--BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE. + + +Near the middle of April, 1863, the regiment marched down to Aquia +Landing, where it remained in camp for two weeks. + +General Hooker was now in command of the grand Army of the Potomac, +having relieved Burnside after that general's unsuccessful attack on +Fredericksburg. Hooker resolved to make an attempt to drive the rebel +army from the vicinity of the Rappahannock. Burnside's failure had +demonstrated the impracticability of crossing the river at +Fredericksburg; for no army was safe for a moment with a strong army +behind three lines of well-constructed earthworks in its front, and a +wide and deep river in its rear. He therefore chose a flank movement by +the way of Banks and United States fords, thus striking the left flank +of the enemy near Chancellorsville Court-house, and avoiding their +strong fortifications in the rear of Fredericksburg. + +The Seventh Regiment arrived in the vicinity of Chancellorsville on the +afternoon of the 30th of April, and encamped for the night a little +southeast of the latter place, and near the Fredericksburg plankroad. + +Early on Friday morning it was ordered forward, and took position in +the second line of battle, in an open wood-lot, facing south. Late in +the afternoon it was ordered back; and it finally took position +directly south of the famous brick house, called the Chancellorsville +Place, where headquarters were established and maintained during most +of the action. + +Just before dark the rebels came up in great numbers, in an attack on +Knapp's Battery, which was stationed on the left. The Seventh was +ordered to its support, but the attack was repelled before the regiment +became warmly engaged. It remained in support of this battery during +the night and in the forenoon of the following day. About noon of the +2d of May, the regiment was ordered forward to support a line of +skirmishers; but this line, refusing to advance, was passed by the +regiment, when it took the advance, and most handsomely drove the enemy +back for some distance, holding the ground for several hours, when it +was ordered to retire. It did so without confusion, taking a new +position in rear of a piece of woods, where it remained until ordered +into the intrenchments. + +During this advance, the right wing was hotly engaged, and lost +heavily; the left wing suffering slightly. It remained during the night +in its old position near the brick house, in the second line of battle. + +On the 3d, the regiment advanced to what is known as "the old +rifle-pit," which it occupied while the other troops were falling back +across a cleared field south of the Fredericksburg plankroad. Here it +was exposed to a galling fire from the advancing rebel column; but it +stood firm. When the balance of the troops of the brigade were in +proper position, it formed under the protection of a battery, and +slowly moved off the field, exposed to a terrible fire of both musketry +and artillery, taking up its position in rear of the brigade. The +brigade, however, was soon driven back, and passed to the rear of the +regiment, exposing it to a severe fire. Soon the order came for a +general advance, when the brigade, with a loud shout, dashed at the +foe, led by the Seventh. The rebels were pushed back for a considerable +distance; but no support coming up, the brigade was compelled to fall +back to the south of the brick house, where it halted, and laid down in +the road; but about eleven o'clock at night the shelling became so +continuous and heavy that it was forced still further back, and finally +resulting in its withdrawal to the vicinity of United States Ford. That +night the regiment occupied a rifle-pit about half a mile from the +river. At four o'clock in the afternoon of the 5th, it was relieved by +the Fifth Ohio; and taking a circuitous route, arrived in a ravine on +the left of the column, and near the river, and was soon after employed +in the intrenchments. + +Early in the morning of the 6th, the regiment crossed the river on a +pontoon at United States Ford, and in the afternoon of the 7th arrived +at its old camp at Aquia Landing. + +In this battle the regiment was actively engaged but a small portion of +the time. The loss was not severe, when taking into account the +magnitude of the engagement, and its duration. + +Why the army recrossed the river has not been fully explained. The +immediate battle was not a defeat; at least it has not been considered +as such. However, the two columns of Sedgwick and Hooker failed to +unite, which fact may have had an influence in determining the retreat. +The attacks of the enemy had been repulsed at all points, while +Sedgwick had carried a portion of their fortifications in rear of +Fredericksburg. The retreat alone turned a prospective victory into a +humiliating defeat. The grand army failed to accomplish the purpose of +its advance, and was compelled to hasten its march across the river in +retreat, over which it had, but a week before, advanced in triumph. It +can be said by way of apology only, that while at Chancellorsville the +army maintained its reputation for bravery and endurance, the enemy +manifestly looked upon it as a fruitless victory to him. + +The following is a list of the killed and wounded: + +_Killed._--Orderly-Sergeant Henry Whiting; Color-Sergeant John D. +Creigh; Corporal A. C. Trimmer; privates, Charles H. Cheeney, E. N. +Larom, Henry A. Pratt, John Randle, Almon Lower, John Lee, Stafford +Penney, Thomas Carle, A. C. Steadman, Victor Perrley, Henry Ackman. + +_Wounded._--Orderly-Sergeant Elmon Hingston; sergeants, H. H. +Bailey, John S. Davis, James Lapham, H. L. Allen; corporals, A. A. +Austin, John Gardiner, S. M. Cole, J. S. Kellogg; privates, W. Furniss, +H. Owen, F. Eldridge, W. Van Wye, E. C. Palmer, D. L. Hunt, E. V. Nash, +Henry H. Pierce, O. Jackman, C. A. Wood, H. S. Smalley, Charles P. +Smith, S. P. Sherley, F. Rockefellow, Frank Randal, Joseph Kubler, +Michael St. Auge, David Boil, James Dixon, Oliver Wise, James Farron, +G. Breakman, F. Mauley, John Shelby, Andrew Copeland, S. G. Cone, W. W. +Hunt, E. Kennedy, H. G. Benton, A. S. Raymond, C. A. Parks, Isaac +Stratton, H. Thwing, James Baxter, J. W. Benson, S. Hughes, P. Smith, +S. A. Fuller, F. Hank, John Clonde, E. O. Whiting, G. W. Bonn, S. H. +Barnum, J. C. Brooks, W. H. Fox, I. H. Gregg, W. Hunter, H. Jones, S. +Moneysmith, S. S. Pelton, B. Wilson, D. W. Waters, W. H. Bannister, H. +Lewis, W. J. Evans, C. L. Cowden, H. Hoffman, S. Renz, M. Saiser, E. A. +Spurn, L. Knoble. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +ACCOMPANIES THE GRAND ARMY INTO PENNSYLVANIA.--BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. + + +After the battle of Chancellorsville, the regiment remained for some +time in its camp at Aquia Landing. The Army of the Potomac, as well as +that of Lee, was quietly reorganizing, preparatory to another struggle. +Soon Lee began to threaten the outer line of Hooker, by making +demonstrations on the various fords of the Rappahannock. At one time +threatening to move boldly across, and at another menacing the flank, +as if to attack one wing of the army. These various movements gave rise +to sharp skirmishes, nothing more. At last it was evident that Lee +meant an invasion of the North. The Army of the Potomac was therefore +set in motion. + +The Seventh left its camp early in June, and proceeded to Martinsburg +by the way of Fairfax. Lee continuing his flank movement, the grand +army was compelled to fall back across the Potomac; the Seventh +crossing at Edward's Ferry. The rebel army now crossed the river by the +way of Williamsport, and moved forward towards Pennsylvania. The Army +of the Potomac moved in the same direction, passing through Frederick +City, Maryland, and taking up its position in rear of Gettysburg, +Pennsylvania. The line of battle was formed a little distance from and +facing the town. On the first day of July the rebel army advanced and +occupied the town, but the day was exhausted in manoeuvring, attended +with slight skirmishing between the advance of the two armies. + +Hooker had been relieved, and General Meade ordered to assume command. + +After the Seventh arrived on the field it took its position on the left +side of the Gettysburg and Littletown pike. + +Early on the morning of the 2d it took a position on a hill on the +right of this road, at the same time sending Company H to the front, +under command of Captain McClelland. This company remained at the front +during the entire day. For the first time in its history, the regiment +occupied a position under cover, a stone wall being in its front. Up to +this time it had not been exposed to the fire of infantry; but during +the afternoon it suffered slight loss from a brisk artillery fire. At +eleven o'clock at night it advanced down the pike, and took a position +in a hollow, running at right angles with the road. It was now exposed +to a musketry fire, resulting in the wounding of one man. It soon fell +back to a stone wall, parallel with a road leading to the pike; and +shortly after it advanced to this road, from which twenty men were sent +forward as skirmishers, under command of Sergeant Stratton. This +gallant soldier was mortally wounded while bravely leading his command +against the foe. + +On the morning of the 3d the regiment moved forward, after having +called in the skirmishers, to the relief of the Sixtieth New York +Volunteers, occupying a line of intrenchments. In the evening it was +relieved, and withdrew to the breastworks in the rear; but was soon +after ordered forward to the relief of another regiment, where it +remained until late in the evening. During the entire day it was +exposed to a heavy fire of musketry, from which it suffered +considerable loss, considering the position it occupied. When relieved, +it withdrew to the position held by it in the morning. + +At one o'clock on the morning of the 4th of July, it again moved +forward to the intrenchments, where it remained till the brigade moved +off in the direction of Littletown. + +The following incidents occurred July the 3d: While occupying the +intrenchments, a white flag was seen flying from the front of the +enemy's lines. The firing being suspended, seventy-eight rebels came +forward and surrendered, including six officers. Lieutenant Leigh, of +Ewell's staff, came forward and endeavored to stop the surrender; but +was fired upon by the regiment, and instantly killed. + +Corporal John Pollock leaped over the breastworks and captured the flag +of the Fourteenth Virginia rebel regiment. + +Private James J. Melton was wounded, and afterwards taken to a +hospital, where he remained for some time; since which his friends have +heard nothing from him. The wound being in the head, he is supposed to +have become deranged and wandered away, unable to give any account of +himself. No means have been left untried to obtain information of his +whereabouts, but without avail. + +The regiment having fought under partial cover, the loss was slight: +one killed and seventeen wounded. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +AFTER REACHING THE RAPIDAN IT GOES TO GOVERNOR'S ISLAND.--AFTER ITS +RETURN IT ACCOMPANIES HOOKER'S CORPS TO THE WESTERN DEPARTMENT. + + +After the battle of Gettysburg, the regiment was with the grand army in +pursuit of the broken columns of General Lee. Passing through Frederick +City, it arrived at Harper's Ferry and went into camp. Here it remained +for two days, when it moved across the Potomac, and again passing up +the beautiful Loudon Valley, crossed the Blue Ridge to Fairfax and +Manassas Junction, over the old battle-field of Bull Run. Again taking +up the line of march, it crossed the Rappahannock below Culpepper +Court-house, and encamped on the banks of the Rapidan. + +About this time a riot broke out in New York city, which required the +presence of the military, as an assistance to the civil authorities. +The Government was therefore called upon to furnish troops. Several +regiments were at once dispatched to the scene of strife. Among these +was the Seventh. It left the vicinity of the Rapidan about one week +after its arrival there. It marched to Alexandria, and there taking the +United States ship Baltic, passed down the Potomac through Chesapeake +Bay to the ocean, arriving on Governor's Island in the latter part of +August. It remained until the first of September, when again embarking, +it sailed to Alexandria, from whence it marched to the Rapidan, near +its old camp. + +General Rosecrans had now been removed from the command of the Army of +the Cumberland, and General Grant assumed control. The army occupied +the vicinity of Chattanooga, Tennessee; while the rebel army under +General Bragg occupied Mission Ridge, immediately in front of and +overlooking the city. The task of driving Bragg from this position was +assigned to General Grant. + +Before entering upon this campaign, however, it was necessary to +re-enforce the Army of the Cumberland; for it had not entirely +recovered from the disastrous battle of Chickamauga. For this purpose +it was necessary to draw on the Army of the Potomac, now lying idle on +the banks of the Rapidan. At this time this army had, _positively_ +speaking, accomplished nothing. It had barely saved Washington from the +enemy. To be sure, it had seen many hard-fought battles, and on all +occasions sustained its reputation for courage and endurance. But the +results following these battles were entirely negative; and after more +than two years of marches, counter-marches, sieges, and battles, when +graves had been dug from the Potomac to the James, and filled with the +best blood of the land, and the country left in mourning for her fallen +braves, but little territory had been gained, and the possession of +this little being constantly disputed by a well-organized and gallant +army. A sort of fatality had thus settled down upon the Army of the +Potomac. Some of the best generals had been summoned to its command, +but to no purpose. The hand of fate rested upon it heavily. When about +to seize upon victory, some stream would rise in its rear, or some +unseen accident happen to its communications or line of supplies, +compelling it to let go its hold on victory, and in its stead to accept +defeat. No wonder, then, that the authorities saw fit to send a part of +this not very promising army to a department where victory sometimes +rested upon the Federal arms. Hooker's corps was therefore ordered to +report to Grant. + +The Seventh being a part of this command, left its camp on the Rapidan +in the latter part of September, and moving up to Washington, passed +over to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, when it left for Nashville, +Tennessee, by the way of Columbus, Indianapolis, and Louisville. It +soon after left for Wartrays, by the way of Murfreesboro'. It was now +ordered to construct winter-quarters, but having them nearly completed, +it was ordered to Bridgeport, Alabama, where it arrived in due time. + +This entire trip from the East was accomplished without any delay, and +nothing occurring to lessen the good opinion the people entertained for +this veteran corps. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +THE SEVENTH JOINS GRANT'S ARMY.--THE BATTLES OF LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, +MISSION RIDGE, AND RINGGOLD. + + +After remaining for some time at Bridgeport, the regiment was ordered +to the vicinity of Lookout Mountain. It marched to the little village +of Wahatcha, at the base of this mountain, and went into camp. It +remained, however, but a short time, and then returned to Bridgeport, +where it went into permanent camp. + +Late in the fall, General Grant had perfected his arrangements to +attack the rebel stronghold on Lookout Mountain; and, as a preparatory +measure, his vast army was concentrated in the vicinity of Chattanooga. +An immense quantity of stores had been gathered, while garrisons were +placed at points to be held for the purpose of keeping up communication +with the army after its advance. Early in November, the Seventh left +its quarters in Alabama, and joined the grand army. + +On the 24th of November, the army was set in motion. The Seventh passed +up the northern slope of the mountain, and crossing Lookout Creek, +formed in line of battle. It now steadily advanced, arriving at the +rebel camp to find it in the hands of our men. But desultory firing was +kept up by the rebel sharpshooters concealed in the timber and behind +rocks on the summit of the mountain. The regiment was now ordered on +picket. Passing around to the east side of the mountain, it was fired +upon by the enemy; but owing to their being entirely hidden from view +by the dense fog that had settled over the combatants, it did not +return the fire, but secured a safe harbor behind rocks and trees. This +fire was kept up for nearly two hours, with a loss to the regiment of +only four men wounded. Before night the regiment was relieved from duty +and marched to the rear, bivouacking in a peach orchard. + +About ten A.M. of the 25th, it moved down the opposite side of the +mountain, and passing through a small valley, soon reached Mission +Ridge. Without halting, the command moved steadily up this mountain, +and on arriving on its summit, found that the rebels had fled. Passing +into another valley, it bivouacked for the night. On the 26th, the +command moved to the vicinity of Pigeon Mountain, where it remained +till the following day. Early on the morning of the 27th, it moved on +to Ringgold, Georgia, where it found the enemy securely posted on +Taylor's Ridge. On arriving in this town, the brigade was ordered to +scale the mountain. It was formed on the railroad, in two lines of +battle; the second line being ordered to preserve a distance of one +hundred yards. Two Pennsylvania regiments formed the first line, and +the Sixty-sixth and Seventh Ohio the second line; the Seventh being on +the left. The enemy soon discovered the intention of our troops, and +made his dispositions to meet the attack by extending his right. As +soon as the advance began, the enemy opened fire. Arriving at the foot +of the hill, the first line halted to return the fire, and the second +line passed through. The Seventh now moved into a ravine, where it was +exposed to a terrible fire from the front and both flanks, but it +pressed on without firing a shot. Arriving almost on the crest of the +hill, the fire became too effective for even these gallant veterans to +withstand, and the line gave way, fighting as it went. In this manner, +the surviving few reached the foot of the hill. + +This engagement was short, but terrible in its results to the regiment. +It may be said that with this struggle its star of glory began to +fade--its pride and spirit were broken. But one officer escaped +uninjured, while many were killed. The number of men in the action was +two hundred and six, of whom fourteen was killed and forty-nine +wounded. + +For what purpose this handful of men were ordered to storm the enemy's +position on the hill has never been explained. There was no artillery +used to cover the assault, without which it was impossible to carry the +position with such a force, and hazardous to attempt it with any. +Within a short distance there was a large amount of artillery, which +could have been placed in position, after which Taylor's Ridge would +have been untenable by the enemy. On seeing such dispositions being +made, he would probably have anticipated the movement, and fled without +firing a gun. But thus far Hooker and his almost invincible corps had +carried every thing before them. This success seemed to bring with it a +contempt for the rebel soldiers, which finally resulted in the great +disaster at Taylor's Ridge. A good general will resist the influences +growing out of success, and not be led by these to undertake +impossibilities, and by such rashness endanger that which he has +already gained. It requires greater self-control to resist the +temptations following victory, than to overcome the demoralizing +influences of defeat. Victory must never elate a general, while defeat +must never depress him. + +After this battle, an unsuccessful attempt was made to get the regiment +ordered home. But the response of Halleck, to a similar application, +made after the battle of Cedar Mountain, was reiterated. "No!" said the +old warrior; "not so long as there is a lame drummer-boy left; not if +you will send us a whole new regiment in place of this handful. We know +these men--they are just such as we want." This compliment, from an +officer who was in command of all of the armies of the United States, +was worth many a hard march, as well as battle. + +The following is a list of the killed and wounded in the three battles +of Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, and Taylor's Ridge: + +_Killed._--Colonel W. R. Creighton; Lieutenant-Colonel O. J. Crane; +Adjutant Moris Baxter; second-lieutenants, Isaac C. Jones and Joseph +Cryne; sergeants, J. C. Corlet, William Van Wye; corporals, Alfred +Austin, W. H. Bennett; privates, C. F. King, C. E. Wall, D. P. Wood, J. +L. Fish, Thomas Sweet, Oliver Grinels, Lawrence Remmel, H. Hanson, J. +H. Merrill, William Pfuel. + +_Wounded._--Captains, W. D. Braden, Samuel McClelland; first-lieutenants, +George A. McKay, George D. Lockwood; second-lieutenants, D. H. Brown, +E. H. Bohm, H. N. Spencer, Christian Nesper; sergeants, M. M. Cutler, +John Gardner, L. Wilson, Isaac Stratton, Elmore Hemkston; corporals, +James W. Raymond, E. V. Nash, John Baptee, C. Glendenning, Hiram Deeds, +Thomas Dowse, George Spencer, William Senfert, J. E. Hine, W. H. +Petton, J. H. Cleverton, H. C. Hunt, M. H. Sheldon, John Phillips, W. +O. Barnes, M. Fitzgerald, J. Tuttle, George Eikler, W. J. Lowrie, H. O. +Pixley, W. H. Johnson, John Bergin, W. Wise, H. B. Pownell, J. N. Hall, +V. Reynolds, R. White, H. Wright, R. D. Gates, Otis Martin, Joseph +Kincaid, W. O. Johnson, J. Decker, J. Hall, C. Cowden, D. F. Dow, +George Mandall, H. Fezer, George Raynette, L. Habbig, John Schwinck, +Joseph Rowe, C. Deitz. + +The following were wounded at Lookout Mountain: + +John H. Galvin, M. C. Stone, M. W. Bartlett, James A. Garrison, Louis +Owen, A. Gordon. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +THE ADVANCE TOWARDS ATLANTA.--SKIRMISHING.--HOMEWARD MARCH.--ITS +RECEPTION.--MUSTER OUT. + + +The series of successes in the vicinity of Chattanooga made Grant a +lieutenant-general, and gave Sherman the command of the armies in +Tennessee. Preparations were now made to press back the forces +marshalled in rebellion at all points. Early in the spring the ball was +opened in the East by Lieutenant-General Grant in person, while in the +West the indomitable Sherman set his invincible army in motion towards +the very heart of the so-called Confederacy. The advance was sounded, +and the Union hosts pressed onward. + +By sunset on the 17th of May the Seventh Regiment reached Calhoun, and +on the 19th the vicinity of Cassville, where it hastily threw up some +breastworks; but after two hours was ordered forward in line of battle. +On the 23d it passed through the latter village, across the railroad, +and at four P.M., arrived on the banks of the Etawa River; and after +fording the stream, bivouacked for the night. On the 25th it took +the advance of the entire column, and deployed seven companies as +skirmishers. The march of these companies was very toilsome, and their +progress correspondingly slow. Near Pumpkin Vine Creek the advance was +fired upon by the enemy's pickets, and a sharp skirmish ensued. During +this time the enemy attempted to destroy the bridge over the creek, but +were driven back by the regiment; when it immediately crossed, and took +possession of a commanding hill. + +Generals Hooker and Geary, with staff and body-guard, had moved forward +with the skirmish-line, and sometimes in advance even of this. On one +of the latter occasions the body-guard was fired upon, and the three +reserve companies of the Seventh were ordered to their relief. + +The advance of the enemy was now held in check until the other +regiments of the brigade came up, when he was dispersed. + +In this skirmish, one man was killed and eight wounded. At this point +the command threw up some breastworks, where it remained until six +P.M., when it advanced in line of battle. In this movement the regiment +became hotly engaged, losing three killed and fifteen wounded. One of +the enemy's shell exploding in the ranks, occasioned the loss of eight +men. On the 28th and the previous night, considerable skirmishing was +kept up in front of the line of intrenchments, as well as some sharp +artillery firing; which, however, did very little damage. These pieces +were soon silenced by a New York battery. All day and night of the 30th +the regiment was engaged in sharp skirmishing; but one man, however, +was injured, and he severely. On the 2d of June it moved forward to +Allatoona, Georgia, where it built breastworks, and went into camp. + +Here it remained for some time, when its term of service having +expired, it hastened its steps homeward; thus severing the connecting +link between it and the army. The members of this veteran regiment now +felt that they were no longer soldiers: that, although they retained +the organization and uniform of a regiment, they were private citizens +hastening to enjoy home and friends, from which they had been so long +separated. They marched with joyous hearts, and yet there was sadness +present with this happiness. Many a comrade was left behind, never to +return. Fresh graves marked its line of march from Chattanooga to +Georgia. Friends and kindred were sleeping beneath these green mounds, +and they could not pass them by, in this homeward march, without a tear +of regret. + +Following the line of the railroad, the regiment finally halted and +awaited transportation. When this was furnished, it went to Nashville +by railroad, at which place it embarked on steamers and started down +the Cumberland River. Arriving in the vicinity of Harpeth Shoals, it +was fired on by guerrillas, and two men wounded. Both officers and men +were desirous of landing and punishing this band of outlaws for their +insolence, but could not prevail on the captain of the boat to permit +it. + +Arriving in the Ohio River, Sergeant Trembly fell from the boat and was +drowned. This was a sad occurrence. He had served faithfully during the +service of the regiment; and now, on the eve of being mustered out, he +lost his life by accident. The boat was stopped, and efforts made to +rescue him, but without success. + +When the regiment reached Cincinnati, the Fifth Ohio had already +arrived. The city being about to give an ovation to this gallant +regiment, the Seventh was invited to take part in it, by partaking of +the hospitality of the city. This demonstration, in honor of the two +regiments, was eminently fitting, for they were united by the ties of +long fellowship. From the very first they had been brigaded together. +The history of the one was the history of the other. They had marched, +bivouacked, and fought side by side. Each prized the honor and renown +of the other not less than its own. The city of Cincinnati, in thus +extending its hospitality to the Seventh Regiment, did much credit to +itself. The friends of the regiment will remember this magnanimous +conduct, while the members of the regiment will keep green the memory +of the gallant Fifth. + +The following is from the Cleveland Herald, of the 11th of June: + +"On Saturday afternoon, soon after the evening papers had been issued, +a dispatch was received, announcing that the Seventh Ohio had but just +left Cincinnati, and would not arrive in Cleveland until about seven +o'clock Sunday morning. Bulletins to this effect were at once printed, +and distributed through the city; but a large crowd of persons, not +aware of this fact, came down to watch the arrival of the evening +train, on which the Seventh was supposed to be coming. + +"On Sunday morning the population of the city were early astir, and by +seven o'clock a large and continually increasing crowd had assembled in +and around the depot. The police, in full uniform, marched down to the +depot, and were followed by the old members of the Seventh, bearing the +second regimental flag, the first having been deposited in the +State-house at Columbus. + +"At seven o'clock the ringing of the fire-bells announced the approach +of the time for the arrival of the train; and about half-past seven +o'clock a salute from the guns, manned by the Brooklyn Artillery, and +run down to the bluff at the foot of Water-street, announced the +arrival of the train. + +"As it moved into the depot it was received with cheers by the +assembled crowd; and the war-worn veterans were soon out of the cars, +and surrounded by anxious and joyful friends. Shouts of welcome, hearty +hand-shaking, embraces and kisses, were showered upon the sun-browned +soldiers. Many of the scenes were very affecting. In one place a young +wife, whose husband had left for the field just after their marriage, +hung with clinging embrace on her returned brave, and her moist eyes +sought his with unutterable affection, her hands trembling with excess +of joy. In another, an old man, with both hands grasped in those of his +son, mingled smiles of joy over his returned boy, with tears of sorrow +for the one who had laid down his life for his country. Mothers clung +to sons, sisters to brothers, wives to husbands, and some little +children climbed up for a father's embrace. + +"The number all told, men and officers, of those who returned, was two +hundred and forty-five. These were the remnants of nearly eleven +hundred men, who left Camp Dennison three years ago, on the +reorganization of the regiment. The whole number of the regiment is +five hundred and one, of whom the remainder were recruited at various +times, and their term of service not expired. Sixty of these were left +in Sherman's army; the rest are scattered in every direction, from the +James River to Atlanta. The greater part of those whose term of service +has not expired are to be consolidated with the same class in the Fifth +Ohio, which fought by its side in many a bloody fray, and which is to +retain its number. The slightly wounded were brought up with the +regiment, the more seriously wounded being left in different hospitals. + +"The following is the present organization of the Seventh: + +"Lieutenant-colonel, Sam. McClelland; surgeon, Dr. Bellows; assistant +surgeon, Dr. Ferguson; Captain Wilcox, Company E; Captain Kreiger, +Company K; Captain Clark, Company B; Captain Howe, Company A; Captain +Braden, Company G; Captain Davis, Company C, taken prisoner in last +fight; Captain Nesper, Company H; Captain McKay, Company F; Captain +Lockwood, Company D; Lieutenant Bohm, commanding Company I; +quartermaster, S. D. Loomis. + +"The regiment left Chattanooga with the Fifth Ohio; but parted company +on the way, the Fifth having left their arms behind them, and were +therefore compelled to come by railroad, no unarmed troops being +allowed to come by the river. The Seventh came up the Cumberland and +Ohio rivers by steamboats, and were fired on by guerrillas on the way. +One man was lost, Sergeant Trembly, of Company C, about thirty miles +below Cincinnati. He was on the guards of the steamer cleaning his gun, +when he fell overboard. The boat was stopped, and efforts made to save +him; but he was carried away by the current and drowned. + +"On reaching Cincinnati, they were ordered to Columbus to be mustered +out; but when the train got to Columbus, they were ordered to go on to +this city to be paid, and mustered out. + +"After leaving the cars, and the greetings of friends were ended, the +men were marched to one part of the depot, and given a chance to wash +themselves. They were then conducted to tables set along the north wing +of the depot, where a hot breakfast had been provided by Wheeler and +Russel, on the order of the military committee. Rev. Mr. Goodrich +invoked the blessing. + +"A number of ladies were on hand, who supplied the soldiers bountifully +with strawberries, after the more substantial part of the feast was +concluded. + +"As soon as the men had been properly fed and refreshed, they fell into +line, and proceeded through Water and Superior streets to the front of +the government buildings, where the formal reception was to take place. +The procession was headed by the police, followed by a brass band, and +by the military committee, members of the council, and city officers. +The old members of the Seventh, with the second flag of the regiment, +tattered and torn, immediately preceded the bronzed veterans, who, +fully armed, and bearing their last flag, rent with a hailstorm of +hostile bullets, marched with proud steps through the streets they had +left three years and three months since. Carriages followed with the +sick and wounded who were unable to march. The procession was +accompanied with a throng of people, and crowds lined the streets, +whilst flags fluttered in all directions. + +"On reaching the front of the government building, the regiment was +drawn up in double line, and Prosecuting-Attorney Grannis, in the +absence of Mayor Senter, addressed the regiment, in behalf of the +corporation and citizens, as follows: + +"SOLDIERS OF THE SEVENTH OHIO--The people of the city of Cleveland +welcome you home. More than three years ago, you went forth with full +ranks--more than a thousand strong. To-day a little remnant returns to +receive the greetings of friends, and to mingle again with society, as +was your wont in times gone by. But this is not all. You, and those who +went with you, whether present here to-day or absent, whether among the +living or the dead, shall be held forever in grateful remembrance. + +"We witnessed your departure with pride, not unmingled with sorrow. We +did not regret that the men of the glorious Seventh had gone out to +fight against a brutal and insolent foe, or fear that any member of it +would ever fail to do his whole duty in the perilous ridges of the +battle; but we did know that your departure was attended with many +sacrifices;--that you would be exposed to cold, fatigue, and hunger; +would suffer from disease, from honorable wounds, and in loathsome +prisons; and that many a noble form would bite the dust. We knew that +these things must needs be, that the nation might live. The half was +not told us. It did not enter into our hearts to believe what you would +suffer and what you would accomplish. Upon almost every battle-field, +from Cross Lanes to Dalton, the glorious banner of the Seventh has been +in the van of the battle. We have watched your course with painful +interest. After every battle, came the intelligence that your regiment +had fought bravely, and had come out with thinned ranks. + +"You have the grand consolation of knowing that the victories of +Gettysburg, of Lookout Mountain, of Ringgold, and of Resaca, were not +won without your aid. To have been in any one of those desperate +conflicts, is glory enough for any man. The record you have made will +seem almost like a tale of fiction. We have often had tidings of you, +but such as would not cause our cheeks to tingle with shame. It was +never said of the Seventh Ohio that it faltered in battle, that it +failed to do its whole duty. You have been faithful, uncomplaining, and +heroic. These things have not been accomplished without painful +sacrifices. How painful, let the honorable scars many will carry to +their graves answer. How painful, let this begrimed and tattered flag +answer. How painful, these thinned ranks will answer. Your gallant +colonel and lieutenant-colonel came home before you. Not as we could +have wished them to come, but wearing the habiliments which all must +wear; and now they lie yonder, and their graves are still wet with the +tears of their mourning countrymen. + +"Not so fortunate many of your countrymen, for they lie in unknown +seclusion, but not in unhonored graves. We will not mourn these dead as +those who die without hope, for their names shall be honored, so long +as liberty is prized among men. + + "'Death makes no conquest of these conquerors, + For now they live in fame, though not in life.' + +"It is an honor to be engaged in this conflict, which those who share +it should fully prize; and those who have been engaged in it have shown +a self-sacrificing devotion to duty, seldom excelled. It is a conflict +in favor of liberty against treason and traitors; against a desperate +and implacable foe, fighting with desperate energy, that fraud, +oppression, and crime may stalk abroad in daylight. + +"Let us hope that the final overthrow of rebellion is at hand; that +soon our soldiers may all return home, with-- + + "'Brows bound with victorious wreaths, + Their bruised arms hung up for monuments, + Their stern alarums changed to merry meetings, + Their dreadful marches to delightful measures.' + +"On concluding, Mr. Grannis introduced Governor Brough, who also +addressed the regiment. He said in substance as follows: + +"MEN OF THE SEVENTH OHIO--I know you are anxious to turn from this +public to private greetings, to clasp friends and acquaintances in your +hands and hearts. Under these circumstances I have not the courage to +detain you. I will not read the glorious record of your achievements, +for it would keep you so long. It is not necessary. We know your record +in all its glory, but not, like you, in all its pain. A little over +three years ago, on a Sabbath morning, you left Cleveland. Now, on a +Sabbath morning, you return to us. That Sabbath was hallowed, by the +purpose with which you went forth. This Sabbath is rendered sacred, by +the joy with which you are welcomed back to us. + +"On behalf of the State, I am here to give you a cordial greeting on +your return. For the people of Cleveland, no formal greeting is +necessary. In the crowd that gather around you, you can read the +cordial welcome, that needs no words to express it. + +"The Spartan mother, who sent her son to battle, bade him to return +with his shield in honor, or on his shield in death. You have returned +with your shields, and with honor reflected from them on you. But let +us not forget that many have come home on their shields. We cannot +forget those that, on another Sabbath morning, came home, and were +received by the city in the weeds of mourning. + +"We welcome you back, not only because you are back, but because you +have reflected honor on your State. Standing, as I do, in the position +of father of all of the regiments of the State, it will not do for me +to discriminate; but I will say, that no regiment has returned to the +bosom of the State, and none remains to come after it, that will bring +back a more glorious record than the gallant old Seventh. + +"There is no need to tell you what the lesson of this war is. You have +learned it in many a weary march, and on many a field of carnage. None +know better than you, that there are but two ways possible for the +termination of this war. One is an inglorious peace and disgraceful +submission, and the other is to completely crush the military power of +the rebellion. There is no other way; and he who goes about on +street-corners, and talks about a peace short of one or the other of +these alternatives, is either grossly ignorant or intentionally +attempting to deceive. More than that, no one knows better than +yourselves, that to secure a lasting peace, when the military power of +the rebellion is crushed, the cause of this infernal rebellion itself +must be thoroughly wiped out. You have been taught that in many a fiery +lesson, and know it to be a truth. + +"There are gallant men and brave generals in the army laboring to reach +this end; and we have confidence that their efforts will be crowned +with success. God grant that it may be so. I had almost said that God +and Grant will make it so. + +"But I will detain you no longer. There is another greeting awaiting +you in your homes--a greeting that no other eyes should witness. To +that sacred and precious greeting I remit you." + +The regiment now marched off to Camp Cleveland, escorted by the old +members of the Seventh. + +The men were given a brief furlough, after which preparations were made +to be mustered out. + +On the 4th of July, a grand ovation was given to the regiment, in +connection with the Eighth Ohio; in fact, while the regiment remained +in Cleveland, it was one continued ovation. The citizens vied with each +other, in caring for and honoring the old Seventh. It seemed as if they +could not do enough. These brave men will not soon forget the anxious +care bestowed upon them by the citizens of Cleveland, during this +closing period of their career in the service of their country. + +After remaining for a brief period in camp, the regiment was mustered +out; and after kindly farewells had been exchanged, each member +departed for his home, from which he had been so long absent in +protecting a Government that he loved from the ruthless touch of +treason and slavery. + +When the regiment entered the field, it numbered more than a thousand +men. As these began to dwindle away by the shock of battle and the +ravages of disease, new members came in, until we find nearly fourteen +hundred men on the rolls, exclusive of three months' men: the latter +would swell the number to about eighteen hundred men. Of the former, +over six hundred were killed and wounded--the killed alone amounting to +about one hundred and thirty. One hundred and upwards died from +disease; while more than six hundred were discharged on account of +disability arising from various causes. Many of those who were on the +rolls at the time the regiment was mustered out were disabled for life, +and were only retained for the want of an opportunity to be discharged. +The whole number of able-bodied officers and men returning with the +regiment was only two hundred and forty-five, leaving upwards of eleven +hundred dead and disabled. + + + + +BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. + + +BRIGADIER-GENERAL E. B. TYLER.[3] + +E. B. Tyler entered the service as colonel of the Seventh. He brought +with him some little military experience, having been a +brigadier-general of militia before the rebellion broke out. + + [3] General Tyler has failed to furnish us any data from + which to write an extended sketch, though often requested to + do so. + +When General McClellan was about to make his advance into Western +Virginia, he selected Tyler to lead the way, on account of his thorough +acquaintance with that wild region, he having been engaged in +purchasing furs from the people for many years. During the entire +summer he was kept well out to the front. He was finally given a +brigade, with which to assist General Cox in driving General Wise from +the valley. He moved as far as Somerville, in the very heart of the +enemy's country, and was soon after in the skirmish of Cross Lanes. +From this time, during the remainder of his stay in the department, he +was in command at Charleston, in the Kanawha Valley. In the winter +following, he was ordered to Kelley's department, where he was again +given a brigade, with which he did good service on the outposts. We +next find him at the battle of Winchester, where he commanded a +brigade. It was his command that charged the battery, for which it +acquired so much renown. His conduct at this battle won him a star. He +now served with his command in the Valley, accompanying it to the +Rappahannock and back. After which he commanded the forces in the +battle of Port Republic. His conduct in this engagement is above +criticism. No general could have made better dispositions than he, and +no one would have met with better success. Defeat was certain; and all +that the best generalship could do, was to save barely a remnant of the +command. It is a wonder that any artillery was saved. He gained much +reputation in his command for the manner in which he acquitted himself +in this battle. He soon after left his old brigade, and finally took +command of a Pennsylvania brigade, which he led in the battle of +Fredericksburg, in December, 1862. He had acquired a fine reputation +with Governor Curtin, and his conduct in this battle confirmed it. The +spring following he was assigned to a command in Baltimore, under +General Schenck. At the time of the raid on Washington, in the summer +of 1864, he was at the front. During an engagement he became separated +from his command, and only escaped by dint of hard riding. After +remaining concealed for some days, he escaped, and returned in safety +to our lines. After this campaign he returned to Baltimore, where he is +at the present time stationed. + + +BREVET BRIG.-GEN. J. S. CASEMENT. + +J. S. Casement came into the regiment as major, and was just the man +for the place. The regiment needed a practical, common-sense sort of a +man, and it found him in the person of Jack Casement. Many of his +previous years had been spent in the construction of railroads. In this +he had not a superior in the United States. He is of small stature, but +of iron frame; and for endurance has few equals. He will shoulder and +walk off under a load that would make the most athletic tremble. He has +probably superintended the laying of as much track as any man of his +age. + +On joining the regiment, the major at once made himself useful in +looking after matters for the comfort of the command, that really +belonged to no one to look to, and yet, when attended to, went far to +improve the condition of the men. He rapidly acquired a knowledge of +military tactics, which was afterwards to fit him for a leader. This +was not difficult for him to do, for he made it a practical study. He +was always on duty when the occasion required it. This habit of +promptness he acquired while working large parties of men, and it never +left him during his service. During the long marches in Western +Virginia, he was ever watchful as to how matters were going on in the +rear; and while other mounted officers were riding leisurely along, he +was ever watchful of the train, as well as all other matters connected +with the easy movement of the command. Arriving in camp, he made it his +business to see that all was snug. At the affair at Cross Lanes he +conducted himself with such gallantry as to endear him to the entire +regiment. He rode over that fatal field as calm and collected as on +drill. When his superior officers had escaped, he organized the balance +of the command, and then commenced that memorable march over the hills +and mountains, through the valleys and over the streams, of that wild +waste. It was finally crowned with success, and the regiment felt proud +of its major; and the Western Reserve felt proud, too, that they had +sent so brave a man to serve with so brave a regiment. He now did his +duty, until we find the regiment in the East, and in its expedition to +Blue's Gap, Major Casement at its head. Just before reaching the +fortifications, he made a speech. Said he: "Boys, you've not got much +of a daddy, but with such as you have, I want you to go for those +rebels." And they did go for them in earnest. It seems the boys did not +object to the character of the "daddy." He now went with the regiment +to Winchester, where he was engaged in that battle. He sat on his horse +where the bullets were flying thickest, and seemed to be a stranger to +fear. When the battle was nearly over, followed by a few men, he took +possession of a piece of artillery, and held it until the close of the +action. In the evening succeeding the battle, he found that ten +rifle-bullets had passed through the cape of his coat on the left side, +near to his arm. + +Major Casement accompanied the regiment on its march up the Valley, +making himself useful in the way of constructing bridges and roads. On +arriving at Falmouth, on the Rappahannock, he tendered his resignation, +which being accepted, he returned to his home. All missed the merry +laugh, as well as the merry jokes, of the ever happy major. + +He was not long permitted to enjoy home, however, as in the following +summer he was made colonel of the One Hundred and Third Ohio Regiment, +and immediately after left for the field. His regiment was ordered to +Kentucky, in which department he served until Sherman's triumphant +march on Atlanta, when he joined him, and soon after commanded a +brigade. In this campaign he distinguished himself. After Sherman left +for Savannah, Casement commanded a brigade in Thomas' army. At the +battle of Franklin, which followed, he conducted himself in such a +brilliant manner as to win a star by brevet. He now took part in the +pursuit of the disorganized forces of Hood, and when it ceased, went to +Wilmington, North Carolina, with the corps of General Schofield, where +he has since remained. + +The career of this dashing officer has been one of usefulness, and his +numerous friends, as well as the entire country, appreciate his +services. + + +BRIGADIER JOHN W. SPRAGUE.[4] + +General Sprague entered the service as captain of Company E. He +immediately gained a high character as an officer, both for his fine +military bearing and gentlemanly deportment. His company was first in +discipline, and during the time he was in command not one of his men +was under arrest. His influence was such, that they seldom disobeyed an +order. They regarded their captain as a fit person to lead them--one +whose example was worthy of imitation. + + [4] The writer has been unable to learn sufficient of General + Sprague's services, after leaving the Seventh, to enable him + to write an extended sketch, which he very much regrets, for + his gallant services entitle him to a more lengthy notice. + +During the trying marches in Western Virginia, Captain Sprague was ever +at his post to encourage and cheer his men. A few days previous to the +Cross Lanes affair, he was given a leave of absence; and soon after +leaving for his home, he was taken prisoner by the enemy's cavalry. He +remained in prison about a year, suffering all the hardships that the +imagination can picture. When he was released, his hair had become +gray, and his every appearance was indicative of great suffering. On +his return, he was immediately commissioned colonel of the Sixty-third +Ohio Regiment, and very soon after entered the field. From this time on +he did gallant service in the armies of the West. His great military +talent was at last acknowledged, and his vast services rewarded by +conferring on him a star. He is now serving in the West. + + +LIEUT.-COL. SAMUEL McCLELLAND. + +The subject of this sketch is a native of Ireland. He was born in 1829. +While in his youth, his parents emigrated to this country, landing at +Philadelphia, from whence they went to Pittsburgh. Remaining here for a +short time, they removed to Youngstown, Ohio, where they have since +resided. + +He entered the service as first-lieutenant of Company I, and was at +once active in the discharge of his duty. He accompanied the regiment +to Western Virginia, where he took part in all the hard marches that +followed. At the affair of Cross Lanes, he demonstrated, by his +gallantry, the fact of the possession of great military talent; for he +was brave, prudent, and skilful. Up to the battle of Winchester, he was +with the regiment in every march and skirmish. At this battle he +commanded a company, and had the honor of opening the battle, and +sustaining it for a few minutes, till other companies formed on his +flanks. + +He was engaged in the following battles and skirmishes, which embrace +every one in which the regiment was engaged: Cross Lanes, Winchester, +Port Republic, Cedar Mountain, Antietam, Dumfries, Chancellorsville, +Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, and Taylor's Ridge. The +various skirmishes and battles during the march of Sherman to Marietta, +are to be added to this list. At the battle of Winchester he was +slightly wounded in the head, but remained on the field, against the +urgent solicitations of his friends, until the close of the engagement. +At the battle of Taylor's Ridge he was severely wounded in the leg. He +now returned to his home, but remained but a short time, rejoining his +command before he was entirely recovered. + +While in the East he was made captain of Company H, and after the +battle of Taylor's Ridge, lieutenant-colonel. He now took command of +the regiment; leading it through the arduous campaign of Sherman, as +far as Marietta, in which service he won a fine reputation for ability +as an officer. He was known and recognized throughout the army as the +fighting colonel. At the above place, the old Seventh turned its steps +homeward, commanded by Colonel McClelland, who had the proud +satisfaction of leading the regiment into Cleveland, to do which the +lamented Creighton was ever ambitious. + +When encamped in the city, he set himself industriously at work +preparing the regiment to be mustered out; which was done in due time. + +McClelland was one of the few officers who were ever at their post. He +was brave, active, and zealous, a good officer in every particular. His +kindness and good feeling towards his fellow-soldiers won him many +friends. His family have suffered severe loss, two brave brothers +having died in battle. During all this affliction he has remained true +to his country, his patriotism never growing cold for a moment. + + +MAJOR FREDERICK A. SEYMOUR. + +The subject of this sketch came into the regiment as captain of Company +G, having organized the company immediately after the first call for +troops. He had seen a good deal of service in the militia of his native +State, which was of great assistance to him in this new position. When +the regiment was organized for the three-years' service, he was elected +to his old position, which was an indication of the esteem his company +had for him. + +During the terrible campaign among the mountains of Western Virginia, +his health became very much impaired; till just previous to the affair +at Cross Lanes, he was compelled to leave his command and seek to +restore it in his home. Therefore he was not in that skirmish. He soon +after returned, but after reaching the Shenandoah Valley his health +again failed him, and he once more sought to restore it by returning to +his home. While he was absent the battle of Winchester was fought, and +he therefore did not take part in the engagement. + +He now accompanied the regiment in its march up the Shenandoah River, +across the Blue Ridge, and back again to Front Royal; and from thence +to Port Republic. In the battle fought at the latter place he was +conspicuous for bravery. During that well-contested action be +contributed all that lay in his power towards winning a victory. But +valor alone cannot win a battle; numbers combined with it can only +accomplish that. This was his first experience under fire; but he stood +up to the work like a veteran; being second to none in deeds of daring. + +Soon after this action he was engaged in the battle of Cedar Mountain, +where he more than sustained the reputation acquired at Port Republic. +This was a terrible battle, and every officer and private who fought +there became a hero. + +From this time forward the writer has no knowledge of his services, +beyond the fact that he was promoted to major; which position he filled +till some time in the fall of 1863, when he resigned, and returned to +his home. It can be truly said that, wherever Major Seymour was placed, +he endeavored to do his duty. Among his fellow-soldiers he had many +friends, and he will always be remembered as a kind-hearted gentleman. + + +SURGEON FRANCIS SALTER. + +Francis Salter entered the service as assistant surgeon of the Seventh +Regiment; and on the resignation of Surgeon Cushing, was appointed +surgeon. He held this position until the latter part of 1862, when he +was made a medical director, and assigned to the staff of General +Crooks. As a surgeon, he hardly had a superior in the service. His +services were of great value in the hospitals, as he had had a long +experience in those of England, his native country. He has remained in +the service from the beginning of the war; and during that long period +has alleviated the suffering of many a soldier. + + +C. J. BELLOWS. + +The subject of this sketch was appointed surgeon of the regiment, from +the position of assistant in the Fifth Ohio. Before entering the +service he was enjoying a good practice in Northern Ohio, in which he +had acquired a good reputation. While with the regiment he was much +esteemed, by reason of his ability as a surgeon, as well as for his +kind and courteous behavior. + + +G. E. DENIG. + +On the appointment of Francis Salter to the post of surgeon, the +subject of this sketch was made assistant. While with the regiment he +was attentive to his duties, and always kind and obliging to those +seeking medical aid. He many times acted as surgeon of the regiment; +and on such occasions was always prompt in the discharge of his duty. + + +FREDERICK T. BROWN, D.D. + +The subject of this sketch was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, of +respectable and pious parents. His father was a wealthy merchant, and +therefore gave his son a liberal education. After arriving at a proper +age, he was sent to Princeton College, New Jersey, where he graduated. +He early developed those Christian qualities which he has possessed in +such an eminent degree during the whole course of his life. He was born +to be a minister. At an early age his mind took a lasting hold upon +religious truths; and it has never relaxed its energies in that +direction for a single moment. He has gone on doing good from a child, +his usefulness only increasing as his mind developed its powers. He has +been a close student of theology during his whole life; and it is doing +no discredit to others to say, that in this respect he has hardly a +peer in the United States. He graduated at the Theological Seminaries +at Princeton, New Jersey, and Geneva, Switzerland. + +The Westminster Church, of Cleveland, Ohio, was organized by him; and +in the course of his nine years' labor with it, increased from a small +congregation to one of the most respectable religious societies of the +city. He was pastor of this church at the breaking out of the +rebellion. + +While the Seventh Regiment was at Camp Dennison, he paid it a visit by +request of some of the officers, and was immediately chosen its +chaplain, there being but few dissenting voices. Immediately returning +to his home, he tendered his resignation to his church, which, however, +was not accepted; but in its stead, he was voted a leave of absence, +which he accepted, but refusing to draw pay during the time. He joined +the regiment early in July, while it was in Western Virginia, and at +once entered upon his duties. + +While here, he preached a sermon in one of the churches--to the rebel +as well as Union people of the town--which was noted for the powerful +arguments used against the position occupied by the South in relation +to the Federal Government. This effort made him many friends in the +village. He afterwards had a large influence over its people, being +often invited to their homes. On such occasions he was received with a +hearty welcome; although he never neglected an opportunity to reprove +them for the opinions cherished by them. + +While at Glenville, Gilmer County, he carried a message to General Cox, +whose forces were somewhere on the banks of the Kanawha River. This has +already been mentioned; but as it was an enterprise attended with much +danger, we here copy a detailed account of it. + +About the 15th day of July, Colonel Tyler, feeling it important to open +communication with General Cox's forces on the Kanawha, determined to +send a messenger with unwritten dispatches across the country through +the enemy's lines; and as our chaplain could more readily be spared +than any other member of the regiment deemed fitting to undertake the +enterprise, the expedition was proposed to him. He accepted it +willingly, though well aware of its difficulties and dangers. Colonel +Tyler suggested to him to go in the character of a merchant or trader, +so that, if arrested by roving guerillas or any of Wise's patrols, he +could say he was on business to Gauley Bridge, or some other place. But +he declined adopting the suggestion, as involving a possible lie, and +asked to be left to his own resources. + +Hastily divesting himself of every tell-tale mark of name, residence, +or connection with the service, mounted on a blooded mare, captured +from some guerrillas a few days before, and taking no rations but a +bunch of cigars, an hour after receiving the order he started. It was a +ride of a hundred and twenty miles through the enemy's country, by +highways, and by-ways, and no ways at all, nearly half of it at night, +sometimes alone, full of adventures, amusing and otherwise, and +involving some narrow escapes from the enemy, but completely +successful. + +On the morning of the third day, at daylight, he struck the Kanawha, +four miles below the mouth of the Pocotaligo; and there, for the first +time, got word of General Cox, and learned that his camp was only four +miles up the river. It was Sunday morning. He was soon at the general's +quarters, and in the language of the chaplain himself, "received such a +welcome as that genial man and accomplished Christian gentleman knows +how to give." General Cox refused permission to him to return to us by +the way he had come. He therefore remained with the general for the +time; was with him at the capture of Charleston, and in the pursuit of +Wise to Gauley Bridge, from whence he joined us again. Surviving +members of the old Seventh will remember "the three times-three" cheers +of each company in succession, as the chaplain rode along the line. We +were on the march, a long distance from where he had left us, had not +heard a word from him or of him, and had thought him lost; his arrival, +safe and sound, coming from the direction of the enemy, was as one from +the dead, or from Richmond. + +At the battle of Cross Lanes he bore a gallant part, remaining with the +command during the entire affair, and leaving only when all hope of +saving the day had expired. He escaped, with others, through a gap in +the enemy's lines, caused by well-directed volleys of musketry from the +regiment. The same day he came into Gauley Bridge, after having +rendered much service in bringing off the wagon-train. He soon after +visited Cross Lanes, under a flag of truce, for the purpose of looking +after our killed and wounded, as well as to learn the fate of those +taken prisoners. While within the enemy's lines, he was treated +civilly, but was refused the privilege of administering to the wounded, +as well as visiting the prisoners. He therefore returned, without +having accomplished, in the least degree, the object of his visit. The +chaplain was soon after ordered to Charleston, where the scattered +members of the Seventh had been collected. + +While at this place he formed an agreeable acquaintance with many +gentlemen of learning and ability, at whose houses he was a frequent +visitor; and it may be truly said that on such occasions he added much +to the fund of enjoyment. + +While the regiment was at Charleston, a misunderstanding arose between +the chaplain and Colonel Tyler, by reason of which the former felt it +his duty to resign. His resignation was in due time accepted, and he +was honorably mustered out of the service; the esteem and regrets of +the entire command going with him to his home. While with the regiment +his conduct had been above suspicion, and his sudden departure caused +universal gloom. + +Shortly after returning to his home in Cleveland, he was called to be +pastor of a church at Georgetown, District of Columbia, which is both +large and influential. + +Not forgetting the cause of his country and her suffering soldiery, he +is now engaged, in addition to his pastoral labors, in attending to the +wants of the sick and wounded soldiers at the various hospitals in the +vicinity of his home. Many a poor soldier of the republic will remember +the words of consolation which have fallen on his ear from the lips of +this devoted Christian. + +In the personal appearance of Chaplain Brown, alone, there is a +character. His light, fragile figure, erect and graceful carriage, +strikes one as peculiarly fitting to his elegant, chaste, and mature +intellect. He leaves an impression on the mind as lasting as it is +positive. In his company the dark moments are lighted up. Generous and +manly, he would distribute even his happiness among his fellows, were +it possible. There are few men more companionable than he; and few ever +won the love of their fellow-men equal to him. Endowed with rare +conversational powers and a pleasing address, he always commands the +attention of those around him. In public speaking, the first impression +he makes upon the mind of the hearer is not such as would lead him to +expect a flowery discourse; but as the speaker proceeds, it becomes +evident that dry logic is not his only gift. His life is a constant +reflection of truth. He takes a great grasp on eternal things; and +lives greatly by seeking, as the one high aim of his studies, his +labors, and his prayers, the supreme glory of God in the everlasting +welfare of man. May such samples of Christian character be multiplied, +till all the world has learned how great is God, and how great is +goodness. + + +CHAPLAIN D. C. WRIGHT. + +D. C. Wright was appointed chaplain during the winter of 1861. He +reported to the regiment at Patterson's Creek, Virginia. + +He was with the regiment at the battle of Winchester, where he rendered +much assistance in caring for the wounded. He now followed the fortunes +of the Seventh until its arrival at Port Republic, at which battle he +served as aid to General Tyler. During the entire engagement he was +much exposed, carrying dispatches in the most gallant style to +different parts of the field. He was mentioned in the official reports +for gallant conduct. After this battle he left for his home, and +finally sent in his resignation, which was duly accepted. + +Before the war broke out he was a minister of the Methodist Church, and +acquired no little reputation as a revivalist preacher. + + +LIEUT.-COL. GILES W. SHURTLIFF.[5] + +At the beginning of the rebellion, Giles W. Shurtliff was one of the +teachers in the college at Oberlin. Immediately after the bombardment +and capture of Fort Sumter, he organized a company, principally from +among his pupils, and reported at Camp Taylor. He was with the regiment +in its toilsome marches in Western Virginia, during which he was always +at his post. During the affair at Cross Lanes he was taken prisoner, +and now began those terrible hardships which no pen can describe, nor +imagination picture. Prison life is a sort of living death,--a state of +abeyance, where the mind is thrown back upon itself; where time, +although passing, seems to stop, and the great world outside, to stand +still. Through all this trial, and hardship, and misery, Colonel +Shurtliff passed, without weakening his faith or his patriotism. He +returned to his home, after more than a year's imprisonment, as firm in +the support of the Government as ever. After allowing himself a short +rest, he served in the Army of the Potomac on staff-duty; but was soon +after made lieutenant-colonel of the Fifth United States Colored +Infantry. He has since greatly distinguished himself in the numerous +battles in the vicinity of Richmond. He is at the present time at his +post, where he will probably remain until the rebellion is crushed, and +the Government vindicated. + + [5] The writer would be glad to give an extended account of + the gallant services of Colonel Shurtliff in the bloody + battles before Richmond and Petersburg, but has not received + the necessary facts. + + +COLONEL ARTHUR T. WILCOX. + +Arthur T. Wilcox is a native of Ohio, and entered the service as +second-lieutenant of Company E. On the organization of the regiment for +the three years' service, he was made a first-lieutenant, and assigned +to the same company. He served with much credit in Western Virginia, +until the Cross Lanes affair, when he was taken prisoner. He remained +within the prison-walls of the enemy for more than a year, most of the +time in Charleston, South Carolina, suffering every hardship; but +coming out as true and pure a patriot as when he went in, he again +joined his regiment, and was soon after made a captain. He now took +part in all the battles of the West, in which the regiment was +engaged,--Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Ringgold, and Sherman's +battles in the march on Atlanta. He came home with the regiment, and +was in due time mustered out. He was not, however, permitted to remain +long at home, for, when new regiments were forming, he was made a +colonel, and assigned to the One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Regiment. +He soon after joined his command, and was almost immediately ordered to +the front. He joined General Thomas' forces, then falling back before +the forces of General Hood. Arriving at Franklin, he was engaged in the +bloody battle fought there, and greatly distinguished himself. He soon +after arrived at Nashville with the army. The rebel army immediately +advanced; and the two armies stood face to face, at the same time +gathering strength for a desperate conflict. The Union army was +triumphant, and the rebel hosts were beaten and demoralized. In this +battle, Colonel Wilcox gained new laurels. He now took part in the +pursuit of the scattered forces of Hood. + +Every one who has fallen in company with Colonel Wilcox, will remember +him as a genial friend and true gentleman. He has made many friends in +the army as well as at home. He has chosen the law as a profession, and +when "this cruel war is over" the writer wishes him the success his +many virtues and talents merit. + + +LIEUT.-COL. JAMES T. STERLING. + +James T. Sterling entered the service as first-lieutenant of Captain De +Villiers' company. On the organization of the regiment for the three +years' service, he was made captain. While at Camp Dennison he labored +diligently to perfect his command in both drill and discipline; and +when it entered the field it was second to none, so far as these +essentials were concerned. + +While in Western Virginia, Captain Sterling was on many scouts, in +which service he showed great skill and bravery. Such adventures were +very much to his liking. + +In the affair at Cross Lanes he won the respect of all those who were +witness to his coolness and daring. During the march to Charleston he +made a good account of himself, being one of the most active in his +labors, and among the wisest in his opinions. + +He now followed the regiment to the East, where he engaged in all the +marches and skirmishes which took place. At the battle of Winchester he +commanded two companies; leading them into the hottest fire like a +veteran. During the entire action he stood on the hill urging the men +forward, regardless of the great danger to which he himself was +exposed. He came through the battle, however, without a scratch, but +with some holes in his clothing. + +He now took part in the long chase of Jackson up the Valley, and from +thence to Fredericksburg and back again; but was not in the battle of +Port Republic, his company having been detailed for headquarters guard. + +Very soon after this engagement he was made lieutenant-colonel of the +One Hundred and Third Regiment, at that time about to be raised in the +vicinity of Cleveland. He soon after reported to this regiment and was +assigned to duty. He went with it to the field; but, after a limited +period, was assigned the position of inspector-general on the staff of +General Cox. He filled this position with much credit to himself, until +early in the year 1864, when he resigned and returned to his home in +Cleveland. + +Colonel Sterling, as an officer, was much esteemed. As a companion, he +was much admired. His easy manners and agreeable conversation gathered +about him many friends. Every one regretted his departure from the +Seventh; he had been with it through so many trials and dangers, that +he was closely identified with it. His company thought well of him, +and, therefore, his unexpected departure caused many regrets. + + +COLONEL JOEL F. ASPER. + +Joel F. Asper was born in Huntington, Adams County, Pennsylvania, on +the 20th day of April, 1822. When he was but five years old his father +removed to Farmington, Ohio, by the slow process of a four-horse team +and Pennsylvania wagon. The county of Trumbull was then but sparsely +settled. + +Until eighteen years of age he assisted his father in clearing a farm, +at the same time attending a district school in winter. This is all the +school education he ever had; all other education being acquired by his +own exertion and application to study out of school. + +Having a passion for reading and writing, he was led to study law. But +previous to this, however, he commenced teaching a school in +Southington, but, for some reason, left it after one month's +experience. Early in the year 1842, we find him in the law-office of +Crowell and Abel, at Warren, Ohio, and working for his board at the +American Hotel. + +In 1843, he carried the Western Reserve Chronicle through several +townships, and during the entire year did not miss a trip. + +In August, 1844, he was admitted to the bar, but remained with General +Crowell till 1845, when he learned the daguerrean business, but not +succeeding in this, in October following opened a law-office at Warren. +His first year's practice netted him over four hundred dollars, and it +increased from year to year. + +In 1846 be was elected a justice of the peace, and in the following +year was married to Miss Elizabeth Brown. + +In 1847 he was elected prosecuting attorney. In 1849, was announced as +one of the editors of the Western Reserve Chronicle; and wrote, during +the campaign of that year, all of the leading political articles +published in its columns. During the summer of 1848, Mr. Parker, +proprietor of the paper, left for a pleasure excursion, and while +absent, Mr. Asper, being left in charge, took ground against General +Taylor. During this campaign he did much towards developing +anti-slavery sentiments in the party. For this conduct he was denounced +by the minority of his party. At this time he made a speech before a +Whig convention, which is said to have been the best effort of his +life. Carrying out these sentiments, he sustained Martin Van Buren for +the presidency, and in the following year ran for prosecuting attorney +on the Free-Soil ticket, but was defeated. + +In 1850 he moved to Chardon, Ohio, and edited a Free-Soil paper until +1852, when, it proving a losing business, he returned to Warren, where +he again commenced the practice of the law, which he continued until +the breaking out of the rebellion, in 1861. He was among the first in +Northern Ohio to tender a company to the Governor. It marched to camp +on the 25th of April. He served in the regiment until March, 1863, when +he was honorably mustered out of the United States service. During this +time he took part in the affair of Cross Lanes and the battle of +Winchester, in which last engagement he was severely wounded. After the +Cross Lanes affair he accompanied a detachment of four hundred men to +Charleston, rendering much assistance during the march. He was promoted +to lieutenant-colonel during his service with the regiment, in which +position he commanded the regiment in the retreat of Pope's army from +the Rapidan. + +On returning to Warren he opened an office, and in August organized the +Fifty-first Regiment National Guards, and was elected its colonel. + +When, in the spring of 1864, the corps was ordered into the field, his +regiment was among the first to move. It went to Johnson's Island, and +while there the noted John H. Morgan commenced a raid through Kentucky. +To resist him, several militia regiments were ordered to the front; +among them was the Fifty-first, now become the One Hundred and +Seventy-first. + +Arriving at Cincinnati, he reported to General Hobson, and was ordered +to Keller's Bridge by train. Soon after getting off the cars, it was +attacked by the enemy in overwhelming numbers. After a gallant fight of +six hours, the brave little band of heroes was compelled to surrender. +No regiment of new troops ever did better: it made itself a name which +history will perpetuate. + +The regiment was mustered out on the 20th of August, 1864. Asper now +perfected his arrangements to move to Missouri, which he put into +execution in October following. He is now engaged in the practice of +law at Chillicothe, in the above State. + + +MAJOR W. R. STERLING. + +The subject of this sketch entered the service as Captain of Company I. +He carried with him some considerable military experience, having been +connected with a company in his native State. He accompanied the +regiment in its Western Virginia campaign, taking an honorable part in +the affair at Cross Lanes. He was with the detachment in its march over +the mountains to Charleston, during which he rendered great assistance, +contributing largely towards bringing the command off in safety. + +From Charleston he returned to his home on leave, but soon after +returned to his command, accompanied by a number of recruits. He now +took part in the various marches and skirmishes occurring in the +mountain department of Eastern Virginia. He was not in the battles of +Winchester or Port Republic; but was in all the marches occurring +before and after those engagements. At the battle of Cedar Mountain he +did yeoman's service. His company was led with such coolness and +bravery, that many a rebel was made to bite the dust. He now remained +with the regiment until General Hooker came to the command of the Army +of the Potomac, when Captain Sterling was assigned a position on his +staff. In this capacity he served until after the battle of +Chancellorsville. A short time after this engagement he was taken +prisoner by a roving band of rebels, and conveyed to Richmond, where he +was for some time confined in prison. He was finally taken further +south to another prison, from which, in the summer of 1864, he escaped; +and after spending some time in the mountains, during which he suffered +many hardships, finally joined the Union forces in Tennessee. + +He was a brave and competent officer. While on Hooker's staff he was +promoted to major. + + +MAJOR E. J. KREIGER. + +The subject of this sketch is a native of Germany, and entered the +service as a sergeant in a company composed of his fellow-countrymen. +He very soon rose to the rank of lieutenant, and before the term of +service of the regiment expired, to that of captain. He was in the +following battles and skirmishes: Cross Lanes, Winchester, Port +Republic, Cedar Mountain, Antietam, Dumfries, Chancellorsville, +Gettysburg, Mission Ridge, Lookout Mountain, Ringgold, and in all the +engagements in which his regiment took part in Sherman's march on +Atlanta. No officer can show a prouder record. He was always with his +command, and on all occasions showed great bravery and gallantry, as +well as ability to command. + +Immediately after the Seventh was mustered out, he was appointed major +of the One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Regiment, and left soon after +for the field. He now added to the above glorious list of battles that +of Franklin, where he fully sustained the honors that he gained while +with the old Seventh. He is at the present time in General Thomas' +army, where he will remain, if his life is spared, until the overthrow +of the rebellion. + + +CAPTAIN J. B. MOLYNEAUX. + +The subject of this sketch was born, January 1, 1840, at Ann Arbor, in +the State of Michigan. At the age of four years his father removed to +Penn Yan, New York, and soon after to Bath and Elmira, in the same +State. In 1854, young Molyneaux went to Belville, Ohio, and commenced +the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Whitcomb. He remained for +nearly a year, when, not liking the study, he went to Cleveland, Ohio, +and entered the job-office of John Williston, where he learned the art +of printing. + +Having a natural liking for military life, he joined the Light Guards, +and afterwards the Sprague Cadets, of which he was appointed +drill-master. On the first call for troops, he joined a company being +raised by Captain De Villiers, as a private, being among the first to +enroll his name. Soon after arriving in camp, he was appointed a +sergeant, and, immediately after, drill-master for the non-commissioned +officers of the regiment. On the three years' organization, he was +unanimously chosen first-lieutenant by the vote of his company. He +remained with this company during the earlier part of the campaign in +Western Virginia, taking a gallant part in the affair of Cross Lanes, +as also in the final march of Major Casement's detachment to +Charleston. After this action, he was placed in command of Company E, +which command he held until January, 1862, and then being relieved, +only for the purpose of receiving the appointment of adjutant. + +He took part in all the marches and skirmishes in both Western and +Eastern Virginia. At the battle of Winchester, he was mentioned, in the +official report of his colonel, for gallantry on the battle-field. At +the battle of Port Republic, he won new laurels, being constantly under +the enemy's fire. In the fearful struggle at Cedar Mountain, he +particularly distinguished himself. He was, for a limited time, in +command of the regiment, during which he extricated it from a position, +where, under a less skilful leader, it would have been captured. In +this gallant exploit, Molyneaux lost two horses, one of them being +pierced by fourteen bullets. + +In September, 1862, he was appointed captain, after having waived rank +three times. This position he held until March, 1863, when, on account +of wounds and ill-health, he was compelled to resign. In the mean time, +he was with the regiment in all its marches, as well as the battle of +Antietam and the affair at Dumfries. + +On his return home he followed his occupation of a printer, until the +governor's call for the National Guard, when he again entered the +service as a captain. His regiment being stationed in the defences of +Washington, he was placed in command of a fort, which was, a part of +the time, garrisoned by several companies. After the expiration of his +term of service, he returned to his home in Cleveland, and resumed his +business. + + +CAPTAIN CHARLES A. WEED. + +Charles A. Weed was born, March 30, 1840, in Lake County, Ohio. He +enlisted in Captain John N. Dyer's company, on the 22d day of April, +1861. After its arrival in camp, he was made orderly-sergeant, in which +capacity he developed fine military talent, such as led his company, at +an early time, to look upon him as a proper person for promotion when a +vacancy should occur. Therefore, on the final organization of the +company for the three years' service, he was made a first-lieutenant. +He was with the regiment during the entire Western Virginia campaign, +taking part in the skirmish at Cross Lanes, in which he took command of +the company after the death of Captain Dyer, which position he held +until January, 1862, when he was relieved by an officer promoted to the +captaincy by reason of superiority of rank. He was soon after made +captain, February 5, 1862, and assigned to Company E. + +He now took part in all the marches and skirmishes in Eastern Virginia, +and also in the battle of Winchester, where he displayed great +gallantry. After this battle, he commanded his company in the pursuit +of Jackson to Harrisonburg, and in the toilsome march to +Fredericksburg, and the return to Front Royal. He was now in the +advance to Port Republic. In the battle which succeeded, he displayed +great courage, as well as ability to command. He took part in the +battle of Cedar Mountain and Antietam, and also in the skirmish at +Dumfries. On the 22d of February, 1863, he resigned, and returned to +his home. + +There were few better officers in the regiment. He was prompt in the +discharge of his duty, seldom questioning the propriety of an order +emanating from a superior, but executing it at once. In his intercourse +with his fellow-soldiers, he was frank and courteous, and all cherished +the kindest feelings towards him. + + +CAPTAIN JUDSON N. CROSS. + +The subject of this sketch is a native of Ohio. When the war broke out +he was attending college at Oberlin, Ohio. He immediately enrolled +himself in Captain Shurtliff's company, and was soon after made a +first-lieutenant. He served with his company in Western Virginia, with +much credit to himself and profit to his country. At the skirmish of +Cross Lanes he was brave, and showed that he was competent to command. +During the affair, he was severely wounded in the arm and taken +prisoner. At the battle of Carnifex Ferry, which followed soon after, +he was recaptured by the forces under General Rosecrans. Being unfit +for service, he now went to his home, where it was thought he might +recover sufficiently to rejoin his command. But after the expiration of +some months, being still unable for service, he was ordered on +recruiting service at Cleveland, Ohio. He was engaged in this work +until the fall of 1862, when he was honorably mustered out of the +service, on account of the unimproved condition of his wound. In the +mean time, however, he had been promoted to a captaincy. + + +CAPTAIN JOHN F. SCHUTTE. + +Entered the service as a lieutenant in Captain Wiseman's company, and +on its organization for three years, was made its captain. He was with +the regiment until just before its affair at Cross Lands, when, being +on picket duty on the banks of the Gauley River, he imprudently crossed +over, and after advancing some miles into the enemy's country, was +fired upon by a body of cavalry, concealed in the bushes, and mortally +wounded. After being taken to an old building close by, he was left, at +his own request, and soon after expired. The rebels buried him on the +spot. No braver officer ever entered the service. Had he lived, he +would undoubtedly have distinguished himself. + +At the time of his death, no officer had a better reputation. His +company was somewhat difficult to manage, but while he was in command, +it was not surpassed for discipline, and hardly equalled. He was kind +to every one who did his duty, but when one of his men failed to do +that, he came down upon him with a heavy hand. + +His loss was deeply felt throughout the entire command. His company had +recognized in him a leader, and they deplored his loss. + + +LIEUT. LOUIS G. DE FOREST. + +Louis G. De Forest was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on the 9th of +September, 1838. His youth was spent in the city schools, where he +acquired a fair education. In 1853, at the age of fifteen years, he +entered the store of N. E. Crittenden. It is a high compliment to his +industry and business habits, that he has remained in his employ since +that date, with the exception of the time that he spent in the military +service. + +Having a natural taste for military life, in 1859 he joined a company +of Light Guards as a private, but soon rose to the positions of +corporal, sergeant, and finally lieutenant. The latter position he +filled with credit, until the rebellion broke out, when, on the +organization of the Sprague Cadets, for three months' service, he +hastened to enroll his name. He was soon made orderly sergeant, which +position he held when the company went into camp. After the regiment +arrived in Camp Dennison, he was elected a second-lieutenant of his +company. And on its final organization for the three years' service, he +was chosen its adjutant, by a vote of its officers, and soon after +received his commission, with the rank of first-lieutenant. + +He accompanied the regiment in its arduous Western Virginia campaign, +and during the time Colonel Tyler commanded a brigade, he served as +acting assistant adjutant-general. At the affair at Cross Lanes, he +took a prominent as well as gallant part. He was among the number of +those who made the march over the mountains to Elk River and +Charleston. + +He accompanied the regiment to Kelly's department, where he again acted +as acting assistant adjutant-general to Colonel Tyler, serving in this +capacity until his resignation, which took place in March. + +When the National Guard was organized, he raised a company, and was +made its captain. In this position he served during the one hundred +days' campaign of this corps, being stationed in a fort in the vicinity +of Washington. + +Every one who came in connection with the Seventh Regiment will +remember the stentorian voice and soldierly bearing of its first +adjutant. + + +LIEUTENANT HALBERT B. CASE. + +Halbert B. Case was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, May 3, 1838. His +father being a farmer, he was bred to that occupation. At the age of +sixteen years he entered the W. R. Seminary, at Farmington, Ohio, +preparatory to entering college. After a year and a half spent in this +institution of learning, he went to Oberlin, where he pursued his +studies for more than three years, when, his health failing him, he was +compelled to leave college. + +During the winter of 1859, his health being somewhat improved, he went +to Tiffin, Ohio, and commenced the study of the law. He remained here +two winters. In the spring of 1860, being in indifferent health, he +returned to his home in Mecca, Ohio, where he pursued his studies +privately for some months. After which he went to Warren, and studied +law with Forrist and Burnett until the breaking out of the rebellion. + +On the 19th day of April, 1861, deeming it his duty to serve his +country, he enlisted in Asper's company, the first organized in the +county. He was soon after made orderly-sergeant. When the three years' +organization was made, he was unanimously chosen a lieutenant by a vote +of his company. + +He served honorably during the campaign in Western Virginia, taking an +active part in the affair of Cross Lanes, sharing the fortunes of the +detachment under Major Casement. + +Among the first promotions that were made in November, 1861, he was +remembered by the authorities, and appointed a first-lieutenant. He +accompanied the regiment to Eastern Virginia, where he joined the +expedition to Romney and Blue's Gap. + +While at Patterson's Creek he felt it his duty to resign his +commission, on account of a personal difficulty with Colonel Tyler. He +therefore left the regiment early in February, with the regrets of the +entire command. + +He was not long permitted to remain at home, for his former services +were acknowledged by giving him a commission as captain in the +Eighty-fourth Regiment, which was being organized for three months' +service. This position being accepted, he proceeded with his regiment +to Cumberland, Maryland. Soon after its arrival he was made +provost-marshal and commandant of the post. In this position he won an +enviable reputation. Among his first orders was one against the use and +sale of intoxicating liquors, which he proceeded to enforce in an +effectual manner; and thus materially aided in maintaining order and +quiet at the post. + +After nearly five months' service, when the regiment was mustered out, +he was appointed colonel, for the purpose of reorganizing it for three +years' service. He immediately entered upon this task; but owing to the +number of regiments at that time being organized in Northern Ohio, he +was but partially successful. The regiment being finally consolidated +with the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Ohio, he returned to his home. + +He soon after entered the law-school at Ann Arbor, Michigan; and after +a year and a half spent at this university, he graduated, with the +degree of L. L. B. Soon after, he returned home, married, and commenced +the practice of his profession at Youngstown, Ohio. + + +LIEUTENANT HENRY Z. EATON. + +Lieutenant Eaton entered the service as a private, but on the three +years' organization was made a second-lieutenant. He was with the +regiment constantly during the campaign in Western Virginia, and always +at his post. He took an important part in the Cross Lanes affair, and +in the march of Major Casement's detachment. + +He now went to the East with the regiment, when Colonel Tyler being +given a brigade, he was assigned to his staff as aid-de-camp. He held +this position at the battle of Winchester; and no one in the army did +better service. He was constantly in the saddle, riding fearlessly in +the heat of the battle, a fair mark for the rebels. During the +engagement his horse was wounded. He was mentioned in official reports +for gallant conduct. He soon after took part in the battle of Port +Republic, where he added much to his already well-earned reputation for +courage and other soldierly qualities. He now followed the regiment to +Alexandria, where he returned to his company and to the front of Pope's +army, where he was at the battle of Cedar Mountain, in which he was +severely wounded. He soon after returned to his home, and finally +resigned, on account of disability from wounds. + + +LIEUTENANT A. H. DAY. + +A. H. Day was a lieutenant in company F, in which capacity he +accompanied the regiment in Western and Eastern Virginia, taking part +in the battles of Winchester and Port Republic, in both of which he did +good service. In the latter he was severely wounded in the shoulder, by +reason of which he was soon after compelled to resign. + + +LIEUTENANT WILLIAM D. SHEPHERD. + +William D. Shepherd entered the service as a private in company D. He +was soon after made a sergeant, and at Camp Dennison, orderly. He +followed the fortunes of his company through the wilds of Western +Virginia till the affair at Cross Lanes, where he showed great +gallantry. He went with his company to Charleston, where, in the +absence of Lieutenant Weed, he took command. During this time the +company was detailed to guard a party who were engaged in erecting a +telegraph line from Point Pleasant to Gauley Bridge. In this service he +gave good satisfaction to all concerned in the undertaking. + +He now remained with his command until a few days before the battle of +Winchester, when he was compelled to leave the field on account of +inflammation in one of his eyes. It had become very painful long before +he would consent to go to the rear. A fever soon following, he was +completely prostrated. He now went to his home, where he was engaged in +the recruiting service. He returned to his regiment late in the summer, +and having been promoted to first-lieutenant, was immediately made +adjutant. He served with the regiment in this capacity until after the +affair at Dumfries, when he was compelled to resign on account of +ill-health. + +After his return home he did great service in recruiting. In the winter +of 1863-4 he canvassed Lake and Geanga counties, and was the means of +enlisting a large number of men. On these occasions he made speeches, +of which any public speaker might well be proud. + +In the fall of 1864 he raised a company for the National Guard, which +he commanded in the one hundred days' service. Returning to his home, +he was appointed a quartermaster, with the rank of captain, and +assigned to a division in the Twenty-third Army Corps. + +His promotion was won in the field, and therefore honorable. His +commission as second-lieutenant bears the date of November 25th, 1861; +and that of first-lieutenant early in the following year. + +Every one who has fallen in company with Lieutenant Shepherd will +remember him as a genial friend and profitable companion. His frankness +and courtesy have made him many friends. To know him, is to esteem him. +I doubt whether he has an enemy in the world. He has always been a warm +supporter of the Government, although not an American citizen by birth, +having been born in Canada. + + +LIEUTENANT E. HUDSON BAKER. + +Lieutenant Baker entered the service in Company C. He remained with the +regiment during its entire campaign in Western Virginia, doing good +service. At the affair at Cross Lanes, he was particularly conspicuous +for gallantry. He now took command of the company, which he held during +the remainder of his term of service. He was in the battle of +Winchester, where he commanded his company with great credit to +himself. As an officer, he was very popular with his command; as a +companion, he was sociable and benevolent. He was finally compelled to +resign from ill-health, but much against his wishes. He desired to +remain until the close of his regular term of service, and then return +with his old comrades; but his increasing debility would not admit. + + +LIEUTENANT RALPH LOCKWOOD. + +Lieutenant Ralph Lockwood entered the regiment, on its first +organization, in Company E. He served creditably through the Western +Virginia campaign, taking part in the skirmish at Cross Lanes, and the +battles of Winchester and Port Republic. In these battles he was +distinguished for personal courage. By constant exposure, he contracted +a rheumatic difficulty, which finally compelled him to resign, at a +time when his services were much needed in the regiment. + + +LIEUTENANT T. T. SWEENEY. + +Lieutenant T. T. Sweeney entered the service in Company B. He saw much +service in Western Virginia, and was in every respect a gallant +officer. At Cross Lanes, he made an honorable record. Soon after this +skirmish, he resigned his commission, and returned to his home in +Cleveland, Ohio. + + +LIEUTENANT EDWARD W. FITCH. + +Lieutenant Fitch entered the service in Company I. He served faithfully +until after the skirmish of Cross Lanes, in which he bore a gallant +part. While at Charleston, he resigned his commission, and returned to +his home. + + +LIEUTENANT A. J. WILLIAMS. + +Lieutenant Williams came into the regiment as second-lieutenant of +Company D, which position he filled with much credit till after the +affair at Cross Lanes, when he resigned his commission. At the time the +above skirmish took place he was sick, and therefore did not take part +in it. Previous to this he had toiled on with his company, through all +its terrible marches and dreary bivouacks; and for this is entitled to +the gratitude of the country. + + + + +OUR DEAD. + + +COLONEL WILLIAM R. CREIGHTON AND LIEUT.-COLONEL ORRIN J. CRANE. + +Colonel William R. Creighton was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in +June, 1837. At the age of ten years, he entered a shoe-store, where he +remained for two years; after which he entered a commercial college, +where he remained for six months. But these pursuits were not to his +liking--he had no taste for accounts. We next find him, at the age of +thirteen years, in the job-office of McMillin, in Pittsburgh, where he +remained for four years, completing his apprenticeship. The year +following, he went to Cleveland, Ohio, and entered the Herald office, +where he remained till the fall of 1860, with the exception of one +winter spent in a job-office in Chicago. + +He united with the fire companies of both Pittsburgh and Cleveland, and +was an active and zealous member. In 1858, he joined the military +organization known as the Cleveland Light Guards, and soon after became +a sergeant, and a lieutenant. He advanced in rank without any +effort--it was a matter of course. + +When the rebellion broke out, his love of adventure would not permit +him to remain at home; but he immediately set himself at work +organizing a company, which was completed in a few days, and, on the +22d day of April, marched to Camp Taylor. He immediately commenced +drilling his company, and with such success, that it took the lead of +all then in camp. + +At this time his military genius shone so conspicuously that he was +looked on by all as the future leader of the regiment. + +All will remember with what skill and pride he led the regiment in its +first march. It was on a beautiful Sabbath morning; and as the young +soldier, with a proud step, took his position at the head of the +column, every eye was turned upon him in admiration; one could see in +the countenances of the men, a willingness to follow such a leader amid +the hail and thunder of battle. Before reaching Camp Dennison, this +admiration warmed into a determination to place him in a position when, +at no distant day, he could be made available as the commander of the +regiment. Therefore, on its arrival at camp, he was elected +lieutenant-colonel, a position which he did not seek, nor intimate to +any that he desired. Very many were desirous of making him colonel. + +During the stay of the regiment at Camp Dennison, he took no active +part, seldom being seen on drill, or on duty of any kind. When the +regiment was about leaving, however, he took command, Colonel Tyler +having gone to Virginia in advance of the starting of the regiment. +Previous to the movement, every thing had been arranged in perfect +order; but this arrangement was partially defeated by the indecent +haste of a captain. An unutterable look of scorn and contempt settled +upon the features of Creighton; but not a word passed his lips. He +never entirely forgave that officer for this act of disobedience of +orders, till his death, when all feelings of animosity gave way to +regrets for his loss; for, outside of a disposition to criticise the +conduct of his superiors, he was a brave as well as competent officer. + +Arriving at Clarksburg, he turned over the command to Colonel Tyler; +but on arriving at Glenville, he again assumed command, which he held +until reaching Cross Lanes; in the mean time, drilling the regiment +daily when in camp. During this time it improved rapidly; in fact, it +acquired, during this short interval, most of the proficiency it +possessed. + +On the march back to Cross Lanes from Twenty-mile Creek, he was with +the advance, in command of the skirmishers. During the affair which +succeeded, at the above place, he bore himself creditably. During the +retreat, his horse fell with him: seizing the holsters, he started on +foot through the underbrush, but soon after saw his horse coming after +him at full speed. He again mounted; but in a short time his horse +again fell, when, for the second time, he abandoned him; but he was +soon joined by his faithful "Johnny," and this time the devoted horse +carried its gallant rider safely to Gauley Bridge. + +This misfortune to the regiment completely unmanned him. Meeting a +comrade on the retreat, who was not in the engagement, he burst into +tears, and, grasping his hand, in choked utterances related the story +of their encounter. + +While the regiment remained at Charleston, Creighton was in command, +and was untiring in his efforts to advance his command in both drill +and discipline; and I doubt whether any regiment in the field made more +rapid progress towards perfection. It seemed to emulate its leader, who +was ever at his post. + +When an order came for five hundred picked men from the regiment to +report to General Benham for duty, in the pursuit of Floyd, he was +chosen to command the detachment. On arriving at Benham's headquarters, +he was given the advance, and, for several days, was separated from +Floyd's camp by a range of mountains only. He was finally given a +brigade, although only a lieutenant-colonel, and ordered across a range +of mountains to the rear of the enemy; but for some reason no attack +was made, and soon after, half of the command was ordered back. + +During the pursuit of Floyd, he travelled on foot at the head of his +regiment. When the rebel army was likely to be overtaken, Benham +remarked to him, that "he depended on him to rout the enemy," and gave +him the post of honor; but when the firing became rapid, his regiment +was ordered to the front, where a part of it was engaged in +skirmishing, while the balance were smoking their pipes and engaging in +sports, almost under the guns of the enemy, Creighton enjoying the fun +as well as any in the command. + +The detachment returned, after fifteen days' absence, without the loss +of a man, save one injured by the accidental discharge of a gun. + +The regiment now went to the East, where, soon after, Tyler was given a +brigade, and Creighton again commanded the regiment. + +At the battle of Winchester, which followed soon after, his was the +first regiment in the famous charge of the Third brigade, for which it +acquired such renown. He disagreed with the commanding officer as to +the manner of making the charge, preferring to deploy before advancing, +than to charge a battery in close column. But throwing all personal +feelings and preferences aside, he dashed forward, and finally deployed +his regiment within eighty yards of the enemy's line of battle, and +under a terrible fire of both musketry and artillery. His horse being +shot from under him, he seized a musket, and engaged in the strife, +firing rapidly till near the close of the battle, when he was compelled +to cease for the purpose of executing some order. + +On the return of the command to New Market, after the pursuit of +Jackson to near Harrisonburg, the company tents were ordered to be +delivered up; whereupon Creighton was very indignant, and, in +connection with other officers, sent in his resignation. They were +ordered to report to General Shields the next morning. Accordingly, +dressed in their "best," they reported. They were received with all the +politeness that pompous general knew how to assume, with an invitation +to be seated. The general informed them that their resignations would +not be accepted; but remarked, that, "if they _desired_ it, he would +have their names stricken from the army rolls in disgrace." This +witticism rather amused Creighton than otherwise, and he returned to +camp with a much better opinion of the general than he was possessed of +before making his visit. + +He now commanded the regiment in its march to Fredericksburg, sharing +with his men the hardships attending the toilsome march; and when, a +few days after, the regiment returned to the Valley, he did much to +cheer the men in that discouraging march. + +At Front Royal he remained with his regiment during a heavy storm, to +which it was exposed without tents, disdaining to seek shelter and +comfort while his men were thus exposed. + +The men were now very destitute of clothing, especially shoes; but when +ordered, he moved to Columbia Bridge, followed by one hundred men +barefooted. He now went personally to General Shields, but was coldly +received by that general, being subjected to insulting remarks. He came +back to his regiment with that same unutterable expression of contempt +stamped upon his features, which all will remember who served with him +in the field; and getting his men in column, closed in mass, made a +speech. Said he: "I am unable to procure shoes or other comforts for +you; but I will follow these generals until there is not a man left in +the regiment. Forward, company H!" And he did follow them to Port +Republic, where his words came near proving true. + +At this battle his bravery and daring were observed by every one. He +made repeated charges with his regiment, the line being as correct as +on dress-parade. After one of these charges, the enemy's cavalry came +dashing towards his regiment, and dispositions were immediately made +for forming a square; but the enemy wisely wheeled, and charged another +regiment. The colonel of this regiment, being unable to get his men in +position, shouted in a stentorian voice: "Men of the ----th, look at +the Seventh Ohio; and d--n you, weep!" + +In this battle the regiment made five charges, under the leadership of +Creighton; and each time driving the enemy. + +After the battle was over, and the regiment on the retreat, seeing a +wounded captain lying almost within the enemy's lines, he rode up to +his company, and pointing to where he was lying, said: "Do you see your +captain over yonder? _Now, go for him!_" They did go for him, and +succeeded in bringing him from the field in safety. + +Only a few were missing from the regiment in this action, although the +list of killed and wounded was fearful. + +We next find Creighton at the battle of Cedar Mountain, where a small +division fought the whole of Jackson's army on ground of his own +choosing. Creighton handled his regiment with a dexterity that told +fearfully on the ranks of the enemy. He was finally severely wounded, +and compelled to leave the field. In doing so, he kept his face to the +foe, saying that "no rebel ever saw his back in battle; and never +would." He was taken to Washington, where the bullet was extracted from +his side, which was an exceedingly painful operation. Soon after this +he came to his home; but while still carrying his arm in a sling, he +reported to his regiment. + +While at home the battle of Antietam was fought, which was the only one +in which he failed to participate. Soon after his return, the affair at +Dumfries occurred, where, through his ingenuity and skill, Hampton's +cavalry command was defeated by a mere handful of men. For this he was +publicly thanked by Generals Slocum and Geary. + +He now took part in the battle of Chancellorsville, where he won new +laurels. It is said that being ordered by General Hooker to fall back, +he refused to do so until able to bring Knapp's Battery safely to the +rear; for which disobedience of orders he was recommended for +promotion. This battery was from his native city, and in it he had many +friends. + +Next he was at Gettysburg, where he fought with his accustomed valor. + +We now find him at Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge, in "Hooker's +battle above the clouds," where the victory was so suddenly and +unexpectedly won, that scarcely sufficient time intervened in which to +display valor. It was simply a race for the top of the mountain on the +part of our men; and a corresponding race on the part of the rebels for +the foot of the mountain on the opposite side. + +After this battle came the pursuit of Bragg. His rear-guard was +overtaken at Ringgold, Georgia, where it was securely posted on the top +of Taylor's Ridge--a naked eminence. It was madness to undertake to +drive them from this hill, without the use of artillery to cover the +assault; but in the excitement of the moment the order was given. In +this assault Creighton commanded a brigade. Forming his command, he +made a speech. "Boys," said he, "we are ordered to take that hill. I +want to see you walk right up it." After this characteristic speech, he +led his men up the hill. It soon became impossible to advance against +the terrible fire by which they were met; he, therefore, led them into +a ravine, but the rebels poured such a fire into it from all sides, +that the command was driven back. Reaching a fence, Creighton stopped, +and facing the foe, waited for his command to reach the opposite side. +While in this position he fell, pierced through the body with a rifle +bullet. His last words were: "Oh, my dear wife!" and he expired almost +immediately. The brigade now fell rapidly back, carrying the remains of +its idolized commander with it. + + +Lieutenant-Colonel Orrin J. Crane was born in Troy, New York, in the +year 1829. At three years of age his parents moved to their native +State, Vermont. Soon after, his father died, leaving but limited means +for the support and education of his children. His mother was a +Christian woman, and devoted to her children. From her he received his +first lessons of life; and a worthy teacher he had. He cherished his +mother with the utmost affection, dwelling upon her goodness with +almost child-like simplicity. It was touching to listen to the words of +love and confidence falling for her, from the lips of the sturdy +warrior, who braved the battle-fire without a tremor. + +In early youth he went to live with an uncle, and in about 1852 came +with him to Conneaut, Ohio, where he employed himself in mechanical +labor. He spent one year on the Isthmus, and after his return went to +Cleveland, where he engaged in the occupation of a ship-carpenter, +following this trade till the fall of Sumter. While in Cleveland he +associated himself with a military organization. + +He entered the service as first-lieutenant in Captain Creighton's +company; and on his promotion, was made captain. He early devoted +himself to the instruction of his company; and it can be said that it +lost nothing of the efficiency it acquired under the leadership of +Creighton. + +After the regiment entered the field, his services were invaluable. I +doubt if the entire army contains an officer who has performed more +service, in the same length of time, than Crane. If a bridge was to be +constructed, or a road repaired, he was sent for to superintend it. If +the commissary department became reduced, he was the one to procure +supplies. No undertaking was too arduous for his iron-will to brave. +There was no fear of starvation while the sturdy Crane was present. All +relied on him with the utmost confidence, and no one was ever +disappointed in him. + +At the affair of Cross Lanes, where he first came under fire, he was +more than a hero; he seemed possessed of attributes of a higher nature. +He moved amid that sheet of flame, as if possessed of a soul in +communion with a higher power. He inspired his men with true courage. +They stood like a wall, and fell back only when ordered by their +leader, then dashed through the strong line of the enemy with a bravery +which was truly sublime. The enemy, although five to one, hesitated, +swayed backward, and finally fled, so severely punished, that for the +time they did not pursue. In that long march, over the mountains to +Gauley Bridge, he was still the proud leader. + +After his arrival at the above place, he was sent out to the front, up +New River, where he rendered valuable service. + +He was in every march and skirmish in both Western and Eastern +Virginia, until, we find the regiment at the battle of Winchester. In +this engagement he showed the same indomitable and true courage. He +held his men to the work of carnage so fearfully, that the enemy's +slain almost equalled his command. + +We now find him in every battle in which his regiment was engaged in +the East. Port Republic, Cedar Mountain (where he was slightly +wounded), Antietam, Dumfries, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. In all +of these he _led_ his command, and the dead of the enemy left on the +field before it attest how well he led it. + +At the battle of Antietam, he commanded the regiment, and during the +latter part of the engagement, a brigade. + +Before the regiment left for the West, he was made lieutenant-colonel; +a position which his ability and long, as well as faithful, service of +his country rendered him eminently qualified to fill. + +Arriving in the West, he commanded the regiment in the battles of +Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge, where he added new laurels to his +already imperishable name. At fatal Ringgold, he again commanded the +regiment. He led it up the steep ascent, where the whistling of bullets +made the air musical; and where men dropped so quietly that they were +scarcely missed, except in the thinned ranks of the command. The +regiment had not recovered from the shock produced by the announcement +of the death of Creighton, when the noble Crane, on whom all hearts +were centred in the fearful peril of that hour, fell at the feet of his +devoted comrades, pierced through the forehead by a rifle bullet. He +spoke not a word--his strong heart ceased to beat; and his soul took +its flight from its blood-red tenement, and from the confusion of +battle, to the land of patriot spirits. He fell so far in the advance, +that his men were driven back before possessing themselves of his +body,--but soon after it was recovered. + + +The sketches of Creighton and Crane now lie in the same path. + +After the bodies of the fallen braves had been laid side by side, the +remaining few of a once full regiment gathered around and mourned,--the +silence alone being broken by the tears and sobs of a band of warriors, +grieving for the loss of their chieftains. Was such a scene ever +witnessed? Those forms, now cold and bloody, had often led them on the +field of carnage, to victory and glory; under their leadership the +regiment had been made immortal; and now, in all their pride, and +glory, and chivalry, they had gone down to rise no more. No wonder, +then, that their brave followers paid their last tribute to all that +was mortal of their renowned leaders. It seemed to these mourners, in +their loss the regiment itself was blotted out--that it would no more +be known and honored--that its sun had forever set. But no, many a +brave heart, that stood in that circle, was to be made a sacrifice to +his country; many more hearts were to be left crushed and bleeding for +the loved ones fallen in battle. When the last tear had been shed, and +the last vow made over these fallen braves, the regiment moved away in +profound silence. + +While this scene was being enacted afar off among the hills of Georgia, +the peaceful valleys of Ohio were echoing with the lamentations of +friends at home. The hearts of the people of the Western Reserve were +bound by the strong ties of kin and friendship to this gallant +regiment, which had but just made its great sacrifice, and they were +all in mourning. When the news came of this great disaster, it could +not be believed; the friends of the fallen would not give them up. And +it was not until a dispatch was received that their bodies were on the +way home, that it was generally believed. At last, when the people +realized that the sad news was indeed true, meetings were called by the +representatives of all branches of trade and industry. Resolutions of +respect were passed, and preparations made to receive the dead, on +their arrival, in a becoming manner. + +When General Hooker learned of the death of Creighton and Crane, he +raised both hands, in surprise and grief, exclaiming, "My God! are they +dead? Two braver men never lived!" + +General Butterfield, chief of staff, gave orders to remove the bodies +to the rear. They were conveyed to Chattanooga by Sergeant Tisdell, +where they were met by Quartermaster Loomis, and privates Wetzel, +Shepherd, and Meigs. General Slocum testified his appreciation of their +worth, by accompanying their bodies as far as Tullahoma. When the news +reached him of their death, his grief was so profound, that the stern +veteran burst into tears. + +They were taken to Nashville to be embalmed. But little, however, could +be done for Creighton, as he had bled inwardly; his body was therefore +put into a metallic case. Crane's body was embalmed, and placed in a +plain, but neat coffin, till it should arrive in Cleveland and be +transferred to a burial case. Dr. Newbury, of the Sanitary Commission, +rendered much service in this work, after which he accompanied the +remains to Louisville. From this place they were forwarded to +Cincinnati by train, where they were met by the special escort from +Cleveland, consisting of Colonel Hayward, Lieutenant-Colonel J. T. +Sterling, Lieutenant-Colonel Frazee, Captain Baird, Captain Molyneaux, +Captain De Forest, Captain Wiseman, Surgeon Cushing, and Quartermaster +Chapin. + +On Sunday morning the train dashed into Cleveland, and stopped at the +foot of Superior-street. Two hearses were in waiting. One for Colonel +Creighton, drawn by four white horses; the other for Lieutenant-Colonel +Crane, drawn by four black horses. Each was draped by American flags +and the usual insignia of mourning. + +The remains of Colonel Creighton were now removed from the car to the +hearse, and conveyed to the residence of Mrs. Creighton, on +Bolivar-street. The remains of Lieutenant-Colonel Crane remained under +guard, till the return of the escort, when they were taken to the +residence of the widow. + +This bright Sabbath will long be remembered. But a few short Sabbaths +before, the coffined dead left the city of their homes, possessed of +life and hope: looking forward with pride and happiness to the +termination of an honorable career in the service of their country. And +often in their night vigils, over the dying embers of their +picket-fires, had they conversed on the subject, passing the long night +in dreams never to be realized. The remaining few of your followers +have, indeed, long since returned; and although the hearts and feet of +these brave warriors were heavy with the tramp of weary months, yet +your slumber was not disturbed. Long years shall roll away, in which +war's tumult and carnage shall cease; but you shall only be known among +men by your good deeds left behind, and perpetuated in the hearts of +your countrymen. + +On the 7th of December the bodies of Creighton and Crane were brought +from the residences of their families and taken to the Council Hall, +for the purpose of lying in state, to be seen by the public. The same +hearses were used as on the arrival of the bodies from the South. + +The Council Hall was elegantly and appropriately decorated. In the +centre, within the railing, a handsome canopy had been placed, with +roof of national flags, draped with mourning emblems, suspended from +the ceiling, and trailing at the corners to the ground. Wreaths, loops, +and festoons of black and white edged the canopy. On the inside, from +the centre, hung a large pendant of mourning emblems, beneath which was +the bier on which lay the bodies of the gallant dead. + +On the president's desk, at the head of the hall, were portraits of +Colonel Creighton and Lieutenant-Colonel Crane, draped in mourning; and +against the wall, behind the place of the president's seat, was a +life-size portrait of Colonel Creighton, also draped in mourning. Above +this portrait was this inscription, in black letters on white ground: + + "My God! are they dead? + Two braver men never lived!" + + --GENERAL HOOKER. + +The windows were hung with black, and the gaslights threw a dim, solemn +light over the mournful scene. + +The bodies were placed in handsome burial-cases, and the covers +removed, so that they could be seen through the glass fronts. As we +have before mentioned, the body of Colonel Creighton, from the wounds +having bled inwardly, was so much changed, previously to reaching +Nashville, that it was impossible to properly embalm it; and therefore +did not present a natural appearance. That of Lieutenant-Colonel Crane +was in good preservation, and could easily be recognized. + +The bodies were guarded by a detachment of members of the old Seventh, +who formed the guard of honor. + +The following account of the funeral services is from the Cleveland +Herald of the 9th of December. + +"The sad pageant is over. A sorrowing people have paid their tribute of +affection and regret over the remains of the dead heroes. The brave +leaders of the glorious but ill-fated Seventh sleep in their quiet +tomb. + +"Tuesday, the 8th, was a bright and beautiful day. Its clear sky and +pleasant atmosphere were strangely similar to that bright Sunday in +May, two years and a half ago, when the Seventh Regiment marched out of +Cleveland on its way to the battle-fields where it was destined to win +such renown. The unclouded sun shed a halo of glory on all that was +left of the brave men who led the old Seventh in many a fight; but who +now were to be laid away in the silent and peaceful tomb. + +"The bright day opened on a city of mourners. People gathered on the +streets, waiting for the hour for the funeral. Business was unthought +of, even the latest news by telegraph, exciting as it was, and +calculated to stir the pulse with triumphant joy, failed to engross the +attention. Men spoke of the dead heroes, of their first departure for +the war, of their terrible battles and bloody sacrifices; and of that +last fearful struggle on the hill at Ringgold, where the gallant +leaders laid down their lives for their country, amid their dead and +wounded comrades. + +"From every flag-staff the national colors hung at half-mast, and signs +of mourning were everywhere visible. As the hour set for the +commencement of the solemn exercises drew near, business was entirely +suspended throughout the city. The stores were closed, the Federal, +State, and city offices shut their doors, and a Sabbath-like stillness +reigned over the city. Soon came the tramp of armed men, the mournful +wail of bugles, and the funeral roll of the drums, as the troops moved +up to take part in the funeral procession. + +"The bodies had remained in the Council Hall over-night, guarded by the +old comrades of the gallant dead. The families and relatives were in +the mayor's office, waiting for the hour of moving the procession. At +half past ten o'clock the bodies were removed from the Council Hall and +placed in hearses which were draped with the national colors, looped up +with mourning emblems. + +"The pall-bearers were as follows: For Colonel Creighton--Colonel +Senter, Colonel Whittlesey, Major Mygatt, Lieutenant-Colonel Asper, +Major Seymour, Captain McIlrath, Captain Ransom, Captain Stratton. For +Lieutenant-Colonel Crane--Lieutenant-Colonel Goddard, Lieutenant-Colonel +Sterling, Major Palmer, Captain Drummond, Captain Douglass, Captain +Wilson, Captain Standart, Captain Hill. + +"The burial-cases were the best that money could buy. On one was the +following inscription: + + COL. W. R. CREIGHTON, + 7th O. V. I, + In his 27th year. + Killed at the Battle of Ringgold, + Nov. 27th, 1863. + +"On the other was the inscription: + + LIEUT.-COL. O. J. CRANE, + Fell at the Battle of Ringgold, + Nov. 27th, 1863. + +"On each coffin was laid a handsome wreath of immortelles, with the +sword of the dead officer. + +"The Twenty-ninth Volunteer Militia were drawn up in line each side of +the way between the Council Hall and the Stone Church, and the mournful +_cortege_ passed through the lane so formed, Leland's Band playing +a dirge. The hearse was followed by the mourners in carriages--Governor +Brough, Surgeon McClurg, of the United States Military Hospital, the +City Council, and City and County Officers, all wearing crape badges. + +"Thousands of people lined the way, and crowded around the church with +the hope of getting in; but there was not a sound from them, as the +procession passed on to the church. And such perfect order and decorum +we never before saw in such a vast concourse. + + +IN THE CHURCH. + +"At the church--as indeed throughout the whole of the obsequies--the +most perfect arrangements had been made, and were carried out. The +reading-desk was draped with flags and crape. Directly in front was a +stand with an elegant bouquet of flowers, and below this another stand, +draped with national colors, on which rested the two coffins, side by +side. + +"The silk banner of the Seventh, presented by the city after Cross +Lanes, and bearing the names of several battles, was displayed against +the reading-desk. It was pierced and rent by showers of bullets and +shell in many a hard-fought battle. + +"The families and relatives of the deceased were placed in the seats +immediately in front of the bodies. On either side of the coffins sat +the pallbearers. Directly behind the mourners sat about a dozen or more +of the members of the old Cleveland Light Guard, the company commanded +by Colonel Creighton before the war, and of which Lieutenant-Colonel +Crane was a member. They wore crape badges, and had with them the +company flag, draped in mourning. + +"Near the reading-desk were seated Governor Brough, Surgeon McClurg, +and other invited guests, the committees, city council, city officers, +county officers, the clergy of the city and neighborhood, members of +the old Seventh, members of the old Cleveland Light Guard, soldiers +from the Military Hospital, members of the Typographical Union, +ship-carpenters, and other friends of the deceased. The body of the +church was packed tightly with citizens, of whom the greater part were +ladies, preference being given to them in the selection of seats. The +Twenty-ninth Regiment stood in the aisles. + +"During the entry of the procession to the church, the organ played a +voluntary suitable to the occasion. At half-past eleven o'clock the +funeral ceremonies in the church commenced with an invocation of the +Divine blessing by Rev. S. W. Adams, of the First Baptist Church, who +afterwards read appropriate passages of Scripture. + +"The choir then sang the Ninetieth Psalm: + + "'O God! our help in ages past, + Our help in years to come; + Our shelter from the stormy blast, + And our eternal home; + + "'Beneath the shadow of Thy throne, + Thy saints have dwelt secure; + Sufficient is Thine arm alone, + And our defence is sure. + + "'Before the hills in order stood, + Or earth received her name, + From everlasting Thou art God-- + To endless years the same. + + "'Thy word commands our flesh to dust: + Return ye sons of men! + All nations rose from earth at first, + And turn to earth again. + + "'O God! our help in ages past, + Our help for years to come: + Be Thou our guide while troubles last, + And our eternal home.' + +"Rev. Adam Crooks, of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, then made the +following address, at the request of the family of the late Colonel +Creighton: + +"'To-day we are in the solemn presence of inexorable death. We are +impressedly reminded that dust we are, and unto dust we must return; +that "death is the mighty leveller of us all;" that "the tall, the +wise, the heroic dead must lie as low as ours." Two lifeless heroes are +before us-- + + "'Their swords in rust; + Their souls with God in heaven, we trust.' + +We would do well to pray with the hero of other days: "So teach us to +number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." Before us +are two more rich offerings which the State of Ohio and Cleveland have +laid upon our country's altar! They were preceded by Wheeler, Lantry, +Pickands, Mahan, Vail, and others. We are here to mourn, to honor, and +to bury the noble dead! They were the pride of our city and of Northern +Ohio. Brave and honored representatives of a brave and honored +constituency! Of one thousand eight hundred soldiers who have filled +the ranks of the Seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, but little +over a hundred now report for duty. Many of them sleep in patriots' and +heroes' graves. Most of the remainder bear on their persons honorable +marks of their patriotism and bravery. In honoring the representative, +we honor the constituency. + +"'But _general_ remarks are not appropriate from me. At the request of +the stricken widow and relatives of Colonel Creighton, I come to utter +a few words of condolence, sympathy, and comfort, in this hour, to +_them_ and _to us all_, of deep affliction. Brother Foot will speak +in behalf of the relatives of Lieutenant-Colonel Crane. + +"'Colonel William R. Creighton was born in the City of Pittsburgh, +in the year 1836 or 1837--the records are not in this city. In early +childhood he was bereft of a father. He was baptized by the Rev. Bishop +Uphold, now bishop of Indiana, of the Protestant Episcopal Church. + +"'In his early teens, he served in the employ of Mr. A----, in an +extensive shoe establishment. Subsequently, he chose the occupation of +a printer, and spent three years in making himself master of his trade. +Eight years ago he came to this city--was four years in the office of +the Cleveland Herald. Also some six months in the City of Chicago. At +the time of enlistment, he was in the employ of Mr. Nevans of this +city. Early in life, he gave evidence that the tendencies of his nature +were strongly _military_. + +"'This was evinced by his connection with companies for drill in +Pittsburgh, Chicago, and this city. When the bloody drama of this +dreadful war was inaugurated, he was lieutenant of the 'Cleveland Light +Guard.' He was not willing that the fair and majestic superstructure, +reared by the superior skill, patient labor, and heroic suffering of +our honored fathers--resting its deep foundations in the inalienability +of the natural rights of all men, and in which the most indigent son of +toil stands before the law the equal peer of merchant princes--should +be torn down by perjured traitors and sworn enemies of mankind; not +willing that these traitors and enemies should bury beneath the +magnificent ruins of this superstructure our strength, and greatness, +and safety, and peace, and very liberties; not willing that this young, +yet powerful republic, should be so dismembered and disintegrated as to +tempt the rapacity, and be an easy prey of the weakest of adverse +powers; not willing that the principle, that '_Capital shall own +labor_,' the non-capitalled be the chattel of the rich, should rule +all over this continent--that labor should be at once unremunerative +and the badge of infamy, that thus there should be eternal antagonism +between the indigent and the affluent, developing in intestine broils +and civil feuds,--nor that the sun of liberty should go down upon an +entire hemisphere, to rise not again for many generations; not willing +that the forum, pulpit, and press should all be enslaved, and +intelligence among the masses be rendered contraband; in brief, not +willing that our _Paradise_ should be converted into a _Pandemonium_. + +"'Hence, no sooner had the news reached us of the assault upon Fort +Sumter, and the call of the President for seventy-five thousand +volunteers to rush to the defence of the life of the republic, than, +with all the ardor of his earnest nature, Colonel William R. Creighton +threw his _all_ upon his country's altar, and appealed to his +associates and compeers to do likewise. + +"'His success in securing enlistments was commensurate with his zeal +and known military skill. In a few days he was captain of a full +company--the first enlisted in this city--which afterwards became +Company A of the immortal Seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. On +the morning of the 3d of May, 1861, a beautiful Sabbath morning in the +spring, emblem of life, youth, and beauty, this regiment started for +the field of conflict, glory, and of death. And now, on a clear, serene +Sabbath of the December of 1863, the dying month of the year, the first +Sabbath of the month, and in the morning, after many hard-fought +battles, the brave colonel and lieutenant-colonel of the gallant +Seventh came back to say to us, in the mute silence of death, 'We have +done what we could.' In terms and strains of true eloquence you will +soon be told by Brother Peck, how bravely the colonel led the charges +at Cross Lanes, Winchester, Port Republic, Cedar Mountain (not at +Antietam, for he was at home wounded), Dumfries, Chancellorsville, +Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain, and fatal Ringgold,--and how he loved his +brave command, and how they idolized him. But I will not anticipate, +nor need I attempt encomium. His _deeds_ praise him beyond the +capacity of all human eloquence. + +"'Of his _social_ and _manly_ qualities, one who knew him well is +permitted to speak, in a letter of Christian sympathy, addressed to his +widow--for the 2d of May, 1861, three days before leaving with his +command, he was united in wedlock with Eleanor L. Quirk, of this city. +In a letter, such as described above, the Rev. Mr. Brown, former pastor +of Westminster Church, and for some months chaplain of the Seventh +Regiment, says: + + "'MRS. COLONEL CREIGHTON: My dear Friend--I have just read in the + dispatches that your brave husband and Lieutenant-Colonel Crane + were killed in the late battle at Ringgold, Georgia. Oh, how sad + this is! Sad to me who loved him; but how _terribly_ sad to you, + his beloved wife! I cannot write about it. Precious memories of + hours and days of dangers and hardships, shared together in Western + Virginia (and of one long, serious conversation about death and + eternity, as we rode together at midnight through the woods) crowd + upon me. He was warm-hearted, generous, and noble. He loved his + country unto death. He was brave, even to rashness. But he has + gone!' + +"'Yes, the warm-hearted friend, the loving brother, the affectionate +son, the devoted husband, the brave soldier, the undying patriot, the +fearless and fiery Creighton, is gone! We are here to-day to honor his +memory, recount his heroic deeds of noble daring, mourn his fall, and +convey his lifeless remains--with those of his brave comrade, +Lieutenant-Colonel Crane--to the tomb of a hero and a patriot. + +"'What words of elegiac comfort shall I speak to his numerous personal +and sorrowful friends; his brothers in the union of the same useful and +honorable handicraft; his brave comrades in arms of the noble Seventh, +and other regiments, who are here to attest their affection and sorrow; +his brother in the flesh, who is now left without a brother; his aged +and sorely bereaved mother; and his youthful, but grief-stricken, +widow? How shall _I_, who would take my place with the mourners, speak +words of comfort to you? + +"'Let us remember that although our _dear_, _dear_ friend will no +longer mingle with us in the social or domestic circle,--will not again +lead regiment or brigade of fearless braves in the thickest and hottest +of the fight, inspiring to feats of exalted heroism--his brave and +generous heart now cold and lifeless--dim and sightless those eyes +whose radiant and enlivening orbs beamed, now with kindness, and now +with fiery bravery--his intercourse with the living world, brought to a +final period,--let us remember, that although Colonel Creighton is +gone, yet he is not lost; he is not lost to his country, for it has his +noble example of true bravery and practical patriotism. + +"'He is not lost to us who knew him, for he lives, and will ever live, +templed in our brightest memories and best affections. Nor can he be +lost to history, for he has made the offering which places his name on +its brightest page. + +"'Death never comes alone, but is always attended by an escort of +sadness. Whenever the silver cord is loosed, the golden bowl broken, +the pitcher broken at the fountain, the wheel broken at the cistern, +and dust returns to the earth, as it was, mourners go about the +streets. But it is especially sad, when, as in this case, sister, +mother, and wife are denied the sorrowful pleasure of being present, +and ministering to the wants of the dying, and speaking words of +Christian hope. But even this finds an offset in the fact that it was +his honored privilege to die for country--to fall, covered with glory! +Also, in the fact that his body was not mangled--that he did not suffer +long--in the assurance furnished by the words, 'Oh, my dear wife!' +uttered in dying accents after he fell, and before he expired, that his +last thoughts were of home and kindred; and may not we hope that these +words were breathed in prayer, and that he threw his whole soul +helpless, but trustfully, upon the merits of the Saviour? Again, it is +a source of great gratification to us all, and especially to the +relatives, that he does not fill a distant and unknown grave--that he +was tenderly borne from the field, and promptly forwarded for honorable +interment. His grave is to be in our midst, marked by a marble shaft, +which will scarcely crumble beneath the tread of the coming ages. You +can go there and pay the mournful tribute which nature and affection +prompt. And may it not be believed, that from their patriotic ashes +(for Creighton and Crane fought and fell together, and they are to rest +side by side)--is it not to be believed, that from their patriotic +ashes will spring a rich harvest _in kind_ to at once avenge their +fall, and save our imperilled country? And will not fathers and mothers +conduct their children to these honored graves, and there put upon them +vows of eternal hostility to treason and to traitors, be they secret or +armed, even as Hamilcar caused his son Hannibal to swear, at the altar, +eternal hatred to Rome? And will not every one who visits their tombs, +and reads their epitaphs, whisper, "Peace and honor." And when this +cruel war is over, and the God of our fathers shall crown our labors +and sufferings with success, and bestow upon us, as a nation, an +honorable, righteous, and perpetual peace, then, amid the light, and +songs, and joy of the nation's jubilee, let their epitaphs be written +anew. And during all ages, peace to their ashes, peace to their memory, +and peace to their heroic spirits. + +"'Let us this day, around the lifeless forms of these fallen heroes, +not profanely, but solemnly and religiously, swear that the lives of +these, together with the lives of hundreds of thousands of the flower +of the nation, given for the salvation of the country, shall not be +given in vain; that we will complete well, what they have so well +begun. + +"'I need not ask of you, in behalf of the aged mother and bereaved +widow of Colonel Creighton, your warm, your practical, your continued +sympathies: these, I am sure, will not be withheld. But I now ask you +to join me in one fervent prayer to the God of the aged, the +fatherless, and the widow, our fathers' God, and the God of battles, +that He will, by His almighty arm, sustain, and, by His abundant grace, +comfort the aged mothers, and bereaved widows, and afflicted friends of +our brave soldiers, and their departed sons, husbands, and brothers; +that He will thus sustain and comfort all whose hearts have been cloven +by the battle-axe of war; that He will abundantly shield, help, bless, +and comfort our brave soldiers upon the field, in the hospitals, and +prisoners in the hands of our enemies; and that He will speedily bestow +upon our imperilled country the inestimable blessing of an honorable, +righteous, and lasting peace. Amen.' + +"Rev. C. C. Foot, at the request of the family of the late +Lieutenant-Colonel Crane, made the following address: + +"'The duties we are called to perform--the bearing of our dead brave to +their final rest--is indeed solemn and sad. That those who admired and +loved them in life, and delight to honor them when dead, should, with +sympathizing hearts and grateful hands, minister such a funeral +ovation, is due to them in view of the sacrifice they made, the toils +they endured, and their deeds of patriotism and valor. When the bugle +was first sounded in Washington, calling the North to the defence of +our institutions, these were among the first to respond; leaving their +business, their friends, and their families, for the field of strife, +they unsheathed their swords to strike for freedom's sacred cause. In +many skirmishes, and in every battle of their brigade, they struck with +such bravery and success as to have secured perpetual illustriousness; +while ever a nation exists to feel the throb of a nation's heart, while +a man lives to read the annals of America, their noble deeds shall be +known, and their illustrious names shall be honored. + +"'They passed through so many dangers almost unscarred, that they +feared no ill, and their families began to expect with confidence their +return to the enjoyments of home, ere many months more should have +flown. But when on Ringgold's hillside they raised their swords to +gleam as never before, from a volley of Confederate musketry their +death-warrant came. Their bodies sank to the ground--their spirits +ascended through the smoke-cloud of battle to the patriot's God, to +join the slain of the Seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, where the stars +forever shine in original splendor and glory. On the morrow, instead of +the ready pen reporting to loved ones at home that "all is well with +us," the telegraph was put in requisition to announce that never more +should their voices be heard by friend, companion, or offspring. Oh, +how sad such intelligence! How many families, how many tender, loving, +trembling hearts throughout the land, have been made sorrowful by like +intelligence since this war was so cruelly hurled upon us? From what +our soldier friends do and suffer from the myriad untimely deaths, +shall we not learn the magnitude of the work of the army, and our great +indebtedness to all who have gone to fight for us, our homes, and our +country? Let us render them the honor due. When men become illustrious, +it is but natural that their friends review their lives, and that +others inquire who they are, whence they came, and what circumstances +molded them for their greatness. To answer briefly and in part such +inquiries about one of these brave men--Lieutenant-Colonel O. J. +Crane--is the work to which I have been invited. Lieutenant-Colonel +Crane was born in Chautauque County, New York, in the year 1829. When +about three years old, his parents removed to their native State, +Vermont. Soon after this, his father died, and he was left to climb +life's rugged hill from his mother's arms to manhood, without the +invaluable aid of a father's counsels and assistance. He was blest with +a kind, intelligent, and prayerful mother, to whom he owed no small +amount of gratitude. + +"'Her care and labor for his health, and even his life, were constant +and great. While quite young, he once received a burn, so severe that +his life was despaired of. The attendant physician said he could not +live--or living, would always be helpless. But his mother loved him +into _life_ and _health_, little thinking that she had saved him from +one fire, only to see him exposed and becoming a victim to a more +galling one; little thinking that to him, for whose life she struggled, +she and the nation would become indebted for liberty and political +security. During his youth he lived chiefly with an uncle, and with +whom, about thirteen years ago, he located in Conneaut, Ohio. While +there, he was employed in mechanical labor. He spent one year on the +Isthmus. On his return from the Isthmus, he came to Cleveland, and +found employment as a ship-carpenter. In this city, and this business, +he remained till called to participate in our national conflict. + +"'As a mechanic, he enjoyed the confidence and esteem of his employers +and his fellows. As a man, he drew around him a pleasant circle of +friends, constant and affectionate, who deeply mourn his loss. In +disposition, he was frank, manly, kind, and ever cheerful. He leaves a +sorrowing wife, to whom he was married nine years ago, three small +children, a mother, brothers and sisters. Their bereavement is too +great, their grief too deep, for even them to express in language. Yet +not till weary weeks shall fail to bring letters from the +battle-field--not till months confirm that no husband returns--not till +years reveal the need of a father to guide the orphans, and a companion +to sustain an aching heart, shall be fully realized the magnitude of +the sacrifice made, in laying upon a nation's altar a husband and a +father. + +"'The subject of these remarks had never made a public profession of +faith in Jesus. He had respected religion. He showed great kindness and +respect to the chaplain of his regiment, and consequently had a good +chaplain. He also, after entering the service, became interested in +personal religion. He professed a readiness to die when called. Let us +pray and hope that beyond the turmoil of this life, he may receive his +dear ones to everlasting fellowship of joy. + +"'Some months ago he became a member of the Masonic fraternity. Though +so soon taken from them, yet-- + + "'By the hieroglyphic bright, + Which none but craftsmen ever saw, + Strange memory on our minds shall write + His honored name that's far awa.' + +"'Citizens of Cleveland and Ohio, as we embalm his name in our memory, +let us not fail to remember, also, the dear family he has left. Let us +give them our heartfelt sympathy--not the sympathy of _pity_, but +that of _gratitude_--for his and their debtors we are. He gave his +life; not for himself, but for us who live, for our homes, and our +posterity. Surrounding the husbandless with what comforts we can, and +supplying the fatherless with fatherly care, and aid, and sympathy, let +us, to our utmost, discharge our indebtedness. Let us work and pray +that but few more brave need fall; and that the time be speeded when +the defenders of our liberties shall be welcomed home to the enjoyment +of their triumphs, with the jubilant acclamation of many millions of +freemen.' + +"Professor H. E. Peck, at the request of the General Committee, +delivered the address on behalf of the city, as follows: + +"'On a fair Sabbath in May, only three short seasons ago, just as the +bells were calling the town to worship, a regiment passed down yonder +street. That, citizens, was a spectacle which you who saw it will never +forget. Not because the marching column was striking to the eye. There +was no pageant. There were no arms, no banners. There was not even a +uniform. The farmer, the student, and the smith, were in that line; +and the farmer marched in the garments he brought from the furrow, +and the student and the smith were attired as they had been in the +recitation-room and shop. But for all that, the display was profoundly +impressive. Here was the flower of the Reserve. Lake, Mahoning, +Trumbull, Lorain, and Erie, each had a hundred; Portage, twice a +hundred; and Cuyahoga, thrice a hundred in the line. And each hundred +was made up, not of the rabble, but of sons, whom worthy fathers and +mothers dearly loved; of men, who, if they should stay at home, would +soon be conspicuous for wealth, or learning, or skill in useful arts. +And these thousand true men, loved well at home, made of sterling +stuff, were on their way to _war_--to actual war. To serve the +imperilled country, they had quit all,--farms, shops, books, friends, +hopes, the past, the future,--all but duty and honor. They might never +return. The vow on them might take them to bloody fields, from which +there should be no passage except down through the gates of death. Oh, +kinsman, was not that an impressive scene? Did you ever see the like? +Did not tears wet your eyes as you looked on? Were not the cheers with +which you sent the heroes on their way divided, as shouts of yours had +never before been, nor have been since, between admiration and sorrow? + +"'This, friends, was the first march of our gallant Seventh. You do not +forget that in that march the column was led by a young captain, whose +high carriage and soldierly bearing were almost the only signs of real +military display. The body of that young captain lies in one of yonder +coffins. Of him, and his brave comrade who sleeps beside him, I am to +speak on this occasion. The history of the noble Seventh is _their_ +late history. With it, therefore, let me begin. + +"'The Seventh left Cleveland May 5, 1861. It went hence to Camp +Dennison, where E. B. Tyler, of Ravenna; W. R. Creighton, of Cleveland; +and John S. Casement, of Painesville, were made its first +field-officers. In the June following, while it was still at Camp +Dennison, the regiment was reorganized and sworn into the three-years' +service. I well remember seeing Captain Crane, whose remains are +yonder, on a sweet Sabbath afternoon--men, sun, air, and earth, all +were glad, and the harmonies of nature were tunefully praising +God--bringing his company to the colonel's quarters to be sworn in. I +well remember the impression which the strong voice of the sombre +captain made upon me, as, after the young soldiers, with bare heads and +uplifted hands, had taken the oath, he cried, "Company, right face; +forward, march!" The tone of the command was as if he would say, "Now, +men, there is no retreat. Only service, perhaps death, is before you." + +"'A week later, General McClellan, who had then just taken command of +the Western Department, came looking for the right material with which +to begin his Western Virginia campaign, and inspected the regiment. But +it was not at garments the shrewd leader looked. It was the _person_ he +studied. He sought the eye. He narrowly scanned the look. Down the line +and back again he slowly went. I saw the expression on his face, as at +the end, he seemed to say to himself, "_They are the right sort!_" In +the reorganization of the regiment, the staff remained as it was +before. + +"'On the 26th of June, 1861, the Seventh left Camp Dennison, to enter +on active service in Western Virginia. With many long marches it sought +the foe. It had begun to doubt whether it would ever meet him, when, at +Cross Lanes, on the 26th of August, he came, with overwhelming force. +For a brief space, the companies, separated from each other, held their +ground. Then, from bare and irresistible necessity, they gave way. +Twenty-four gallant men were left on the field, dead or wounded. One +hundred were carried away prisoners, and the remainder were scattered +like partridges which have received the sportsman's fire. At first, +tidings came to us that the Seventh was wholly destroyed. How ached our +hearts! Presently, better news came. Major Casement had brought four +hundred men through the wilderness into Charleston, and Captain Crane +had come to Gauley, bringing, not only almost his entire company, but a +flag which he had captured from the enemy. + +"'Then came to the regiment days of distraction and despondency. You, +and others of the Reserve, heard of, and agonized over its condition. +To encourage and cheer it, you sent it a stand of beautiful colors. At +the Academy of Music, as you will remember, before a throng of your +best citizens, the standards were dedicated. + +"'On a mountain-side, in Western Virginia, with Rosecrans' army lying +miles up and down, and with the smoke of the enemy's camp-fires rising +in the distance, they were presented to the regiment. I wish I could +picture the scene, the splendors of the magnificent landscape, the +exquisite beauty of the colors as they proudly glowed in the clear +sunlight, the enthusiasm of the men and the pride of the officers. Your +present helped to rouse the spirit of the regiment. The words of love +and considerate regard, which you sent with the gift, assured it that +its honor was not yet lost. How thrilling, how hopeful, was the cheer +which rolled off among the hills, as the color-guard took its trust! + +"'From the Kanawha the Seventh went, on the 17th of December, 1861, to +the Potomac. There, now led by Lieutenant Colonel Creighton--Colonel +Tyler having taken temporary command of a brigade--it met, at +Winchester, March 23, 1862, Jackson's celebrated "Stonewall Legion." +Hot was the fire, when the Northern iron met the Southern flint. The +Seventh left fifty-six dead and wounded on the field. But it won a +name in the fight. The story told of them, the land over, was, _they +fought like veterans_. Then came the long chase up the Shenandoah, +then the hard march across to Eastern Virginia, and back to the gates +of the Shenandoah. Then came Port Republic, the first square stand-up +fight which the regiment had, when, led by Creighton, in an open field, +in a line trim enough for a dress parade, and with "Cross Lanes" for +its battle-cry, the glorious Seventh charged down on Jackson's +steadfast front. Ah, how the list of the dead and wounded was again +fearfully swelled! Seventy-two names were added to it. + +"'By this time the regiment had become so reduced by the casualties of +war, that its friends on the Reserve asked that it might be sent home +to recruit. "No," promptly replied discriminating Halleck, "not so long +as there is a lame drummer left; not if you will send us a whole new +regiment in place of this handful. We know these men, they are just +such as we want." Colonel Tyler's promotion to a brigadiership brought +Lieutenant-Colonel Creighton to the head of the regiment, and this, and +other changes, presently made Captain Crane a Lieutenant-Colonel. The +regiment now had plenty of duty. It fought at Cedar Mountain, and +there, on the extreme advance, it met the brunt of danger. + +"'In one company, out of twenty-one men engaged, eighteen fell killed +or wounded. The whole regiment suffered in hardly less proportion. One +hundred and ninety-six, of the two hundred and ninety-seven heroes +engaged, fell. There, fiery Creighton, as usual, not content to be +elsewhere than on the extreme front, was so severely wounded that he +was compelled to come home to recover. + +"'Soon the regiment was at Antietam, and there it shared the toils and +honors of that honorable field. Thirty-eight fallen men, out of one +hundred engaged, was the price it paid for its opportunity. Presently +it fought and prevailed against great odds at Dumfries. Here it lost +ten more of its scant few. + +"'In the next year's campaign, after lying in camp and being +considerably recruited, the regiment was at Chancellorsville. There it +did good service, by catching and holding on its steady line droves of +fugitives, who were ingloriously seeking the rear, and by covering the +retreat of its corps. It lost, at Chancellorsville, ninety-nine men. +Next the regiment was at Gettysburg. There, for the first time in its +history, it fought behind defences; nor could Ewell, surging with fiery +valor up against the rocky rampart, break the line which it, and its +compeers of the Twelfth Corps, held. The Seventh lost at Gettysburg +nineteen men; and, as from every field before, so from this, it brought +honor and a new name. From the Potomac the regiment went, in September +last, to the Tennessee. There, on the 24th of last month, it shared in +that brilliant "battle above the clouds," by which Hooker cleared +Lookout Mountain. Decisive as the result of its courage here was, it +seems to have left behind but one wounded man as its share of the +sacrifice which the victory cost. Then came the pursuit of Bragg, and +the overtaking of his rear-guard at Ringgold; then the climbing, by the +Twelfth Corps, of that bare hill, on the top of which the enemy was +securely posted. Staunch Creighton was in command of a brigade, and +Crane led the Seventh. The charge was a desperate one, but Creighton +did not falter. Kindling to that ardor of which he was so susceptible, +he urged his command on. "Boys," he said, "we are ordered to take that +hill. I want to see you walk right up it." Then putting himself, not in +the rear, as being temporarily a brigadier he might have done, but far +in the advance, he led the way. And Crane, close behind, stoutly held +the Seventh to its bloody work. The men were ready for the task. The +zeal of Cross Lanes, of Winchester, of Port Republic, burned to a white +heat. The gallant Seventh, leading the column, flung itself into the +billows of fire, as if it were rescuing home from robber hands. But, +ah! chivalric Creighton fell, and, alas! sturdy Crane, too; and of the +commissioned officers of the Seventh, but one remained unhurt. Is it +wonderful that the grand old regiment, losing the inspiring command of +the brave soldiers whose voices had so often aroused its purposes, fell +back? Oh, Creighton and Crane, had you lived, the Seventh would, +perhaps, without help, have carried the dear old colors, tattered by so +many leaden storms, into the enemy's defiant works! Sad tale that I +must tell, of the two hundred and ten sons and brothers of ours who +went into the fight, ninety fell; of the fourteen commissioned officers +on the field, thirteen were killed or wounded. + +"'My story of the Seventh is done. Yes, the Sabbath comes; sweet, clear +day, as bright as that holy morn on which the Seventh first went its +way. A sad cortege passes up the same street yonder. Music wails at its +head. A downcast guard of honor marches, with mourning colors, behind +hearses trimmed with the badges of woe. Look you, kindred, the band +which follows the dead is made up of the men who marched in that May +Sabbath line two years ago. But the farmer, the student, the smith, +are not there. These are soldiers all. They are scarred with the marks +of Cross Lanes, of Winchester--nay, let me not stop to recite the long +list of battles through which they have passed. Yes, here is part of +the scant few left out of the eighteen hundred staunch men who have +stood under the flag of the Seventh; and here, hearse-borne, are the +bodies of the good leaders who shall head the regiment no more. Pause +now, citizens, while I tell you about these noble men. Colonel +Creighton was born in Pittsburgh. He was but twenty-six years of age +when he fell. For several years he followed the trade of a printer in +this city. But he was born to be a soldier, and years ago he learned, +in civic schools, a soldier's trade. So, when the war broke out, he was +fit to take command. He raised a company in this city. At once his +military talent was revealed. He had not a peer in the camp as a +drill-master, and there was something about his ardent nature which +made men feel that he was fit to command. Thus superior office came to +him--he did not seek it. But getting it, he discharged his duties well. +He was affectionate to his men, erring only in being, perhaps, too free +with them. And when battle came, he was a master-spirit in the dreadful +storm. Burning with enthusiasm, almost rash with courage, he could +inspire his "gamecocks"--as he familiarly called his men--with such +qualities as are most needed in the charge and in the deadly breach. I +have often asked sound thinking members of the Seventh, "What of +Creighton?" The answer has always been, "_He is a soldier, every +inch._" + +"'Lieutenant-Colonel Crane was born in Troy, New York, in the year +1828. He, too, has been a mechanic here for many years. Like his chief, +he, too, had learned the use of arms before the war commenced. He was, +therefore, amply qualified to take command of his company when Captain +Creighton was promoted. And no ordinary disciplinarian was Captain +Crane. He had a difficult company, but it was with a strong hand that +he laid hold of his work. Headstrong men had a master in him. Withal, +he was the soul of kindness to those he commanded. His rugged nature, +despising military finery, and the pomps and forms of military life, +came down at once to plain, blunt, frank, but sincere and hearty +intercourse with the men under him. If you wished to find Captain +Crane, you must look for him where his boys were; and if his boys had +had a trying or toilsome work, you might be sure he was lightening the +load by his own example of brave and sturdy patience. He did not have +an impulsive nature. He was not a thunderbolt on the field. He was +rock, rather. Fiery floods might break against him, and yet he was +always the same; always imperturbable, honest, strong. + +"'I should have said before, that Colonel Creighton was in every battle +which the Seventh ever fought, except Antietam. It is in place for me +to say here, that Lieutenant-Colonel Crane took part in every battle in +which his regiment shared. I doubt if another instance of the kind is +on record. Would that the Hand which had so often averted danger, could +have turned the fatal bullets aside at Ringgold! + +"'And now, friends, I am, at the invitation of the joint-committee of +the city council, the military, the Typographical Union, the +ship-carpenters, and yourselves, and as the representative of other +towns, who helped raise the Seventh, to bring a tribute of gratitude +and praise to the memory of the gallant dead. In my poor way, I here +certify to the noble qualities, to the brave deeds of the soldiers +coffined yonder. I come to say, that the honor done them by the city, +by the military, by yourselves, by good men who, in other towns, mourn +their loss, is well bestowed. The heroes have earned their honors. They +have bought them with such high conduct, with such self-sacrifices, as +the brightest laurels poorly reward. I know not how those souls, which +lately inhabited yonder clay, stand in the other world (would that your +prayers and mine could reach them), but I do know, that their names +shall live in this world forever. The marble you shall put up over +their dust will itself have gone to dust before their renown shall have +passed from the hearts and lips of men. + +"'Would, friends, that you and I, by any ministry of love, could +staunch these widows' and half-orphans' tears. Oh! sisters bereaved, +and dear little children, now fatherless, may God in His mercy keep +you! May He be help and hope to you! Remember, I pray you, that the +spilled blood which was so dear to you, was precious also to God; that +it is from such seed that He makes freedom, peace, social order, and +prosperity to grow. + +"'And, citizens, what shall I say of the Seventh, which mourns its +noble dead? Shall I summon here the spirits of those who have fallen on +the half-score fields, where the staunch old regiment has left its +dead? Shall I call from the shadowy world those who have died in +festering prisons? Shall I order the rally for those who, broken in +body, shall engage in active pursuits no more? Shall I bring from the +field the little remnant--headed by the one unhurt commissioned +officer, and under this dear, chafed, and rent old flag, which no +longer shines with the glory of color and figure which it displayed +when first unfurled in your Academy of Music, but which is lustrous +with the light with which brave deeds have invested it--shall I tell +them of your love for, and your gratitude to them? Nay, this I cannot +do. But I can say to these representatives of the regiment who are with +us, and through them to that little handful of bronzed veterans who, +huddling around a single camp-fire at Chattanooga, are the last remnant +of the Seventh--to you, honored men, we owe a debt we can never +discharge. You sprang to arms, when others hesitated. You entered the +flinty paths of war with feet shod only for the gentle ways of peace. +Often have you been tried, never have you failed; and the honor of the +Reserve, which we committed to you, has been proudly kept on every +field. And in this hour of weighty bereavement, our feelings towards +you and your comrades, living and dead, is like that of the pious +Scotch woman who, when grim Claverhouse having first shot her husband, +laughing, asked, "Well, woman, what thinkest thou of thy good man now?" +quietly replied, as she drew the pierced head to her bosom, and wiped +the death-damp from his brow: "I aye thought much of him, but now more +than ever." + +"'Now, bearers, take out your dead. Put the cherished remains in an +honored place. Tell art to lift above them worthy marble. Write upon +the stone the names of the battles in which our heroes have fought. +Write also the virtues of the dead. Write, too, that gratitude has +lifted the monument, partly to do honor to them, worthy of it, whom +human praise can never reach; and to teach the living that it is well +to make even life a sacrifice to duty. And when our war has been ended, +when peace and freedom shall be in all our borders, thronging feet +shall, through all the generations, come up to your memorial, and learn +lessons of heroism and self-sacrifice.' + +"Rev. William Goodrich, of the First Presbyterian Church, made the +closing prayer; after which the choir chanted impressively the +following hymn: + + "'With tearful eyes I look around, + Life seems a dark and gloomy sea; + Yet midst the gloom I hear a sound, + A heavenly whisper, 'Come to Me.' + + "'It tells me of a place of rest-- + It tells me where my soul may flee; + Oh! to the weary, faint, oppressed, + How sweet the bidding, 'Come to Me!' + + "'When nature shudders, loth to part + From all I love, enjoy, and see, + When a faint chill steals o'er thy heart, + A sweet voice utters, 'Come to Me.' + + "'Come, for all else must fade and die, + Earth is no resting place for thee; + Heavenward direct thy weeping eye, + I am thy portion, 'Come to Me.' + + "'Oh, voice of mercy! voice of love! + In conflict, grief, and agony; + Support me, cheer me from above! + And gently whisper, Come to Me.' + +"This closed the exercises at the church. + + +THE FUNERAL PROCESSION. + +"As soon as the exercises in the church closed, the Brooklyn Light +Artillery commenced firing minute-guns from the field-piece planted on +the square in front of the church. At the same time, the chimes of +Trinity rang a muffled peal, and the bells in all the other churches +commenced tolling. The square and the streets leading to it were packed +with people from the city and surrounding country, the latter having +been pouring in all the morning. It seemed almost impossible to keep an +open space in so great a crowd, but the admirable management of the +marshals of the day and the city police, aided by the spirit of order +and decorum in the crowd, succeeded in preventing any trouble or +confusion. + +"The procession was formed in nearly the order as at first arranged. +First came Leland's band, playing the "Dead March." Then the +Twenty-ninth Regiment, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Frazee, with +arms reversed and bound with crape. Next the discharged officers and +soldiers of the Seventh, headed by their old band. These old members of +the regiment numbered sixty, and were formed into a company, under +Captain Molyneaux. They were followed by the clergymen of the city, +after which came the bodies. + +"Colonel Creighton's body was in a hearse drawn by four white horses, +from undertaker Duty; and the body of Lieutenant-Colonel Crane, in a +hearse drawn by four black horses, from undertaker Howland. Behind the +hearses were led two horses fully caparisoned. The pall-bearers, whose +names have been previously given, walked beside the hearses. Eleven +carriages, containing the mourners, came next, followed by a carriage +containing Lieutenant Loomis, Sergeant-Major Tisdel, Bugler Welzel, and +privates Shepherd and Meigs, forming the escort from the Seventh. Next +were the members of the old Cleveland Light Guard, with their badges +and flags; Governor Brough and other invited guests, committee of +arrangements, city council, city officers, county military committee, +two hundred sick and wounded soldiers from the United States Military +Hospital, soldiers from the Twelfth Cavalry, Brooklyn Light Artillery, +Captain Pelton; other military and officers of the United States +regular and volunteer services; United States Court officers, +Typographical Union, ship-carpenters, old Light Guard, under Captain J. +Robinson, students from Commercial College, County Court officers, +citizens on foot, citizens in carriages. + +"The procession was of great length, and passed through a dense crowd +of thousands of people during the whole way. It was well managed by +Colonel William H. Hayward, chief marshal of the day, and his +assistants, H. M. Chapin, William Edwards, John M. Sterling, junior, +and C. Busch. The police were again of incalculable value in clearing +the way and keeping perfect order. + + +AT THE TOMB. + +"The lot in the Woodland Cemetery, intended as the final resting-place +of the heroic dead, not having yet been selected, the bodies were taken +to the City Cemetery, and deposited temporarily in the Bradburn Vault, +the use of which had been generously tendered. The police again, ever +vigilant and effective, had kept the cemetery and its approaches free +from the vast crowd until the procession had entered, and then secured +ample room, so that there was no crowding or confusion. + +"The Twenty-ninth Regiment was drawn up in line, with colors +immediately opposite the tomb. The company of the old members of the +Seventh, with reversed arms, stood at the right of the tomb. + +"As the procession moved up to the tomb the band played a dirge. The +Rev. W. A. Fiske, rector of Grace Church, read the beautiful and +impressive burial-service of the Episcopal Church, the bodies were +placed in the vault, the final prayer said, and then the door of the +tomb was closed. The old members of the Seventh fired three volleys +over the tomb, and all was over. The heroic dead sleep undisturbed. + +"So ended the grandest and the most mournful pageant that has passed +through the streets of Cleveland for many a year." + + +LIEUT.-COL. MERVIN CLARK. + +On a gloomy night in May, 1861, when the wind was howling in fitful +gusts, and the rain pouring down in merciless rapidity, the writer was +awakened by the stentorian voice of the adjutant in front of the tent, +followed by an order that Lieutenant ---- would report for guard-duty. +After wading half-knee deep in mud and water, narrowly escaping a cold +bath in an over-friendly ditch, I arrived at the headquarters of the +guard. Soon after my arrival, a boy reported to me for duty, as +sergeant of the guard; a position no less responsible than my own. At +first I felt that, on such a fearful night, I needed more than a boy to +assist me in the performance of my task. His form was fragile; his face +was smooth as that of a girl, and in the dim, shadowy light of a +camp-fire, struggling against the heavy rain, I took him to be about +fifteen years of age. We immediately entered into conversation, and +between admiration and surprise, the rain was forgotten, and the +moments sped so rapidly, that it was nearing the time to change the +guard. But my boy companion had forgotten nothing, and as the moment +arrived, he called in the relief. As he moved among those sturdy +warriors, it occurred to me that I had never before met a boy, who was +at the same time a man--a brave, prudent, reliable man. All night he +did his duty, and when we parted in the morning, I both loved and +admired him. This was my first meeting with Colonel Clark. + +Mervin Clark was a native of Ohio, having been born in the city of +Cleveland, in 1843. When but three years of age his mother died, and at +the age of nine his surviving parent, leaving him an orphan. He was now +taken, into the family of Henry W. Clark, an uncle, where he found a +home, and kind friends, during the remainder of his life. + +The flash of the last gun at Sumter had hardly died away, when he +enrolled himself as a private in Captain De Villiers' company, at the +same time declaring that he would, by no act of his, leave the service +of his country, until rebels in arms were met and subdued. How well he +kept that pledge, it is the office of this brief sketch to show. + +He left Camp Dennison as an orderly-sergeant, and during the trying +marches and skirmishes in Western Virginia, won a commission. Arriving +in the East, he was made a first-lieutenant. At the battle of +Winchester, he surprised and delighted every one who saw him. When the +bullets flew thickest, he stepped on to the brink of the hill, over +which our men were firing, and, with revolver in hand, took part in the +strife. His captain, seeing his danger, directed him to get behind a +tree which stood close by. He obeyed orders, but with his back to the +tree, and his face to the foe. At the battle of Cedar Mountain, he +commanded a company, and during that fearful day, led his men with +great bravery. At last, when the order was given to retreat, he mistook +it for an order to charge, and, with a dozen men, dashed at the double +line of a whole brigade of rebels. It was not until an officer of +authority conveyed the true order to him, that he would withdraw. He +now took part in all the battles in which his regiment was engaged in +the East, except Antietam. When the regiment left for the West, he +accompanied it, and soon after took part in the battles of Lookout +Mountain, Mission Ridge, Taylor's Ridge, and the series of engagements +taking place while with Sherman. Before his term of service expired, he +was made a captain, and commanded his company on its homeward march. He +was soon after mustered out with his company. He now sought quiet and +rest at his home, giving no evidence of an intention to again enter the +service. But before he had been at home many weeks, he surprised and +disappointed his friends by enlisting as a private in the regular army. +His fame, however, was too wide-spread in Ohio to suffer him to +re-enter the service as a private. Governor Brough had already selected +him for promotion, and when learning of his enlistment in the regular +service, procured an order for his discharge, and immediately appointed +him lieutenant-colonel of the One Hundred and Eighty-third Regiment, +then about to enter the field. He had now come of age, November 5th, +and on the 8th of November cast his first vote; on the 12th, he +received his commission; and on the 15th, he left for the front. His +regiment joined the army of General Thomas, on its retreat before the +rebel forces under Hood. On the 30th of November, the regiment was +engaged in the terrible battle of Franklin. During the engagement, the +regiment was ordered to charge the enemy's works. The color bearer was +soon shot down, when Clark seized the colors, and calling to his men, +"Who will follow me to retake these works?" mounted the rebel works, +and immediately fell, a minie ball having passed through his head. +Every effort was made to take his body from the field, but to no +purpose, and the "boy officer" was wrapped in his blanket, and buried +on the field of his fame, to be finally removed by careful hands, when +the earth had covered every vestige of the strife in its friendly +bosom. + + +LIEUTENANT HENRY ROBINSON. + +Henry Robinson was a native of Ohio, and entered the service as +first-lieutenant of Company G. He was always attentive to his duties, +and soon took a position among the first of his rank. He was constantly +with his command during its early service. He was in the skirmish at +Cross Lanes, where he won the respect and confidence of the entire +command by his gallant conduct. In this affair, he commanded Company G. +Arriving at Charleston, he was sent to Gauley Bridge, and soon after +was taken violently sick with a fever. He soon after died. + +In the death of Lieutenant Robinson, the regiment made one of its +greatest sacrifices. He was esteemed by every one for his kind and +courteous manners, as well as for his ability as a soldier. He had many +friends in the army, and at home, and I doubt very much if he had an +enemy in the world. His military career was short, but of such a +character that his friends can refer to it with pride. + + +LIEUTENANT E. S. QUAY. + +E. S. Quay entered the service as second-lieutenant of Company G. He +was with the regiment at Cross Lanes, where he gave promise of much +future usefulness as a soldier. He accompanied the regiment to Eastern +Virginia, where he was acting assistant adjutant-general to Colonel +Tyler. He took part in the battle of Winchester, where he did splendid +service. After Tyler's promotion to a general, he was made +adjutant-general, and assigned to his staff. In this capacity, he +served in the battle of Port Republic, where he gained new laurels. He +finally went to his home on account of ill-health, and after a time, +died of consumption. He was a good soldier. + + +LIEUTENANT JAMES P. BRISBINE. + +James P. Brisbine was a native of Trumbull County, Ohio. He was born in +1836. His parents dying while he was quite young, he went to live with +an uncle by the name of Applegate. He received a fair education, and +during the time, in part, maintaining himself by teaching school in +winter. In the spring of 1860, he commenced reading law in Warren, +Ohio, which he continued until the breaking out of the rebellion. +During his course of study, he gave promise of an able and useful +lawyer. When it became evident that the rebellion could not be +suppressed but by the force of arms, he deemed it his duty to leave the +study of the profession of his choice, and enroll himself among the +defenders of his country. This step he considered as a decided +sacrifice to him; for, by nature, he was in no way inclined to the life +of a soldier; he preferred the quiet life of a citizen, which is alone +to be found at home. It was with many misgivings that he finally placed +his name on the roll. In doing this, he was alone influenced by +patriotic motives. When urged to be a candidate for the position of +sergeant, he declined to have any thing to do with the matter; but was +elected, notwithstanding his indifference. + +At Camp Dennison, he was made orderly-sergeant. He took part in the +skirmish at Cross Lanes, where he made a good record as a soldier. Soon +after entering the field, his health failed him. The long marches often +taxed him beyond his strength; but he seldom complained. He was not in +the battle of Winchester on account of sickness, being disabled from +the effects of the severe march from Strasburg, which took place a +short time before. He expressed many regrets on account of his absence. +But he very soon had an opportunity to test his courage on the +battle-field. The engagement of Port Republic occurred shortly after. +He was in no respect second in gallantry to those who were in the +previous battle. He was ever at his post, doing his duty. During the +latter part of the battle, a captain, an intimate friend, fell, +severely wounded. He caught him in his arms, and laid him gently on the +ground, pillowing his head in his lap. The regiment moved off, and the +rebels advanced; but he refused to leave his friend. And he did not +leave until the captain was borne away by his comrades. He passed +through this battle without a scratch. He accompanied the regiment to +Alexandria, and from there to the front of Pope's army. He now took +part in the battle of Cedar Mountain. While cheering his men forward, +he was wounded. Two men took him in their arms, and started in search +of the hospital; but before they were off the field a bullet struck him +in the groin, severing the femoral artery. Said he, "Remember, boys, I +die for my country," and expired in their arms. Thus, a true and +devoted friend of his country died to preserve it from the attacks of +those who had been educated and supported by it from boyhood. + +As an officer, Lieutenant Brisbine was much esteemed; as a companion, +he was admired by every one. I doubt if he had an enemy in the army or +at home. He won his promotion in the field; and it was, therefore, a +much greater prize than a higher rank conferred by favor. He was +commissioned early in 1862. + + +LIEUTENANT CHARLES A. BROOKS. + +The subject of this sketch was born in Bristol, Trumbull County, in the +year 1843. He early developed those good qualities of head and heart +for which he was afterwards so distinguished. Being a good student, +attentive to his books, as he was to every other good purpose, he +acquired a good education, which would have enabled him to engage in +any occupation with credit to himself and profit to the community. + +He was desirous of entering the service when the war first began, but +was held back by domestic ties which bound him strongly to home. But on +the second call for troops, he could no longer remain out of the army; +and, hastening to a recruiting station, he enlisted in Company H, of +the Seventh Regiment. He arrived at Camp Dennison on the 30th of May, +and, with others, was mustered into the service. His tall, commanding +figure, connected with his sterling qualities of mind, pointed him out +as a proper person for promotion. He was, therefore made a corporal, +and, as soon as a vacancy occurred, a sergeant. His officers soon put +unlimited confidence in him. If a hazardous enterprise was to be +performed, he was deemed fitting to undertake it. While still a +sergeant, Creighton would often point him out as his future adjutant. +Finally, when Adjutant Shepherd was compelled to resign, on account of +growing ill health, Creighton procured his appointment as +first-lieutenant, and at once detailed him as his adjutant. He came to +this position entirely qualified; for, from the time he had been made +orderly of Company H, he transacted all of the business of the company. +He was in the affair at Cross Lanes, and all other skirmishes in which +the regiment was engaged, as well as the following battles: Port +Republic, Cedar Mountain, Dumfries, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. + +Near the close of the battle of Port Republic, he saw one of his old +officers lying, seriously wounded, so near the enemy's lines as to be +in danger of capture. Throwing down his gun, in company with Charles +Garrard, he braved the battle-fire, and brought his old comrade safely +from the field; thus, probably, saving his life. + +At the battle of Cedar Mountain he was slightly wounded, losing a +finger. + +In July he was sent to Ohio to bring forward the drafted men assigned +to the Seventh. While on his way from Columbus to his home in Bristol, +he met with a frightful accident resulting in death. While seated in an +omnibus, it was driven on to the railroad track, directly in front of a +train. In jumping out, he was knocked down by the cars and run over, +mangling both legs frightfully. He was taken to the New England House, +but nothing could be done for him, and he expired early the following +morning. The following is from the pen of one who knew him and prized +him:[6] + + [6] Colonel J. F. Asper. + +"The career of this young man has been short but brilliant. He has been +a soldier and a man; pure, noble-hearted, sympathetic, and always ready +for any duty. He has been brave, courageous, and trustworthy. He has +gone from us with no stain upon his honor, no spots upon his +escutcheon, but with his armor begrimed with the dust of many battles. +Although young in years, he had lived long, if you count the hardships +he had endured, the stirring and momentous events through which he had +passed, and in the transpiring of which he had been an actor, the +service he rendered his country, and humanity at large, and the good he +had done; if gauged by this standard, he had become more mature than +many men who have attained their threescore and ten years. So bright +an example cannot fail to have a good influence upon the young men of +the country. His violent death will bring his virtues prominently +before their minds, and cannot fail to make an impression. Let all be +exhorted to emulate his patriotism, his gallantry, his valor, his +promptness in the discharge of duty, his kindness of heart, suavity of +manner, his manly and soldier-like qualities; and if in civil life, +they will become manlier men--if in military life, they cannot fail to +become better and braver soldiers." + +He was buried near where he was born, on the banks of a rippling brook, +under the shade of beautiful trees, through the boughs of which will +sing an everlasting requiem fitting so brave and active a spirit. The +citizens of the vicinity turned out in mass to honor his memory with +their presence, and tearful eyes and expressive looks showed their +heartfelt sympathy for the afflicted mother, sister, brother, and +relatives; while a military organization from Warren gave him the +fitting escort, and fired three volleys over his grave. + +A grateful public will not forget this heroic and noble sacrifice. Let +an enduring monument be erected. Not of marble, which may crumble; but +let his manly deeds be engraved upon the tablets of their memory, and +let his virtues and sacrifices be interwoven with the affections, the +sympathies, and the lives of the people, so that while time lasts, and +all that is noble in human action, good in thought, and true in +conception and motive, shall be treasured as sacred memories, this hero +will not be forgotten, because kept fresh with the watering of many +tears. + + +LIEUTENANT JOSEPH H. ROSS. + +Joseph H. Ross entered the service as a private in Captain W. R. +Sterling's company. Soon after arriving in camp he was made a sergeant, +and finally orderly. He was engaged in all the marches and skirmishes +in Western Virginia, and at Cross Lanes fought like a veteran. He was +in the battle of Winchester, where he displayed such reckless bravery +as to attract the attention of the entire command. While the regiment +was partially concealed behind a ridge, within eighty yards of the +enemy, Ross was not content with remaining at such a distance, but +creeping over the hill, crawled forward on his hands and knees till he +was midway between the lines, and taking a position behind a rock, +swung his hat to those behind. None but Sergeant Whiting, of Company D, +had the courage to follow him. From behind this rock, the two heroes +kept up a constant fire on the enemy, hitting their man at every shot. + +Ross was now made a lieutenant, and assigned to Company C. He was in +the battle of Port Republic, where he fought with his usual bravery. At +the battle of Cedar Mountain he commanded Company C. During the entire +day he led his men with such certainty, that they slaughtered the enemy +fearfully. Night came, and he had not received a scratch, while the +thinned ranks testified how many had fallen around him. Soon after +dark, as if the regiment had not already suffered sufficiently, it was +ordered on picket. When about a mile out, it was fired upon from all +quarters, and Lieutenant Ross fell, mortally wounded. He died soon +after. His loss was deeply felt, both in the army and at home; for he +was a true soldier and friend. + + +LIEUTENANT FRANK JOHNSON. + +At this same bloody battle of Cedar Mountain, another youthful hero +fell, Frank Johnson, Company F. He had entered the service as a private +in John Man's company, and had risen through the different grades +of corporal and sergeant to be a lieutenant. He had toiled along +through the hard marches of the Seventh, struggling against a weak +constitution, which was every day being impaired by hardships and +exposure. He had fought nobly in the battles of Winchester and Port +Republic,--recognized by the authorities by giving him a commission; +and now, in the morning of his new life as a _leader_, he fell at the +head of his company. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Seventh Regiment, by George L. 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Wood + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Seventh Regiment + A Record + +Author: George L. Wood + +Release Date: January 28, 2014 [EBook #44783] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SEVENTH REGIMENT *** + + + + +Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter"><img width="388" height="600" id="coverpage" src="images/cover.jpg" alt="cover"></div> + + +<h1> +<span class="smallest">THE</span> +<br> +SEVENTH REGIMENT: +<br> +<span class="small">A RECORD.</span> +</h1> +<br> +<div class="titlepage"> +<p class="ctrsmall"> +BY +</p> + +<p class="ctr"> +MAJOR GEORGE L. WOOD. +</p> + +<br> +<p class="ctrsmall"> +NEW YORK:<br> +PUBLISHED BY JAMES MILLER,<br> +(SUCCESSOR TO C. S. FRANCIS & CO.,)<br> +522 BROADWAY. +1865. +</p> + +<br> +<p class="ctrsmaller"> +Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, +</p> + +<p class="ctrsmaller"> +<span class="sc">By</span> JAMES MILLER, +</p> + +<p class="ctrsmaller"> +In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for +the Southern District of New York. +</p> +</div> + + +<hr class="med"> +<h2> +AUTHOR'S PREFACE. +</h2> + + +<p> +The following pages were written for the purpose of making a permanent +record of the facts within the author's knowledge relating to the +Seventh Ohio Regiment. The work was undertaken with the belief that the +doings and sufferings of the regiment were of sufficient magnitude and +importance to entitle it to a separate record. It has been extremely +difficult to obtain facts, on account of so large a portion of the +members still being in the service. The book is, therefore, written +principally from memory. If it serves to perpetuate in the minds of the +public the hardships, as well as long and faithful service, of this +gallant regiment, then the object of the author is accomplished. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="sc">Warren</span>, <i>May, 1865</i>. +</p> + + + + +<h2> +PREFACE. +</h2> + + +<p> +This preface to the history of the Seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry is +written at the request of the accomplished author of the book; but +without having read it, seen it, or heard its contents. I have, +however, such confidence in the ability, honesty, candor, good +judgment, and good taste of my old friend and "companion in arms," +that, for myself, I take his work on trust, and in cheerful faith +commend it to others. +</p> + +<p> +But was there a demand for another book on the war? Or were the doings +and sufferings of one regiment, among the thousands engaged in the war, +of such interest as to demand a separate history? These are questions +the author doubtless weighed carefully before he began to write; and +his answer to them is his book. I agree with him. This nation has a +deep, and will have a lasting, interest in the war. We have been making +history of unrivalled, perhaps of unequalled, importance to the world +during the past four years. We ourselves cannot comprehend the +magnitude of the work we have been doing, or, rather, that God has been +doing through us. The successful revolts of the Netherlanders against +the tyranny of Philip II.—of the Puritans against the tyranny of +Charles I.—of the republicans against the tyranny of George III., +dwindle to insignificance (important as they were) in comparison with +the successful revolt of the loyal, Union-loving, freedom-loving +citizens of this Republic against the tyranny of treason and slavery. +It was a great fight for a great cause, and God has given us a great +victory. There was not a nation on earth that was not interested in the +conflict. Ay, it concerned our common humanity. All this will be seen +more clearly and felt more deeply twenty, fifty, a hundred years hence +than now. But to transmit and perpetuate the fruits of this victory we +must have records of the war—many records, made from many different +points of view, and of many kinds, great and small. The history of this +war is not yet written, perhaps cannot be successfully written for many +years yet. And that it may one day be written as it should be, every +regiment that has a story to tell should tell it. These regimental +histories will be invaluable to the Bancroft who, fifty years hence, +shall write the history of this war. The world is only beginning to +understand the true character and vocation of history—<i>to make the +past live in the present</i>; not in great pageants, not in processions +of kings, princes, and mighty conquerors, but <i>in the common +every-day speech and deeds of the people</i>. When Merle d'Aubigné +would write the History of the Reformation, he wrote to Guizot for +counsel. Guizot encouraged him, and counselled him to proceed, but +added, "<i>Give us facts, incidents, details.</i>" This counsel chimed +with the purpose and genius of d'Aubigné, and the result was a history +that, though it discusses doctrines and themes commonly held to be dry +and uninteresting, has for old and young, and men of all classes, all +the charm of romance. In this, his "facts, incidents, details," equally +with his fascinating style, lies the charm of the histories of +Macaulay. But that historians may write such histories—that the +historian of this war may write such a history, the "facts, incidents, +details" must be on record. There is a demand, therefore, for another +book, for many other books, on the war. +</p> + +<p> +In addition to this, every regiment of the grand Army of the Union in +this war has its own history, of peculiar interest to its own especial +friends. And I have faith in what Dr. O. W. Holmes once said: "I would +not give a fig for a man every one of whose geese were not better than +any other man's swans." To us of the old Seventh "all our geese were +swans." Whether others believed in us or not, we had faith in ourselves +and in one another; we were a mutual admiration society of a thousand +and odd men. And the fact is, that, for some reason, but what I cannot +say, the Seventh Regiment, from the day it was mustered into service to +the day it was mustered out, was always the pride and pet of Ohio, of +Northern Ohio especially. In this respect it never had a rival. True, +it was a well-disciplined, gallant, fighting regiment; but so were many +others. True, it had brave and accomplished officers; but so had many +others. True, it had in the ranks men of refinement, education, and +high social position; but so had many others. I am at a loss to account +for it, but the fact nevertheless was as I have stated it; and as its +deeds corresponded with its renown, <i>its</i> doings, of all others, +demand a permanent record. And, if I am not mistaken, the reader of the +following pages who shall follow the Seventh from the day it was +mustered into service, in Cleveland, in 1861, to the day the pitiful +remnant of it, after tramping and fighting over almost half the Union, +were mustered out of service, in Cleveland, in 1864, will find in them +ample compensation for his time. +</p> + +<p class="ralign"> +F. T. B. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="sc">Chicago, Ill.</span>, <i>May, 1865</i>. +</p> + + + + +<h2> +CONTENTS. +</h2> + +<table summary="Contents"> +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"><a href="#I">CHAPTER I.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">The fall of Sumter. — Civil war +begun. — Preparations by the +South. — Nobility.</td> +<td class="pg">13</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"><a href="#II"> +CHAPTER II.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">The President's call for troops. — Organization of +the Seventh. — Its departure for Camp +Dennison. — Its reorganization and departure for the +field.</td> +<td class="pg">19</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"><a href="#III"> +CHAPTER III.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">The pursuit of General Wise. — Tyler +ordered to menace Gauley Bridge and threaten Wise's communications.</td> +<td class="pg">30</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"><a href="#IV"> +CHAPTER IV.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">The skirmish at Cross Lanes. — Gallant +conduct and final escape of the Seventh Regiment.</td> +<td class="pg">43</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"><a href="#V"> +CHAPTER V.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">Reflections on the skirmish at Cross +Lanes. — Battle of Carnifex Ferry.</td> +<td class="pg">56</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"><a href="#VI"> +CHAPTER VI.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">Charleston and the Kanawha Valley. — A double +murder. —  Colonel Tyler assumes command of the +post.</td> +<td class="pg">63</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"><a href="#VII"> +CHAPTER VII.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">Floyd establishes batteries on Cotton +Hill. — Driven off by the forces of General +Cox. — Benham's failure to intercept his +retreat. — His pursuit. — Skirmish +at McCoy's Mills. — His final escape.</td> +<td class="pg">70</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"><a href="#VIII"> +CHAPTER VIII.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">Reflections on the Institution of Slavery.</td> +<td class="pg">77</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"><a href="#IX"> +CHAPTER IX.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">The Seventh ordered to the +East. — Expedition to Blue's +Gap. — Skirmish on the Blooming pike.</td> +<td class="pg">83</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"><a href="#X"> +CHAPTER X.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">Gallantry of Lieutenant O'Brien. — Death of +General Lander. —  The Seventh escort his +remains. — The occupation of Winchester.</td> +<td class="pg">89</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"><a href="#XI"> +CHAPTER XI.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">The Reconnoissance to Strasburg. — Battle of +Winchester.  — Utter defeat and rout of Jackson's +Army.</td> +<td class="pg">94</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"><a href="#XII"> +CHAPTER XII.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">General Shields' anxiety for laurels. — Summing up +of the battle. — Losses in the Seventh.</td> +<td class="pg">104</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"><a href="#XIII"> +CHAPTER XIII.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">Pursuit of Jackson up the Valley. — March to +Fredericksburg, and return to Front Royal.</td> +<td class="pg">109</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"><a href="#XIV"> +CHAPTER XIV.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">The march on Waynesboro. — Two +brigades encounter Jackson at Port Republic, and after five hours' +fighting are compelled to fall back.</td> +<td class="pg">114</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"><a href="#XV"> +CHAPTER XV.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">Battle of Cedar Mountain. — Gallantry of the +regiment, and terrible loss.</td> +<td class="pg">123</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"><a href="#XVI"> +CHAPTER XVI.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">The regiment goes into camp at Alexandria, but is soon +ordered to the front. — Battle of Antietam.</td> +<td class="pg">134</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"><a href="#XVII"> +CHAPTER XVII.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">The march to Dumfries. — Skirmish with +Hampton's cavalry, in which they are badly defeated by a much inferior +force.</td> +<td class="pg">142</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"><a href="#XVIII"> +CHAPTER XVIII.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">The regiment ordered to the front. — Battle of +Chancellorsville.</td> +<td class="pg">150</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"><a href="#XIX"> +CHAPTER XIX.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">Accompanies the grand army into +Pennsylvania. — Battle of Gettysburg.</td> +<td class="pg">156</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"><a href="#XX"> +CHAPTER XX.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">After reaching the Rapidan it goes to Governor's Island. + — After its return it accompanies Hooker's corps to +the Western department.</td> +<td class="pg">160</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"> +<a href="#XXI">CHAPTER XXI.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">The Seventh joins Grant's army. — The +battles of Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, and Ringgold.</td> +<td class="pg">164</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"> +<a href="#XXII">CHAPTER XXII.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">The advance towards +Atlanta. — Skirmishing. — Homeward +march.  — Its reception. — Muster +out.</td> +<td class="pg">170</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"> +<a href="#sketches">BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">Brigadier-General E. B. Tyler.</td> +<td class="pg">185</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Brevet Brigadier-General J. S. Casement.</td> +<td class="pg">189</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Brigadier-General John W. Sprague.</td> +<td class="pg">192</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel McClelland.</td> +<td class="pg">193</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Major Frederick A. Seymour.</td> +<td class="pg">196</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Surgeon Francis Salter.</td> +<td class="pg">197</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">C. J. Bellows.</td> +<td class="pg">198</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">G. E. Denig.</td> +<td class="pg">198</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Frederick T. Brown, D.D.</td> +<td class="pg">199</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Chaplain D. C. Wright.</td> +<td class="pg">205</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Lieutenant-Colonel Giles W. Shurtliff.</td> +<td class="pg">206</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Colonel Arthur T. Wilcox.</td> +<td class="pg">207</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Lieutenant-Colonel James T. Sterling.</td> +<td class="pg">208</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Colonel Joel F. Asper.</td> +<td class="pg">210</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Major W. R. Sterling.</td> +<td class="pg">214</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Major E. J. Kreger.</td> +<td class="pg">215</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Captain J. B. Molyneaux.</td> +<td class="pg">216</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Captain Charles A. Weed.</td> +<td class="pg">219</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Captain Judson N. Cross.</td> +<td class="pg">220</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Captain John F. S. Chutte.</td> +<td class="pg">221</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Lieutenant Louis G. De Forest.</td> +<td class="pg">222</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Lieutenant Halbert B. Case.</td> +<td class="pg">224</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Lieutenant Henry Z. Eaton.</td> +<td class="pg">226</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Lieutenant A. H. Day.</td> +<td class="pg">227</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Lieutenant William D. Shepherd.</td> +<td class="pg">227</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Lieutenant E. Hudson Baker.</td> +<td class="pg">229</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Lieutenant Ralph Lockwood.</td> +<td class="pg">230</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">Lieutenant T. T. Sweeney.</td> +<td class="pg">230</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">Lieutenant Edward W. Fitch.</td> +<td class="pg">231</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">Lieutenant A. J. Williams.</td> +<td class="pg">231</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="chpt" colspan="2"> +<a href="#dead">OUR DEAD.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="txt">Colonel William R. Creighton and Lieutenant-Colonel +Orrin J. Crane.</td> +<td class="pg">235</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Lieutenant-Colonel Mervin Clark.</td> +<td class="pg">291</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Lieutenant Henry Robinson.</td> +<td class="pg">295</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Lieutenant E. S. Quay.</td> +<td class="pg">296</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Lieutenant James P. Brisbine.</td> +<td class="pg">296</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Lieutenant Charles A. Brooks.</td> +<td class="pg">299</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Lieutenant Joseph H. Ross.</td> +<td class="pg">303</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="txt">Lieutenant Frank Johnson.</td> +<td class="pg">304</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<hr class="med"> + +<p class="booktitle"> +<span class="smallest">THE</span> +<br> +SEVENTH REGIMENT. +</p> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="I"> </a> +CHAPTER I. +<br><br> +<span class="smallsc"> +The fall of Sumter. — Civil war +begun. — Preparations by the +South. — Nobility. +</span> +</h2> + + +<p> +On a gloomy day in April, 1861, the telegraph flashed the news over the +country that Fort Sumter, a fortress belonging to the United States, +had been fired upon by a body of rebels, and thus inaugurating all the +horrors of civil war. +</p> + +<p> +By the great mass of people, civil war in our hitherto peaceful country +was entirely unlooked for. It burst so suddenly, that the entire +country was convulsed. The people had become so accustomed to clamor in +Congress and elsewhere, that they looked upon these threats to dissolve +the Union as mere bravado. +</p> + +<p> +After the first clash of arms at Fort Sumter, both North and South drew +back in alarm, as if in fear of the coming storm. The Southern people, +however, better prepared by education for scenes of strife and +bloodshed, received the news of the inauguration of civil war with less +alarm than did those of the North. The latter received it with a +fearful dignity, conscious of the power to crush the rebellion. The +South, with that arrogance that becomes her so well, expected to make +an easy conquest. Long-continued exercise of power in national matters, +had taught her to look upon the people of the Free States as her +inferiors, needing but a master-stroke for their subjugation,—willing +to lay down their arms, and seek safety in dishonor. They had taken us +for a race of cowards, because we had given way to their selfish +demands in our public councils, for the sake of peace. To be sure, we +had some daring spirits in Congress who met these bullying traitors, +making them feel the full force of Northern valor. But these were +isolated cases, and won the respect of the Southern people to the +persons of the actors rather than to the North as a people. They looked +upon these spirited examples as rather proving the fact of our want of +chivalry than otherwise, and therefore were not corrected in their +false estimate of a people whom they were about to meet on bloody +fields. +</p> + +<p> +One reason the South had for cherishing so mean an opinion of the North +as a military power, was on account of her having entirely neglected +the cultivation of the art of war. She had so few representatives in +the army and navy, that they were both almost entirely within the +control of the South. +</p> + +<p> +This control the latter had exercised for years, until her people came +to look upon themselves as the only persons in the country fit to bear +arms. They flattered themselves that they were the army, and we but a +rabble, to be dispersed beyond the hope of reorganization at the first +clash of arms. But in this strife, like all others where aristocratic +privilege comes in contact with the freedom of democracy, these +arrogant lords were to meet with a bitter disappointment; they were to +be made to respect the strong muscle and brave hearts of the so-styled +plebeian North. +</p> + +<p> +This avowed hostility of the South to the North had caused the former +to take a military direction, and forced her into a course of policy +which, however outrageous it might appear, was yet a matter of +necessity in her attempt at independence. The first step was to put +herself upon a war-footing. This she had been perfecting for several +years. The next was to get the Government so in her control as to make +it powerless in the incipient stages of the rebellion, that it might +gain sufficient strength to withstand the first shock, and thus gain +precedence. +</p> + +<p> +During a period of thirty years the South was gradually assuming a +war-footing. The militia was organized; independent companies were +formed with no warlike object, as was generally supposed, but really to +resist any encroachment of the Federal Government upon what the leaders +deemed the rights of the Southern people. The election of Abraham +Lincoln to the presidency was not the cause of civil war, but only its +apology. There had existed in the minds of the Southern people a desire +for an independent government, which would give the aristocracy a +firmer footing. In other words, the Federal Government was too +democratic. But it was necessary that these conspirators have some +apparently good reason for civil war; else the people who were at heart +right, would desert them at a time when they were most needed. The time +for the inauguration of civil war was therefore most fitly chosen. The +people were made to believe that the inauguration of President Lincoln +was a sufficient reason; and thus the dream of thirty years of these +disunionists was at last realized. The apology for the war had been +substituted for its cause, and the mass of the Southern people made +eager to meet those on bloody fields whom they were led to suppose were +about to deprive them of their rights and precipitate them into ruin. +</p> + +<p> +There is always a class styled the nobility in every nation. But the +true nobility in America is that class who have won that distinction by +noble deeds; who are great, not in titles and garters of nobility, but +in great achievements: not that class who base their right to that +title upon the number and character of human beings they may own. The +American people hold that distinction must be given to those by whom it +is merited; and that it cannot be the subject of monopoly. Each person, +however mean his birth, has the same right to enter the list for the +prize as he who was born of a higher rank. It is this freedom, which is +given to all, that has caused the Northern States to make such rapid +progress towards civilization and greatness; and it is the crippling of +this great principle that has cast a shadow over the enslaved South. +One great object of the leaders of the South had been to arrest the +rapid growth of the North, which, they were conscious, would one day +throw them into a helpless minority, for they could not themselves keep +pace with this rapid progress. Their ambition was to have capital +control labor, while the laboring classes were to be subservient to the +capitalists, and a sort of serfdom forced upon them. The wealthy class +were to live in luxury and indolence upon the unrequited toil of their +slaves. These facts, the leaders of the wicked rebellion, which they +were to inaugurate, were careful to conceal from their followers. This +was so well done, that the people of the South thought that these +imaginary wrongs of the Government, which had been pictured to them by +their masters, was the true reason of their attempt at separation from +the Union. It is hoped that the masses will soon see the difference +between serving a privileged class of aristocrats, and being members of +a free Republic. +</p> + + + + +<a name="II"> </a> +<h2> +CHAPTER II. +<br><br> +<span class="smallsc"> +The President's call for +troops. — Organization of the +Seventh. — Its departure for Camp +Dennison. — Its reorganization and departure for the +field.</span> +</h2> + + +<p> +On Monday, April 15, the President issued a call for 75,000 volunteers +for three months' service. The States responded immediately to this +call in double the number required. Never in the history of the world +was such a response witnessed to the call of any country. Men left +their implements of husbandry in the fields and rushed to the +recruiting stations. The executives of the States were pressed with +applications to raise companies and batteries under the call of the +President. +</p> + +<p> +Under this call thirteen regiments of infantry were assigned to Ohio. +In fifteen days 71,000 troops were offered to Governor Dennison to fill +the quota of the State. Camps were now established at different points +in the State, and troops ordered to rendezvous. Camp Taylor, at +Cleveland, Ohio, was organized on the 22d day of April, and by the 27th +contained several thousand troops. Of these, the city of Cleveland had +three companies of infantry; Trumbull County, one; Mahoning County, one +company of infantry and a section of artillery; Portage County, two; +Lake County, one; Lorain County, one; Huron County, one; while the city +of Toledo was represented by an entire regiment. The latter part of +April these detached companies were formed into a regiment, +constituting the Seventh Ohio. It contained the right material for a +fighting regiment. The majority of its members were of a floating +class, fond of adventure, while many were of the best class. The +regiment, as a whole, combined rare military talent. Many of its +officers and privates were skilled in tactics; and those who were not, +immediately set themselves about acquiring the necessary information, +rather by practice than study; for, with some exceptions, it was not a +scholarly regiment. The members took too much the character of +adventurers, to indulge in close study or profound thinking. But for +practical purposes, I doubt whether the regiment had a superior in the +State. It readily acquired discipline while on duty; but while off +duty, its members were not over-nice in their conduct, seldom indulging +in sports that were absolutely wrong, but, at the same time, gratifying +that propensity for fun which characterized them through their entire +career. It contained no drones; there was no companionship in it for +such. +</p> + +<p> +On a beautiful Sabbath in early May, as the morning, with its +freshness, was dispelling the damps and shadows of the night from city +and country, a regiment was seen passing down the streets of the city +of Cleveland. The sweet strains of music and the heavy tramp of the +soldiers alone broke the silence. There was nothing but this martial +bearing, which marked the carriage of the members of the regiment, to +distinguish them from the multitude which was hastening in the same +direction; for there were no arms and no uniforms. Each member was +dressed in his citizen's garb, and there was no attempt at military +evolutions. It was a simple march of determined men to the defence of +their country. Solemnity and a becoming absence of unnecessary +enthusiasm marked the occasion with sublimity and grandeur. The faces +of those brave men were saddened with the thought of the perils which +lay before them, and the endearments that were behind. They were +marching to perform a sacred trust, confided to them by their +countrymen. "This was the first march of the gallant Seventh." Arriving +at the depot of the Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati Railroad, it +took a train of cars for Camp Dennison, where it arrived in the +afternoon of the next day. Here they were totally unprepared to receive +it, no barracks having been erected, although one hundred men had been +sent there for that purpose several days previous. The ground was +perfectly saturated with water from a three days' rain, and the camp in +what had been a cornfield. But notwithstanding these difficulties, by +sunset the regiment had constructed barracks, and were comparatively +comfortable. In a few days the companies began to drill in earnest, and +their advancement was correspondingly rapid. +</p> + +<p> +On the 11th day of May the regiment was ordered to elect, by ballot, +three field-officers. The candidates for colonel were, E. B. Tyler, of +Ravenna; a former brigadier of militia, and James A. Garfield. The +former was elected. Garfield afterwards became colonel of the +Forty-second regiment, and, in command of a brigade, defeated Humphrey +Marshall in Kentucky, for which he was given a star. Captain W. R. +Creighton was elected lieutenant-colonel, and J. S. Casement, of +Painesville, major. +</p> + +<p> +On the 13th day of May, the President having issued a call for 42,032 +volunteers for three years, a meeting was held in the Seventh Regiment, +when all but one of the officers were in favor of organizing under this +call. The subject being brought before the regiment on the following +day, about three-fourths of the command enlisted for the three years' +service. Recruiting officers were sent home, and by the middle of June +the regiment was full. It was mustered into the three years' service on +the 19th and 20th of June. +</p> + +<p> +The companies were officered as follows: Company A, O. J. Crane, captain; +A. C. Burgess, first-lieutenant; D. A. Kimball, second-lieutenant. +Company B, James T. Sterling, captain; Joseph B. Molyneaux, +first-lieutenant; H. Z. Eaton, second-lieutenant. Company C, Giles W. +Shurtliff, captain; Judson N. Cross, first-lieutenant; E. Hudson Baker, +second-lieutenant. Company D, John N. Dyer, captain; Charles A. Weed, +first-lieutenant; A. J. Williams, second-lieutenant. Company E, John W. +Sprague, captain; Arthur T. Wilcox, first-lieutenant; Ralph Lockwood, +second-lieutenant. Company F, D. B. Clayton, captain; John B. Rouse, +first-lieutenant; A. C. Day, second-lieutenant. Company G, F. A. +Seymour, captain; W. H. Robinson, first-lieutenant; E. S. Quay, +second-lieutenant. Company H, Joel F. Asper, captain; Geo. L. Wood, +first-lieutenant; Halbert B. Case, second-lieutenant. Company I, W. R. +Sterling, captain; Samuel McClelland, first-lieutenant; E. F. Fitch, +second-lieutenant. Company K, John F. Schutte, captain; Oscar W. Sterl, +first-lieutenant; C. A. Nitchelm, second-lieutenant. H. K. Cushing was +appointed surgeon, and F. Salter assistant surgeon. John Morris was +appointed quartermaster, Louis G. De Forest, adjutant, and Rev. F. T. +Brown, chaplain. +</p> + +<p> +Camp Dennison was well calculated for a camp of instruction. It is +separated into two parts by the track of the Little Miami Railroad, +while the river of the same name flows along its border. It is situated +between sloping hills of some magnitude, in a slightly undulating +valley. In summer it is beautiful; in winter, gloomy. +</p> + +<p> +Soon after being mustered into service, the regiment was reviewed by +George B. McClellan, then major-general of Ohio militia, commanding the +Department of the Ohio. Immediately after, we were ordered to join his +forces in the field. +</p> + +<p> +Accordingly, on the afternoon of the 26th of June, the regiment took +the cars for Columbus, Ohio, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel +Creighton, Colonel Tyler having gone in advance. Arriving in Columbus +late at night, it was transferred to the Central Ohio Railroad, +arriving at Bell air in the afternoon of the succeeding day. It was +immediately ordered across the river to Benwood, a small station on the +Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, a few miles below Wheeling. Here the +regiment was, for the first time, supplied with ammunition. It encamped +on the common, after the pieces were loaded. Much fatigued by their +long ride, the men threw themselves upon the hard ground, and were soon +enjoying a sound sleep. +</p> + +<p> +In the mean time Major Casement was superintending the transportation +of the baggage and supplies across the river to a train of cars in +waiting. +</p> + +<p> +Here and there the dusky forms of men were seen grouped over the fires, +which were dimly burning, discussing the stories which were floating +about camp, with no apparent starting place, of ambuscades, masked +batteries, and other concealed horrors. +</p> + +<p> +Early on the morning of the 28th of June, three trains of cars were +slowly conveying the regiment into the wilds of Western Virginia, where +war, in its madness, was to confront it. +</p> + +<p> +It arrived at Grafton early in the afternoon, and taking the +Parkersburg branch of the railroad, it arrived at Clarksburg before the +close of the day, and encamped in the outskirts of the village. The +entire regiment occupied tents, which were looked upon with much more +favor than densely crowded barracks. +</p> + +<p> +While encamped at this place, a stand of colors was presented to the +regiment, the gift of the Turners, a society of Germans in Cleveland. +</p> + +<p> +Near thirty miles from the village of Clarksburg is the small hamlet of +Weston, then a notorious haunt for rebels. In the place was a bank, in +which the deposits, to the amount of about thirty thousand dollars, +still remained. The authorities were desirous of procuring this +treasure. The undertaking was intrusted to the Seventh. It was proposed +to surprise the town early in the morning, before any one was astir to +give the alarm. +</p> + +<p> +In the afternoon of the last day of June, the regiment wound its way +through the village, across the river, on to what is called the +Clarksburg pike, leading to Weston. The clay was intensely hot, and the +men entirely unused to marching. At sunset but little distance had been +made, and all were much fatigued, but still the gallant band pressed +onward. Weary and footsore, it moved on till daylight, when some +considerable distance intervened between it and the village. Men were +beginning to fall out by the wayside, unable to proceed further. At +this unfortunate moment the river appeared in view, which makes a bend +to the road, about a mile from Weston. On the opposite side of the road +was a gradual slope of cultivated land, with here and there a clump of +trees. From behind one of these a man was seen to emerge, and being +taken for one of the enemy's scouts, the command was given to "fire," +when several pieces were discharged, without injury, however, to the +object of their aim. A double-quick was now ordered, when the men, +unable to proceed with their knapsacks, scattered them along the road. +</p> + +<p> +Arriving at the town the right wing made a detour to the left, while +the left wing made a similar one to right, deploying as they went. In +this manner the village was entirely surrounded. The first intimation +the citizens had of the presence of the military was the playing of the +"Star Spangled Banner" by the band stationed in the park. A guard was +placed over the bank, and a member of the regiment detailed to look to +the business. +</p> + +<p> +The Union citizens were overjoyed at the presence of the Federal +forces. They prepared a breakfast for the entire regiment, and other +charitable acts, which attested their devotion to the Union cause. The +regiment encamped on the bank of the river, near the cemetery. +</p> + +<p> +During the first days of our stay at Weston many arrests were made of +disloyal citizens, a few of whom were sent to Columbus, Ohio, to await +the action of the Federal Government. +</p> + +<p> +At this time a small force, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Pond, +of the Seventeenth Ohio Volunteers, was besieged at Glenville, a small +village on the banks of the Little Kanawha, by a superior force of +rebels, under command of Major Patton, assisted by Captain O. Jennings +Wise. Companies H and B were sent to his relief. After a fatiguing +march of two days and one night they opened communication with Colonel +Pond, the rebels withdrawing at their approach. +</p> + +<p> +Six more companies of the regiment arrived at Glenville on the +following day, Colonel Tyler being fearful that the first detachment +might meet with a reverse. Several other regiments arrived about the +same time, but left soon after. +</p> + +<p> +During the stay of the regiment at this place, many scouting +expeditions were sent out; on which occasions many dangers and +hardships were encountered. +</p> + +<p> +Just before our arrival at Glenville, a Union lady rode in the saddle +through the rebel camp, with the stars and stripes in one hand and a +pistol in the other, while she defied the rebel host. Being pursued, +she sought refuge in our camp, and finally accompanied the advance of +our forces to her home, with the proud satisfaction of seeing the old +banner once more planted on her native soil. During the progress of the +war she had suffered many perils. At one time she went to visit her +brother, who was concealed in the woods, for the purpose of giving him +food, when she was challenged by a rebel picket. She wheeled her horse, +and, by hard riding, escaped, the rebel bullets passing harmlessly over +her head. +</p> + +<p> +Private Adams, of Company C, was wounded while on picket, being the +first casualty in the regiment produced by the enemy. About the same +time Captain Shurtliff had a horse shot from under him, while riding in +the vicinity of the camp, and within the Federal lines. +</p> + +<p> +Some difficulty was experienced at this place in procuring supplies. +The regiment was fed for some time on corn meal and fresh beef. A mill, +however, was soon set in operation, and supplies of flour and meal were +furnished in abundance. +</p> + + + + +<a name="III"> </a> +<h2> +CHAPTER III. +<br><br> +<span class="smallsc"> +The pursuit of General Wise. — Tyler +ordered to menace Gauley Bridge and threaten Wise's +communications.</span> +</h2> + + +<p> +On the 11th day of July General Rosecrans, by order of General +McClellan, marched his brigade eight miles through a mountain-path to +the rear of the rebel force, occupying the crest of Rich Mountain, +commanded by Colonel Pegram. This movement resulted in the fighting of +the battle of that name. The rebels were completely defeated, and made +a precipitate retreat towards Carrick's Ford, where, on the 13th, they +were again routed, with the loss of their general. +</p> + +<p> +In the mean time the rebel General Wise had occupied the Kanawha +Valley, with a few regular troops and a considerable force of militia. +</p> + +<p> +The advance of this force extended as far down the river as Buffalo, +while numerous incursions were made by the rebel cavalry in the +vicinity of Point Pleasant, a village situated at the junction of the +Kanawha with the Ohio River. +</p> + +<p> +To oppose this force General Cox was sent with a brigade of Ohio +troops. His main force passed up the river in boats, while a sufficient +force was kept on each flank to prevent surprise. +</p> + +<p> +General Wise gradually retired at the advance of this force until, +arriving on the banks of Scarey Creek, he threw up some breastworks, +and awaited the approach of the Union troops. +</p> + +<p> +While these movements were being executed in the valley, Colonel Tyler +was ordered to advance with a brigade by the way of Sutton, to menace +Gauley Bridge, and threaten Wise's communications. +</p> + +<p> +On the 22d of July the Seventh Regiment moved out of Glenville, on what +is called the Braxton road, towards Bulltown, where it was to be joined +by Colonel Tyler with the Seventeenth Ohio, two companies of the First +Virginia, with Captain Mack's battery, United States Artillery, and +Captain Snyder's section of twelve-pounders, making a force of fifteen +hundred. +</p> + +<p> +We arrived at Bulltown in the evening of the next day, meeting with no +resistance from the rebels, who were scattered in small parties through +this entire region of country. We had expected to meet with opposition +at the ford, on the Little Kanawha, some twenty miles from Glenville, +but with the exception of a small band of guerillas, who were very +careful to keep the river between ourselves and them, we saw no rebels. +</p> + +<p> +It was not until the evening of the 25th that we broke camp, and then +to cross a range of hills only, into the valley of the Elk, where we +remained until the 27th of July. +</p> + +<p> +At this camp we learned of a rebel force at Flat Woods, distant six +miles, in the direction of Sutton. On the 27th we moved out, in a heavy +rain, to attack their camp, but at our approach they fled in dismay. +</p> + +<p> +We remained at Flat Woods till the following Sunday, when we moved on +to Sutton, a distance of ten miles. +</p> + +<p> +Sutton, the county-seat of Braxton County, is situated at the base of a +high range of hills, on the right bank of the Elk River. The river is +crossed by a suspension bridge. Back of the village, and about two +hundred feet above it, is a fine table land, with a range of hills for +a back ground. This table land was to be approached only by a narrow +defile fronting the river, which was easily defended; for a battery +properly planted would command every approach for a mile around; +besides, the enemy would have to cross the Elk River under fire. Nature +had made the position a strong one. +</p> + +<p> +The command, now swelled to about two thousand, encamped on this table +land, with the two companies of the First Virginia, and Mack's Battery +thrown forward across the river, to keep open the road in front. +</p> + +<p> +The command at once proceeded to erect fortifications, Captain Asper +being sent to the front of Captain Mack's position on the Summerville +pike, with instructions to select a proper position, after which to +erect a fortification commanding the road. Finding a point where the +road makes a sharp angle, the captain constructed the work, which, +although of no account during the stay of the regiment at Sutton, +afterwards proved a good point of defence, when the wreak garrison +stationed there was attacked. +</p> + +<p> +The second day of August, the regiment left Sutton, and crossing the +river again advanced towards Gauley Bridge. The day was one of the +hottest, which, added to the hilly nature of the country, made the +advance difficult. Both officers and men fell out of the line, unable +to proceed, being so oppressed by the heat, and wearied by the +difficult state of the roads. At night we had crossed but one range of +hills, and found ourselves in the valley of the Little Birch River, at +the foot of Birch Mountain. The following morning we again took up the +line of march, reaching the Great Birch River at early twilight, having +made but a few miles during the day. +</p> + +<p> +In the afternoon we were joined by our chaplain, who, when we were at +Glenville, volunteered to make his way across the country with a +message to General Cox. And now, after an absence of more than two +weeks, on a perilous message, he was again with us, as fresh and +light-hearted as when he left for his daring enterprise. He joined us +by the way of Gauley Bridge, having been the first to make the trip. +Alone, through a country infested by murderous bands of guerrillas and +outlaws, he traveled more than a hundred and fifty miles. Before such +deeds of individual heroism, all but the grandeur and magnitude of +large battles fade into obscurity. In such single exploits there is a +stern, silent daring, that obscures the maddened bravery of a +battle-field. +</p> + +<p> +From our chaplain we learned that General Wise had left the valley, +burning the bridge over the Gauley River, after crossing his command. +He had become frightened and fled. And thus the rebel general, who at +Charleston had said: "By G—, the stars and stripes shall never wave +over this town again;" on the Wednesday following exclaimed: "The enemy +are on us, why the h—ll don't you pack my wagon," and, taking counsel +of his fears, fled in dismay. +</p> + +<p> +But let us return to the Seventh Regiment, which we left at its camp +near the Big Birch River. +</p> + +<p> +On the morning of August 6, we broke camp, and taking a mountain road +arrived at Summerville on the following Wednesday, and encamped on +Addison Hill. +</p> + +<p> +The country about Summerville is beautiful in the extreme. It is +slightly undulating, having more the appearance of an open country, or +in some respects a prairie, than of a valley between two very high +ridges. It is sufficiently rolling to hide the mountains which separate +the Gauley from the Elk River. +</p> + +<p> +At our former camp we were surrounded by very high, precipitous +mountains, with large rocks projecting from their summits. After +passing over Powell Mountain, we came into the valley of the Gauley, +and after marching a short distance, entirely lost sight of these +mountains, over whose rocky crests we had, but a short time before, +pursued our slow and weary way. +</p> + +<p> +The contrast between this camp and the one at Big Birch was striking. +Here we were reminded of Ohio, our native State, the one which had more +attractions for us than any other; while at the latter camp we were +constantly reminded of some lonely country, described only by the +novelist, and inhabited alone by robbers and outlaws. And yet, upon +this mountain region, nature was lavish with her charms. The scenery is +grand beyond description. Peak after peak rises, one above another, +until the tired eye arrows dim in its endeavor to trace the outlines of +the distant mountain, and seeks the beautiful valley, wherein to +restore its lost vision. +</p> + +<p> +From the top of Powell's Mountain, the beauty of the scenery is lost +sight of in its magnificence. This mountain is the highest in Western +Virginia, and commands the finest view. The first time I ascended it +was on horseback. When near the top we struck into a bridle path, and, +urging our horses into a gallop, we were soon at the base of the +projecting rocks. Below, a lovely panorama was open to our view. The +side of the mountain, as well as the distant valley, seemed covered +with a carpet of green, for both were densely wooded, and in the +distance the foliage seemed to blend with the earth. We could see far +away into the smaller valleys, and from them trace the ravines, in +which the small rivulets make their merry descent from the side of the +mountain. +</p> + +<p> +At last, tired of gazing at this beautiful spot in nature's varied +scenery, we again urged our horses forward, and, after partially +winding around the mountain, we were at the very summit of this mass of +earth, rocks, and herbage. We now obtained a view of the opposite side +of the mountain from which we had ascended, where beauty expands into +sublimity. We could plainly trace the course of the Kanawha River, as +on its banks the mountains rise higher, and are more abrupt, while +beyond they lessen into hills, and the hills waste into a valley. On +the side of the distant hills we could see an occasional farm, with its +fields of golden grain ready for the harvest. On the very top of this +mountain was living a family. +</p> + +<p> +Notwithstanding their great height, these mountains seemed fertile; and +the farms are apparently as good as those in the valley. Springs +frequently make their way out of the rocks by the roadside. Water is +abundant in any part of these mountains, and springs more common than +in the valley. +</p> + +<p> +Near the top of Powell's Mountain, in a kind of basin, is a very fine +farm. It is well watered, and well timbered, and quite fertile. The +owner lives and flourishes in this quiet home, and, I should say, is +quite as happy as if in a city. He has become accustomed to the +loneliness of his mountain retreat. The wild scenery has become +familiar—its very wildness has a charm. He is content with two visits +each year to the distant settlement. It is literally true that "home is +where the heart is." +</p> + +<p> +Although this country was well supplied with provisions of every kind, +we were not allowed to appropriate any of it. The property of rebels +was considered sacred. The authorities were confident of putting down +the rebellion through clemency, and, therefore, were both ready and +willing to put our soldiers upon half rations, rather than incur the +ill-will of traitors. When prisoners were captured, they had what was +called an oath of allegiance administered to them, when they were +liberated, to again rob and plunder. Occasionally we captured a horse, +but it was invariably given up, on the owner taking this oath of +allegiance. In view of this moderate method of dealing with them, they +risked nothing in prowling about our lines, for they knew that they had +only to take this oath to procure an honorable discharge; while the +soldiers of the Federal army, if they stole but an onion to make a +piece of hard bread palatable, were subjected to the severest +punishments. Experience has finally taught us, that hard blows alone +will conquer a rebellion, and that to reduce a foe, starvation is quite +as good as the bayonet. +</p> + +<p> +I do not know that any one was criminal in this early practice of +clemency towards rebels; it seemed rather to be a sort of national +weakness, growing out of the universal opinion that the rebellion was, +at the greatest, but a weak effort of a deluded people; and that +kindness, connected with a show of strength, rather than its exercise, +would induce them to return to their former allegiance. It seems to be, +at this day, of little consequence why this practice prevailed, or who +was responsible for it, as it has almost entirely ceased. +</p> + +<p> +On the 11th day of August, Captain John W. Sprague was given a leave of +absence, to go to his home, and was intrusted with dispatches to +General Rosecrans. He was to proceed by the way of Sutton and +Clarksburg. When near the Big Birch River he was suddenly confronted by +a band of rebel cavalry, belonging to Colonel Croghan's Second Georgia +Regiment, who was not far from the spot, with his entire command. The +mail carrier and two dragoons, who accompanied Captain Sprague, +attempted to make their escape; only one, however, was successful; the +mail carrier receiving a mortal wound in the attempt. +</p> + +<p> +Securing their prisoners, the rebel cavalry crossed the Gauley River, +and were soon out of reach of the Federal forces. An unsuccessful +attempt was made to rescue the captors; but infantry, of course, could +make but a fruitless attempt at recapturing prisoners in the hands of +well-mounted cavalry. +</p> + +<p> +This occurrence spread a gloom over the entire camp. One of the best +officers of the regiment had been captured almost within our lines, and +borne away to a Southern prison, to endure the privations of prison +life, with the fond anticipation of seeing home and friends blighted +and withered. To be lost to one's country, within the prison walls of +her enemies, when the arm of every true patriot is needed in her +defence, is a sad fate. +</p> + +<p> +I am not inclined to blame any one for this unfortunate occurrence, +though it may occur to the mind of the reader that good generalship +would require that the commandant of a body of troops, in the heart of +an enemy's country, should know whether or not the cavalry of that +enemy was hanging on his flank and rear. And then, again, it may be +urged with truth that the command was almost entirely without cavalry, +though it was furnished with one company, as well as one of Snake +Hunters, as they were called. The legitimate business in the army of +the latter was scouting. They had no other duty to perform. +</p> + +<p> +But however these facts may be, yet true it is that a regiment of the +enemy's regular cavalry was not only hanging on the flank of our +column, but occupied our rear—thus severing our communications, and +cutting off our supplies. +</p> + +<p> +On the 15th day of August we again moved forward, after first sending a +company down to Hugh's Ferry. We proceeded through a densely wooded +country, abounding in laurel and pau-pau, arriving at Cross Lanes, two +and a half miles from Carnifex Ferry, on the Gauley River, in time to +prepare our camp before night. +</p> + +<p> +Soon after our arrival Captain Schutte, of Company K, was on picket +duty at Carnifex Ferry. During the day the captain, for some unknown +reason, conceived the idea of a scout across the river. Selecting +fourteen of his men, he crossed over to the opposite bank, and, taking +the main road, immediately pushed into the country. The march was made, +apparently, without any apprehension of the presence of an enemy; at +least, no steps appear to have been taken to prevent a surprise. All +went well, however, until the party had made a distance of several +miles, when, the first intimation they had of danger, they were fired +upon by a party of cavalry, concealed in an adjacent thicket, and all +but four of the party killed or wounded—Captain Schutte being wounded +mortally. The survivors conveyed him to an old building, and, at his +own request, left him. He expired soon after, and was buried on the +spot by the rebels. The four men fled towards the river, and, being +pursued, took to the woods. One, being separated from his companions, +was pursued to the bank of the river, and was only saved by throwing +himself into the stream from the projecting rocks. He concealed his +body under water, keeping sufficient of his face above to sustain life. +He could plainly distinguish the conversation of the rebels, and knew +by it that they were in search of him. Here he remained during the day, +and at night dragged himself upon the rocks. The next morning, tired +and hungry, he floated himself down stream by clinging to the almost +perpendicular rocks, until, arriving opposite a house, he was hailed by +a woman, to whom he made known his condition. She immediately +unfastened a canoe, and, paddling directly across the river to where he +was lying, half famished in the water, helped him over its sides, and +conveyed him to the other shore. Before they landed, however, the +rebels discovered them, and gave the order to "halt." It not being +obeyed, they fired, the bullets sinking harmlessly into the water. In a +moment the two were lost to view in the pau-pau, which lined the river +bank. The woman guided the soldier to her home, where she cared for him +during a short illness, which succeeded his escape. When he was +sufficiently recovered to join his command, he found the regiment had +abandoned Cross Lanes, which had been occupied by the rebel forces. He +returned to his former retreat, where he was concealed until the day of +the disaster to the Seventh, when, taking advantage of the confusion +into which the rebel forces were thrown during the affair, he escaped +towards Gauley Bridge, which place he reached in safety the following +day. +</p> + + + + +<a name="IV"> </a> +<h2> +CHAPTER IV. +<br><br> +<span class="smallsc"> +The skirmish at Cross +Lanes. — Gallant conduct and final escape of the +Seventh Regiment.</span> +</h2> + + +<p> +The occupation of Cross Lanes was considered by the authorities of the +gravest importance. It was contiguous to three fords on the Gauley +River, which, when possessed by the Federal forces, was a perfect +protection to the left of the army occupying Gauley Bridge. Carnifex +Ferry was immediately south two and one-half miles. There was a road +leading from the vicinity of Gauley Bridge, on the south bank of the +Gauley River, which unites with the Sunday road, crossing the river at +this ferry. This road afforded the enemy a means of gaining the left of +our forces, at Gauley Bridge. The occupation of Cross Lanes, therefore, +by the enemy, would sever the communication between our forces at the +above point, and the main army under Rosecrans, occupying the country +from the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, along Cheat Mountain. +</p> + +<p> +Carnifex Ferry, was a point easily defended against a much superior +force. Indeed, it had so many natural defences, that it elicited +exclamations of surprise from men accustomed to the selection of places +for defence. The current of the river was rapid, while the abrupt rocks +on its banks afforded secure hiding places for a considerable body of +troops. It was quite impossible to bring artillery to bear in such a +manner on the position as to interfere materially with troops concealed +there. It seems to be the opinion of most persons familiar with the +place, that it would be quite impossible to dislodge a body of troops +properly posted on the north bank of the river at this ferry, provided +a stubborn resistance was made. +</p> + +<p> +It was for the purpose of preventing the crossing of the enemy at this +point that the force of Colonel Tyler was ordered to Cross Lanes. By +keeping pickets well on the line of the river, to watch any advance of +the enemy, the regiment was entirely safe at its camp, from which it +was comparatively easy to re-enforce any portion of the line. But for +some reason, the commanding officer failed to visit the ferry in +person, until the afternoon of the day on which a peremptory order was +received to report with his command at Gauley Bridge. Hitherto he had +been entirely unable to give correct information, as to the probability +of his being able to hold the ferry. He was ordered to abandon the +position, because his dispatches were such, that they created an +uneasiness in the minds of Generals Rosecrans and Cox, as to the +propriety of trusting him to hold so important a position. Here was the +fatal mistake. A lesser error had already been made, in withdrawing all +the forces from Tyler, other than the Seventh. Had these forces +remained, the position would probably not have been abandoned, as all +would have felt secure. When the order to withdraw was received, the +commanding officer regretted it as much as any one. But the mischief +was already done; the order was imperative. On that evening, Monday, +the regiment left Cross Lanes at 11 o'clock <span class="smc">P.M.</span>, and the +next day, by noon, was at Twenty Mile Creek, some eight miles from +Gauley Bridge. +</p> + +<p> +On the Wednesday morning following, Colonel Tyler reported in person to +General Cox. In the mean time, the general having become satisfied that +Colonel Tyler could be trusted to hold Cross Lanes, and being confident +that the contemplated attack of the enemy on Gauley Bridge had been +abandoned, ordered him to return as soon as the troops were rested, +expecting him to start back, at least the next morning. But Tyler did +not move. On Friday afternoon, General Cox, on learning that he had not +moved, was much excited, and said to an officer present— +</p> + +<p> +"He must move; he must move at once; it is all important that Cross +Lanes be held, and Floyd be kept on the other side of the river; ride +back to camp and tell him from me, to move early in the morning, <i>and +with speed, to secure the position</i>." +</p> + +<p> +The order was delivered in nearly the same language as given, but +notwithstanding its directness, he did not move till noon on Saturday, +and then made a distance of only fourteen miles, over good roads, +encamping at the foot of Panther Mountain, after having fallen back +from Peter's Creek, on learning of the presence of the enemy. +</p> + +<p> +On arriving in camp, a dispatch was sent to General Cox, representing +to him that the enemy were in force in front, and asking instructions. +On Sunday morning at about 3 o'clock, a courier arrived with an order +from General Cox, substantially as follows: The force in your front +cannot be as large as you estimate it. Advance cautiously, feeling your +way; if the enemy is too strong, fall back, if not, occupy Cross Lanes +at once, as it is of the utmost importance. +</p> + +<p> +About nine o'clock Sunday morning, August 25th, the regiment moved +towards Cross Lanes, casting lots as to which company should be left in +charge of the baggage. It fell upon Company F, which was temporarily +commanded by Lieutenant Kimball. The entire day was occupied in +reaching Cross Lanes. It was not until dark of that day that the +regiment went into camp. +</p> + +<p> +In the days' advance some slight skirmishing occurred with the enemy's +cavalry videttes, but beyond these few horsemen no enemy was +encountered, the regiment encamping in apparent security near the +church, after having driven away a cavalry picket of the enemy. +</p> + +<p> +Companies were sent out on picket, as follows: Company A, on the road +leading to Summerville; Company K, on the road leading to Carnifex +Ferry; Company C, on the road leading in the opposite direction, while +Company E was sent on a diagonal road leading to a ferry some distance +below Carnifex. The balance of the command remained near headquarters, +which were established in the church. +</p> + +<p> +Each company on picket was divided into three reliefs, with +instructions to be vigilant. +</p> + +<p> +The silence of the enemy, together with his neglect to attack, created +the impression that he had withdrawn his forces to the other side of +the river, fearing that this small force was but the advance of a +well-equipped army. But these theories were destined to fade into +sadder realities, as the shadows of night melted into morning. +</p> + +<p> +Nothing occurred during the night to disturb the general repose. A +short time before day fires were kindled, and those who were up had +pieces of meat on sticks, which they were roasting. Some had obtained +green corn during the night, which they were also roasting. Before day +had fairly dawned, the command was almost entirely astir. As it became +sufficiently light to distinguish objects at a considerable distance, +several musket shots were heard in the direction of the river, followed +in quick succession by others. It soon became evident that a determined +attack was being made on Company K. About this time a column of rebels +was seen advancing from the river road, across the fields, towards +Company A's position on the Summerville road. Arriving in the vicinity +of this road, the column halted, formed in line of battle, at the same +time swinging round its right to the Summerville road, driving Company +A back to the point where the roads cross. In the mean time Companies +B, D, G, H, and I were ordered to the support of Company K; but on +arriving at the cross roads, Company K was seen falling back in some +confusion, before a superior force, therefore they remained at that +point. Meanwhile a heavy fire was opened from a dense wood opposite the +church, to resist which Company K, having been joined by Companies A +and C, which had advanced to its support on the ferry road, took +position on a hill midway between this belt of timber and the crossing +of the roads. From this point these companies delivered several +effective volleys, which soon drove the rebels from their position. +Taking advantage of this partial check of the enemy, Captain Crane +ordered a charge, which resulted in piercing the lines, and the capture +of a stand of rebel colors. The three companies now escaped, with a +loss, however, of Captain Shurtliff, Lieutenant Wilcox, and Lieutenant +Cross, taken prisoners, the latter being severely wounded in the arm. +</p> + +<p> +During this time the rebel column from the direction of Summerville had +advanced so as to lap over the road opposite the Ferry road, exposing +the companies occupying the road in front of the church to an +enfilading fire, at the same time being exposed to a severe fire from +the front, from a column of infantry and cavalry coming up the Ferry +road. These companies were now ordered to rally on a hill near the +church. In executing this movement Companies D and H passed through a +corn field, exposed to a deadly fire from almost every direction. Soon +after reaching this field Captain Dyer, Company D, fell dead, pierced +in the heart by a rifle bullet. Lieutenant Weed succeeded him in +command. On reaching the hill these companies attempted to rally, but +being in an open field, combated by a much superior and partially +hidden foe, were compelled to fall back to a piece of woods skirting +the road. The balance of the command, other than those who had followed +the fortunes of Captain Crane, now joined them, and soon organized for +a systematic retreat. +</p> + +<p> +Captain Crane and his followers, after putting some distance between +themselves and the enemy, crossed the Gauley road, and hastened to the +mountains, where they would be entirely free from the attacks of +cavalry, and where they would have a chance, at least, of partially +defending themselves against attack from the rebel infantry. +</p> + +<p> +Arriving in the mountains, they took a direction as nearly as possible +towards Gauley Bridge, where they arrived in safety, meeting with +little of adventure on the way. Thus a small body of Federals had +fought their way out from the very grasp of the enemy, and, eluding +pursuit, traversed a mountain range, with no guide, over rocks and deep +gorges, arriving safely within the Union lines. Their arrival, however, +did little to cheer the hearts of those in camp, for they were a small +body compared with those still unheard from. +</p> + +<p> +The news of the sad disaster to the Seventh had already been sent to +the friends at home; universal gloom had settled over the camp, and the +prospect looked dark for saving the organization, even, of a regiment +which was the pride of the Western Reserve. +</p> + +<p> +A flag of truce was sent to Cross Lanes to ascertain, if possible, the +fate of those left behind. Chaplain Brown and Surgeon Cushing were +selected to undertake this enterprise. They, however, returned without +having accomplished their object. +</p> + +<p> +One dark, rainy night, as if nature was in sympathy with the feelings +of those in camp, the band commenced playing a patriotic air in front +of the colonel's quarters, accompanied with cheers. I knew that this +indicated good news. Hastening to the spot I learned that a dispatch +had just arrived from Charleston with the comforting news that four +hundred of the regiment had arrived in safety on the Elk River, twelve +miles from the above place. But let us accompany these four hundred +heroes in their march from the battlefield. +</p> + +<p> +Organizing the troops, Major Casement, being first in rank, Colonels +Tyler and Creighton having already escaped, assumed command. Losing no +time the detachment immediately took up the line of march. Avoiding all +highways, and keeping well in the timber, they moved on for some time, +when, considering themselves out of immediate danger, they ventured out +to the road, to find themselves only three miles from the place of +starting. It was now concluded that it was not advisable to attempt +reaching Gauley Bridge, as the enemy would be likely to interpose a +considerable body of troops between them and that point. It was +considered to be more practicable to make in the direction of Elk +River, and by this means reach Charleston. This course being adopted, +the command crossed the road and took to the mountains. Very soon after +a party of rebel cavalry came dashing down as if in pursuit, barely +missing the object of their search. +</p> + +<p> +The command, aided by a compass, took their course over the mountains +in a direction which they supposed would ultimately lead them to the +banks of the Elk River. +</p> + +<p> +During the afternoon Captain W. R. Sterling procured a guide, who +conducted them by narrow pathways, in which they were compelled to +march single file, towards a house which was situated at some distance +on the mountain. Night setting in, before reaching the spot, without +even a star visible to light them on the way, the column halted, and +passed the word back for a candle. The line extended for nearly half a +mile, and it was not until the last company, H, had been reached, that +one was procured. On its arriving at the front, it was discovered that +the head of the column had arrived on the brink of a deep chasm, into +which it would be sure death to plunge. One step more, and the unlucky +leader of the line would have been precipitated into the dreadful +crater. But these daring adventurers were spared the misfortune of such +an accident. +</p> + +<p> +Two hours of valuable time having been lost, the line now pressed +forward, each man holding on to the man preceding him. About midnight +the house was reached, and the weary band laid themselves down; not, +however, to sleep, for the only provisions they had had during the day +was roasted corn, for in the morning they were attacked while preparing +breakfast, which they were compelled to abandon. The woman of the house +was kept cooking the good old-fashioned corn-dodger, and by morning the +command was tolerably well fed, and ready for the toilsome as well as +hazardous march of the succeeding day. +</p> + +<p> +As the day again dawned, the line moved on. Procuring another guide +during the day, they arrived, in early evening, on the banks of the Elk +River, without any adventure worth relating. Before halting they forded +the river, which was, at the time, waist deep. Company B was sent out +on picket, under command of Lieutenant Molyneaux. The instructions were +to establish a chain of pickets, at short intervals, along the road +leading up the river. In case of an attack, the outer picket to fire +and fall back on the next, when another volley was to be delivered, and +so continue until the camp should be finally reached. The position +selected for the camp was at the base of a range of abrupt hills, which +were not accessible to cavalry, while many difficulties would present +themselves in the way of a force of infantry advancing to an attack +from that direction. The river ran at the very foot of these hills, too +deep to cross in the face of an enemy, and sufficiently wide to present +a decided obstacle in the way of an attacking party on the opposite +shore. The command felt, therefore, comparatively safe in this retreat. +As it afterwards proved, they were not mistaken; for it was ascertained +that, at the time the pickets were being stationed, seven hundred rebel +cavalry were a short distance up the river; indeed, they were so near +that a party of rebel officers heard the lieutenant give the +instructions to the outer picket. One of these officers, when +afterwards taken prisoner, being questioned by Molyneaux as to their +reason for not attacking, remarked that it would have been quite +impossible for them to reach the camp in case his instructions to the +picket should be carried out; and he and his brother-officers agreed in +the opinion, that the orders would be carried out; for no body of +troops, after having made so stubborn a resistance as at Cross Lanes, +would afterwards lose all by a want of vigilance or a disobedience of +orders. True it is that they did not attack, but suffered the camp to +remain quiet, and the command to move off at leisure in the morning. +</p> + +<p> +A dispatch being sent to Charleston, on the following day a +provision-train met them twelve miles from the latter place. In due +time the command arrived at Charleston, weary and foot-sore from their +long and toilsome march. +</p> + + + + +<a name="V"> </a> +<h2> +CHAPTER V. +<br><br> +<span class="smallsc"> +Reflections on the Skirmish at Cross +Lanes. — Battle of Carnifex Ferry.</span> +</h2> + + +<p> +The occasion for the affair at Cross Lanes was brought about by a +series of blunders. The first blunder was committed by the officer who +ordered all the forces, with the exception of the Seventh Ohio, from a +position which enabled them to guard the ferries of the Gauley. If it +was deemed important to hold these ferries at all, it was certainly +advisable to retain a sufficient force to guard against surprise and +capture. But then, what would be considered a sufficient force? To +settle the question, it is necessary to take into account the size of +the army occupying the country, as well as the size of that of the +enemy. Neither army was large, and both were much scattered, scarcely +more than a brigade occupying one position. A regiment, therefore, may +perhaps be considered a sufficient force for an outpost. +</p> + +<p> +The army in Western Virginia was at no time sufficiently large to +accomplish any thing, under the best generalship, beyond simply holding +the country, and preventing invasion; and it was only for the want of a +moderately sized army that the rebel general failed to drive back our +forces. But the rebel authorities had no men to spare for the purpose +of winning barren victories; so the armies of Western Virginia were +left to watch each other, with an occasional skirmish. +</p> + +<p> +At the time the affair at Cross Lanes took place, our army occupied a +front of many miles, as did also the rebel army. It was quite +impossible to collect, in case of emergency, more than about six +thousand men. But, however it may be as to the first point, it is +clear, secondly, that the commanding officer at Cross Lanes committed +an error in not making a personal inspection of the grounds, adjacent +to the camp, immediately on his arrival. It is always considered highly +important that those in command should know precisely the ground their +commands are expected to defend, and not to trust to chance or a battle +to develop favorable points of defence or attack. By reason of this +want of knowledge, rumors as to the presence of the enemy in force +created uneasiness and alarm, which was entirely natural, although +without cause. While in this state of feeling, the commanding officer +sent dispatches to Generals Rosecrans and Cox, which created the +impression that their author was not to be trusted to hold these +ferries. Those generals attributed this alarm to a want of personal +courage, they being well informed as to the strength of the position at +Cross Lanes. It was not, however, a want of courage, but simply a +failure on his part to understand the real strength of the position, by +reason of not having visited it in person. +</p> + +<p> +When the order to withdraw came, Colonel Tyler regretted it as much as +any one; for he had that day examined the position, and knew that he +could hold it against any force the enemy could bring to the attack. +But this knowledge was obtained too late: lying on his table was a +positive order to withdraw. Reason said hold the position; military +law, which was higher in authority, said abandon it; so the place was +evacuated. The third and irremediable error was committed in not +returning to Cross Lanes when ordered. If that had been done, the +consequences resulting from the withdrawal would have been entirely +checked. The order to return was given on Wednesday, with the +expectation that it would be acted upon as soon as Thursday morning; +but it was not until the Saturday noon following that the command +started. There was no reason for this delay. The regiment had marched +but eighteen miles in as many days, and could, without any injustice +being done it, have returned the day the order was given. Even had the +command moved as late as Friday, with dispatch, it would not have been +too late, as it seems to be well settled that Floyd did not cross over +any considerable body of troops until Saturday. +</p> + +<p> +In the way of criticism on this affair, it has been said that, had a +spirited dash been made on the enemy on Saturday evening, the rebels +could have been driven across the river. I think this claim subject to +many doubts. In my opinion a reconnoissance should have been made that +night, instead of falling back to Panther Mountain. This would have +resulted in the discovery of their position and force, and thus given +the command an opportunity to take advantage of the night to withdraw. +Had this been done, the ferry might possibly have been reached. +</p> + +<p> +The result of these blunders was the fighting of two engagements, with +a heavy Federal loss, while the enemy suffered less. One of these, +Carnifex Ferry, has been dignified with the name of battle, while the +other is considered but an affair. +</p> + +<p> +After the repulse of the Seventh, Floyd intrenched himself on the bank +of the river, near the ferry. About two weeks later, "Rosecrans came +down with his legions," comprising about four thousand men. Approaching +the vicinity of the ferry, he threw forward General Benham's brigade, +with no design of bringing on an engagement, however; but the line +unwittingly advanced to within a short distance of the enemy's works, +when a sheet of flame shot along their entire line. The unequal contest +lasted five hours, when the Union forces withdrew, hungry and +supperless, with a loss of fourteen killed, and one hundred and four +wounded. The loss of the enemy was about twenty wounded. +</p> + +<p> +The troops awoke in the morning to find the rebel works abandoned. Thus +ended the battle of Carnifex Ferry, no less a blunder than Cross Lanes. +</p> + +<p> +General Benham was censured for having attacked their main works, when +he was ordered to make a reconnoissance only. But when it is understood +that the commanding general sent up reinforcements, the blame, if there +was any, attached itself to him. +</p> + +<p> +The loss to the Seventh, at Cross Lanes, was one killed, twenty +wounded, and ninety-six taken prisoners. Several of these were +recaptured at Carnifex Ferry, when Rosecrans attacked Floyd. Among the +number was Lieutenant Cross, Company C. The loss to the enemy has never +been known. There is no doubt, however, that it was considerable. They +attacked in large numbers, confident of an easy victory, therefore very +little caution attended their movements. But instead of a flag of +truce, accompanied by an offer to surrender, they were met by a shower +of bullets, which must have told fearfully on their heavy columns. The +fact that they were thrown into such confusion as to permit our men to +escape, shows that they were too severely punished to follow up their +victory. +</p> + +<p> +The force of Floyd has been variously estimated: some having placed it +as high as six thousand; while, in his official report of the +engagement at Carnifex Ferry, Floyd himself places it at only two +thousand. His force was probably four thousand, of all arms, with ten +pieces of artillery. This entire force must have been in the vicinity +at the time of the affair at Cross Lanes. +</p> + +<p> +The following is an unofficial list of the loss in the regiment: +</p> + +<p> +<i>Killed.</i>—Captain John N. Dyer. +</p> + +<p> +<i>Wounded.</i>—Corporal Frank Dutton, N. J. Holly, Thomas Shepley, +Thomas J. Scoville, Sergeant H. G. Orton, Joseph W. Collins, B. +Yeakins, Lewis J. Jones, Thomas S. Curran, William Meriman, B. F. Gill, +William S. Reed, David M. Daily, Robert J. Furguson, James R. Greer, E. +J. Kreiger, Sergeant James Grebe, John W. Doll, William W. Ritiche, +Fred. W. Steinbauer. +</p> + +<p> +The following is a list of those taken prisoners: +</p> + +<p> +Sergeant W. W. Parmeter, Sergeant E. R. Stiles, Sergeant G. C. C. +Ketchum, Sergeant F. F. Wilcoxson, Sergeant Edward Bohn, Sergeant A. +Kolman, Sergeant E. W. Morey, Corporal C. F. Mack, Corporal J. G. +Turner, Corporal T. A. Mohler, Corporal S. M. Cole, Corporal E. C. +Palmer, Corporal Charles Bersett, Privates Albert Osborn, Charles +Weber, Alex. Parker, R. Bears, L. Warren, A. M. Halbert, H. Keiser, S. +B. Kingsbury, E. Kennedy, A. Hubbell, C. C. Quinn, C. Burrows, E. +Evans, W. H. Scott, C. H. Howard, Charles Carrol, T. B. Myers, George +Sweet, John Massa, J. F. Curtis, W. E. Bartlett, W. Cherry, John Bark, +John Hann, L. M. Blakesly, Z. Fox, J. Butler, F. S. Stillwell, G. W. +Downing, G. C. Newton, William Biggs, Mathew Merkle, J. Sheloy, H. +Huntoon, G. W. Williams, George C. Robinson, H. Wessenbock, J. C. +Rafferty, J. Snyder, W. W. Wheeler, C. Haskell, J. W. Finch, James +Johnson, H. Johnson, L. C. Logue, A. Scoville, P. Wildson, F. Boole, +John Miller, P. Jenkins, John Smith, J. Wolf, Theodore Burt, A. +Schwartz, G. A. Akerman, Charles Sahl, G. W. Thompson, F. Williams, M. +H. Whaley, Z. Larkins, T. Hebbig, Z. A. Fuig, F. A. Noble, J. Hettlick, +J. McCabe, L. Beles, E. R. Smith, F. A. Rubicon, John Smith, E. Smith, +H. Smith, D. N. K. Hubbard, H. Wood, Charles Ottinger, R. S. Beel, N. +D. Claghorn, H. Thompson, N. Freidenburg, M. Levullen, S. Gill, fifer. +</p> + + + + +<a name="VI"> </a> +<h2> +CHAPTER VI. +<br><br> +<span class="smallsc"> +Charleston and the Kanawha +Valley. — A double murder. — Colonel +Tyler assumes command of the post.</span> +</h2> + + +<p> +After the engagement at Cross Lanes, five companies of the regiment +remained at Gauley Bridge, while the balance were at Charleston. The +latter part was commanded by Colonel Guthrie, of the First Kentucky +Regiment. At this time it was the seat of justice for Kanawha County, +and contained upwards of three thousand inhabitants. It is a neat +village, situated on the north bank of the Kanawha River, at a point +where the Elk empties into it. There is a fine suspension bridge over +the latter stream, which the rebels undertook to destroy in their +flight. Charleston is three hundred and eight miles west of Richmond, +and forty-six miles east of the Ohio River. It was named after Charles +Clendenin, an early settler, and an owner of the soil on which it is +built. +</p> + +<p> +The Valley of the Kanawha is famous for its beautiful scenery. The +mountains on either side of the river sometimes rise to the height of +five hundred feet and more, and are liberally supplied with rich beds +of minerals and coal. At their base is located the famous Kanawha salt +works. They commence near Charleston, and extend for about fifteen +miles above it. Before the rebellion they gave employment to nearly six +thousand persons. The following extract will be of interest: +</p> + +<p> +"It is a curious fact, and worthy of philosophical inquiry, that while +the salt water is obtained by boring to a depth of from three hundred +to five hundred feet below the bed of the Kanawha, it invariably rises +to a level with the river. When the latter is swollen by rains, or the +redundant waters of its tributaries, the saline fluid, inclosed in +suitable "gums" on the shore, ascends like the mercury in its tube, and +only falls when the river returns to its wonted channel. How this +mysterious correspondence is produced is a problem which remains to be +solved. Theories and speculations I have heard on the subject, but none +seem to me to be precisely consonant with the principles of science." +</p> + +<p> +Before the presence of the army interrupted the manufacture of salt, +these works yielded about two million bushels annually, and are capable +of yielding much more with an increase of capital. +</p> + +<p> +While Colonel Guthrie commanded the post at Charleston a most +disgraceful tragedy was enacted. An order had been issued that no +liquors of any description should be sold or given to the soldiers or +employees of the Government. During the time this order was in force, a +party of drunken rowdies from the First Kentucky Regiment stopped at +the grocery of an old man, and asked for some beer; when refused, they +demanded it. Being again refused they threatened violence, and +proceeded to put their threats into force, when a son of the old man, +occupying a room above, was brought to the window by the old +gentleman's cries for help, and, seeing his father thus set upon by a +mob, from the repeated assaults of which his life was endangered, fired +a revolver, the contents of which took effect on one of the assaulting +party, producing instant death. He was at once arrested and lodged in +jail, around which a strong guard was placed to prevent his being taken +out and hung. +</p> + +<p> +That night Colonel Guthrie, in a speech made to the excited throng, +which had collected around the jail, said, in substance, that the life +of the criminal should be taken if he had to do it with his own hand. +Similar remarks were made by others, among whom was a captain who +afterwards sat as judge-advocate on the trial. +</p> + +<p> +On the morning after the affair the members constituting the +court-martial assembled "in all the pomp and pride of glorious war," +decorated with all the paraphernalia belonging to an officer's +equipment, but to declare a prejudged opinion. +</p> + +<p> +During the trial the prisoner was as immovable as a statue, evincing in +his appearance a want of hope, as well as a preparation for the worst. +He made no defence. The announcement of the sentence of death produced +no change; he preserved a stoical appearance to the last. +</p> + +<p> +When the hour of execution arrived the prisoner was brought to the +gallows in a heavy wagon, guarded by a double file of soldiers, who +were laughing as gayly as if on their way to some place of amusement. +During the afternoon the sun had shone through a cloudless sky; but +just before this terrible scene was enacted, the heavens were draped +with heavy clouds, and the rain fell in torrents, casting a gloom on +all around. The wretched victim ascended the gallows with a firm tread, +and addressed a few words, in a fearless tone, to those assembled +around. As the rope was being adjusted around his neck, the crowd +involuntarily gave way, showing that, although they had been clamorous +for the enactment of the scene, yet when the time came, they had not +the nerve to witness the death-struggle of their victim. There was but +little movement of the body after the fatal drop fell. This last scene +was sickening in the extreme, and all of us, moved by a common impulse, +turned and walked away in silence, our hearts being too full for +utterance. +</p> + +<p> +This is one more testimony against the safety and justice of the death +penalty. +</p> + +<p> +On the 19th day of October, Colonel Tyler took command of the post at +Charleston. He issued the following proclamation: +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> +"In assuming the command of this post, one of my principal objects will +be to maintain order, and to see that the rights of persons and property +have the protection guaranteed by general orders from department +headquarters. To the faithful execution of this my entire energies, +together with the force at my command, will be given. To this end I have +established Camp Warren, where officers and soldiers are required to be +at all times, except when on duty which calls them away, or on leave of +absence, which will only be granted at headquarters. Commissioned and +non-commissioned officers will be held personally responsible for any +violation of this order by members of their companies. Drunkenness, +marauding, boisterous and unsoldierlike conduct are strictly forbidden. +To prevent this, the sale of intoxicating liquors, directly or +indirectly, to those in the service of the United States, is positively +and emphatically prohibited; and I call upon the citizens to aid me in +detecting those who violate this order. The quiet of your town, the +protection of your property—in fact your lives and the lives of +your families—depend much upon the sobriety of our officers and +men; therefore, it becomes your duty as well as your interest to lend me +your aid in the execution of this order. +</p> + +<p class="sig"> +"<span class="sc">E. B. Tyler</span>, +<br> +"Colonel Commanding Post." +</p> +</div> + +<p> +Under the rule of Colonel Tyler the post at Charleston assumed order +and quiet. Under the former commandant drunkenness was common, while +marauding parties were free to patrol the streets on their errands of +mischief. The property of the citizens was at the mercy of these gangs, +while their lives were not unfrequently placed in jeopardy. The people, +therefore, were much gratified with the change of rule. Camps were now +established at some distance from the village, while no soldiers were +permitted to visit it unless they first obtained a pass from +headquarters, which, being established in town, was difficult to +procure. A provost-marshal was appointed, with a proper guard subject +to his orders. This guard was instructed to arrest all soldiers found +in the streets of the village without a proper pass, as well as those +committing any depredations on the property or persons of the citizens, +with or without a pass. +</p> + +<p> +About the middle of October the companies at Gauley Bridge came down to +Charleston. During their stay on the Gauley they performed much duty at +the outposts; several times being under the enemy's fire, though none +were injured. The detachment suffered severe loss, however, from +sickness. Lieutenant Robinson was among the number; he died of fever; +his loss was greatly felt by the regiment. When the news of his death +reached his company, they wept as for a brother. +</p> + + + + +<a name="VII"> </a> +<h2> +CHAPTER VII. +<br><br> +<span class="smallsc"> +Floyd establishes batteries on Cotton +Hill. — Driven off by the forces of general +Cox. — Benham's failure to intercept his +retreat. — His pursuit. — Skirmish +at McCoy's Mills. — His final escape.</span> +</h2> + + +<p> +Near the last of October General Floyd very suddenly appeared on Cotton +Hill, an abrupt eminence lying between the Kanawha and New rivers, at +the junction of the Gauley with the latter stream, which form the +Kanawha. The enemy immediately commenced shelling Gauley Bridge. +General Cox, who was some distance up New River, near the headquarters +of General Rosecrans, was ordered to proceed to Gauley Bridge and to +assume direction of affairs. He was also ordered to direct General +Benham, who was expected to arrive very soon with a brigade, to cross +his forces, at night, over the Kanawha River, and to carry the summit +of Cotton Hill by storm. A picket post had already been established +across the river by direction of General Cox. Benham protested against +the movement, and refused to execute the order received through General +Cox, but proceeded to confer, by telegraph, with General Rosecrans, +receiving in reply the same orders. Benham still protesting against +attempting to execute what he termed so hazardous a movement, at his +own request was permitted to pass down the river to the mouth of Loop +Creek, from whence he was to undertake a flank movement. Colonel Smith +joined General Benham in his protest, declaring the attempt to storm +these batteries as sheer madness. It is significant that General Cox +afterwards stormed and carried Cotton Hill, with barely a regiment of +troops. +</p> + +<p> +Floyd had constructed a line of fortifications at Dickerson's, on the +road to Fayetteville, which was his only avenue of retreat in case of +disaster. +</p> + +<p> +Soon after General Benham arrived opposite Loop Creek, he was joined by +five hundred selected men from the Seventh from Charleston. This +detachment of the regiment, having arrived on boats, was ordered to +disembark, and take up their position at the mouth of Loop Creek. The +following morning it moved up the creek some eight or ten miles, where +it took up its position at an old log barn. Lieutenant-Colonel +Creighton being in command, Colonel Tyler having remained at +Charleston, was instructed to picket the roads well in his front, as +well as the mountains lying between; and also to scout the country in +the vicinity, for the purpose of finding out the position of the camp +of the enemy, as well as his numbers. The latter part of the order was +well executed, and there can be no doubt that Benham was possessed of +accurate information of the enemy. +</p> + +<p> +After the third day of our occupation of this position we were joined +by a detachment of the Forty-fourth Ohio, under command of Major +Mitchell, and the Thirty-seventh Ohio, under command of Colonel +Seibert. Soon after, all of this force, with the exception of eight +companies of the Thirty-seventh Regiment, was ordered forward under +command of Lieutenant-Colonel Creighton. +</p> + +<p> +Proceeding for some distance on a road leading to the front, we struck +into a bridle path, and after passing through a wood, began ascending a +mountain. Single file, the command clambered up its steep and rocky +sides. Arriving on its summit we could see the heads of a line of men +extending for a mile beneath us. Descending the opposite side with some +difficulty, we marched some distance from the foot of the mountain, and +found ourselves at Cassady's Mills, a point from which the command was +to debouch on to the Fayetteville pike, should Floyd attempt a retreat. +But the movement, on the part of Benham, was so tardily executed, that +the balance of the command never arrived at this point; but instead, +the forces, other than the Seventh Ohio, were ordered away that night; +leaving a detachment of five hundred men, with no support, within three +miles of a well-equipped army of the enemy. We were so near that we +could plainly hear the bugle calls in Floyd's camp. Had Benham's entire +command been at that point, the retreat of the rebel army could have +been intercepted. Previous to this, Floyd had been driven back to his +intrenchments at Dickerson's, and all that was necessary to his +capture, was an attack on his rear on the part of Benham. But he either +feared to make the attack, or was too slow in doing it. The former is +probably true. That night the rebel general passed within three miles +of our position, and escaped with his entire army, together with the +artillery and baggage. +</p> + +<p> +On the 12th of November, Benham arrived at Cotton Hill, but to find the +forces of General Cox in possession. On the afternoon of the 13th, he +pushed on after Floyd's retreating army, arriving within four miles of +Fayetteville, at about eleven o'clock <span class="smc">P.M.</span> Here, evidences of the +hurried retreat of Floyd began to multiply. The fences were lined with +hides, but recently stripped from the carcasses of cattle, while in +many places the beef itself was left suspended from the fence. +</p> + +<p> +On the morning of the 4th, we pushed through Fayetteville before day, +in the pursuit. Floyd had but a few hours the start. Six miles ahead we +took breakfast, consisting of two army crackers to each man. After +which we pushed rapidly on. About noon, our skirmishers, the Thirteenth +Ohio, overtook the rear-guard of the enemy, when sharp firing occurred, +which continued during an advance of several miles, resulting in the +mortal wounding of St. George Croghan, colonel of the Second Georgia +cavalry, and formerly of the United States Army. The colonel was taken +to a house close by and left, where he was found in a dying condition +by our men. Having been a class-mate of his at West Point, Benham +stopped and passed a few words with him. When recognizing the general, +Croghan appeared to be much affected; and is reported to have said that +he knew he was fighting in a bad cause, and that he had been driven +into the army much against his wishes, for he was still attached to the +old flag. He soon after expired. +</p> + +<p> +While this conversation was being carried on between officers so +differently circumstanced, the Union forces had pressed the rebels so +closely, that the latter, to save their baggage train, were compelled +to make a stand. The Seventh Ohio was ordered to act as reserve, but +when the action grew hot, was ordered forward, with instructions to +send out two companies as skirmishers, which was immediately done; +Companies A and K being sent forward. +</p> + +<p> +About this time two pieces of rifled cannon were brought to bear on the +rebels, when they turned and fled, leaving six killed on the field. We +were so near, that we plainly heard the retreat sounded by their +bugles. From this time their retreat became a rout. In their flight, +they cast away every thing that would encumber their retreat. We were +now on the banks of a stream, over whose rocky cliffs numerous wagons, +with their contents, had been hurled. It was supposed, that several +pieces of cannon shared the same fate. +</p> + +<p> +The pursuit was continued with much vigor, until a late hour in the +evening, when General Schenck, having but just arrived at the front, +ordered it discontinued. This was the second error of the campaign. +Schenck, with his fresh troops, instead of ordering the pursuit to +cease, should have pressed with vigor. The enemy encamped but a short +distance in our front, on Three-mile Mountain. This position could have +been carried with ease, with the combined forces of Schenck and Benham, +with comparatively little loss. But the pursuit being the result of a +blunder, resulted in a blunder. +</p> + +<p> +A little after midnight the command fell back, arriving at Fayetteville +in the afternoon of the same day, after a fatiguing march over the +worst road that could be imagined, and with no provisions other than +beef with a very little salt. The Seventh marched to its old camp, four +miles out on the road to Cotton Hill. The officers and men lay on the +hill-side that night, exposed to a violent snow storm, with no other +covering than their blankets, except the snowy sheet that nature spread +over them during the long hours of night. +</p> + +<p> +During the night a demonstration was made on a drove of pigs which were +lurking close by; and it would not be strange if the soldiers could +relate tales of their descent on poultry yards and bee-hives. True it +is, that some first-class honey found its way into camp. +</p> + +<p> +The next day, marching over Cotton Hill, we arrived at our camp near +the mouth of Loop Creek. Embarking on the following day, we arrived at +Charleston on the 18th, after an absence of fourteen days. +</p> + + + + +<a name="VIII"> </a> +<h2> +CHAPTER VIII. +<br><br> +<span class="smallsc"> +Reflections on the Institution of Slavery.</span> +</h2> + + +<p> +While at Charleston, we were deeply impressed with the profound +interest the slaves were taking in passing events. That down-trodden +race, who had for years suffered every injustice at the hands of their +white oppressors, were now the first to assist the Federal commanders. +Through darkness and storm, they carried information, and acted as +scouts and guides on occasions when it would try the heart and nerve of +their white companions. +</p> + +<p> +From my own observation, I am confident that the slaves of the South, +were just as well informed with regard to their relation to their +masters, as we were. They were, from the very first, impressed with the +idea that this rebellion was to work some great change in their +condition. They were watching, with great interest, every movement of +troops, and were continually asking questions, as to the disposition to +be made of them; thus evincing an interest in military affairs, of +which their masters little dreamed. It is well enough to talk of the +deep devotion of slaves to their masters; but the latter have found ere +this, I trust, that this devotion on which they have relied, has not +prevented them from cutting their throats, when it was in the line of +their duty, and by means of which they could gain their freedom. An +instance of this great devotion on the part of a slave for his master, +was related to me while at Charleston. +</p> + +<p> +A Mr. R—— owned a colored servant by the name of John; he +enjoyed the unlimited confidence of his master, who was in the habit of +trusting him as he would one of his children. This confidence was +reciprocated by a like devotion on the part of the slave for his master. +One day a neighbor told Mr. R—— that his John was about to +run away, as he had repeated conversations with his servants on the +subject. Mr. R—— flew into a passion, feeling very much +grieved that his neighbor should think, for a moment, that his John, +whom he had raised from infancy, should prove so ungrateful as to leave +him. The only attention he paid to this timely warning was, to put still +greater trust in his servant. One day, shortly after this, John was +missing; not only this, he had been so ungrateful as to take his wife +and three children. The last heard from faithful John was, that he was +safe in Ohio. Now Mr. R—— is a very good man and a +Christian, and treat his servants very kindly; but that God-given +principle, a desire for personal liberty, actuated him in connection +with other men of fairer complexion. John, undoubtedly, left his old +home and master with regret, but home and friendship, when compared with +freedom, were nothing. +</p> + +<p> +I was once told by a colored man, in whom the utmost confidence could +be placed, that there has been for years an association among the +negroes, which extends throughout the South, the purpose of which was +one day to liberate themselves from slavery. He said that hundreds of +slaves who, apparently, were as innocent as ignorant, were tolerably +well educated, and were secretly bending every energy to bring about an +insurrection, which should end in their being released from bondage. +When asked if the field-hands were members of this association, he said +they were; and although possessing less information than those living +in the cities and villages, yet they were aware of what was going on; +and after their work was done at night, they often met in their cabins, +and talked over the prospect before them. He also said, that in the +larger cities of the South this association had regular meetings and +officers; that they awaited only the proper time, when a tragedy would +be enacted all over the South, that would astonish the world. +</p> + +<p> +When we reflect that revolts have been common in the South, and that +they have been attended by partial success, it does not require a great +stretch of the imagination to believe that this association did really +exist. The fact of the intense feeling of hatred cherished by the +people of the South against Northern fanatics, as they were termed, who +came amongst them, is strong evidence in favor of the existence of some +organized course of policy among the negroes. The outward appearance of +the slave is usually gentle in the extreme, although his inward +feelings may be agitated to such a degree, that in a white man they +would burst forth in the wildest passion. Therefore, this hatred of the +South to the opponents of slavery must be traced to a fear of some +secret organization, the object of which lay deeply buried in the +reticent minds of the slaves. The Southern mind was more deeply +agitated, from the fact of the want of this outward emotion on the part +of their slaves; for had this strong desire for liberty, which was +awakened in them, burst out in wild enthusiasm, it would have been +readily checked by the severe punishment of individuals; but it was +this secret working of this deep-laid desire for freedom that troubled +them. The most guilty were, to all outward appearance, the most +innocent. +</p> + +<p> +While the Federal army occupied the country, the slaves were much less +guarded in what they said. One of these slaves, an old man, was passing +a tent one day, when a soldier said to him that he belonged to Jeff. +Davis. With a knowing look, he replied: "I did; but now, massa, I +belong to Uncle Sam." A colored woman, who had been a slave for years +(as she is very old), came into our room one day, and taking up a +paper, asked if we wanted it. Some one said to her, as she was about +leaving the room, that she had better not be seen with that paper, as +it was not the sort her mistress admired. Said she, "I know what missus +likes; I can take care of it;" and slipping it under her apron she left +the room. That slave could read and write, and yet her master knew +nothing of it. So it is with many others. It may be asked how they +acquire this knowledge. They gain it in a great many ways. Many of them +learn of their masters' children, with whom house-servants spend a +great deal of time. Having acquired a slight knowledge, it stimulates +them to greater exertion. They obtain scraps of newspapers and parts of +books, and thus gain a great deal of information entirely unobserved. +The slave knows how to keep secrets; consequently, any scheme that is +on foot is seldom discovered. Few persons, at the commencement of the +rebellion, had the least conception of the vast resources and power of +the slave population of the South. And it was not until they had fed +and clothed the Southern armies for two years, and by this means kept +them in the field, that it was acknowledged. Had it not been for its +slaves, the South, long ere this, would have been compelled to yield +obedience to the Government. The rebels appreciated and used this +element of strength from the beginning. The Federal Government, through +the influence of weak-minded politicians, rejected it; thus throwing an +element of its own strength into the hands of its enemies. +</p> + +<p> +Notwithstanding this harsh treatment, the slaves proved true to the +Government; and finally, through the medium of this faithfulness, their +vast services were acknowledged, and they have not only been taken into +the private service of the country, but they have been admitted into +the army, to swell its numbers, until the strength of their mighty +arms, and the nerve of their fearless hearts, are felt by the enemies +of the country on every battle-field. What a glorious thought! +thousands of the oppressed fighting for the redemption from slavery of +a race which has ever worn the chain. When it is remembered that by +this strife questions are to be settled which have ever disturbed the +harmony of this country, and not that only, but questions which, when +settled, will release millions of our fellow-men and women from the +power of the oppressor, ought we not to be thankful that we are +permitted to make great sacrifices in so good a cause? +</p> + + + + +<a name="IX"> </a> +<h2> +CHAPTER IX. +<br><br> +<span class="smallsc"> +The Seventh ordered to the +East. — Expedition to Blue's +Gap. — Skirmish on the Blooming pike.</span> +</h2> + + +<p> +After Floyd was driven from Cotton Hill, very few rebels remained in +that portion of Virginia. Many troops were sent to Kentucky and +elsewhere. Among the number was the Seventh Regiment. It was ordered to +join the forces under command of General Kelley, which were operating +on the upper waters of the Potomac, with headquarters at Cumberland, +Maryland. +</p> + +<p> +Accordingly, on the twelfth day of December, the regiment embarked on +steamers, and after paying its respects to General Cox, by way of +presenting arms and cheers, it moved down the river; thus leaving +forever the scene of its past dangers and privations. Little had, +apparently, been accomplished, during its summer campaign; but perils +had been braved, privations had been suffered, and obstacles had been +overcome. Many graves had been dug and filled with the pride of the +regiment. These were left as a record of its patient suffering in that +wild waste of hills. There was a sort of sadness attending the leaving +of all this for a new field of operations. But the soldier's life is +one continued change; and, therefore, he readily adapts himself to +circumstances. +</p> + +<p> +At Parkersburg the regiment left the boats, and took a train of cars, +which conveyed it to Green Spring Run, a station on the Baltimore and +Ohio Railroad, sixteen miles from Romney, Virginia. Here it remained +without tents for several days, when it was ordered to Romney, to which +place it proceeded immediately. It was now given a good ground for its +camp, and furnished with Sibley tents, which were both warm and roomy. +The weather being very fine for the time of year, the health and +spirits of the soldiers rapidly improved. +</p> + +<p> +During the occupation of Romney, quite a force of "bushwhackers" had +collected at Blue's Gap, which were under command of Colonel Blue. This +force of bandits had annoyed the Union citizens for some time. It was +finally resolved to break it up. The force chosen to do this work +consisted of the Fourth, Fifth, Seventh, and Eighth Ohio, Fourteenth +Indiana, and First Virginia, with Danver's two companies of cavalry, +and a section of Howard's Battery, in all about two thousand five +hundred men, under command of Colonel Dunning of the Fifth Ohio. A +little past midnight of January 6th, the force moved out from their +camp. The night was bitter cold, but the march was rapid; and just +after daybreak, the vicinity of the gap was reached, to find that the +rebels were tearing up the flooring of the bridge leading over the +stream coming through the gap. The skirmishers drove this force away, +and then advanced over the bridge, followed by the Fifth Ohio, which +took possession of Blue's house. Procuring a negro woman for a guide, +the force advanced to assault the rebel stronghold on the mountain. On +reaching the place, the intrenchments were handsomely carried, the +rebels standing for five rounds only, when they broke, and fled down +the side of the mountain. Their flight was so rapid that many of the +fugitives ran on to the Fourth Ohio, which was at hand, and were +captured. But they were hardly worth taking, for an uglier set of +ragamuffins the mountains of Virginia, or the whole world even, could +hardly produce. Blue's property was utterly destroyed. The loss of the +enemy in this affair was forty killed, and as many taken prisoners, +together with all their stores, wagons, and ammunition. A number of +cattle were also taken and driven back to Romney. On their return, the +Federals fired several houses, which was a lasting disgrace to all +those taking part in it. General Kelley was justly indignant at this +conduct. +</p> + +<p> +Nothing further occurred to break the <i>ennui</i> of camp and picket +duty until the 10th, when an order came to break camp and prepare for a +march. Immediately following this order, all was bustle and confusion, +in anticipation of an advance. There being a lack of transportation, +some tents and commissary stores were burned. In early evening, the +regiment marched into the town, where it was compelled to wait, through +a fearful storm of sleet, until midnight, when, instead of an advance, +the entire force rapidly fell back through Springfield to Patterson's +Creek, on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. This camp was soon converted +into a mud-hole. If all of Virginia had been canvassed a worse place +for a camp could not have been found. After a few weeks contest with +this everlasting snow and mud, an order came, on the 5th of February, +to march, which was hailed with universal joy. +</p> + +<p> +The force passed down the railroad late in the afternoon, for a short +distance; when, leaving the tents and baggage, it took a road to the +right, and before night halted in a grove by the roadside. After a few +hours spent in preparing and eating supper, it moved off in the +direction of Romney, the Seventh in the advance. +</p> + +<p> +All night we marched, over mountains and streams, through snow and +sleet. In the morning we came to a halt at an old tannery, and after +remaining through the day, fell back four miles and bivouacked on the +banks of the Little Cacapon River. Tired and wet, the soldiers lay down +to rest on their bed of rails and straw, to gather strength for the +morrow. At last, day dawned, rainy and gloomy, and the command moved +five miles to the rear, to a place called the Levels,—a very high +table-land, exposed to severe wind and storm, which never fails to +visit that region. The regiment was ordered to bivouac, and soon the +pine forest was converted into a village of green houses, with hot +fires roaring and crackling before them. +</p> + +<p> +We remained here some fifteen days, within three miles of the tents; +but for some reason, better known to those in command, we were left on +a hilltop, exposed to the cold winds and snows of February, in brush +shanties. During some of the time it was so cold that a crust formed on +the snow sufficiently hard to hold up a person. During this time the +commanding officer of our brigade occupied a house close by, which was +very convenient as well as comfortable. +</p> + +<p> +The regiment, while here, did very little duty; in fact none, with the +exception of one brigade drill in the snow, which only vexed the +command, without accomplishing any good. +</p> + +<p> +Colonel Sprague, formerly captain of Company E, now paid the regiment a +visit, the first time he had met his old comrades since his capture. +Following that had intervened his long imprisonment. The meeting was a +pleasant one. +</p> + +<p> +On the 13th of March the regiment left camp, and, taking the Bradford +pike, crossed a range of hills, at the foot of which is the Baltimore +and Ohio Railroad. Taking this road, Pau-Pau Station was reached before +night. Here we found quite a number of troops. +</p> + +<p> +General Lander advanced with one brigade on the Blooming pike. Soon the +advance-guard, consisting of a part of a regiment of cavalry, came on +to an intrenched camp of militia. The general, taking command in +person, ordered a charge; but barely a dozen of these horsemen could be +made to follow their brave leader. But, nothing daunted, Lander, +followed by his staff and a few of the cavalry, dashed over the +intrenchments, when some fifty rebels surrendered; Colonel Baldwin, +their commander, giving himself up to Lander, after the latter had +seized him by the shoulder, despite the revolver which the rebel +colonel held in his hand. +</p> + +<p> +On the return of this expedition, the Seventh was ordered out on to the +pike. After advancing for nearly two miles, it halted by the roadside, +where it remained in the mud and snow till the following afternoon, +when it went into camp close by. +</p> + + + + +<a name="X"> </a> +<h2> +CHAPTER X. +<br><br> +<span class="smallsc"> +Gallantry of Lieutenant +O'Brien. — Death of General +Lander. — The Seventh escort his +remains. — The occupation of Winchester.</span> +</h2> + + +<p> +During the occupation of the country about Pau-Pau Station, the troops +were kept active. Skirmishes were of frequent occurrence. One of them +is deserving of mention. A reconnoissance was being made by Lieutenant +O'Brien, of Lander's staff, accompanied by twenty or more cavalry, when +they were met by a band of rebels, who immediately fired a volley; +following which, they demanded the small party of Federals to +surrender. O'Brien, riding to the front, declined, at the same time +emptying the saddle of the foremost rebel with a revolver, which he had +in his hand ready for use. The lieutenant soon after received a fatal +wound in the shoulder, from the effects of which he died some weeks +after. Seeing their leader disabled, the Union cavalry hurried him to +the rear, at the same time presenting a determined front. When he had +arrived at a safe distance they fell back, fighting as they went. They +thus brought the gallant O'Brien safe to headquarters. +</p> + +<p> +O'Brien was a writer of some note. Before the war he was a contributor +to several periodicals, among which was the Atlantic Monthly. For these +magazines he wrote many elegant things, which their readers will +probably remember. +</p> + +<p> +On the first day of March, the monotony of life in camp was broken by +an order to march. We moved out of camp, followed by the entire +division, on the road leading to Winchester. Towards evening we crossed +the Big Cacapon River, and after ascending a spur of the Shenandoah +Mountain, filed into a grove of pines, and remained till the following +afternoon, when an order was given to fall back. On returning to our +camp, we found that the retrograde movement was occasioned by the +sudden death of General Lander. The brave soldier and able commander +expired while his troops were moving on an important position of the +enemy,—a campaign which his fertile brain had conceived, and which his +daring and dash were to put into successful execution. No wonder, then, +when the spirit of its leader took its flight, that the division was +recalled. None were found competent to succeed him in the command of an +expedition which had occupied his every thought while he had been +connected with the department. +</p> + +<p> +On Monday, March 3d, the Seventh regiment escorted his remains to the +cars, in the presence of fifteen thousand troops, drawn up in line to +pay their respects, for the last time, to all that was left of a +commander whom they loved, and a soldier whom they admired. This slow, +sad march of the Seventh, to the strains of a solemn dirge, was +impressive. We returned to camp with the reflection that a master +spirit had taken its departure. +</p> + +<p> +After the death of General Lander, Brigadier-General Shields was given +the command of his division. He arrived soon after. +</p> + +<p> +The forces under General Banks, occupying the country in the vicinity +of Harper's Ferry, were ordered to make an immediate advance on +Winchester, General Shields was directed to co-operate in this +movement. He was ordered to move on Martinsburg, when General Banks +crossed the Potomac. +</p> + +<p> +Early in March the division moved down to the railroad, when on the +same day it took the cars for Martinsburg. On arriving at Back Creek, +ten miles east of Hancock, the bridge was found to be destroyed. The +command now bivouacked, while a party was set at work repairing the +bridge. The work progressed so slowly, that on the 10th the command +moved on in advance of the train, passing through Martinsburg, and +encamping some two miles out on the Winchester pike. +</p> + +<p> +On the following morning the column pushed vigorously forward to assist +General Banks in his attack on Winchester. The rebels, however, instead +of giving battle, fled as the command approached the city. Shields, +therefore, was ordered to encamp his troops before reaching Winchester. +The camp of the Seventh was about three miles north of the town, on the +Martinsburg road. The balance of the division encamped in the immediate +vicinity. +</p> + +<p> +Winchester had for a long time been occupied by the rebels. The extreme +left of Beauregard's army, under command of General Johnston, had taken +possession of the place, when the rebel troops first occupied Virginia. +From this point, troops were immediately sent forward to occupy and +destroy the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, as well as to menace our lines +in the direction of Harper's Ferry and Cumberland. The possession, +therefore, of the place by the Union forces was of great importance. It +not only resulted in the protection of this very important railroad, +but so menaced the left of the rebel army as to require its commander +to detach a large force to the Shenandoah Valley, and thus materially +weakening his main army. Under a leader less able than Jackson, it +would have greatly taxed his energies to hold the valley. But under +this indomitable general the army was enabled to make a good show of +resistance to the advance of the Federal forces. +</p> + +<p> +Winchester, the county seat of Frederick County, is seventy-four miles +west of Washington. The town is laid out in regular order, the streets +crossing at right angles. The place possesses some little of historical +interest. During the French and Indian War, Washington made it his +headquarters; and he also mentions it as one of the points which he +touched while on his mission to the French authorities on the Ohio +River. After the engagement at Great Meadows, July 4, 1774, Washington +returned to the place to recruit his regiment. It was also the base of +operations for the forces engaged in the reduction of Fort Duquesne. +During these wars a fort was built under the direction of Washington, +and named Fort Landon. A part of it is to be seen at this day. While +this fort was being constructed, Washington bought a lot in Winchester, +had a blacksmith shop built on it, and brought his own smith from Mount +Vernon to do the necessary iron-work for the fort. A well was sunk in +this fort to the depth of one hundred and three feet, the water from +which now runs over the top. The labor of erecting this fort was +performed by Washington's own regiment. The famous General Morgan, the +leader of the American forces at the battle of the Cowpens, is buried +here. +</p> + + + + +<a name="XI"> </a> +<h2> +CHAPTER XI. +<br><br> +<span class="smallsc"> +A Reconnoissance to +Strasburg. — Battle of +Winchester. — Utter defeat and rout of Jackson's +army.</span> +</h2> + + +<p> +Immediately after the occupation of Winchester, the enemy's cavalry +advance becoming troublesome, a plan was laid for its capture. Colonel +Mason, of the Fourth Ohio, was sent out on the road to Front Royal, +with a brigade, composed of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, with +instructions to proceed until he arrived at the last road leading to +the right before reaching Front Royal; which road he was to take, and +by it strike the rear of the enemy at Middletown, a small hamlet +equally distant from both Winchester and Strasburg. He was soon after +followed by General Shields, with six thousand men, who moved on the +direct road to Middletown. Colonel Mason's command, arriving at this +place in advance of Shields' column, encountered the enemy's pickets, +and drove them to Cedar Creek Bridge, which, having covered with +combustibles, they fired. When the troops of Colonel Mason arrived in +the vicinity, they were opened upon by a battery, to which they +replied; with no effect, however, as the distance was too great. +Shields coming up with his division soon after, the entire force +bivouacked for the night. +</p> + +<p> +Early the following morning the command crossed the river without +opposition; but on arriving at Strasburg, the enemy opened fire from a +battery planted on a hill beyond the town. Shields, suspecting that the +entire force of Jackson was in the vicinity, made his dispositions for +immediate battle. The Seventh being ordered out on the road beyond the +town, were fired upon by a masked battery, but none injured. After +having been exposed to this fire for half an hour, it was withdrawn. +Soon after, our artillery was got into position, and after thirty +pieces of cannon had belched forth their fire, the rebels fled in +haste. During this fire, Mason's cavalry advanced so far out on the +road, that they were mistaken for the enemy by Captain Clark, of a +battery of regulars; he therefore sent a shell among them, with such +accuracy as to kill a few horses, and slightly wound one man. +</p> + +<p> +An advance being ordered, the pursuit was continued for five miles, +when the command returned to Strasburg, and encamped for the night. On +the following morning it fell back to its old camp, the Seventh +marching twenty-two miles in seven hours, with but one halt. +</p> + +<p> +This reconnoissance to Strasburg leaving no doubt on the minds of both +Banks and Shields that the enemy was not in the front in force, the +first division of Banks's corps, on the 20th, commenced its movement to +Manassas, in accordance with a letter of instruction from General +McClellan, of the 16th. General Banks did not follow this division +immediately, but remained at Winchester until twelve o'clock on Sunday, +the 23d, when he started for Harper's Ferry. +</p> + +<p> +All this time Shields thought he was being trifled with by the rebel +General Ashby. +</p> + +<p> +On Saturday, the 22d, there had been a good deal of firing in the early +part of the day, but what occasioned it did not seem to be well +understood, except to those engaged. But during the afternoon it was +thought prudent to make all needful preparation for battle, so as not +to be surprised in case it should prove that a greater force than +Ashby's was in front. Therefore the whole division was ordered up; the +third brigade, however, did not pass through the town. Shields went to +the front, followed by the first and second brigades. As these forces +emerged from the city, the rebel cavalry made a dash at the pickets, +who fled in some confusion through the little hamlet of Kernstown, but +rallied soon after, and by a well-directed volley of musketry emptied +several rebel saddles. This success enabled them to retire in safety. +The rebel cavalry soon after advanced, when a sharp skirmish ensued. +Our pickets having been re-enforced by several detached companies, were +enabled to maintain their ground. In the mean time the rebels opened on +our lines from a battery planted on an eminence; immediately after +which a Union battery wheeled into position, when a spirited artillery +duel took place. While directing the fire of this battery, Shields was +struck on the arm by a fragment of a shell, fracturing the arm, and +producing a painful wound. He, however, continued in the field for some +time after the accident occurred, but was finally taken to a house +close by, and his arm dressed, after which he was taken to town in an +ambulance. +</p> + +<p> +The firing having ceased, the first brigade went into camp on the spot, +while the second brigade encamped in the rear. The third brigade filed +into an open field near where they were stationed during the operations +in front. +</p> + +<p> +During Saturday night a strong picket was kept well out to the front, +while the remaining troops slept on their arms. Nothing occurred during +the night to disturb the several camps. +</p> + +<p> +Morning dawned bright and pleasant. The stillness which rested over the +field of the previous day's operations, gave token of the intention of +the belligerents to respect the Sabbath-day. In view of the general +quiet, the second and third brigades were ordered back to their camp on +the Martinsburg pike. +</p> + +<p> +It was nearly noon when the Seventh arrived, and before the men had +barely time to eat a hurriedly prepared dinner, it was again ordered +forward. This time the march was rapid. The distant booming of cannon, +induced many a disturbed reflection as to what lay before us. As we +passed through Winchester to the south, we emerged into an open plain. +This was crowded with people, as were also the house-tops. They had +assembled, apparently, for the purpose of seeing the Union army +defeated and crushed, and to welcome the victors into the city. +</p> + +<p> +Arriving on the field, we found our forces occupying a commanding +position in rear of a range of hills overlooking Kernstown; while the +batteries, posted at intervals on the crest of these hills, were +maintaining a heavy fire on the right of the enemy's position, which +alone seemed to give evidence of any purpose to advance. The left of +our line was held by the Second brigade, Colonel Sullivan; while the +centre and right were held by the First brigade. Colonel Kimball, +commanding the division, was stationed on a commanding eminence, from +which several batteries were pouring their shot and shell into the +enemy whenever he showed himself within range. +</p> + +<p> +Up to this time, the main fighting had occurred in front of our left; +but soon after a battery opened in front of the right, from a piece of +timber, which our batteries were unable to silence. It became evident, +from this, that the heavy skirmishing which the enemy had kept up from +their right was simply a feint, for the purpose of drawing the greater +part of our force to that part of the field, when a spirited onslaught +would be made on the other flank, which was expected to turn our right +wing, and thus give them the victory. It was a conception worthy the +genius of a Jackson, but it was entirely unsuccessful, as no troops +were sent to that part of the field beyond what ordinary prudence +required; but on the contrary, becoming satisfied of the intention of +the enemy, Colonel Kimball resolved to charge this battery. The work +was assigned to the Third brigade. Colonel Tyler, calling in the +Seventh, which had been supporting a battery from the time it arrived +on the field, formed his brigade in column, by divisions, and +immediately moved forward; at the same time changing direction to the +right, and passing up a ravine, shielded by a piece of timber which +skirted it on the side towards the enemy. +</p> + +<p> +After arriving at some distance to the right, the column changed +direction to the left; and after a march of nearly a mile, it arrived +on the flank, and partly in the rear of the enemy. It had now reached +an eminence in a dense wood. In front, the battery which was the object +of our movement was playing vigorously upon the First brigade, to which +a spirited fire was returned by Robinson's Battery, which had wheeled +into position on the extreme right. This acted as a cover to the +movements of our brigade. Breathless, and with anxious hearts, we +awaited the return of our scouts, which would be the signal for a +plunge into the unknown. We were not kept long in suspense, for in a +few minutes the order was given to change direction to the left, and +the column moved forward, preceded by a line of skirmishers. After +marching in silence for some distance, the sharpshooters opened a +destructive fire on us from behind trees. We were immediately ordered +to charge; and, with a prolonged yell, the command, led by the Seventh +Ohio, swept like a torrent down the hill. A ravine now lay in front, +and, at a short distance, a slight eminence, and still beyond, a solid +stone wall, behind which, in three lines, nine regiments of the enemy +lay concealed. It was a fearful moment. The rebel artillery, in the +rear of this stone wall, had been turned upon the advancing column. The +grape and canister was tearing the bark from the trees over our heads, +while the solid shot and shell made great gaps in their trunks. Under +our feet the turf was being torn up, and around and about us the air +was thick with flying missiles. Not a gun was fired on our side. The +head of the column soon reached the ravine, when a deafening discharge +of musketry greeted us. A sheet of flame shot along the stone wall, +followed by an explosion that shook the earth, and the missiles tore +through the solid ranks of the command with a fearful certainty. The +brigade staggered—halted. With breathless anxiety we anticipated a +counter-charge by the rebels; but it came not. Victory to our arms +followed that omission on the part of the enemy. The order being given +to fire, the column recovered from the confusion into which it had been +temporarily thrown. The Seventh now advanced to the eminence beyond the +ravine; and, from a partial cover, maintained the unequal contest till +the other regiments could form and come to its support. The One Hundred +and Tenth Pennsylvania Regiment was thrown into such confusion, that it +was of little service during the remainder of the day. +</p> + +<p> +An order was given to the Seventh to prolong its line to the left. An +attempt was made to execute the order, when the left wing, passing over +a fence into an open field, received such a well-directed fire as to +compel it to fall back to its old position. +</p> + +<p> +During this part of the contest, the rebels endeavored to extend their +left, so as to flank us on the right. To meet this movement, Tyler +ordered the First Virginia to move to the right. Passing into an open +field, it was exposed to a cross-fire, which soon drove it back to the +timber. +</p> + +<p> +The roar of musketry was now deafening. The dying and the dead were +lying thick upon the hillside, but neither army seemed to waver. The +confusion attending the getting of troops into action had ceased. The +great "dance of death" seemed to be going forward without a motion. The +only evidence of life on that gory field, was the vomiting forth of +flame and smoke from thousands of well-aimed muskets. From that blue +column, which rolled and tumbled in its ascent from the battle-field, +the unerring bullet sped on its errand of death. But other regiments +are seen coming to the rescue. The right wing of the gallant Eighth +Ohio takes position on the left, followed by the no less gallant +Thirteenth and Fourteenth Indiana, Fifth and Sixty-seventh Ohio, and +Eighty-fourth Pennsylvania. These regiments opened a heavy fire, which +was replied to by the enemy in gallant style. +</p> + +<p> +The battle now raged fiercely until near night, when the enemy began to +show signs of giving way. At this the Union forces advanced a little, +at the same time delivering their fire with accuracy. As the shades of +evening deepened into night, the enemy began to fall back. At this +crisis, Colonel Kimball ordered a charge along the whole line, when the +retreat became a rout. In their flight, the enemy left in front of the +Third brigade two pieces of artillery and four caissons. +</p> + +<p> +That night the Seventh bivouacked on the spot now made historic by its +gallantry. The wounded were being brought in all night long, while the +dead were lying in heaps around us, their increasing distortions and +ghastliness adding new horrors to the battle-field. +</p> + +<p> +At early dawn the next day, we were ready to renew the work of blood +and carnage; but there was no occasion; the victory of the day before +was complete, the rebels had no desire of renewing the contest. They +gave the advancing column a few parting salutes from a battery, and +then beat a hasty retreat. We followed them that day to Cedar Run, +where just at night a slight skirmish occurred, with some loss to the +rebels. The following day the Union forces occupied Strasburg, when the +pursuit ceased. +</p> + + + + +<a name="XII"> </a> +<h2> +CHAPTER XII. +<br><br> +<span class="smallsc"> +General Shields' anxiety for +laurels. — Summing up of the +battle. — Losses in the Seventh.</span> +</h2> + + +<p> +After the battle of Winchester, General Shields showed a disposition to +appropriate the laurels won by others to himself. In a letter to a +friend at Washington, he claimed that, after the reconnoissance to +Strasburg, on the 18th, he fell back hurriedly, for the purpose of +deceiving the enemy into the belief that his force was small; and that +after arriving at Winchester, he moved his division beyond the town, so +as to create the belief in the minds of the citizens that most of his +force had been sent away. Now the fact is, this reconnoissance was +greatly the result of accident. The original design of it was to +capture the enemy's advance; this failing, the force proceeded to +Strasburg for the purpose of discovering whether or not the enemy was +in force in the vicinity. It was clearly shown by this advance, what +was afterwards well known, that nothing but a small cavalry force +occupied Strasburg, and that Jackson was some distance up the valley. +The hurried march of the division back to Winchester, was also the +result of accident. The command marched left in front, which brought a +regiment in the advance whose colonel cared little for the comfort of +his men; hence the rapid march. Shields reached Winchester in advance +of the command, having gone on before. After our return there was no +change of position, as our tents had not been disturbed, and we +reoccupied them as they were before leaving. If Jackson was deceived, +the credit of it is not due to Shields, for he was confident to the +very last that there was no other force in his front than Ashby. Even +as late as Sunday noon, when in reality the battle had begun, he +ridiculed the idea of Colonel Kimball calling for so many troops, +remarking, that "Kimball wanted more troops than was necessary for the +force in front of him." He also boastfully said, that "Jackson knew +him, and was afraid of him." +</p> + +<p> +His friends tried to make it appear that it was by his direction that +the troops were manÅ“uvred on the field of battle. Now the fact is, +he was four miles away, and in such a condition from a wound that he +compelled one of the best surgeons of the division to remain with him +till long after the battle, against the request of the medical +director, who represented to him, in the most earnest manner, that the +wounded were suffering for the want of medical attention. In thus +retaining a surgeon for his own purpose, while the wounded were +suffering for medical aid, he was criminal in the extreme. He committed +an offence which ought to have deprived him of his commission. +</p> + +<p> +Colonel Kimball was mainly instrumental in achieving the victory, +assisted, of course, by those under his command. The skilful manner, +however, in which the troops were managed was entirely due to him; and +the authorities regarded it in that light, for he was immediately made +a brigadier-general, as were both Tyler and Sullivan. +</p> + +<p> +The number of rebel forces engaged in the battle of Winchester has been +variously estimated. They probably numbered sixteen regiments of +infantry, four full batteries of artillery, together with one of four +guns; in the aggregate, twenty-eight pieces and three battalions of +cavalry, under Ashby and Stewart;—in all, eleven thousand men. The +Union forces consisted of thirteen regiments of infantry, four full +batteries of artillery and a section; in the aggregate, twenty-six +pieces, and a battalion of cavalry;—in all, nine thousand men. +</p> + +<p> +The rebel army was the attacking force, yet the engagement between the +infantry was on ground of their own choosing, by reason of the Third +brigade charging one of their batteries. It was in the vicinity of this +battery, which was at least a mile in advance of our selected line of +battle, that the fighting occurred which turned the tide of battle. At +this point the enemy had every advantage of position. He was securely +posted behind a stone wall, and in a belt of timber extending along a +ridge; while our forces were compelled to advance across a plain +exposed to a galling fire from infantry and artillery; and it was not +until they arrived within eighty yards of his line that any thing like +a fair ground could be obtained. Jackson, the famous commander of the +no-less famous "stone-wall brigade," a sobriquet it had obtained at +Bull Run, was fairly beaten; and that, too, by a force without a +general, and of inferior numbers. The victory was so complete, that the +enemy left two hundred and twenty-five dead on the field. Their killed +and wounded amounted to nearly nine hundred, while their loss in +prisoners was upwards of two hundred and fifty: adding stragglers and +deserters to these figures, and it will swell the number to about two +thousand. The Fifth Virginia rebel regiment was nearly annihilated: +there was hardly sufficient of it left to preserve its organization. +</p> + +<p> +The loss to the Seventh was fourteen killed and fifty-one wounded: but +few were taken prisoners, and those by accident. The following is the +list: +</p> + +<p> +<i>Killed.</i>—Orderly-Sergeant A. C. Danforth; Corporal A. C. +Griswold; privates, Charles Stern, James Carroll, James Creiglow, Allen +C. Lamb, Stephen W. Rice, E. G. Sackett, Reuben Burnham, Louis Carven, +Elias Hall, John Fram, Fred. Groth, James Bish. +</p> + +<p> +<i>Wounded.</i>—Captain J. F. Asper; Lieutenant Samuel McClelland; +Sergeant-Major J. P. Webb, and Sergeant A. J. Kelly, mortally; +sergeants, A. H. Fitch, E. M. Lazonny; corporals, Ed. Kelley, William +Saddler, Geo. Blandin, William E. Smith, Benjamin Gridley; privates, +Fred. Hoffman, Daniel Clancey, Leander Campbell, Joseph Miller, Hampton +Gardner, Arthur Lappin, Thomas Fresher, Duncan Reid, Joseph Smith, +Albert E. Withers, Charles Fagan, O. H. Worcester, W. Coleman, Stephen +Kellogg, John Gardner, F. M. Palmer, F. A. Warner, Daniel Kingsbury, +Richard Winsor, John Milliman, John Atwater, Geo. Anness, Fred. Bethel, +Charles W. Minnick, Moses Owens, Arba Pritchell, Edward Thompson, +Edward E. Tracy, A. A. Cavanaha, S. Bishop, Owen Gregory, James Hunt, +W. McClurg, H. M. McQuiston, D. O'Conner, P. Tenny, Richard Phillips, +T. B. Danon, Wm. Birch, Henry Clemens. +</p> + + + + +<a name="XIII"> </a> +<h2> +CHAPTER XIII. +<br><br> +<span class="smallsc"> +Pursuit of Jackson up the +Valley. — March to Fredericksburg, and return to Front +Royal.</span> +</h2> + + +<p> +About the 1st of April the command left Strasburg, under command of +General Banks, driving the rear-guard of the enemy through the little +village of Woodstock, and taking a position on the banks of Stoney +Creek, four miles beyond the latter place. It remained here until the +17th, during which time the enemy kept up an artillery fire across the +creek, which resulted in the killing of several men in the division of +General Williams. +</p> + +<p> +On the morning of the 17th the command crossed the creek, and stormed +the enemy's battery on the opposite shore. The early dawn was +brightening up the eastern horizon with tints of red; and, as the +command emerged from the bridge, and ascended the steep hill beyond, +their bayonets glistened and sparkled. After firing one volley, the +rebels fled in haste, leaving the Federal forces to advance without +opposition. After falling back beyond the north branch of the +Shenandoah River, they made a stand, and endeavored to burn the bridge, +but were prevented by the Union cavalry. A flank movement being +ordered, and partly executed, the rebels again abandoned their +position. The Federals now pressed on to within a short distance of +New Market, where they encamped. +</p> + +<p> +Here the command remained ten days, when it moved two miles south of +the town, and on the 3d of May advanced to within a few miles of +Harrisonburg, but on the following day fell back about five miles to a +good defensive position. +</p> + +<p> +The tents were now ordered to be turned over to the quartermaster; and +on the following Monday we wound our way through Brook's Gap, in the +Massanutten Mountains, towards the smoky tops of the Blue Ridge, and +thus leaving forever the beautiful valley of the north branch of the +Shenandoah. Towards evening we crossed the south branch of the same +river at Columbia Bridge, and moved on in the direction of Luray, +encamping near that place. The next morning the command moved on down +the river until night, when it encamped. In the evening a hard rain +storm came up, which continued for several days. In early evening of +the following day the command reached Front Royal, a small village +situated at the base of the Blue Ridge, near the junction of the two +branches of the Shenandoah River. The following morning we crossed the +Blue Ridge, and immediately encountered the enemy's cavalry, which +annoyed us for several days. On the 17th we arrived at Warrenton, a +delightful village in Fauquier County. We remained in this camp until +Monday morning, when we again took the line of march for +Fredericksburg. We reached Falmouth, on the north bank of the +Rappahannock River, on the 23d of May. The corps of McDowell was in the +immediate vicinity, numbering thirty thousand men, and one hundred +pieces of artillery. +</p> + +<p> +When we arrived on the Rappahannock, we learned that this force of +McDowell's, now numbering forty-one thousand men, was ordered down to +Richmond, to form a junction with the right wing of the grand army +under McClellan. There were then only about twelve thousand of the +enemy in front of Fredericksburg. It was about fifty miles to the +extreme right of the army in front of Richmond. +</p> + +<p> +On Saturday the President and secretary of war came down for the +purpose of arranging the details. Shields' division was greatly in need +of shoes and clothing, while the ammunition for the artillery had been +condemned, and another supply, which had been ordered, had been very +much delayed. It was therefore arranged that the force should start +early on Monday morning, both the President and McDowell being averse +to starting on Sunday. +</p> + +<p> +That evening the President and secretary of war left for Washington. +Very soon after, General McDowell received a telegram, to the effect +that Jackson was making a raid down the Shenandoah Valley, with a +prospect of crushing the forces under General Banks. Soon after this +dispatch, another arrived from the secretary of war, by order of the +President, containing instructions to send a division after Jackson. +Here was the fatal blow to the campaign against Richmond. McDowell +promptly ordered General Shields' division to move, and at the same +time telegraphed the President that it was a fatal blow to them all. +</p> + +<p> +Little things control momentous events. Jackson's army of twenty +thousand veterans checkmated an army of one hundred and fifty thousand +men. In defending Washington, we lost Richmond; but Jackson risked his +own communication to break ours. Results more than realized his +expectations. Without risk there is little gain. Jackson adopted this +adage into his tactics, and endangered his army to save it. Events +proved his sagacity. +</p> + +<p> +In time of war the capital of a country, unless far removed from the +seat of war, is in the way. The City of Washington was a fatality. It +stood between the army and victory. Jackson knew this, and profited by +it. When this general menaced Washington, our army let go its hold on +the Confederacy, to make it doubly safe. The campaign against Richmond +was abandoned, but Washington was endangered still. The valleys and +swamps of the Chickahominy were paved with the bodies of heroes—the +little rivulets were swollen with the best blood of the land—an army +of cripples were given to charity;—and for what? That the City of +Washington might be safe. We have since then fought the ground over +again from Washington to Richmond; another graveyard has been planted; +and this time for a purpose. Washington has been set aside by the new +commander, and Richmond made the objective point. +</p> + + + + +<a name="XIV"> </a> +<h2> +CHAPTER XIV. +<br><br> +<span class="smallsc"> +The march on Waynesboro'. — Two +brigades encounter Jackson at Port Republic, and after five hours' +fighting are compelled to fall back.</span> +</h2> + + +<p> +Nearly the entire corps of General McDowell followed the division of +General Shields. The latter took the direction of Manassas Junction, +and from there passed down the railroad, through Manassas Gap, arriving +at Front Royal on Friday noon, after a sharp engagement with a small +force of rebels. +</p> + +<p> +Soon after, Shields stationed one brigade on the Luray road, another to +watch the fords of the Shenandoah, another was sent out on the +Strasburg road, while the remaining one occupied the town. On +McDowell's arrival, Shields, with his entire division, was ordered out +on the road to Strasburg, for the purpose of intercepting the retreat +of the enemy. But, instead of taking the road which he was ordered to +take, he crossed over the north branch of the Shenandoah River on the +road to Winchester. It then being too late to repair the mischief, and +get ahead of Jackson, Shields was permitted to go in the direction of +Luray, and follow up Jackson as far as he thought advisable, with the +single instruction, that, in no event, should his division be +separated; so that each brigade would be in supporting distance of all +the others. +</p> + +<p> +On the second day we arrived in the vicinity of Columbia Bridge, and +pitched our tents for the purpose, as we supposed, of enjoying a +night's rest; but towards evening an order was received to fall back +six miles. Arriving at this new camp, we again pitched our tents; but +just at dark we received an order to move forward to the camp we had +but just left. We arrived about midnight, and slept on the ground; thus +wasting the strength of the command in a needless march of twelve +miles. +</p> + +<p> +On the following morning, June 7th, the Third brigade, by an order to +move on Waynesboro', took up the line of march, arriving in early +evening on the banks of Naked Creek, where it went into camp. Colonel +Carroll's Second brigade had passed over the road some time before. +</p> + +<p> +The command had nothing but flour and beef for supper, and nothing for +breakfast on the following morning; but being assured that some hard +bread was in waiting, some six miles ahead, it cheerfully pressed +forward at four o'clock <span class="smc">A.M.</span>, and at about two +o'clock the same day, reached the vicinity of Port Republic, where +Colonel Carroll's brigade had met with a repulse the day before. +</p> + +<p> +Port Republic is situated at the junction of two forks of the south +branch of the Shenandoah River. Jackson's whole army was in the +vicinity of the place, the most of it occupying the west bank of the +river. In rear of Jackson's position, at Cross Keys, were General +Fremont's forces. At the latter place, on the previous day, Fremont had +defeated Jackson, with heavy loss to the latter. +</p> + +<p> +Jackson having thus failed to beat back Fremont, was compelled to cross +the river at Port Republic, and, defeating Shields' command, pass +through a gap in the mountain to Gordonsville. +</p> + +<p> +When General Tyler's command arrived on the field, Lieutenant-Colonel +Daum, chief of artillery, advised an immediate attack; but the general +wisely concluded to await the order of General Shields. Selecting a +good position for defence, the command bivouacked for the night. +</p> + +<p> +Early in the morning of June 9th, the enemy was seen to debouch into +the plain in our front, when our artillery, under Captains Clark, +Robinson, and Huntington, opened a heavy fire upon him. This force +moved into the woods on our left, and passing up a spur of the Blue +Ridge, threw themselves rapidly forward, with a view of turning that +wing of the army. Two companies of skirmishers and two regiments of +infantry were sent into the woods to counteract this movement. The +skirmishers having become warmly engaged, two more regiments were sent +forward to their support. The enemy now abandoned his intention, and +coming out of the woods, swept across the field to our right, uniting +with a column which was advancing to the attack. +</p> + +<p> +During this time, the Seventh was supporting a section of Huntington's +Battery. This new movement was directed against the position occupied +by it. When arriving within range of the guns, the enemy charged. The +regiment reserved its fire until the rebel column approached within +easy range, when, by order of Colonel Creighton, the regiment, which +had hitherto been concealed by the tall spires of wheat, rose to its +feet, and delivered its fire. This shower of lead made a fearful gap in +the lines of the advancing column. It staggered, and finally halted. +The Seventh now plunged into the midst of the foe, when an awful scene +of carnage followed. After a short struggle, the enemy was pressed +back, followed by the exultant victors. The Fifth and Twenty-ninth Ohio +regiments did gallant service in this charge. When the enemy had been +pressed back for half a mile, the column halted, reformed, and then +fell back to its old position. +</p> + +<p> +The enemy now made a furious attack on the extreme right of the +division, to meet which the Seventh changed front on the Fourth +company. The enemy was soon driven back in great confusion, and with +heavy loss. Immediately recovering from this temporary check, he made +an onslaught on the centre, which resulted in his repulse, with greater +loss than in any previous attack; the Fifth Ohio alone capturing a +piece of artillery and many prisoners. +</p> + +<p> +During these operations, the enemy sent a heavy column against our +left; and debouching from the timber, came down with such rapidity as +to overwhelm the small force of infantry supporting four guns of +Clark's Battery. This force, endeavoring to make a defence, came near +being captured. The guns, of course, fell into the hands of the enemy. +The Seventh and Fifth Ohio regiments were now directed to regain the +position. Moving by the left flank to the rear of the position under a +heavy fire, these two regiments dashed up the hill and over the guns, +into the midst of the terrified rebels. Five color-bearers had now been +shot down, while advancing as many rods. Lieutenant King seized the +colors and pressed forward, followed by the regiment, which sent volley +after volley after the fugitives, the firing ceasing only when the +rebels were covered by a friendly hill. We were soon ordered to drive +them from this position, which was done in gallant style, the command +charging up the steep sides of the hill, in the face of the foe. +</p> + +<p> +A large column of the enemy was now seen advancing from the bridge to +the scene of action. It was therefore thought advisable by General +Tyler to withdraw from the field during this check of the enemy, and +before these re-enforcements could be brought into the contest. +</p> + +<p> +This movement was executed under the direction of Colonel Carroll; and, +with few exceptions, the retreat was as orderly as the advance. +</p> + +<p> +After falling back some miles, we met the balance of the command under +General Shields, who assumed the direction of the forces. Eighteen +miles from the battle-field, the command halted for the night; and, on +the third day, reached the vicinity of Luray, where it went into camp. +</p> + +<p> +The importance of this engagement has been underrated. Great and +beneficial results to the Union army would have followed a victory; as +it was, a great disaster succeeded. The impetuous Jackson having thus +prevented McDowell's forces from uniting with the grand army, dashed +down in front of Richmond, and hurling his army against the right wing +of McClellan, gave the Federal army its first check, which finally +resulted in its overthrow. McClellan expecting McDowell, received +Jackson. Had the former formed a junction with him, the grand army +would have entered Richmond; but receiving Jackson, it entered +Washington. This failure to intercept Jackson was due to General +Shields' disobedience of orders. His entire division should have been +on the ground on Sunday, or none of it; and on its arrival, he should +have burned the bridge: then the capture of Jackson would have been +rendered probable, but, as events occurred, it was impossible. A part +of the division not being in supporting distance, rendered the burning +of the bridge a necessity; but Shields regarded it differently. His +order to save the bridge was the extreme of folly. To make himself a +name, he came near sacrificing his command. On Sunday, Colonel +Carroll's forces were in a position to have burned the bridge. Soon +after, the enemy commanded it, with eighteen pieces of cannon. Early in +the day it was safe to approach it—afterwards, madness. +</p> + +<p> +This bridge in his possession, gave the enemy an opportunity to debouch +on to the open plain. When there, the advance of Shields' division was +liable to be crushed. The preservation of the bridge rendered it +certain that he would be there, because this plain lay between him and +safety. To avoid entering it, was to surrender. The shrewd Jackson +chose to enter it. When there, he turned upon Tyler, and overwhelmed +him; then moved off at his leisure. The defeat of Tyler was certain; +his escape, marvellous. Jackson anticipated an easy victory, but met +with a stubborn resistance. This mistake of Jackson saved Tyler. +</p> + +<p> +When McDowell saw that the pursuit of Jackson was a failure, he +endeavored to collect his forces at Fredericksburg, for the purpose of +carrying out his original intention of joining McClellan; but Jackson +was there before him, and the grand army had been beaten back. +</p> + +<p> +Had the forces of Generals Banks and Fremont been left to take care of +Jackson, and thus left McDowell with his 41,000 men free to go down to +Richmond, the labor of historians would have been lessened. +</p> + +<p> +Soon after the battle of Port Republic, General Shields was relieved of +his command. This order received the approbation of both officers and +men. +</p> + +<p> +The following is a list of killed and wounded: +</p> + +<p> +<i>Killed.</i>—Sergeant William Voges; corporals, Geo. R. Magary, +Julius Ruoff, L. R. Gates, John H. Woodward; privates, Adolf Snyder, +Romaine J. Kingsbury, John Mulligan, John Reber. +</p> + +<p> +<i>Wounded.</i>—Captain Geo. L. Wood; First-lieutenant A. H. Day; +sergeants, Virgil E. Smalley, Samuel Whaler, James R. Loucks +(mortally), Chas. L. King, Wm. Lanterwasser (mortally); corporals, +Townley Gillett (mortally), Holland B. Fry, Mark V. Burt, A. C. Lovett, +Cyrus H. DeLong, A. C. Trimmer, Charles Knox; privates, J. H. Burton, +S. E. Buchanan, Isaac Maxfield, Charles Keller, F. Keller, Edwin B. +Atwater, M. N. Hamilton (mortally), Daniel S. Judson (mortally), Wm. H. +Pelton, Benjamin F. Hawkins, Lawson Hibbard, James L. Vancise, John +Atwater, Jay Haskins, Leroy Chapman, Sylvester B. Matthews, Alfred W. +Morley, Lawrence Remmel, George K. Carl, Franklin Eldridge, George +Geyelin, John T. Geary, Ira Herrick, Marion Hoover, W. W. Rogers +(mortally), Edwin Woods, Morris Osborn, G. W. Parker, M. Eckenrode, D. +L. Hunt, William Frasher, Anthony Williams, John Smith, James Decker, +Michael Campbell, Philip Anthony, John Colburn, John Hummel, John +Luetke, John Schoembs, Conrad Sommer, John Voelker, Herman Fetzer. +</p> + + + + +<a name="XV"> </a> +<h2> +CHAPTER XV. +<br><br> +<span class="smallsc"> +Battle of Cedar Mountain. — Gallantry +of the regiment, and terrible loss.</span> +</h2> + + +<p> +After a few days' rest at Luray, the regiment marched to Front Royal, +and soon after left for Alexandria, where it arrived on the 27th of +June. It went into camp on a beautiful hill, just outside the +fortifications. +</p> + +<p> +Remaining in this camp for a month, the regiment was ordered to join +the forces under McDowell, at Warrenton. It arrived there on the +morning of June 26th, and soon after reported to General Banks, at +Little Washington. +</p> + +<p> +General Tyler had now been relieved from duty with the Third brigade, +and General Geary placed in command. +</p> + +<p> +As early as the 16th of July, the advance of Jackson's forces was at +Gordonsville; and by the 1st of August reached the vicinity of the +Rapidan River. To meet this movement, General Pope, commanding the Army +of Virginia, ordered forward the corps of General Banks; and on the 8th +of August ordered General Sigel's corps to Culpepper to co-operate with +Banks' forces; but Sigel, instead of moving promptly forward, sent a +courier to know what road he should take, when in fact there was but +one. This delayed the movement of his corps for several hours, so that +it was impossible to get it in position in time to render any +assistance to the forces under Banks. +</p> + +<p> +On the 7th day of August, Crawford's brigade, of Banks' corps, had been +pushed forward in the direction of Slaughter Mountain, to support +General Bayard, whose brigade of cavalry was being driven back in that +direction by the enemy; and on the 9th, to support this movement of +Crawford, Banks was directed to take up a strong position a short +distance in his rear. Rickett's division, of McDowell's corps, was +posted three miles in rear of Banks' position, and within easy +supporting distance. +</p> + +<p> +Desultory artillery firing was kept up all day on the 9th; yet General +Banks, apparently, did not think the enemy were in force, for, during +the afternoon, he left the strong position which he had taken, by order +of General Pope, and advanced to assault the enemy, believing that he +could crush his advance before the main body came up. +</p> + +<p> +The enemy was strongly posted, and sheltered by woods and ridges; while +Banks had to pass over an open field, which was swept by the fire of +the enemy thus concealed. +</p> + +<p> +The intention of Jackson, in this advance, was to crush a detachment of +Pope's army before the balance could come to its support. Banks, in +thus advancing to the assault, aided him in his design, which otherwise +would have been an entire failure. +</p> + +<p> +Cedar Mountain, the position occupied by Jackson, is thus described: +"The mountain is one of remarkable beauty. At a distance of four or +five miles from its base it seems to rise like a perfect cone from the +plain below, and from its base to its summit scarcely a deflection is +to be observed in its outline form—a perfectly straight line, as if +nature had formed it in the same manner that school-boys form +sand-hills. The sides of the mountain are covered with a heavy growth +of timber: its summit is reached by a poor road. The height of the +summit is, perhaps, eight hundred feet above Cedar Creek." +</p> + +<p> +Early in the day of the 9th, General Geary's brigade was sent to hold +Telegraph Hill, from which our signal-officers had been driven. To +approach this hill was sure slaughter; but the veteran brigade moved +on, through a storm of shot and shell, and occupied the position. +</p> + +<p> +Thirty pieces of cannon on our side, and as many on the side of the +enemy, were belching forth their fire. There was no part of the Federal +lines but that was swept by this fire. +</p> + +<p> +A little after three o'clock the Seventh Regiment was ordered over the +crest of the hill, into a cornfield beyond. While advancing to this +position, a most terrific cannonade was directed against it. It seemed +as if every cannon was being directed against this band of heroes; but +it never faltered in this march of death, moving coolly on, regardless +of the missiles that were tearing through its bleeding ranks. Comrades +were falling, and brothers dying; the mangled, bleeding victims of the +fury and violence of war were left thick, making the ground sacred on +which they fell; but the line wavered not. Reaching a low place, the +regiment halted, and the boys threw themselves upon the ground; and +thus for a long hour they lay, in an open field, exposed to a hot sun, +with a hail-storm of grape, canister, and shell falling thick and fast +around them. Men gave up their lives so gently, that it was almost +impossible to tell the living from the dead. The fatal missile struck +its victim, leaving the lifeless clay in the same attitude which the +living body but just before occupied. During that fatal period death +assumed a real character, while life seemed but a dream. +</p> + +<p> +The engagement had now become general. The brigade of General Prince +had advanced on the left of Geary, occupying the prolongation of the +line. Artillery replied to artillery, musketry to musketry, bayonet to +bayonet, in this deadly strife. Daring warmed into rashness, and +bravery into recklessness. +</p> + +<p> +About four o'clock the regiment was ordered into a meadow, which +position it promptly occupied, although the fire had not slackened, and +carnage marked its advance. After dressing the lines, the regiment +opened fire; and there it stood without a support, facing, in a +death-struggle, three times its number. The fiery Creighton received a +wound which compelled him to leave the field. The noble Crane was +disabled; and the brave Molyneaux, for the moment, took command. Seeing +the regiment nearly surrounded, and exposed to an enfilading fire, +which was fast thinning the ranks, he ordered it to retreat; but heroic +young Clarkey, mistaking it for an order to charge, dashed gallantly +forward, at the head of his command. After understanding the order, he +had barely time to fall back before the wings of the rebel host closed +in. +</p> + +<p> +Slowly and sadly the remaining few of the regiment fell back, keeping +their faces to the foe. Only one hundred and sixteen, out of three +hundred and seven, returned to the rear unhurt; and many of these were +disabled from service by severe exposure to the intense heat of the +sun, and lack of water. The regiment retired to a hill, and was not +again brought into action during the afternoon. At night, however, it +was ordered out on picket. After advancing to Cedar Creek it was +challenged, and no one answering, it received a terrible volley from +the front and both flanks. It fell back to the cover of a piece of +woods, and finally to the rear, about a mile, where it bivouacked. +</p> + +<p> +As night settled upon this field of carnage, Banks' entire corps +withdrew to the position it occupied early in the day; but the +artillery kept up an intermittent fire until near midnight. General +Jackson, from his mountain-top, could see every movement of troops, and +was enabled to calculate just how long it would take to re-enforce +General Banks. Had he not been so imprudent as to come down from his +mountain fastness, and attack the Federal forces after night, his loss +would have been comparatively little. But as Banks retired, he moved +twelve thousand men on to the battle-field, and kept them there during +the night; at the same time advancing one battery through the woods +into the open field beyond the battle-ground. From this position it +opened on the division of Union troops occupying the advance. As soon +as the first flash of his guns was seen, Major Davis, chief of +artillery in McDowell's corps, ordered two batteries into position, and +opened on the enemy. These batteries, being very close, and getting +good range, did fearful havoc among the rebels. It is said that General +Hartsuff sighted one of the guns that did the most execution. After the +battery had retired, Major Davis' guns shelled the battle-field. The +enemy being massed in small space, this fire told fearfully on their +ranks. After firing about one hundred shells, and the enemy not +responding, Major Davis ordered his guns silenced, little dreaming that +he had left more dead rebels on the field than all the random artillery +firing of the afternoon. +</p> + +<p> +Many deeds of daring were performed at this battle. Captain Ash, of +General Pope's staff, riding up to a battery with an order from the +general to stop firing, saw that it was a rebel battery; he, however, +had sufficient presence of mind to give the order, and ride off. It was +obeyed; the battery ceased to fire, and soon after moved off. Captain +Ball, of McDowell's staff, did the same thing, and with a like result. +</p> + +<p> +The following incident is from the pen of a correspondent of an Eastern +paper: +</p> + +<p> +"Just after the firing of musketry became interesting, I noticed a +private soldier coming off the field, and thinking perhaps he was +running away to avoid danger, I rode up to him, when I found he had two +fingers of his left hand shot away, and a third dreadfully lacerated. I +saw at once that he had at least a hand in the fight. I assisted him to +dress his wound as well as my limited knowledge of surgery would +permit, he, in the mean time, propping up my pluck by his quaint +remarks. Said he: 'I don't care a darn for that third finger, for it +warn't of no account, no how; but the 'pinter,' and t'other one, were +right good 'uns, and I hate to lose 'em. I shouldn't have come to the +rear, if I had been able to load my gun; but I wasn't.' After I had +dressed his hand, he looked over in the direction of the firing, and +stood a moment. Turning to me, he said: 'Stranger, I wish you would +just load up my shooting-iron for me; I want to have a little +satisfaction out of them cusses for spilling my fore paw.' I loaded +his gun for him, and he started back for the top of the hill at a +double-quick, in quest of satisfaction. His name is Lapham, of the Ohio +Seventh." +</p> + +<p> +During the action, General Banks was leaning against a tree, when a +cannon-ball struck it about eighteen inches above his head, passing +entirely through. It has been his singular fortune to meet with many +narrow escapes. While riding through Winchester, on his retreat before +Jackson, a rebel, from a window above, took deliberate aim at him, but +was shot by a private of a Massachusetts regiment before he could fire. +</p> + +<p> +The loss to the regiment in this engagement was very heavy, and shows +with what determination it maintained the contest. It went into the +engagement with three hundred and seven, rank and file, and came out +with a loss in killed and wounded of one hundred and ninety-one,—a +loss of more than sixty-two per cent. +</p> + +<p> +The following is the list: +</p> + +<p> +<i>Killed.</i>—Lieutenants, James P. Brisbine, Joseph Ross, Frank +Johnson; sergeants, C. P. Bowler, Moses Martin; corporals, J. J. Evans, +D. W. Wright; privates, Joseph T. Blackwell, William Adams, Edward +Burnet, E. S. Shepherd, Charles G. Hettinger, Charles Masters, Benjamin +F. Gill, H. F. Dinger, H. Hight, John J. Hensher, Henry C. Case, M. +Eckenroad, N. H. McClurg, C. C. Miller, G. B. Swisher, E. Fox, James +Stephenson, Alvin H. Benton, John Manning, Michael Waldof, James Ray, +Frank Miller, John Weeland. +</p> + +<p> +<i>Wounded.</i>—Colonel William R. Creighton, Lieut.-Colonel O. J. +Crane, Adjutant J. B. Molyneaux, Captain William R. Sterling; +lieutenants, Henry B. Eaton, W. D. Braden, S. S. Reed, Marcus Hopkins; +sergeants, Z. P. Davie, J. S. Cooper, J. C. Jones, A. S. Allen, Arvin +Billings, George W. Barnette, E. M. Lazarus, James R. Carter, E. G. +Taylor, G. W. Moore, Charles A. Brooks; corporals, M. D. Holmes, Henry +J. Brown, L. Wilson, Joseph Trotier, William E. Smith, Thomas C. Brown, +Frank J. Ware, Clark Wilson, C. H. Buxton, Norman L. Norris, F. A. +Davis, Albert A. Smith, James Alexander, Benjamin Gridley, W. T. +Callors, Robert M. Brisk, A. C. Trimmer, Christopher Nesper, James +Grobe; privates, A. M. Clinton, Thomas Sherwood, Edward St. Lawrence, +Arthur Laffin, Leonard Walker, Jacob C. Gaycly, F. N. Brund, Abraham +Ginter, John G. Parsons, Henry Hatfield, Andrew J. Crippin, Charles E. +Preble, John H. Galvin, F. Creque, Philip Kelley, T. Hammond, E. Lown, +William Cammel, John Boyle, James Dixon, Samuel E. Garden, Jacob E. +Hine, Benjamin Hasfield, Frank Henrickle, P. E. Hill, William L. Latch, +Jacob Marks, Thomas C. Riddle, John Stone, Ernest Zincker, Franklin +Gaskill, N. Badger, George Carrathurs, T. P. Dixon, Henry Fairchild, J. +M. Rofflige, M. Richmond, Theodore Wilder, Oliver Wise, A. Colwell, +William Gardner, John Frank, S. E. Hendrickson, N. R. Holcomb, E. +Hobday, W. Lapham, F. Manley, John McAdams, H. H. Rhodes, J. Harnner, +Joseph L. Clark, James Kelley, William W. Mecker, Charles Himpson, John +Wickham, J. Roberts, J. R. Green, Edward E. Day, Lewis Owens, S. A. +Fuller, D. G. Burthroff, J. M. Holcomb, Frank Strong, E. G. Meekins, H. +Wallace, M. S. Gibbons, J. Donthit, S. Reed, Arthur Adams, Ezra Brown, +Ira M. Barlow, George M. Caldwell, George W. Carter, John Downer, +Thomas Ely, Sherman Collinger, Stephen H. Hopkins, Daniel Jones, Perrin +D. Loomis, David C. Nunemaker, J. L. Oviatt, G. Russell, N. Twitchell, +Ralph Winzenried, John C. Fox, A. Inskeep, James Kincaid, John Lentz, +R. D. Murray, John Pollock, E. S. Mathews, A. Shaffer, C. Glendenning, +Alfred Jackson, Hiram Deeds, Ira S. Ray, Richard Freeman, Samuel Knap, +John Fishcun, James A. Tell, William Kelley, T. D. Williams, Charles +Smith, George A. Earl, Maskell Bispham, Frederick Michael, Henry +Schmid, John Hammond, William Pfahl, John Pike, George Sahl, George +Zipp; George Rogers, musician. +</p> + + + + +<a name="XVI"> </a> +<h2> +CHAPTER XVI. +<br><br> +<span class="smallsc"> +The regiment goes into camp at Alexandria, but is soon +ordered to the front. — Battle of Antietam.</span> +</h2> + + +<p> +After the battle of Cedar Mountain, the regiment took part in the +memorable retreat of General Pope to the Potomac. During the time, it +was not engaged in immediate action; but was exposed, on several +occasions, to the shell from the enemy's batteries. After a fatiguing +march of sixteen days, it arrived, on the 2d day of September, under +the guns of the fortifications around Alexandria. On the following day +it was marched to Arlington Heights, to the support of Fort Albany, +near which it encamped in a beautiful meadow. +</p> + +<p> +At midnight of the same day an order was received to have the command +ready to march at half-past eight on the following morning; but it did +not leave, however, until near noon, when, crossing the Potomac to +Georgetown, it moved off in the direction of Poolesville, bivouacking +at night five miles from Georgetown. On the following morning the +command started before day had fairly dawned, and passing through +Rockville, bivouacked at night near the place. On the 5th it moved +forward, and leaving the small village of Darnstown on the left, formed +in line of battle, fronting Poolesville, and awaited the advance of the +enemy; but he failing to appear in that direction, but threatening +Pennsylvania, by the way of Frederick, the command, on the 9th, broke +camp and advanced in five columns towards the latter city. After a +brief skirmish, the advance entered the place on the 12th. On the 13th, +the regiment crossed the mountains into Pleasant Valley to Middletown. +While descending the side of the mountain, the progress of the battle +of South Mountain was plainly seen. This engagement was fought by the +division of General Cox, of Reno's corps. These troops won great praise +for their gallantry and good fighting qualities; and the general, an +additional star. +</p> + +<p> +On the 15th, the advance of the Federal army drove the enemy in the +direction of Boonesboro', and through the town towards Sharpsburg. +Generals Richardson's and Pleasanton's column of cavalry and light +artillery proved very annoying to the enemy in this day's retreat. +</p> + +<p> +On the following day, the 16th of September, the rebel army took up its +position across Antietam Creek, and there awaited the approach of the +Federals. +</p> + +<p> +<a href="#note1" name="noteref1"><small>[1]</small></a>"This position consisted of a series of sharp points, rising from +the bank of the creek, and extending to the rear of Sharpsburg in a +succession of ridges; but, when viewed from a point a little in front, +has the appearance of table-land, the ravines being undistinguishable. +These points or ridges are for the most part surmounted by a heavy +copse of timber, which furnished admirable shelter for foot-soldiers; +while, with batteries flanking each hill, the position was all that a +general could wish for defence. +</p> + +<p> +"Seeing the strength of the position, McClellan sent Hooker's and +Sumner's corps around to the left of the enemy's advance position, +across Antietam Creek, and, ere the close of day, they had succeeded in +driving him fully a mile. +</p> + +<p> +"We had lain down in line of battle, expecting to remain till the +morrow. The <i>tattoo</i> had sounded, and an impressive silence had +settled upon the bivouac, broken only by the tread of the alarm-guard, +as he slowly paced his beat, and the occasional passing of an orderly, +conveying some order to be executed on the coming day. Not long were we +to rest. Our ears were soon assailed with—'<i>Attention, First +brigade!</i>' and we were soon in line, and moving around to the right, +to the support of Hooker and Sumner, where we arrived about one +<span class="smc">A.M.</span>, and bivouacked upon the ground held by the rebels +scarce six hours previous. An occasional shot or volley, in an +adjoining piece of woods, reminded us of the close proximity of the +enemy. Nevertheless, the rest of the night was passed quietly enough by +us. +</p> + +<p> +"The morning came, fresh and beautiful; but our <i>reveille</i> was not +the rattle of the drum, nor the clear notes of the bugle. The day was +opened by a fierce volley of musketry, succeeded by another, and yet +another, which were soon so continuous as to be blended in one +unremittent roll. The struggle had commenced, and the sun that rose +shone upon a field already red with blood. Soon the heavy booming of +cannon was mingled with the sharp, crackling roll of small-arms, and +the din was terrific. Hooker was engaged, and hotly too. We were +immediately ordered under arms, and advanced in the direction of the +fight. Halting in easy supporting distance, we were given thirty +minutes in which to make coffee. At the end of this time the volume of +sound perceptibly increased, and was becoming nearer. The rebels were +re-enforced, and were slowly driving our men before them. 'Forward,' +shouted General Mansfield; and forward we went, in column of division, +as cool and regular as on drill. Changing direction to the left, we +advanced through a cornfield taken by Hooker the evening previous, and +which was now held by the rebels, having driven our boys back. An open +field lay before us, commanded by the direct and flank fire of the +rebel artillery, and the left flank of their infantry. Notwithstanding +the heavy fire we thus suddenly received, the advance was made +steadily, and in slow time. Arriving at the front, we deployed into +line of battle. The line now being complete, we advanced; <i>and the +work was begun</i>. No halt was made until the woods were ours; but the +enemy was to be dislodged from behind a rail fence. Then we occupied +the crest of the hill in the woods, and from this point we directed our +fire to the fence, where we could plainly see them level their pieces +at us, and fire. +</p> + +<p> +"For an hour and a half we thus remained, and fought: one side with the +energy of despair; the other, with an energy imparted with the +consciousness of right and justice. The contest was fair and equal, and +the right triumphed. At last the line began to waver, and General Green +shouted, 'Charge!' With a yell of triumph we started, with levelled +bayonets; and, terror-stricken, the rebels fled. Like hounds after the +frightened deer, we pursued them fully three-fourths of a mile, +killing, wounding, and taking prisoners almost every rod. Their colors +fell: a private soldier leaped forward, and tore them from the staff. +</p> + +<p> +"Across the fields we pursued the foe, who again took shelter in a +heavy piece of timber, flanked by their artillery. A battery of +twelve-pounder howitzers came to our support, and most efficient +service it rendered. We formed in two lines in rear of the battery, and +lay behind a low ridge, sufficiently high to protect from a direct +shot, but which offered no shelter from the fragments of shells +bursting near to and over us; these were continually striking amongst +us, often grazing a cap or an arm, but doing no particular harm. The +howitzers were doing splendidly, when suddenly we heard, 'But eight +rounds left!' Twenty more rounds would silence the rebel battery, but +we had them not. Soon the rebel fire was more rapid, and a yell in the +distance denoted an advance of their infantry. Shall we retreat? No! we +will hold our ground, or die! On they come, yelling defiantly: 'tis A. +P. Hill's division, second to none but Jackson's. We look anxiously for +another battery. It comes! It comes! We are safe! The gallant Eighth +Rhode Island Battery comes up in splendid style; our ranks open right +and left for them, the exhausted battery of howitzers wheeling out of +line. The Parrotts were unlimbered, and shell, five-second fuse, called +for, and they opened in glorious style. +</p> + +<p> +"But what means that shout so closely on our right? They have flanked +us, and are charging our battery! A half right wheel was made, and we +were partially under cover of a narrow ridge. A portion of our front +rank, with the colors, advanced, and opened a fire upon their column, +but, as it was intended, it only drew them on; shouting fiercely, they +dashed forward, expecting to have an easy capture. We waited until they +were within six rods, when, with a yell such as freemen know how to +give, we rose and poured the contents of our rifles into the mass of +graybacks emerging from the woods. They reeled and staggered for a +moment, then rallied, and returned our fire for half an hour, then +wavered. Perceiving this, Lieutenant-Colonel Tindell, commanding +brigade, ordered a charge. As we started, they broke and fled in +confusion. Our brigade advanced to the woods, but was soon replaced by +a New Jersey regiment, which quickly broke and fled. On came the +rebels, yelling and exultingly waving their colors, across a field, and +entered a cornfield to the south, to flank our men who were engaging a +division. Their triumph was short, for they suddenly found themselves +nearly surrounded by General Franklin's troops, who came in from the +north and east, over the identical ground we fought over, and +precipitated themselves upon the flank of the enemy, six hundred of +whom threw down their guns and surrendered, those remaining fleeing in +dismay from the field. +</p> + +<p> +"This <i>coup de grace</i> closed the heavy fighting upon the right, +and we retired from the front, lacerated but cheerful, feeling that our +duty was faithfully performed, and knowing that the rebels were +defeated." +</p> + +<p> +The next two days were occupied in burying the dead and collecting the +wounded. +</p> + +<p> +On the 19th, the regiment left for Harper's Ferry, arriving at Maryland +Heights on the 20th. A few days after it forded the Potomac River, and +went into permanent camp on Loudon Heights. +</p> + +<p> +The regiment sustained a loss at the battle of Antietam of five killed +and thirty-eight wounded. The list is as follows: +</p> + +<p> +<i>Killed.</i>—Sergeant James B. Carter; Corporal Martin Lazrus; +privates, John Bacon, Elbridge F. Meachum, George O. Sherick. +</p> + +<p> +<i>Wounded.</i>—Lieutenant Ernest J. Kreiger; sergeants, George A. +McKay, Jerry G. Clafflin, Isaac Jones, James Hansell; corporals, Edward +Goodsell, Henry H. Bailey, Hiram J. Bell, John F. Ely, Austin Bull, +James Bryant, J. Kurly; privates, George A. Wood, Joseph Kubler, +Laurine Lamphier, Pliney E. Hill, George Steinberger, E. C. Miller, +Daniel Weatherlow, David Everett, Alfred W. Mosley, Averett C. Reed, +Alson Coe, Alfred E. May, Thomas Woolf, Henry Wilcox, George Houck, +William Cromwell, Caleb Bryant, George Wandal, Nick Bauer, Charles +Briedenbach, Charles Graiter. +</p> + + + + +<a name="XVII"> </a> +<h2> +CHAPTER XVII. +<br><br> +<span class="smallsc"> +The march to Dumfries. — Skirmish +with Hampton's cavalry, in which they are badly defeated by a much +inferior force.</span> +</h2> + + +<p> +While at Loudon Heights, the monotony of life in camp was relieved by +drill, guard, and picket duty, with an occasional reconnoissance. On +the latter occasions some little skirmishing would usually occur. An +occasional dash was made by the rebels upon the Union picket-line. +</p> + +<p> +Soon after the occupation of this post the grand army crossed the +Potomac and Shenandoah into the Loudon Valley, on its way to +Fredericksburg. We copy a description of the march of a regiment in +Porter's corps.<a href="#note2" name="noteref2"><small>[2]</small></a> +</p> + +<p> +"I have been thinking of the difference between soldiering that we read +about—fancy soldiering, glory and honor soldiering—and real +soldiering of the rough and tumble kind. How well it sounds to read: 'A +regiment of brave men marched proudly through the streets of Harper's +Ferry, to strains of sweet music. Gallantly the veterans of a dozen +battles streamed along, their banners gayly floating in the breeze; +they go to join the Army of the Potomac.' What is it when divested of +its trimmings? 'About three hundred and fifty of what once was a +regiment one thousand strong, went through Harper's Ferry to-day. In +vain the tum, tum, tum of the drum, at the head of the column, urged +the men to keep time. Wearied, worn out by continued tramping, loaded +down with their knapsacks, three days' rations in their haversacks, and +the prospect of a long march before them, slowly they dragged +themselves along; their torn and tattered flag, as well as soiled +clothes, giving evidence of hard service.' Again let us quote: 'At +evening they halted, and bivouacked for the night; refreshed and ready +at early dawn to continue the line of march.' Sift that a little—that +bivouac. Almost worn out with incessant and continued tramping through +mud, and muck, and mire, great clumps of which would stick and cleave +on to the shoe at every step, the night fast closing in, the column +halted; slowly the lingering mass closed up, stacked arms, and broke +ranks. Some, too tired to make a fire and cook food, threw themselves +on the cold, damp ground, and, with their blankets wrapped around them, +shivered to sleep; others, having eaten scarcely any thing all day, +threw off their cumbrous loads, and started, in the now dark night, in +search of wood and water. An old fire-scorched tin cup answers for a +coffee-pot as well as tea-kettle. Into it the water, muddy with the +feet of perhaps a thousand water-hunting tired ones, is put; and while +the coffee is boiling, a piece of fat pork is drawn from the haversack, +and a slice cut off; a long stick, pointed, on which the slice is +secured, and frizzling, sizzling, half burned, half cooked, ready when +the coffee is. The pork, coffee, and hard bread form, for the hundredth +time, the meal of the hungry soldier. Perhaps on the roadside, right in +the mud, glad in truth to lie anywhere, one after another drops his +wearied form. The heavy rain comes down in torrents, wetting him +through and through, but tired nature heeds it not—must have rest. +</p> + +<p> +"Early dawn comes. Again the pork, coffee, and hard bread; and the +stiffened, sore, leg-weary patriot buckles on his saturated knapsack, +and, like a foundered horse, limps achingly along till he gets heated +up, with the same prospect before him of twenty miles +tramp—clamp—tramp." +</p> + +<p> +On the 10th day of December the regiment left Bolivar Heights, crossed +the Shenandoah on a pontoon, and winding round the bluff of Loudon, +passed up the Loudon Valley. +</p> + +<p> +While passing through Hillsboro', the command was given, by Lieutenant +Shepherd to his men, to "Close up!—get into your places!" General +Geary, on foot and unobserved, had marched along just in rear of the +company. Hearing the command, he remarked: "Well, here is a vacant +place, I guess I'll fill it up;" and stepped into the place. He +marched, in this manner, some distance, talking freely with those +nearest him, at the same time obeying orders promptly. +</p> + +<p> +The regiment encamped about a mile beyond Hillsboro'. +</p> + +<p> +Bright and early on the following morning the command moved on. Leaving +the battle-field where the brave Kearney fell, and Fairfax on the left, +on the 15th it arrived in sight of the Lower Potomac, and encamped +after crossing Naabsco Creek. +</p> + +<p> +Having passed Dumfries on the 17th, an order came that the Fifth, +Seventh, and Sixty-sixth regiments, under command of Colonel Candy, +should march back and hold that post. On the following day, crossing +Powell's Creek, two hours' march brought the brigade in the outskirts +of Dumfries, where it went into camp. +</p> + +<p> +Nothing transpired worthy of mention until the 27th of December, when +the heavy booming of cannon was heard in the vicinity of the +picket-line. It was evident that the enemy were making a descent on the +pickets. For several days this attack had been expected, therefore in a +few minutes the command was ready and in line of battle. The pickets +gradually gave way, under the command of the indomitable Creighton, +fighting their way back to the line of battle, in which they took +position. The rebels came gallantly forward, in anticipation of an easy +victory. When within short-range of our guns, they were met by such a +terrible fire of musketry from our partially concealed line, as to +check their advance. They, however, rallied, and returned the fire; but +in a moment staggered, and finally withdrew in confusion from the +field. Again forming their broken columns, they hurled themselves +against our line. They were again met by a determined front, and, with +a like result, were sent, broken and mangled, back upon their reserves. +A third time reforming their wasted ranks, they came down with great +impetuosity, and hurled their solid columns against the weak lines of +the Federals. They were again met with a sheet of flame, which sent up +its column of blue smoke along the entire front. For a moment it was +impossible to tell the effect produced on the rebels; but the smoke +clearing away before a light breeze, it was discovered that their +advance had been arrested. One more united effort, and the rebel line +was again sent back crushed and bleeding. They again organized for a +last desperate charge, and most gallantly did they sweep down upon our +line. Up the hill and over the brush and logs, which lay in their way, +with wild impetuosity, which threatened to crush every thing before +them. Aware of the avalanche that was sweeping down upon them, the +Union boys hugged the ground, awaiting, with breathless anxiety, the +command to fire. At last the stentorian voice of the sturdy Crane was +heard to shout the order, when a band of patriots, their eyes kindled +to a blaze with the ardor of their daring, with strong muscles and +steady nerves, rose, and with a shout that made the gray hills of old +Dumfries echo, poured a volley of death into the rebel host. Disdaining +to again take refuge under cover, the line stood manfully up, and met +the continued onsets of the foe. The brave Creighton stood on a hill +exposed to the fire—how could men falter while the noble form of their +leader was thus bared to the bullets of the enemy? They did not falter; +but the line stood like a wall. The rebels were soon seen to waver, and +as the night "cast its mantle over the combatants," they tardily and +solemnly withdrew, bearing with them the lacerated, bleeding victims to +their endurance. +</p> + +<p> +At night the line was drawn in, and after making every effort for the +security of the command, the boys lay down upon their arms, harassed by +an oppressive uncertainty which always haunts the soldier in the +bivouac upon the battle-field. +</p> + +<p> +During that long night the lonely picket-guard peered out into the +darkness, intent upon catching the first footfall of the cautious foe. +Slowly and with careful tread he paced his weary beat, fearful that he +might be pounced upon by the wily enemy ere he could give the alarm to +his slumbering companions. Through rain, and sleet, and +darkness—oppressed with the solemn stillness that at night hangs +over the earth—with a sense of loneliness weighing upon his +feelings—he stood like a spectre in the gloom, the guardian of the +thousands slumbering in the camp. While others dream of home, and +friends, and firesides, afar off on the hills of New England, or the +starlit prairies of the West, the wakeful picket keeps his vigil. May +God protect him in his watch! +</p> + +<p> +As day again dispelled the shadows that darkened the hills and the +valleys, the columns of the brave Sigel were seen winding their way +through the village. A shout of welcome greeted these heroes. The +dreadful suspense that had weighed upon the hearts of the combatants of +the day before, during that long night of watching, now gave place to +cheerfulness; and confidence was again restored. But the cautions +Hampton had fled; and nothing met the eye save the frowning hills. +</p> + +<p> +The following is the list of killed and wounded in this affair: +</p> + +<p> +<i>Killed.</i>—Corporal Austin Ball. +</p> + +<p> +<i>Wounded.</i>—Corporal E. M. Corrdett; privates, Sylvester Carter, +Philip Grigsby, Thomas Roff, Wm. P. Root, Wm. H. Kibbee, W. M. Perry, +Stephen Willock. +</p> + +<p> +<i>Prisoners.</i>—John Gordon, Andrew Atleff, Richard M. Vreeland, +Douglass F. Pomeroy, Henry T. Benton, Lewis T. Butts, Henry Alderman, +Charles Bradly, James Snider, John Beiler, W. M. Perry. +</p> + + + + +<a name="XVIII"> </a> +<h2> +CHAPTER XVIII. +<br><br> +<span class="smallsc"> +The regiment ordered to the +front. — Battle of Chancellorsville.</span> +</h2> + + +<p> +Near the middle of April, 1863, the regiment marched down to Aquia +Landing, where it remained in camp for two weeks. +</p> + +<p> +General Hooker was now in command of the grand Army of the Potomac, +having relieved Burnside after that general's unsuccessful attack on +Fredericksburg. Hooker resolved to make an attempt to drive the rebel +army from the vicinity of the Rappahannock. Burnside's failure had +demonstrated the impracticability of crossing the river at +Fredericksburg; for no army was safe for a moment with a strong army +behind three lines of well-constructed earthworks in its front, and a +wide and deep river in its rear. He therefore chose a flank movement by +the way of Banks and United States fords, thus striking the left flank +of the enemy near Chancellorsville Court-house, and avoiding their +strong fortifications in the rear of Fredericksburg. +</p> + +<p> +The Seventh Regiment arrived in the vicinity of Chancellorsville on the +afternoon of the 30th of April, and encamped for the night a little +southeast of the latter place, and near the Fredericksburg plankroad. +</p> + +<p> +Early on Friday morning it was ordered forward, and took position in +the second line of battle, in an open wood-lot, facing south. Late in +the afternoon it was ordered back; and it finally took position +directly south of the famous brick house, called the Chancellorsville +Place, where headquarters were established and maintained during most +of the action. +</p> + +<p> +Just before dark the rebels came up in great numbers, in an attack on +Knapp's Battery, which was stationed on the left. The Seventh was +ordered to its support, but the attack was repelled before the regiment +became warmly engaged. It remained in support of this battery during +the night and in the forenoon of the following day. About noon of the +2d of May, the regiment was ordered forward to support a line of +skirmishers; but this line, refusing to advance, was passed by the +regiment, when it took the advance, and most handsomely drove the enemy +back for some distance, holding the ground for several hours, when it +was ordered to retire. It did so without confusion, taking a new +position in rear of a piece of woods, where it remained until ordered +into the intrenchments. +</p> + +<p> +During this advance, the right wing was hotly engaged, and lost +heavily; the left wing suffering slightly. It remained during the night +in its old position near the brick house, in the second line of battle. +</p> + +<p> +On the 3d, the regiment advanced to what is known as "the old +rifle-pit," which it occupied while the other troops were falling back +across a cleared field south of the Fredericksburg plankroad. Here it +was exposed to a galling fire from the advancing rebel column; but it +stood firm. When the balance of the troops of the brigade were in +proper position, it formed under the protection of a battery, and +slowly moved off the field, exposed to a terrible fire of both musketry +and artillery, taking up its position in rear of the brigade. The +brigade, however, was soon driven back, and passed to the rear of the +regiment, exposing it to a severe fire. Soon the order came for a +general advance, when the brigade, with a loud shout, dashed at the +foe, led by the Seventh. The rebels were pushed back for a considerable +distance; but no support coming up, the brigade was compelled to fall +back to the south of the brick house, where it halted, and laid down in +the road; but about eleven o'clock at night the shelling became so +continuous and heavy that it was forced still further back, and finally +resulting in its withdrawal to the vicinity of United States Ford. That +night the regiment occupied a rifle-pit about half a mile from the +river. At four o'clock in the afternoon of the 5th, it was relieved by +the Fifth Ohio; and taking a circuitous route, arrived in a ravine on +the left of the column, and near the river, and was soon after employed +in the intrenchments. +</p> + +<p> +Early in the morning of the 6th, the regiment crossed the river on a +pontoon at United States Ford, and in the afternoon of the 7th arrived +at its old camp at Aquia Landing. +</p> + +<p> +In this battle the regiment was actively engaged but a small portion of +the time. The loss was not severe, when taking into account the +magnitude of the engagement, and its duration. +</p> + +<p> +Why the army recrossed the river has not been fully explained. The +immediate battle was not a defeat; at least it has not been considered +as such. However, the two columns of Sedgwick and Hooker failed to +unite, which fact may have had an influence in determining the retreat. +The attacks of the enemy had been repulsed at all points, while +Sedgwick had carried a portion of their fortifications in rear of +Fredericksburg. The retreat alone turned a prospective victory into a +humiliating defeat. The grand army failed to accomplish the purpose of +its advance, and was compelled to hasten its march across the river in +retreat, over which it had, but a week before, advanced in triumph. It +can be said by way of apology only, that while at Chancellorsville the +army maintained its reputation for bravery and endurance, the enemy +manifestly looked upon it as a fruitless victory to him. +</p> + +<p> +The following is a list of the killed and wounded: +</p> + +<p> +<i>Killed.</i>—Orderly-Sergeant Henry Whiting; Color-Sergeant John D. +Creigh; Corporal A. C. Trimmer; privates, Charles H. Cheeney, E. N. +Larom, Henry A. Pratt, John Randle, Almon Lower, John Lee, Stafford +Penney, Thomas Carle, A. C. Steadman, Victor Perrley, Henry Ackman. +</p> + +<p> +<i>Wounded.</i>—Orderly-Sergeant Elmon Hingston; sergeants, H. H. +Bailey, John S. Davis, James Lapham, H. L. Allen; corporals, A. A. +Austin, John Gardiner, S. M. Cole, J. S. Kellogg; privates, W. Furniss, +H. Owen, F. Eldridge, W. Van Wye, E. C. Palmer, D. L. Hunt, E. V. Nash, +Henry H. Pierce, O. Jackman, C. A. Wood, H. S. Smalley, Charles P. +Smith, S. P. Sherley, F. Rockefellow, Frank Randal, Joseph Kubler, +Michael St. Auge, David Boil, James Dixon, Oliver Wise, James Farron, +G. Breakman, F. Mauley, John Shelby, Andrew Copeland, S. G. Cone, W. W. +Hunt, E. Kennedy, H. G. Benton, A. S. Raymond, C. A. Parks, Isaac +Stratton, H. Thwing, James Baxter, J. W. Benson, S. Hughes, P. Smith, +S. A. Fuller, F. Hank, John Clonde, E. O. Whiting, G. W. Bonn, S. H. +Barnum, J. C. Brooks, W. H. Fox, I. H. Gregg, W. Hunter, H. Jones, S. +Moneysmith, S. S. Pelton, B. Wilson, D. W. Waters, W. H. Bannister, H. +Lewis, W. J. Evans, C. L. Cowden, H. Hoffman, S. Renz, M. Saiser, E. A. +Spurn, L. Knoble. +</p> + + + + +<a name="XIX"> </a> +<h2> +CHAPTER XIX. +<br><br> +<span class="smallsc"> +Accompanies the grand army into +Pennsylvania. — Battle of Gettysburg.</span> +</h2> + + +<p> +After the battle of Chancellorsville, the regiment remained for some +time in its camp at Aquia Landing. The Army of the Potomac, as well as +that of Lee, was quietly reorganizing, preparatory to another struggle. +Soon Lee began to threaten the outer line of Hooker, by making +demonstrations on the various fords of the Rappahannock. At one time +threatening to move boldly across, and at another menacing the flank, +as if to attack one wing of the army. These various movements gave rise +to sharp skirmishes, nothing more. At last it was evident that Lee +meant an invasion of the North. The Army of the Potomac was therefore +set in motion. +</p> + +<p> +The Seventh left its camp early in June, and proceeded to Martinsburg +by the way of Fairfax. Lee continuing his flank movement, the grand +army was compelled to fall back across the Potomac; the Seventh +crossing at Edward's Ferry. The rebel army now crossed the river by the +way of Williamsport, and moved forward towards Pennsylvania. The Army +of the Potomac moved in the same direction, passing through Frederick +City, Maryland, and taking up its position in rear of Gettysburg, +Pennsylvania. The line of battle was formed a little distance from and +facing the town. On the first day of July the rebel army advanced and +occupied the town, but the day was exhausted in manÅ“uvring, attended +with slight skirmishing between the advance of the two armies. +</p> + +<p> +Hooker had been relieved, and General Meade ordered to assume command. +</p> + +<p> +After the Seventh arrived on the field it took its position on the left +side of the Gettysburg and Littletown pike. +</p> + +<p> +Early on the morning of the 2d it took a position on a hill on the +right of this road, at the same time sending Company H to the front, +under command of Captain McClelland. This company remained at the front +during the entire day. For the first time in its history, the regiment +occupied a position under cover, a stone wall being in its front. Up to +this time it had not been exposed to the fire of infantry; but during +the afternoon it suffered slight loss from a brisk artillery fire. At +eleven o'clock at night it advanced down the pike, and took a position +in a hollow, running at right angles with the road. It was now exposed +to a musketry fire, resulting in the wounding of one man. It soon fell +back to a stone wall, parallel with a road leading to the pike; and +shortly after it advanced to this road, from which twenty men were sent +forward as skirmishers, under command of Sergeant Stratton. This +gallant soldier was mortally wounded while bravely leading his command +against the foe. +</p> + +<p> +On the morning of the 3d the regiment moved forward, after having +called in the skirmishers, to the relief of the Sixtieth New York +Volunteers, occupying a line of intrenchments. In the evening it was +relieved, and withdrew to the breastworks in the rear; but was soon +after ordered forward to the relief of another regiment, where it +remained until late in the evening. During the entire day it was +exposed to a heavy fire of musketry, from which it suffered +considerable loss, considering the position it occupied. When relieved, +it withdrew to the position held by it in the morning. +</p> + +<p> +At one o'clock on the morning of the 4th of July, it again moved +forward to the intrenchments, where it remained till the brigade moved +off in the direction of Littletown. +</p> + +<p> +The following incidents occurred July the 3d: While occupying the +intrenchments, a white flag was seen flying from the front of the +enemy's lines. The firing being suspended, seventy-eight rebels came +forward and surrendered, including six officers. Lieutenant Leigh, of +Ewell's staff, came forward and endeavored to stop the surrender; but +was fired upon by the regiment, and instantly killed. +</p> + +<p> +Corporal John Pollock leaped over the breastworks and captured the flag +of the Fourteenth Virginia rebel regiment. +</p> + +<p> +Private James J. Melton was wounded, and afterwards taken to a +hospital, where he remained for some time; since which his friends have +heard nothing from him. The wound being in the head, he is supposed to +have become deranged and wandered away, unable to give any account of +himself. No means have been left untried to obtain information of his +whereabouts, but without avail. +</p> + +<p> +The regiment having fought under partial cover, the loss was slight: +one killed and seventeen wounded. +</p> + + + + +<a name="XX"> </a> +<h2> +CHAPTER XX. +<br><br> +<span class="smallsc"> +After reaching the Rapidan it goes to Governor's +Island. — After its return it accompanies Hooker's +corps to the Western department.</span> +</h2> + + +<p> +After the battle of Gettysburg, the regiment was with the grand army in +pursuit of the broken columns of General Lee. Passing through Frederick +City, it arrived at Harper's Ferry and went into camp. Here it remained +for two days, when it moved across the Potomac, and again passing up +the beautiful Loudon Valley, crossed the Blue Ridge to Fairfax and +Manassas Junction, over the old battle-field of Bull Run. Again taking +up the line of march, it crossed the Rappahannock below Culpepper +Court-house, and encamped on the banks of the Rapidan. +</p> + +<p> +About this time a riot broke out in New York city, which required the +presence of the military, as an assistance to the civil authorities. +The Government was therefore called upon to furnish troops. Several +regiments were at once dispatched to the scene of strife. Among these +was the Seventh. It left the vicinity of the Rapidan about one week +after its arrival there. It marched to Alexandria, and there taking the +United States ship Baltic, passed down the Potomac through Chesapeake +Bay to the ocean, arriving on Governor's Island in the latter part of +August. It remained until the first of September, when again embarking, +it sailed to Alexandria, from whence it marched to the Rapidan, near +its old camp. +</p> + +<p> +General Rosecrans had now been removed from the command of the Army of +the Cumberland, and General Grant assumed control. The army occupied +the vicinity of Chattanooga, Tennessee; while the rebel army under +General Bragg occupied Mission Ridge, immediately in front of and +overlooking the city. The task of driving Bragg from this position was +assigned to General Grant. +</p> + +<p> +Before entering upon this campaign, however, it was necessary to +re-enforce the Army of the Cumberland; for it had not entirely +recovered from the disastrous battle of Chickamauga. For this purpose +it was necessary to draw on the Army of the Potomac, now lying idle on +the banks of the Rapidan. At this time this army had, <i>positively</i> +speaking, accomplished nothing. It had barely saved Washington from the +enemy. To be sure, it had seen many hard-fought battles, and on all +occasions sustained its reputation for courage and endurance. But the +results following these battles were entirely negative; and after more +than two years of marches, counter-marches, sieges, and battles, when +graves had been dug from the Potomac to the James, and filled with the +best blood of the land, and the country left in mourning for her fallen +braves, but little territory had been gained, and the possession of +this little being constantly disputed by a well-organized and gallant +army. A sort of fatality had thus settled down upon the Army of the +Potomac. Some of the best generals had been summoned to its command, +but to no purpose. The hand of fate rested upon it heavily. When about +to seize upon victory, some stream would rise in its rear, or some +unseen accident happen to its communications or line of supplies, +compelling it to let go its hold on victory, and in its stead to accept +defeat. No wonder, then, that the authorities saw fit to send a part of +this not very promising army to a department where victory sometimes +rested upon the Federal arms. Hooker's corps was therefore ordered to +report to Grant. +</p> + +<p> +The Seventh being a part of this command, left its camp on the Rapidan +in the latter part of September, and moving up to Washington, passed +over to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, when it left for Nashville, +Tennessee, by the way of Columbus, Indianapolis, and Louisville. It +soon after left for Wartrays, by the way of Murfreesboro'. It was now +ordered to construct winter-quarters, but having them nearly completed, +it was ordered to Bridgeport, Alabama, where it arrived in due time. +</p> + +<p> +This entire trip from the East was accomplished without any delay, and +nothing occurring to lessen the good opinion the people entertained for +this veteran corps. +</p> + + + + +<a name="XXI"> </a> +<h2> +CHAPTER XXI. +<br><br> +<span class="smallsc"> +The Seventh joins Grant's army. — The +battles of Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, and Ringgold.</span> +</h2> + + +<p> +After remaining for some time at Bridgeport, the regiment was ordered +to the vicinity of Lookout Mountain. It marched to the little village +of Wahatcha, at the base of this mountain, and went into camp. It +remained, however, but a short time, and then returned to Bridgeport, +where it went into permanent camp. +</p> + +<p> +Late in the fall, General Grant had perfected his arrangements to +attack the rebel stronghold on Lookout Mountain; and, as a preparatory +measure, his vast army was concentrated in the vicinity of Chattanooga. +An immense quantity of stores had been gathered, while garrisons were +placed at points to be held for the purpose of keeping up communication +with the army after its advance. Early in November, the Seventh left +its quarters in Alabama, and joined the grand army. +</p> + +<p> +On the 24th of November, the army was set in motion. The Seventh passed +up the northern slope of the mountain, and crossing Lookout Creek, +formed in line of battle. It now steadily advanced, arriving at the +rebel camp to find it in the hands of our men. But desultory firing was +kept up by the rebel sharpshooters concealed in the timber and behind +rocks on the summit of the mountain. The regiment was now ordered on +picket. Passing around to the east side of the mountain, it was fired +upon by the enemy; but owing to their being entirely hidden from view +by the dense fog that had settled over the combatants, it did not +return the fire, but secured a safe harbor behind rocks and trees. This +fire was kept up for nearly two hours, with a loss to the regiment of +only four men wounded. Before night the regiment was relieved from duty +and marched to the rear, bivouacking in a peach orchard. +</p> + +<p> +About ten <span class="smc">A.M.</span> of the 25th, it moved down the opposite side +of the mountain, and passing through a small valley, soon reached +Mission Ridge. Without halting, the command moved steadily up this +mountain, and on arriving on its summit, found that the rebels had +fled. Passing into another valley, it bivouacked for the night. On the +26th, the command moved to the vicinity of Pigeon Mountain, where it +remained till the following day. Early on the morning of the 27th, it +moved on to Ringgold, Georgia, where it found the enemy securely posted +on Taylor's Ridge. On arriving in this town, the brigade was ordered to +scale the mountain. It was formed on the railroad, in two lines of +battle; the second line being ordered to preserve a distance of one +hundred yards. Two Pennsylvania regiments formed the first line, and +the Sixty-sixth and Seventh Ohio the second line; the Seventh being on +the left. The enemy soon discovered the intention of our troops, and +made his dispositions to meet the attack by extending his right. As +soon as the advance began, the enemy opened fire. Arriving at the foot +of the hill, the first line halted to return the fire, and the second +line passed through. The Seventh now moved into a ravine, where it was +exposed to a terrible fire from the front and both flanks, but it +pressed on without firing a shot. Arriving almost on the crest of the +hill, the fire became too effective for even these gallant veterans to +withstand, and the line gave way, fighting as it went. In this manner, +the surviving few reached the foot of the hill. +</p> + +<p> +This engagement was short, but terrible in its results to the regiment. +It may be said that with this struggle its star of glory began to +fade—its pride and spirit were broken. But one officer escaped +uninjured, while many were killed. The number of men in the action was +two hundred and six, of whom fourteen was killed and forty-nine +wounded. +</p> + +<p> +For what purpose this handful of men were ordered to storm the enemy's +position on the hill has never been explained. There was no artillery +used to cover the assault, without which it was impossible to carry the +position with such a force, and hazardous to attempt it with any. +Within a short distance there was a large amount of artillery, which +could have been placed in position, after which Taylor's Ridge would +have been untenable by the enemy. On seeing such dispositions being +made, he would probably have anticipated the movement, and fled without +firing a gun. But thus far Hooker and his almost invincible corps had +carried every thing before them. This success seemed to bring with it a +contempt for the rebel soldiers, which finally resulted in the great +disaster at Taylor's Ridge. A good general will resist the influences +growing out of success, and not be led by these to undertake +impossibilities, and by such rashness endanger that which he has +already gained. It requires greater self-control to resist the +temptations following victory, than to overcome the demoralizing +influences of defeat. Victory must never elate a general, while defeat +must never depress him. +</p> + +<p> +After this battle, an unsuccessful attempt was made to get the regiment +ordered home. But the response of Halleck, to a similar application, +made after the battle of Cedar Mountain, was reiterated. "No!" said the +old warrior; "not so long as there is a lame drummer-boy left; not if +you will send us a whole new regiment in place of this handful. We know +these men—they are just such as we want." This compliment, from an +officer who was in command of all of the armies of the United States, +was worth many a hard march, as well as battle. +</p> + +<p> +The following is a list of the killed and wounded in the three battles +of Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, and Taylor's Ridge: +</p> + +<p> +<i>Killed.</i>—Colonel W. R. Creighton; Lieutenant-Colonel O. J. +Crane; Adjutant Moris Baxter; second-lieutenants, Isaac C. Jones and +Joseph Cryne; sergeants, J. C. Corlet, William Van Wye; corporals, +Alfred Austin, W. H. Bennett; privates, C. F. King, C. E. Wall, D. P. +Wood, J. L. Fish, Thomas Sweet, Oliver Grinels, Lawrence Remmel, H. +Hanson, J. H. Merrill, William Pfuel. +</p> + +<p> +<i>Wounded.</i>—Captains, W. D. Braden, Samuel McClelland; +first-lieutenants, George A. McKay, George D. Lockwood; +second-lieutenants, D. H. Brown, E. H. Bohm, H. N. Spencer, Christian +Nesper; sergeants, M. M. Cutler, John Gardner, L. Wilson, Isaac +Stratton, Elmore Hemkston; corporals, James W. Raymond, E. V. Nash, +John Baptee, C. Glendenning, Hiram Deeds, Thomas Dowse, George Spencer, +William Senfert, J. E. Hine, W. H. Petton, J. H. Cleverton, H. C. Hunt, +M. H. Sheldon, John Phillips, W. O. Barnes, M. Fitzgerald, J. Tuttle, +George Eikler, W. J. Lowrie, H. O. Pixley, W. H. Johnson, John Bergin, +W. Wise, H. B. Pownell, J. N. Hall, V. Reynolds, R. White, H. Wright, +R. D. Gates, Otis Martin, Joseph Kincaid, W. O. Johnson, J. Decker, J. +Hall, C. Cowden, D. F. Dow, George Mandall, H. Fezer, George Raynette, +L. Habbig, John Schwinck, Joseph Rowe, C. Deitz. +</p> + +<p> +The following were wounded at Lookout Mountain: +</p> + +<p> +John H. Galvin, M. C. Stone, M. W. Bartlett, James A. Garrison, Louis +Owen, A. Gordon. +</p> + + + + +<a name="XXII"> </a> +<h2> +CHAPTER XXII. +<br><br> +<span class="smallsc"> +The advance towards +Atlanta. — Skirmishing. — Homeward +march. — Its reception. — Muster +out.</span> +</h2> + + +<p> +The series of successes in the vicinity of Chattanooga made Grant a +lieutenant-general, and gave Sherman the command of the armies in +Tennessee. Preparations were now made to press back the forces +marshalled in rebellion at all points. Early in the spring the ball was +opened in the East by Lieutenant-General Grant in person, while in the +West the indomitable Sherman set his invincible army in motion towards +the very heart of the so-called Confederacy. The advance was sounded, +and the Union hosts pressed onward. +</p> + +<p> +By sunset on the 17th of May the Seventh Regiment reached Calhoun, and +on the 19th the vicinity of Cassville, where it hastily threw up some +breastworks; but after two hours was ordered forward in line of battle. +On the 23d it passed through the latter village, across the railroad, +and at four <span class="smc">P.M.</span>, arrived on the banks of the Etawa River; +and after fording the stream, bivouacked for the night. On the 25th it +took the advance of the entire column, and deployed seven companies as +skirmishers. The march of these companies was very toilsome, and their +progress correspondingly slow. Near Pumpkin Vine Creek the advance was +fired upon by the enemy's pickets, and a sharp skirmish ensued. During +this time the enemy attempted to destroy the bridge over the creek, but +were driven back by the regiment; when it immediately crossed, and took +possession of a commanding hill. +</p> + +<p> +Generals Hooker and Geary, with staff and body-guard, had moved forward +with the skirmish-line, and sometimes in advance even of this. On one +of the latter occasions the body-guard was fired upon, and the three +reserve companies of the Seventh were ordered to their relief. +</p> + +<p> +The advance of the enemy was now held in check until the other +regiments of the brigade came up, when he was dispersed. +</p> + +<p> +In this skirmish, one man was killed and eight wounded. At this point +the command threw up some breastworks, where it remained until six +<span class="smc">P.M.</span>, when it advanced in line of battle. In this movement +the regiment became hotly engaged, losing three killed and fifteen +wounded. One of the enemy's shell exploding in the ranks, occasioned +the loss of eight men. On the 28th and the previous night, considerable +skirmishing was kept up in front of the line of intrenchments, as well +as some sharp artillery firing; which, however, did very little damage. +These pieces were soon silenced by a New York battery. All day and +night of the 30th the regiment was engaged in sharp skirmishing; but +one man, however, was injured, and he severely. On the 2d of June it +moved forward to Allatoona, Georgia, where it built breastworks, and +went into camp. +</p> + +<p> +Here it remained for some time, when its term of service having +expired, it hastened its steps homeward; thus severing the connecting +link between it and the army. The members of this veteran regiment now +felt that they were no longer soldiers: that, although they retained +the organization and uniform of a regiment, they were private citizens +hastening to enjoy home and friends, from which they had been so long +separated. They marched with joyous hearts, and yet there was sadness +present with this happiness. Many a comrade was left behind, never to +return. Fresh graves marked its line of march from Chattanooga to +Georgia. Friends and kindred were sleeping beneath these green mounds, +and they could not pass them by, in this homeward march, without a tear +of regret. +</p> + +<p> +Following the line of the railroad, the regiment finally halted and +awaited transportation. When this was furnished, it went to Nashville +by railroad, at which place it embarked on steamers and started down +the Cumberland River. Arriving in the vicinity of Harpeth Shoals, it +was fired on by guerrillas, and two men wounded. Both officers and men +were desirous of landing and punishing this band of outlaws for their +insolence, but could not prevail on the captain of the boat to permit +it. +</p> + +<p> +Arriving in the Ohio River, Sergeant Trembly fell from the boat and was +drowned. This was a sad occurrence. He had served faithfully during the +service of the regiment; and now, on the eve of being mustered out, he +lost his life by accident. The boat was stopped, and efforts made to +rescue him, but without success. +</p> + +<p> +When the regiment reached Cincinnati, the Fifth Ohio had already +arrived. The city being about to give an ovation to this gallant +regiment, the Seventh was invited to take part in it, by partaking of +the hospitality of the city. This demonstration, in honor of the two +regiments, was eminently fitting, for they were united by the ties of +long fellowship. From the very first they had been brigaded together. +The history of the one was the history of the other. They had marched, +bivouacked, and fought side by side. Each prized the honor and renown +of the other not less than its own. The city of Cincinnati, in thus +extending its hospitality to the Seventh Regiment, did much credit to +itself. The friends of the regiment will remember this magnanimous +conduct, while the members of the regiment will keep green the memory +of the gallant Fifth. +</p> + +<p> +The following is from the Cleveland Herald, of the 11th of June: +</p> + +<p> +"On Saturday afternoon, soon after the evening papers had been issued, +a dispatch was received, announcing that the Seventh Ohio had but just +left Cincinnati, and would not arrive in Cleveland until about seven +o'clock Sunday morning. Bulletins to this effect were at once printed, +and distributed through the city; but a large crowd of persons, not +aware of this fact, came down to watch the arrival of the evening +train, on which the Seventh was supposed to be coming. +</p> + +<p> +"On Sunday morning the population of the city were early astir, and by +seven o'clock a large and continually increasing crowd had assembled in +and around the depot. The police, in full uniform, marched down to the +depot, and were followed by the old members of the Seventh, bearing the +second regimental flag, the first having been deposited in the +State-house at Columbus. +</p> + +<p> +"At seven o'clock the ringing of the fire-bells announced the approach +of the time for the arrival of the train; and about half-past seven +o'clock a salute from the guns, manned by the Brooklyn Artillery, and +run down to the bluff at the foot of Water-street, announced the +arrival of the train. +</p> + +<p> +"As it moved into the depot it was received with cheers by the +assembled crowd; and the war-worn veterans were soon out of the cars, +and surrounded by anxious and joyful friends. Shouts of welcome, hearty +hand-shaking, embraces and kisses, were showered upon the sun-browned +soldiers. Many of the scenes were very affecting. In one place a young +wife, whose husband had left for the field just after their marriage, +hung with clinging embrace on her returned brave, and her moist eyes +sought his with unutterable affection, her hands trembling with excess +of joy. In another, an old man, with both hands grasped in those of his +son, mingled smiles of joy over his returned boy, with tears of sorrow +for the one who had laid down his life for his country. Mothers clung +to sons, sisters to brothers, wives to husbands, and some little +children climbed up for a father's embrace. +</p> + +<p> +"The number all told, men and officers, of those who returned, was two +hundred and forty-five. These were the remnants of nearly eleven +hundred men, who left Camp Dennison three years ago, on the +reorganization of the regiment. The whole number of the regiment is +five hundred and one, of whom the remainder were recruited at various +times, and their term of service not expired. Sixty of these were left +in Sherman's army; the rest are scattered in every direction, from the +James River to Atlanta. The greater part of those whose term of service +has not expired are to be consolidated with the same class in the Fifth +Ohio, which fought by its side in many a bloody fray, and which is to +retain its number. The slightly wounded were brought up with the +regiment, the more seriously wounded being left in different hospitals. +</p> + +<p> +"The following is the present organization of the Seventh: +</p> + +<p> +"Lieutenant-colonel, Sam. McClelland; surgeon, Dr. Bellows; assistant +surgeon, Dr. Ferguson; Captain Wilcox, Company E; Captain Kreiger, +Company K; Captain Clark, Company B; Captain Howe, Company A; Captain +Braden, Company G; Captain Davis, Company C, taken prisoner in last +fight; Captain Nesper, Company H; Captain McKay, Company F; Captain +Lockwood, Company D; Lieutenant Bohm, commanding Company I; +quartermaster, S. D. Loomis. +</p> + +<p> +"The regiment left Chattanooga with the Fifth Ohio; but parted company +on the way, the Fifth having left their arms behind them, and were +therefore compelled to come by railroad, no unarmed troops being +allowed to come by the river. The Seventh came up the Cumberland and +Ohio rivers by steamboats, and were fired on by guerrillas on the way. +One man was lost, Sergeant Trembly, of Company C, about thirty miles +below Cincinnati. He was on the guards of the steamer cleaning his gun, +when he fell overboard. The boat was stopped, and efforts made to save +him; but he was carried away by the current and drowned. +</p> + +<p> +"On reaching Cincinnati, they were ordered to Columbus to be mustered +out; but when the train got to Columbus, they were ordered to go on to +this city to be paid, and mustered out. +</p> + +<p> +"After leaving the cars, and the greetings of friends were ended, the +men were marched to one part of the depot, and given a chance to wash +themselves. They were then conducted to tables set along the north wing +of the depot, where a hot breakfast had been provided by Wheeler and +Russel, on the order of the military committee. Rev. Mr. Goodrich +invoked the blessing. +</p> + +<p> +"A number of ladies were on hand, who supplied the soldiers bountifully +with strawberries, after the more substantial part of the feast was +concluded. +</p> + +<p> +"As soon as the men had been properly fed and refreshed, they fell into +line, and proceeded through Water and Superior streets to the front of +the government buildings, where the formal reception was to take place. +The procession was headed by the police, followed by a brass band, and +by the military committee, members of the council, and city officers. +The old members of the Seventh, with the second flag of the regiment, +tattered and torn, immediately preceded the bronzed veterans, who, +fully armed, and bearing their last flag, rent with a hailstorm of +hostile bullets, marched with proud steps through the streets they had +left three years and three months since. Carriages followed with the +sick and wounded who were unable to march. The procession was +accompanied with a throng of people, and crowds lined the streets, +whilst flags fluttered in all directions. +</p> + +<p> +"On reaching the front of the government building, the regiment was +drawn up in double line, and Prosecuting-Attorney Grannis, in the +absence of Mayor Senter, addressed the regiment, in behalf of the +corporation and citizens, as follows: +</p> + +<p> +"<span class="sc">Soldiers of the Seventh Ohio</span>—The people of the +city of Cleveland welcome you home. More than three years ago, you went +forth with full ranks—more than a thousand strong. To-day a little +remnant returns to receive the greetings of friends, and to mingle again +with society, as was your wont in times gone by. But this is not all. +You, and those who went with you, whether present here to-day or absent, +whether among the living or the dead, shall be held forever in grateful +remembrance. +</p> + +<p> +"We witnessed your departure with pride, not unmingled with sorrow. We +did not regret that the men of the glorious Seventh had gone out to +fight against a brutal and insolent foe, or fear that any member of it +would ever fail to do his whole duty in the perilous ridges of the +battle; but we did know that your departure was attended with many +sacrifices;—that you would be exposed to cold, fatigue, and hunger; +would suffer from disease, from honorable wounds, and in loathsome +prisons; and that many a noble form would bite the dust. We knew that +these things must needs be, that the nation might live. The half was +not told us. It did not enter into our hearts to believe what you would +suffer and what you would accomplish. Upon almost every battle-field, +from Cross Lanes to Dalton, the glorious banner of the Seventh has been +in the van of the battle. We have watched your course with painful +interest. After every battle, came the intelligence that your regiment +had fought bravely, and had come out with thinned ranks. +</p> + +<p> +"You have the grand consolation of knowing that the victories of +Gettysburg, of Lookout Mountain, of Ringgold, and of Resaca, were not +won without your aid. To have been in any one of those desperate +conflicts, is glory enough for any man. The record you have made will +seem almost like a tale of fiction. We have often had tidings of you, +but such as would not cause our cheeks to tingle with shame. It was +never said of the Seventh Ohio that it faltered in battle, that it +failed to do its whole duty. You have been faithful, uncomplaining, and +heroic. These things have not been accomplished without painful +sacrifices. How painful, let the honorable scars many will carry to +their graves answer. How painful, let this begrimed and tattered flag +answer. How painful, these thinned ranks will answer. Your gallant +colonel and lieutenant-colonel came home before you. Not as we could +have wished them to come, but wearing the habiliments which all must +wear; and now they lie yonder, and their graves are still wet with the +tears of their mourning countrymen. +</p> + +<p> +"Not so fortunate many of your countrymen, for they lie in unknown +seclusion, but not in unhonored graves. We will not mourn these dead as +those who die without hope, for their names shall be honored, so long +as liberty is prized among men. +</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> +<div class="stanza"> +<div>"'Death makes no conquest of these conquerors,</div> +<div>For now they live in fame, though not in life.'</div></div></div></div> + +<p> +"It is an honor to be engaged in this conflict, which those who share +it should fully prize; and those who have been engaged in it have shown +a self-sacrificing devotion to duty, seldom excelled. It is a conflict +in favor of liberty against treason and traitors; against a desperate +and implacable foe, fighting with desperate energy, that fraud, +oppression, and crime may stalk abroad in daylight. +</p> + +<p> +"Let us hope that the final overthrow of rebellion is at hand; that +soon our soldiers may all return home, with— +</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="i4">"'Brows bound with victorious wreaths,</div> +<div>Their bruised arms hung up for monuments,</div> +<div>Their stern alarums changed to merry meetings,</div> +<div>Their dreadful marches to delightful measures.'</div></div></div></div> + +<p> +"On concluding, Mr. Grannis introduced Governor Brough, who also +addressed the regiment. He said in substance as follows: +</p> + +<p> +"<span class="sc">Men of the Seventh Ohio</span>—I know you are anxious +to turn from this public to private greetings, to clasp friends and +acquaintances in your hands and hearts. Under these circumstances I have +not the courage to detain you. I will not read the glorious record of +your achievements, for it would keep you so long. It is not necessary. +We know your record in all its glory, but not, like you, in all its +pain. A little over three years ago, on a Sabbath morning, you left +Cleveland. Now, on a Sabbath morning, you return to us. That Sabbath was +hallowed, by the purpose with which you went forth. This Sabbath is +rendered sacred, by the joy with which you are welcomed back to us. +</p> + +<p> +"On behalf of the State, I am here to give you a cordial greeting on +your return. For the people of Cleveland, no formal greeting is +necessary. In the crowd that gather around you, you can read the +cordial welcome, that needs no words to express it. +</p> + +<p> +"The Spartan mother, who sent her son to battle, bade him to return +with his shield in honor, or on his shield in death. You have returned +with your shields, and with honor reflected from them on you. But let +us not forget that many have come home on their shields. We cannot +forget those that, on another Sabbath morning, came home, and were +received by the city in the weeds of mourning. +</p> + +<p> +"We welcome you back, not only because you are back, but because you +have reflected honor on your State. Standing, as I do, in the position +of father of all of the regiments of the State, it will not do for me +to discriminate; but I will say, that no regiment has returned to the +bosom of the State, and none remains to come after it, that will bring +back a more glorious record than the gallant old Seventh. +</p> + +<p> +"There is no need to tell you what the lesson of this war is. You have +learned it in many a weary march, and on many a field of carnage. None +know better than you, that there are but two ways possible for the +termination of this war. One is an inglorious peace and disgraceful +submission, and the other is to completely crush the military power of +the rebellion. There is no other way; and he who goes about on +street-corners, and talks about a peace short of one or the other of +these alternatives, is either grossly ignorant or intentionally +attempting to deceive. More than that, no one knows better than +yourselves, that to secure a lasting peace, when the military power of +the rebellion is crushed, the cause of this infernal rebellion itself +must be thoroughly wiped out. You have been taught that in many a fiery +lesson, and know it to be a truth. +</p> + +<p> +"There are gallant men and brave generals in the army laboring to reach +this end; and we have confidence that their efforts will be crowned +with success. God grant that it may be so. I had almost said that God +and Grant will make it so. +</p> + +<p> +"But I will detain you no longer. There is another greeting awaiting +you in your homes—a greeting that no other eyes should witness. To +that sacred and precious greeting I remit you." +</p> + +<p> +The regiment now marched off to Camp Cleveland, escorted by the old +members of the Seventh. +</p> + +<p> +The men were given a brief furlough, after which preparations were made +to be mustered out. +</p> + +<p> +On the 4th of July, a grand ovation was given to the regiment, in +connection with the Eighth Ohio; in fact, while the regiment remained +in Cleveland, it was one continued ovation. The citizens vied with each +other, in caring for and honoring the old Seventh. It seemed as if they +could not do enough. These brave men will not soon forget the anxious +care bestowed upon them by the citizens of Cleveland, during this +closing period of their career in the service of their country. +</p> + +<p> +After remaining for a brief period in camp, the regiment was mustered +out; and after kindly farewells had been exchanged, each member +departed for his home, from which he had been so long absent in +protecting a Government that he loved from the ruthless touch of +treason and slavery. +</p> + +<p> +When the regiment entered the field, it numbered more than a thousand +men. As these began to dwindle away by the shock of battle and the +ravages of disease, new members came in, until we find nearly fourteen +hundred men on the rolls, exclusive of three months' men: the latter +would swell the number to about eighteen hundred men. Of the former, +over six hundred were killed and wounded—the killed alone amounting to +about one hundred and thirty. One hundred and upwards died from +disease; while more than six hundred were discharged on account of +disability arising from various causes. Many of those who were on the +rolls at the time the regiment was mustered out were disabled for life, +and were only retained for the want of an opportunity to be discharged. +The whole number of able-bodied officers and men returning with the +regiment was only two hundred and forty-five, leaving upwards of eleven +hundred dead and disabled. +</p> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="sketches"> </a> +BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. +</h2> + + +<p class="section"> +BRIGADIER-GENERAL E. B. TYLER.<a href="#note3" name="noteref3"><small>[3]</small></a> +</p> + +<p> +E. B. Tyler entered the service as colonel of the Seventh. He brought +with him some little military experience, having been a +brigadier-general of militia before the rebellion broke out. +</p> + +<p> +When General McClellan was about to make his advance into Western +Virginia, he selected Tyler to lead the way, on account of his thorough +acquaintance with that wild region, he having been engaged in +purchasing furs from the people for many years. During the entire +summer he was kept well out to the front. He was finally given a +brigade, with which to assist General Cox in driving General Wise from +the valley. He moved as far as Somerville, in the very heart of the +enemy's country, and was soon after in the skirmish of Cross Lanes. +From this time, during the remainder of his stay in the department, he +was in command at Charleston, in the Kanawha Valley. In the winter +following, he was ordered to Kelley's department, where he was again +given a brigade, with which he did good service on the outposts. We +next find him at the battle of Winchester, where he commanded a +brigade. It was his command that charged the battery, for which it +acquired so much renown. His conduct at this battle won him a star. He +now served with his command in the Valley, accompanying it to the +Rappahannock and back. After which he commanded the forces in the +battle of Port Republic. His conduct in this engagement is above +criticism. No general could have made better dispositions than he, and +no one would have met with better success. Defeat was certain; and all +that the best generalship could do, was to save barely a remnant of the +command. It is a wonder that any artillery was saved. He gained much +reputation in his command for the manner in which he acquitted himself +in this battle. He soon after left his old brigade, and finally took +command of a Pennsylvania brigade, which he led in the battle of +Fredericksburg, in December, 1862. He had acquired a fine reputation +with Governor Curtin, and his conduct in this battle confirmed it. The +spring following he was assigned to a command in Baltimore, under +General Schenck. At the time of the raid on Washington, in the summer +of 1864, he was at the front. During an engagement he became separated +from his command, and only escaped by dint of hard riding. After +remaining concealed for some days, he escaped, and returned in safety +to our lines. After this campaign he returned to Baltimore, where he is +at the present time stationed. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +BREVET BRIG.-GEN. J. S. CASEMENT. +</p> + +<p> +J. S. Casement came into the regiment as major, and was just the man +for the place. The regiment needed a practical, common-sense sort of a +man, and it found him in the person of Jack Casement. Many of his +previous years had been spent in the construction of railroads. In this +he had not a superior in the United States. He is of small stature, but +of iron frame; and for endurance has few equals. He will shoulder and +walk off under a load that would make the most athletic tremble. He has +probably superintended the laying of as much track as any man of his +age. +</p> + +<p> +On joining the regiment, the major at once made himself useful in +looking after matters for the comfort of the command, that really +belonged to no one to look to, and yet, when attended to, went far to +improve the condition of the men. He rapidly acquired a knowledge of +military tactics, which was afterwards to fit him for a leader. This +was not difficult for him to do, for he made it a practical study. He +was always on duty when the occasion required it. This habit of +promptness he acquired while working large parties of men, and it never +left him during his service. During the long marches in Western +Virginia, he was ever watchful as to how matters were going on in the +rear; and while other mounted officers were riding leisurely along, he +was ever watchful of the train, as well as all other matters connected +with the easy movement of the command. Arriving in camp, he made it his +business to see that all was snug. At the affair at Cross Lanes he +conducted himself with such gallantry as to endear him to the entire +regiment. He rode over that fatal field as calm and collected as on +drill. When his superior officers had escaped, he organized the balance +of the command, and then commenced that memorable march over the hills +and mountains, through the valleys and over the streams, of that wild +waste. It was finally crowned with success, and the regiment felt proud +of its major; and the Western Reserve felt proud, too, that they had +sent so brave a man to serve with so brave a regiment. He now did his +duty, until we find the regiment in the East, and in its expedition to +Blue's Gap, Major Casement at its head. Just before reaching the +fortifications, he made a speech. Said he: "Boys, you've not got much +of a daddy, but with such as you have, I want you to go for those +rebels." And they did go for them in earnest. It seems the boys did not +object to the character of the "daddy." He now went with the regiment +to Winchester, where he was engaged in that battle. He sat on his horse +where the bullets were flying thickest, and seemed to be a stranger to +fear. When the battle was nearly over, followed by a few men, he took +possession of a piece of artillery, and held it until the close of the +action. In the evening succeeding the battle, he found that ten +rifle-bullets had passed through the cape of his coat on the left side, +near to his arm. +</p> + +<p> +Major Casement accompanied the regiment on its march up the Valley, +making himself useful in the way of constructing bridges and roads. On +arriving at Falmouth, on the Rappahannock, he tendered his resignation, +which being accepted, he returned to his home. All missed the merry +laugh, as well as the merry jokes, of the ever happy major. +</p> + +<p> +He was not long permitted to enjoy home, however, as in the following +summer he was made colonel of the One Hundred and Third Ohio Regiment, +and immediately after left for the field. His regiment was ordered to +Kentucky, in which department he served until Sherman's triumphant +march on Atlanta, when he joined him, and soon after commanded a +brigade. In this campaign he distinguished himself. After Sherman left +for Savannah, Casement commanded a brigade in Thomas' army. At the +battle of Franklin, which followed, he conducted himself in such a +brilliant manner as to win a star by brevet. He now took part in the +pursuit of the disorganized forces of Hood, and when it ceased, went to +Wilmington, North Carolina, with the corps of General Schofield, where +he has since remained. +</p> + +<p> +The career of this dashing officer has been one of usefulness, and his +numerous friends, as well as the entire country, appreciate his +services. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +BRIGADIER JOHN W. SPRAGUE.<a href="#note4" name="noteref4"><small>[4]</small></a> +</p> + +<p> +General Sprague entered the service as captain of Company E. He +immediately gained a high character as an officer, both for his fine +military bearing and gentlemanly deportment. His company was first in +discipline, and during the time he was in command not one of his men +was under arrest. His influence was such, that they seldom disobeyed an +order. They regarded their captain as a fit person to lead them—one +whose example was worthy of imitation. +</p> + +<p> +During the trying marches in Western Virginia, Captain Sprague was ever +at his post to encourage and cheer his men. A few days previous to the +Cross Lanes affair, he was given a leave of absence; and soon after +leaving for his home, he was taken prisoner by the enemy's cavalry. He +remained in prison about a year, suffering all the hardships that the +imagination can picture. When he was released, his hair had become +gray, and his every appearance was indicative of great suffering. On +his return, he was immediately commissioned colonel of the Sixty-third +Ohio Regiment, and very soon after entered the field. From this time on +he did gallant service in the armies of the West. His great military +talent was at last acknowledged, and his vast services rewarded by +conferring on him a star. He is now serving in the West. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +LIEUT.-COL. SAMUEL McCLELLAND. +</p> + +<p> +The subject of this sketch is a native of Ireland. He was born in 1829. +While in his youth, his parents emigrated to this country, landing at +Philadelphia, from whence they went to Pittsburgh. Remaining here for a +short time, they removed to Youngstown, Ohio, where they have since +resided. +</p> + +<p> +He entered the service as first-lieutenant of Company I, and was at +once active in the discharge of his duty. He accompanied the regiment +to Western Virginia, where he took part in all the hard marches that +followed. At the affair of Cross Lanes, he demonstrated, by his +gallantry, the fact of the possession of great military talent; for he +was brave, prudent, and skilful. Up to the battle of Winchester, he was +with the regiment in every march and skirmish. At this battle he +commanded a company, and had the honor of opening the battle, and +sustaining it for a few minutes, till other companies formed on his +flanks. +</p> + +<p> +He was engaged in the following battles and skirmishes, which embrace +every one in which the regiment was engaged: Cross Lanes, Winchester, +Port Republic, Cedar Mountain, Antietam, Dumfries, Chancellorsville, +Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, and Taylor's Ridge. The +various skirmishes and battles during the march of Sherman to Marietta, +are to be added to this list. At the battle of Winchester he was +slightly wounded in the head, but remained on the field, against the +urgent solicitations of his friends, until the close of the engagement. +At the battle of Taylor's Ridge he was severely wounded in the leg. He +now returned to his home, but remained but a short time, rejoining his +command before he was entirely recovered. +</p> + +<p> +While in the East he was made captain of Company H, and after the +battle of Taylor's Ridge, lieutenant-colonel. He now took command of +the regiment; leading it through the arduous campaign of Sherman, as +far as Marietta, in which service he won a fine reputation for ability +as an officer. He was known and recognized throughout the army as the +fighting colonel. At the above place, the old Seventh turned its steps +homeward, commanded by Colonel McClelland, who had the proud +satisfaction of leading the regiment into Cleveland, to do which the +lamented Creighton was ever ambitious. +</p> + +<p> +When encamped in the city, he set himself industriously at work +preparing the regiment to be mustered out; which was done in due time. +</p> + +<p> +McClelland was one of the few officers who were ever at their post. He +was brave, active, and zealous, a good officer in every particular. His +kindness and good feeling towards his fellow-soldiers won him many +friends. His family have suffered severe loss, two brave brothers +having died in battle. During all this affliction he has remained true +to his country, his patriotism never growing cold for a moment. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +MAJOR FREDERICK A. SEYMOUR. +</p> + +<p> +The subject of this sketch came into the regiment as captain of Company +G, having organized the company immediately after the first call for +troops. He had seen a good deal of service in the militia of his native +State, which was of great assistance to him in this new position. When +the regiment was organized for the three-years' service, he was elected +to his old position, which was an indication of the esteem his company +had for him. +</p> + +<p> +During the terrible campaign among the mountains of Western Virginia, +his health became very much impaired; till just previous to the affair +at Cross Lanes, he was compelled to leave his command and seek to +restore it in his home. Therefore he was not in that skirmish. He soon +after returned, but after reaching the Shenandoah Valley his health +again failed him, and he once more sought to restore it by returning to +his home. While he was absent the battle of Winchester was fought, and +he therefore did not take part in the engagement. +</p> + +<p> +He now accompanied the regiment in its march up the Shenandoah River, +across the Blue Ridge, and back again to Front Royal; and from thence +to Port Republic. In the battle fought at the latter place he was +conspicuous for bravery. During that well-contested action be +contributed all that lay in his power towards winning a victory. But +valor alone cannot win a battle; numbers combined with it can only +accomplish that. This was his first experience under fire; but he stood +up to the work like a veteran; being second to none in deeds of daring. +</p> + +<p> +Soon after this action he was engaged in the battle of Cedar Mountain, +where he more than sustained the reputation acquired at Port Republic. +This was a terrible battle, and every officer and private who fought +there became a hero. +</p> + +<p> +From this time forward the writer has no knowledge of his services, +beyond the fact that he was promoted to major; which position he filled +till some time in the fall of 1863, when he resigned, and returned to +his home. It can be truly said that, wherever Major Seymour was placed, +he endeavored to do his duty. Among his fellow-soldiers he had many +friends, and he will always be remembered as a kind-hearted gentleman. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +SURGEON FRANCIS SALTER. +</p> + +<p> +Francis Salter entered the service as assistant surgeon of the Seventh +Regiment; and on the resignation of Surgeon Cushing, was appointed +surgeon. He held this position until the latter part of 1862, when he +was made a medical director, and assigned to the staff of General +Crooks. As a surgeon, he hardly had a superior in the service. His +services were of great value in the hospitals, as he had had a long +experience in those of England, his native country. He has remained in +the service from the beginning of the war; and during that long period +has alleviated the suffering of many a soldier. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +C. J. BELLOWS. +</p> + +<p> +The subject of this sketch was appointed surgeon of the regiment, from +the position of assistant in the Fifth Ohio. Before entering the +service he was enjoying a good practice in Northern Ohio, in which he +had acquired a good reputation. While with the regiment he was much +esteemed, by reason of his ability as a surgeon, as well as for his +kind and courteous behavior. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +G. E. DENIG. +</p> + +<p> +On the appointment of Francis Salter to the post of surgeon, the +subject of this sketch was made assistant. While with the regiment he +was attentive to his duties, and always kind and obliging to those +seeking medical aid. He many times acted as surgeon of the regiment; +and on such occasions was always prompt in the discharge of his duty. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +FREDERICK T. BROWN, D.D. +</p> + +<p> +The subject of this sketch was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, of +respectable and pious parents. His father was a wealthy merchant, and +therefore gave his son a liberal education. After arriving at a proper +age, he was sent to Princeton College, New Jersey, where he graduated. +He early developed those Christian qualities which he has possessed in +such an eminent degree during the whole course of his life. He was born +to be a minister. At an early age his mind took a lasting hold upon +religious truths; and it has never relaxed its energies in that +direction for a single moment. He has gone on doing good from a child, +his usefulness only increasing as his mind developed its powers. He has +been a close student of theology during his whole life; and it is doing +no discredit to others to say, that in this respect he has hardly a +peer in the United States. He graduated at the Theological Seminaries +at Princeton, New Jersey, and Geneva, Switzerland. +</p> + +<p> +The Westminster Church, of Cleveland, Ohio, was organized by him; and +in the course of his nine years' labor with it, increased from a small +congregation to one of the most respectable religious societies of the +city. He was pastor of this church at the breaking out of the +rebellion. +</p> + +<p> +While the Seventh Regiment was at Camp Dennison, he paid it a visit by +request of some of the officers, and was immediately chosen its +chaplain, there being but few dissenting voices. Immediately returning +to his home, he tendered his resignation to his church, which, however, +was not accepted; but in its stead, he was voted a leave of absence, +which he accepted, but refusing to draw pay during the time. He joined +the regiment early in July, while it was in Western Virginia, and at +once entered upon his duties. +</p> + +<p> +While here, he preached a sermon in one of the churches—to the rebel +as well as Union people of the town—which was noted for the powerful +arguments used against the position occupied by the South in relation +to the Federal Government. This effort made him many friends in the +village. He afterwards had a large influence over its people, being +often invited to their homes. On such occasions he was received with a +hearty welcome; although he never neglected an opportunity to reprove +them for the opinions cherished by them. +</p> + +<p> +While at Glenville, Gilmer County, he carried a message to General Cox, +whose forces were somewhere on the banks of the Kanawha River. This has +already been mentioned; but as it was an enterprise attended with much +danger, we here copy a detailed account of it. +</p> + +<p> +About the 15th day of July, Colonel Tyler, feeling it important to open +communication with General Cox's forces on the Kanawha, determined to +send a messenger with unwritten dispatches across the country through +the enemy's lines; and as our chaplain could more readily be spared +than any other member of the regiment deemed fitting to undertake the +enterprise, the expedition was proposed to him. He accepted it +willingly, though well aware of its difficulties and dangers. Colonel +Tyler suggested to him to go in the character of a merchant or trader, +so that, if arrested by roving guerillas or any of Wise's patrols, he +could say he was on business to Gauley Bridge, or some other place. But +he declined adopting the suggestion, as involving a possible lie, and +asked to be left to his own resources. +</p> + +<p> +Hastily divesting himself of every tell-tale mark of name, residence, +or connection with the service, mounted on a blooded mare, captured +from some guerrillas a few days before, and taking no rations but a +bunch of cigars, an hour after receiving the order he started. It was a +ride of a hundred and twenty miles through the enemy's country, by +highways, and by-ways, and no ways at all, nearly half of it at night, +sometimes alone, full of adventures, amusing and otherwise, and +involving some narrow escapes from the enemy, but completely +successful. +</p> + +<p> +On the morning of the third day, at daylight, he struck the Kanawha, +four miles below the mouth of the Pocotaligo; and there, for the first +time, got word of General Cox, and learned that his camp was only four +miles up the river. It was Sunday morning. He was soon at the general's +quarters, and in the language of the chaplain himself, "received such a +welcome as that genial man and accomplished Christian gentleman knows +how to give." General Cox refused permission to him to return to us by +the way he had come. He therefore remained with the general for the +time; was with him at the capture of Charleston, and in the pursuit of +Wise to Gauley Bridge, from whence he joined us again. Surviving +members of the old Seventh will remember "the three times-three" cheers +of each company in succession, as the chaplain rode along the line. We +were on the march, a long distance from where he had left us, had not +heard a word from him or of him, and had thought him lost; his arrival, +safe and sound, coming from the direction of the enemy, was as one from +the dead, or from Richmond. +</p> + +<p> +At the battle of Cross Lanes he bore a gallant part, remaining with the +command during the entire affair, and leaving only when all hope of +saving the day had expired. He escaped, with others, through a gap in +the enemy's lines, caused by well-directed volleys of musketry from the +regiment. The same day he came into Gauley Bridge, after having +rendered much service in bringing off the wagon-train. He soon after +visited Cross Lanes, under a flag of truce, for the purpose of looking +after our killed and wounded, as well as to learn the fate of those +taken prisoners. While within the enemy's lines, he was treated +civilly, but was refused the privilege of administering to the wounded, +as well as visiting the prisoners. He therefore returned, without +having accomplished, in the least degree, the object of his visit. The +chaplain was soon after ordered to Charleston, where the scattered +members of the Seventh had been collected. +</p> + +<p> +While at this place he formed an agreeable acquaintance with many +gentlemen of learning and ability, at whose houses he was a frequent +visitor; and it may be truly said that on such occasions he added much +to the fund of enjoyment. +</p> + +<p> +While the regiment was at Charleston, a misunderstanding arose between +the chaplain and Colonel Tyler, by reason of which the former felt it +his duty to resign. His resignation was in due time accepted, and he +was honorably mustered out of the service; the esteem and regrets of +the entire command going with him to his home. While with the regiment +his conduct had been above suspicion, and his sudden departure caused +universal gloom. +</p> + +<p> +Shortly after returning to his home in Cleveland, he was called to be +pastor of a church at Georgetown, District of Columbia, which is both +large and influential. +</p> + +<p> +Not forgetting the cause of his country and her suffering soldiery, he +is now engaged, in addition to his pastoral labors, in attending to the +wants of the sick and wounded soldiers at the various hospitals in the +vicinity of his home. Many a poor soldier of the republic will remember +the words of consolation which have fallen on his ear from the lips of +this devoted Christian. +</p> + +<p> +In the personal appearance of Chaplain Brown, alone, there is a +character. His light, fragile figure, erect and graceful carriage, +strikes one as peculiarly fitting to his elegant, chaste, and mature +intellect. He leaves an impression on the mind as lasting as it is +positive. In his company the dark moments are lighted up. Generous and +manly, he would distribute even his happiness among his fellows, were +it possible. There are few men more companionable than he; and few ever +won the love of their fellow-men equal to him. Endowed with rare +conversational powers and a pleasing address, he always commands the +attention of those around him. In public speaking, the first impression +he makes upon the mind of the hearer is not such as would lead him to +expect a flowery discourse; but as the speaker proceeds, it becomes +evident that dry logic is not his only gift. His life is a constant +reflection of truth. He takes a great grasp on eternal things; and +lives greatly by seeking, as the one high aim of his studies, his +labors, and his prayers, the supreme glory of God in the everlasting +welfare of man. May such samples of Christian character be multiplied, +till all the world has learned how great is God, and how great is +goodness. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +CHAPLAIN D. C. WRIGHT. +</p> + +<p> +D. C. Wright was appointed chaplain during the winter of 1861. He +reported to the regiment at Patterson's Creek, Virginia. +</p> + +<p> +He was with the regiment at the battle of Winchester, where he rendered +much assistance in caring for the wounded. He now followed the fortunes +of the Seventh until its arrival at Port Republic, at which battle he +served as aid to General Tyler. During the entire engagement he was +much exposed, carrying dispatches in the most gallant style to +different parts of the field. He was mentioned in the official reports +for gallant conduct. After this battle he left for his home, and +finally sent in his resignation, which was duly accepted. +</p> + +<p> +Before the war broke out he was a minister of the Methodist Church, and +acquired no little reputation as a revivalist preacher. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +LIEUT.-COL. GILES W. SHURTLIFF.<a href="#note5" name="noteref5"><small>[5]</small></a> +</p> + +<p> +At the beginning of the rebellion, Giles W. Shurtliff was one of the +teachers in the college at Oberlin. Immediately after the bombardment +and capture of Fort Sumter, he organized a company, principally from +among his pupils, and reported at Camp Taylor. He was with the regiment +in its toilsome marches in Western Virginia, during which he was always +at his post. During the affair at Cross Lanes he was taken prisoner, +and now began those terrible hardships which no pen can describe, nor +imagination picture. Prison life is a sort of living death,—a state of +abeyance, where the mind is thrown back upon itself; where time, +although passing, seems to stop, and the great world outside, to stand +still. Through all this trial, and hardship, and misery, Colonel +Shurtliff passed, without weakening his faith or his patriotism. He +returned to his home, after more than a year's imprisonment, as firm in +the support of the Government as ever. After allowing himself a short +rest, he served in the Army of the Potomac on staff-duty; but was soon +after made lieutenant-colonel of the Fifth United States Colored +Infantry. He has since greatly distinguished himself in the numerous +battles in the vicinity of Richmond. He is at the present time at his +post, where he will probably remain until the rebellion is crushed, and +the Government vindicated. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +COLONEL ARTHUR T. WILCOX. +</p> + +<p> +Arthur T. Wilcox is a native of Ohio, and entered the service as +second-lieutenant of Company E. On the organization of the regiment for +the three years' service, he was made a first-lieutenant, and assigned +to the same company. He served with much credit in Western Virginia, +until the Cross Lanes affair, when he was taken prisoner. He remained +within the prison-walls of the enemy for more than a year, most of the +time in Charleston, South Carolina, suffering every hardship; but +coming out as true and pure a patriot as when he went in, he again +joined his regiment, and was soon after made a captain. He now took +part in all the battles of the West, in which the regiment was +engaged,—Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Ringgold, and Sherman's +battles in the march on Atlanta. He came home with the regiment, and +was in due time mustered out. He was not, however, permitted to remain +long at home, for, when new regiments were forming, he was made a +colonel, and assigned to the One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Regiment. +He soon after joined his command, and was almost immediately ordered to +the front. He joined General Thomas' forces, then falling back before +the forces of General Hood. Arriving at Franklin, he was engaged in the +bloody battle fought there, and greatly distinguished himself. He soon +after arrived at Nashville with the army. The rebel army immediately +advanced; and the two armies stood face to face, at the same time +gathering strength for a desperate conflict. The Union army was +triumphant, and the rebel hosts were beaten and demoralized. In this +battle, Colonel Wilcox gained new laurels. He now took part in the +pursuit of the scattered forces of Hood. +</p> + +<p> +Every one who has fallen in company with Colonel Wilcox, will remember +him as a genial friend and true gentleman. He has made many friends in +the army as well as at home. He has chosen the law as a profession, and +when "this cruel war is over" the writer wishes him the success his +many virtues and talents merit. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +LIEUT.-COL. JAMES T. STERLING. +</p> + +<p> +James T. Sterling entered the service as first-lieutenant of Captain De +Villiers' company. On the organization of the regiment for the three +years' service, he was made captain. While at Camp Dennison he labored +diligently to perfect his command in both drill and discipline; and +when it entered the field it was second to none, so far as these +essentials were concerned. +</p> + +<p> +While in Western Virginia, Captain Sterling was on many scouts, in +which service he showed great skill and bravery. Such adventures were +very much to his liking. +</p> + +<p> +In the affair at Cross Lanes he won the respect of all those who were +witness to his coolness and daring. During the march to Charleston he +made a good account of himself, being one of the most active in his +labors, and among the wisest in his opinions. +</p> + +<p> +He now followed the regiment to the East, where he engaged in all the +marches and skirmishes which took place. At the battle of Winchester he +commanded two companies; leading them into the hottest fire like a +veteran. During the entire action he stood on the hill urging the men +forward, regardless of the great danger to which he himself was +exposed. He came through the battle, however, without a scratch, but +with some holes in his clothing. +</p> + +<p> +He now took part in the long chase of Jackson up the Valley, and from +thence to Fredericksburg and back again; but was not in the battle of +Port Republic, his company having been detailed for headquarters guard. +</p> + +<p> +Very soon after this engagement he was made lieutenant-colonel of the +One Hundred and Third Regiment, at that time about to be raised in the +vicinity of Cleveland. He soon after reported to this regiment and was +assigned to duty. He went with it to the field; but, after a limited +period, was assigned the position of inspector-general on the staff of +General Cox. He filled this position with much credit to himself, until +early in the year 1864, when he resigned and returned to his home in +Cleveland. +</p> + +<p> +Colonel Sterling, as an officer, was much esteemed. As a companion, he +was much admired. His easy manners and agreeable conversation gathered +about him many friends. Every one regretted his departure from the +Seventh; he had been with it through so many trials and dangers, that +he was closely identified with it. His company thought well of him, +and, therefore, his unexpected departure caused many regrets. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +COLONEL JOEL F. ASPER. +</p> + +<p> +Joel F. Asper was born in Huntington, Adams County, Pennsylvania, on +the 20th day of April, 1822. When he was but five years old his father +removed to Farmington, Ohio, by the slow process of a four-horse team +and Pennsylvania wagon. The county of Trumbull was then but sparsely +settled. +</p> + +<p> +Until eighteen years of age he assisted his father in clearing a farm, +at the same time attending a district school in winter. This is all the +school education he ever had; all other education being acquired by his +own exertion and application to study out of school. +</p> + +<p> +Having a passion for reading and writing, he was led to study law. But +previous to this, however, he commenced teaching a school in +Southington, but, for some reason, left it after one month's +experience. Early in the year 1842, we find him in the law-office of +Crowell and Abel, at Warren, Ohio, and working for his board at the +American Hotel. +</p> + +<p> +In 1843, he carried the Western Reserve Chronicle through several +townships, and during the entire year did not miss a trip. +</p> + +<p> +In August, 1844, he was admitted to the bar, but remained with General +Crowell till 1845, when he learned the daguerrean business, but not +succeeding in this, in October following opened a law-office at Warren. +His first year's practice netted him over four hundred dollars, and it +increased from year to year. +</p> + +<p> +In 1846 be was elected a justice of the peace, and in the following +year was married to Miss Elizabeth Brown. +</p> + +<p> +In 1847 he was elected prosecuting attorney. In 1849, was announced as +one of the editors of the Western Reserve Chronicle; and wrote, during +the campaign of that year, all of the leading political articles +published in its columns. During the summer of 1848, Mr. Parker, +proprietor of the paper, left for a pleasure excursion, and while +absent, Mr. Asper, being left in charge, took ground against General +Taylor. During this campaign he did much towards developing +anti-slavery sentiments in the party. For this conduct he was denounced +by the minority of his party. At this time he made a speech before a +Whig convention, which is said to have been the best effort of his +life. Carrying out these sentiments, he sustained Martin Van Buren for +the presidency, and in the following year ran for prosecuting attorney +on the Free-Soil ticket, but was defeated. +</p> + +<p> +In 1850 he moved to Chardon, Ohio, and edited a Free-Soil paper until +1852, when, it proving a losing business, he returned to Warren, where +he again commenced the practice of the law, which he continued until +the breaking out of the rebellion, in 1861. He was among the first in +Northern Ohio to tender a company to the Governor. It marched to camp +on the 25th of April. He served in the regiment until March, 1863, when +he was honorably mustered out of the United States service. During this +time he took part in the affair of Cross Lanes and the battle of +Winchester, in which last engagement he was severely wounded. After the +Cross Lanes affair he accompanied a detachment of four hundred men to +Charleston, rendering much assistance during the march. He was promoted +to lieutenant-colonel during his service with the regiment, in which +position he commanded the regiment in the retreat of Pope's army from +the Rapidan. +</p> + +<p> +On returning to Warren he opened an office, and in August organized the +Fifty-first Regiment National Guards, and was elected its colonel. +</p> + +<p> +When, in the spring of 1864, the corps was ordered into the field, his +regiment was among the first to move. It went to Johnson's Island, and +while there the noted John H. Morgan commenced a raid through Kentucky. +To resist him, several militia regiments were ordered to the front; +among them was the Fifty-first, now become the One Hundred and +Seventy-first. +</p> + +<p> +Arriving at Cincinnati, he reported to General Hobson, and was ordered +to Keller's Bridge by train. Soon after getting off the cars, it was +attacked by the enemy in overwhelming numbers. After a gallant fight of +six hours, the brave little band of heroes was compelled to surrender. +No regiment of new troops ever did better: it made itself a name which +history will perpetuate. +</p> + +<p> +The regiment was mustered out on the 20th of August, 1864. Asper now +perfected his arrangements to move to Missouri, which he put into +execution in October following. He is now engaged in the practice of +law at Chillicothe, in the above State. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +MAJOR W. R. STERLING. +</p> + +<p> +The subject of this sketch entered the service as Captain of Company I. +He carried with him some considerable military experience, having been +connected with a company in his native State. He accompanied the +regiment in its Western Virginia campaign, taking an honorable part in +the affair at Cross Lanes. He was with the detachment in its march over +the mountains to Charleston, during which he rendered great assistance, +contributing largely towards bringing the command off in safety. +</p> + +<p> +From Charleston he returned to his home on leave, but soon after +returned to his command, accompanied by a number of recruits. He now +took part in the various marches and skirmishes occurring in the +mountain department of Eastern Virginia. He was not in the battles of +Winchester or Port Republic; but was in all the marches occurring +before and after those engagements. At the battle of Cedar Mountain he +did yeoman's service. His company was led with such coolness and +bravery, that many a rebel was made to bite the dust. He now remained +with the regiment until General Hooker came to the command of the Army +of the Potomac, when Captain Sterling was assigned a position on his +staff. In this capacity he served until after the battle of +Chancellorsville. A short time after this engagement he was taken +prisoner by a roving band of rebels, and conveyed to Richmond, where he +was for some time confined in prison. He was finally taken further +south to another prison, from which, in the summer of 1864, he escaped; +and after spending some time in the mountains, during which he suffered +many hardships, finally joined the Union forces in Tennessee. +</p> + +<p> +He was a brave and competent officer. While on Hooker's staff he was +promoted to major. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +MAJOR E. J. KREIGER. +</p> + +<p> +The subject of this sketch is a native of Germany, and entered the +service as a sergeant in a company composed of his fellow-countrymen. +He very soon rose to the rank of lieutenant, and before the term of +service of the regiment expired, to that of captain. He was in the +following battles and skirmishes: Cross Lanes, Winchester, Port +Republic, Cedar Mountain, Antietam, Dumfries, Chancellorsville, +Gettysburg, Mission Ridge, Lookout Mountain, Ringgold, and in all the +engagements in which his regiment took part in Sherman's march on +Atlanta. No officer can show a prouder record. He was always with his +command, and on all occasions showed great bravery and gallantry, as +well as ability to command. +</p> + +<p> +Immediately after the Seventh was mustered out, he was appointed major +of the One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Regiment, and left soon after +for the field. He now added to the above glorious list of battles that +of Franklin, where he fully sustained the honors that he gained while +with the old Seventh. He is at the present time in General Thomas' +army, where he will remain, if his life is spared, until the overthrow +of the rebellion. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +CAPTAIN J. B. MOLYNEAUX. +</p> + +<p> +The subject of this sketch was born, January 1, 1840, at Ann Arbor, in +the State of Michigan. At the age of four years his father removed to +Penn Yan, New York, and soon after to Bath and Elmira, in the same +State. In 1854, young Molyneaux went to Belville, Ohio, and commenced +the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Whitcomb. He remained for +nearly a year, when, not liking the study, he went to Cleveland, Ohio, +and entered the job-office of John Williston, where he learned the art +of printing. +</p> + +<p> +Having a natural liking for military life, he joined the Light Guards, +and afterwards the Sprague Cadets, of which he was appointed +drill-master. On the first call for troops, he joined a company being +raised by Captain De Villiers, as a private, being among the first to +enroll his name. Soon after arriving in camp, he was appointed a +sergeant, and, immediately after, drill-master for the non-commissioned +officers of the regiment. On the three years' organization, he was +unanimously chosen first-lieutenant by the vote of his company. He +remained with this company during the earlier part of the campaign in +Western Virginia, taking a gallant part in the affair of Cross Lanes, +as also in the final march of Major Casement's detachment to +Charleston. After this action, he was placed in command of Company E, +which command he held until January, 1862, and then being relieved, +only for the purpose of receiving the appointment of adjutant. +</p> + +<p> +He took part in all the marches and skirmishes in both Western and +Eastern Virginia. At the battle of Winchester, he was mentioned, in the +official report of his colonel, for gallantry on the battle-field. At +the battle of Port Republic, he won new laurels, being constantly under +the enemy's fire. In the fearful struggle at Cedar Mountain, he +particularly distinguished himself. He was, for a limited time, in +command of the regiment, during which he extricated it from a position, +where, under a less skilful leader, it would have been captured. In +this gallant exploit, Molyneaux lost two horses, one of them being +pierced by fourteen bullets. +</p> + +<p> +In September, 1862, he was appointed captain, after having waived rank +three times. This position he held until March, 1863, when, on account +of wounds and ill-health, he was compelled to resign. In the mean time, +he was with the regiment in all its marches, as well as the battle of +Antietam and the affair at Dumfries. +</p> + +<p> +On his return home he followed his occupation of a printer, until the +governor's call for the National Guard, when he again entered the +service as a captain. His regiment being stationed in the defences of +Washington, he was placed in command of a fort, which was, a part of +the time, garrisoned by several companies. After the expiration of his +term of service, he returned to his home in Cleveland, and resumed his +business. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +CAPTAIN CHARLES A. WEED. +</p> + +<p> +Charles A. Weed was born, March 30, 1840, in Lake County, Ohio. He +enlisted in Captain John N. Dyer's company, on the 22d day of April, +1861. After its arrival in camp, he was made orderly-sergeant, in which +capacity he developed fine military talent, such as led his company, at +an early time, to look upon him as a proper person for promotion when a +vacancy should occur. Therefore, on the final organization of the +company for the three years' service, he was made a first-lieutenant. +He was with the regiment during the entire Western Virginia campaign, +taking part in the skirmish at Cross Lanes, in which he took command of +the company after the death of Captain Dyer, which position he held +until January, 1862, when he was relieved by an officer promoted to the +captaincy by reason of superiority of rank. He was soon after made +captain, February 5, 1862, and assigned to Company E. +</p> + +<p> +He now took part in all the marches and skirmishes in Eastern Virginia, +and also in the battle of Winchester, where he displayed great +gallantry. After this battle, he commanded his company in the pursuit +of Jackson to Harrisonburg, and in the toilsome march to +Fredericksburg, and the return to Front Royal. He was now in the +advance to Port Republic. In the battle which succeeded, he displayed +great courage, as well as ability to command. He took part in the +battle of Cedar Mountain and Antietam, and also in the skirmish at +Dumfries. On the 22d of February, 1863, he resigned, and returned to +his home. +</p> + +<p> +There were few better officers in the regiment. He was prompt in the +discharge of his duty, seldom questioning the propriety of an order +emanating from a superior, but executing it at once. In his intercourse +with his fellow-soldiers, he was frank and courteous, and all cherished +the kindest feelings towards him. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +CAPTAIN JUDSON N. CROSS. +</p> + +<p> +The subject of this sketch is a native of Ohio. When the war broke out +he was attending college at Oberlin, Ohio. He immediately enrolled +himself in Captain Shurtliff's company, and was soon after made a +first-lieutenant. He served with his company in Western Virginia, with +much credit to himself and profit to his country. At the skirmish of +Cross Lanes he was brave, and showed that he was competent to command. +During the affair, he was severely wounded in the arm and taken +prisoner. At the battle of Carnifex Ferry, which followed soon after, +he was recaptured by the forces under General Rosecrans. Being unfit +for service, he now went to his home, where it was thought he might +recover sufficiently to rejoin his command. But after the expiration of +some months, being still unable for service, he was ordered on +recruiting service at Cleveland, Ohio. He was engaged in this work +until the fall of 1862, when he was honorably mustered out of the +service, on account of the unimproved condition of his wound. In the +mean time, however, he had been promoted to a captaincy. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +CAPTAIN JOHN F. SCHUTTE. +</p> + +<p> +Entered the service as a lieutenant in Captain Wiseman's company, and +on its organization for three years, was made its captain. He was with +the regiment until just before its affair at Cross Lands, when, being +on picket duty on the banks of the Gauley River, he imprudently crossed +over, and after advancing some miles into the enemy's country, was +fired upon by a body of cavalry, concealed in the bushes, and mortally +wounded. After being taken to an old building close by, he was left, at +his own request, and soon after expired. The rebels buried him on the +spot. No braver officer ever entered the service. Had he lived, he +would undoubtedly have distinguished himself. +</p> + +<p> +At the time of his death, no officer had a better reputation. His +company was somewhat difficult to manage, but while he was in command, +it was not surpassed for discipline, and hardly equalled. He was kind +to every one who did his duty, but when one of his men failed to do +that, he came down upon him with a heavy hand. +</p> + +<p> +His loss was deeply felt throughout the entire command. His company had +recognized in him a leader, and they deplored his loss. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +LIEUT. LOUIS G. DE FOREST. +</p> + +<p> +Louis G. De Forest was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on the 9th of +September, 1838. His youth was spent in the city schools, where he +acquired a fair education. In 1853, at the age of fifteen years, he +entered the store of N. E. Crittenden. It is a high compliment to his +industry and business habits, that he has remained in his employ since +that date, with the exception of the time that he spent in the military +service. +</p> + +<p> +Having a natural taste for military life, in 1859 he joined a company +of Light Guards as a private, but soon rose to the positions of +corporal, sergeant, and finally lieutenant. The latter position he +filled with credit, until the rebellion broke out, when, on the +organization of the Sprague Cadets, for three months' service, he +hastened to enroll his name. He was soon made orderly sergeant, which +position he held when the company went into camp. After the regiment +arrived in Camp Dennison, he was elected a second-lieutenant of his +company. And on its final organization for the three years' service, he +was chosen its adjutant, by a vote of its officers, and soon after +received his commission, with the rank of first-lieutenant. +</p> + +<p> +He accompanied the regiment in its arduous Western Virginia campaign, +and during the time Colonel Tyler commanded a brigade, he served as +acting assistant adjutant-general. At the affair at Cross Lanes, he +took a prominent as well as gallant part. He was among the number of +those who made the march over the mountains to Elk River and +Charleston. +</p> + +<p> +He accompanied the regiment to Kelly's department, where he again acted +as acting assistant adjutant-general to Colonel Tyler, serving in this +capacity until his resignation, which took place in March. +</p> + +<p> +When the National Guard was organized, he raised a company, and was +made its captain. In this position he served during the one hundred +days' campaign of this corps, being stationed in a fort in the vicinity +of Washington. +</p> + +<p> +Every one who came in connection with the Seventh Regiment will +remember the stentorian voice and soldierly bearing of its first +adjutant. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +LIEUTENANT HALBERT B. CASE. +</p> + +<p> +Halbert B. Case was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, May 3, 1838. His +father being a farmer, he was bred to that occupation. At the age of +sixteen years he entered the W. R. Seminary, at Farmington, Ohio, +preparatory to entering college. After a year and a half spent in this +institution of learning, he went to Oberlin, where he pursued his +studies for more than three years, when, his health failing him, he was +compelled to leave college. +</p> + +<p> +During the winter of 1859, his health being somewhat improved, he went +to Tiffin, Ohio, and commenced the study of the law. He remained here +two winters. In the spring of 1860, being in indifferent health, he +returned to his home in Mecca, Ohio, where he pursued his studies +privately for some months. After which he went to Warren, and studied +law with Forrist and Burnett until the breaking out of the rebellion. +</p> + +<p> +On the 19th day of April, 1861, deeming it his duty to serve his +country, he enlisted in Asper's company, the first organized in the +county. He was soon after made orderly-sergeant. When the three years' +organization was made, he was unanimously chosen a lieutenant by a vote +of his company. +</p> + +<p> +He served honorably during the campaign in Western Virginia, taking an +active part in the affair of Cross Lanes, sharing the fortunes of the +detachment under Major Casement. +</p> + +<p> +Among the first promotions that were made in November, 1861, he was +remembered by the authorities, and appointed a first-lieutenant. He +accompanied the regiment to Eastern Virginia, where he joined the +expedition to Romney and Blue's Gap. +</p> + +<p> +While at Patterson's Creek he felt it his duty to resign his +commission, on account of a personal difficulty with Colonel Tyler. He +therefore left the regiment early in February, with the regrets of the +entire command. +</p> + +<p> +He was not long permitted to remain at home, for his former services +were acknowledged by giving him a commission as captain in the +Eighty-fourth Regiment, which was being organized for three months' +service. This position being accepted, he proceeded with his regiment +to Cumberland, Maryland. Soon after its arrival he was made +provost-marshal and commandant of the post. In this position he won an +enviable reputation. Among his first orders was one against the use and +sale of intoxicating liquors, which he proceeded to enforce in an +effectual manner; and thus materially aided in maintaining order and +quiet at the post. +</p> + +<p> +After nearly five months' service, when the regiment was mustered out, +he was appointed colonel, for the purpose of reorganizing it for three +years' service. He immediately entered upon this task; but owing to the +number of regiments at that time being organized in Northern Ohio, he +was but partially successful. The regiment being finally consolidated +with the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Ohio, he returned to his home. +</p> + +<p> +He soon after entered the law-school at Ann Arbor, Michigan; and after +a year and a half spent at this university, he graduated, with the +degree of L. L. B. Soon after, he returned home, married, and commenced +the practice of his profession at Youngstown, Ohio. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +LIEUTENANT HENRY Z. EATON. +</p> + +<p> +Lieutenant Eaton entered the service as a private, but on the three +years' organization was made a second-lieutenant. He was with the +regiment constantly during the campaign in Western Virginia, and always +at his post. He took an important part in the Cross Lanes affair, and +in the march of Major Casement's detachment. +</p> + +<p> +He now went to the East with the regiment, when Colonel Tyler being +given a brigade, he was assigned to his staff as aid-de-camp. He held +this position at the battle of Winchester; and no one in the army did +better service. He was constantly in the saddle, riding fearlessly in +the heat of the battle, a fair mark for the rebels. During the +engagement his horse was wounded. He was mentioned in official reports +for gallant conduct. He soon after took part in the battle of Port +Republic, where he added much to his already well-earned reputation for +courage and other soldierly qualities. He now followed the regiment to +Alexandria, where he returned to his company and to the front of Pope's +army, where he was at the battle of Cedar Mountain, in which he was +severely wounded. He soon after returned to his home, and finally +resigned, on account of disability from wounds. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +LIEUTENANT A. H. DAY. +</p> + +<p> +A. H. Day was a lieutenant in company F, in which capacity he +accompanied the regiment in Western and Eastern Virginia, taking part +in the battles of Winchester and Port Republic, in both of which he did +good service. In the latter he was severely wounded in the shoulder, by +reason of which he was soon after compelled to resign. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +LIEUTENANT WILLIAM D. SHEPHERD. +</p> + +<p> +William D. Shepherd entered the service as a private in company D. He +was soon after made a sergeant, and at Camp Dennison, orderly. He +followed the fortunes of his company through the wilds of Western +Virginia till the affair at Cross Lanes, where he showed great +gallantry. He went with his company to Charleston, where, in the +absence of Lieutenant Weed, he took command. During this time the +company was detailed to guard a party who were engaged in erecting a +telegraph line from Point Pleasant to Gauley Bridge. In this service he +gave good satisfaction to all concerned in the undertaking. +</p> + +<p> +He now remained with his command until a few days before the battle of +Winchester, when he was compelled to leave the field on account of +inflammation in one of his eyes. It had become very painful long before +he would consent to go to the rear. A fever soon following, he was +completely prostrated. He now went to his home, where he was engaged in +the recruiting service. He returned to his regiment late in the summer, +and having been promoted to first-lieutenant, was immediately made +adjutant. He served with the regiment in this capacity until after the +affair at Dumfries, when he was compelled to resign on account of +ill-health. +</p> + +<p> +After his return home he did great service in recruiting. In the winter +of 1863-4 he canvassed Lake and Geanga counties, and was the means of +enlisting a large number of men. On these occasions he made speeches, +of which any public speaker might well be proud. +</p> + +<p> +In the fall of 1864 he raised a company for the National Guard, which +he commanded in the one hundred days' service. Returning to his home, +he was appointed a quartermaster, with the rank of captain, and +assigned to a division in the Twenty-third Army Corps. +</p> + +<p> +His promotion was won in the field, and therefore honorable. His +commission as second-lieutenant bears the date of November 25th, 1861; +and that of first-lieutenant early in the following year. +</p> + +<p> +Every one who has fallen in company with Lieutenant Shepherd will +remember him as a genial friend and profitable companion. His frankness +and courtesy have made him many friends. To know him, is to esteem him. +I doubt whether he has an enemy in the world. He has always been a warm +supporter of the Government, although not an American citizen by birth, +having been born in Canada. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +LIEUTENANT E. HUDSON BAKER. +</p> + +<p> +Lieutenant Baker entered the service in Company C. He remained with the +regiment during its entire campaign in Western Virginia, doing good +service. At the affair at Cross Lanes, he was particularly conspicuous +for gallantry. He now took command of the company, which he held during +the remainder of his term of service. He was in the battle of +Winchester, where he commanded his company with great credit to +himself. As an officer, he was very popular with his command; as a +companion, he was sociable and benevolent. He was finally compelled to +resign from ill-health, but much against his wishes. He desired to +remain until the close of his regular term of service, and then return +with his old comrades; but his increasing debility would not admit. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +LIEUTENANT RALPH LOCKWOOD. +</p> + +<p> +Lieutenant Ralph Lockwood entered the regiment, on its first +organization, in Company E. He served creditably through the Western +Virginia campaign, taking part in the skirmish at Cross Lanes, and the +battles of Winchester and Port Republic. In these battles he was +distinguished for personal courage. By constant exposure, he contracted +a rheumatic difficulty, which finally compelled him to resign, at a +time when his services were much needed in the regiment. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +LIEUTENANT T. T. SWEENEY. +</p> + +<p> +Lieutenant T. T. Sweeney entered the service in Company B. He saw much +service in Western Virginia, and was in every respect a gallant +officer. At Cross Lanes, he made an honorable record. Soon after this +skirmish, he resigned his commission, and returned to his home in +Cleveland, Ohio. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +LIEUTENANT EDWARD W. FITCH. +</p> + +<p> +Lieutenant Fitch entered the service in Company I. He served faithfully +until after the skirmish of Cross Lanes, in which he bore a gallant +part. While at Charleston, he resigned his commission, and returned to +his home. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +LIEUTENANT A. J. WILLIAMS. +</p> + +<p> +Lieutenant Williams came into the regiment as second-lieutenant of +Company D, which position he filled with much credit till after the +affair at Cross Lanes, when he resigned his commission. At the time the +above skirmish took place he was sick, and therefore did not take part +in it. Previous to this he had toiled on with his company, through all +its terrible marches and dreary bivouacks; and for this is entitled to +the gratitude of the country. +</p> + + + + +<h2> +<a name="dead"> </a> +OUR DEAD. +</h2> + + +<p class="section"> +COLONEL WILLIAM R. CREIGHTON AND LIEUT.-COLONEL ORRIN J. CRANE. +</p> + +<p> +Colonel William R. Creighton was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in +June, 1837. At the age of ten years, he entered a shoe-store, where he +remained for two years; after which he entered a commercial college, +where he remained for six months. But these pursuits were not to his +liking—he had no taste for accounts. We next find him, at the age of +thirteen years, in the job-office of McMillin, in Pittsburgh, where he +remained for four years, completing his apprenticeship. The year +following, he went to Cleveland, Ohio, and entered the Herald office, +where he remained till the fall of 1860, with the exception of one +winter spent in a job-office in Chicago. +</p> + +<p> +He united with the fire companies of both Pittsburgh and Cleveland, and +was an active and zealous member. In 1858, he joined the military +organization known as the Cleveland Light Guards, and soon after became +a sergeant, and a lieutenant. He advanced in rank without any +effort—it was a matter of course. +</p> + +<p> +When the rebellion broke out, his love of adventure would not permit +him to remain at home; but he immediately set himself at work +organizing a company, which was completed in a few days, and, on the +22d day of April, marched to Camp Taylor. He immediately commenced +drilling his company, and with such success, that it took the lead of +all then in camp. +</p> + +<p> +At this time his military genius shone so conspicuously that he was +looked on by all as the future leader of the regiment. +</p> + +<p> +All will remember with what skill and pride he led the regiment in its +first march. It was on a beautiful Sabbath morning; and as the young +soldier, with a proud step, took his position at the head of the +column, every eye was turned upon him in admiration; one could see in +the countenances of the men, a willingness to follow such a leader amid +the hail and thunder of battle. Before reaching Camp Dennison, this +admiration warmed into a determination to place him in a position when, +at no distant day, he could be made available as the commander of the +regiment. Therefore, on its arrival at camp, he was elected +lieutenant-colonel, a position which he did not seek, nor intimate to +any that he desired. Very many were desirous of making him colonel. +</p> + +<p> +During the stay of the regiment at Camp Dennison, he took no active +part, seldom being seen on drill, or on duty of any kind. When the +regiment was about leaving, however, he took command, Colonel Tyler +having gone to Virginia in advance of the starting of the regiment. +Previous to the movement, every thing had been arranged in perfect +order; but this arrangement was partially defeated by the indecent +haste of a captain. An unutterable look of scorn and contempt settled +upon the features of Creighton; but not a word passed his lips. He +never entirely forgave that officer for this act of disobedience of +orders, till his death, when all feelings of animosity gave way to +regrets for his loss; for, outside of a disposition to criticise the +conduct of his superiors, he was a brave as well as competent officer. +</p> + +<p> +Arriving at Clarksburg, he turned over the command to Colonel Tyler; +but on arriving at Glenville, he again assumed command, which he held +until reaching Cross Lanes; in the mean time, drilling the regiment +daily when in camp. During this time it improved rapidly; in fact, it +acquired, during this short interval, most of the proficiency it +possessed. +</p> + +<p> +On the march back to Cross Lanes from Twenty-mile Creek, he was with +the advance, in command of the skirmishers. During the affair which +succeeded, at the above place, he bore himself creditably. During the +retreat, his horse fell with him: seizing the holsters, he started on +foot through the underbrush, but soon after saw his horse coming after +him at full speed. He again mounted; but in a short time his horse +again fell, when, for the second time, he abandoned him; but he was +soon joined by his faithful "Johnny," and this time the devoted horse +carried its gallant rider safely to Gauley Bridge. +</p> + +<p> +This misfortune to the regiment completely unmanned him. Meeting a +comrade on the retreat, who was not in the engagement, he burst into +tears, and, grasping his hand, in choked utterances related the story +of their encounter. +</p> + +<p> +While the regiment remained at Charleston, Creighton was in command, +and was untiring in his efforts to advance his command in both drill +and discipline; and I doubt whether any regiment in the field made more +rapid progress towards perfection. It seemed to emulate its leader, who +was ever at his post. +</p> + +<p> +When an order came for five hundred picked men from the regiment to +report to General Benham for duty, in the pursuit of Floyd, he was +chosen to command the detachment. On arriving at Benham's headquarters, +he was given the advance, and, for several days, was separated from +Floyd's camp by a range of mountains only. He was finally given a +brigade, although only a lieutenant-colonel, and ordered across a range +of mountains to the rear of the enemy; but for some reason no attack +was made, and soon after, half of the command was ordered back. +</p> + +<p> +During the pursuit of Floyd, he travelled on foot at the head of his +regiment. When the rebel army was likely to be overtaken, Benham +remarked to him, that "he depended on him to rout the enemy," and gave +him the post of honor; but when the firing became rapid, his regiment +was ordered to the front, where a part of it was engaged in +skirmishing, while the balance were smoking their pipes and engaging in +sports, almost under the guns of the enemy, Creighton enjoying the fun +as well as any in the command. +</p> + +<p> +The detachment returned, after fifteen days' absence, without the loss +of a man, save one injured by the accidental discharge of a gun. +</p> + +<p> +The regiment now went to the East, where, soon after, Tyler was given a +brigade, and Creighton again commanded the regiment. +</p> + +<p> +At the battle of Winchester, which followed soon after, his was the +first regiment in the famous charge of the Third brigade, for which it +acquired such renown. He disagreed with the commanding officer as to +the manner of making the charge, preferring to deploy before advancing, +than to charge a battery in close column. But throwing all personal +feelings and preferences aside, he dashed forward, and finally deployed +his regiment within eighty yards of the enemy's line of battle, and +under a terrible fire of both musketry and artillery. His horse being +shot from under him, he seized a musket, and engaged in the strife, +firing rapidly till near the close of the battle, when he was compelled +to cease for the purpose of executing some order. +</p> + +<p> +On the return of the command to New Market, after the pursuit of +Jackson to near Harrisonburg, the company tents were ordered to be +delivered up; whereupon Creighton was very indignant, and, in +connection with other officers, sent in his resignation. They were +ordered to report to General Shields the next morning. Accordingly, +dressed in their "best," they reported. They were received with all the +politeness that pompous general knew how to assume, with an invitation +to be seated. The general informed them that their resignations would +not be accepted; but remarked, that, "if they <i>desired</i> it, he +would have their names stricken from the army rolls in disgrace." This +witticism rather amused Creighton than otherwise, and he returned to +camp with a much better opinion of the general than he was possessed of +before making his visit. +</p> + +<p> +He now commanded the regiment in its march to Fredericksburg, sharing +with his men the hardships attending the toilsome march; and when, a +few days after, the regiment returned to the Valley, he did much to +cheer the men in that discouraging march. +</p> + +<p> +At Front Royal he remained with his regiment during a heavy storm, to +which it was exposed without tents, disdaining to seek shelter and +comfort while his men were thus exposed. +</p> + +<p> +The men were now very destitute of clothing, especially shoes; but when +ordered, he moved to Columbia Bridge, followed by one hundred men +barefooted. He now went personally to General Shields, but was coldly +received by that general, being subjected to insulting remarks. He came +back to his regiment with that same unutterable expression of contempt +stamped upon his features, which all will remember who served with him +in the field; and getting his men in column, closed in mass, made a +speech. Said he: "I am unable to procure shoes or other comforts for +you; but I will follow these generals until there is not a man left in +the regiment. Forward, company H!" And he did follow them to Port +Republic, where his words came near proving true. +</p> + +<p> +At this battle his bravery and daring were observed by every one. He +made repeated charges with his regiment, the line being as correct as +on dress-parade. After one of these charges, the enemy's cavalry came +dashing towards his regiment, and dispositions were immediately made +for forming a square; but the enemy wisely wheeled, and charged another +regiment. The colonel of this regiment, being unable to get his men in +position, shouted in a stentorian voice: "Men of the ——th, +look at the Seventh Ohio; and d—n you, weep!" +</p> + +<p> +In this battle the regiment made five charges, under the leadership of +Creighton; and each time driving the enemy. +</p> + +<p> +After the battle was over, and the regiment on the retreat, seeing a +wounded captain lying almost within the enemy's lines, he rode up to +his company, and pointing to where he was lying, said: "Do you see your +captain over yonder? <i>Now, go for him!</i>" They did go for him, and +succeeded in bringing him from the field in safety. +</p> + +<p> +Only a few were missing from the regiment in this action, although the +list of killed and wounded was fearful. +</p> + +<p> +We next find Creighton at the battle of Cedar Mountain, where a small +division fought the whole of Jackson's army on ground of his own +choosing. Creighton handled his regiment with a dexterity that told +fearfully on the ranks of the enemy. He was finally severely wounded, +and compelled to leave the field. In doing so, he kept his face to the +foe, saying that "no rebel ever saw his back in battle; and never +would." He was taken to Washington, where the bullet was extracted from +his side, which was an exceedingly painful operation. Soon after this +he came to his home; but while still carrying his arm in a sling, he +reported to his regiment. +</p> + +<p> +While at home the battle of Antietam was fought, which was the only one +in which he failed to participate. Soon after his return, the affair at +Dumfries occurred, where, through his ingenuity and skill, Hampton's +cavalry command was defeated by a mere handful of men. For this he was +publicly thanked by Generals Slocum and Geary. +</p> + +<p> +He now took part in the battle of Chancellorsville, where he won new +laurels. It is said that being ordered by General Hooker to fall back, +he refused to do so until able to bring Knapp's Battery safely to the +rear; for which disobedience of orders he was recommended for +promotion. This battery was from his native city, and in it he had many +friends. +</p> + +<p> +Next he was at Gettysburg, where he fought with his accustomed valor. +</p> + +<p> +We now find him at Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge, in "Hooker's +battle above the clouds," where the victory was so suddenly and +unexpectedly won, that scarcely sufficient time intervened in which to +display valor. It was simply a race for the top of the mountain on the +part of our men; and a corresponding race on the part of the rebels for +the foot of the mountain on the opposite side. +</p> + +<p> +After this battle came the pursuit of Bragg. His rear-guard was +overtaken at Ringgold, Georgia, where it was securely posted on the top +of Taylor's Ridge—a naked eminence. It was madness to undertake to +drive them from this hill, without the use of artillery to cover the +assault; but in the excitement of the moment the order was given. In +this assault Creighton commanded a brigade. Forming his command, he +made a speech. "Boys," said he, "we are ordered to take that hill. I +want to see you walk right up it." After this characteristic speech, he +led his men up the hill. It soon became impossible to advance against +the terrible fire by which they were met; he, therefore, led them into +a ravine, but the rebels poured such a fire into it from all sides, +that the command was driven back. Reaching a fence, Creighton stopped, +and facing the foe, waited for his command to reach the opposite side. +While in this position he fell, pierced through the body with a rifle +bullet. His last words were: "Oh, my dear wife!" and he expired almost +immediately. The brigade now fell rapidly back, carrying the remains of +its idolized commander with it. +</p> + +<p> + +</p> + +<p> +Lieutenant-Colonel Orrin J. Crane was born in Troy, New York, in the +year 1829. At three years of age his parents moved to their native +State, Vermont. Soon after, his father died, leaving but limited means +for the support and education of his children. His mother was a +Christian woman, and devoted to her children. From her he received his +first lessons of life; and a worthy teacher he had. He cherished his +mother with the utmost affection, dwelling upon her goodness with +almost child-like simplicity. It was touching to listen to the words of +love and confidence falling for her, from the lips of the sturdy +warrior, who braved the battle-fire without a tremor. +</p> + +<p> +In early youth he went to live with an uncle, and in about 1852 came +with him to Conneaut, Ohio, where he employed himself in mechanical +labor. He spent one year on the Isthmus, and after his return went to +Cleveland, where he engaged in the occupation of a ship-carpenter, +following this trade till the fall of Sumter. While in Cleveland he +associated himself with a military organization. +</p> + +<p> +He entered the service as first-lieutenant in Captain Creighton's +company; and on his promotion, was made captain. He early devoted +himself to the instruction of his company; and it can be said that it +lost nothing of the efficiency it acquired under the leadership of +Creighton. +</p> + +<p> +After the regiment entered the field, his services were invaluable. I +doubt if the entire army contains an officer who has performed more +service, in the same length of time, than Crane. If a bridge was to be +constructed, or a road repaired, he was sent for to superintend it. If +the commissary department became reduced, he was the one to procure +supplies. No undertaking was too arduous for his iron-will to brave. +There was no fear of starvation while the sturdy Crane was present. All +relied on him with the utmost confidence, and no one was ever +disappointed in him. +</p> + +<p> +At the affair of Cross Lanes, where he first came under fire, he was +more than a hero; he seemed possessed of attributes of a higher nature. +He moved amid that sheet of flame, as if possessed of a soul in +communion with a higher power. He inspired his men with true courage. +They stood like a wall, and fell back only when ordered by their +leader, then dashed through the strong line of the enemy with a bravery +which was truly sublime. The enemy, although five to one, hesitated, +swayed backward, and finally fled, so severely punished, that for the +time they did not pursue. In that long march, over the mountains to +Gauley Bridge, he was still the proud leader. +</p> + +<p> +After his arrival at the above place, he was sent out to the front, up +New River, where he rendered valuable service. +</p> + +<p> +He was in every march and skirmish in both Western and Eastern +Virginia, until, we find the regiment at the battle of Winchester. In +this engagement he showed the same indomitable and true courage. He +held his men to the work of carnage so fearfully, that the enemy's +slain almost equalled his command. +</p> + +<p> +We now find him in every battle in which his regiment was engaged in +the East. Port Republic, Cedar Mountain (where he was slightly +wounded), Antietam, Dumfries, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. In all +of these he <i>led</i> his command, and the dead of the enemy left on +the field before it attest how well he led it. +</p> + +<p> +At the battle of Antietam, he commanded the regiment, and during the +latter part of the engagement, a brigade. +</p> + +<p> +Before the regiment left for the West, he was made lieutenant-colonel; +a position which his ability and long, as well as faithful, service of +his country rendered him eminently qualified to fill. +</p> + +<p> +Arriving in the West, he commanded the regiment in the battles of +Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge, where he added new laurels to his +already imperishable name. At fatal Ringgold, he again commanded the +regiment. He led it up the steep ascent, where the whistling of bullets +made the air musical; and where men dropped so quietly that they were +scarcely missed, except in the thinned ranks of the command. The +regiment had not recovered from the shock produced by the announcement +of the death of Creighton, when the noble Crane, on whom all hearts +were centred in the fearful peril of that hour, fell at the feet of his +devoted comrades, pierced through the forehead by a rifle bullet. He +spoke not a word—his strong heart ceased to beat; and his soul took +its flight from its blood-red tenement, and from the confusion of +battle, to the land of patriot spirits. He fell so far in the advance, +that his men were driven back before possessing themselves of his +body,—but soon after it was recovered. +</p> + +<p> + +</p> + +<p> +The sketches of Creighton and Crane now lie in the same path. +</p> + +<p> +After the bodies of the fallen braves had been laid side by side, the +remaining few of a once full regiment gathered around and mourned,—the +silence alone being broken by the tears and sobs of a band of warriors, +grieving for the loss of their chieftains. Was such a scene ever +witnessed? Those forms, now cold and bloody, had often led them on the +field of carnage, to victory and glory; under their leadership the +regiment had been made immortal; and now, in all their pride, and +glory, and chivalry, they had gone down to rise no more. No wonder, +then, that their brave followers paid their last tribute to all that +was mortal of their renowned leaders. It seemed to these mourners, in +their loss the regiment itself was blotted out—that it would no more +be known and honored—that its sun had forever set. But no, many a +brave heart, that stood in that circle, was to be made a sacrifice to +his country; many more hearts were to be left crushed and bleeding for +the loved ones fallen in battle. When the last tear had been shed, and +the last vow made over these fallen braves, the regiment moved away in +profound silence. +</p> + +<p> +While this scene was being enacted afar off among the hills of Georgia, +the peaceful valleys of Ohio were echoing with the lamentations of +friends at home. The hearts of the people of the Western Reserve were +bound by the strong ties of kin and friendship to this gallant +regiment, which had but just made its great sacrifice, and they were +all in mourning. When the news came of this great disaster, it could +not be believed; the friends of the fallen would not give them up. And +it was not until a dispatch was received that their bodies were on the +way home, that it was generally believed. At last, when the people +realized that the sad news was indeed true, meetings were called by the +representatives of all branches of trade and industry. Resolutions of +respect were passed, and preparations made to receive the dead, on +their arrival, in a becoming manner. +</p> + +<p> +When General Hooker learned of the death of Creighton and Crane, he +raised both hands, in surprise and grief, exclaiming, "My God! are they +dead? Two braver men never lived!" +</p> + +<p> +General Butterfield, chief of staff, gave orders to remove the bodies +to the rear. They were conveyed to Chattanooga by Sergeant Tisdell, +where they were met by Quartermaster Loomis, and privates Wetzel, +Shepherd, and Meigs. General Slocum testified his appreciation of their +worth, by accompanying their bodies as far as Tullahoma. When the news +reached him of their death, his grief was so profound, that the stern +veteran burst into tears. +</p> + +<p> +They were taken to Nashville to be embalmed. But little, however, could +be done for Creighton, as he had bled inwardly; his body was therefore +put into a metallic case. Crane's body was embalmed, and placed in a +plain, but neat coffin, till it should arrive in Cleveland and be +transferred to a burial case. Dr. Newbury, of the Sanitary Commission, +rendered much service in this work, after which he accompanied the +remains to Louisville. From this place they were forwarded to +Cincinnati by train, where they were met by the special escort from +Cleveland, consisting of Colonel Hayward, Lieutenant-Colonel J. T. +Sterling, Lieutenant-Colonel Frazee, Captain Baird, Captain Molyneaux, +Captain De Forest, Captain Wiseman, Surgeon Cushing, and Quartermaster +Chapin. +</p> + +<p> +On Sunday morning the train dashed into Cleveland, and stopped at the +foot of Superior-street. Two hearses were in waiting. One for Colonel +Creighton, drawn by four white horses; the other for Lieutenant-Colonel +Crane, drawn by four black horses. Each was draped by American flags +and the usual insignia of mourning. +</p> + +<p> +The remains of Colonel Creighton were now removed from the car to the +hearse, and conveyed to the residence of Mrs. Creighton, on +Bolivar-street. The remains of Lieutenant-Colonel Crane remained under +guard, till the return of the escort, when they were taken to the +residence of the widow. +</p> + +<p> +This bright Sabbath will long be remembered. But a few short Sabbaths +before, the coffined dead left the city of their homes, possessed of +life and hope: looking forward with pride and happiness to the +termination of an honorable career in the service of their country. And +often in their night vigils, over the dying embers of their +picket-fires, had they conversed on the subject, passing the long night +in dreams never to be realized. The remaining few of your followers +have, indeed, long since returned; and although the hearts and feet of +these brave warriors were heavy with the tramp of weary months, yet +your slumber was not disturbed. Long years shall roll away, in which +war's tumult and carnage shall cease; but you shall only be known among +men by your good deeds left behind, and perpetuated in the hearts of +your countrymen. +</p> + +<p> +On the 7th of December the bodies of Creighton and Crane were brought +from the residences of their families and taken to the Council Hall, +for the purpose of lying in state, to be seen by the public. The same +hearses were used as on the arrival of the bodies from the South. +</p> + +<p> +The Council Hall was elegantly and appropriately decorated. In the +centre, within the railing, a handsome canopy had been placed, with +roof of national flags, draped with mourning emblems, suspended from +the ceiling, and trailing at the corners to the ground. Wreaths, loops, +and festoons of black and white edged the canopy. On the inside, from +the centre, hung a large pendant of mourning emblems, beneath which was +the bier on which lay the bodies of the gallant dead. +</p> + +<p> +On the president's desk, at the head of the hall, were portraits of +Colonel Creighton and Lieutenant-Colonel Crane, draped in mourning; and +against the wall, behind the place of the president's seat, was a +life-size portrait of Colonel Creighton, also draped in mourning. Above +this portrait was this inscription, in black letters on white ground: +</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> +<div class="stanza"> +<div>"My God! are they dead?</div> +<div>Two braver men never lived!"</div></div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="i10">—<span class="sc">General Hooker.</span></div></div></div></div> + +<p> +The windows were hung with black, and the gaslights threw a dim, solemn +light over the mournful scene. +</p> + +<p> +The bodies were placed in handsome burial-cases, and the covers +removed, so that they could be seen through the glass fronts. As we +have before mentioned, the body of Colonel Creighton, from the wounds +having bled inwardly, was so much changed, previously to reaching +Nashville, that it was impossible to properly embalm it; and therefore +did not present a natural appearance. That of Lieutenant-Colonel Crane +was in good preservation, and could easily be recognized. +</p> + +<p> +The bodies were guarded by a detachment of members of the old Seventh, +who formed the guard of honor. +</p> + +<p> +The following account of the funeral services is from the Cleveland +Herald of the 9th of December. +</p> + +<p> +"The sad pageant is over. A sorrowing people have paid their tribute of +affection and regret over the remains of the dead heroes. The brave +leaders of the glorious but ill-fated Seventh sleep in their quiet +tomb. +</p> + +<p> +"Tuesday, the 8th, was a bright and beautiful day. Its clear sky and +pleasant atmosphere were strangely similar to that bright Sunday in +May, two years and a half ago, when the Seventh Regiment marched out of +Cleveland on its way to the battle-fields where it was destined to win +such renown. The unclouded sun shed a halo of glory on all that was +left of the brave men who led the old Seventh in many a fight; but who +now were to be laid away in the silent and peaceful tomb. +</p> + +<p> +"The bright day opened on a city of mourners. People gathered on the +streets, waiting for the hour for the funeral. Business was unthought +of, even the latest news by telegraph, exciting as it was, and +calculated to stir the pulse with triumphant joy, failed to engross the +attention. Men spoke of the dead heroes, of their first departure for +the war, of their terrible battles and bloody sacrifices; and of that +last fearful struggle on the hill at Ringgold, where the gallant +leaders laid down their lives for their country, amid their dead and +wounded comrades. +</p> + +<p> +"From every flag-staff the national colors hung at half-mast, and signs +of mourning were everywhere visible. As the hour set for the +commencement of the solemn exercises drew near, business was entirely +suspended throughout the city. The stores were closed, the Federal, +State, and city offices shut their doors, and a Sabbath-like stillness +reigned over the city. Soon came the tramp of armed men, the mournful +wail of bugles, and the funeral roll of the drums, as the troops moved +up to take part in the funeral procession. +</p> + +<p> +"The bodies had remained in the Council Hall over-night, guarded by the +old comrades of the gallant dead. The families and relatives were in +the mayor's office, waiting for the hour of moving the procession. At +half past ten o'clock the bodies were removed from the Council Hall and +placed in hearses which were draped with the national colors, looped up +with mourning emblems. +</p> + +<p> +"The pall-bearers were as follows: For Colonel Creighton—Colonel +Senter, Colonel Whittlesey, Major Mygatt, Lieutenant-Colonel Asper, +Major Seymour, Captain McIlrath, Captain Ransom, Captain Stratton. For +Lieutenant-Colonel Crane—Lieutenant-Colonel Goddard, Lieutenant-Colonel +Sterling, Major Palmer, Captain Drummond, Captain Douglass, Captain +Wilson, Captain Standart, Captain Hill. +</p> + +<p> +"The burial-cases were the best that money could buy. On one was the +following inscription: +</p> + +<p class="ctr"> +<span class="sc">Col. W. R. Creighton</span>, +<br>7th O. V. I, +<br>In his 27th year. +<br>Killed at the Battle of Ringgold, +<br>Nov. 27th, 1863. +</p> + +<p> +"On the other was the inscription: +</p> + +<p class="ctr"> +<span class="sc">Lieut.-Col. O. J. Crane</span>, +<br>Fell at the Battle of Ringgold, +<br>Nov. 27th, 1863. +</p> + +<p> +"On each coffin was laid a handsome wreath of immortelles, with the +sword of the dead officer. +</p> + +<p> +"The Twenty-ninth Volunteer Militia were drawn up in line each side of +the way between the Council Hall and the Stone Church, and the mournful +<i>cortege</i> passed through the lane so formed, Leland's Band playing +a dirge. The hearse was followed by the mourners in carriages—Governor +Brough, Surgeon McClurg, of the United States Military Hospital, the +City Council, and City and County Officers, all wearing crape badges. +</p> + +<p> +"Thousands of people lined the way, and crowded around the church with +the hope of getting in; but there was not a sound from them, as the +procession passed on to the church. And such perfect order and decorum +we never before saw in such a vast concourse. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +IN THE CHURCH. +</p> + +<p> +"At the church—as indeed throughout the whole of the obsequies—the +most perfect arrangements had been made, and were carried out. The +reading-desk was draped with flags and crape. Directly in front was a +stand with an elegant bouquet of flowers, and below this another stand, +draped with national colors, on which rested the two coffins, side by +side. +</p> + +<p> +"The silk banner of the Seventh, presented by the city after Cross +Lanes, and bearing the names of several battles, was displayed against +the reading-desk. It was pierced and rent by showers of bullets and +shell in many a hard-fought battle. +</p> + +<p> +"The families and relatives of the deceased were placed in the seats +immediately in front of the bodies. On either side of the coffins sat +the pallbearers. Directly behind the mourners sat about a dozen or more +of the members of the old Cleveland Light Guard, the company commanded +by Colonel Creighton before the war, and of which Lieutenant-Colonel +Crane was a member. They wore crape badges, and had with them the +company flag, draped in mourning. +</p> + +<p> +"Near the reading-desk were seated Governor Brough, Surgeon McClurg, +and other invited guests, the committees, city council, city officers, +county officers, the clergy of the city and neighborhood, members of +the old Seventh, members of the old Cleveland Light Guard, soldiers +from the Military Hospital, members of the Typographical Union, +ship-carpenters, and other friends of the deceased. The body of the +church was packed tightly with citizens, of whom the greater part were +ladies, preference being given to them in the selection of seats. The +Twenty-ninth Regiment stood in the aisles. +</p> + +<p> +"During the entry of the procession to the church, the organ played a +voluntary suitable to the occasion. At half-past eleven o'clock the +funeral ceremonies in the church commenced with an invocation of the +Divine blessing by Rev. S. W. Adams, of the First Baptist Church, who +afterwards read appropriate passages of Scripture. +</p> + +<p> +"The choir then sang the Ninetieth Psalm: +</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> +<div class="stanza"> +<div>"'O God! our help in ages past,</div> +<div class="i1">Our help in years to come;</div> +<div>Our shelter from the stormy blast,</div> +<div class="i1">And our eternal home;</div></div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<div>"'Beneath the shadow of Thy throne,</div> +<div class="i1">Thy saints have dwelt secure;</div> +<div>Sufficient is Thine arm alone,</div> +<div class="i1">And our defence is sure.</div></div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<div>"'Before the hills in order stood,</div> +<div class="i1">Or earth received her name,</div> +<div>From everlasting Thou art God—</div> +<div class="i1">To endless years the same.</div></div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<div>"'Thy word commands our flesh to dust:</div> +<div class="i1">Return ye sons of men!</div> +<div>All nations rose from earth at first,</div> +<div class="i1">And turn to earth again.</div></div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<div>"'O God! our help in ages past,</div> +<div class="i1">Our help for years to come:</div> +<div>Be Thou our guide while troubles last,</div> +<div class="i1">And our eternal home.'</div></div></div></div> + +<p> +"Rev. Adam Crooks, of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, then made the +following address, at the request of the family of the late Colonel +Creighton: +</p> + +<p> +"'To-day we are in the solemn presence of inexorable death. We are +impressedly reminded that dust we are, and unto dust we must return; +that "death is the mighty leveller of us all;" that "the tall, the +wise, the heroic dead must lie as low as ours." Two lifeless heroes are +before us— +</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> +<div class="stanza"> +<div>"'Their swords in rust;</div> +<div>Their souls with God in heaven, we trust.'</div></div></div></div> + +<p> +We would do well to pray with the hero of other days: "So teach us to +number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." Before us +are two more rich offerings which the State of Ohio and Cleveland have +laid upon our country's altar! They were preceded by Wheeler, Lantry, +Pickands, Mahan, Vail, and others. We are here to mourn, to honor, and +to bury the noble dead! They were the pride of our city and of Northern +Ohio. Brave and honored representatives of a brave and honored +constituency! Of one thousand eight hundred soldiers who have filled +the ranks of the Seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, but little +over a hundred now report for duty. Many of them sleep in patriots' and +heroes' graves. Most of the remainder bear on their persons honorable +marks of their patriotism and bravery. In honoring the representative, +we honor the constituency. +</p> + +<p> +"'But <i>general</i> remarks are not appropriate from me. At the +request of the stricken widow and relatives of Colonel Creighton, I +come to utter a few words of condolence, sympathy, and comfort, in this +hour, to <i>them</i> and <i>to us all</i>, of deep affliction. Brother +Foot will speak in behalf of the relatives of Lieutenant-Colonel Crane. +</p> + +<p> +"'Colonel William R. Creighton was born in the City of Pittsburgh, +in the year 1836 or 1837—the records are not in this city. In early +childhood he was bereft of a father. He was baptized by the Rev. Bishop +Uphold, now bishop of Indiana, of the Protestant Episcopal Church. +</p> + +<p> +"'In his early teens, he served in the employ of Mr. A——, in an +extensive shoe establishment. Subsequently, he chose the occupation of +a printer, and spent three years in making himself master of his trade. +Eight years ago he came to this city—was four years in the office of +the Cleveland Herald. Also some six months in the City of Chicago. At +the time of enlistment, he was in the employ of Mr. Nevans of this +city. Early in life, he gave evidence that the tendencies of his nature +were strongly <i>military</i>. +</p> + +<p> +"'This was evinced by his connection with companies for drill in +Pittsburgh, Chicago, and this city. When the bloody drama of this +dreadful war was inaugurated, he was lieutenant of the 'Cleveland Light +Guard.' He was not willing that the fair and majestic superstructure, +reared by the superior skill, patient labor, and heroic suffering of +our honored fathers—resting its deep foundations in the inalienability +of the natural rights of all men, and in which the most indigent son of +toil stands before the law the equal peer of merchant princes—should +be torn down by perjured traitors and sworn enemies of mankind; not +willing that these traitors and enemies should bury beneath the +magnificent ruins of this superstructure our strength, and greatness, +and safety, and peace, and very liberties; not willing that this young, +yet powerful republic, should be so dismembered and disintegrated as to +tempt the rapacity, and be an easy prey of the weakest of adverse +powers; not willing that the principle, that '<i>Capital shall own +labor</i>,' the non-capitalled be the chattel of the rich, should rule +all over this continent—that labor should be at once unremunerative +and the badge of infamy, that thus there should be eternal antagonism +between the indigent and the affluent, developing in intestine broils +and civil feuds,—nor that the sun of liberty should go down upon an +entire hemisphere, to rise not again for many generations; not willing +that the forum, pulpit, and press should all be enslaved, and +intelligence among the masses be rendered contraband; in brief, not +willing that our <i>Paradise</i> should be converted into a +<i>Pandemonium</i>. +</p> + +<p> +"'Hence, no sooner had the news reached us of the assault upon Fort +Sumter, and the call of the President for seventy-five thousand +volunteers to rush to the defence of the life of the republic, than, +with all the ardor of his earnest nature, Colonel William R. Creighton +threw his <i>all</i> upon his country's altar, and appealed to his +associates and compeers to do likewise. +</p> + +<p> +"'His success in securing enlistments was commensurate with his zeal +and known military skill. In a few days he was captain of a full +company—the first enlisted in this city—which afterwards became +Company A of the immortal Seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. On +the morning of the 3d of May, 1861, a beautiful Sabbath morning in the +spring, emblem of life, youth, and beauty, this regiment started for +the field of conflict, glory, and of death. And now, on a clear, serene +Sabbath of the December of 1863, the dying month of the year, the first +Sabbath of the month, and in the morning, after many hard-fought +battles, the brave colonel and lieutenant-colonel of the gallant +Seventh came back to say to us, in the mute silence of death, 'We have +done what we could.' In terms and strains of true eloquence you will +soon be told by Brother Peck, how bravely the colonel led the charges +at Cross Lanes, Winchester, Port Republic, Cedar Mountain (not at +Antietam, for he was at home wounded), Dumfries, Chancellorsville, +Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain, and fatal Ringgold,—and how he loved his +brave command, and how they idolized him. But I will not anticipate, +nor need I attempt encomium. His <i>deeds</i> praise him beyond the +capacity of all human eloquence. +</p> + +<p> +"'Of his <i>social</i> and <i>manly</i> qualities, one who knew him +well is permitted to speak, in a letter of Christian sympathy, +addressed to his widow—for the 2d of May, 1861, three days before +leaving with his command, he was united in wedlock with Eleanor L. +Quirk, of this city. In a letter, such as described above, the Rev. Mr. +Brown, former pastor of Westminster Church, and for some months +chaplain of the Seventh Regiment, says: +</p> + +<div class="blockquote"> +<p> +"'<span class="sc">Mrs. Colonel Creighton</span>: My dear Friend—I +have just read in the dispatches that your brave husband and +Lieutenant-Colonel Crane were killed in the late battle at Ringgold, +Georgia. Oh, how sad this is! Sad to me who loved him; but how +<i>terribly</i> sad to you, his beloved wife! I cannot write about +it. Precious memories of hours and days of dangers and hardships, +shared together in Western Virginia (and of one long, serious +conversation about death and eternity, as we rode together at +midnight through the woods) crowd upon me. He was warm-hearted, +generous, and noble. He loved his country unto death. He was brave, +even to rashness. But he has gone!' +</p> +</div> + +<p> +"'Yes, the warm-hearted friend, the loving brother, the affectionate +son, the devoted husband, the brave soldier, the undying patriot, the +fearless and fiery Creighton, is gone! We are here to-day to honor his +memory, recount his heroic deeds of noble daring, mourn his fall, and +convey his lifeless remains—with those of his brave comrade, +Lieutenant-Colonel Crane—to the tomb of a hero and a patriot. +</p> + +<p> +"'What words of elegiac comfort shall I speak to his numerous personal +and sorrowful friends; his brothers in the union of the same useful and +honorable handicraft; his brave comrades in arms of the noble Seventh, +and other regiments, who are here to attest their affection and sorrow; +his brother in the flesh, who is now left without a brother; his aged +and sorely bereaved mother; and his youthful, but grief-stricken, +widow? How shall <i>I</i>, who would take my place with the mourners, +speak words of comfort to you? +</p> + +<p> +"'Let us remember that although our <i>dear</i>, <i>dear</i> friend +will no longer mingle with us in the social or domestic circle,—will +not again lead regiment or brigade of fearless braves in the thickest +and hottest of the fight, inspiring to feats of exalted heroism—his +brave and generous heart now cold and lifeless—dim and sightless those +eyes whose radiant and enlivening orbs beamed, now with kindness, and +now with fiery bravery—his intercourse with the living world, brought +to a final period,—let us remember, that although Colonel Creighton is +gone, yet he is not lost; he is not lost to his country, for it has his +noble example of true bravery and practical patriotism. +</p> + +<p> +"'He is not lost to us who knew him, for he lives, and will ever live, +templed in our brightest memories and best affections. Nor can he be +lost to history, for he has made the offering which places his name on +its brightest page. +</p> + +<p> +"'Death never comes alone, but is always attended by an escort of +sadness. Whenever the silver cord is loosed, the golden bowl broken, +the pitcher broken at the fountain, the wheel broken at the cistern, +and dust returns to the earth, as it was, mourners go about the +streets. But it is especially sad, when, as in this case, sister, +mother, and wife are denied the sorrowful pleasure of being present, +and ministering to the wants of the dying, and speaking words of +Christian hope. But even this finds an offset in the fact that it was +his honored privilege to die for country—to fall, covered with glory! +Also, in the fact that his body was not mangled—that he did not suffer +long—in the assurance furnished by the words, 'Oh, my dear wife!' +uttered in dying accents after he fell, and before he expired, that his +last thoughts were of home and kindred; and may not we hope that these +words were breathed in prayer, and that he threw his whole soul +helpless, but trustfully, upon the merits of the Saviour? Again, it is +a source of great gratification to us all, and especially to the +relatives, that he does not fill a distant and unknown grave—that he +was tenderly borne from the field, and promptly forwarded for honorable +interment. His grave is to be in our midst, marked by a marble shaft, +which will scarcely crumble beneath the tread of the coming ages. You +can go there and pay the mournful tribute which nature and affection +prompt. And may it not be believed, that from their patriotic ashes +(for Creighton and Crane fought and fell together, and they are to rest +side by side)—is it not to be believed, that from their patriotic +ashes will spring a rich harvest <i>in kind</i> to at once avenge their +fall, and save our imperilled country? And will not fathers and mothers +conduct their children to these honored graves, and there put upon them +vows of eternal hostility to treason and to traitors, be they secret or +armed, even as Hamilcar caused his son Hannibal to swear, at the altar, +eternal hatred to Rome? And will not every one who visits their tombs, +and reads their epitaphs, whisper, "Peace and honor." And when this +cruel war is over, and the God of our fathers shall crown our labors +and sufferings with success, and bestow upon us, as a nation, an +honorable, righteous, and perpetual peace, then, amid the light, and +songs, and joy of the nation's jubilee, let their epitaphs be written +anew. And during all ages, peace to their ashes, peace to their memory, +and peace to their heroic spirits. +</p> + +<p> +"'Let us this day, around the lifeless forms of these fallen heroes, +not profanely, but solemnly and religiously, swear that the lives of +these, together with the lives of hundreds of thousands of the flower +of the nation, given for the salvation of the country, shall not be +given in vain; that we will complete well, what they have so well +begun. +</p> + +<p> +"'I need not ask of you, in behalf of the aged mother and bereaved +widow of Colonel Creighton, your warm, your practical, your continued +sympathies: these, I am sure, will not be withheld. But I now ask you +to join me in one fervent prayer to the God of the aged, the +fatherless, and the widow, our fathers' God, and the God of battles, +that He will, by His almighty arm, sustain, and, by His abundant grace, +comfort the aged mothers, and bereaved widows, and afflicted friends of +our brave soldiers, and their departed sons, husbands, and brothers; +that He will thus sustain and comfort all whose hearts have been cloven +by the battle-axe of war; that He will abundantly shield, help, bless, +and comfort our brave soldiers upon the field, in the hospitals, and +prisoners in the hands of our enemies; and that He will speedily bestow +upon our imperilled country the inestimable blessing of an honorable, +righteous, and lasting peace. Amen.' +</p> + +<p> +"Rev. C. C. Foot, at the request of the family of the late +Lieutenant-Colonel Crane, made the following address: +</p> + +<p> +"'The duties we are called to perform—the bearing of our dead brave to +their final rest—is indeed solemn and sad. That those who admired and +loved them in life, and delight to honor them when dead, should, with +sympathizing hearts and grateful hands, minister such a funeral +ovation, is due to them in view of the sacrifice they made, the toils +they endured, and their deeds of patriotism and valor. When the bugle +was first sounded in Washington, calling the North to the defence of +our institutions, these were among the first to respond; leaving their +business, their friends, and their families, for the field of strife, +they unsheathed their swords to strike for freedom's sacred cause. In +many skirmishes, and in every battle of their brigade, they struck with +such bravery and success as to have secured perpetual illustriousness; +while ever a nation exists to feel the throb of a nation's heart, while +a man lives to read the annals of America, their noble deeds shall be +known, and their illustrious names shall be honored. +</p> + +<p> +"'They passed through so many dangers almost unscarred, that they +feared no ill, and their families began to expect with confidence their +return to the enjoyments of home, ere many months more should have +flown. But when on Ringgold's hillside they raised their swords to +gleam as never before, from a volley of Confederate musketry their +death-warrant came. Their bodies sank to the ground—their spirits +ascended through the smoke-cloud of battle to the patriot's God, to +join the slain of the Seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, where the stars +forever shine in original splendor and glory. On the morrow, instead of +the ready pen reporting to loved ones at home that "all is well with +us," the telegraph was put in requisition to announce that never more +should their voices be heard by friend, companion, or offspring. Oh, +how sad such intelligence! How many families, how many tender, loving, +trembling hearts throughout the land, have been made sorrowful by like +intelligence since this war was so cruelly hurled upon us? From what +our soldier friends do and suffer from the myriad untimely deaths, +shall we not learn the magnitude of the work of the army, and our great +indebtedness to all who have gone to fight for us, our homes, and our +country? Let us render them the honor due. When men become illustrious, +it is but natural that their friends review their lives, and that +others inquire who they are, whence they came, and what circumstances +molded them for their greatness. To answer briefly and in part such +inquiries about one of these brave men—Lieutenant-Colonel O. J. +Crane—is the work to which I have been invited. Lieutenant-Colonel +Crane was born in Chautauque County, New York, in the year 1829. When +about three years old, his parents removed to their native State, +Vermont. Soon after this, his father died, and he was left to climb +life's rugged hill from his mother's arms to manhood, without the +invaluable aid of a father's counsels and assistance. He was blest with +a kind, intelligent, and prayerful mother, to whom he owed no small +amount of gratitude. +</p> + +<p> +"'Her care and labor for his health, and even his life, were constant +and great. While quite young, he once received a burn, so severe that +his life was despaired of. The attendant physician said he could not +live—or living, would always be helpless. But his mother loved him +into <i>life</i> and <i>health</i>, little thinking that she had saved +him from one fire, only to see him exposed and becoming a victim to a +more galling one; little thinking that to him, for whose life she +struggled, she and the nation would become indebted for liberty and +political security. During his youth he lived chiefly with an uncle, +and with whom, about thirteen years ago, he located in Conneaut, Ohio. +While there, he was employed in mechanical labor. He spent one year on +the Isthmus. On his return from the Isthmus, he came to Cleveland, and +found employment as a ship-carpenter. In this city, and this business, +he remained till called to participate in our national conflict. +</p> + +<p> +"'As a mechanic, he enjoyed the confidence and esteem of his employers +and his fellows. As a man, he drew around him a pleasant circle of +friends, constant and affectionate, who deeply mourn his loss. In +disposition, he was frank, manly, kind, and ever cheerful. He leaves a +sorrowing wife, to whom he was married nine years ago, three small +children, a mother, brothers and sisters. Their bereavement is too +great, their grief too deep, for even them to express in language. Yet +not till weary weeks shall fail to bring letters from the +battle-field—not till months confirm that no husband returns—not till +years reveal the need of a father to guide the orphans, and a companion +to sustain an aching heart, shall be fully realized the magnitude of +the sacrifice made, in laying upon a nation's altar a husband and a +father. +</p> + +<p> +"'The subject of these remarks had never made a public profession of +faith in Jesus. He had respected religion. He showed great kindness and +respect to the chaplain of his regiment, and consequently had a good +chaplain. He also, after entering the service, became interested in +personal religion. He professed a readiness to die when called. Let us +pray and hope that beyond the turmoil of this life, he may receive his +dear ones to everlasting fellowship of joy. +</p> + +<p> +"'Some months ago he became a member of the Masonic fraternity. Though +so soon taken from them, yet— +</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> +<div class="stanza"> +<div>"'By the hieroglyphic bright,</div> +<div class="i1">Which none but craftsmen ever saw,</div> +<div>Strange memory on our minds shall write</div> +<div class="i1">His honored name that's far awa.'</div></div></div></div> + +<p> +"'Citizens of Cleveland and Ohio, as we embalm his name in our memory, +let us not fail to remember, also, the dear family he has left. Let us +give them our heartfelt sympathy—not the sympathy of <i>pity</i>, but +that of <i>gratitude</i>—for his and their debtors we are. He gave his +life; not for himself, but for us who live, for our homes, and our +posterity. Surrounding the husbandless with what comforts we can, and +supplying the fatherless with fatherly care, and aid, and sympathy, let +us, to our utmost, discharge our indebtedness. Let us work and pray +that but few more brave need fall; and that the time be speeded when +the defenders of our liberties shall be welcomed home to the enjoyment +of their triumphs, with the jubilant acclamation of many millions of +freemen.' +</p> + +<p> +"Professor H. E. Peck, at the request of the General Committee, +delivered the address on behalf of the city, as follows: +</p> + +<p> +"'On a fair Sabbath in May, only three short seasons ago, just as the +bells were calling the town to worship, a regiment passed down yonder +street. That, citizens, was a spectacle which you who saw it will never +forget. Not because the marching column was striking to the eye. There +was no pageant. There were no arms, no banners. There was not even a +uniform. The farmer, the student, and the smith, were in that line; +and the farmer marched in the garments he brought from the furrow, +and the student and the smith were attired as they had been in the +recitation-room and shop. But for all that, the display was profoundly +impressive. Here was the flower of the Reserve. Lake, Mahoning, +Trumbull, Lorain, and Erie, each had a hundred; Portage, twice a +hundred; and Cuyahoga, thrice a hundred in the line. And each hundred +was made up, not of the rabble, but of sons, whom worthy fathers and +mothers dearly loved; of men, who, if they should stay at home, would +soon be conspicuous for wealth, or learning, or skill in useful arts. +And these thousand true men, loved well at home, made of sterling +stuff, were on their way to <i>war</i>—to actual war. To serve the +imperilled country, they had quit all,—farms, shops, books, friends, +hopes, the past, the future,—all but duty and honor. They might never +return. The vow on them might take them to bloody fields, from which +there should be no passage except down through the gates of death. Oh, +kinsman, was not that an impressive scene? Did you ever see the like? +Did not tears wet your eyes as you looked on? Were not the cheers with +which you sent the heroes on their way divided, as shouts of yours had +never before been, nor have been since, between admiration and sorrow? +</p> + +<p> +"'This, friends, was the first march of our gallant Seventh. You do not +forget that in that march the column was led by a young captain, whose +high carriage and soldierly bearing were almost the only signs of real +military display. The body of that young captain lies in one of yonder +coffins. Of him, and his brave comrade who sleeps beside him, I am to +speak on this occasion. The history of the noble Seventh is +<i>their</i> late history. With it, therefore, let me begin. +</p> + +<p> +"'The Seventh left Cleveland May 5, 1861. It went hence to Camp +Dennison, where E. B. Tyler, of Ravenna; W. R. Creighton, of Cleveland; +and John S. Casement, of Painesville, were made its first +field-officers. In the June following, while it was still at Camp +Dennison, the regiment was reorganized and sworn into the three-years' +service. I well remember seeing Captain Crane, whose remains are +yonder, on a sweet Sabbath afternoon—men, sun, air, and earth, all +were glad, and the harmonies of nature were tunefully praising +God—bringing his company to the colonel's quarters to be sworn in. I +well remember the impression which the strong voice of the sombre +captain made upon me, as, after the young soldiers, with bare heads and +uplifted hands, had taken the oath, he cried, "Company, right face; +forward, march!" The tone of the command was as if he would say, "Now, +men, there is no retreat. Only service, perhaps death, is before you." +</p> + +<p> +"'A week later, General McClellan, who had then just taken command of +the Western Department, came looking for the right material with which +to begin his Western Virginia campaign, and inspected the regiment. But +it was not at garments the shrewd leader looked. It was the +<i>person</i> he studied. He sought the eye. He narrowly scanned the +look. Down the line and back again he slowly went. I saw the expression +on his face, as at the end, he seemed to say to himself, "<i>They are +the right sort!</i>" In the reorganization of the regiment, the staff +remained as it was before. +</p> + +<p> +"'On the 26th of June, 1861, the Seventh left Camp Dennison, to enter +on active service in Western Virginia. With many long marches it sought +the foe. It had begun to doubt whether it would ever meet him, when, at +Cross Lanes, on the 26th of August, he came, with overwhelming force. +For a brief space, the companies, separated from each other, held their +ground. Then, from bare and irresistible necessity, they gave way. +Twenty-four gallant men were left on the field, dead or wounded. One +hundred were carried away prisoners, and the remainder were scattered +like partridges which have received the sportsman's fire. At first, +tidings came to us that the Seventh was wholly destroyed. How ached our +hearts! Presently, better news came. Major Casement had brought four +hundred men through the wilderness into Charleston, and Captain Crane +had come to Gauley, bringing, not only almost his entire company, but a +flag which he had captured from the enemy. +</p> + +<p> +"'Then came to the regiment days of distraction and despondency. You, +and others of the Reserve, heard of, and agonized over its condition. +To encourage and cheer it, you sent it a stand of beautiful colors. At +the Academy of Music, as you will remember, before a throng of your +best citizens, the standards were dedicated. +</p> + +<p> +"'On a mountain-side, in Western Virginia, with Rosecrans' army lying +miles up and down, and with the smoke of the enemy's camp-fires rising +in the distance, they were presented to the regiment. I wish I could +picture the scene, the splendors of the magnificent landscape, the +exquisite beauty of the colors as they proudly glowed in the clear +sunlight, the enthusiasm of the men and the pride of the officers. Your +present helped to rouse the spirit of the regiment. The words of love +and considerate regard, which you sent with the gift, assured it that +its honor was not yet lost. How thrilling, how hopeful, was the cheer +which rolled off among the hills, as the color-guard took its trust! +</p> + +<p> +"'From the Kanawha the Seventh went, on the 17th of December, 1861, to +the Potomac. There, now led by Lieutenant Colonel Creighton—Colonel +Tyler having taken temporary command of a brigade—it met, at +Winchester, March 23, 1862, Jackson's celebrated "Stonewall Legion." +Hot was the fire, when the Northern iron met the Southern flint. The +Seventh left fifty-six dead and wounded on the field. But it won a name +in the fight. The story told of them, the land over, was, <i>they +fought like veterans</i>. Then came the long chase up the Shenandoah, +then the hard march across to Eastern Virginia, and back to the gates +of the Shenandoah. Then came Port Republic, the first square stand-up +fight which the regiment had, when, led by Creighton, in an open field, +in a line trim enough for a dress parade, and with "Cross Lanes" for +its battle-cry, the glorious Seventh charged down on Jackson's +steadfast front. Ah, how the list of the dead and wounded was again +fearfully swelled! Seventy-two names were added to it. +</p> + +<p> +"'By this time the regiment had become so reduced by the casualties of +war, that its friends on the Reserve asked that it might be sent home +to recruit. "No," promptly replied discriminating Halleck, "not so long +as there is a lame drummer left; not if you will send us a whole new +regiment in place of this handful. We know these men, they are just +such as we want." Colonel Tyler's promotion to a brigadiership brought +Lieutenant-Colonel Creighton to the head of the regiment, and this, and +other changes, presently made Captain Crane a Lieutenant-Colonel. The +regiment now had plenty of duty. It fought at Cedar Mountain, and +there, on the extreme advance, it met the brunt of danger. +</p> + +<p> +"'In one company, out of twenty-one men engaged, eighteen fell killed +or wounded. The whole regiment suffered in hardly less proportion. One +hundred and ninety-six, of the two hundred and ninety-seven heroes +engaged, fell. There, fiery Creighton, as usual, not content to be +elsewhere than on the extreme front, was so severely wounded that he +was compelled to come home to recover. +</p> + +<p> +"'Soon the regiment was at Antietam, and there it shared the toils and +honors of that honorable field. Thirty-eight fallen men, out of one +hundred engaged, was the price it paid for its opportunity. Presently +it fought and prevailed against great odds at Dumfries. Here it lost +ten more of its scant few. +</p> + +<p> +"'In the next year's campaign, after lying in camp and being +considerably recruited, the regiment was at Chancellorsville. There it +did good service, by catching and holding on its steady line droves of +fugitives, who were ingloriously seeking the rear, and by covering the +retreat of its corps. It lost, at Chancellorsville, ninety-nine men. +Next the regiment was at Gettysburg. There, for the first time in its +history, it fought behind defences; nor could Ewell, surging with fiery +valor up against the rocky rampart, break the line which it, and its +compeers of the Twelfth Corps, held. The Seventh lost at Gettysburg +nineteen men; and, as from every field before, so from this, it brought +honor and a new name. From the Potomac the regiment went, in September +last, to the Tennessee. There, on the 24th of last month, it shared in +that brilliant "battle above the clouds," by which Hooker cleared +Lookout Mountain. Decisive as the result of its courage here was, it +seems to have left behind but one wounded man as its share of the +sacrifice which the victory cost. Then came the pursuit of Bragg, and +the overtaking of his rear-guard at Ringgold; then the climbing, by the +Twelfth Corps, of that bare hill, on the top of which the enemy was +securely posted. Staunch Creighton was in command of a brigade, and +Crane led the Seventh. The charge was a desperate one, but Creighton +did not falter. Kindling to that ardor of which he was so susceptible, +he urged his command on. "Boys," he said, "we are ordered to take that +hill. I want to see you walk right up it." Then putting himself, not in +the rear, as being temporarily a brigadier he might have done, but far +in the advance, he led the way. And Crane, close behind, stoutly held +the Seventh to its bloody work. The men were ready for the task. The +zeal of Cross Lanes, of Winchester, of Port Republic, burned to a white +heat. The gallant Seventh, leading the column, flung itself into the +billows of fire, as if it were rescuing home from robber hands. But, +ah! chivalric Creighton fell, and, alas! sturdy Crane, too; and of the +commissioned officers of the Seventh, but one remained unhurt. Is it +wonderful that the grand old regiment, losing the inspiring command of +the brave soldiers whose voices had so often aroused its purposes, fell +back? Oh, Creighton and Crane, had you lived, the Seventh would, +perhaps, without help, have carried the dear old colors, tattered by so +many leaden storms, into the enemy's defiant works! Sad tale that I +must tell, of the two hundred and ten sons and brothers of ours who +went into the fight, ninety fell; of the fourteen commissioned officers +on the field, thirteen were killed or wounded. +</p> + +<p> +"'My story of the Seventh is done. Yes, the Sabbath comes; sweet, clear +day, as bright as that holy morn on which the Seventh first went its +way. A sad cortege passes up the same street yonder. Music wails at its +head. A downcast guard of honor marches, with mourning colors, behind +hearses trimmed with the badges of woe. Look you, kindred, the band +which follows the dead is made up of the men who marched in that May +Sabbath line two years ago. But the farmer, the student, the smith, +are not there. These are soldiers all. They are scarred with the marks +of Cross Lanes, of Winchester—nay, let me not stop to recite the long +list of battles through which they have passed. Yes, here is part of +the scant few left out of the eighteen hundred staunch men who have +stood under the flag of the Seventh; and here, hearse-borne, are the +bodies of the good leaders who shall head the regiment no more. Pause +now, citizens, while I tell you about these noble men. Colonel +Creighton was born in Pittsburgh. He was but twenty-six years of age +when he fell. For several years he followed the trade of a printer in +this city. But he was born to be a soldier, and years ago he learned, +in civic schools, a soldier's trade. So, when the war broke out, he was +fit to take command. He raised a company in this city. At once his +military talent was revealed. He had not a peer in the camp as a +drill-master, and there was something about his ardent nature which +made men feel that he was fit to command. Thus superior office came to +him—he did not seek it. But getting it, he discharged his duties well. +He was affectionate to his men, erring only in being, perhaps, too free +with them. And when battle came, he was a master-spirit in the dreadful +storm. Burning with enthusiasm, almost rash with courage, he could +inspire his "gamecocks"—as he familiarly called his men—with such +qualities as are most needed in the charge and in the deadly breach. I +have often asked sound thinking members of the Seventh, "What of +Creighton?" The answer has always been, "<i>He is a soldier, every +inch.</i>" +</p> + +<p> +"'Lieutenant-Colonel Crane was born in Troy, New York, in the year +1828. He, too, has been a mechanic here for many years. Like his chief, +he, too, had learned the use of arms before the war commenced. He was, +therefore, amply qualified to take command of his company when Captain +Creighton was promoted. And no ordinary disciplinarian was Captain +Crane. He had a difficult company, but it was with a strong hand that +he laid hold of his work. Headstrong men had a master in him. Withal, +he was the soul of kindness to those he commanded. His rugged nature, +despising military finery, and the pomps and forms of military life, +came down at once to plain, blunt, frank, but sincere and hearty +intercourse with the men under him. If you wished to find Captain +Crane, you must look for him where his boys were; and if his boys had +had a trying or toilsome work, you might be sure he was lightening the +load by his own example of brave and sturdy patience. He did not have +an impulsive nature. He was not a thunderbolt on the field. He was +rock, rather. Fiery floods might break against him, and yet he was +always the same; always imperturbable, honest, strong. +</p> + +<p> +"'I should have said before, that Colonel Creighton was in every battle +which the Seventh ever fought, except Antietam. It is in place for me +to say here, that Lieutenant-Colonel Crane took part in every battle in +which his regiment shared. I doubt if another instance of the kind is +on record. Would that the Hand which had so often averted danger, could +have turned the fatal bullets aside at Ringgold! +</p> + +<p> +"'And now, friends, I am, at the invitation of the joint-committee of +the city council, the military, the Typographical Union, the +ship-carpenters, and yourselves, and as the representative of other +towns, who helped raise the Seventh, to bring a tribute of gratitude +and praise to the memory of the gallant dead. In my poor way, I here +certify to the noble qualities, to the brave deeds of the soldiers +coffined yonder. I come to say, that the honor done them by the city, +by the military, by yourselves, by good men who, in other towns, mourn +their loss, is well bestowed. The heroes have earned their honors. They +have bought them with such high conduct, with such self-sacrifices, as +the brightest laurels poorly reward. I know not how those souls, which +lately inhabited yonder clay, stand in the other world (would that your +prayers and mine could reach them), but I do know, that their names +shall live in this world forever. The marble you shall put up over +their dust will itself have gone to dust before their renown shall have +passed from the hearts and lips of men. +</p> + +<p> +"'Would, friends, that you and I, by any ministry of love, could +staunch these widows' and half-orphans' tears. Oh! sisters bereaved, +and dear little children, now fatherless, may God in His mercy keep +you! May He be help and hope to you! Remember, I pray you, that the +spilled blood which was so dear to you, was precious also to God; that +it is from such seed that He makes freedom, peace, social order, and +prosperity to grow. +</p> + +<p> +"'And, citizens, what shall I say of the Seventh, which mourns its +noble dead? Shall I summon here the spirits of those who have fallen on +the half-score fields, where the staunch old regiment has left its +dead? Shall I call from the shadowy world those who have died in +festering prisons? Shall I order the rally for those who, broken in +body, shall engage in active pursuits no more? Shall I bring from the +field the little remnant—headed by the one unhurt commissioned +officer, and under this dear, chafed, and rent old flag, which no +longer shines with the glory of color and figure which it displayed +when first unfurled in your Academy of Music, but which is lustrous +with the light with which brave deeds have invested it—shall I tell +them of your love for, and your gratitude to them? Nay, this I cannot +do. But I can say to these representatives of the regiment who are with +us, and through them to that little handful of bronzed veterans who, +huddling around a single camp-fire at Chattanooga, are the last remnant +of the Seventh—to you, honored men, we owe a debt we can never +discharge. You sprang to arms, when others hesitated. You entered the +flinty paths of war with feet shod only for the gentle ways of peace. +Often have you been tried, never have you failed; and the honor of the +Reserve, which we committed to you, has been proudly kept on every +field. And in this hour of weighty bereavement, our feelings towards +you and your comrades, living and dead, is like that of the pious +Scotch woman who, when grim Claverhouse having first shot her husband, +laughing, asked, "Well, woman, what thinkest thou of thy good man now?" +quietly replied, as she drew the pierced head to her bosom, and wiped +the death-damp from his brow: "I aye thought much of him, but now more +than ever." +</p> + +<p> +"'Now, bearers, take out your dead. Put the cherished remains in an +honored place. Tell art to lift above them worthy marble. Write upon +the stone the names of the battles in which our heroes have fought. +Write also the virtues of the dead. Write, too, that gratitude has +lifted the monument, partly to do honor to them, worthy of it, whom +human praise can never reach; and to teach the living that it is well +to make even life a sacrifice to duty. And when our war has been ended, +when peace and freedom shall be in all our borders, thronging feet +shall, through all the generations, come up to your memorial, and learn +lessons of heroism and self-sacrifice.' +</p> + +<p> +"Rev. William Goodrich, of the First Presbyterian Church, made the +closing prayer; after which the choir chanted impressively the +following hymn: +</p> + + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> +<div class="stanza"> +<div>"'With tearful eyes I look around,</div> +<div class="i1">Life seems a dark and gloomy sea;</div> +<div>Yet midst the gloom I hear a sound,</div> +<div class="i1">A heavenly whisper, 'Come to Me.'</div></div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<div>"'It tells me of a place of rest—</div> +<div class="i1">It tells me where my soul may flee;</div> +<div>Oh! to the weary, faint, oppressed,</div> +<div class="i1">How sweet the bidding, 'Come to Me!'</div></div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<div>"'When nature shudders, loth to part</div> +<div class="i1">From all I love, enjoy, and see,</div> +<div>When a faint chill steals o'er thy heart,</div> +<div class="i1">A sweet voice utters, 'Come to Me.'</div></div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<div>"'Come, for all else must fade and die,</div> +<div class="i1">Earth is no resting place for thee;</div> +<div>Heavenward direct thy weeping eye,</div> +<div class="i1">I am thy portion, 'Come to Me.'</div></div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<div>"'Oh, voice of mercy! voice of love!</div> +<div class="i1">In conflict, grief, and agony;</div> +<div>Support me, cheer me from above!</div> +<div class="i1">And gently whisper, Come to Me.'</div></div></div></div> + +<p> +"This closed the exercises at the church. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +THE FUNERAL PROCESSION. +</p> + +<p> +"As soon as the exercises in the church closed, the Brooklyn Light +Artillery commenced firing minute-guns from the field-piece planted on +the square in front of the church. At the same time, the chimes of +Trinity rang a muffled peal, and the bells in all the other churches +commenced tolling. The square and the streets leading to it were packed +with people from the city and surrounding country, the latter having +been pouring in all the morning. It seemed almost impossible to keep an +open space in so great a crowd, but the admirable management of the +marshals of the day and the city police, aided by the spirit of order +and decorum in the crowd, succeeded in preventing any trouble or +confusion. +</p> + +<p> +"The procession was formed in nearly the order as at first arranged. +First came Leland's band, playing the "Dead March." Then the +Twenty-ninth Regiment, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Frazee, with +arms reversed and bound with crape. Next the discharged officers and +soldiers of the Seventh, headed by their old band. These old members of +the regiment numbered sixty, and were formed into a company, under +Captain Molyneaux. They were followed by the clergymen of the city, +after which came the bodies. +</p> + +<p> +"Colonel Creighton's body was in a hearse drawn by four white horses, +from undertaker Duty; and the body of Lieutenant-Colonel Crane, in a +hearse drawn by four black horses, from undertaker Howland. Behind the +hearses were led two horses fully caparisoned. The pall-bearers, whose +names have been previously given, walked beside the hearses. Eleven +carriages, containing the mourners, came next, followed by a carriage +containing Lieutenant Loomis, Sergeant-Major Tisdel, Bugler Welzel, and +privates Shepherd and Meigs, forming the escort from the Seventh. Next +were the members of the old Cleveland Light Guard, with their badges +and flags; Governor Brough and other invited guests, committee of +arrangements, city council, city officers, county military committee, +two hundred sick and wounded soldiers from the United States Military +Hospital, soldiers from the Twelfth Cavalry, Brooklyn Light Artillery, +Captain Pelton; other military and officers of the United States +regular and volunteer services; United States Court officers, +Typographical Union, ship-carpenters, old Light Guard, under Captain J. +Robinson, students from Commercial College, County Court officers, +citizens on foot, citizens in carriages. +</p> + +<p> +"The procession was of great length, and passed through a dense crowd +of thousands of people during the whole way. It was well managed by +Colonel William H. Hayward, chief marshal of the day, and his +assistants, H. M. Chapin, William Edwards, John M. Sterling, junior, +and C. Busch. The police were again of incalculable value in clearing +the way and keeping perfect order. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +AT THE TOMB. +</p> + +<p> +"The lot in the Woodland Cemetery, intended as the final resting-place +of the heroic dead, not having yet been selected, the bodies were taken +to the City Cemetery, and deposited temporarily in the Bradburn Vault, +the use of which had been generously tendered. The police again, ever +vigilant and effective, had kept the cemetery and its approaches free +from the vast crowd until the procession had entered, and then secured +ample room, so that there was no crowding or confusion. +</p> + +<p> +"The Twenty-ninth Regiment was drawn up in line, with colors +immediately opposite the tomb. The company of the old members of the +Seventh, with reversed arms, stood at the right of the tomb. +</p> + +<p> +"As the procession moved up to the tomb the band played a dirge. The +Rev. W. A. Fiske, rector of Grace Church, read the beautiful and +impressive burial-service of the Episcopal Church, the bodies were +placed in the vault, the final prayer said, and then the door of the +tomb was closed. The old members of the Seventh fired three volleys +over the tomb, and all was over. The heroic dead sleep undisturbed. +</p> + +<p> +"So ended the grandest and the most mournful pageant that has passed +through the streets of Cleveland for many a year." +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +LIEUT.-COL. MERVIN CLARK. +</p> + +<p> +On a gloomy night in May, 1861, when the wind was howling in fitful +gusts, and the rain pouring down in merciless rapidity, the writer was +awakened by the stentorian voice of the adjutant in front of the tent, +followed by an order that Lieutenant —— would report for guard-duty. +After wading half-knee deep in mud and water, narrowly escaping a cold +bath in an over-friendly ditch, I arrived at the headquarters of the +guard. Soon after my arrival, a boy reported to me for duty, as +sergeant of the guard; a position no less responsible than my own. At +first I felt that, on such a fearful night, I needed more than a boy to +assist me in the performance of my task. His form was fragile; his face +was smooth as that of a girl, and in the dim, shadowy light of a +camp-fire, struggling against the heavy rain, I took him to be about +fifteen years of age. We immediately entered into conversation, and +between admiration and surprise, the rain was forgotten, and the +moments sped so rapidly, that it was nearing the time to change the +guard. But my boy companion had forgotten nothing, and as the moment +arrived, he called in the relief. As he moved among those sturdy +warriors, it occurred to me that I had never before met a boy, who was +at the same time a man—a brave, prudent, reliable man. All night he +did his duty, and when we parted in the morning, I both loved and +admired him. This was my first meeting with Colonel Clark. +</p> + +<p> +Mervin Clark was a native of Ohio, having been born in the city of +Cleveland, in 1843. When but three years of age his mother died, and at +the age of nine his surviving parent, leaving him an orphan. He was now +taken, into the family of Henry W. Clark, an uncle, where he found a +home, and kind friends, during the remainder of his life. +</p> + +<p> +The flash of the last gun at Sumter had hardly died away, when he +enrolled himself as a private in Captain De Villiers' company, at the +same time declaring that he would, by no act of his, leave the service +of his country, until rebels in arms were met and subdued. How well he +kept that pledge, it is the office of this brief sketch to show. +</p> + +<p> +He left Camp Dennison as an orderly-sergeant, and during the trying +marches and skirmishes in Western Virginia, won a commission. Arriving +in the East, he was made a first-lieutenant. At the battle of +Winchester, he surprised and delighted every one who saw him. When the +bullets flew thickest, he stepped on to the brink of the hill, over +which our men were firing, and, with revolver in hand, took part in the +strife. His captain, seeing his danger, directed him to get behind a +tree which stood close by. He obeyed orders, but with his back to the +tree, and his face to the foe. At the battle of Cedar Mountain, he +commanded a company, and during that fearful day, led his men with +great bravery. At last, when the order was given to retreat, he mistook +it for an order to charge, and, with a dozen men, dashed at the double +line of a whole brigade of rebels. It was not until an officer of +authority conveyed the true order to him, that he would withdraw. He +now took part in all the battles in which his regiment was engaged in +the East, except Antietam. When the regiment left for the West, he +accompanied it, and soon after took part in the battles of Lookout +Mountain, Mission Ridge, Taylor's Ridge, and the series of engagements +taking place while with Sherman. Before his term of service expired, he +was made a captain, and commanded his company on its homeward march. He +was soon after mustered out with his company. He now sought quiet and +rest at his home, giving no evidence of an intention to again enter the +service. But before he had been at home many weeks, he surprised and +disappointed his friends by enlisting as a private in the regular army. +His fame, however, was too wide-spread in Ohio to suffer him to +re-enter the service as a private. Governor Brough had already selected +him for promotion, and when learning of his enlistment in the regular +service, procured an order for his discharge, and immediately appointed +him lieutenant-colonel of the One Hundred and Eighty-third Regiment, +then about to enter the field. He had now come of age, November 5th, +and on the 8th of November cast his first vote; on the 12th, he +received his commission; and on the 15th, he left for the front. His +regiment joined the army of General Thomas, on its retreat before the +rebel forces under Hood. On the 30th of November, the regiment was +engaged in the terrible battle of Franklin. During the engagement, the +regiment was ordered to charge the enemy's works. The color bearer was +soon shot down, when Clark seized the colors, and calling to his men, +"Who will follow me to retake these works?" mounted the rebel works, +and immediately fell, a minie ball having passed through his head. +Every effort was made to take his body from the field, but to no +purpose, and the "boy officer" was wrapped in his blanket, and buried +on the field of his fame, to be finally removed by careful hands, when +the earth had covered every vestige of the strife in its friendly +bosom. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +LIEUTENANT HENRY ROBINSON. +</p> + +<p> +Henry Robinson was a native of Ohio, and entered the service as +first-lieutenant of Company G. He was always attentive to his duties, +and soon took a position among the first of his rank. He was constantly +with his command during its early service. He was in the skirmish at +Cross Lanes, where he won the respect and confidence of the entire +command by his gallant conduct. In this affair, he commanded Company G. +Arriving at Charleston, he was sent to Gauley Bridge, and soon after +was taken violently sick with a fever. He soon after died. +</p> + +<p> +In the death of Lieutenant Robinson, the regiment made one of its +greatest sacrifices. He was esteemed by every one for his kind and +courteous manners, as well as for his ability as a soldier. He had many +friends in the army, and at home, and I doubt very much if he had an +enemy in the world. His military career was short, but of such a +character that his friends can refer to it with pride. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +LIEUTENANT E. S. QUAY. +</p> + +<p> +E. S. Quay entered the service as second-lieutenant of Company G. He +was with the regiment at Cross Lanes, where he gave promise of much +future usefulness as a soldier. He accompanied the regiment to Eastern +Virginia, where he was acting assistant adjutant-general to Colonel +Tyler. He took part in the battle of Winchester, where he did splendid +service. After Tyler's promotion to a general, he was made +adjutant-general, and assigned to his staff. In this capacity, he +served in the battle of Port Republic, where he gained new laurels. He +finally went to his home on account of ill-health, and after a time, +died of consumption. He was a good soldier. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +LIEUTENANT JAMES P. BRISBINE. +</p> + +<p> +James P. Brisbine was a native of Trumbull County, Ohio. He was born in +1836. His parents dying while he was quite young, he went to live with +an uncle by the name of Applegate. He received a fair education, and +during the time, in part, maintaining himself by teaching school in +winter. In the spring of 1860, he commenced reading law in Warren, +Ohio, which he continued until the breaking out of the rebellion. +During his course of study, he gave promise of an able and useful +lawyer. When it became evident that the rebellion could not be +suppressed but by the force of arms, he deemed it his duty to leave the +study of the profession of his choice, and enroll himself among the +defenders of his country. This step he considered as a decided +sacrifice to him; for, by nature, he was in no way inclined to the life +of a soldier; he preferred the quiet life of a citizen, which is alone +to be found at home. It was with many misgivings that he finally placed +his name on the roll. In doing this, he was alone influenced by +patriotic motives. When urged to be a candidate for the position of +sergeant, he declined to have any thing to do with the matter; but was +elected, notwithstanding his indifference. +</p> + +<p> +At Camp Dennison, he was made orderly-sergeant. He took part in the +skirmish at Cross Lanes, where he made a good record as a soldier. Soon +after entering the field, his health failed him. The long marches often +taxed him beyond his strength; but he seldom complained. He was not in +the battle of Winchester on account of sickness, being disabled from +the effects of the severe march from Strasburg, which took place a +short time before. He expressed many regrets on account of his absence. +But he very soon had an opportunity to test his courage on the +battle-field. The engagement of Port Republic occurred shortly after. +He was in no respect second in gallantry to those who were in the +previous battle. He was ever at his post, doing his duty. During the +latter part of the battle, a captain, an intimate friend, fell, +severely wounded. He caught him in his arms, and laid him gently on the +ground, pillowing his head in his lap. The regiment moved off, and the +rebels advanced; but he refused to leave his friend. And he did not +leave until the captain was borne away by his comrades. He passed +through this battle without a scratch. He accompanied the regiment to +Alexandria, and from there to the front of Pope's army. He now took +part in the battle of Cedar Mountain. While cheering his men forward, +he was wounded. Two men took him in their arms, and started in search +of the hospital; but before they were off the field a bullet struck him +in the groin, severing the femoral artery. Said he, "Remember, boys, I +die for my country," and expired in their arms. Thus, a true and +devoted friend of his country died to preserve it from the attacks of +those who had been educated and supported by it from boyhood. +</p> + +<p> +As an officer, Lieutenant Brisbine was much esteemed; as a companion, +he was admired by every one. I doubt if he had an enemy in the army or +at home. He won his promotion in the field; and it was, therefore, a +much greater prize than a higher rank conferred by favor. He was +commissioned early in 1862. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +LIEUTENANT CHARLES A. BROOKS. +</p> + +<p> +The subject of this sketch was born in Bristol, Trumbull County, in the +year 1843. He early developed those good qualities of head and heart +for which he was afterwards so distinguished. Being a good student, +attentive to his books, as he was to every other good purpose, he +acquired a good education, which would have enabled him to engage in +any occupation with credit to himself and profit to the community. +</p> + +<p> +He was desirous of entering the service when the war first began, but +was held back by domestic ties which bound him strongly to home. But on +the second call for troops, he could no longer remain out of the army; +and, hastening to a recruiting station, he enlisted in Company H, of +the Seventh Regiment. He arrived at Camp Dennison on the 30th of May, +and, with others, was mustered into the service. His tall, commanding +figure, connected with his sterling qualities of mind, pointed him out +as a proper person for promotion. He was, therefore made a corporal, +and, as soon as a vacancy occurred, a sergeant. His officers soon put +unlimited confidence in him. If a hazardous enterprise was to be +performed, he was deemed fitting to undertake it. While still a +sergeant, Creighton would often point him out as his future adjutant. +Finally, when Adjutant Shepherd was compelled to resign, on account of +growing ill health, Creighton procured his appointment as +first-lieutenant, and at once detailed him as his adjutant. He came to +this position entirely qualified; for, from the time he had been made +orderly of Company H, he transacted all of the business of the company. +He was in the affair at Cross Lanes, and all other skirmishes in which +the regiment was engaged, as well as the following battles: Port +Republic, Cedar Mountain, Dumfries, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. +</p> + +<p> +Near the close of the battle of Port Republic, he saw one of his old +officers lying, seriously wounded, so near the enemy's lines as to be +in danger of capture. Throwing down his gun, in company with Charles +Garrard, he braved the battle-fire, and brought his old comrade safely +from the field; thus, probably, saving his life. +</p> + +<p> +At the battle of Cedar Mountain he was slightly wounded, losing a +finger. +</p> + +<p> +In July he was sent to Ohio to bring forward the drafted men assigned +to the Seventh. While on his way from Columbus to his home in Bristol, +he met with a frightful accident resulting in death. While seated in an +omnibus, it was driven on to the railroad track, directly in front of a +train. In jumping out, he was knocked down by the cars and run over, +mangling both legs frightfully. He was taken to the New England House, +but nothing could be done for him, and he expired early the following +morning. The following is from the pen of one who knew him and prized +him:<a href="#note6" name="noteref6"><small>[6]</small></a> +</p> + +<p> +"The career of this young man has been short but brilliant. He has been +a soldier and a man; pure, noble-hearted, sympathetic, and always ready +for any duty. He has been brave, courageous, and trustworthy. He has +gone from us with no stain upon his honor, no spots upon his +escutcheon, but with his armor begrimed with the dust of many battles. +Although young in years, he had lived long, if you count the hardships +he had endured, the stirring and momentous events through which he had +passed, and in the transpiring of which he had been an actor, the +service he rendered his country, and humanity at large, and the good he +had done; if gauged by this standard, he had become more mature than +many men who have attained their threescore and ten years. So bright +an example cannot fail to have a good influence upon the young men of +the country. His violent death will bring his virtues prominently +before their minds, and cannot fail to make an impression. Let all be +exhorted to emulate his patriotism, his gallantry, his valor, his +promptness in the discharge of duty, his kindness of heart, suavity of +manner, his manly and soldier-like qualities; and if in civil life, +they will become manlier men—if in military life, they cannot fail to +become better and braver soldiers." +</p> + +<p> +He was buried near where he was born, on the banks of a rippling brook, +under the shade of beautiful trees, through the boughs of which will +sing an everlasting requiem fitting so brave and active a spirit. The +citizens of the vicinity turned out in mass to honor his memory with +their presence, and tearful eyes and expressive looks showed their +heartfelt sympathy for the afflicted mother, sister, brother, and +relatives; while a military organization from Warren gave him the +fitting escort, and fired three volleys over his grave. +</p> + +<p> +A grateful public will not forget this heroic and noble sacrifice. Let +an enduring monument be erected. Not of marble, which may crumble; but +let his manly deeds be engraved upon the tablets of their memory, and +let his virtues and sacrifices be interwoven with the affections, the +sympathies, and the lives of the people, so that while time lasts, and +all that is noble in human action, good in thought, and true in +conception and motive, shall be treasured as sacred memories, this hero +will not be forgotten, because kept fresh with the watering of many +tears. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +LIEUTENANT JOSEPH H. ROSS. +</p> + +<p> +Joseph H. Ross entered the service as a private in Captain W. R. +Sterling's company. Soon after arriving in camp he was made a sergeant, +and finally orderly. He was engaged in all the marches and skirmishes +in Western Virginia, and at Cross Lanes fought like a veteran. He was +in the battle of Winchester, where he displayed such reckless bravery +as to attract the attention of the entire command. While the regiment +was partially concealed behind a ridge, within eighty yards of the +enemy, Ross was not content with remaining at such a distance, but +creeping over the hill, crawled forward on his hands and knees till he +was midway between the lines, and taking a position behind a rock, +swung his hat to those behind. None but Sergeant Whiting, of Company D, +had the courage to follow him. From behind this rock, the two heroes +kept up a constant fire on the enemy, hitting their man at every shot. +</p> + +<p> +Ross was now made a lieutenant, and assigned to Company C. He was in +the battle of Port Republic, where he fought with his usual bravery. At +the battle of Cedar Mountain he commanded Company C. During the entire +day he led his men with such certainty, that they slaughtered the enemy +fearfully. Night came, and he had not received a scratch, while the +thinned ranks testified how many had fallen around him. Soon after +dark, as if the regiment had not already suffered sufficiently, it was +ordered on picket. When about a mile out, it was fired upon from all +quarters, and Lieutenant Ross fell, mortally wounded. He died soon +after. His loss was deeply felt, both in the army and at home; for he +was a true soldier and friend. +</p> + + +<p class="section"> +LIEUTENANT FRANK JOHNSON. +</p> + +<p> +At this same bloody battle of Cedar Mountain, another youthful hero +fell, Frank Johnson, Company F. He had entered the service as a private +in John Man's company, and had risen through the different grades of +corporal and sergeant to be a lieutenant. He had toiled along through +the hard marches of the Seventh, struggling against a weak +constitution, which was every day being impaired by hardships and +exposure. He had fought nobly in the battles of Winchester and Port +Republic,—recognized by the authorities by giving him a commission; +and now, in the morning of his new life as a <i>leader</i>, he fell at +the head of his company. +</p> + +<hr class="med"> + +<h2> +Footnotes +</h2> + + +<dl> +<dt class="notelabel"><a name="note1"> </a><a +href="#noteref1"><small>[1] +</small></a></dt> +<dd class="notetext"> Charles Tenney. +</dd></dl> + +<dl> +<dt class="notelabel"><a name="note2"> </a><a +href="#noteref2"><small>[2] +</small></a></dt> +<dd class="notetext"> Lieutenant W. D. Shepherd. +</dd></dl> + +<dl> +<dt class="notelabel"><a name="note3"> </a><a +href="#noteref3"><small>[3] +</small></a></dt> +<dd class="notetext"> General Tyler has failed to furnish us any data from which to write +an extended sketch, though often requested to do so. +</dd></dl> + +<dl> +<dt class="notelabel"><a name="note4"> </a><a +href="#noteref4"><small>[4] +</small></a></dt> +<dd class="notetext"> The writer has been unable to learn sufficient of General Sprague's +services, after leaving the Seventh, to enable him to write an extended +sketch, which he very much regrets, for his gallant services entitle +him to a more lengthy notice. +</dd></dl> + +<dl> +<dt class="notelabel"><a name="note5"> </a><a +href="#noteref5"><small>[5] +</small></a></dt> +<dd class="notetext"> The writer would be glad to give an extended account of the gallant +services of Colonel Shurtliff in the bloody battles before Richmond and +Petersburg, but has not received the necessary facts. +</dd></dl> + +<dl> +<dt class="notelabel"><a name="note6"> </a><a +href="#noteref6"><small>[6] +</small></a></dt> +<dd class="notetext"> Colonel J. F. Asper. +</dd></dl> + +<br> +<div class="tn"> +<p class="ctr"> +Transcriber's Note: +</p> + +<p> +Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note. +</p> + +<p> +Irregularities and inconsistencies in the text have been retained as +printed. +</p> + +<p> +The cover of this ebook was created by the transcriber and is hereby +placed in the public domain. +</p> +</div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Seventh Regiment, by George L. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Seventh Regiment + A Record + +Author: George L. Wood + +Release Date: January 28, 2014 [EBook #44783] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SEVENTH REGIMENT *** + + + + +Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive) + + + + + + +Transcriber's Note: Minor typographical errors have been corrected +without note. Irregularities and inconsistencies in the text have +been retained as printed. + +Words printed in italics are noted with underscores: _italics_. + +The cover of this ebook was created by the transcriber and is hereby +placed in the public domain. + + + + +THE SEVENTH REGIMENT: + +A RECORD. + + +BY + +MAJOR GEORGE L. WOOD. + + +NEW YORK: +PUBLISHED BY JAMES MILLER, +(SUCCESSOR TO C. S. FRANCIS & CO.,) +522 BROADWAY. +1865. + + +Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, + +BY JAMES MILLER, + +In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for +the Southern District of New York. + + + + +AUTHOR'S PREFACE. + + +The following pages were written for the purpose of making a permanent +record of the facts within the author's knowledge relating to the +Seventh Ohio Regiment. The work was undertaken with the belief that the +doings and sufferings of the regiment were of sufficient magnitude and +importance to entitle it to a separate record. It has been extremely +difficult to obtain facts, on account of so large a portion of the +members still being in the service. The book is, therefore, written +principally from memory. If it serves to perpetuate in the minds of the +public the hardships, as well as long and faithful service, of this +gallant regiment, then the object of the author is accomplished. + +WARREN, _May, 1865_. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +This preface to the history of the Seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry is +written at the request of the accomplished author of the book; but +without having read it, seen it, or heard its contents. I have, +however, such confidence in the ability, honesty, candor, good +judgment, and good taste of my old friend and "companion in arms," +that, for myself, I take his work on trust, and in cheerful faith +commend it to others. + +But was there a demand for another book on the war? Or were the doings +and sufferings of one regiment, among the thousands engaged in the war, +of such interest as to demand a separate history? These are questions +the author doubtless weighed carefully before he began to write; and +his answer to them is his book. I agree with him. This nation has a +deep, and will have a lasting, interest in the war. We have been making +history of unrivalled, perhaps of unequalled, importance to the world +during the past four years. We ourselves cannot comprehend the +magnitude of the work we have been doing, or, rather, that God has been +doing through us. The successful revolts of the Netherlanders against +the tyranny of Philip II.--of the Puritans against the tyranny of +Charles I.--of the republicans against the tyranny of George III., +dwindle to insignificance (important as they were) in comparison with +the successful revolt of the loyal, Union-loving, freedom-loving +citizens of this Republic against the tyranny of treason and slavery. +It was a great fight for a great cause, and God has given us a great +victory. There was not a nation on earth that was not interested in the +conflict. Ay, it concerned our common humanity. All this will be seen +more clearly and felt more deeply twenty, fifty, a hundred years hence +than now. But to transmit and perpetuate the fruits of this victory we +must have records of the war--many records, made from many different +points of view, and of many kinds, great and small. The history of this +war is not yet written, perhaps cannot be successfully written for many +years yet. And that it may one day be written as it should be, every +regiment that has a story to tell should tell it. These regimental +histories will be invaluable to the Bancroft who, fifty years hence, +shall write the history of this war. The world is only beginning to +understand the true character and vocation of history--_to make the +past live in the present_; not in great pageants, not in processions +of kings, princes, and mighty conquerors, but _in the common every-day +speech and deeds of the people_. When Merle d'Aubigne would write the +History of the Reformation, he wrote to Guizot for counsel. Guizot +encouraged him, and counselled him to proceed, but added, "_Give us +facts, incidents, details._" This counsel chimed with the purpose +and genius of d'Aubigne, and the result was a history that, though +it discusses doctrines and themes commonly held to be dry and +uninteresting, has for old and young, and men of all classes, all the +charm of romance. In this, his "facts, incidents, details," equally +with his fascinating style, lies the charm of the histories of +Macaulay. But that historians may write such histories--that the +historian of this war may write such a history, the "facts, incidents, +details" must be on record. There is a demand, therefore, for another +book, for many other books, on the war. + +In addition to this, every regiment of the grand Army of the Union in +this war has its own history, of peculiar interest to its own especial +friends. And I have faith in what Dr. O. W. Holmes once said: "I would +not give a fig for a man every one of whose geese were not better than +any other man's swans." To us of the old Seventh "all our geese were +swans." Whether others believed in us or not, we had faith in ourselves +and in one another; we were a mutual admiration society of a thousand +and odd men. And the fact is, that, for some reason, but what I cannot +say, the Seventh Regiment, from the day it was mustered into service to +the day it was mustered out, was always the pride and pet of Ohio, of +Northern Ohio especially. In this respect it never had a rival. True, +it was a well-disciplined, gallant, fighting regiment; but so were many +others. True, it had brave and accomplished officers; but so had many +others. True, it had in the ranks men of refinement, education, and +high social position; but so had many others. I am at a loss to account +for it, but the fact nevertheless was as I have stated it; and as its +deeds corresponded with its renown, _its_ doings, of all others, demand +a permanent record. And, if I am not mistaken, the reader of the +following pages who shall follow the Seventh from the day it was +mustered into service, in Cleveland, in 1861, to the day the pitiful +remnant of it, after tramping and fighting over almost half the Union, +were mustered out of service, in Cleveland, in 1864, will find in them +ample compensation for his time. + +F. T. B. + +CHICAGO, ILL., _May, 1865_. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE FALL OF SUMTER.--CIVIL WAR BEGUN.--PREPARATIONS BY THE SOUTH. +--NOBILITY. 13 + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE PRESIDENT'S CALL FOR TROOPS.--ORGANIZATION OF THE SEVENTH.-- +ITS DEPARTURE FOR CAMP DENNISON.--ITS REORGANIZATION AND DEPARTURE +FOR THE FIELD. 19 + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE PURSUIT OF GENERAL WISE.--TYLER ORDERED TO MENACE GAULEY +BRIDGE AND THREATEN WISE'S COMMUNICATIONS. 30 + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE SKIRMISH AT CROSS LANES.--GALLANT CONDUCT AND FINAL ESCAPE +OF THE SEVENTH REGIMENT. 43 + + +CHAPTER V. + +REFLECTIONS ON THE SKIRMISH AT CROSS LANES.--BATTLE OF CARNIFEX +FERRY. 56 + + +CHAPTER VI. + +CHARLESTON AND THE KANAWHA VALLEY.--A DOUBLE MURDER.--COLONEL +TYLER ASSUMES COMMAND OF THE POST. 63 + + +CHAPTER VII. + +FLOYD ESTABLISHES BATTERIES ON COTTON HILL.--DRIVEN OFF BY +THE FORCES OF GENERAL COX.--BENHAM'S FAILURE TO INTERCEPT HIS +RETREAT.--HIS PURSUIT.--SKIRMISH AT MCCOY'S MILLS.--HIS FINAL +ESCAPE. 70 + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +REFLECTIONS ON THE INSTITUTION OF SLAVERY. 77 + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE SEVENTH ORDERED TO THE EAST.--EXPEDITION TO BLUE'S GAP.-- +KIRMISH ON THE BLOOMING PIKE. 83 + + +CHAPTER X. + +GALLANTRY OF LIEUTENANT O'BRIEN.--DEATH OF GENERAL LANDER.--THE +SEVENTH ESCORT HIS REMAINS.--THE OCCUPATION OF WINCHESTER. 89 + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE RECONNOISSANCE TO STRASBURG.--BATTLE OF WINCHESTER.--UTTER +DEFEAT AND ROUT OF JACKSON'S ARMY. 94 + + +CHAPTER XII. + +GENERAL SHIELDS' ANXIETY FOR LAURELS.--SUMMING UP OF THE BATTLE. +--LOSSES IN THE SEVENTH. 104 + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +PURSUIT OF JACKSON UP THE VALLEY.--MARCH TO FREDERICKSBURG, AND +RETURN TO FRONT ROYAL. 109 + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE MARCH ON WAYNESBORO.--TWO BRIGADES ENCOUNTER JACKSON AT +PORT REPUBLIC, AND AFTER FIVE HOURS' FIGHTING ARE COMPELLED +TO FALL BACK. 114 + + +CHAPTER XV. + +BATTLE OF CEDAR MOUNTAIN.--GALLANTRY OF THE REGIMENT, AND +TERRIBLE LOSS. 123 + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +THE REGIMENT GOES INTO CAMP AT ALEXANDRIA, BUT IS SOON ORDERED +TO THE FRONT.--BATTLE OF ANTIETAM. 134 + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE MARCH TO DUMFRIES.--SKIRMISH WITH HAMPTON'S CAVALRY, IN +WHICH THEY ARE BADLY DEFEATED BY A MUCH INFERIOR FORCE. 142 + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE REGIMENT ORDERED TO THE FRONT.--BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE. 150 + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +ACCOMPANIES THE GRAND ARMY INTO PENNSYLVANIA.--BATTLE OF +GETTYSBURG. 156 + + +CHAPTER XX. + +AFTER REACHING THE RAPIDAN IT GOES TO GOVERNOR'S ISLAND.-- +AFTER ITS RETURN IT ACCOMPANIES HOOKER'S CORPS TO THE WESTERN +DEPARTMENT. 160 + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +THE SEVENTH JOINS GRANT'S ARMY.--THE BATTLES OF LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, +MISSION RIDGE, AND RINGGOLD. 164 + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +THE ADVANCE TOWARDS ATLANTA.--SKIRMISHING.--HOMEWARD MARCH.--ITS +RECEPTION.--MUSTER OUT. 170 + + +BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. + + BRIGADIER-GENERAL E. B. TYLER. 185 + BREVET BRIGADIER-GENERAL J. S. CASEMENT. 189 + BRIGADIER-GENERAL JOHN W. SPRAGUE. 192 + LIEUTENANT-COLONEL SAMUEL MCCLELLAND. 193 + MAJOR FREDERICK A. SEYMOUR. 196 + SURGEON FRANCIS SALTER. 197 + C. J. BELLOWS. 198 + G. E. DENIG. 198 + FREDERICK T. BROWN, D.D. 199 + CHAPLAIN D. C. WRIGHT. 205 + LIEUTENANT-COLONEL GILES W. SHURTLIFF. 206 + COLONEL ARTHUR T. WILCOX. 207 + LIEUTENANT-COLONEL JAMES T. STERLING. 208 + COLONEL JOEL F. ASPER. 210 + MAJOR W. R. STERLING. 214 + MAJOR E. J. KREGER. 215 + CAPTAIN J. B. MOLYNEAUX. 216 + CAPTAIN CHARLES A. WEED. 219 + CAPTAIN JUDSON N. CROSS. 220 + CAPTAIN JOHN F. S. CHUTTE. 221 + LIEUTENANT LOUIS G. DE FOREST. 222 + LIEUTENANT HALBERT B. CASE. 224 + LIEUTENANT HENRY Z. EATON. 226 + LIEUTENANT A. H. DAY. 227 + LIEUTENANT WILLIAM D. SHEPHERD. 227 + LIEUTENANT E. HUDSON BAKER. 229 + LIEUTENANT RALPH LOCKWOOD. 230 + LIEUTENANT T. T. SWEENEY. 230 + LIEUTENANT EDWARD W. FITCH. 231 + LIEUTENANT A. J. WILLIAMS. 231 + + +OUR DEAD. + + COLONEL WILLIAM R. CREIGHTON AND LIEUTENANT-COLONEL + ORRIN J. CRANE. 235 + LIEUTENANT-COLONEL MERVIN CLARK. 291 + LIEUTENANT HENRY ROBINSON. 295 + LIEUTENANT E. S. QUAY. 296 + LIEUTENANT JAMES P. BRISBINE. 296 + LIEUTENANT CHARLES A. BROOKS. 299 + LIEUTENANT JOSEPH H. ROSS. 303 + LIEUTENANT FRANK JOHNSON. 304 + + + + +THE SEVENTH REGIMENT. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE FALL OF SUMTER.--CIVIL WAR BEGUN.--PREPARATIONS BY THE SOUTH.-- +NOBILITY. + + +On a gloomy day in April, 1861, the telegraph flashed the news over the +country that Fort Sumter, a fortress belonging to the United States, +had been fired upon by a body of rebels, and thus inaugurating all the +horrors of civil war. + +By the great mass of people, civil war in our hitherto peaceful country +was entirely unlooked for. It burst so suddenly, that the entire +country was convulsed. The people had become so accustomed to clamor in +Congress and elsewhere, that they looked upon these threats to dissolve +the Union as mere bravado. + +After the first clash of arms at Fort Sumter, both North and South drew +back in alarm, as if in fear of the coming storm. The Southern people, +however, better prepared by education for scenes of strife and +bloodshed, received the news of the inauguration of civil war with less +alarm than did those of the North. The latter received it with a +fearful dignity, conscious of the power to crush the rebellion. The +South, with that arrogance that becomes her so well, expected to make +an easy conquest. Long-continued exercise of power in national matters, +had taught her to look upon the people of the Free States as her +inferiors, needing but a master-stroke for their subjugation,--willing +to lay down their arms, and seek safety in dishonor. They had taken us +for a race of cowards, because we had given way to their selfish +demands in our public councils, for the sake of peace. To be sure, we +had some daring spirits in Congress who met these bullying traitors, +making them feel the full force of Northern valor. But these were +isolated cases, and won the respect of the Southern people to the +persons of the actors rather than to the North as a people. They looked +upon these spirited examples as rather proving the fact of our want of +chivalry than otherwise, and therefore were not corrected in their +false estimate of a people whom they were about to meet on bloody +fields. + +One reason the South had for cherishing so mean an opinion of the North +as a military power, was on account of her having entirely neglected +the cultivation of the art of war. She had so few representatives in +the army and navy, that they were both almost entirely within the +control of the South. + +This control the latter had exercised for years, until her people came +to look upon themselves as the only persons in the country fit to bear +arms. They flattered themselves that they were the army, and we but a +rabble, to be dispersed beyond the hope of reorganization at the first +clash of arms. But in this strife, like all others where aristocratic +privilege comes in contact with the freedom of democracy, these +arrogant lords were to meet with a bitter disappointment; they were to +be made to respect the strong muscle and brave hearts of the so-styled +plebeian North. + +This avowed hostility of the South to the North had caused the former +to take a military direction, and forced her into a course of policy +which, however outrageous it might appear, was yet a matter of +necessity in her attempt at independence. The first step was to put +herself upon a war-footing. This she had been perfecting for several +years. The next was to get the Government so in her control as to make +it powerless in the incipient stages of the rebellion, that it might +gain sufficient strength to withstand the first shock, and thus gain +precedence. + +During a period of thirty years the South was gradually assuming a +war-footing. The militia was organized; independent companies were +formed with no warlike object, as was generally supposed, but really to +resist any encroachment of the Federal Government upon what the leaders +deemed the rights of the Southern people. The election of Abraham +Lincoln to the presidency was not the cause of civil war, but only its +apology. There had existed in the minds of the Southern people a desire +for an independent government, which would give the aristocracy a +firmer footing. In other words, the Federal Government was too +democratic. But it was necessary that these conspirators have some +apparently good reason for civil war; else the people who were at heart +right, would desert them at a time when they were most needed. The time +for the inauguration of civil war was therefore most fitly chosen. The +people were made to believe that the inauguration of President Lincoln +was a sufficient reason; and thus the dream of thirty years of these +disunionists was at last realized. The apology for the war had been +substituted for its cause, and the mass of the Southern people made +eager to meet those on bloody fields whom they were led to suppose were +about to deprive them of their rights and precipitate them into ruin. + +There is always a class styled the nobility in every nation. But the +true nobility in America is that class who have won that distinction by +noble deeds; who are great, not in titles and garters of nobility, but +in great achievements: not that class who base their right to that +title upon the number and character of human beings they may own. The +American people hold that distinction must be given to those by whom it +is merited; and that it cannot be the subject of monopoly. Each person, +however mean his birth, has the same right to enter the list for the +prize as he who was born of a higher rank. It is this freedom, which is +given to all, that has caused the Northern States to make such rapid +progress towards civilization and greatness; and it is the crippling of +this great principle that has cast a shadow over the enslaved South. +One great object of the leaders of the South had been to arrest the +rapid growth of the North, which, they were conscious, would one day +throw them into a helpless minority, for they could not themselves keep +pace with this rapid progress. Their ambition was to have capital +control labor, while the laboring classes were to be subservient to the +capitalists, and a sort of serfdom forced upon them. The wealthy class +were to live in luxury and indolence upon the unrequited toil of their +slaves. These facts, the leaders of the wicked rebellion, which they +were to inaugurate, were careful to conceal from their followers. This +was so well done, that the people of the South thought that these +imaginary wrongs of the Government, which had been pictured to them by +their masters, was the true reason of their attempt at separation from +the Union. It is hoped that the masses will soon see the difference +between serving a privileged class of aristocrats, and being members of +a free Republic. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE PRESIDENT'S CALL FOR TROOPS.--ORGANIZATION OF THE SEVENTH.--ITS +DEPARTURE FOR CAMP DENNISON.--ITS REORGANIZATION AND DEPARTURE FOR +THE FIELD. + + +On Monday, April 15, the President issued a call for 75,000 volunteers +for three months' service. The States responded immediately to this +call in double the number required. Never in the history of the world +was such a response witnessed to the call of any country. Men left +their implements of husbandry in the fields and rushed to the +recruiting stations. The executives of the States were pressed with +applications to raise companies and batteries under the call of the +President. + +Under this call thirteen regiments of infantry were assigned to Ohio. +In fifteen days 71,000 troops were offered to Governor Dennison to fill +the quota of the State. Camps were now established at different points +in the State, and troops ordered to rendezvous. Camp Taylor, at +Cleveland, Ohio, was organized on the 22d day of April, and by the 27th +contained several thousand troops. Of these, the city of Cleveland had +three companies of infantry; Trumbull County, one; Mahoning County, one +company of infantry and a section of artillery; Portage County, two; +Lake County, one; Lorain County, one; Huron County, one; while the city +of Toledo was represented by an entire regiment. The latter part of +April these detached companies were formed into a regiment, +constituting the Seventh Ohio. It contained the right material for a +fighting regiment. The majority of its members were of a floating +class, fond of adventure, while many were of the best class. The +regiment, as a whole, combined rare military talent. Many of its +officers and privates were skilled in tactics; and those who were not, +immediately set themselves about acquiring the necessary information, +rather by practice than study; for, with some exceptions, it was not a +scholarly regiment. The members took too much the character of +adventurers, to indulge in close study or profound thinking. But for +practical purposes, I doubt whether the regiment had a superior in the +State. It readily acquired discipline while on duty; but while off +duty, its members were not over-nice in their conduct, seldom indulging +in sports that were absolutely wrong, but, at the same time, gratifying +that propensity for fun which characterized them through their entire +career. It contained no drones; there was no companionship in it for +such. + +On a beautiful Sabbath in early May, as the morning, with its +freshness, was dispelling the damps and shadows of the night from city +and country, a regiment was seen passing down the streets of the city +of Cleveland. The sweet strains of music and the heavy tramp of the +soldiers alone broke the silence. There was nothing but this martial +bearing, which marked the carriage of the members of the regiment, to +distinguish them from the multitude which was hastening in the same +direction; for there were no arms and no uniforms. Each member was +dressed in his citizen's garb, and there was no attempt at military +evolutions. It was a simple march of determined men to the defence of +their country. Solemnity and a becoming absence of unnecessary +enthusiasm marked the occasion with sublimity and grandeur. The faces +of those brave men were saddened with the thought of the perils which +lay before them, and the endearments that were behind. They were +marching to perform a sacred trust, confided to them by their +countrymen. "This was the first march of the gallant Seventh." Arriving +at the depot of the Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati Railroad, it +took a train of cars for Camp Dennison, where it arrived in the +afternoon of the next day. Here they were totally unprepared to receive +it, no barracks having been erected, although one hundred men had been +sent there for that purpose several days previous. The ground was +perfectly saturated with water from a three days' rain, and the camp in +what had been a cornfield. But notwithstanding these difficulties, by +sunset the regiment had constructed barracks, and were comparatively +comfortable. In a few days the companies began to drill in earnest, and +their advancement was correspondingly rapid. + +On the 11th day of May the regiment was ordered to elect, by ballot, +three field-officers. The candidates for colonel were, E. B. Tyler, of +Ravenna; a former brigadier of militia, and James A. Garfield. The +former was elected. Garfield afterwards became colonel of the +Forty-second regiment, and, in command of a brigade, defeated Humphrey +Marshall in Kentucky, for which he was given a star. Captain W. R. +Creighton was elected lieutenant-colonel, and J. S. Casement, of +Painesville, major. + +On the 13th day of May, the President having issued a call for 42,032 +volunteers for three years, a meeting was held in the Seventh Regiment, +when all but one of the officers were in favor of organizing under this +call. The subject being brought before the regiment on the following +day, about three-fourths of the command enlisted for the three years' +service. Recruiting officers were sent home, and by the middle of June +the regiment was full. It was mustered into the three years' service on +the 19th and 20th of June. + +The companies were officered as follows: Company A, O. J. Crane, captain; +A. C. Burgess, first-lieutenant; D. A. Kimball, second-lieutenant. +Company B, James T. Sterling, captain; Joseph B. Molyneaux, +first-lieutenant; H. Z. Eaton, second-lieutenant. Company C, Giles W. +Shurtliff, captain; Judson N. Cross, first-lieutenant; E. Hudson Baker, +second-lieutenant. Company D, John N. Dyer, captain; Charles A. Weed, +first-lieutenant; A. J. Williams, second-lieutenant. Company E, John W. +Sprague, captain; Arthur T. Wilcox, first-lieutenant; Ralph Lockwood, +second-lieutenant. Company F, D. B. Clayton, captain; John B. Rouse, +first-lieutenant; A. C. Day, second-lieutenant. Company G, F. A. +Seymour, captain; W. H. Robinson, first-lieutenant; E. S. Quay, +second-lieutenant. Company H, Joel F. Asper, captain; Geo. L. Wood, +first-lieutenant; Halbert B. Case, second-lieutenant. Company I, W. R. +Sterling, captain; Samuel McClelland, first-lieutenant; E. F. Fitch, +second-lieutenant. Company K, John F. Schutte, captain; Oscar W. Sterl, +first-lieutenant; C. A. Nitchelm, second-lieutenant. H. K. Cushing was +appointed surgeon, and F. Salter assistant surgeon. John Morris was +appointed quartermaster, Louis G. De Forest, adjutant, and Rev. F. T. +Brown, chaplain. + +Camp Dennison was well calculated for a camp of instruction. It is +separated into two parts by the track of the Little Miami Railroad, +while the river of the same name flows along its border. It is situated +between sloping hills of some magnitude, in a slightly undulating +valley. In summer it is beautiful; in winter, gloomy. + +Soon after being mustered into service, the regiment was reviewed by +George B. McClellan, then major-general of Ohio militia, commanding the +Department of the Ohio. Immediately after, we were ordered to join his +forces in the field. + +Accordingly, on the afternoon of the 26th of June, the regiment took +the cars for Columbus, Ohio, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel +Creighton, Colonel Tyler having gone in advance. Arriving in Columbus +late at night, it was transferred to the Central Ohio Railroad, +arriving at Bell air in the afternoon of the succeeding day. It was +immediately ordered across the river to Benwood, a small station on the +Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, a few miles below Wheeling. Here the +regiment was, for the first time, supplied with ammunition. It encamped +on the common, after the pieces were loaded. Much fatigued by their +long ride, the men threw themselves upon the hard ground, and were soon +enjoying a sound sleep. + +In the mean time Major Casement was superintending the transportation +of the baggage and supplies across the river to a train of cars in +waiting. + +Here and there the dusky forms of men were seen grouped over the fires, +which were dimly burning, discussing the stories which were floating +about camp, with no apparent starting place, of ambuscades, masked +batteries, and other concealed horrors. + +Early on the morning of the 28th of June, three trains of cars were +slowly conveying the regiment into the wilds of Western Virginia, where +war, in its madness, was to confront it. + +It arrived at Grafton early in the afternoon, and taking the +Parkersburg branch of the railroad, it arrived at Clarksburg before the +close of the day, and encamped in the outskirts of the village. The +entire regiment occupied tents, which were looked upon with much more +favor than densely crowded barracks. + +While encamped at this place, a stand of colors was presented to the +regiment, the gift of the Turners, a society of Germans in Cleveland. + +Near thirty miles from the village of Clarksburg is the small hamlet of +Weston, then a notorious haunt for rebels. In the place was a bank, in +which the deposits, to the amount of about thirty thousand dollars, +still remained. The authorities were desirous of procuring this +treasure. The undertaking was intrusted to the Seventh. It was proposed +to surprise the town early in the morning, before any one was astir to +give the alarm. + +In the afternoon of the last day of June, the regiment wound its way +through the village, across the river, on to what is called the +Clarksburg pike, leading to Weston. The clay was intensely hot, and the +men entirely unused to marching. At sunset but little distance had been +made, and all were much fatigued, but still the gallant band pressed +onward. Weary and footsore, it moved on till daylight, when some +considerable distance intervened between it and the village. Men were +beginning to fall out by the wayside, unable to proceed further. At +this unfortunate moment the river appeared in view, which makes a bend +to the road, about a mile from Weston. On the opposite side of the road +was a gradual slope of cultivated land, with here and there a clump of +trees. From behind one of these a man was seen to emerge, and being +taken for one of the enemy's scouts, the command was given to "fire," +when several pieces were discharged, without injury, however, to the +object of their aim. A double-quick was now ordered, when the men, +unable to proceed with their knapsacks, scattered them along the road. + +Arriving at the town the right wing made a detour to the left, while +the left wing made a similar one to right, deploying as they went. In +this manner the village was entirely surrounded. The first intimation +the citizens had of the presence of the military was the playing of the +"Star Spangled Banner" by the band stationed in the park. A guard was +placed over the bank, and a member of the regiment detailed to look to +the business. + +The Union citizens were overjoyed at the presence of the Federal +forces. They prepared a breakfast for the entire regiment, and other +charitable acts, which attested their devotion to the Union cause. The +regiment encamped on the bank of the river, near the cemetery. + +During the first days of our stay at Weston many arrests were made of +disloyal citizens, a few of whom were sent to Columbus, Ohio, to await +the action of the Federal Government. + +At this time a small force, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Pond, +of the Seventeenth Ohio Volunteers, was besieged at Glenville, a small +village on the banks of the Little Kanawha, by a superior force of +rebels, under command of Major Patton, assisted by Captain O. Jennings +Wise. Companies H and B were sent to his relief. After a fatiguing +march of two days and one night they opened communication with Colonel +Pond, the rebels withdrawing at their approach. + +Six more companies of the regiment arrived at Glenville on the +following day, Colonel Tyler being fearful that the first detachment +might meet with a reverse. Several other regiments arrived about the +same time, but left soon after. + +During the stay of the regiment at this place, many scouting +expeditions were sent out; on which occasions many dangers and +hardships were encountered. + +Just before our arrival at Glenville, a Union lady rode in the saddle +through the rebel camp, with the stars and stripes in one hand and a +pistol in the other, while she defied the rebel host. Being pursued, +she sought refuge in our camp, and finally accompanied the advance of +our forces to her home, with the proud satisfaction of seeing the old +banner once more planted on her native soil. During the progress of the +war she had suffered many perils. At one time she went to visit her +brother, who was concealed in the woods, for the purpose of giving him +food, when she was challenged by a rebel picket. She wheeled her horse, +and, by hard riding, escaped, the rebel bullets passing harmlessly over +her head. + +Private Adams, of Company C, was wounded while on picket, being the +first casualty in the regiment produced by the enemy. About the same +time Captain Shurtliff had a horse shot from under him, while riding in +the vicinity of the camp, and within the Federal lines. + +Some difficulty was experienced at this place in procuring supplies. +The regiment was fed for some time on corn meal and fresh beef. A mill, +however, was soon set in operation, and supplies of flour and meal were +furnished in abundance. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE PURSUIT OF GENERAL WISE.--TYLER ORDERED TO MENACE GAULEY BRIDGE +AND THREATEN WISE'S COMMUNICATIONS. + + +On the 11th day of July General Rosecrans, by order of General +McClellan, marched his brigade eight miles through a mountain-path to +the rear of the rebel force, occupying the crest of Rich Mountain, +commanded by Colonel Pegram. This movement resulted in the fighting of +the battle of that name. The rebels were completely defeated, and made +a precipitate retreat towards Carrick's Ford, where, on the 13th, they +were again routed, with the loss of their general. + +In the mean time the rebel General Wise had occupied the Kanawha +Valley, with a few regular troops and a considerable force of militia. + +The advance of this force extended as far down the river as Buffalo, +while numerous incursions were made by the rebel cavalry in the +vicinity of Point Pleasant, a village situated at the junction of the +Kanawha with the Ohio River. + +To oppose this force General Cox was sent with a brigade of Ohio +troops. His main force passed up the river in boats, while a sufficient +force was kept on each flank to prevent surprise. + +General Wise gradually retired at the advance of this force until, +arriving on the banks of Scarey Creek, he threw up some breastworks, +and awaited the approach of the Union troops. + +While these movements were being executed in the valley, Colonel Tyler +was ordered to advance with a brigade by the way of Sutton, to menace +Gauley Bridge, and threaten Wise's communications. + +On the 22d of July the Seventh Regiment moved out of Glenville, on what +is called the Braxton road, towards Bulltown, where it was to be joined +by Colonel Tyler with the Seventeenth Ohio, two companies of the First +Virginia, with Captain Mack's battery, United States Artillery, and +Captain Snyder's section of twelve-pounders, making a force of fifteen +hundred. + +We arrived at Bulltown in the evening of the next day, meeting with no +resistance from the rebels, who were scattered in small parties through +this entire region of country. We had expected to meet with opposition +at the ford, on the Little Kanawha, some twenty miles from Glenville, +but with the exception of a small band of guerillas, who were very +careful to keep the river between ourselves and them, we saw no rebels. + +It was not until the evening of the 25th that we broke camp, and then +to cross a range of hills only, into the valley of the Elk, where we +remained until the 27th of July. + +At this camp we learned of a rebel force at Flat Woods, distant six +miles, in the direction of Sutton. On the 27th we moved out, in a heavy +rain, to attack their camp, but at our approach they fled in dismay. + +We remained at Flat Woods till the following Sunday, when we moved on +to Sutton, a distance of ten miles. + +Sutton, the county-seat of Braxton County, is situated at the base of a +high range of hills, on the right bank of the Elk River. The river is +crossed by a suspension bridge. Back of the village, and about two +hundred feet above it, is a fine table land, with a range of hills for +a back ground. This table land was to be approached only by a narrow +defile fronting the river, which was easily defended; for a battery +properly planted would command every approach for a mile around; +besides, the enemy would have to cross the Elk River under fire. Nature +had made the position a strong one. + +The command, now swelled to about two thousand, encamped on this table +land, with the two companies of the First Virginia, and Mack's Battery +thrown forward across the river, to keep open the road in front. + +The command at once proceeded to erect fortifications, Captain Asper +being sent to the front of Captain Mack's position on the Summerville +pike, with instructions to select a proper position, after which to +erect a fortification commanding the road. Finding a point where the +road makes a sharp angle, the captain constructed the work, which, +although of no account during the stay of the regiment at Sutton, +afterwards proved a good point of defence, when the wreak garrison +stationed there was attacked. + +The second day of August, the regiment left Sutton, and crossing the +river again advanced towards Gauley Bridge. The day was one of the +hottest, which, added to the hilly nature of the country, made the +advance difficult. Both officers and men fell out of the line, unable +to proceed, being so oppressed by the heat, and wearied by the +difficult state of the roads. At night we had crossed but one range of +hills, and found ourselves in the valley of the Little Birch River, at +the foot of Birch Mountain. The following morning we again took up the +line of march, reaching the Great Birch River at early twilight, having +made but a few miles during the day. + +In the afternoon we were joined by our chaplain, who, when we were at +Glenville, volunteered to make his way across the country with a +message to General Cox. And now, after an absence of more than two +weeks, on a perilous message, he was again with us, as fresh and +light-hearted as when he left for his daring enterprise. He joined us +by the way of Gauley Bridge, having been the first to make the trip. +Alone, through a country infested by murderous bands of guerrillas and +outlaws, he traveled more than a hundred and fifty miles. Before such +deeds of individual heroism, all but the grandeur and magnitude of +large battles fade into obscurity. In such single exploits there is a +stern, silent daring, that obscures the maddened bravery of a +battle-field. + +From our chaplain we learned that General Wise had left the valley, +burning the bridge over the Gauley River, after crossing his command. +He had become frightened and fled. And thus the rebel general, who at +Charleston had said: "By G--, the stars and stripes shall never wave +over this town again;" on the Wednesday following exclaimed: "The enemy +are on us, why the h--ll don't you pack my wagon," and, taking counsel +of his fears, fled in dismay. + +But let us return to the Seventh Regiment, which we left at its camp +near the Big Birch River. + +On the morning of August 6, we broke camp, and taking a mountain road +arrived at Summerville on the following Wednesday, and encamped on +Addison Hill. + +The country about Summerville is beautiful in the extreme. It is +slightly undulating, having more the appearance of an open country, or +in some respects a prairie, than of a valley between two very high +ridges. It is sufficiently rolling to hide the mountains which separate +the Gauley from the Elk River. + +At our former camp we were surrounded by very high, precipitous +mountains, with large rocks projecting from their summits. After +passing over Powell Mountain, we came into the valley of the Gauley, +and after marching a short distance, entirely lost sight of these +mountains, over whose rocky crests we had, but a short time before, +pursued our slow and weary way. + +The contrast between this camp and the one at Big Birch was striking. +Here we were reminded of Ohio, our native State, the one which had more +attractions for us than any other; while at the latter camp we were +constantly reminded of some lonely country, described only by the +novelist, and inhabited alone by robbers and outlaws. And yet, upon +this mountain region, nature was lavish with her charms. The scenery is +grand beyond description. Peak after peak rises, one above another, +until the tired eye arrows dim in its endeavor to trace the outlines of +the distant mountain, and seeks the beautiful valley, wherein to +restore its lost vision. + +From the top of Powell's Mountain, the beauty of the scenery is lost +sight of in its magnificence. This mountain is the highest in Western +Virginia, and commands the finest view. The first time I ascended it +was on horseback. When near the top we struck into a bridle path, and, +urging our horses into a gallop, we were soon at the base of the +projecting rocks. Below, a lovely panorama was open to our view. The +side of the mountain, as well as the distant valley, seemed covered +with a carpet of green, for both were densely wooded, and in the +distance the foliage seemed to blend with the earth. We could see far +away into the smaller valleys, and from them trace the ravines, in +which the small rivulets make their merry descent from the side of the +mountain. + +At last, tired of gazing at this beautiful spot in nature's varied +scenery, we again urged our horses forward, and, after partially +winding around the mountain, we were at the very summit of this mass of +earth, rocks, and herbage. We now obtained a view of the opposite side +of the mountain from which we had ascended, where beauty expands into +sublimity. We could plainly trace the course of the Kanawha River, as +on its banks the mountains rise higher, and are more abrupt, while +beyond they lessen into hills, and the hills waste into a valley. On +the side of the distant hills we could see an occasional farm, with its +fields of golden grain ready for the harvest. On the very top of this +mountain was living a family. + +Notwithstanding their great height, these mountains seemed fertile; and +the farms are apparently as good as those in the valley. Springs +frequently make their way out of the rocks by the roadside. Water is +abundant in any part of these mountains, and springs more common than +in the valley. + +Near the top of Powell's Mountain, in a kind of basin, is a very fine +farm. It is well watered, and well timbered, and quite fertile. The +owner lives and flourishes in this quiet home, and, I should say, is +quite as happy as if in a city. He has become accustomed to the +loneliness of his mountain retreat. The wild scenery has become +familiar--its very wildness has a charm. He is content with two visits +each year to the distant settlement. It is literally true that "home is +where the heart is." + +Although this country was well supplied with provisions of every kind, +we were not allowed to appropriate any of it. The property of rebels +was considered sacred. The authorities were confident of putting down +the rebellion through clemency, and, therefore, were both ready and +willing to put our soldiers upon half rations, rather than incur the +ill-will of traitors. When prisoners were captured, they had what was +called an oath of allegiance administered to them, when they were +liberated, to again rob and plunder. Occasionally we captured a horse, +but it was invariably given up, on the owner taking this oath of +allegiance. In view of this moderate method of dealing with them, they +risked nothing in prowling about our lines, for they knew that they had +only to take this oath to procure an honorable discharge; while the +soldiers of the Federal army, if they stole but an onion to make a +piece of hard bread palatable, were subjected to the severest +punishments. Experience has finally taught us, that hard blows alone +will conquer a rebellion, and that to reduce a foe, starvation is quite +as good as the bayonet. + +I do not know that any one was criminal in this early practice of +clemency towards rebels; it seemed rather to be a sort of national +weakness, growing out of the universal opinion that the rebellion was, +at the greatest, but a weak effort of a deluded people; and that +kindness, connected with a show of strength, rather than its exercise, +would induce them to return to their former allegiance. It seems to be, +at this day, of little consequence why this practice prevailed, or who +was responsible for it, as it has almost entirely ceased. + +On the 11th day of August, Captain John W. Sprague was given a leave of +absence, to go to his home, and was intrusted with dispatches to +General Rosecrans. He was to proceed by the way of Sutton and +Clarksburg. When near the Big Birch River he was suddenly confronted by +a band of rebel cavalry, belonging to Colonel Croghan's Second Georgia +Regiment, who was not far from the spot, with his entire command. The +mail carrier and two dragoons, who accompanied Captain Sprague, +attempted to make their escape; only one, however, was successful; the +mail carrier receiving a mortal wound in the attempt. + +Securing their prisoners, the rebel cavalry crossed the Gauley River, +and were soon out of reach of the Federal forces. An unsuccessful +attempt was made to rescue the captors; but infantry, of course, could +make but a fruitless attempt at recapturing prisoners in the hands of +well-mounted cavalry. + +This occurrence spread a gloom over the entire camp. One of the best +officers of the regiment had been captured almost within our lines, and +borne away to a Southern prison, to endure the privations of prison +life, with the fond anticipation of seeing home and friends blighted +and withered. To be lost to one's country, within the prison walls of +her enemies, when the arm of every true patriot is needed in her +defence, is a sad fate. + +I am not inclined to blame any one for this unfortunate occurrence, +though it may occur to the mind of the reader that good generalship +would require that the commandant of a body of troops, in the heart of +an enemy's country, should know whether or not the cavalry of that +enemy was hanging on his flank and rear. And then, again, it may be +urged with truth that the command was almost entirely without cavalry, +though it was furnished with one company, as well as one of Snake +Hunters, as they were called. The legitimate business in the army of +the latter was scouting. They had no other duty to perform. + +But however these facts may be, yet true it is that a regiment of the +enemy's regular cavalry was not only hanging on the flank of our +column, but occupied our rear--thus severing our communications, and +cutting off our supplies. + +On the 15th day of August we again moved forward, after first sending a +company down to Hugh's Ferry. We proceeded through a densely wooded +country, abounding in laurel and pau-pau, arriving at Cross Lanes, two +and a half miles from Carnifex Ferry, on the Gauley River, in time to +prepare our camp before night. + +Soon after our arrival Captain Schutte, of Company K, was on picket +duty at Carnifex Ferry. During the day the captain, for some unknown +reason, conceived the idea of a scout across the river. Selecting +fourteen of his men, he crossed over to the opposite bank, and, taking +the main road, immediately pushed into the country. The march was made, +apparently, without any apprehension of the presence of an enemy; at +least, no steps appear to have been taken to prevent a surprise. All +went well, however, until the party had made a distance of several +miles, when, the first intimation they had of danger, they were fired +upon by a party of cavalry, concealed in an adjacent thicket, and all +but four of the party killed or wounded--Captain Schutte being wounded +mortally. The survivors conveyed him to an old building, and, at his +own request, left him. He expired soon after, and was buried on the +spot by the rebels. The four men fled towards the river, and, being +pursued, took to the woods. One, being separated from his companions, +was pursued to the bank of the river, and was only saved by throwing +himself into the stream from the projecting rocks. He concealed his +body under water, keeping sufficient of his face above to sustain life. +He could plainly distinguish the conversation of the rebels, and knew +by it that they were in search of him. Here he remained during the day, +and at night dragged himself upon the rocks. The next morning, tired +and hungry, he floated himself down stream by clinging to the almost +perpendicular rocks, until, arriving opposite a house, he was hailed by +a woman, to whom he made known his condition. She immediately +unfastened a canoe, and, paddling directly across the river to where he +was lying, half famished in the water, helped him over its sides, and +conveyed him to the other shore. Before they landed, however, the +rebels discovered them, and gave the order to "halt." It not being +obeyed, they fired, the bullets sinking harmlessly into the water. In a +moment the two were lost to view in the pau-pau, which lined the river +bank. The woman guided the soldier to her home, where she cared for him +during a short illness, which succeeded his escape. When he was +sufficiently recovered to join his command, he found the regiment had +abandoned Cross Lanes, which had been occupied by the rebel forces. He +returned to his former retreat, where he was concealed until the day of +the disaster to the Seventh, when, taking advantage of the confusion +into which the rebel forces were thrown during the affair, he escaped +towards Gauley Bridge, which place he reached in safety the following +day. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE SKIRMISH AT CROSS LANES.--GALLANT CONDUCT AND FINAL ESCAPE OF +THE SEVENTH REGIMENT. + + +The occupation of Cross Lanes was considered by the authorities of the +gravest importance. It was contiguous to three fords on the Gauley +River, which, when possessed by the Federal forces, was a perfect +protection to the left of the army occupying Gauley Bridge. Carnifex +Ferry was immediately south two and one-half miles. There was a road +leading from the vicinity of Gauley Bridge, on the south bank of the +Gauley River, which unites with the Sunday road, crossing the river at +this ferry. This road afforded the enemy a means of gaining the left of +our forces, at Gauley Bridge. The occupation of Cross Lanes, therefore, +by the enemy, would sever the communication between our forces at the +above point, and the main army under Rosecrans, occupying the country +from the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, along Cheat Mountain. + +Carnifex Ferry, was a point easily defended against a much superior +force. Indeed, it had so many natural defences, that it elicited +exclamations of surprise from men accustomed to the selection of places +for defence. The current of the river was rapid, while the abrupt rocks +on its banks afforded secure hiding places for a considerable body of +troops. It was quite impossible to bring artillery to bear in such a +manner on the position as to interfere materially with troops concealed +there. It seems to be the opinion of most persons familiar with the +place, that it would be quite impossible to dislodge a body of troops +properly posted on the north bank of the river at this ferry, provided +a stubborn resistance was made. + +It was for the purpose of preventing the crossing of the enemy at this +point that the force of Colonel Tyler was ordered to Cross Lanes. By +keeping pickets well on the line of the river, to watch any advance of +the enemy, the regiment was entirely safe at its camp, from which it +was comparatively easy to re-enforce any portion of the line. But for +some reason, the commanding officer failed to visit the ferry in +person, until the afternoon of the day on which a peremptory order was +received to report with his command at Gauley Bridge. Hitherto he had +been entirely unable to give correct information, as to the probability +of his being able to hold the ferry. He was ordered to abandon the +position, because his dispatches were such, that they created an +uneasiness in the minds of Generals Rosecrans and Cox, as to the +propriety of trusting him to hold so important a position. Here was the +fatal mistake. A lesser error had already been made, in withdrawing all +the forces from Tyler, other than the Seventh. Had these forces +remained, the position would probably not have been abandoned, as all +would have felt secure. When the order to withdraw was received, the +commanding officer regretted it as much as any one. But the mischief +was already done; the order was imperative. On that evening, Monday, +the regiment left Cross Lanes at 11 o'clock P.M., and the next day, by +noon, was at Twenty Mile Creek, some eight miles from Gauley Bridge. + +On the Wednesday morning following, Colonel Tyler reported in person to +General Cox. In the mean time, the general having become satisfied that +Colonel Tyler could be trusted to hold Cross Lanes, and being confident +that the contemplated attack of the enemy on Gauley Bridge had been +abandoned, ordered him to return as soon as the troops were rested, +expecting him to start back, at least the next morning. But Tyler did +not move. On Friday afternoon, General Cox, on learning that he had not +moved, was much excited, and said to an officer present-- + +"He must move; he must move at once; it is all important that Cross +Lanes be held, and Floyd be kept on the other side of the river; ride +back to camp and tell him from me, to move early in the morning, _and +with speed, to secure the position_." + +The order was delivered in nearly the same language as given, but +notwithstanding its directness, he did not move till noon on Saturday, +and then made a distance of only fourteen miles, over good roads, +encamping at the foot of Panther Mountain, after having fallen back +from Peter's Creek, on learning of the presence of the enemy. + +On arriving in camp, a dispatch was sent to General Cox, representing +to him that the enemy were in force in front, and asking instructions. +On Sunday morning at about 3 o'clock, a courier arrived with an order +from General Cox, substantially as follows: The force in your front +cannot be as large as you estimate it. Advance cautiously, feeling your +way; if the enemy is too strong, fall back, if not, occupy Cross Lanes +at once, as it is of the utmost importance. + +About nine o'clock Sunday morning, August 25th, the regiment moved +towards Cross Lanes, casting lots as to which company should be left in +charge of the baggage. It fell upon Company F, which was temporarily +commanded by Lieutenant Kimball. The entire day was occupied in +reaching Cross Lanes. It was not until dark of that day that the +regiment went into camp. + +In the days' advance some slight skirmishing occurred with the enemy's +cavalry videttes, but beyond these few horsemen no enemy was +encountered, the regiment encamping in apparent security near the +church, after having driven away a cavalry picket of the enemy. + +Companies were sent out on picket, as follows: Company A, on the road +leading to Summerville; Company K, on the road leading to Carnifex +Ferry; Company C, on the road leading in the opposite direction, while +Company E was sent on a diagonal road leading to a ferry some distance +below Carnifex. The balance of the command remained near headquarters, +which were established in the church. + +Each company on picket was divided into three reliefs, with +instructions to be vigilant. + +The silence of the enemy, together with his neglect to attack, created +the impression that he had withdrawn his forces to the other side of +the river, fearing that this small force was but the advance of a +well-equipped army. But these theories were destined to fade into +sadder realities, as the shadows of night melted into morning. + +Nothing occurred during the night to disturb the general repose. A +short time before day fires were kindled, and those who were up had +pieces of meat on sticks, which they were roasting. Some had obtained +green corn during the night, which they were also roasting. Before day +had fairly dawned, the command was almost entirely astir. As it became +sufficiently light to distinguish objects at a considerable distance, +several musket shots were heard in the direction of the river, followed +in quick succession by others. It soon became evident that a determined +attack was being made on Company K. About this time a column of rebels +was seen advancing from the river road, across the fields, towards +Company A's position on the Summerville road. Arriving in the vicinity +of this road, the column halted, formed in line of battle, at the same +time swinging round its right to the Summerville road, driving Company +A back to the point where the roads cross. In the mean time Companies +B, D, G, H, and I were ordered to the support of Company K; but on +arriving at the cross roads, Company K was seen falling back in some +confusion, before a superior force, therefore they remained at that +point. Meanwhile a heavy fire was opened from a dense wood opposite the +church, to resist which Company K, having been joined by Companies A +and C, which had advanced to its support on the ferry road, took +position on a hill midway between this belt of timber and the crossing +of the roads. From this point these companies delivered several +effective volleys, which soon drove the rebels from their position. +Taking advantage of this partial check of the enemy, Captain Crane +ordered a charge, which resulted in piercing the lines, and the capture +of a stand of rebel colors. The three companies now escaped, with a +loss, however, of Captain Shurtliff, Lieutenant Wilcox, and Lieutenant +Cross, taken prisoners, the latter being severely wounded in the arm. + +During this time the rebel column from the direction of Summerville had +advanced so as to lap over the road opposite the Ferry road, exposing +the companies occupying the road in front of the church to an +enfilading fire, at the same time being exposed to a severe fire from +the front, from a column of infantry and cavalry coming up the Ferry +road. These companies were now ordered to rally on a hill near the +church. In executing this movement Companies D and H passed through a +corn field, exposed to a deadly fire from almost every direction. Soon +after reaching this field Captain Dyer, Company D, fell dead, pierced +in the heart by a rifle bullet. Lieutenant Weed succeeded him in +command. On reaching the hill these companies attempted to rally, but +being in an open field, combated by a much superior and partially +hidden foe, were compelled to fall back to a piece of woods skirting +the road. The balance of the command, other than those who had followed +the fortunes of Captain Crane, now joined them, and soon organized for +a systematic retreat. + +Captain Crane and his followers, after putting some distance between +themselves and the enemy, crossed the Gauley road, and hastened to the +mountains, where they would be entirely free from the attacks of +cavalry, and where they would have a chance, at least, of partially +defending themselves against attack from the rebel infantry. + +Arriving in the mountains, they took a direction as nearly as possible +towards Gauley Bridge, where they arrived in safety, meeting with +little of adventure on the way. Thus a small body of Federals had +fought their way out from the very grasp of the enemy, and, eluding +pursuit, traversed a mountain range, with no guide, over rocks and deep +gorges, arriving safely within the Union lines. Their arrival, however, +did little to cheer the hearts of those in camp, for they were a small +body compared with those still unheard from. + +The news of the sad disaster to the Seventh had already been sent to +the friends at home; universal gloom had settled over the camp, and the +prospect looked dark for saving the organization, even, of a regiment +which was the pride of the Western Reserve. + +A flag of truce was sent to Cross Lanes to ascertain, if possible, the +fate of those left behind. Chaplain Brown and Surgeon Cushing were +selected to undertake this enterprise. They, however, returned without +having accomplished their object. + +One dark, rainy night, as if nature was in sympathy with the feelings +of those in camp, the band commenced playing a patriotic air in front +of the colonel's quarters, accompanied with cheers. I knew that this +indicated good news. Hastening to the spot I learned that a dispatch +had just arrived from Charleston with the comforting news that four +hundred of the regiment had arrived in safety on the Elk River, twelve +miles from the above place. But let us accompany these four hundred +heroes in their march from the battlefield. + +Organizing the troops, Major Casement, being first in rank, Colonels +Tyler and Creighton having already escaped, assumed command. Losing no +time the detachment immediately took up the line of march. Avoiding all +highways, and keeping well in the timber, they moved on for some time, +when, considering themselves out of immediate danger, they ventured out +to the road, to find themselves only three miles from the place of +starting. It was now concluded that it was not advisable to attempt +reaching Gauley Bridge, as the enemy would be likely to interpose a +considerable body of troops between them and that point. It was +considered to be more practicable to make in the direction of Elk +River, and by this means reach Charleston. This course being adopted, +the command crossed the road and took to the mountains. Very soon after +a party of rebel cavalry came dashing down as if in pursuit, barely +missing the object of their search. + +The command, aided by a compass, took their course over the mountains +in a direction which they supposed would ultimately lead them to the +banks of the Elk River. + +During the afternoon Captain W. R. Sterling procured a guide, who +conducted them by narrow pathways, in which they were compelled to +march single file, towards a house which was situated at some distance +on the mountain. Night setting in, before reaching the spot, without +even a star visible to light them on the way, the column halted, and +passed the word back for a candle. The line extended for nearly half a +mile, and it was not until the last company, H, had been reached, that +one was procured. On its arriving at the front, it was discovered that +the head of the column had arrived on the brink of a deep chasm, into +which it would be sure death to plunge. One step more, and the unlucky +leader of the line would have been precipitated into the dreadful +crater. But these daring adventurers were spared the misfortune of such +an accident. + +Two hours of valuable time having been lost, the line now pressed +forward, each man holding on to the man preceding him. About midnight +the house was reached, and the weary band laid themselves down; not, +however, to sleep, for the only provisions they had had during the day +was roasted corn, for in the morning they were attacked while preparing +breakfast, which they were compelled to abandon. The woman of the house +was kept cooking the good old-fashioned corn-dodger, and by morning the +command was tolerably well fed, and ready for the toilsome as well as +hazardous march of the succeeding day. + +As the day again dawned, the line moved on. Procuring another guide +during the day, they arrived, in early evening, on the banks of the Elk +River, without any adventure worth relating. Before halting they forded +the river, which was, at the time, waist deep. Company B was sent out +on picket, under command of Lieutenant Molyneaux. The instructions were +to establish a chain of pickets, at short intervals, along the road +leading up the river. In case of an attack, the outer picket to fire +and fall back on the next, when another volley was to be delivered, and +so continue until the camp should be finally reached. The position +selected for the camp was at the base of a range of abrupt hills, which +were not accessible to cavalry, while many difficulties would present +themselves in the way of a force of infantry advancing to an attack +from that direction. The river ran at the very foot of these hills, too +deep to cross in the face of an enemy, and sufficiently wide to present +a decided obstacle in the way of an attacking party on the opposite +shore. The command felt, therefore, comparatively safe in this retreat. +As it afterwards proved, they were not mistaken; for it was ascertained +that, at the time the pickets were being stationed, seven hundred rebel +cavalry were a short distance up the river; indeed, they were so near +that a party of rebel officers heard the lieutenant give the +instructions to the outer picket. One of these officers, when +afterwards taken prisoner, being questioned by Molyneaux as to their +reason for not attacking, remarked that it would have been quite +impossible for them to reach the camp in case his instructions to the +picket should be carried out; and he and his brother-officers agreed in +the opinion, that the orders would be carried out; for no body of +troops, after having made so stubborn a resistance as at Cross Lanes, +would afterwards lose all by a want of vigilance or a disobedience of +orders. True it is that they did not attack, but suffered the camp to +remain quiet, and the command to move off at leisure in the morning. + +A dispatch being sent to Charleston, on the following day a +provision-train met them twelve miles from the latter place. In due +time the command arrived at Charleston, weary and foot-sore from their +long and toilsome march. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +REFLECTIONS ON THE SKIRMISH AT CROSS LANES.--BATTLE OF CARNIFEX +FERRY. + + +The occasion for the affair at Cross Lanes was brought about by a +series of blunders. The first blunder was committed by the officer who +ordered all the forces, with the exception of the Seventh Ohio, from a +position which enabled them to guard the ferries of the Gauley. If it +was deemed important to hold these ferries at all, it was certainly +advisable to retain a sufficient force to guard against surprise and +capture. But then, what would be considered a sufficient force? To +settle the question, it is necessary to take into account the size of +the army occupying the country, as well as the size of that of the +enemy. Neither army was large, and both were much scattered, scarcely +more than a brigade occupying one position. A regiment, therefore, may +perhaps be considered a sufficient force for an outpost. + +The army in Western Virginia was at no time sufficiently large to +accomplish any thing, under the best generalship, beyond simply holding +the country, and preventing invasion; and it was only for the want of a +moderately sized army that the rebel general failed to drive back our +forces. But the rebel authorities had no men to spare for the purpose +of winning barren victories; so the armies of Western Virginia were +left to watch each other, with an occasional skirmish. + +At the time the affair at Cross Lanes took place, our army occupied a +front of many miles, as did also the rebel army. It was quite +impossible to collect, in case of emergency, more than about six +thousand men. But, however it may be as to the first point, it is +clear, secondly, that the commanding officer at Cross Lanes committed +an error in not making a personal inspection of the grounds, adjacent +to the camp, immediately on his arrival. It is always considered highly +important that those in command should know precisely the ground their +commands are expected to defend, and not to trust to chance or a battle +to develop favorable points of defence or attack. By reason of this +want of knowledge, rumors as to the presence of the enemy in force +created uneasiness and alarm, which was entirely natural, although +without cause. While in this state of feeling, the commanding officer +sent dispatches to Generals Rosecrans and Cox, which created the +impression that their author was not to be trusted to hold these +ferries. Those generals attributed this alarm to a want of personal +courage, they being well informed as to the strength of the position at +Cross Lanes. It was not, however, a want of courage, but simply a +failure on his part to understand the real strength of the position, by +reason of not having visited it in person. + +When the order to withdraw came, Colonel Tyler regretted it as much as +any one; for he had that day examined the position, and knew that he +could hold it against any force the enemy could bring to the attack. +But this knowledge was obtained too late: lying on his table was a +positive order to withdraw. Reason said hold the position; military +law, which was higher in authority, said abandon it; so the place was +evacuated. The third and irremediable error was committed in not +returning to Cross Lanes when ordered. If that had been done, the +consequences resulting from the withdrawal would have been entirely +checked. The order to return was given on Wednesday, with the +expectation that it would be acted upon as soon as Thursday morning; +but it was not until the Saturday noon following that the command +started. There was no reason for this delay. The regiment had marched +but eighteen miles in as many days, and could, without any injustice +being done it, have returned the day the order was given. Even had the +command moved as late as Friday, with dispatch, it would not have been +too late, as it seems to be well settled that Floyd did not cross over +any considerable body of troops until Saturday. + +In the way of criticism on this affair, it has been said that, had a +spirited dash been made on the enemy on Saturday evening, the rebels +could have been driven across the river. I think this claim subject to +many doubts. In my opinion a reconnoissance should have been made that +night, instead of falling back to Panther Mountain. This would have +resulted in the discovery of their position and force, and thus given +the command an opportunity to take advantage of the night to withdraw. +Had this been done, the ferry might possibly have been reached. + +The result of these blunders was the fighting of two engagements, with +a heavy Federal loss, while the enemy suffered less. One of these, +Carnifex Ferry, has been dignified with the name of battle, while the +other is considered but an affair. + +After the repulse of the Seventh, Floyd intrenched himself on the bank +of the river, near the ferry. About two weeks later, "Rosecrans came +down with his legions," comprising about four thousand men. Approaching +the vicinity of the ferry, he threw forward General Benham's brigade, +with no design of bringing on an engagement, however; but the line +unwittingly advanced to within a short distance of the enemy's works, +when a sheet of flame shot along their entire line. The unequal contest +lasted five hours, when the Union forces withdrew, hungry and +supperless, with a loss of fourteen killed, and one hundred and four +wounded. The loss of the enemy was about twenty wounded. + +The troops awoke in the morning to find the rebel works abandoned. Thus +ended the battle of Carnifex Ferry, no less a blunder than Cross Lanes. + +General Benham was censured for having attacked their main works, when +he was ordered to make a reconnoissance only. But when it is understood +that the commanding general sent up reinforcements, the blame, if there +was any, attached itself to him. + +The loss to the Seventh, at Cross Lanes, was one killed, twenty +wounded, and ninety-six taken prisoners. Several of these were +recaptured at Carnifex Ferry, when Rosecrans attacked Floyd. Among the +number was Lieutenant Cross, Company C. The loss to the enemy has never +been known. There is no doubt, however, that it was considerable. They +attacked in large numbers, confident of an easy victory, therefore very +little caution attended their movements. But instead of a flag of +truce, accompanied by an offer to surrender, they were met by a shower +of bullets, which must have told fearfully on their heavy columns. The +fact that they were thrown into such confusion as to permit our men to +escape, shows that they were too severely punished to follow up their +victory. + +The force of Floyd has been variously estimated: some having placed it +as high as six thousand; while, in his official report of the +engagement at Carnifex Ferry, Floyd himself places it at only two +thousand. His force was probably four thousand, of all arms, with ten +pieces of artillery. This entire force must have been in the vicinity +at the time of the affair at Cross Lanes. + +The following is an unofficial list of the loss in the regiment: + +_Killed._--Captain John N. Dyer. + +_Wounded._--Corporal Frank Dutton, N. J. Holly, Thomas Shepley, Thomas +J. Scoville, Sergeant H. G. Orton, Joseph W. Collins, B. Yeakins, Lewis +J. Jones, Thomas S. Curran, William Meriman, B. F. Gill, William S. +Reed, David M. Daily, Robert J. Furguson, James R. Greer, E. J. +Kreiger, Sergeant James Grebe, John W. Doll, William W. Ritiche, Fred. +W. Steinbauer. + +The following is a list of those taken prisoners: + +Sergeant W. W. Parmeter, Sergeant E. R. Stiles, Sergeant G. C. C. +Ketchum, Sergeant F. F. Wilcoxson, Sergeant Edward Bohn, Sergeant A. +Kolman, Sergeant E. W. Morey, Corporal C. F. Mack, Corporal J. G. +Turner, Corporal T. A. Mohler, Corporal S. M. Cole, Corporal E. C. +Palmer, Corporal Charles Bersett, Privates Albert Osborn, Charles +Weber, Alex. Parker, R. Bears, L. Warren, A. M. Halbert, H. Keiser, S. +B. Kingsbury, E. Kennedy, A. Hubbell, C. C. Quinn, C. Burrows, E. +Evans, W. H. Scott, C. H. Howard, Charles Carrol, T. B. Myers, George +Sweet, John Massa, J. F. Curtis, W. E. Bartlett, W. Cherry, John Bark, +John Hann, L. M. Blakesly, Z. Fox, J. Butler, F. S. Stillwell, G. W. +Downing, G. C. Newton, William Biggs, Mathew Merkle, J. Sheloy, H. +Huntoon, G. W. Williams, George C. Robinson, H. Wessenbock, J. C. +Rafferty, J. Snyder, W. W. Wheeler, C. Haskell, J. W. Finch, James +Johnson, H. Johnson, L. C. Logue, A. Scoville, P. Wildson, F. Boole, +John Miller, P. Jenkins, John Smith, J. Wolf, Theodore Burt, A. +Schwartz, G. A. Akerman, Charles Sahl, G. W. Thompson, F. Williams, M. +H. Whaley, Z. Larkins, T. Hebbig, Z. A. Fuig, F. A. Noble, J. Hettlick, +J. McCabe, L. Beles, E. R. Smith, F. A. Rubicon, John Smith, E. Smith, +H. Smith, D. N. K. Hubbard, H. Wood, Charles Ottinger, R. S. Beel, N. +D. Claghorn, H. Thompson, N. Freidenburg, M. Levullen, S. Gill, fifer. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +CHARLESTON AND THE KANAWHA VALLEY.--A DOUBLE MURDER.--COLONEL TYLER +ASSUMES COMMAND OF THE POST. + + +After the engagement at Cross Lanes, five companies of the regiment +remained at Gauley Bridge, while the balance were at Charleston. The +latter part was commanded by Colonel Guthrie, of the First Kentucky +Regiment. At this time it was the seat of justice for Kanawha County, +and contained upwards of three thousand inhabitants. It is a neat +village, situated on the north bank of the Kanawha River, at a point +where the Elk empties into it. There is a fine suspension bridge over +the latter stream, which the rebels undertook to destroy in their +flight. Charleston is three hundred and eight miles west of Richmond, +and forty-six miles east of the Ohio River. It was named after Charles +Clendenin, an early settler, and an owner of the soil on which it is +built. + +The Valley of the Kanawha is famous for its beautiful scenery. The +mountains on either side of the river sometimes rise to the height of +five hundred feet and more, and are liberally supplied with rich beds +of minerals and coal. At their base is located the famous Kanawha salt +works. They commence near Charleston, and extend for about fifteen +miles above it. Before the rebellion they gave employment to nearly six +thousand persons. The following extract will be of interest: + +"It is a curious fact, and worthy of philosophical inquiry, that while +the salt water is obtained by boring to a depth of from three hundred +to five hundred feet below the bed of the Kanawha, it invariably rises +to a level with the river. When the latter is swollen by rains, or the +redundant waters of its tributaries, the saline fluid, inclosed in +suitable "gums" on the shore, ascends like the mercury in its tube, and +only falls when the river returns to its wonted channel. How this +mysterious correspondence is produced is a problem which remains to be +solved. Theories and speculations I have heard on the subject, but none +seem to me to be precisely consonant with the principles of science." + +Before the presence of the army interrupted the manufacture of salt, +these works yielded about two million bushels annually, and are capable +of yielding much more with an increase of capital. + +While Colonel Guthrie commanded the post at Charleston a most +disgraceful tragedy was enacted. An order had been issued that no +liquors of any description should be sold or given to the soldiers or +employees of the Government. During the time this order was in force, a +party of drunken rowdies from the First Kentucky Regiment stopped at +the grocery of an old man, and asked for some beer; when refused, they +demanded it. Being again refused they threatened violence, and +proceeded to put their threats into force, when a son of the old man, +occupying a room above, was brought to the window by the old +gentleman's cries for help, and, seeing his father thus set upon by a +mob, from the repeated assaults of which his life was endangered, fired +a revolver, the contents of which took effect on one of the assaulting +party, producing instant death. He was at once arrested and lodged in +jail, around which a strong guard was placed to prevent his being taken +out and hung. + +That night Colonel Guthrie, in a speech made to the excited throng, +which had collected around the jail, said, in substance, that the life +of the criminal should be taken if he had to do it with his own hand. +Similar remarks were made by others, among whom was a captain who +afterwards sat as judge-advocate on the trial. + +On the morning after the affair the members constituting the +court-martial assembled "in all the pomp and pride of glorious war," +decorated with all the paraphernalia belonging to an officer's +equipment, but to declare a prejudged opinion. + +During the trial the prisoner was as immovable as a statue, evincing in +his appearance a want of hope, as well as a preparation for the worst. +He made no defence. The announcement of the sentence of death produced +no change; he preserved a stoical appearance to the last. + +When the hour of execution arrived the prisoner was brought to the +gallows in a heavy wagon, guarded by a double file of soldiers, who +were laughing as gayly as if on their way to some place of amusement. +During the afternoon the sun had shone through a cloudless sky; but +just before this terrible scene was enacted, the heavens were draped +with heavy clouds, and the rain fell in torrents, casting a gloom on +all around. The wretched victim ascended the gallows with a firm tread, +and addressed a few words, in a fearless tone, to those assembled +around. As the rope was being adjusted around his neck, the crowd +involuntarily gave way, showing that, although they had been clamorous +for the enactment of the scene, yet when the time came, they had not +the nerve to witness the death-struggle of their victim. There was but +little movement of the body after the fatal drop fell. This last scene +was sickening in the extreme, and all of us, moved by a common impulse, +turned and walked away in silence, our hearts being too full for +utterance. + +This is one more testimony against the safety and justice of the death +penalty. + +On the 19th day of October, Colonel Tyler took command of the post at +Charleston. He issued the following proclamation: + + "In assuming the command of this post, one of my principal objects + will be to maintain order, and to see that the rights of persons + and property have the protection guaranteed by general orders from + department headquarters. To the faithful execution of this my + entire energies, together with the force at my command, will be + given. To this end I have established Camp Warren, where officers + and soldiers are required to be at all times, except when on duty + which calls them away, or on leave of absence, which will only be + granted at headquarters. Commissioned and non-commissioned officers + will be held personally responsible for any violation of this order + by members of their companies. Drunkenness, marauding, boisterous + and unsoldierlike conduct are strictly forbidden. To prevent this, + the sale of intoxicating liquors, directly or indirectly, to those + in the service of the United States, is positively and emphatically + prohibited; and I call upon the citizens to aid me in detecting + those who violate this order. The quiet of your town, the + protection of your property--in fact your lives and the lives of + your families--depend much upon the sobriety of our officers and + men; therefore, it becomes your duty as well as your interest to + lend me your aid in the execution of this order. + + "E. B. TYLER, + + "Colonel Commanding Post." + +Under the rule of Colonel Tyler the post at Charleston assumed order +and quiet. Under the former commandant drunkenness was common, while +marauding parties were free to patrol the streets on their errands of +mischief. The property of the citizens was at the mercy of these gangs, +while their lives were not unfrequently placed in jeopardy. The people, +therefore, were much gratified with the change of rule. Camps were now +established at some distance from the village, while no soldiers were +permitted to visit it unless they first obtained a pass from +headquarters, which, being established in town, was difficult to +procure. A provost-marshal was appointed, with a proper guard subject +to his orders. This guard was instructed to arrest all soldiers found +in the streets of the village without a proper pass, as well as those +committing any depredations on the property or persons of the citizens, +with or without a pass. + +About the middle of October the companies at Gauley Bridge came down to +Charleston. During their stay on the Gauley they performed much duty at +the outposts; several times being under the enemy's fire, though none +were injured. The detachment suffered severe loss, however, from +sickness. Lieutenant Robinson was among the number; he died of fever; +his loss was greatly felt by the regiment. When the news of his death +reached his company, they wept as for a brother. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +FLOYD ESTABLISHES BATTERIES ON COTTON HILL.--DRIVEN OFF BY THE FORCES +OF GENERAL COX.--BENHAM'S FAILURE TO INTERCEPT HIS RETREAT.--HIS +PURSUIT.--SKIRMISH AT MCCOY'S MILLS.--HIS FINAL ESCAPE. + + +Near the last of October General Floyd very suddenly appeared on Cotton +Hill, an abrupt eminence lying between the Kanawha and New rivers, at +the junction of the Gauley with the latter stream, which form the +Kanawha. The enemy immediately commenced shelling Gauley Bridge. +General Cox, who was some distance up New River, near the headquarters +of General Rosecrans, was ordered to proceed to Gauley Bridge and to +assume direction of affairs. He was also ordered to direct General +Benham, who was expected to arrive very soon with a brigade, to cross +his forces, at night, over the Kanawha River, and to carry the summit +of Cotton Hill by storm. A picket post had already been established +across the river by direction of General Cox. Benham protested against +the movement, and refused to execute the order received through General +Cox, but proceeded to confer, by telegraph, with General Rosecrans, +receiving in reply the same orders. Benham still protesting against +attempting to execute what he termed so hazardous a movement, at his +own request was permitted to pass down the river to the mouth of Loop +Creek, from whence he was to undertake a flank movement. Colonel Smith +joined General Benham in his protest, declaring the attempt to storm +these batteries as sheer madness. It is significant that General Cox +afterwards stormed and carried Cotton Hill, with barely a regiment of +troops. + +Floyd had constructed a line of fortifications at Dickerson's, on the +road to Fayetteville, which was his only avenue of retreat in case of +disaster. + +Soon after General Benham arrived opposite Loop Creek, he was joined by +five hundred selected men from the Seventh from Charleston. This +detachment of the regiment, having arrived on boats, was ordered to +disembark, and take up their position at the mouth of Loop Creek. The +following morning it moved up the creek some eight or ten miles, where +it took up its position at an old log barn. Lieutenant-Colonel +Creighton being in command, Colonel Tyler having remained at +Charleston, was instructed to picket the roads well in his front, as +well as the mountains lying between; and also to scout the country in +the vicinity, for the purpose of finding out the position of the camp +of the enemy, as well as his numbers. The latter part of the order was +well executed, and there can be no doubt that Benham was possessed of +accurate information of the enemy. + +After the third day of our occupation of this position we were joined +by a detachment of the Forty-fourth Ohio, under command of Major +Mitchell, and the Thirty-seventh Ohio, under command of Colonel +Seibert. Soon after, all of this force, with the exception of eight +companies of the Thirty-seventh Regiment, was ordered forward under +command of Lieutenant-Colonel Creighton. + +Proceeding for some distance on a road leading to the front, we struck +into a bridle path, and after passing through a wood, began ascending a +mountain. Single file, the command clambered up its steep and rocky +sides. Arriving on its summit we could see the heads of a line of men +extending for a mile beneath us. Descending the opposite side with some +difficulty, we marched some distance from the foot of the mountain, and +found ourselves at Cassady's Mills, a point from which the command was +to debouch on to the Fayetteville pike, should Floyd attempt a retreat. +But the movement, on the part of Benham, was so tardily executed, that +the balance of the command never arrived at this point; but instead, +the forces, other than the Seventh Ohio, were ordered away that night; +leaving a detachment of five hundred men, with no support, within three +miles of a well-equipped army of the enemy. We were so near that we +could plainly hear the bugle calls in Floyd's camp. Had Benham's entire +command been at that point, the retreat of the rebel army could have +been intercepted. Previous to this, Floyd had been driven back to his +intrenchments at Dickerson's, and all that was necessary to his +capture, was an attack on his rear on the part of Benham. But he either +feared to make the attack, or was too slow in doing it. The former is +probably true. That night the rebel general passed within three miles +of our position, and escaped with his entire army, together with the +artillery and baggage. + +On the 12th of November, Benham arrived at Cotton Hill, but to find the +forces of General Cox in possession. On the afternoon of the 13th, he +pushed on after Floyd's retreating army, arriving within four miles of +Fayetteville, at about eleven o'clock P.M. Here, evidences of the +hurried retreat of Floyd began to multiply. The fences were lined with +hides, but recently stripped from the carcasses of cattle, while in +many places the beef itself was left suspended from the fence. + +On the morning of the 4th, we pushed through Fayetteville before day, +in the pursuit. Floyd had but a few hours the start. Six miles ahead we +took breakfast, consisting of two army crackers to each man. After +which we pushed rapidly on. About noon, our skirmishers, the Thirteenth +Ohio, overtook the rear-guard of the enemy, when sharp firing occurred, +which continued during an advance of several miles, resulting in the +mortal wounding of St. George Croghan, colonel of the Second Georgia +cavalry, and formerly of the United States Army. The colonel was taken +to a house close by and left, where he was found in a dying condition +by our men. Having been a class-mate of his at West Point, Benham +stopped and passed a few words with him. When recognizing the general, +Croghan appeared to be much affected; and is reported to have said that +he knew he was fighting in a bad cause, and that he had been driven +into the army much against his wishes, for he was still attached to the +old flag. He soon after expired. + +While this conversation was being carried on between officers so +differently circumstanced, the Union forces had pressed the rebels so +closely, that the latter, to save their baggage train, were compelled +to make a stand. The Seventh Ohio was ordered to act as reserve, but +when the action grew hot, was ordered forward, with instructions to +send out two companies as skirmishers, which was immediately done; +Companies A and K being sent forward. + +About this time two pieces of rifled cannon were brought to bear on the +rebels, when they turned and fled, leaving six killed on the field. We +were so near, that we plainly heard the retreat sounded by their +bugles. From this time their retreat became a rout. In their flight, +they cast away every thing that would encumber their retreat. We were +now on the banks of a stream, over whose rocky cliffs numerous wagons, +with their contents, had been hurled. It was supposed, that several +pieces of cannon shared the same fate. + +The pursuit was continued with much vigor, until a late hour in the +evening, when General Schenck, having but just arrived at the front, +ordered it discontinued. This was the second error of the campaign. +Schenck, with his fresh troops, instead of ordering the pursuit to +cease, should have pressed with vigor. The enemy encamped but a short +distance in our front, on Three-mile Mountain. This position could have +been carried with ease, with the combined forces of Schenck and Benham, +with comparatively little loss. But the pursuit being the result of a +blunder, resulted in a blunder. + +A little after midnight the command fell back, arriving at Fayetteville +in the afternoon of the same day, after a fatiguing march over the +worst road that could be imagined, and with no provisions other than +beef with a very little salt. The Seventh marched to its old camp, four +miles out on the road to Cotton Hill. The officers and men lay on the +hill-side that night, exposed to a violent snow storm, with no other +covering than their blankets, except the snowy sheet that nature spread +over them during the long hours of night. + +During the night a demonstration was made on a drove of pigs which were +lurking close by; and it would not be strange if the soldiers could +relate tales of their descent on poultry yards and bee-hives. True it +is, that some first-class honey found its way into camp. + +The next day, marching over Cotton Hill, we arrived at our camp near +the mouth of Loop Creek. Embarking on the following day, we arrived at +Charleston on the 18th, after an absence of fourteen days. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +REFLECTIONS ON THE INSTITUTION OF SLAVERY. + + +While at Charleston, we were deeply impressed with the profound +interest the slaves were taking in passing events. That down-trodden +race, who had for years suffered every injustice at the hands of their +white oppressors, were now the first to assist the Federal commanders. +Through darkness and storm, they carried information, and acted as +scouts and guides on occasions when it would try the heart and nerve of +their white companions. + +From my own observation, I am confident that the slaves of the South, +were just as well informed with regard to their relation to their +masters, as we were. They were, from the very first, impressed with the +idea that this rebellion was to work some great change in their +condition. They were watching, with great interest, every movement of +troops, and were continually asking questions, as to the disposition to +be made of them; thus evincing an interest in military affairs, of +which their masters little dreamed. It is well enough to talk of the +deep devotion of slaves to their masters; but the latter have found ere +this, I trust, that this devotion on which they have relied, has not +prevented them from cutting their throats, when it was in the line of +their duty, and by means of which they could gain their freedom. An +instance of this great devotion on the part of a slave for his master, +was related to me while at Charleston. + +A Mr. R---- owned a colored servant by the name of John; he enjoyed the +unlimited confidence of his master, who was in the habit of trusting +him as he would one of his children. This confidence was reciprocated +by a like devotion on the part of the slave for his master. One day a +neighbor told Mr. R---- that his John was about to run away, as he had +repeated conversations with his servants on the subject. Mr. R---- flew +into a passion, feeling very much grieved that his neighbor should +think, for a moment, that his John, whom he had raised from infancy, +should prove so ungrateful as to leave him. The only attention he paid +to this timely warning was, to put still greater trust in his servant. +One day, shortly after this, John was missing; not only this, he had +been so ungrateful as to take his wife and three children. The last +heard from faithful John was, that he was safe in Ohio. Now Mr. R---- +is a very good man and a Christian, and treat his servants very kindly; +but that God-given principle, a desire for personal liberty, actuated +him in connection with other men of fairer complexion. John, +undoubtedly, left his old home and master with regret, but home and +friendship, when compared with freedom, were nothing. + +I was once told by a colored man, in whom the utmost confidence could +be placed, that there has been for years an association among the +negroes, which extends throughout the South, the purpose of which was +one day to liberate themselves from slavery. He said that hundreds of +slaves who, apparently, were as innocent as ignorant, were tolerably +well educated, and were secretly bending every energy to bring about an +insurrection, which should end in their being released from bondage. +When asked if the field-hands were members of this association, he said +they were; and although possessing less information than those living +in the cities and villages, yet they were aware of what was going on; +and after their work was done at night, they often met in their cabins, +and talked over the prospect before them. He also said, that in the +larger cities of the South this association had regular meetings and +officers; that they awaited only the proper time, when a tragedy would +be enacted all over the South, that would astonish the world. + +When we reflect that revolts have been common in the South, and that +they have been attended by partial success, it does not require a great +stretch of the imagination to believe that this association did really +exist. The fact of the intense feeling of hatred cherished by the +people of the South against Northern fanatics, as they were termed, who +came amongst them, is strong evidence in favor of the existence of some +organized course of policy among the negroes. The outward appearance of +the slave is usually gentle in the extreme, although his inward +feelings may be agitated to such a degree, that in a white man they +would burst forth in the wildest passion. Therefore, this hatred of the +South to the opponents of slavery must be traced to a fear of some +secret organization, the object of which lay deeply buried in the +reticent minds of the slaves. The Southern mind was more deeply +agitated, from the fact of the want of this outward emotion on the part +of their slaves; for had this strong desire for liberty, which was +awakened in them, burst out in wild enthusiasm, it would have been +readily checked by the severe punishment of individuals; but it was +this secret working of this deep-laid desire for freedom that troubled +them. The most guilty were, to all outward appearance, the most +innocent. + +While the Federal army occupied the country, the slaves were much less +guarded in what they said. One of these slaves, an old man, was passing +a tent one day, when a soldier said to him that he belonged to Jeff. +Davis. With a knowing look, he replied: "I did; but now, massa, I +belong to Uncle Sam." A colored woman, who had been a slave for years +(as she is very old), came into our room one day, and taking up a +paper, asked if we wanted it. Some one said to her, as she was about +leaving the room, that she had better not be seen with that paper, as +it was not the sort her mistress admired. Said she, "I know what missus +likes; I can take care of it;" and slipping it under her apron she left +the room. That slave could read and write, and yet her master knew +nothing of it. So it is with many others. It may be asked how they +acquire this knowledge. They gain it in a great many ways. Many of them +learn of their masters' children, with whom house-servants spend a +great deal of time. Having acquired a slight knowledge, it stimulates +them to greater exertion. They obtain scraps of newspapers and parts of +books, and thus gain a great deal of information entirely unobserved. +The slave knows how to keep secrets; consequently, any scheme that is +on foot is seldom discovered. Few persons, at the commencement of the +rebellion, had the least conception of the vast resources and power of +the slave population of the South. And it was not until they had fed +and clothed the Southern armies for two years, and by this means kept +them in the field, that it was acknowledged. Had it not been for its +slaves, the South, long ere this, would have been compelled to yield +obedience to the Government. The rebels appreciated and used this +element of strength from the beginning. The Federal Government, through +the influence of weak-minded politicians, rejected it; thus throwing an +element of its own strength into the hands of its enemies. + +Notwithstanding this harsh treatment, the slaves proved true to the +Government; and finally, through the medium of this faithfulness, their +vast services were acknowledged, and they have not only been taken into +the private service of the country, but they have been admitted into +the army, to swell its numbers, until the strength of their mighty +arms, and the nerve of their fearless hearts, are felt by the enemies +of the country on every battle-field. What a glorious thought! +thousands of the oppressed fighting for the redemption from slavery of +a race which has ever worn the chain. When it is remembered that by +this strife questions are to be settled which have ever disturbed the +harmony of this country, and not that only, but questions which, when +settled, will release millions of our fellow-men and women from the +power of the oppressor, ought we not to be thankful that we are +permitted to make great sacrifices in so good a cause? + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE SEVENTH ORDERED TO THE EAST.--EXPEDITION TO BLUE'S GAP.--SKIRMISH +ON THE BLOOMING PIKE. + + +After Floyd was driven from Cotton Hill, very few rebels remained in +that portion of Virginia. Many troops were sent to Kentucky and +elsewhere. Among the number was the Seventh Regiment. It was ordered to +join the forces under command of General Kelley, which were operating +on the upper waters of the Potomac, with headquarters at Cumberland, +Maryland. + +Accordingly, on the twelfth day of December, the regiment embarked on +steamers, and after paying its respects to General Cox, by way of +presenting arms and cheers, it moved down the river; thus leaving +forever the scene of its past dangers and privations. Little had, +apparently, been accomplished, during its summer campaign; but perils +had been braved, privations had been suffered, and obstacles had been +overcome. Many graves had been dug and filled with the pride of the +regiment. These were left as a record of its patient suffering in that +wild waste of hills. There was a sort of sadness attending the leaving +of all this for a new field of operations. But the soldier's life is +one continued change; and, therefore, he readily adapts himself to +circumstances. + +At Parkersburg the regiment left the boats, and took a train of cars, +which conveyed it to Green Spring Run, a station on the Baltimore and +Ohio Railroad, sixteen miles from Romney, Virginia. Here it remained +without tents for several days, when it was ordered to Romney, to which +place it proceeded immediately. It was now given a good ground for its +camp, and furnished with Sibley tents, which were both warm and roomy. +The weather being very fine for the time of year, the health and +spirits of the soldiers rapidly improved. + +During the occupation of Romney, quite a force of "bushwhackers" had +collected at Blue's Gap, which were under command of Colonel Blue. This +force of bandits had annoyed the Union citizens for some time. It was +finally resolved to break it up. The force chosen to do this work +consisted of the Fourth, Fifth, Seventh, and Eighth Ohio, Fourteenth +Indiana, and First Virginia, with Danver's two companies of cavalry, +and a section of Howard's Battery, in all about two thousand five +hundred men, under command of Colonel Dunning of the Fifth Ohio. A +little past midnight of January 6th, the force moved out from their +camp. The night was bitter cold, but the march was rapid; and just +after daybreak, the vicinity of the gap was reached, to find that the +rebels were tearing up the flooring of the bridge leading over the +stream coming through the gap. The skirmishers drove this force away, +and then advanced over the bridge, followed by the Fifth Ohio, which +took possession of Blue's house. Procuring a negro woman for a guide, +the force advanced to assault the rebel stronghold on the mountain. On +reaching the place, the intrenchments were handsomely carried, the +rebels standing for five rounds only, when they broke, and fled down +the side of the mountain. Their flight was so rapid that many of the +fugitives ran on to the Fourth Ohio, which was at hand, and were +captured. But they were hardly worth taking, for an uglier set of +ragamuffins the mountains of Virginia, or the whole world even, could +hardly produce. Blue's property was utterly destroyed. The loss of the +enemy in this affair was forty killed, and as many taken prisoners, +together with all their stores, wagons, and ammunition. A number of +cattle were also taken and driven back to Romney. On their return, the +Federals fired several houses, which was a lasting disgrace to all +those taking part in it. General Kelley was justly indignant at this +conduct. + +Nothing further occurred to break the _ennui_ of camp and picket duty +until the 10th, when an order came to break camp and prepare for a +march. Immediately following this order, all was bustle and confusion, +in anticipation of an advance. There being a lack of transportation, +some tents and commissary stores were burned. In early evening, the +regiment marched into the town, where it was compelled to wait, through +a fearful storm of sleet, until midnight, when, instead of an advance, +the entire force rapidly fell back through Springfield to Patterson's +Creek, on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. This camp was soon converted +into a mud-hole. If all of Virginia had been canvassed a worse place +for a camp could not have been found. After a few weeks contest with +this everlasting snow and mud, an order came, on the 5th of February, +to march, which was hailed with universal joy. + +The force passed down the railroad late in the afternoon, for a short +distance; when, leaving the tents and baggage, it took a road to the +right, and before night halted in a grove by the roadside. After a few +hours spent in preparing and eating supper, it moved off in the +direction of Romney, the Seventh in the advance. + +All night we marched, over mountains and streams, through snow and +sleet. In the morning we came to a halt at an old tannery, and after +remaining through the day, fell back four miles and bivouacked on the +banks of the Little Cacapon River. Tired and wet, the soldiers lay down +to rest on their bed of rails and straw, to gather strength for the +morrow. At last, day dawned, rainy and gloomy, and the command moved +five miles to the rear, to a place called the Levels,--a very high +table-land, exposed to severe wind and storm, which never fails to +visit that region. The regiment was ordered to bivouac, and soon the +pine forest was converted into a village of green houses, with hot +fires roaring and crackling before them. + +We remained here some fifteen days, within three miles of the tents; +but for some reason, better known to those in command, we were left on +a hilltop, exposed to the cold winds and snows of February, in brush +shanties. During some of the time it was so cold that a crust formed on +the snow sufficiently hard to hold up a person. During this time the +commanding officer of our brigade occupied a house close by, which was +very convenient as well as comfortable. + +The regiment, while here, did very little duty; in fact none, with the +exception of one brigade drill in the snow, which only vexed the +command, without accomplishing any good. + +Colonel Sprague, formerly captain of Company E, now paid the regiment a +visit, the first time he had met his old comrades since his capture. +Following that had intervened his long imprisonment. The meeting was a +pleasant one. + +On the 13th of March the regiment left camp, and, taking the Bradford +pike, crossed a range of hills, at the foot of which is the Baltimore +and Ohio Railroad. Taking this road, Pau-Pau Station was reached before +night. Here we found quite a number of troops. + +General Lander advanced with one brigade on the Blooming pike. Soon the +advance-guard, consisting of a part of a regiment of cavalry, came on +to an intrenched camp of militia. The general, taking command in +person, ordered a charge; but barely a dozen of these horsemen could be +made to follow their brave leader. But, nothing daunted, Lander, +followed by his staff and a few of the cavalry, dashed over the +intrenchments, when some fifty rebels surrendered; Colonel Baldwin, +their commander, giving himself up to Lander, after the latter had +seized him by the shoulder, despite the revolver which the rebel +colonel held in his hand. + +On the return of this expedition, the Seventh was ordered out on to the +pike. After advancing for nearly two miles, it halted by the roadside, +where it remained in the mud and snow till the following afternoon, +when it went into camp close by. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +GALLANTRY OF LIEUTENANT O'BRIEN.--DEATH OF GENERAL LANDER.--THE +SEVENTH ESCORT HIS REMAINS.--THE OCCUPATION OF WINCHESTER. + + +During the occupation of the country about Pau-Pau Station, the troops +were kept active. Skirmishes were of frequent occurrence. One of them +is deserving of mention. A reconnoissance was being made by Lieutenant +O'Brien, of Lander's staff, accompanied by twenty or more cavalry, when +they were met by a band of rebels, who immediately fired a volley; +following which, they demanded the small party of Federals to +surrender. O'Brien, riding to the front, declined, at the same time +emptying the saddle of the foremost rebel with a revolver, which he had +in his hand ready for use. The lieutenant soon after received a fatal +wound in the shoulder, from the effects of which he died some weeks +after. Seeing their leader disabled, the Union cavalry hurried him to +the rear, at the same time presenting a determined front. When he had +arrived at a safe distance they fell back, fighting as they went. They +thus brought the gallant O'Brien safe to headquarters. + +O'Brien was a writer of some note. Before the war he was a contributor +to several periodicals, among which was the Atlantic Monthly. For these +magazines he wrote many elegant things, which their readers will +probably remember. + +On the first day of March, the monotony of life in camp was broken by +an order to march. We moved out of camp, followed by the entire +division, on the road leading to Winchester. Towards evening we crossed +the Big Cacapon River, and after ascending a spur of the Shenandoah +Mountain, filed into a grove of pines, and remained till the following +afternoon, when an order was given to fall back. On returning to our +camp, we found that the retrograde movement was occasioned by the +sudden death of General Lander. The brave soldier and able commander +expired while his troops were moving on an important position of the +enemy,--a campaign which his fertile brain had conceived, and which his +daring and dash were to put into successful execution. No wonder, then, +when the spirit of its leader took its flight, that the division was +recalled. None were found competent to succeed him in the command of an +expedition which had occupied his every thought while he had been +connected with the department. + +On Monday, March 3d, the Seventh regiment escorted his remains to the +cars, in the presence of fifteen thousand troops, drawn up in line to +pay their respects, for the last time, to all that was left of a +commander whom they loved, and a soldier whom they admired. This slow, +sad march of the Seventh, to the strains of a solemn dirge, was +impressive. We returned to camp with the reflection that a master +spirit had taken its departure. + +After the death of General Lander, Brigadier-General Shields was given +the command of his division. He arrived soon after. + +The forces under General Banks, occupying the country in the vicinity +of Harper's Ferry, were ordered to make an immediate advance on +Winchester, General Shields was directed to co-operate in this +movement. He was ordered to move on Martinsburg, when General Banks +crossed the Potomac. + +Early in March the division moved down to the railroad, when on the +same day it took the cars for Martinsburg. On arriving at Back Creek, +ten miles east of Hancock, the bridge was found to be destroyed. The +command now bivouacked, while a party was set at work repairing the +bridge. The work progressed so slowly, that on the 10th the command +moved on in advance of the train, passing through Martinsburg, and +encamping some two miles out on the Winchester pike. + +On the following morning the column pushed vigorously forward to assist +General Banks in his attack on Winchester. The rebels, however, instead +of giving battle, fled as the command approached the city. Shields, +therefore, was ordered to encamp his troops before reaching Winchester. +The camp of the Seventh was about three miles north of the town, on the +Martinsburg road. The balance of the division encamped in the immediate +vicinity. + +Winchester had for a long time been occupied by the rebels. The extreme +left of Beauregard's army, under command of General Johnston, had taken +possession of the place, when the rebel troops first occupied Virginia. +From this point, troops were immediately sent forward to occupy and +destroy the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, as well as to menace our lines +in the direction of Harper's Ferry and Cumberland. The possession, +therefore, of the place by the Union forces was of great importance. It +not only resulted in the protection of this very important railroad, +but so menaced the left of the rebel army as to require its commander +to detach a large force to the Shenandoah Valley, and thus materially +weakening his main army. Under a leader less able than Jackson, it +would have greatly taxed his energies to hold the valley. But under +this indomitable general the army was enabled to make a good show of +resistance to the advance of the Federal forces. + +Winchester, the county seat of Frederick County, is seventy-four miles +west of Washington. The town is laid out in regular order, the streets +crossing at right angles. The place possesses some little of historical +interest. During the French and Indian War, Washington made it his +headquarters; and he also mentions it as one of the points which he +touched while on his mission to the French authorities on the Ohio +River. After the engagement at Great Meadows, July 4, 1774, Washington +returned to the place to recruit his regiment. It was also the base of +operations for the forces engaged in the reduction of Fort Duquesne. +During these wars a fort was built under the direction of Washington, +and named Fort Landon. A part of it is to be seen at this day. While +this fort was being constructed, Washington bought a lot in Winchester, +had a blacksmith shop built on it, and brought his own smith from Mount +Vernon to do the necessary iron-work for the fort. A well was sunk in +this fort to the depth of one hundred and three feet, the water from +which now runs over the top. The labor of erecting this fort was +performed by Washington's own regiment. The famous General Morgan, the +leader of the American forces at the battle of the Cowpens, is buried +here. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +A RECONNOISSANCE TO STRASBURG.--BATTLE OF WINCHESTER.--UTTER DEFEAT +AND ROUT OF JACKSON'S ARMY. + + +Immediately after the occupation of Winchester, the enemy's cavalry +advance becoming troublesome, a plan was laid for its capture. Colonel +Mason, of the Fourth Ohio, was sent out on the road to Front Royal, +with a brigade, composed of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, with +instructions to proceed until he arrived at the last road leading to +the right before reaching Front Royal; which road he was to take, and +by it strike the rear of the enemy at Middletown, a small hamlet +equally distant from both Winchester and Strasburg. He was soon after +followed by General Shields, with six thousand men, who moved on the +direct road to Middletown. Colonel Mason's command, arriving at this +place in advance of Shields' column, encountered the enemy's pickets, +and drove them to Cedar Creek Bridge, which, having covered with +combustibles, they fired. When the troops of Colonel Mason arrived in +the vicinity, they were opened upon by a battery, to which they +replied; with no effect, however, as the distance was too great. +Shields coming up with his division soon after, the entire force +bivouacked for the night. + +Early the following morning the command crossed the river without +opposition; but on arriving at Strasburg, the enemy opened fire from a +battery planted on a hill beyond the town. Shields, suspecting that the +entire force of Jackson was in the vicinity, made his dispositions for +immediate battle. The Seventh being ordered out on the road beyond the +town, were fired upon by a masked battery, but none injured. After +having been exposed to this fire for half an hour, it was withdrawn. +Soon after, our artillery was got into position, and after thirty +pieces of cannon had belched forth their fire, the rebels fled in +haste. During this fire, Mason's cavalry advanced so far out on the +road, that they were mistaken for the enemy by Captain Clark, of a +battery of regulars; he therefore sent a shell among them, with such +accuracy as to kill a few horses, and slightly wound one man. + +An advance being ordered, the pursuit was continued for five miles, +when the command returned to Strasburg, and encamped for the night. On +the following morning it fell back to its old camp, the Seventh +marching twenty-two miles in seven hours, with but one halt. + +This reconnoissance to Strasburg leaving no doubt on the minds of both +Banks and Shields that the enemy was not in the front in force, the +first division of Banks's corps, on the 20th, commenced its movement to +Manassas, in accordance with a letter of instruction from General +McClellan, of the 16th. General Banks did not follow this division +immediately, but remained at Winchester until twelve o'clock on Sunday, +the 23d, when he started for Harper's Ferry. + +All this time Shields thought he was being trifled with by the rebel +General Ashby. + +On Saturday, the 22d, there had been a good deal of firing in the early +part of the day, but what occasioned it did not seem to be well +understood, except to those engaged. But during the afternoon it was +thought prudent to make all needful preparation for battle, so as not +to be surprised in case it should prove that a greater force than +Ashby's was in front. Therefore the whole division was ordered up; the +third brigade, however, did not pass through the town. Shields went to +the front, followed by the first and second brigades. As these forces +emerged from the city, the rebel cavalry made a dash at the pickets, +who fled in some confusion through the little hamlet of Kernstown, but +rallied soon after, and by a well-directed volley of musketry emptied +several rebel saddles. This success enabled them to retire in safety. +The rebel cavalry soon after advanced, when a sharp skirmish ensued. +Our pickets having been re-enforced by several detached companies, were +enabled to maintain their ground. In the mean time the rebels opened on +our lines from a battery planted on an eminence; immediately after +which a Union battery wheeled into position, when a spirited artillery +duel took place. While directing the fire of this battery, Shields was +struck on the arm by a fragment of a shell, fracturing the arm, and +producing a painful wound. He, however, continued in the field for some +time after the accident occurred, but was finally taken to a house +close by, and his arm dressed, after which he was taken to town in an +ambulance. + +The firing having ceased, the first brigade went into camp on the spot, +while the second brigade encamped in the rear. The third brigade filed +into an open field near where they were stationed during the operations +in front. + +During Saturday night a strong picket was kept well out to the front, +while the remaining troops slept on their arms. Nothing occurred during +the night to disturb the several camps. + +Morning dawned bright and pleasant. The stillness which rested over the +field of the previous day's operations, gave token of the intention of +the belligerents to respect the Sabbath-day. In view of the general +quiet, the second and third brigades were ordered back to their camp on +the Martinsburg pike. + +It was nearly noon when the Seventh arrived, and before the men had +barely time to eat a hurriedly prepared dinner, it was again ordered +forward. This time the march was rapid. The distant booming of cannon, +induced many a disturbed reflection as to what lay before us. As we +passed through Winchester to the south, we emerged into an open plain. +This was crowded with people, as were also the house-tops. They had +assembled, apparently, for the purpose of seeing the Union army +defeated and crushed, and to welcome the victors into the city. + +Arriving on the field, we found our forces occupying a commanding +position in rear of a range of hills overlooking Kernstown; while the +batteries, posted at intervals on the crest of these hills, were +maintaining a heavy fire on the right of the enemy's position, which +alone seemed to give evidence of any purpose to advance. The left of +our line was held by the Second brigade, Colonel Sullivan; while the +centre and right were held by the First brigade. Colonel Kimball, +commanding the division, was stationed on a commanding eminence, from +which several batteries were pouring their shot and shell into the +enemy whenever he showed himself within range. + +Up to this time, the main fighting had occurred in front of our left; +but soon after a battery opened in front of the right, from a piece of +timber, which our batteries were unable to silence. It became evident, +from this, that the heavy skirmishing which the enemy had kept up from +their right was simply a feint, for the purpose of drawing the greater +part of our force to that part of the field, when a spirited onslaught +would be made on the other flank, which was expected to turn our right +wing, and thus give them the victory. It was a conception worthy the +genius of a Jackson, but it was entirely unsuccessful, as no troops +were sent to that part of the field beyond what ordinary prudence +required; but on the contrary, becoming satisfied of the intention of +the enemy, Colonel Kimball resolved to charge this battery. The work +was assigned to the Third brigade. Colonel Tyler, calling in the +Seventh, which had been supporting a battery from the time it arrived +on the field, formed his brigade in column, by divisions, and +immediately moved forward; at the same time changing direction to the +right, and passing up a ravine, shielded by a piece of timber which +skirted it on the side towards the enemy. + +After arriving at some distance to the right, the column changed +direction to the left; and after a march of nearly a mile, it arrived +on the flank, and partly in the rear of the enemy. It had now reached +an eminence in a dense wood. In front, the battery which was the object +of our movement was playing vigorously upon the First brigade, to which +a spirited fire was returned by Robinson's Battery, which had wheeled +into position on the extreme right. This acted as a cover to the +movements of our brigade. Breathless, and with anxious hearts, we +awaited the return of our scouts, which would be the signal for a +plunge into the unknown. We were not kept long in suspense, for in a +few minutes the order was given to change direction to the left, and +the column moved forward, preceded by a line of skirmishers. After +marching in silence for some distance, the sharpshooters opened a +destructive fire on us from behind trees. We were immediately ordered +to charge; and, with a prolonged yell, the command, led by the Seventh +Ohio, swept like a torrent down the hill. A ravine now lay in front, +and, at a short distance, a slight eminence, and still beyond, a solid +stone wall, behind which, in three lines, nine regiments of the enemy +lay concealed. It was a fearful moment. The rebel artillery, in the +rear of this stone wall, had been turned upon the advancing column. The +grape and canister was tearing the bark from the trees over our heads, +while the solid shot and shell made great gaps in their trunks. Under +our feet the turf was being torn up, and around and about us the air +was thick with flying missiles. Not a gun was fired on our side. The +head of the column soon reached the ravine, when a deafening discharge +of musketry greeted us. A sheet of flame shot along the stone wall, +followed by an explosion that shook the earth, and the missiles tore +through the solid ranks of the command with a fearful certainty. The +brigade staggered--halted. With breathless anxiety we anticipated a +counter-charge by the rebels; but it came not. Victory to our arms +followed that omission on the part of the enemy. The order being given +to fire, the column recovered from the confusion into which it had been +temporarily thrown. The Seventh now advanced to the eminence beyond the +ravine; and, from a partial cover, maintained the unequal contest till +the other regiments could form and come to its support. The One Hundred +and Tenth Pennsylvania Regiment was thrown into such confusion, that it +was of little service during the remainder of the day. + +An order was given to the Seventh to prolong its line to the left. An +attempt was made to execute the order, when the left wing, passing over +a fence into an open field, received such a well-directed fire as to +compel it to fall back to its old position. + +During this part of the contest, the rebels endeavored to extend their +left, so as to flank us on the right. To meet this movement, Tyler +ordered the First Virginia to move to the right. Passing into an open +field, it was exposed to a cross-fire, which soon drove it back to the +timber. + +The roar of musketry was now deafening. The dying and the dead were +lying thick upon the hillside, but neither army seemed to waver. The +confusion attending the getting of troops into action had ceased. The +great "dance of death" seemed to be going forward without a motion. The +only evidence of life on that gory field, was the vomiting forth of +flame and smoke from thousands of well-aimed muskets. From that blue +column, which rolled and tumbled in its ascent from the battle-field, +the unerring bullet sped on its errand of death. But other regiments +are seen coming to the rescue. The right wing of the gallant Eighth +Ohio takes position on the left, followed by the no less gallant +Thirteenth and Fourteenth Indiana, Fifth and Sixty-seventh Ohio, and +Eighty-fourth Pennsylvania. These regiments opened a heavy fire, which +was replied to by the enemy in gallant style. + +The battle now raged fiercely until near night, when the enemy began to +show signs of giving way. At this the Union forces advanced a little, +at the same time delivering their fire with accuracy. As the shades of +evening deepened into night, the enemy began to fall back. At this +crisis, Colonel Kimball ordered a charge along the whole line, when the +retreat became a rout. In their flight, the enemy left in front of the +Third brigade two pieces of artillery and four caissons. + +That night the Seventh bivouacked on the spot now made historic by its +gallantry. The wounded were being brought in all night long, while the +dead were lying in heaps around us, their increasing distortions and +ghastliness adding new horrors to the battle-field. + +At early dawn the next day, we were ready to renew the work of blood +and carnage; but there was no occasion; the victory of the day before +was complete, the rebels had no desire of renewing the contest. They +gave the advancing column a few parting salutes from a battery, and +then beat a hasty retreat. We followed them that day to Cedar Run, +where just at night a slight skirmish occurred, with some loss to the +rebels. The following day the Union forces occupied Strasburg, when the +pursuit ceased. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +GENERAL SHIELDS' ANXIETY FOR LAURELS.--SUMMING UP OF THE BATTLE. +--LOSSES IN THE SEVENTH. + + +After the battle of Winchester, General Shields showed a disposition to +appropriate the laurels won by others to himself. In a letter to a +friend at Washington, he claimed that, after the reconnoissance to +Strasburg, on the 18th, he fell back hurriedly, for the purpose of +deceiving the enemy into the belief that his force was small; and that +after arriving at Winchester, he moved his division beyond the town, so +as to create the belief in the minds of the citizens that most of his +force had been sent away. Now the fact is, this reconnoissance was +greatly the result of accident. The original design of it was to +capture the enemy's advance; this failing, the force proceeded to +Strasburg for the purpose of discovering whether or not the enemy was +in force in the vicinity. It was clearly shown by this advance, what +was afterwards well known, that nothing but a small cavalry force +occupied Strasburg, and that Jackson was some distance up the valley. +The hurried march of the division back to Winchester, was also the +result of accident. The command marched left in front, which brought a +regiment in the advance whose colonel cared little for the comfort of +his men; hence the rapid march. Shields reached Winchester in advance +of the command, having gone on before. After our return there was no +change of position, as our tents had not been disturbed, and we +reoccupied them as they were before leaving. If Jackson was deceived, +the credit of it is not due to Shields, for he was confident to the +very last that there was no other force in his front than Ashby. Even +as late as Sunday noon, when in reality the battle had begun, he +ridiculed the idea of Colonel Kimball calling for so many troops, +remarking, that "Kimball wanted more troops than was necessary for the +force in front of him." He also boastfully said, that "Jackson knew +him, and was afraid of him." + +His friends tried to make it appear that it was by his direction that +the troops were manoeuvred on the field of battle. Now the fact is, +he was four miles away, and in such a condition from a wound that he +compelled one of the best surgeons of the division to remain with him +till long after the battle, against the request of the medical +director, who represented to him, in the most earnest manner, that the +wounded were suffering for the want of medical attention. In thus +retaining a surgeon for his own purpose, while the wounded were +suffering for medical aid, he was criminal in the extreme. He committed +an offence which ought to have deprived him of his commission. + +Colonel Kimball was mainly instrumental in achieving the victory, +assisted, of course, by those under his command. The skilful manner, +however, in which the troops were managed was entirely due to him; and +the authorities regarded it in that light, for he was immediately made +a brigadier-general, as were both Tyler and Sullivan. + +The number of rebel forces engaged in the battle of Winchester has been +variously estimated. They probably numbered sixteen regiments of +infantry, four full batteries of artillery, together with one of four +guns; in the aggregate, twenty-eight pieces and three battalions of +cavalry, under Ashby and Stewart;--in all, eleven thousand men. The +Union forces consisted of thirteen regiments of infantry, four full +batteries of artillery and a section; in the aggregate, twenty-six +pieces, and a battalion of cavalry;--in all, nine thousand men. + +The rebel army was the attacking force, yet the engagement between the +infantry was on ground of their own choosing, by reason of the Third +brigade charging one of their batteries. It was in the vicinity of this +battery, which was at least a mile in advance of our selected line of +battle, that the fighting occurred which turned the tide of battle. At +this point the enemy had every advantage of position. He was securely +posted behind a stone wall, and in a belt of timber extending along a +ridge; while our forces were compelled to advance across a plain +exposed to a galling fire from infantry and artillery; and it was not +until they arrived within eighty yards of his line that any thing like +a fair ground could be obtained. Jackson, the famous commander of the +no-less famous "stone-wall brigade," a sobriquet it had obtained at +Bull Run, was fairly beaten; and that, too, by a force without a +general, and of inferior numbers. The victory was so complete, that the +enemy left two hundred and twenty-five dead on the field. Their killed +and wounded amounted to nearly nine hundred, while their loss in +prisoners was upwards of two hundred and fifty: adding stragglers and +deserters to these figures, and it will swell the number to about two +thousand. The Fifth Virginia rebel regiment was nearly annihilated: +there was hardly sufficient of it left to preserve its organization. + +The loss to the Seventh was fourteen killed and fifty-one wounded: but +few were taken prisoners, and those by accident. The following is the +list: + +_Killed._--Orderly-Sergeant A. C. Danforth; Corporal A. C. Griswold; +privates, Charles Stern, James Carroll, James Creiglow, Allen C. Lamb, +Stephen W. Rice, E. G. Sackett, Reuben Burnham, Louis Carven, Elias +Hall, John Fram, Fred. Groth, James Bish. + +_Wounded._--Captain J. F. Asper; Lieutenant Samuel McClelland; +Sergeant-Major J. P. Webb, and Sergeant A. J. Kelly, mortally; +sergeants, A. H. Fitch, E. M. Lazonny; corporals, Ed. Kelley, William +Saddler, Geo. Blandin, William E. Smith, Benjamin Gridley; privates, +Fred. Hoffman, Daniel Clancey, Leander Campbell, Joseph Miller, Hampton +Gardner, Arthur Lappin, Thomas Fresher, Duncan Reid, Joseph Smith, +Albert E. Withers, Charles Fagan, O. H. Worcester, W. Coleman, Stephen +Kellogg, John Gardner, F. M. Palmer, F. A. Warner, Daniel Kingsbury, +Richard Winsor, John Milliman, John Atwater, Geo. Anness, Fred. Bethel, +Charles W. Minnick, Moses Owens, Arba Pritchell, Edward Thompson, +Edward E. Tracy, A. A. Cavanaha, S. Bishop, Owen Gregory, James Hunt, +W. McClurg, H. M. McQuiston, D. O'Conner, P. Tenny, Richard Phillips, +T. B. Danon, Wm. Birch, Henry Clemens. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +PURSUIT OF JACKSON UP THE VALLEY.--MARCH TO FREDERICKSBURG, AND +RETURN TO FRONT ROYAL. + + +About the 1st of April the command left Strasburg, under command of +General Banks, driving the rear-guard of the enemy through the little +village of Woodstock, and taking a position on the banks of Stoney +Creek, four miles beyond the latter place. It remained here until the +17th, during which time the enemy kept up an artillery fire across the +creek, which resulted in the killing of several men in the division of +General Williams. + +On the morning of the 17th the command crossed the creek, and stormed +the enemy's battery on the opposite shore. The early dawn was +brightening up the eastern horizon with tints of red; and, as the +command emerged from the bridge, and ascended the steep hill beyond, +their bayonets glistened and sparkled. After firing one volley, the +rebels fled in haste, leaving the Federal forces to advance without +opposition. After falling back beyond the north branch of the +Shenandoah River, they made a stand, and endeavored to burn the bridge, +but were prevented by the Union cavalry. A flank movement being +ordered, and partly executed, the rebels again abandoned their +position. The Federals now pressed on to within a short distance of +New Market, where they encamped. + +Here the command remained ten days, when it moved two miles south of +the town, and on the 3d of May advanced to within a few miles of +Harrisonburg, but on the following day fell back about five miles to a +good defensive position. + +The tents were now ordered to be turned over to the quartermaster; and +on the following Monday we wound our way through Brook's Gap, in the +Massanutten Mountains, towards the smoky tops of the Blue Ridge, and +thus leaving forever the beautiful valley of the north branch of the +Shenandoah. Towards evening we crossed the south branch of the same +river at Columbia Bridge, and moved on in the direction of Luray, +encamping near that place. The next morning the command moved on down +the river until night, when it encamped. In the evening a hard rain +storm came up, which continued for several days. In early evening of +the following day the command reached Front Royal, a small village +situated at the base of the Blue Ridge, near the junction of the two +branches of the Shenandoah River. The following morning we crossed the +Blue Ridge, and immediately encountered the enemy's cavalry, which +annoyed us for several days. On the 17th we arrived at Warrenton, a +delightful village in Fauquier County. We remained in this camp until +Monday morning, when we again took the line of march for +Fredericksburg. We reached Falmouth, on the north bank of the +Rappahannock River, on the 23d of May. The corps of McDowell was in the +immediate vicinity, numbering thirty thousand men, and one hundred +pieces of artillery. + +When we arrived on the Rappahannock, we learned that this force of +McDowell's, now numbering forty-one thousand men, was ordered down to +Richmond, to form a junction with the right wing of the grand army +under McClellan. There were then only about twelve thousand of the +enemy in front of Fredericksburg. It was about fifty miles to the +extreme right of the army in front of Richmond. + +On Saturday the President and secretary of war came down for the +purpose of arranging the details. Shields' division was greatly in need +of shoes and clothing, while the ammunition for the artillery had been +condemned, and another supply, which had been ordered, had been very +much delayed. It was therefore arranged that the force should start +early on Monday morning, both the President and McDowell being averse +to starting on Sunday. + +That evening the President and secretary of war left for Washington. +Very soon after, General McDowell received a telegram, to the effect +that Jackson was making a raid down the Shenandoah Valley, with a +prospect of crushing the forces under General Banks. Soon after this +dispatch, another arrived from the secretary of war, by order of the +President, containing instructions to send a division after Jackson. +Here was the fatal blow to the campaign against Richmond. McDowell +promptly ordered General Shields' division to move, and at the same +time telegraphed the President that it was a fatal blow to them all. + +Little things control momentous events. Jackson's army of twenty +thousand veterans checkmated an army of one hundred and fifty thousand +men. In defending Washington, we lost Richmond; but Jackson risked his +own communication to break ours. Results more than realized his +expectations. Without risk there is little gain. Jackson adopted this +adage into his tactics, and endangered his army to save it. Events +proved his sagacity. + +In time of war the capital of a country, unless far removed from the +seat of war, is in the way. The City of Washington was a fatality. It +stood between the army and victory. Jackson knew this, and profited by +it. When this general menaced Washington, our army let go its hold on +the Confederacy, to make it doubly safe. The campaign against Richmond +was abandoned, but Washington was endangered still. The valleys and +swamps of the Chickahominy were paved with the bodies of heroes--the +little rivulets were swollen with the best blood of the land--an army +of cripples were given to charity;--and for what? That the City of +Washington might be safe. We have since then fought the ground over +again from Washington to Richmond; another graveyard has been planted; +and this time for a purpose. Washington has been set aside by the new +commander, and Richmond made the objective point. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE MARCH ON WAYNESBORO'.--TWO BRIGADES ENCOUNTER JACKSON AT PORT +REPUBLIC, AND AFTER FIVE HOURS' FIGHTING ARE COMPELLED TO FALL +BACK. + + +Nearly the entire corps of General McDowell followed the division of +General Shields. The latter took the direction of Manassas Junction, +and from there passed down the railroad, through Manassas Gap, arriving +at Front Royal on Friday noon, after a sharp engagement with a small +force of rebels. + +Soon after, Shields stationed one brigade on the Luray road, another to +watch the fords of the Shenandoah, another was sent out on the +Strasburg road, while the remaining one occupied the town. On +McDowell's arrival, Shields, with his entire division, was ordered out +on the road to Strasburg, for the purpose of intercepting the retreat +of the enemy. But, instead of taking the road which he was ordered to +take, he crossed over the north branch of the Shenandoah River on the +road to Winchester. It then being too late to repair the mischief, and +get ahead of Jackson, Shields was permitted to go in the direction of +Luray, and follow up Jackson as far as he thought advisable, with the +single instruction, that, in no event, should his division be +separated; so that each brigade would be in supporting distance of all +the others. + +On the second day we arrived in the vicinity of Columbia Bridge, and +pitched our tents for the purpose, as we supposed, of enjoying a +night's rest; but towards evening an order was received to fall back +six miles. Arriving at this new camp, we again pitched our tents; but +just at dark we received an order to move forward to the camp we had +but just left. We arrived about midnight, and slept on the ground; thus +wasting the strength of the command in a needless march of twelve +miles. + +On the following morning, June 7th, the Third brigade, by an order to +move on Waynesboro', took up the line of march, arriving in early +evening on the banks of Naked Creek, where it went into camp. Colonel +Carroll's Second brigade had passed over the road some time before. + +The command had nothing but flour and beef for supper, and nothing for +breakfast on the following morning; but being assured that some hard +bread was in waiting, some six miles ahead, it cheerfully pressed +forward at four o'clock A.M., and at about two o'clock the same day, +reached the vicinity of Port Republic, where Colonel Carroll's brigade +had met with a repulse the day before. + +Port Republic is situated at the junction of two forks of the south +branch of the Shenandoah River. Jackson's whole army was in the +vicinity of the place, the most of it occupying the west bank of the +river. In rear of Jackson's position, at Cross Keys, were General +Fremont's forces. At the latter place, on the previous day, Fremont had +defeated Jackson, with heavy loss to the latter. + +Jackson having thus failed to beat back Fremont, was compelled to cross +the river at Port Republic, and, defeating Shields' command, pass +through a gap in the mountain to Gordonsville. + +When General Tyler's command arrived on the field, Lieutenant-Colonel +Daum, chief of artillery, advised an immediate attack; but the general +wisely concluded to await the order of General Shields. Selecting a +good position for defence, the command bivouacked for the night. + +Early in the morning of June 9th, the enemy was seen to debouch into +the plain in our front, when our artillery, under Captains Clark, +Robinson, and Huntington, opened a heavy fire upon him. This force +moved into the woods on our left, and passing up a spur of the Blue +Ridge, threw themselves rapidly forward, with a view of turning that +wing of the army. Two companies of skirmishers and two regiments of +infantry were sent into the woods to counteract this movement. The +skirmishers having become warmly engaged, two more regiments were sent +forward to their support. The enemy now abandoned his intention, and +coming out of the woods, swept across the field to our right, uniting +with a column which was advancing to the attack. + +During this time, the Seventh was supporting a section of Huntington's +Battery. This new movement was directed against the position occupied +by it. When arriving within range of the guns, the enemy charged. The +regiment reserved its fire until the rebel column approached within +easy range, when, by order of Colonel Creighton, the regiment, which +had hitherto been concealed by the tall spires of wheat, rose to its +feet, and delivered its fire. This shower of lead made a fearful gap in +the lines of the advancing column. It staggered, and finally halted. +The Seventh now plunged into the midst of the foe, when an awful scene +of carnage followed. After a short struggle, the enemy was pressed +back, followed by the exultant victors. The Fifth and Twenty-ninth Ohio +regiments did gallant service in this charge. When the enemy had been +pressed back for half a mile, the column halted, reformed, and then +fell back to its old position. + +The enemy now made a furious attack on the extreme right of the +division, to meet which the Seventh changed front on the Fourth +company. The enemy was soon driven back in great confusion, and with +heavy loss. Immediately recovering from this temporary check, he made +an onslaught on the centre, which resulted in his repulse, with greater +loss than in any previous attack; the Fifth Ohio alone capturing a +piece of artillery and many prisoners. + +During these operations, the enemy sent a heavy column against our +left; and debouching from the timber, came down with such rapidity as +to overwhelm the small force of infantry supporting four guns of +Clark's Battery. This force, endeavoring to make a defence, came near +being captured. The guns, of course, fell into the hands of the enemy. +The Seventh and Fifth Ohio regiments were now directed to regain the +position. Moving by the left flank to the rear of the position under a +heavy fire, these two regiments dashed up the hill and over the guns, +into the midst of the terrified rebels. Five color-bearers had now been +shot down, while advancing as many rods. Lieutenant King seized the +colors and pressed forward, followed by the regiment, which sent volley +after volley after the fugitives, the firing ceasing only when the +rebels were covered by a friendly hill. We were soon ordered to drive +them from this position, which was done in gallant style, the command +charging up the steep sides of the hill, in the face of the foe. + +A large column of the enemy was now seen advancing from the bridge to +the scene of action. It was therefore thought advisable by General +Tyler to withdraw from the field during this check of the enemy, and +before these re-enforcements could be brought into the contest. + +This movement was executed under the direction of Colonel Carroll; and, +with few exceptions, the retreat was as orderly as the advance. + +After falling back some miles, we met the balance of the command under +General Shields, who assumed the direction of the forces. Eighteen +miles from the battle-field, the command halted for the night; and, on +the third day, reached the vicinity of Luray, where it went into camp. + +The importance of this engagement has been underrated. Great and +beneficial results to the Union army would have followed a victory; as +it was, a great disaster succeeded. The impetuous Jackson having thus +prevented McDowell's forces from uniting with the grand army, dashed +down in front of Richmond, and hurling his army against the right wing +of McClellan, gave the Federal army its first check, which finally +resulted in its overthrow. McClellan expecting McDowell, received +Jackson. Had the former formed a junction with him, the grand army +would have entered Richmond; but receiving Jackson, it entered +Washington. This failure to intercept Jackson was due to General +Shields' disobedience of orders. His entire division should have been +on the ground on Sunday, or none of it; and on its arrival, he should +have burned the bridge: then the capture of Jackson would have been +rendered probable, but, as events occurred, it was impossible. A part +of the division not being in supporting distance, rendered the burning +of the bridge a necessity; but Shields regarded it differently. His +order to save the bridge was the extreme of folly. To make himself a +name, he came near sacrificing his command. On Sunday, Colonel +Carroll's forces were in a position to have burned the bridge. Soon +after, the enemy commanded it, with eighteen pieces of cannon. Early in +the day it was safe to approach it--afterwards, madness. + +This bridge in his possession, gave the enemy an opportunity to debouch +on to the open plain. When there, the advance of Shields' division was +liable to be crushed. The preservation of the bridge rendered it +certain that he would be there, because this plain lay between him and +safety. To avoid entering it, was to surrender. The shrewd Jackson +chose to enter it. When there, he turned upon Tyler, and overwhelmed +him; then moved off at his leisure. The defeat of Tyler was certain; +his escape, marvellous. Jackson anticipated an easy victory, but met +with a stubborn resistance. This mistake of Jackson saved Tyler. + +When McDowell saw that the pursuit of Jackson was a failure, he +endeavored to collect his forces at Fredericksburg, for the purpose of +carrying out his original intention of joining McClellan; but Jackson +was there before him, and the grand army had been beaten back. + +Had the forces of Generals Banks and Fremont been left to take care of +Jackson, and thus left McDowell with his 41,000 men free to go down to +Richmond, the labor of historians would have been lessened. + +Soon after the battle of Port Republic, General Shields was relieved of +his command. This order received the approbation of both officers and +men. + +The following is a list of killed and wounded: + +_Killed._--Sergeant William Voges; corporals, Geo. R. Magary, Julius +Ruoff, L. R. Gates, John H. Woodward; privates, Adolf Snyder, Romaine +J. Kingsbury, John Mulligan, John Reber. + +_Wounded._--Captain Geo. L. Wood; First-lieutenant A. H. Day; sergeants, +Virgil E. Smalley, Samuel Whaler, James R. Loucks (mortally), Chas. L. +King, Wm. Lanterwasser (mortally); corporals, Townley Gillett +(mortally), Holland B. Fry, Mark V. Burt, A. C. Lovett, Cyrus H. +DeLong, A. C. Trimmer, Charles Knox; privates, J. H. Burton, S. E. +Buchanan, Isaac Maxfield, Charles Keller, F. Keller, Edwin B. Atwater, +M. N. Hamilton (mortally), Daniel S. Judson (mortally), Wm. H. Pelton, +Benjamin F. Hawkins, Lawson Hibbard, James L. Vancise, John Atwater, +Jay Haskins, Leroy Chapman, Sylvester B. Matthews, Alfred W. Morley, +Lawrence Remmel, George K. Carl, Franklin Eldridge, George Geyelin, +John T. Geary, Ira Herrick, Marion Hoover, W. W. Rogers (mortally), +Edwin Woods, Morris Osborn, G. W. Parker, M. Eckenrode, D. L. Hunt, +William Frasher, Anthony Williams, John Smith, James Decker, Michael +Campbell, Philip Anthony, John Colburn, John Hummel, John Luetke, John +Schoembs, Conrad Sommer, John Voelker, Herman Fetzer. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +BATTLE OF CEDAR MOUNTAIN.--GALLANTRY OF THE REGIMENT, AND TERRIBLE +LOSS. + + +After a few days' rest at Luray, the regiment marched to Front Royal, +and soon after left for Alexandria, where it arrived on the 27th of +June. It went into camp on a beautiful hill, just outside the +fortifications. + +Remaining in this camp for a month, the regiment was ordered to join +the forces under McDowell, at Warrenton. It arrived there on the +morning of June 26th, and soon after reported to General Banks, at +Little Washington. + +General Tyler had now been relieved from duty with the Third brigade, +and General Geary placed in command. + +As early as the 16th of July, the advance of Jackson's forces was at +Gordonsville; and by the 1st of August reached the vicinity of the +Rapidan River. To meet this movement, General Pope, commanding the Army +of Virginia, ordered forward the corps of General Banks; and on the 8th +of August ordered General Sigel's corps to Culpepper to co-operate with +Banks' forces; but Sigel, instead of moving promptly forward, sent a +courier to know what road he should take, when in fact there was but +one. This delayed the movement of his corps for several hours, so that +it was impossible to get it in position in time to render any +assistance to the forces under Banks. + +On the 7th day of August, Crawford's brigade, of Banks' corps, had been +pushed forward in the direction of Slaughter Mountain, to support +General Bayard, whose brigade of cavalry was being driven back in that +direction by the enemy; and on the 9th, to support this movement of +Crawford, Banks was directed to take up a strong position a short +distance in his rear. Rickett's division, of McDowell's corps, was +posted three miles in rear of Banks' position, and within easy +supporting distance. + +Desultory artillery firing was kept up all day on the 9th; yet General +Banks, apparently, did not think the enemy were in force, for, during +the afternoon, he left the strong position which he had taken, by order +of General Pope, and advanced to assault the enemy, believing that he +could crush his advance before the main body came up. + +The enemy was strongly posted, and sheltered by woods and ridges; while +Banks had to pass over an open field, which was swept by the fire of +the enemy thus concealed. + +The intention of Jackson, in this advance, was to crush a detachment of +Pope's army before the balance could come to its support. Banks, in +thus advancing to the assault, aided him in his design, which otherwise +would have been an entire failure. + +Cedar Mountain, the position occupied by Jackson, is thus described: +"The mountain is one of remarkable beauty. At a distance of four or +five miles from its base it seems to rise like a perfect cone from the +plain below, and from its base to its summit scarcely a deflection is +to be observed in its outline form--a perfectly straight line, as if +nature had formed it in the same manner that school-boys form +sand-hills. The sides of the mountain are covered with a heavy growth +of timber: its summit is reached by a poor road. The height of the +summit is, perhaps, eight hundred feet above Cedar Creek." + +Early in the day of the 9th, General Geary's brigade was sent to hold +Telegraph Hill, from which our signal-officers had been driven. To +approach this hill was sure slaughter; but the veteran brigade moved +on, through a storm of shot and shell, and occupied the position. + +Thirty pieces of cannon on our side, and as many on the side of the +enemy, were belching forth their fire. There was no part of the Federal +lines but that was swept by this fire. + +A little after three o'clock the Seventh Regiment was ordered over the +crest of the hill, into a cornfield beyond. While advancing to this +position, a most terrific cannonade was directed against it. It seemed +as if every cannon was being directed against this band of heroes; but +it never faltered in this march of death, moving coolly on, regardless +of the missiles that were tearing through its bleeding ranks. Comrades +were falling, and brothers dying; the mangled, bleeding victims of the +fury and violence of war were left thick, making the ground sacred on +which they fell; but the line wavered not. Reaching a low place, the +regiment halted, and the boys threw themselves upon the ground; and +thus for a long hour they lay, in an open field, exposed to a hot sun, +with a hail-storm of grape, canister, and shell falling thick and fast +around them. Men gave up their lives so gently, that it was almost +impossible to tell the living from the dead. The fatal missile struck +its victim, leaving the lifeless clay in the same attitude which the +living body but just before occupied. During that fatal period death +assumed a real character, while life seemed but a dream. + +The engagement had now become general. The brigade of General Prince +had advanced on the left of Geary, occupying the prolongation of the +line. Artillery replied to artillery, musketry to musketry, bayonet to +bayonet, in this deadly strife. Daring warmed into rashness, and +bravery into recklessness. + +About four o'clock the regiment was ordered into a meadow, which +position it promptly occupied, although the fire had not slackened, and +carnage marked its advance. After dressing the lines, the regiment +opened fire; and there it stood without a support, facing, in a +death-struggle, three times its number. The fiery Creighton received a +wound which compelled him to leave the field. The noble Crane was +disabled; and the brave Molyneaux, for the moment, took command. Seeing +the regiment nearly surrounded, and exposed to an enfilading fire, +which was fast thinning the ranks, he ordered it to retreat; but heroic +young Clarkey, mistaking it for an order to charge, dashed gallantly +forward, at the head of his command. After understanding the order, he +had barely time to fall back before the wings of the rebel host closed +in. + +Slowly and sadly the remaining few of the regiment fell back, keeping +their faces to the foe. Only one hundred and sixteen, out of three +hundred and seven, returned to the rear unhurt; and many of these were +disabled from service by severe exposure to the intense heat of the +sun, and lack of water. The regiment retired to a hill, and was not +again brought into action during the afternoon. At night, however, it +was ordered out on picket. After advancing to Cedar Creek it was +challenged, and no one answering, it received a terrible volley from +the front and both flanks. It fell back to the cover of a piece of +woods, and finally to the rear, about a mile, where it bivouacked. + +As night settled upon this field of carnage, Banks' entire corps +withdrew to the position it occupied early in the day; but the +artillery kept up an intermittent fire until near midnight. General +Jackson, from his mountain-top, could see every movement of troops, and +was enabled to calculate just how long it would take to re-enforce +General Banks. Had he not been so imprudent as to come down from his +mountain fastness, and attack the Federal forces after night, his loss +would have been comparatively little. But as Banks retired, he moved +twelve thousand men on to the battle-field, and kept them there during +the night; at the same time advancing one battery through the woods +into the open field beyond the battle-ground. From this position it +opened on the division of Union troops occupying the advance. As soon +as the first flash of his guns was seen, Major Davis, chief of +artillery in McDowell's corps, ordered two batteries into position, and +opened on the enemy. These batteries, being very close, and getting +good range, did fearful havoc among the rebels. It is said that General +Hartsuff sighted one of the guns that did the most execution. After the +battery had retired, Major Davis' guns shelled the battle-field. The +enemy being massed in small space, this fire told fearfully on their +ranks. After firing about one hundred shells, and the enemy not +responding, Major Davis ordered his guns silenced, little dreaming that +he had left more dead rebels on the field than all the random artillery +firing of the afternoon. + +Many deeds of daring were performed at this battle. Captain Ash, of +General Pope's staff, riding up to a battery with an order from the +general to stop firing, saw that it was a rebel battery; he, however, +had sufficient presence of mind to give the order, and ride off. It was +obeyed; the battery ceased to fire, and soon after moved off. Captain +Ball, of McDowell's staff, did the same thing, and with a like result. + +The following incident is from the pen of a correspondent of an Eastern +paper: + +"Just after the firing of musketry became interesting, I noticed a +private soldier coming off the field, and thinking perhaps he was +running away to avoid danger, I rode up to him, when I found he had two +fingers of his left hand shot away, and a third dreadfully lacerated. I +saw at once that he had at least a hand in the fight. I assisted him to +dress his wound as well as my limited knowledge of surgery would +permit, he, in the mean time, propping up my pluck by his quaint +remarks. Said he: 'I don't care a darn for that third finger, for it +warn't of no account, no how; but the 'pinter,' and t'other one, were +right good 'uns, and I hate to lose 'em. I shouldn't have come to the +rear, if I had been able to load my gun; but I wasn't.' After I had +dressed his hand, he looked over in the direction of the firing, and +stood a moment. Turning to me, he said: 'Stranger, I wish you would +just load up my shooting-iron for me; I want to have a little +satisfaction out of them cusses for spilling my fore paw.' I loaded +his gun for him, and he started back for the top of the hill at a +double-quick, in quest of satisfaction. His name is Lapham, of the Ohio +Seventh." + +During the action, General Banks was leaning against a tree, when a +cannon-ball struck it about eighteen inches above his head, passing +entirely through. It has been his singular fortune to meet with many +narrow escapes. While riding through Winchester, on his retreat before +Jackson, a rebel, from a window above, took deliberate aim at him, but +was shot by a private of a Massachusetts regiment before he could fire. + +The loss to the regiment in this engagement was very heavy, and shows +with what determination it maintained the contest. It went into the +engagement with three hundred and seven, rank and file, and came out +with a loss in killed and wounded of one hundred and ninety-one,--a +loss of more than sixty-two per cent. + +The following is the list: + +_Killed._--Lieutenants, James P. Brisbine, Joseph Ross, Frank Johnson; +sergeants, C. P. Bowler, Moses Martin; corporals, J. J. Evans, D. W. +Wright; privates, Joseph T. Blackwell, William Adams, Edward Burnet, E. +S. Shepherd, Charles G. Hettinger, Charles Masters, Benjamin F. Gill, +H. F. Dinger, H. Hight, John J. Hensher, Henry C. Case, M. Eckenroad, +N. H. McClurg, C. C. Miller, G. B. Swisher, E. Fox, James Stephenson, +Alvin H. Benton, John Manning, Michael Waldof, James Ray, Frank Miller, +John Weeland. + +_Wounded._--Colonel William R. Creighton, Lieut.-Colonel O. J. Crane, +Adjutant J. B. Molyneaux, Captain William R. Sterling; lieutenants, +Henry B. Eaton, W. D. Braden, S. S. Reed, Marcus Hopkins; sergeants, Z. +P. Davie, J. S. Cooper, J. C. Jones, A. S. Allen, Arvin Billings, +George W. Barnette, E. M. Lazarus, James R. Carter, E. G. Taylor, G. W. +Moore, Charles A. Brooks; corporals, M. D. Holmes, Henry J. Brown, L. +Wilson, Joseph Trotier, William E. Smith, Thomas C. Brown, Frank J. +Ware, Clark Wilson, C. H. Buxton, Norman L. Norris, F. A. Davis, Albert +A. Smith, James Alexander, Benjamin Gridley, W. T. Callors, Robert M. +Brisk, A. C. Trimmer, Christopher Nesper, James Grobe; privates, A. M. +Clinton, Thomas Sherwood, Edward St. Lawrence, Arthur Laffin, Leonard +Walker, Jacob C. Gaycly, F. N. Brund, Abraham Ginter, John G. Parsons, +Henry Hatfield, Andrew J. Crippin, Charles E. Preble, John H. Galvin, +F. Creque, Philip Kelley, T. Hammond, E. Lown, William Cammel, John +Boyle, James Dixon, Samuel E. Garden, Jacob E. Hine, Benjamin Hasfield, +Frank Henrickle, P. E. Hill, William L. Latch, Jacob Marks, Thomas C. +Riddle, John Stone, Ernest Zincker, Franklin Gaskill, N. Badger, George +Carrathurs, T. P. Dixon, Henry Fairchild, J. M. Rofflige, M. Richmond, +Theodore Wilder, Oliver Wise, A. Colwell, William Gardner, John Frank, +S. E. Hendrickson, N. R. Holcomb, E. Hobday, W. Lapham, F. Manley, John +McAdams, H. H. Rhodes, J. Harnner, Joseph L. Clark, James Kelley, +William W. Mecker, Charles Himpson, John Wickham, J. Roberts, J. R. +Green, Edward E. Day, Lewis Owens, S. A. Fuller, D. G. Burthroff, J. M. +Holcomb, Frank Strong, E. G. Meekins, H. Wallace, M. S. Gibbons, J. +Donthit, S. Reed, Arthur Adams, Ezra Brown, Ira M. Barlow, George M. +Caldwell, George W. Carter, John Downer, Thomas Ely, Sherman Collinger, +Stephen H. Hopkins, Daniel Jones, Perrin D. Loomis, David C. Nunemaker, +J. L. Oviatt, G. Russell, N. Twitchell, Ralph Winzenried, John C. Fox, +A. Inskeep, James Kincaid, John Lentz, R. D. Murray, John Pollock, E. +S. Mathews, A. Shaffer, C. Glendenning, Alfred Jackson, Hiram Deeds, +Ira S. Ray, Richard Freeman, Samuel Knap, John Fishcun, James A. Tell, +William Kelley, T. D. Williams, Charles Smith, George A. Earl, Maskell +Bispham, Frederick Michael, Henry Schmid, John Hammond, William Pfahl, +John Pike, George Sahl, George Zipp; George Rogers, musician. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +THE REGIMENT GOES INTO CAMP AT ALEXANDRIA, BUT IS SOON ORDERED TO +THE FRONT.--BATTLE OF ANTIETAM. + + +After the battle of Cedar Mountain, the regiment took part in the +memorable retreat of General Pope to the Potomac. During the time, it +was not engaged in immediate action; but was exposed, on several +occasions, to the shell from the enemy's batteries. After a fatiguing +march of sixteen days, it arrived, on the 2d day of September, under +the guns of the fortifications around Alexandria. On the following day +it was marched to Arlington Heights, to the support of Fort Albany, +near which it encamped in a beautiful meadow. + +At midnight of the same day an order was received to have the command +ready to march at half-past eight on the following morning; but it did +not leave, however, until near noon, when, crossing the Potomac to +Georgetown, it moved off in the direction of Poolesville, bivouacking +at night five miles from Georgetown. On the following morning the +command started before day had fairly dawned, and passing through +Rockville, bivouacked at night near the place. On the 5th it moved +forward, and leaving the small village of Darnstown on the left, formed +in line of battle, fronting Poolesville, and awaited the advance of the +enemy; but he failing to appear in that direction, but threatening +Pennsylvania, by the way of Frederick, the command, on the 9th, broke +camp and advanced in five columns towards the latter city. After a +brief skirmish, the advance entered the place on the 12th. On the 13th, +the regiment crossed the mountains into Pleasant Valley to Middletown. +While descending the side of the mountain, the progress of the battle +of South Mountain was plainly seen. This engagement was fought by the +division of General Cox, of Reno's corps. These troops won great praise +for their gallantry and good fighting qualities; and the general, an +additional star. + +On the 15th, the advance of the Federal army drove the enemy in the +direction of Boonesboro', and through the town towards Sharpsburg. +Generals Richardson's and Pleasanton's column of cavalry and light +artillery proved very annoying to the enemy in this day's retreat. + +On the following day, the 16th of September, the rebel army took up its +position across Antietam Creek, and there awaited the approach of the +Federals. + +[1]"This position consisted of a series of sharp points, rising from +the bank of the creek, and extending to the rear of Sharpsburg in a +succession of ridges; but, when viewed from a point a little in front, +has the appearance of table-land, the ravines being undistinguishable. +These points or ridges are for the most part surmounted by a heavy +copse of timber, which furnished admirable shelter for foot-soldiers; +while, with batteries flanking each hill, the position was all that a +general could wish for defence. + + [1] Charles Tenney. + +"Seeing the strength of the position, McClellan sent Hooker's and +Sumner's corps around to the left of the enemy's advance position, +across Antietam Creek, and, ere the close of day, they had succeeded in +driving him fully a mile. + +"We had lain down in line of battle, expecting to remain till the +morrow. The _tattoo_ had sounded, and an impressive silence had settled +upon the bivouac, broken only by the tread of the alarm-guard, as he +slowly paced his beat, and the occasional passing of an orderly, +conveying some order to be executed on the coming day. Not long were +we to rest. Our ears were soon assailed with--'_Attention, First +brigade!_' and we were soon in line, and moving around to the right, +to the support of Hooker and Sumner, where we arrived about one A.M., +and bivouacked upon the ground held by the rebels scarce six hours +previous. An occasional shot or volley, in an adjoining piece of woods, +reminded us of the close proximity of the enemy. Nevertheless, the rest +of the night was passed quietly enough by us. + +"The morning came, fresh and beautiful; but our _reveille_ was not +the rattle of the drum, nor the clear notes of the bugle. The day was +opened by a fierce volley of musketry, succeeded by another, and yet +another, which were soon so continuous as to be blended in one +unremittent roll. The struggle had commenced, and the sun that rose +shone upon a field already red with blood. Soon the heavy booming of +cannon was mingled with the sharp, crackling roll of small-arms, and +the din was terrific. Hooker was engaged, and hotly too. We were +immediately ordered under arms, and advanced in the direction of the +fight. Halting in easy supporting distance, we were given thirty +minutes in which to make coffee. At the end of this time the volume of +sound perceptibly increased, and was becoming nearer. The rebels were +re-enforced, and were slowly driving our men before them. 'Forward,' +shouted General Mansfield; and forward we went, in column of division, +as cool and regular as on drill. Changing direction to the left, we +advanced through a cornfield taken by Hooker the evening previous, and +which was now held by the rebels, having driven our boys back. An open +field lay before us, commanded by the direct and flank fire of the +rebel artillery, and the left flank of their infantry. Notwithstanding +the heavy fire we thus suddenly received, the advance was made +steadily, and in slow time. Arriving at the front, we deployed into +line of battle. The line now being complete, we advanced; _and the +work was begun_. No halt was made until the woods were ours; but the +enemy was to be dislodged from behind a rail fence. Then we occupied +the crest of the hill in the woods, and from this point we directed our +fire to the fence, where we could plainly see them level their pieces +at us, and fire. + +"For an hour and a half we thus remained, and fought: one side with the +energy of despair; the other, with an energy imparted with the +consciousness of right and justice. The contest was fair and equal, and +the right triumphed. At last the line began to waver, and General Green +shouted, 'Charge!' With a yell of triumph we started, with levelled +bayonets; and, terror-stricken, the rebels fled. Like hounds after the +frightened deer, we pursued them fully three-fourths of a mile, +killing, wounding, and taking prisoners almost every rod. Their colors +fell: a private soldier leaped forward, and tore them from the staff. + +"Across the fields we pursued the foe, who again took shelter in a +heavy piece of timber, flanked by their artillery. A battery of +twelve-pounder howitzers came to our support, and most efficient +service it rendered. We formed in two lines in rear of the battery, and +lay behind a low ridge, sufficiently high to protect from a direct +shot, but which offered no shelter from the fragments of shells +bursting near to and over us; these were continually striking amongst +us, often grazing a cap or an arm, but doing no particular harm. The +howitzers were doing splendidly, when suddenly we heard, 'But eight +rounds left!' Twenty more rounds would silence the rebel battery, but +we had them not. Soon the rebel fire was more rapid, and a yell in the +distance denoted an advance of their infantry. Shall we retreat? No! we +will hold our ground, or die! On they come, yelling defiantly: 'tis A. +P. Hill's division, second to none but Jackson's. We look anxiously for +another battery. It comes! It comes! We are safe! The gallant Eighth +Rhode Island Battery comes up in splendid style; our ranks open right +and left for them, the exhausted battery of howitzers wheeling out of +line. The Parrotts were unlimbered, and shell, five-second fuse, called +for, and they opened in glorious style. + +"But what means that shout so closely on our right? They have flanked +us, and are charging our battery! A half right wheel was made, and we +were partially under cover of a narrow ridge. A portion of our front +rank, with the colors, advanced, and opened a fire upon their column, +but, as it was intended, it only drew them on; shouting fiercely, they +dashed forward, expecting to have an easy capture. We waited until they +were within six rods, when, with a yell such as freemen know how to +give, we rose and poured the contents of our rifles into the mass of +graybacks emerging from the woods. They reeled and staggered for a +moment, then rallied, and returned our fire for half an hour, then +wavered. Perceiving this, Lieutenant-Colonel Tindell, commanding +brigade, ordered a charge. As we started, they broke and fled in +confusion. Our brigade advanced to the woods, but was soon replaced by +a New Jersey regiment, which quickly broke and fled. On came the +rebels, yelling and exultingly waving their colors, across a field, and +entered a cornfield to the south, to flank our men who were engaging a +division. Their triumph was short, for they suddenly found themselves +nearly surrounded by General Franklin's troops, who came in from the +north and east, over the identical ground we fought over, and +precipitated themselves upon the flank of the enemy, six hundred of +whom threw down their guns and surrendered, those remaining fleeing in +dismay from the field. + +"This _coup de grace_ closed the heavy fighting upon the right, and +we retired from the front, lacerated but cheerful, feeling that our +duty was faithfully performed, and knowing that the rebels were +defeated." + +The next two days were occupied in burying the dead and collecting the +wounded. + +On the 19th, the regiment left for Harper's Ferry, arriving at Maryland +Heights on the 20th. A few days after it forded the Potomac River, and +went into permanent camp on Loudon Heights. + +The regiment sustained a loss at the battle of Antietam of five killed +and thirty-eight wounded. The list is as follows: + +_Killed._--Sergeant James B. Carter; Corporal Martin Lazrus; privates, +John Bacon, Elbridge F. Meachum, George O. Sherick. + +_Wounded._--Lieutenant Ernest J. Kreiger; sergeants, George A. McKay, +Jerry G. Clafflin, Isaac Jones, James Hansell; corporals, Edward +Goodsell, Henry H. Bailey, Hiram J. Bell, John F. Ely, Austin Bull, +James Bryant, J. Kurly; privates, George A. Wood, Joseph Kubler, +Laurine Lamphier, Pliney E. Hill, George Steinberger, E. C. Miller, +Daniel Weatherlow, David Everett, Alfred W. Mosley, Averett C. Reed, +Alson Coe, Alfred E. May, Thomas Woolf, Henry Wilcox, George Houck, +William Cromwell, Caleb Bryant, George Wandal, Nick Bauer, Charles +Briedenbach, Charles Graiter. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE MARCH TO DUMFRIES.--SKIRMISH WITH HAMPTON'S CAVALRY, IN WHICH +THEY ARE BADLY DEFEATED BY A MUCH INFERIOR FORCE. + + +While at Loudon Heights, the monotony of life in camp was relieved by +drill, guard, and picket duty, with an occasional reconnoissance. On +the latter occasions some little skirmishing would usually occur. An +occasional dash was made by the rebels upon the Union picket-line. + +Soon after the occupation of this post the grand army crossed the +Potomac and Shenandoah into the Loudon Valley, on its way to +Fredericksburg. We copy a description of the march of a regiment in +Porter's corps.[2] + + [2] Lieutenant W. D. Shepherd. + +"I have been thinking of the difference between soldiering that we read +about--fancy soldiering, glory and honor soldiering--and real +soldiering of the rough and tumble kind. How well it sounds to read: 'A +regiment of brave men marched proudly through the streets of Harper's +Ferry, to strains of sweet music. Gallantly the veterans of a dozen +battles streamed along, their banners gayly floating in the breeze; +they go to join the Army of the Potomac.' What is it when divested of +its trimmings? 'About three hundred and fifty of what once was a +regiment one thousand strong, went through Harper's Ferry to-day. In +vain the tum, tum, tum of the drum, at the head of the column, urged +the men to keep time. Wearied, worn out by continued tramping, loaded +down with their knapsacks, three days' rations in their haversacks, and +the prospect of a long march before them, slowly they dragged +themselves along; their torn and tattered flag, as well as soiled +clothes, giving evidence of hard service.' Again let us quote: 'At +evening they halted, and bivouacked for the night; refreshed and ready +at early dawn to continue the line of march.' Sift that a little--that +bivouac. Almost worn out with incessant and continued tramping through +mud, and muck, and mire, great clumps of which would stick and cleave +on to the shoe at every step, the night fast closing in, the column +halted; slowly the lingering mass closed up, stacked arms, and broke +ranks. Some, too tired to make a fire and cook food, threw themselves +on the cold, damp ground, and, with their blankets wrapped around them, +shivered to sleep; others, having eaten scarcely any thing all day, +threw off their cumbrous loads, and started, in the now dark night, in +search of wood and water. An old fire-scorched tin cup answers for a +coffee-pot as well as tea-kettle. Into it the water, muddy with the +feet of perhaps a thousand water-hunting tired ones, is put; and while +the coffee is boiling, a piece of fat pork is drawn from the haversack, +and a slice cut off; a long stick, pointed, on which the slice is +secured, and frizzling, sizzling, half burned, half cooked, ready when +the coffee is. The pork, coffee, and hard bread form, for the hundredth +time, the meal of the hungry soldier. Perhaps on the roadside, right in +the mud, glad in truth to lie anywhere, one after another drops his +wearied form. The heavy rain comes down in torrents, wetting him +through and through, but tired nature heeds it not--must have rest. + +"Early dawn comes. Again the pork, coffee, and hard bread; and +the stiffened, sore, leg-weary patriot buckles on his saturated +knapsack, and, like a foundered horse, limps achingly along till +he gets heated up, with the same prospect before him of twenty miles +tramp--clamp--tramp." + +On the 10th day of December the regiment left Bolivar Heights, crossed +the Shenandoah on a pontoon, and winding round the bluff of Loudon, +passed up the Loudon Valley. + +While passing through Hillsboro', the command was given, by Lieutenant +Shepherd to his men, to "Close up!--get into your places!" General +Geary, on foot and unobserved, had marched along just in rear of the +company. Hearing the command, he remarked: "Well, here is a vacant +place, I guess I'll fill it up;" and stepped into the place. He +marched, in this manner, some distance, talking freely with those +nearest him, at the same time obeying orders promptly. + +The regiment encamped about a mile beyond Hillsboro'. + +Bright and early on the following morning the command moved on. Leaving +the battle-field where the brave Kearney fell, and Fairfax on the left, +on the 15th it arrived in sight of the Lower Potomac, and encamped +after crossing Naabsco Creek. + +Having passed Dumfries on the 17th, an order came that the Fifth, +Seventh, and Sixty-sixth regiments, under command of Colonel Candy, +should march back and hold that post. On the following day, crossing +Powell's Creek, two hours' march brought the brigade in the outskirts +of Dumfries, where it went into camp. + +Nothing transpired worthy of mention until the 27th of December, when +the heavy booming of cannon was heard in the vicinity of the +picket-line. It was evident that the enemy were making a descent on the +pickets. For several days this attack had been expected, therefore in a +few minutes the command was ready and in line of battle. The pickets +gradually gave way, under the command of the indomitable Creighton, +fighting their way back to the line of battle, in which they took +position. The rebels came gallantly forward, in anticipation of an easy +victory. When within short-range of our guns, they were met by such a +terrible fire of musketry from our partially concealed line, as to +check their advance. They, however, rallied, and returned the fire; but +in a moment staggered, and finally withdrew in confusion from the +field. Again forming their broken columns, they hurled themselves +against our line. They were again met by a determined front, and, with +a like result, were sent, broken and mangled, back upon their reserves. +A third time reforming their wasted ranks, they came down with great +impetuosity, and hurled their solid columns against the weak lines of +the Federals. They were again met with a sheet of flame, which sent up +its column of blue smoke along the entire front. For a moment it was +impossible to tell the effect produced on the rebels; but the smoke +clearing away before a light breeze, it was discovered that their +advance had been arrested. One more united effort, and the rebel line +was again sent back crushed and bleeding. They again organized for a +last desperate charge, and most gallantly did they sweep down upon our +line. Up the hill and over the brush and logs, which lay in their way, +with wild impetuosity, which threatened to crush every thing before +them. Aware of the avalanche that was sweeping down upon them, the +Union boys hugged the ground, awaiting, with breathless anxiety, the +command to fire. At last the stentorian voice of the sturdy Crane was +heard to shout the order, when a band of patriots, their eyes kindled +to a blaze with the ardor of their daring, with strong muscles and +steady nerves, rose, and with a shout that made the gray hills of old +Dumfries echo, poured a volley of death into the rebel host. Disdaining +to again take refuge under cover, the line stood manfully up, and met +the continued onsets of the foe. The brave Creighton stood on a hill +exposed to the fire--how could men falter while the noble form of their +leader was thus bared to the bullets of the enemy? They did not falter; +but the line stood like a wall. The rebels were soon seen to waver, and +as the night "cast its mantle over the combatants," they tardily and +solemnly withdrew, bearing with them the lacerated, bleeding victims to +their endurance. + +At night the line was drawn in, and after making every effort for the +security of the command, the boys lay down upon their arms, harassed by +an oppressive uncertainty which always haunts the soldier in the +bivouac upon the battle-field. + +During that long night the lonely picket-guard peered out into the +darkness, intent upon catching the first footfall of the cautious +foe. Slowly and with careful tread he paced his weary beat, fearful +that he might be pounced upon by the wily enemy ere he could give +the alarm to his slumbering companions. Through rain, and sleet, and +darkness--oppressed with the solemn stillness that at night hangs over +the earth--with a sense of loneliness weighing upon his feelings--he +stood like a spectre in the gloom, the guardian of the thousands +slumbering in the camp. While others dream of home, and friends, and +firesides, afar off on the hills of New England, or the starlit +prairies of the West, the wakeful picket keeps his vigil. May God +protect him in his watch! + +As day again dispelled the shadows that darkened the hills and the +valleys, the columns of the brave Sigel were seen winding their way +through the village. A shout of welcome greeted these heroes. The +dreadful suspense that had weighed upon the hearts of the combatants of +the day before, during that long night of watching, now gave place to +cheerfulness; and confidence was again restored. But the cautions +Hampton had fled; and nothing met the eye save the frowning hills. + +The following is the list of killed and wounded in this affair: + +_Killed._--Corporal Austin Ball. + +_Wounded._--Corporal E. M. Corrdett; privates, Sylvester Carter, Philip +Grigsby, Thomas Roff, Wm. P. Root, Wm. H. Kibbee, W. M. Perry, Stephen +Willock. + +_Prisoners._--John Gordon, Andrew Atleff, Richard M. Vreeland, Douglass +F. Pomeroy, Henry T. Benton, Lewis T. Butts, Henry Alderman, Charles +Bradly, James Snider, John Beiler, W. M. Perry. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE REGIMENT ORDERED TO THE FRONT.--BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE. + + +Near the middle of April, 1863, the regiment marched down to Aquia +Landing, where it remained in camp for two weeks. + +General Hooker was now in command of the grand Army of the Potomac, +having relieved Burnside after that general's unsuccessful attack on +Fredericksburg. Hooker resolved to make an attempt to drive the rebel +army from the vicinity of the Rappahannock. Burnside's failure had +demonstrated the impracticability of crossing the river at +Fredericksburg; for no army was safe for a moment with a strong army +behind three lines of well-constructed earthworks in its front, and a +wide and deep river in its rear. He therefore chose a flank movement by +the way of Banks and United States fords, thus striking the left flank +of the enemy near Chancellorsville Court-house, and avoiding their +strong fortifications in the rear of Fredericksburg. + +The Seventh Regiment arrived in the vicinity of Chancellorsville on the +afternoon of the 30th of April, and encamped for the night a little +southeast of the latter place, and near the Fredericksburg plankroad. + +Early on Friday morning it was ordered forward, and took position in +the second line of battle, in an open wood-lot, facing south. Late in +the afternoon it was ordered back; and it finally took position +directly south of the famous brick house, called the Chancellorsville +Place, where headquarters were established and maintained during most +of the action. + +Just before dark the rebels came up in great numbers, in an attack on +Knapp's Battery, which was stationed on the left. The Seventh was +ordered to its support, but the attack was repelled before the regiment +became warmly engaged. It remained in support of this battery during +the night and in the forenoon of the following day. About noon of the +2d of May, the regiment was ordered forward to support a line of +skirmishers; but this line, refusing to advance, was passed by the +regiment, when it took the advance, and most handsomely drove the enemy +back for some distance, holding the ground for several hours, when it +was ordered to retire. It did so without confusion, taking a new +position in rear of a piece of woods, where it remained until ordered +into the intrenchments. + +During this advance, the right wing was hotly engaged, and lost +heavily; the left wing suffering slightly. It remained during the night +in its old position near the brick house, in the second line of battle. + +On the 3d, the regiment advanced to what is known as "the old +rifle-pit," which it occupied while the other troops were falling back +across a cleared field south of the Fredericksburg plankroad. Here it +was exposed to a galling fire from the advancing rebel column; but it +stood firm. When the balance of the troops of the brigade were in +proper position, it formed under the protection of a battery, and +slowly moved off the field, exposed to a terrible fire of both musketry +and artillery, taking up its position in rear of the brigade. The +brigade, however, was soon driven back, and passed to the rear of the +regiment, exposing it to a severe fire. Soon the order came for a +general advance, when the brigade, with a loud shout, dashed at the +foe, led by the Seventh. The rebels were pushed back for a considerable +distance; but no support coming up, the brigade was compelled to fall +back to the south of the brick house, where it halted, and laid down in +the road; but about eleven o'clock at night the shelling became so +continuous and heavy that it was forced still further back, and finally +resulting in its withdrawal to the vicinity of United States Ford. That +night the regiment occupied a rifle-pit about half a mile from the +river. At four o'clock in the afternoon of the 5th, it was relieved by +the Fifth Ohio; and taking a circuitous route, arrived in a ravine on +the left of the column, and near the river, and was soon after employed +in the intrenchments. + +Early in the morning of the 6th, the regiment crossed the river on a +pontoon at United States Ford, and in the afternoon of the 7th arrived +at its old camp at Aquia Landing. + +In this battle the regiment was actively engaged but a small portion of +the time. The loss was not severe, when taking into account the +magnitude of the engagement, and its duration. + +Why the army recrossed the river has not been fully explained. The +immediate battle was not a defeat; at least it has not been considered +as such. However, the two columns of Sedgwick and Hooker failed to +unite, which fact may have had an influence in determining the retreat. +The attacks of the enemy had been repulsed at all points, while +Sedgwick had carried a portion of their fortifications in rear of +Fredericksburg. The retreat alone turned a prospective victory into a +humiliating defeat. The grand army failed to accomplish the purpose of +its advance, and was compelled to hasten its march across the river in +retreat, over which it had, but a week before, advanced in triumph. It +can be said by way of apology only, that while at Chancellorsville the +army maintained its reputation for bravery and endurance, the enemy +manifestly looked upon it as a fruitless victory to him. + +The following is a list of the killed and wounded: + +_Killed._--Orderly-Sergeant Henry Whiting; Color-Sergeant John D. +Creigh; Corporal A. C. Trimmer; privates, Charles H. Cheeney, E. N. +Larom, Henry A. Pratt, John Randle, Almon Lower, John Lee, Stafford +Penney, Thomas Carle, A. C. Steadman, Victor Perrley, Henry Ackman. + +_Wounded._--Orderly-Sergeant Elmon Hingston; sergeants, H. H. +Bailey, John S. Davis, James Lapham, H. L. Allen; corporals, A. A. +Austin, John Gardiner, S. M. Cole, J. S. Kellogg; privates, W. Furniss, +H. Owen, F. Eldridge, W. Van Wye, E. C. Palmer, D. L. Hunt, E. V. Nash, +Henry H. Pierce, O. Jackman, C. A. Wood, H. S. Smalley, Charles P. +Smith, S. P. Sherley, F. Rockefellow, Frank Randal, Joseph Kubler, +Michael St. Auge, David Boil, James Dixon, Oliver Wise, James Farron, +G. Breakman, F. Mauley, John Shelby, Andrew Copeland, S. G. Cone, W. W. +Hunt, E. Kennedy, H. G. Benton, A. S. Raymond, C. A. Parks, Isaac +Stratton, H. Thwing, James Baxter, J. W. Benson, S. Hughes, P. Smith, +S. A. Fuller, F. Hank, John Clonde, E. O. Whiting, G. W. Bonn, S. H. +Barnum, J. C. Brooks, W. H. Fox, I. H. Gregg, W. Hunter, H. Jones, S. +Moneysmith, S. S. Pelton, B. Wilson, D. W. Waters, W. H. Bannister, H. +Lewis, W. J. Evans, C. L. Cowden, H. Hoffman, S. Renz, M. Saiser, E. A. +Spurn, L. Knoble. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +ACCOMPANIES THE GRAND ARMY INTO PENNSYLVANIA.--BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. + + +After the battle of Chancellorsville, the regiment remained for some +time in its camp at Aquia Landing. The Army of the Potomac, as well as +that of Lee, was quietly reorganizing, preparatory to another struggle. +Soon Lee began to threaten the outer line of Hooker, by making +demonstrations on the various fords of the Rappahannock. At one time +threatening to move boldly across, and at another menacing the flank, +as if to attack one wing of the army. These various movements gave rise +to sharp skirmishes, nothing more. At last it was evident that Lee +meant an invasion of the North. The Army of the Potomac was therefore +set in motion. + +The Seventh left its camp early in June, and proceeded to Martinsburg +by the way of Fairfax. Lee continuing his flank movement, the grand +army was compelled to fall back across the Potomac; the Seventh +crossing at Edward's Ferry. The rebel army now crossed the river by the +way of Williamsport, and moved forward towards Pennsylvania. The Army +of the Potomac moved in the same direction, passing through Frederick +City, Maryland, and taking up its position in rear of Gettysburg, +Pennsylvania. The line of battle was formed a little distance from and +facing the town. On the first day of July the rebel army advanced and +occupied the town, but the day was exhausted in manoeuvring, attended +with slight skirmishing between the advance of the two armies. + +Hooker had been relieved, and General Meade ordered to assume command. + +After the Seventh arrived on the field it took its position on the left +side of the Gettysburg and Littletown pike. + +Early on the morning of the 2d it took a position on a hill on the +right of this road, at the same time sending Company H to the front, +under command of Captain McClelland. This company remained at the front +during the entire day. For the first time in its history, the regiment +occupied a position under cover, a stone wall being in its front. Up to +this time it had not been exposed to the fire of infantry; but during +the afternoon it suffered slight loss from a brisk artillery fire. At +eleven o'clock at night it advanced down the pike, and took a position +in a hollow, running at right angles with the road. It was now exposed +to a musketry fire, resulting in the wounding of one man. It soon fell +back to a stone wall, parallel with a road leading to the pike; and +shortly after it advanced to this road, from which twenty men were sent +forward as skirmishers, under command of Sergeant Stratton. This +gallant soldier was mortally wounded while bravely leading his command +against the foe. + +On the morning of the 3d the regiment moved forward, after having +called in the skirmishers, to the relief of the Sixtieth New York +Volunteers, occupying a line of intrenchments. In the evening it was +relieved, and withdrew to the breastworks in the rear; but was soon +after ordered forward to the relief of another regiment, where it +remained until late in the evening. During the entire day it was +exposed to a heavy fire of musketry, from which it suffered +considerable loss, considering the position it occupied. When relieved, +it withdrew to the position held by it in the morning. + +At one o'clock on the morning of the 4th of July, it again moved +forward to the intrenchments, where it remained till the brigade moved +off in the direction of Littletown. + +The following incidents occurred July the 3d: While occupying the +intrenchments, a white flag was seen flying from the front of the +enemy's lines. The firing being suspended, seventy-eight rebels came +forward and surrendered, including six officers. Lieutenant Leigh, of +Ewell's staff, came forward and endeavored to stop the surrender; but +was fired upon by the regiment, and instantly killed. + +Corporal John Pollock leaped over the breastworks and captured the flag +of the Fourteenth Virginia rebel regiment. + +Private James J. Melton was wounded, and afterwards taken to a +hospital, where he remained for some time; since which his friends have +heard nothing from him. The wound being in the head, he is supposed to +have become deranged and wandered away, unable to give any account of +himself. No means have been left untried to obtain information of his +whereabouts, but without avail. + +The regiment having fought under partial cover, the loss was slight: +one killed and seventeen wounded. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +AFTER REACHING THE RAPIDAN IT GOES TO GOVERNOR'S ISLAND.--AFTER ITS +RETURN IT ACCOMPANIES HOOKER'S CORPS TO THE WESTERN DEPARTMENT. + + +After the battle of Gettysburg, the regiment was with the grand army in +pursuit of the broken columns of General Lee. Passing through Frederick +City, it arrived at Harper's Ferry and went into camp. Here it remained +for two days, when it moved across the Potomac, and again passing up +the beautiful Loudon Valley, crossed the Blue Ridge to Fairfax and +Manassas Junction, over the old battle-field of Bull Run. Again taking +up the line of march, it crossed the Rappahannock below Culpepper +Court-house, and encamped on the banks of the Rapidan. + +About this time a riot broke out in New York city, which required the +presence of the military, as an assistance to the civil authorities. +The Government was therefore called upon to furnish troops. Several +regiments were at once dispatched to the scene of strife. Among these +was the Seventh. It left the vicinity of the Rapidan about one week +after its arrival there. It marched to Alexandria, and there taking the +United States ship Baltic, passed down the Potomac through Chesapeake +Bay to the ocean, arriving on Governor's Island in the latter part of +August. It remained until the first of September, when again embarking, +it sailed to Alexandria, from whence it marched to the Rapidan, near +its old camp. + +General Rosecrans had now been removed from the command of the Army of +the Cumberland, and General Grant assumed control. The army occupied +the vicinity of Chattanooga, Tennessee; while the rebel army under +General Bragg occupied Mission Ridge, immediately in front of and +overlooking the city. The task of driving Bragg from this position was +assigned to General Grant. + +Before entering upon this campaign, however, it was necessary to +re-enforce the Army of the Cumberland; for it had not entirely +recovered from the disastrous battle of Chickamauga. For this purpose +it was necessary to draw on the Army of the Potomac, now lying idle on +the banks of the Rapidan. At this time this army had, _positively_ +speaking, accomplished nothing. It had barely saved Washington from the +enemy. To be sure, it had seen many hard-fought battles, and on all +occasions sustained its reputation for courage and endurance. But the +results following these battles were entirely negative; and after more +than two years of marches, counter-marches, sieges, and battles, when +graves had been dug from the Potomac to the James, and filled with the +best blood of the land, and the country left in mourning for her fallen +braves, but little territory had been gained, and the possession of +this little being constantly disputed by a well-organized and gallant +army. A sort of fatality had thus settled down upon the Army of the +Potomac. Some of the best generals had been summoned to its command, +but to no purpose. The hand of fate rested upon it heavily. When about +to seize upon victory, some stream would rise in its rear, or some +unseen accident happen to its communications or line of supplies, +compelling it to let go its hold on victory, and in its stead to accept +defeat. No wonder, then, that the authorities saw fit to send a part of +this not very promising army to a department where victory sometimes +rested upon the Federal arms. Hooker's corps was therefore ordered to +report to Grant. + +The Seventh being a part of this command, left its camp on the Rapidan +in the latter part of September, and moving up to Washington, passed +over to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, when it left for Nashville, +Tennessee, by the way of Columbus, Indianapolis, and Louisville. It +soon after left for Wartrays, by the way of Murfreesboro'. It was now +ordered to construct winter-quarters, but having them nearly completed, +it was ordered to Bridgeport, Alabama, where it arrived in due time. + +This entire trip from the East was accomplished without any delay, and +nothing occurring to lessen the good opinion the people entertained for +this veteran corps. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +THE SEVENTH JOINS GRANT'S ARMY.--THE BATTLES OF LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, +MISSION RIDGE, AND RINGGOLD. + + +After remaining for some time at Bridgeport, the regiment was ordered +to the vicinity of Lookout Mountain. It marched to the little village +of Wahatcha, at the base of this mountain, and went into camp. It +remained, however, but a short time, and then returned to Bridgeport, +where it went into permanent camp. + +Late in the fall, General Grant had perfected his arrangements to +attack the rebel stronghold on Lookout Mountain; and, as a preparatory +measure, his vast army was concentrated in the vicinity of Chattanooga. +An immense quantity of stores had been gathered, while garrisons were +placed at points to be held for the purpose of keeping up communication +with the army after its advance. Early in November, the Seventh left +its quarters in Alabama, and joined the grand army. + +On the 24th of November, the army was set in motion. The Seventh passed +up the northern slope of the mountain, and crossing Lookout Creek, +formed in line of battle. It now steadily advanced, arriving at the +rebel camp to find it in the hands of our men. But desultory firing was +kept up by the rebel sharpshooters concealed in the timber and behind +rocks on the summit of the mountain. The regiment was now ordered on +picket. Passing around to the east side of the mountain, it was fired +upon by the enemy; but owing to their being entirely hidden from view +by the dense fog that had settled over the combatants, it did not +return the fire, but secured a safe harbor behind rocks and trees. This +fire was kept up for nearly two hours, with a loss to the regiment of +only four men wounded. Before night the regiment was relieved from duty +and marched to the rear, bivouacking in a peach orchard. + +About ten A.M. of the 25th, it moved down the opposite side of the +mountain, and passing through a small valley, soon reached Mission +Ridge. Without halting, the command moved steadily up this mountain, +and on arriving on its summit, found that the rebels had fled. Passing +into another valley, it bivouacked for the night. On the 26th, the +command moved to the vicinity of Pigeon Mountain, where it remained +till the following day. Early on the morning of the 27th, it moved on +to Ringgold, Georgia, where it found the enemy securely posted on +Taylor's Ridge. On arriving in this town, the brigade was ordered to +scale the mountain. It was formed on the railroad, in two lines of +battle; the second line being ordered to preserve a distance of one +hundred yards. Two Pennsylvania regiments formed the first line, and +the Sixty-sixth and Seventh Ohio the second line; the Seventh being on +the left. The enemy soon discovered the intention of our troops, and +made his dispositions to meet the attack by extending his right. As +soon as the advance began, the enemy opened fire. Arriving at the foot +of the hill, the first line halted to return the fire, and the second +line passed through. The Seventh now moved into a ravine, where it was +exposed to a terrible fire from the front and both flanks, but it +pressed on without firing a shot. Arriving almost on the crest of the +hill, the fire became too effective for even these gallant veterans to +withstand, and the line gave way, fighting as it went. In this manner, +the surviving few reached the foot of the hill. + +This engagement was short, but terrible in its results to the regiment. +It may be said that with this struggle its star of glory began to +fade--its pride and spirit were broken. But one officer escaped +uninjured, while many were killed. The number of men in the action was +two hundred and six, of whom fourteen was killed and forty-nine +wounded. + +For what purpose this handful of men were ordered to storm the enemy's +position on the hill has never been explained. There was no artillery +used to cover the assault, without which it was impossible to carry the +position with such a force, and hazardous to attempt it with any. +Within a short distance there was a large amount of artillery, which +could have been placed in position, after which Taylor's Ridge would +have been untenable by the enemy. On seeing such dispositions being +made, he would probably have anticipated the movement, and fled without +firing a gun. But thus far Hooker and his almost invincible corps had +carried every thing before them. This success seemed to bring with it a +contempt for the rebel soldiers, which finally resulted in the great +disaster at Taylor's Ridge. A good general will resist the influences +growing out of success, and not be led by these to undertake +impossibilities, and by such rashness endanger that which he has +already gained. It requires greater self-control to resist the +temptations following victory, than to overcome the demoralizing +influences of defeat. Victory must never elate a general, while defeat +must never depress him. + +After this battle, an unsuccessful attempt was made to get the regiment +ordered home. But the response of Halleck, to a similar application, +made after the battle of Cedar Mountain, was reiterated. "No!" said the +old warrior; "not so long as there is a lame drummer-boy left; not if +you will send us a whole new regiment in place of this handful. We know +these men--they are just such as we want." This compliment, from an +officer who was in command of all of the armies of the United States, +was worth many a hard march, as well as battle. + +The following is a list of the killed and wounded in the three battles +of Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, and Taylor's Ridge: + +_Killed._--Colonel W. R. Creighton; Lieutenant-Colonel O. J. Crane; +Adjutant Moris Baxter; second-lieutenants, Isaac C. Jones and Joseph +Cryne; sergeants, J. C. Corlet, William Van Wye; corporals, Alfred +Austin, W. H. Bennett; privates, C. F. King, C. E. Wall, D. P. Wood, J. +L. Fish, Thomas Sweet, Oliver Grinels, Lawrence Remmel, H. Hanson, J. +H. Merrill, William Pfuel. + +_Wounded._--Captains, W. D. Braden, Samuel McClelland; first-lieutenants, +George A. McKay, George D. Lockwood; second-lieutenants, D. H. Brown, +E. H. Bohm, H. N. Spencer, Christian Nesper; sergeants, M. M. Cutler, +John Gardner, L. Wilson, Isaac Stratton, Elmore Hemkston; corporals, +James W. Raymond, E. V. Nash, John Baptee, C. Glendenning, Hiram Deeds, +Thomas Dowse, George Spencer, William Senfert, J. E. Hine, W. H. +Petton, J. H. Cleverton, H. C. Hunt, M. H. Sheldon, John Phillips, W. +O. Barnes, M. Fitzgerald, J. Tuttle, George Eikler, W. J. Lowrie, H. O. +Pixley, W. H. Johnson, John Bergin, W. Wise, H. B. Pownell, J. N. Hall, +V. Reynolds, R. White, H. Wright, R. D. Gates, Otis Martin, Joseph +Kincaid, W. O. Johnson, J. Decker, J. Hall, C. Cowden, D. F. Dow, +George Mandall, H. Fezer, George Raynette, L. Habbig, John Schwinck, +Joseph Rowe, C. Deitz. + +The following were wounded at Lookout Mountain: + +John H. Galvin, M. C. Stone, M. W. Bartlett, James A. Garrison, Louis +Owen, A. Gordon. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +THE ADVANCE TOWARDS ATLANTA.--SKIRMISHING.--HOMEWARD MARCH.--ITS +RECEPTION.--MUSTER OUT. + + +The series of successes in the vicinity of Chattanooga made Grant a +lieutenant-general, and gave Sherman the command of the armies in +Tennessee. Preparations were now made to press back the forces +marshalled in rebellion at all points. Early in the spring the ball was +opened in the East by Lieutenant-General Grant in person, while in the +West the indomitable Sherman set his invincible army in motion towards +the very heart of the so-called Confederacy. The advance was sounded, +and the Union hosts pressed onward. + +By sunset on the 17th of May the Seventh Regiment reached Calhoun, and +on the 19th the vicinity of Cassville, where it hastily threw up some +breastworks; but after two hours was ordered forward in line of battle. +On the 23d it passed through the latter village, across the railroad, +and at four P.M., arrived on the banks of the Etawa River; and after +fording the stream, bivouacked for the night. On the 25th it took +the advance of the entire column, and deployed seven companies as +skirmishers. The march of these companies was very toilsome, and their +progress correspondingly slow. Near Pumpkin Vine Creek the advance was +fired upon by the enemy's pickets, and a sharp skirmish ensued. During +this time the enemy attempted to destroy the bridge over the creek, but +were driven back by the regiment; when it immediately crossed, and took +possession of a commanding hill. + +Generals Hooker and Geary, with staff and body-guard, had moved forward +with the skirmish-line, and sometimes in advance even of this. On one +of the latter occasions the body-guard was fired upon, and the three +reserve companies of the Seventh were ordered to their relief. + +The advance of the enemy was now held in check until the other +regiments of the brigade came up, when he was dispersed. + +In this skirmish, one man was killed and eight wounded. At this point +the command threw up some breastworks, where it remained until six +P.M., when it advanced in line of battle. In this movement the regiment +became hotly engaged, losing three killed and fifteen wounded. One of +the enemy's shell exploding in the ranks, occasioned the loss of eight +men. On the 28th and the previous night, considerable skirmishing was +kept up in front of the line of intrenchments, as well as some sharp +artillery firing; which, however, did very little damage. These pieces +were soon silenced by a New York battery. All day and night of the 30th +the regiment was engaged in sharp skirmishing; but one man, however, +was injured, and he severely. On the 2d of June it moved forward to +Allatoona, Georgia, where it built breastworks, and went into camp. + +Here it remained for some time, when its term of service having +expired, it hastened its steps homeward; thus severing the connecting +link between it and the army. The members of this veteran regiment now +felt that they were no longer soldiers: that, although they retained +the organization and uniform of a regiment, they were private citizens +hastening to enjoy home and friends, from which they had been so long +separated. They marched with joyous hearts, and yet there was sadness +present with this happiness. Many a comrade was left behind, never to +return. Fresh graves marked its line of march from Chattanooga to +Georgia. Friends and kindred were sleeping beneath these green mounds, +and they could not pass them by, in this homeward march, without a tear +of regret. + +Following the line of the railroad, the regiment finally halted and +awaited transportation. When this was furnished, it went to Nashville +by railroad, at which place it embarked on steamers and started down +the Cumberland River. Arriving in the vicinity of Harpeth Shoals, it +was fired on by guerrillas, and two men wounded. Both officers and men +were desirous of landing and punishing this band of outlaws for their +insolence, but could not prevail on the captain of the boat to permit +it. + +Arriving in the Ohio River, Sergeant Trembly fell from the boat and was +drowned. This was a sad occurrence. He had served faithfully during the +service of the regiment; and now, on the eve of being mustered out, he +lost his life by accident. The boat was stopped, and efforts made to +rescue him, but without success. + +When the regiment reached Cincinnati, the Fifth Ohio had already +arrived. The city being about to give an ovation to this gallant +regiment, the Seventh was invited to take part in it, by partaking of +the hospitality of the city. This demonstration, in honor of the two +regiments, was eminently fitting, for they were united by the ties of +long fellowship. From the very first they had been brigaded together. +The history of the one was the history of the other. They had marched, +bivouacked, and fought side by side. Each prized the honor and renown +of the other not less than its own. The city of Cincinnati, in thus +extending its hospitality to the Seventh Regiment, did much credit to +itself. The friends of the regiment will remember this magnanimous +conduct, while the members of the regiment will keep green the memory +of the gallant Fifth. + +The following is from the Cleveland Herald, of the 11th of June: + +"On Saturday afternoon, soon after the evening papers had been issued, +a dispatch was received, announcing that the Seventh Ohio had but just +left Cincinnati, and would not arrive in Cleveland until about seven +o'clock Sunday morning. Bulletins to this effect were at once printed, +and distributed through the city; but a large crowd of persons, not +aware of this fact, came down to watch the arrival of the evening +train, on which the Seventh was supposed to be coming. + +"On Sunday morning the population of the city were early astir, and by +seven o'clock a large and continually increasing crowd had assembled in +and around the depot. The police, in full uniform, marched down to the +depot, and were followed by the old members of the Seventh, bearing the +second regimental flag, the first having been deposited in the +State-house at Columbus. + +"At seven o'clock the ringing of the fire-bells announced the approach +of the time for the arrival of the train; and about half-past seven +o'clock a salute from the guns, manned by the Brooklyn Artillery, and +run down to the bluff at the foot of Water-street, announced the +arrival of the train. + +"As it moved into the depot it was received with cheers by the +assembled crowd; and the war-worn veterans were soon out of the cars, +and surrounded by anxious and joyful friends. Shouts of welcome, hearty +hand-shaking, embraces and kisses, were showered upon the sun-browned +soldiers. Many of the scenes were very affecting. In one place a young +wife, whose husband had left for the field just after their marriage, +hung with clinging embrace on her returned brave, and her moist eyes +sought his with unutterable affection, her hands trembling with excess +of joy. In another, an old man, with both hands grasped in those of his +son, mingled smiles of joy over his returned boy, with tears of sorrow +for the one who had laid down his life for his country. Mothers clung +to sons, sisters to brothers, wives to husbands, and some little +children climbed up for a father's embrace. + +"The number all told, men and officers, of those who returned, was two +hundred and forty-five. These were the remnants of nearly eleven +hundred men, who left Camp Dennison three years ago, on the +reorganization of the regiment. The whole number of the regiment is +five hundred and one, of whom the remainder were recruited at various +times, and their term of service not expired. Sixty of these were left +in Sherman's army; the rest are scattered in every direction, from the +James River to Atlanta. The greater part of those whose term of service +has not expired are to be consolidated with the same class in the Fifth +Ohio, which fought by its side in many a bloody fray, and which is to +retain its number. The slightly wounded were brought up with the +regiment, the more seriously wounded being left in different hospitals. + +"The following is the present organization of the Seventh: + +"Lieutenant-colonel, Sam. McClelland; surgeon, Dr. Bellows; assistant +surgeon, Dr. Ferguson; Captain Wilcox, Company E; Captain Kreiger, +Company K; Captain Clark, Company B; Captain Howe, Company A; Captain +Braden, Company G; Captain Davis, Company C, taken prisoner in last +fight; Captain Nesper, Company H; Captain McKay, Company F; Captain +Lockwood, Company D; Lieutenant Bohm, commanding Company I; +quartermaster, S. D. Loomis. + +"The regiment left Chattanooga with the Fifth Ohio; but parted company +on the way, the Fifth having left their arms behind them, and were +therefore compelled to come by railroad, no unarmed troops being +allowed to come by the river. The Seventh came up the Cumberland and +Ohio rivers by steamboats, and were fired on by guerrillas on the way. +One man was lost, Sergeant Trembly, of Company C, about thirty miles +below Cincinnati. He was on the guards of the steamer cleaning his gun, +when he fell overboard. The boat was stopped, and efforts made to save +him; but he was carried away by the current and drowned. + +"On reaching Cincinnati, they were ordered to Columbus to be mustered +out; but when the train got to Columbus, they were ordered to go on to +this city to be paid, and mustered out. + +"After leaving the cars, and the greetings of friends were ended, the +men were marched to one part of the depot, and given a chance to wash +themselves. They were then conducted to tables set along the north wing +of the depot, where a hot breakfast had been provided by Wheeler and +Russel, on the order of the military committee. Rev. Mr. Goodrich +invoked the blessing. + +"A number of ladies were on hand, who supplied the soldiers bountifully +with strawberries, after the more substantial part of the feast was +concluded. + +"As soon as the men had been properly fed and refreshed, they fell into +line, and proceeded through Water and Superior streets to the front of +the government buildings, where the formal reception was to take place. +The procession was headed by the police, followed by a brass band, and +by the military committee, members of the council, and city officers. +The old members of the Seventh, with the second flag of the regiment, +tattered and torn, immediately preceded the bronzed veterans, who, +fully armed, and bearing their last flag, rent with a hailstorm of +hostile bullets, marched with proud steps through the streets they had +left three years and three months since. Carriages followed with the +sick and wounded who were unable to march. The procession was +accompanied with a throng of people, and crowds lined the streets, +whilst flags fluttered in all directions. + +"On reaching the front of the government building, the regiment was +drawn up in double line, and Prosecuting-Attorney Grannis, in the +absence of Mayor Senter, addressed the regiment, in behalf of the +corporation and citizens, as follows: + +"SOLDIERS OF THE SEVENTH OHIO--The people of the city of Cleveland +welcome you home. More than three years ago, you went forth with full +ranks--more than a thousand strong. To-day a little remnant returns to +receive the greetings of friends, and to mingle again with society, as +was your wont in times gone by. But this is not all. You, and those who +went with you, whether present here to-day or absent, whether among the +living or the dead, shall be held forever in grateful remembrance. + +"We witnessed your departure with pride, not unmingled with sorrow. We +did not regret that the men of the glorious Seventh had gone out to +fight against a brutal and insolent foe, or fear that any member of it +would ever fail to do his whole duty in the perilous ridges of the +battle; but we did know that your departure was attended with many +sacrifices;--that you would be exposed to cold, fatigue, and hunger; +would suffer from disease, from honorable wounds, and in loathsome +prisons; and that many a noble form would bite the dust. We knew that +these things must needs be, that the nation might live. The half was +not told us. It did not enter into our hearts to believe what you would +suffer and what you would accomplish. Upon almost every battle-field, +from Cross Lanes to Dalton, the glorious banner of the Seventh has been +in the van of the battle. We have watched your course with painful +interest. After every battle, came the intelligence that your regiment +had fought bravely, and had come out with thinned ranks. + +"You have the grand consolation of knowing that the victories of +Gettysburg, of Lookout Mountain, of Ringgold, and of Resaca, were not +won without your aid. To have been in any one of those desperate +conflicts, is glory enough for any man. The record you have made will +seem almost like a tale of fiction. We have often had tidings of you, +but such as would not cause our cheeks to tingle with shame. It was +never said of the Seventh Ohio that it faltered in battle, that it +failed to do its whole duty. You have been faithful, uncomplaining, and +heroic. These things have not been accomplished without painful +sacrifices. How painful, let the honorable scars many will carry to +their graves answer. How painful, let this begrimed and tattered flag +answer. How painful, these thinned ranks will answer. Your gallant +colonel and lieutenant-colonel came home before you. Not as we could +have wished them to come, but wearing the habiliments which all must +wear; and now they lie yonder, and their graves are still wet with the +tears of their mourning countrymen. + +"Not so fortunate many of your countrymen, for they lie in unknown +seclusion, but not in unhonored graves. We will not mourn these dead as +those who die without hope, for their names shall be honored, so long +as liberty is prized among men. + + "'Death makes no conquest of these conquerors, + For now they live in fame, though not in life.' + +"It is an honor to be engaged in this conflict, which those who share +it should fully prize; and those who have been engaged in it have shown +a self-sacrificing devotion to duty, seldom excelled. It is a conflict +in favor of liberty against treason and traitors; against a desperate +and implacable foe, fighting with desperate energy, that fraud, +oppression, and crime may stalk abroad in daylight. + +"Let us hope that the final overthrow of rebellion is at hand; that +soon our soldiers may all return home, with-- + + "'Brows bound with victorious wreaths, + Their bruised arms hung up for monuments, + Their stern alarums changed to merry meetings, + Their dreadful marches to delightful measures.' + +"On concluding, Mr. Grannis introduced Governor Brough, who also +addressed the regiment. He said in substance as follows: + +"MEN OF THE SEVENTH OHIO--I know you are anxious to turn from this +public to private greetings, to clasp friends and acquaintances in your +hands and hearts. Under these circumstances I have not the courage to +detain you. I will not read the glorious record of your achievements, +for it would keep you so long. It is not necessary. We know your record +in all its glory, but not, like you, in all its pain. A little over +three years ago, on a Sabbath morning, you left Cleveland. Now, on a +Sabbath morning, you return to us. That Sabbath was hallowed, by the +purpose with which you went forth. This Sabbath is rendered sacred, by +the joy with which you are welcomed back to us. + +"On behalf of the State, I am here to give you a cordial greeting on +your return. For the people of Cleveland, no formal greeting is +necessary. In the crowd that gather around you, you can read the +cordial welcome, that needs no words to express it. + +"The Spartan mother, who sent her son to battle, bade him to return +with his shield in honor, or on his shield in death. You have returned +with your shields, and with honor reflected from them on you. But let +us not forget that many have come home on their shields. We cannot +forget those that, on another Sabbath morning, came home, and were +received by the city in the weeds of mourning. + +"We welcome you back, not only because you are back, but because you +have reflected honor on your State. Standing, as I do, in the position +of father of all of the regiments of the State, it will not do for me +to discriminate; but I will say, that no regiment has returned to the +bosom of the State, and none remains to come after it, that will bring +back a more glorious record than the gallant old Seventh. + +"There is no need to tell you what the lesson of this war is. You have +learned it in many a weary march, and on many a field of carnage. None +know better than you, that there are but two ways possible for the +termination of this war. One is an inglorious peace and disgraceful +submission, and the other is to completely crush the military power of +the rebellion. There is no other way; and he who goes about on +street-corners, and talks about a peace short of one or the other of +these alternatives, is either grossly ignorant or intentionally +attempting to deceive. More than that, no one knows better than +yourselves, that to secure a lasting peace, when the military power of +the rebellion is crushed, the cause of this infernal rebellion itself +must be thoroughly wiped out. You have been taught that in many a fiery +lesson, and know it to be a truth. + +"There are gallant men and brave generals in the army laboring to reach +this end; and we have confidence that their efforts will be crowned +with success. God grant that it may be so. I had almost said that God +and Grant will make it so. + +"But I will detain you no longer. There is another greeting awaiting +you in your homes--a greeting that no other eyes should witness. To +that sacred and precious greeting I remit you." + +The regiment now marched off to Camp Cleveland, escorted by the old +members of the Seventh. + +The men were given a brief furlough, after which preparations were made +to be mustered out. + +On the 4th of July, a grand ovation was given to the regiment, in +connection with the Eighth Ohio; in fact, while the regiment remained +in Cleveland, it was one continued ovation. The citizens vied with each +other, in caring for and honoring the old Seventh. It seemed as if they +could not do enough. These brave men will not soon forget the anxious +care bestowed upon them by the citizens of Cleveland, during this +closing period of their career in the service of their country. + +After remaining for a brief period in camp, the regiment was mustered +out; and after kindly farewells had been exchanged, each member +departed for his home, from which he had been so long absent in +protecting a Government that he loved from the ruthless touch of +treason and slavery. + +When the regiment entered the field, it numbered more than a thousand +men. As these began to dwindle away by the shock of battle and the +ravages of disease, new members came in, until we find nearly fourteen +hundred men on the rolls, exclusive of three months' men: the latter +would swell the number to about eighteen hundred men. Of the former, +over six hundred were killed and wounded--the killed alone amounting to +about one hundred and thirty. One hundred and upwards died from +disease; while more than six hundred were discharged on account of +disability arising from various causes. Many of those who were on the +rolls at the time the regiment was mustered out were disabled for life, +and were only retained for the want of an opportunity to be discharged. +The whole number of able-bodied officers and men returning with the +regiment was only two hundred and forty-five, leaving upwards of eleven +hundred dead and disabled. + + + + +BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. + + +BRIGADIER-GENERAL E. B. TYLER.[3] + +E. B. Tyler entered the service as colonel of the Seventh. He brought +with him some little military experience, having been a +brigadier-general of militia before the rebellion broke out. + + [3] General Tyler has failed to furnish us any data from + which to write an extended sketch, though often requested to + do so. + +When General McClellan was about to make his advance into Western +Virginia, he selected Tyler to lead the way, on account of his thorough +acquaintance with that wild region, he having been engaged in +purchasing furs from the people for many years. During the entire +summer he was kept well out to the front. He was finally given a +brigade, with which to assist General Cox in driving General Wise from +the valley. He moved as far as Somerville, in the very heart of the +enemy's country, and was soon after in the skirmish of Cross Lanes. +From this time, during the remainder of his stay in the department, he +was in command at Charleston, in the Kanawha Valley. In the winter +following, he was ordered to Kelley's department, where he was again +given a brigade, with which he did good service on the outposts. We +next find him at the battle of Winchester, where he commanded a +brigade. It was his command that charged the battery, for which it +acquired so much renown. His conduct at this battle won him a star. He +now served with his command in the Valley, accompanying it to the +Rappahannock and back. After which he commanded the forces in the +battle of Port Republic. His conduct in this engagement is above +criticism. No general could have made better dispositions than he, and +no one would have met with better success. Defeat was certain; and all +that the best generalship could do, was to save barely a remnant of the +command. It is a wonder that any artillery was saved. He gained much +reputation in his command for the manner in which he acquitted himself +in this battle. He soon after left his old brigade, and finally took +command of a Pennsylvania brigade, which he led in the battle of +Fredericksburg, in December, 1862. He had acquired a fine reputation +with Governor Curtin, and his conduct in this battle confirmed it. The +spring following he was assigned to a command in Baltimore, under +General Schenck. At the time of the raid on Washington, in the summer +of 1864, he was at the front. During an engagement he became separated +from his command, and only escaped by dint of hard riding. After +remaining concealed for some days, he escaped, and returned in safety +to our lines. After this campaign he returned to Baltimore, where he is +at the present time stationed. + + +BREVET BRIG.-GEN. J. S. CASEMENT. + +J. S. Casement came into the regiment as major, and was just the man +for the place. The regiment needed a practical, common-sense sort of a +man, and it found him in the person of Jack Casement. Many of his +previous years had been spent in the construction of railroads. In this +he had not a superior in the United States. He is of small stature, but +of iron frame; and for endurance has few equals. He will shoulder and +walk off under a load that would make the most athletic tremble. He has +probably superintended the laying of as much track as any man of his +age. + +On joining the regiment, the major at once made himself useful in +looking after matters for the comfort of the command, that really +belonged to no one to look to, and yet, when attended to, went far to +improve the condition of the men. He rapidly acquired a knowledge of +military tactics, which was afterwards to fit him for a leader. This +was not difficult for him to do, for he made it a practical study. He +was always on duty when the occasion required it. This habit of +promptness he acquired while working large parties of men, and it never +left him during his service. During the long marches in Western +Virginia, he was ever watchful as to how matters were going on in the +rear; and while other mounted officers were riding leisurely along, he +was ever watchful of the train, as well as all other matters connected +with the easy movement of the command. Arriving in camp, he made it his +business to see that all was snug. At the affair at Cross Lanes he +conducted himself with such gallantry as to endear him to the entire +regiment. He rode over that fatal field as calm and collected as on +drill. When his superior officers had escaped, he organized the balance +of the command, and then commenced that memorable march over the hills +and mountains, through the valleys and over the streams, of that wild +waste. It was finally crowned with success, and the regiment felt proud +of its major; and the Western Reserve felt proud, too, that they had +sent so brave a man to serve with so brave a regiment. He now did his +duty, until we find the regiment in the East, and in its expedition to +Blue's Gap, Major Casement at its head. Just before reaching the +fortifications, he made a speech. Said he: "Boys, you've not got much +of a daddy, but with such as you have, I want you to go for those +rebels." And they did go for them in earnest. It seems the boys did not +object to the character of the "daddy." He now went with the regiment +to Winchester, where he was engaged in that battle. He sat on his horse +where the bullets were flying thickest, and seemed to be a stranger to +fear. When the battle was nearly over, followed by a few men, he took +possession of a piece of artillery, and held it until the close of the +action. In the evening succeeding the battle, he found that ten +rifle-bullets had passed through the cape of his coat on the left side, +near to his arm. + +Major Casement accompanied the regiment on its march up the Valley, +making himself useful in the way of constructing bridges and roads. On +arriving at Falmouth, on the Rappahannock, he tendered his resignation, +which being accepted, he returned to his home. All missed the merry +laugh, as well as the merry jokes, of the ever happy major. + +He was not long permitted to enjoy home, however, as in the following +summer he was made colonel of the One Hundred and Third Ohio Regiment, +and immediately after left for the field. His regiment was ordered to +Kentucky, in which department he served until Sherman's triumphant +march on Atlanta, when he joined him, and soon after commanded a +brigade. In this campaign he distinguished himself. After Sherman left +for Savannah, Casement commanded a brigade in Thomas' army. At the +battle of Franklin, which followed, he conducted himself in such a +brilliant manner as to win a star by brevet. He now took part in the +pursuit of the disorganized forces of Hood, and when it ceased, went to +Wilmington, North Carolina, with the corps of General Schofield, where +he has since remained. + +The career of this dashing officer has been one of usefulness, and his +numerous friends, as well as the entire country, appreciate his +services. + + +BRIGADIER JOHN W. SPRAGUE.[4] + +General Sprague entered the service as captain of Company E. He +immediately gained a high character as an officer, both for his fine +military bearing and gentlemanly deportment. His company was first in +discipline, and during the time he was in command not one of his men +was under arrest. His influence was such, that they seldom disobeyed an +order. They regarded their captain as a fit person to lead them--one +whose example was worthy of imitation. + + [4] The writer has been unable to learn sufficient of General + Sprague's services, after leaving the Seventh, to enable him + to write an extended sketch, which he very much regrets, for + his gallant services entitle him to a more lengthy notice. + +During the trying marches in Western Virginia, Captain Sprague was ever +at his post to encourage and cheer his men. A few days previous to the +Cross Lanes affair, he was given a leave of absence; and soon after +leaving for his home, he was taken prisoner by the enemy's cavalry. He +remained in prison about a year, suffering all the hardships that the +imagination can picture. When he was released, his hair had become +gray, and his every appearance was indicative of great suffering. On +his return, he was immediately commissioned colonel of the Sixty-third +Ohio Regiment, and very soon after entered the field. From this time on +he did gallant service in the armies of the West. His great military +talent was at last acknowledged, and his vast services rewarded by +conferring on him a star. He is now serving in the West. + + +LIEUT.-COL. SAMUEL McCLELLAND. + +The subject of this sketch is a native of Ireland. He was born in 1829. +While in his youth, his parents emigrated to this country, landing at +Philadelphia, from whence they went to Pittsburgh. Remaining here for a +short time, they removed to Youngstown, Ohio, where they have since +resided. + +He entered the service as first-lieutenant of Company I, and was at +once active in the discharge of his duty. He accompanied the regiment +to Western Virginia, where he took part in all the hard marches that +followed. At the affair of Cross Lanes, he demonstrated, by his +gallantry, the fact of the possession of great military talent; for he +was brave, prudent, and skilful. Up to the battle of Winchester, he was +with the regiment in every march and skirmish. At this battle he +commanded a company, and had the honor of opening the battle, and +sustaining it for a few minutes, till other companies formed on his +flanks. + +He was engaged in the following battles and skirmishes, which embrace +every one in which the regiment was engaged: Cross Lanes, Winchester, +Port Republic, Cedar Mountain, Antietam, Dumfries, Chancellorsville, +Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, and Taylor's Ridge. The +various skirmishes and battles during the march of Sherman to Marietta, +are to be added to this list. At the battle of Winchester he was +slightly wounded in the head, but remained on the field, against the +urgent solicitations of his friends, until the close of the engagement. +At the battle of Taylor's Ridge he was severely wounded in the leg. He +now returned to his home, but remained but a short time, rejoining his +command before he was entirely recovered. + +While in the East he was made captain of Company H, and after the +battle of Taylor's Ridge, lieutenant-colonel. He now took command of +the regiment; leading it through the arduous campaign of Sherman, as +far as Marietta, in which service he won a fine reputation for ability +as an officer. He was known and recognized throughout the army as the +fighting colonel. At the above place, the old Seventh turned its steps +homeward, commanded by Colonel McClelland, who had the proud +satisfaction of leading the regiment into Cleveland, to do which the +lamented Creighton was ever ambitious. + +When encamped in the city, he set himself industriously at work +preparing the regiment to be mustered out; which was done in due time. + +McClelland was one of the few officers who were ever at their post. He +was brave, active, and zealous, a good officer in every particular. His +kindness and good feeling towards his fellow-soldiers won him many +friends. His family have suffered severe loss, two brave brothers +having died in battle. During all this affliction he has remained true +to his country, his patriotism never growing cold for a moment. + + +MAJOR FREDERICK A. SEYMOUR. + +The subject of this sketch came into the regiment as captain of Company +G, having organized the company immediately after the first call for +troops. He had seen a good deal of service in the militia of his native +State, which was of great assistance to him in this new position. When +the regiment was organized for the three-years' service, he was elected +to his old position, which was an indication of the esteem his company +had for him. + +During the terrible campaign among the mountains of Western Virginia, +his health became very much impaired; till just previous to the affair +at Cross Lanes, he was compelled to leave his command and seek to +restore it in his home. Therefore he was not in that skirmish. He soon +after returned, but after reaching the Shenandoah Valley his health +again failed him, and he once more sought to restore it by returning to +his home. While he was absent the battle of Winchester was fought, and +he therefore did not take part in the engagement. + +He now accompanied the regiment in its march up the Shenandoah River, +across the Blue Ridge, and back again to Front Royal; and from thence +to Port Republic. In the battle fought at the latter place he was +conspicuous for bravery. During that well-contested action be +contributed all that lay in his power towards winning a victory. But +valor alone cannot win a battle; numbers combined with it can only +accomplish that. This was his first experience under fire; but he stood +up to the work like a veteran; being second to none in deeds of daring. + +Soon after this action he was engaged in the battle of Cedar Mountain, +where he more than sustained the reputation acquired at Port Republic. +This was a terrible battle, and every officer and private who fought +there became a hero. + +From this time forward the writer has no knowledge of his services, +beyond the fact that he was promoted to major; which position he filled +till some time in the fall of 1863, when he resigned, and returned to +his home. It can be truly said that, wherever Major Seymour was placed, +he endeavored to do his duty. Among his fellow-soldiers he had many +friends, and he will always be remembered as a kind-hearted gentleman. + + +SURGEON FRANCIS SALTER. + +Francis Salter entered the service as assistant surgeon of the Seventh +Regiment; and on the resignation of Surgeon Cushing, was appointed +surgeon. He held this position until the latter part of 1862, when he +was made a medical director, and assigned to the staff of General +Crooks. As a surgeon, he hardly had a superior in the service. His +services were of great value in the hospitals, as he had had a long +experience in those of England, his native country. He has remained in +the service from the beginning of the war; and during that long period +has alleviated the suffering of many a soldier. + + +C. J. BELLOWS. + +The subject of this sketch was appointed surgeon of the regiment, from +the position of assistant in the Fifth Ohio. Before entering the +service he was enjoying a good practice in Northern Ohio, in which he +had acquired a good reputation. While with the regiment he was much +esteemed, by reason of his ability as a surgeon, as well as for his +kind and courteous behavior. + + +G. E. DENIG. + +On the appointment of Francis Salter to the post of surgeon, the +subject of this sketch was made assistant. While with the regiment he +was attentive to his duties, and always kind and obliging to those +seeking medical aid. He many times acted as surgeon of the regiment; +and on such occasions was always prompt in the discharge of his duty. + + +FREDERICK T. BROWN, D.D. + +The subject of this sketch was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, of +respectable and pious parents. His father was a wealthy merchant, and +therefore gave his son a liberal education. After arriving at a proper +age, he was sent to Princeton College, New Jersey, where he graduated. +He early developed those Christian qualities which he has possessed in +such an eminent degree during the whole course of his life. He was born +to be a minister. At an early age his mind took a lasting hold upon +religious truths; and it has never relaxed its energies in that +direction for a single moment. He has gone on doing good from a child, +his usefulness only increasing as his mind developed its powers. He has +been a close student of theology during his whole life; and it is doing +no discredit to others to say, that in this respect he has hardly a +peer in the United States. He graduated at the Theological Seminaries +at Princeton, New Jersey, and Geneva, Switzerland. + +The Westminster Church, of Cleveland, Ohio, was organized by him; and +in the course of his nine years' labor with it, increased from a small +congregation to one of the most respectable religious societies of the +city. He was pastor of this church at the breaking out of the +rebellion. + +While the Seventh Regiment was at Camp Dennison, he paid it a visit by +request of some of the officers, and was immediately chosen its +chaplain, there being but few dissenting voices. Immediately returning +to his home, he tendered his resignation to his church, which, however, +was not accepted; but in its stead, he was voted a leave of absence, +which he accepted, but refusing to draw pay during the time. He joined +the regiment early in July, while it was in Western Virginia, and at +once entered upon his duties. + +While here, he preached a sermon in one of the churches--to the rebel +as well as Union people of the town--which was noted for the powerful +arguments used against the position occupied by the South in relation +to the Federal Government. This effort made him many friends in the +village. He afterwards had a large influence over its people, being +often invited to their homes. On such occasions he was received with a +hearty welcome; although he never neglected an opportunity to reprove +them for the opinions cherished by them. + +While at Glenville, Gilmer County, he carried a message to General Cox, +whose forces were somewhere on the banks of the Kanawha River. This has +already been mentioned; but as it was an enterprise attended with much +danger, we here copy a detailed account of it. + +About the 15th day of July, Colonel Tyler, feeling it important to open +communication with General Cox's forces on the Kanawha, determined to +send a messenger with unwritten dispatches across the country through +the enemy's lines; and as our chaplain could more readily be spared +than any other member of the regiment deemed fitting to undertake the +enterprise, the expedition was proposed to him. He accepted it +willingly, though well aware of its difficulties and dangers. Colonel +Tyler suggested to him to go in the character of a merchant or trader, +so that, if arrested by roving guerillas or any of Wise's patrols, he +could say he was on business to Gauley Bridge, or some other place. But +he declined adopting the suggestion, as involving a possible lie, and +asked to be left to his own resources. + +Hastily divesting himself of every tell-tale mark of name, residence, +or connection with the service, mounted on a blooded mare, captured +from some guerrillas a few days before, and taking no rations but a +bunch of cigars, an hour after receiving the order he started. It was a +ride of a hundred and twenty miles through the enemy's country, by +highways, and by-ways, and no ways at all, nearly half of it at night, +sometimes alone, full of adventures, amusing and otherwise, and +involving some narrow escapes from the enemy, but completely +successful. + +On the morning of the third day, at daylight, he struck the Kanawha, +four miles below the mouth of the Pocotaligo; and there, for the first +time, got word of General Cox, and learned that his camp was only four +miles up the river. It was Sunday morning. He was soon at the general's +quarters, and in the language of the chaplain himself, "received such a +welcome as that genial man and accomplished Christian gentleman knows +how to give." General Cox refused permission to him to return to us by +the way he had come. He therefore remained with the general for the +time; was with him at the capture of Charleston, and in the pursuit of +Wise to Gauley Bridge, from whence he joined us again. Surviving +members of the old Seventh will remember "the three times-three" cheers +of each company in succession, as the chaplain rode along the line. We +were on the march, a long distance from where he had left us, had not +heard a word from him or of him, and had thought him lost; his arrival, +safe and sound, coming from the direction of the enemy, was as one from +the dead, or from Richmond. + +At the battle of Cross Lanes he bore a gallant part, remaining with the +command during the entire affair, and leaving only when all hope of +saving the day had expired. He escaped, with others, through a gap in +the enemy's lines, caused by well-directed volleys of musketry from the +regiment. The same day he came into Gauley Bridge, after having +rendered much service in bringing off the wagon-train. He soon after +visited Cross Lanes, under a flag of truce, for the purpose of looking +after our killed and wounded, as well as to learn the fate of those +taken prisoners. While within the enemy's lines, he was treated +civilly, but was refused the privilege of administering to the wounded, +as well as visiting the prisoners. He therefore returned, without +having accomplished, in the least degree, the object of his visit. The +chaplain was soon after ordered to Charleston, where the scattered +members of the Seventh had been collected. + +While at this place he formed an agreeable acquaintance with many +gentlemen of learning and ability, at whose houses he was a frequent +visitor; and it may be truly said that on such occasions he added much +to the fund of enjoyment. + +While the regiment was at Charleston, a misunderstanding arose between +the chaplain and Colonel Tyler, by reason of which the former felt it +his duty to resign. His resignation was in due time accepted, and he +was honorably mustered out of the service; the esteem and regrets of +the entire command going with him to his home. While with the regiment +his conduct had been above suspicion, and his sudden departure caused +universal gloom. + +Shortly after returning to his home in Cleveland, he was called to be +pastor of a church at Georgetown, District of Columbia, which is both +large and influential. + +Not forgetting the cause of his country and her suffering soldiery, he +is now engaged, in addition to his pastoral labors, in attending to the +wants of the sick and wounded soldiers at the various hospitals in the +vicinity of his home. Many a poor soldier of the republic will remember +the words of consolation which have fallen on his ear from the lips of +this devoted Christian. + +In the personal appearance of Chaplain Brown, alone, there is a +character. His light, fragile figure, erect and graceful carriage, +strikes one as peculiarly fitting to his elegant, chaste, and mature +intellect. He leaves an impression on the mind as lasting as it is +positive. In his company the dark moments are lighted up. Generous and +manly, he would distribute even his happiness among his fellows, were +it possible. There are few men more companionable than he; and few ever +won the love of their fellow-men equal to him. Endowed with rare +conversational powers and a pleasing address, he always commands the +attention of those around him. In public speaking, the first impression +he makes upon the mind of the hearer is not such as would lead him to +expect a flowery discourse; but as the speaker proceeds, it becomes +evident that dry logic is not his only gift. His life is a constant +reflection of truth. He takes a great grasp on eternal things; and +lives greatly by seeking, as the one high aim of his studies, his +labors, and his prayers, the supreme glory of God in the everlasting +welfare of man. May such samples of Christian character be multiplied, +till all the world has learned how great is God, and how great is +goodness. + + +CHAPLAIN D. C. WRIGHT. + +D. C. Wright was appointed chaplain during the winter of 1861. He +reported to the regiment at Patterson's Creek, Virginia. + +He was with the regiment at the battle of Winchester, where he rendered +much assistance in caring for the wounded. He now followed the fortunes +of the Seventh until its arrival at Port Republic, at which battle he +served as aid to General Tyler. During the entire engagement he was +much exposed, carrying dispatches in the most gallant style to +different parts of the field. He was mentioned in the official reports +for gallant conduct. After this battle he left for his home, and +finally sent in his resignation, which was duly accepted. + +Before the war broke out he was a minister of the Methodist Church, and +acquired no little reputation as a revivalist preacher. + + +LIEUT.-COL. GILES W. SHURTLIFF.[5] + +At the beginning of the rebellion, Giles W. Shurtliff was one of the +teachers in the college at Oberlin. Immediately after the bombardment +and capture of Fort Sumter, he organized a company, principally from +among his pupils, and reported at Camp Taylor. He was with the regiment +in its toilsome marches in Western Virginia, during which he was always +at his post. During the affair at Cross Lanes he was taken prisoner, +and now began those terrible hardships which no pen can describe, nor +imagination picture. Prison life is a sort of living death,--a state of +abeyance, where the mind is thrown back upon itself; where time, +although passing, seems to stop, and the great world outside, to stand +still. Through all this trial, and hardship, and misery, Colonel +Shurtliff passed, without weakening his faith or his patriotism. He +returned to his home, after more than a year's imprisonment, as firm in +the support of the Government as ever. After allowing himself a short +rest, he served in the Army of the Potomac on staff-duty; but was soon +after made lieutenant-colonel of the Fifth United States Colored +Infantry. He has since greatly distinguished himself in the numerous +battles in the vicinity of Richmond. He is at the present time at his +post, where he will probably remain until the rebellion is crushed, and +the Government vindicated. + + [5] The writer would be glad to give an extended account of + the gallant services of Colonel Shurtliff in the bloody + battles before Richmond and Petersburg, but has not received + the necessary facts. + + +COLONEL ARTHUR T. WILCOX. + +Arthur T. Wilcox is a native of Ohio, and entered the service as +second-lieutenant of Company E. On the organization of the regiment for +the three years' service, he was made a first-lieutenant, and assigned +to the same company. He served with much credit in Western Virginia, +until the Cross Lanes affair, when he was taken prisoner. He remained +within the prison-walls of the enemy for more than a year, most of the +time in Charleston, South Carolina, suffering every hardship; but +coming out as true and pure a patriot as when he went in, he again +joined his regiment, and was soon after made a captain. He now took +part in all the battles of the West, in which the regiment was +engaged,--Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Ringgold, and Sherman's +battles in the march on Atlanta. He came home with the regiment, and +was in due time mustered out. He was not, however, permitted to remain +long at home, for, when new regiments were forming, he was made a +colonel, and assigned to the One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Regiment. +He soon after joined his command, and was almost immediately ordered to +the front. He joined General Thomas' forces, then falling back before +the forces of General Hood. Arriving at Franklin, he was engaged in the +bloody battle fought there, and greatly distinguished himself. He soon +after arrived at Nashville with the army. The rebel army immediately +advanced; and the two armies stood face to face, at the same time +gathering strength for a desperate conflict. The Union army was +triumphant, and the rebel hosts were beaten and demoralized. In this +battle, Colonel Wilcox gained new laurels. He now took part in the +pursuit of the scattered forces of Hood. + +Every one who has fallen in company with Colonel Wilcox, will remember +him as a genial friend and true gentleman. He has made many friends in +the army as well as at home. He has chosen the law as a profession, and +when "this cruel war is over" the writer wishes him the success his +many virtues and talents merit. + + +LIEUT.-COL. JAMES T. STERLING. + +James T. Sterling entered the service as first-lieutenant of Captain De +Villiers' company. On the organization of the regiment for the three +years' service, he was made captain. While at Camp Dennison he labored +diligently to perfect his command in both drill and discipline; and +when it entered the field it was second to none, so far as these +essentials were concerned. + +While in Western Virginia, Captain Sterling was on many scouts, in +which service he showed great skill and bravery. Such adventures were +very much to his liking. + +In the affair at Cross Lanes he won the respect of all those who were +witness to his coolness and daring. During the march to Charleston he +made a good account of himself, being one of the most active in his +labors, and among the wisest in his opinions. + +He now followed the regiment to the East, where he engaged in all the +marches and skirmishes which took place. At the battle of Winchester he +commanded two companies; leading them into the hottest fire like a +veteran. During the entire action he stood on the hill urging the men +forward, regardless of the great danger to which he himself was +exposed. He came through the battle, however, without a scratch, but +with some holes in his clothing. + +He now took part in the long chase of Jackson up the Valley, and from +thence to Fredericksburg and back again; but was not in the battle of +Port Republic, his company having been detailed for headquarters guard. + +Very soon after this engagement he was made lieutenant-colonel of the +One Hundred and Third Regiment, at that time about to be raised in the +vicinity of Cleveland. He soon after reported to this regiment and was +assigned to duty. He went with it to the field; but, after a limited +period, was assigned the position of inspector-general on the staff of +General Cox. He filled this position with much credit to himself, until +early in the year 1864, when he resigned and returned to his home in +Cleveland. + +Colonel Sterling, as an officer, was much esteemed. As a companion, he +was much admired. His easy manners and agreeable conversation gathered +about him many friends. Every one regretted his departure from the +Seventh; he had been with it through so many trials and dangers, that +he was closely identified with it. His company thought well of him, +and, therefore, his unexpected departure caused many regrets. + + +COLONEL JOEL F. ASPER. + +Joel F. Asper was born in Huntington, Adams County, Pennsylvania, on +the 20th day of April, 1822. When he was but five years old his father +removed to Farmington, Ohio, by the slow process of a four-horse team +and Pennsylvania wagon. The county of Trumbull was then but sparsely +settled. + +Until eighteen years of age he assisted his father in clearing a farm, +at the same time attending a district school in winter. This is all the +school education he ever had; all other education being acquired by his +own exertion and application to study out of school. + +Having a passion for reading and writing, he was led to study law. But +previous to this, however, he commenced teaching a school in +Southington, but, for some reason, left it after one month's +experience. Early in the year 1842, we find him in the law-office of +Crowell and Abel, at Warren, Ohio, and working for his board at the +American Hotel. + +In 1843, he carried the Western Reserve Chronicle through several +townships, and during the entire year did not miss a trip. + +In August, 1844, he was admitted to the bar, but remained with General +Crowell till 1845, when he learned the daguerrean business, but not +succeeding in this, in October following opened a law-office at Warren. +His first year's practice netted him over four hundred dollars, and it +increased from year to year. + +In 1846 be was elected a justice of the peace, and in the following +year was married to Miss Elizabeth Brown. + +In 1847 he was elected prosecuting attorney. In 1849, was announced as +one of the editors of the Western Reserve Chronicle; and wrote, during +the campaign of that year, all of the leading political articles +published in its columns. During the summer of 1848, Mr. Parker, +proprietor of the paper, left for a pleasure excursion, and while +absent, Mr. Asper, being left in charge, took ground against General +Taylor. During this campaign he did much towards developing +anti-slavery sentiments in the party. For this conduct he was denounced +by the minority of his party. At this time he made a speech before a +Whig convention, which is said to have been the best effort of his +life. Carrying out these sentiments, he sustained Martin Van Buren for +the presidency, and in the following year ran for prosecuting attorney +on the Free-Soil ticket, but was defeated. + +In 1850 he moved to Chardon, Ohio, and edited a Free-Soil paper until +1852, when, it proving a losing business, he returned to Warren, where +he again commenced the practice of the law, which he continued until +the breaking out of the rebellion, in 1861. He was among the first in +Northern Ohio to tender a company to the Governor. It marched to camp +on the 25th of April. He served in the regiment until March, 1863, when +he was honorably mustered out of the United States service. During this +time he took part in the affair of Cross Lanes and the battle of +Winchester, in which last engagement he was severely wounded. After the +Cross Lanes affair he accompanied a detachment of four hundred men to +Charleston, rendering much assistance during the march. He was promoted +to lieutenant-colonel during his service with the regiment, in which +position he commanded the regiment in the retreat of Pope's army from +the Rapidan. + +On returning to Warren he opened an office, and in August organized the +Fifty-first Regiment National Guards, and was elected its colonel. + +When, in the spring of 1864, the corps was ordered into the field, his +regiment was among the first to move. It went to Johnson's Island, and +while there the noted John H. Morgan commenced a raid through Kentucky. +To resist him, several militia regiments were ordered to the front; +among them was the Fifty-first, now become the One Hundred and +Seventy-first. + +Arriving at Cincinnati, he reported to General Hobson, and was ordered +to Keller's Bridge by train. Soon after getting off the cars, it was +attacked by the enemy in overwhelming numbers. After a gallant fight of +six hours, the brave little band of heroes was compelled to surrender. +No regiment of new troops ever did better: it made itself a name which +history will perpetuate. + +The regiment was mustered out on the 20th of August, 1864. Asper now +perfected his arrangements to move to Missouri, which he put into +execution in October following. He is now engaged in the practice of +law at Chillicothe, in the above State. + + +MAJOR W. R. STERLING. + +The subject of this sketch entered the service as Captain of Company I. +He carried with him some considerable military experience, having been +connected with a company in his native State. He accompanied the +regiment in its Western Virginia campaign, taking an honorable part in +the affair at Cross Lanes. He was with the detachment in its march over +the mountains to Charleston, during which he rendered great assistance, +contributing largely towards bringing the command off in safety. + +From Charleston he returned to his home on leave, but soon after +returned to his command, accompanied by a number of recruits. He now +took part in the various marches and skirmishes occurring in the +mountain department of Eastern Virginia. He was not in the battles of +Winchester or Port Republic; but was in all the marches occurring +before and after those engagements. At the battle of Cedar Mountain he +did yeoman's service. His company was led with such coolness and +bravery, that many a rebel was made to bite the dust. He now remained +with the regiment until General Hooker came to the command of the Army +of the Potomac, when Captain Sterling was assigned a position on his +staff. In this capacity he served until after the battle of +Chancellorsville. A short time after this engagement he was taken +prisoner by a roving band of rebels, and conveyed to Richmond, where he +was for some time confined in prison. He was finally taken further +south to another prison, from which, in the summer of 1864, he escaped; +and after spending some time in the mountains, during which he suffered +many hardships, finally joined the Union forces in Tennessee. + +He was a brave and competent officer. While on Hooker's staff he was +promoted to major. + + +MAJOR E. J. KREIGER. + +The subject of this sketch is a native of Germany, and entered the +service as a sergeant in a company composed of his fellow-countrymen. +He very soon rose to the rank of lieutenant, and before the term of +service of the regiment expired, to that of captain. He was in the +following battles and skirmishes: Cross Lanes, Winchester, Port +Republic, Cedar Mountain, Antietam, Dumfries, Chancellorsville, +Gettysburg, Mission Ridge, Lookout Mountain, Ringgold, and in all the +engagements in which his regiment took part in Sherman's march on +Atlanta. No officer can show a prouder record. He was always with his +command, and on all occasions showed great bravery and gallantry, as +well as ability to command. + +Immediately after the Seventh was mustered out, he was appointed major +of the One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Regiment, and left soon after +for the field. He now added to the above glorious list of battles that +of Franklin, where he fully sustained the honors that he gained while +with the old Seventh. He is at the present time in General Thomas' +army, where he will remain, if his life is spared, until the overthrow +of the rebellion. + + +CAPTAIN J. B. MOLYNEAUX. + +The subject of this sketch was born, January 1, 1840, at Ann Arbor, in +the State of Michigan. At the age of four years his father removed to +Penn Yan, New York, and soon after to Bath and Elmira, in the same +State. In 1854, young Molyneaux went to Belville, Ohio, and commenced +the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Whitcomb. He remained for +nearly a year, when, not liking the study, he went to Cleveland, Ohio, +and entered the job-office of John Williston, where he learned the art +of printing. + +Having a natural liking for military life, he joined the Light Guards, +and afterwards the Sprague Cadets, of which he was appointed +drill-master. On the first call for troops, he joined a company being +raised by Captain De Villiers, as a private, being among the first to +enroll his name. Soon after arriving in camp, he was appointed a +sergeant, and, immediately after, drill-master for the non-commissioned +officers of the regiment. On the three years' organization, he was +unanimously chosen first-lieutenant by the vote of his company. He +remained with this company during the earlier part of the campaign in +Western Virginia, taking a gallant part in the affair of Cross Lanes, +as also in the final march of Major Casement's detachment to +Charleston. After this action, he was placed in command of Company E, +which command he held until January, 1862, and then being relieved, +only for the purpose of receiving the appointment of adjutant. + +He took part in all the marches and skirmishes in both Western and +Eastern Virginia. At the battle of Winchester, he was mentioned, in the +official report of his colonel, for gallantry on the battle-field. At +the battle of Port Republic, he won new laurels, being constantly under +the enemy's fire. In the fearful struggle at Cedar Mountain, he +particularly distinguished himself. He was, for a limited time, in +command of the regiment, during which he extricated it from a position, +where, under a less skilful leader, it would have been captured. In +this gallant exploit, Molyneaux lost two horses, one of them being +pierced by fourteen bullets. + +In September, 1862, he was appointed captain, after having waived rank +three times. This position he held until March, 1863, when, on account +of wounds and ill-health, he was compelled to resign. In the mean time, +he was with the regiment in all its marches, as well as the battle of +Antietam and the affair at Dumfries. + +On his return home he followed his occupation of a printer, until the +governor's call for the National Guard, when he again entered the +service as a captain. His regiment being stationed in the defences of +Washington, he was placed in command of a fort, which was, a part of +the time, garrisoned by several companies. After the expiration of his +term of service, he returned to his home in Cleveland, and resumed his +business. + + +CAPTAIN CHARLES A. WEED. + +Charles A. Weed was born, March 30, 1840, in Lake County, Ohio. He +enlisted in Captain John N. Dyer's company, on the 22d day of April, +1861. After its arrival in camp, he was made orderly-sergeant, in which +capacity he developed fine military talent, such as led his company, at +an early time, to look upon him as a proper person for promotion when a +vacancy should occur. Therefore, on the final organization of the +company for the three years' service, he was made a first-lieutenant. +He was with the regiment during the entire Western Virginia campaign, +taking part in the skirmish at Cross Lanes, in which he took command of +the company after the death of Captain Dyer, which position he held +until January, 1862, when he was relieved by an officer promoted to the +captaincy by reason of superiority of rank. He was soon after made +captain, February 5, 1862, and assigned to Company E. + +He now took part in all the marches and skirmishes in Eastern Virginia, +and also in the battle of Winchester, where he displayed great +gallantry. After this battle, he commanded his company in the pursuit +of Jackson to Harrisonburg, and in the toilsome march to +Fredericksburg, and the return to Front Royal. He was now in the +advance to Port Republic. In the battle which succeeded, he displayed +great courage, as well as ability to command. He took part in the +battle of Cedar Mountain and Antietam, and also in the skirmish at +Dumfries. On the 22d of February, 1863, he resigned, and returned to +his home. + +There were few better officers in the regiment. He was prompt in the +discharge of his duty, seldom questioning the propriety of an order +emanating from a superior, but executing it at once. In his intercourse +with his fellow-soldiers, he was frank and courteous, and all cherished +the kindest feelings towards him. + + +CAPTAIN JUDSON N. CROSS. + +The subject of this sketch is a native of Ohio. When the war broke out +he was attending college at Oberlin, Ohio. He immediately enrolled +himself in Captain Shurtliff's company, and was soon after made a +first-lieutenant. He served with his company in Western Virginia, with +much credit to himself and profit to his country. At the skirmish of +Cross Lanes he was brave, and showed that he was competent to command. +During the affair, he was severely wounded in the arm and taken +prisoner. At the battle of Carnifex Ferry, which followed soon after, +he was recaptured by the forces under General Rosecrans. Being unfit +for service, he now went to his home, where it was thought he might +recover sufficiently to rejoin his command. But after the expiration of +some months, being still unable for service, he was ordered on +recruiting service at Cleveland, Ohio. He was engaged in this work +until the fall of 1862, when he was honorably mustered out of the +service, on account of the unimproved condition of his wound. In the +mean time, however, he had been promoted to a captaincy. + + +CAPTAIN JOHN F. SCHUTTE. + +Entered the service as a lieutenant in Captain Wiseman's company, and +on its organization for three years, was made its captain. He was with +the regiment until just before its affair at Cross Lands, when, being +on picket duty on the banks of the Gauley River, he imprudently crossed +over, and after advancing some miles into the enemy's country, was +fired upon by a body of cavalry, concealed in the bushes, and mortally +wounded. After being taken to an old building close by, he was left, at +his own request, and soon after expired. The rebels buried him on the +spot. No braver officer ever entered the service. Had he lived, he +would undoubtedly have distinguished himself. + +At the time of his death, no officer had a better reputation. His +company was somewhat difficult to manage, but while he was in command, +it was not surpassed for discipline, and hardly equalled. He was kind +to every one who did his duty, but when one of his men failed to do +that, he came down upon him with a heavy hand. + +His loss was deeply felt throughout the entire command. His company had +recognized in him a leader, and they deplored his loss. + + +LIEUT. LOUIS G. DE FOREST. + +Louis G. De Forest was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on the 9th of +September, 1838. His youth was spent in the city schools, where he +acquired a fair education. In 1853, at the age of fifteen years, he +entered the store of N. E. Crittenden. It is a high compliment to his +industry and business habits, that he has remained in his employ since +that date, with the exception of the time that he spent in the military +service. + +Having a natural taste for military life, in 1859 he joined a company +of Light Guards as a private, but soon rose to the positions of +corporal, sergeant, and finally lieutenant. The latter position he +filled with credit, until the rebellion broke out, when, on the +organization of the Sprague Cadets, for three months' service, he +hastened to enroll his name. He was soon made orderly sergeant, which +position he held when the company went into camp. After the regiment +arrived in Camp Dennison, he was elected a second-lieutenant of his +company. And on its final organization for the three years' service, he +was chosen its adjutant, by a vote of its officers, and soon after +received his commission, with the rank of first-lieutenant. + +He accompanied the regiment in its arduous Western Virginia campaign, +and during the time Colonel Tyler commanded a brigade, he served as +acting assistant adjutant-general. At the affair at Cross Lanes, he +took a prominent as well as gallant part. He was among the number of +those who made the march over the mountains to Elk River and +Charleston. + +He accompanied the regiment to Kelly's department, where he again acted +as acting assistant adjutant-general to Colonel Tyler, serving in this +capacity until his resignation, which took place in March. + +When the National Guard was organized, he raised a company, and was +made its captain. In this position he served during the one hundred +days' campaign of this corps, being stationed in a fort in the vicinity +of Washington. + +Every one who came in connection with the Seventh Regiment will +remember the stentorian voice and soldierly bearing of its first +adjutant. + + +LIEUTENANT HALBERT B. CASE. + +Halbert B. Case was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, May 3, 1838. His +father being a farmer, he was bred to that occupation. At the age of +sixteen years he entered the W. R. Seminary, at Farmington, Ohio, +preparatory to entering college. After a year and a half spent in this +institution of learning, he went to Oberlin, where he pursued his +studies for more than three years, when, his health failing him, he was +compelled to leave college. + +During the winter of 1859, his health being somewhat improved, he went +to Tiffin, Ohio, and commenced the study of the law. He remained here +two winters. In the spring of 1860, being in indifferent health, he +returned to his home in Mecca, Ohio, where he pursued his studies +privately for some months. After which he went to Warren, and studied +law with Forrist and Burnett until the breaking out of the rebellion. + +On the 19th day of April, 1861, deeming it his duty to serve his +country, he enlisted in Asper's company, the first organized in the +county. He was soon after made orderly-sergeant. When the three years' +organization was made, he was unanimously chosen a lieutenant by a vote +of his company. + +He served honorably during the campaign in Western Virginia, taking an +active part in the affair of Cross Lanes, sharing the fortunes of the +detachment under Major Casement. + +Among the first promotions that were made in November, 1861, he was +remembered by the authorities, and appointed a first-lieutenant. He +accompanied the regiment to Eastern Virginia, where he joined the +expedition to Romney and Blue's Gap. + +While at Patterson's Creek he felt it his duty to resign his +commission, on account of a personal difficulty with Colonel Tyler. He +therefore left the regiment early in February, with the regrets of the +entire command. + +He was not long permitted to remain at home, for his former services +were acknowledged by giving him a commission as captain in the +Eighty-fourth Regiment, which was being organized for three months' +service. This position being accepted, he proceeded with his regiment +to Cumberland, Maryland. Soon after its arrival he was made +provost-marshal and commandant of the post. In this position he won an +enviable reputation. Among his first orders was one against the use and +sale of intoxicating liquors, which he proceeded to enforce in an +effectual manner; and thus materially aided in maintaining order and +quiet at the post. + +After nearly five months' service, when the regiment was mustered out, +he was appointed colonel, for the purpose of reorganizing it for three +years' service. He immediately entered upon this task; but owing to the +number of regiments at that time being organized in Northern Ohio, he +was but partially successful. The regiment being finally consolidated +with the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Ohio, he returned to his home. + +He soon after entered the law-school at Ann Arbor, Michigan; and after +a year and a half spent at this university, he graduated, with the +degree of L. L. B. Soon after, he returned home, married, and commenced +the practice of his profession at Youngstown, Ohio. + + +LIEUTENANT HENRY Z. EATON. + +Lieutenant Eaton entered the service as a private, but on the three +years' organization was made a second-lieutenant. He was with the +regiment constantly during the campaign in Western Virginia, and always +at his post. He took an important part in the Cross Lanes affair, and +in the march of Major Casement's detachment. + +He now went to the East with the regiment, when Colonel Tyler being +given a brigade, he was assigned to his staff as aid-de-camp. He held +this position at the battle of Winchester; and no one in the army did +better service. He was constantly in the saddle, riding fearlessly in +the heat of the battle, a fair mark for the rebels. During the +engagement his horse was wounded. He was mentioned in official reports +for gallant conduct. He soon after took part in the battle of Port +Republic, where he added much to his already well-earned reputation for +courage and other soldierly qualities. He now followed the regiment to +Alexandria, where he returned to his company and to the front of Pope's +army, where he was at the battle of Cedar Mountain, in which he was +severely wounded. He soon after returned to his home, and finally +resigned, on account of disability from wounds. + + +LIEUTENANT A. H. DAY. + +A. H. Day was a lieutenant in company F, in which capacity he +accompanied the regiment in Western and Eastern Virginia, taking part +in the battles of Winchester and Port Republic, in both of which he did +good service. In the latter he was severely wounded in the shoulder, by +reason of which he was soon after compelled to resign. + + +LIEUTENANT WILLIAM D. SHEPHERD. + +William D. Shepherd entered the service as a private in company D. He +was soon after made a sergeant, and at Camp Dennison, orderly. He +followed the fortunes of his company through the wilds of Western +Virginia till the affair at Cross Lanes, where he showed great +gallantry. He went with his company to Charleston, where, in the +absence of Lieutenant Weed, he took command. During this time the +company was detailed to guard a party who were engaged in erecting a +telegraph line from Point Pleasant to Gauley Bridge. In this service he +gave good satisfaction to all concerned in the undertaking. + +He now remained with his command until a few days before the battle of +Winchester, when he was compelled to leave the field on account of +inflammation in one of his eyes. It had become very painful long before +he would consent to go to the rear. A fever soon following, he was +completely prostrated. He now went to his home, where he was engaged in +the recruiting service. He returned to his regiment late in the summer, +and having been promoted to first-lieutenant, was immediately made +adjutant. He served with the regiment in this capacity until after the +affair at Dumfries, when he was compelled to resign on account of +ill-health. + +After his return home he did great service in recruiting. In the winter +of 1863-4 he canvassed Lake and Geanga counties, and was the means of +enlisting a large number of men. On these occasions he made speeches, +of which any public speaker might well be proud. + +In the fall of 1864 he raised a company for the National Guard, which +he commanded in the one hundred days' service. Returning to his home, +he was appointed a quartermaster, with the rank of captain, and +assigned to a division in the Twenty-third Army Corps. + +His promotion was won in the field, and therefore honorable. His +commission as second-lieutenant bears the date of November 25th, 1861; +and that of first-lieutenant early in the following year. + +Every one who has fallen in company with Lieutenant Shepherd will +remember him as a genial friend and profitable companion. His frankness +and courtesy have made him many friends. To know him, is to esteem him. +I doubt whether he has an enemy in the world. He has always been a warm +supporter of the Government, although not an American citizen by birth, +having been born in Canada. + + +LIEUTENANT E. HUDSON BAKER. + +Lieutenant Baker entered the service in Company C. He remained with the +regiment during its entire campaign in Western Virginia, doing good +service. At the affair at Cross Lanes, he was particularly conspicuous +for gallantry. He now took command of the company, which he held during +the remainder of his term of service. He was in the battle of +Winchester, where he commanded his company with great credit to +himself. As an officer, he was very popular with his command; as a +companion, he was sociable and benevolent. He was finally compelled to +resign from ill-health, but much against his wishes. He desired to +remain until the close of his regular term of service, and then return +with his old comrades; but his increasing debility would not admit. + + +LIEUTENANT RALPH LOCKWOOD. + +Lieutenant Ralph Lockwood entered the regiment, on its first +organization, in Company E. He served creditably through the Western +Virginia campaign, taking part in the skirmish at Cross Lanes, and the +battles of Winchester and Port Republic. In these battles he was +distinguished for personal courage. By constant exposure, he contracted +a rheumatic difficulty, which finally compelled him to resign, at a +time when his services were much needed in the regiment. + + +LIEUTENANT T. T. SWEENEY. + +Lieutenant T. T. Sweeney entered the service in Company B. He saw much +service in Western Virginia, and was in every respect a gallant +officer. At Cross Lanes, he made an honorable record. Soon after this +skirmish, he resigned his commission, and returned to his home in +Cleveland, Ohio. + + +LIEUTENANT EDWARD W. FITCH. + +Lieutenant Fitch entered the service in Company I. He served faithfully +until after the skirmish of Cross Lanes, in which he bore a gallant +part. While at Charleston, he resigned his commission, and returned to +his home. + + +LIEUTENANT A. J. WILLIAMS. + +Lieutenant Williams came into the regiment as second-lieutenant of +Company D, which position he filled with much credit till after the +affair at Cross Lanes, when he resigned his commission. At the time the +above skirmish took place he was sick, and therefore did not take part +in it. Previous to this he had toiled on with his company, through all +its terrible marches and dreary bivouacks; and for this is entitled to +the gratitude of the country. + + + + +OUR DEAD. + + +COLONEL WILLIAM R. CREIGHTON AND LIEUT.-COLONEL ORRIN J. CRANE. + +Colonel William R. Creighton was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in +June, 1837. At the age of ten years, he entered a shoe-store, where he +remained for two years; after which he entered a commercial college, +where he remained for six months. But these pursuits were not to his +liking--he had no taste for accounts. We next find him, at the age of +thirteen years, in the job-office of McMillin, in Pittsburgh, where he +remained for four years, completing his apprenticeship. The year +following, he went to Cleveland, Ohio, and entered the Herald office, +where he remained till the fall of 1860, with the exception of one +winter spent in a job-office in Chicago. + +He united with the fire companies of both Pittsburgh and Cleveland, and +was an active and zealous member. In 1858, he joined the military +organization known as the Cleveland Light Guards, and soon after became +a sergeant, and a lieutenant. He advanced in rank without any +effort--it was a matter of course. + +When the rebellion broke out, his love of adventure would not permit +him to remain at home; but he immediately set himself at work +organizing a company, which was completed in a few days, and, on the +22d day of April, marched to Camp Taylor. He immediately commenced +drilling his company, and with such success, that it took the lead of +all then in camp. + +At this time his military genius shone so conspicuously that he was +looked on by all as the future leader of the regiment. + +All will remember with what skill and pride he led the regiment in its +first march. It was on a beautiful Sabbath morning; and as the young +soldier, with a proud step, took his position at the head of the +column, every eye was turned upon him in admiration; one could see in +the countenances of the men, a willingness to follow such a leader amid +the hail and thunder of battle. Before reaching Camp Dennison, this +admiration warmed into a determination to place him in a position when, +at no distant day, he could be made available as the commander of the +regiment. Therefore, on its arrival at camp, he was elected +lieutenant-colonel, a position which he did not seek, nor intimate to +any that he desired. Very many were desirous of making him colonel. + +During the stay of the regiment at Camp Dennison, he took no active +part, seldom being seen on drill, or on duty of any kind. When the +regiment was about leaving, however, he took command, Colonel Tyler +having gone to Virginia in advance of the starting of the regiment. +Previous to the movement, every thing had been arranged in perfect +order; but this arrangement was partially defeated by the indecent +haste of a captain. An unutterable look of scorn and contempt settled +upon the features of Creighton; but not a word passed his lips. He +never entirely forgave that officer for this act of disobedience of +orders, till his death, when all feelings of animosity gave way to +regrets for his loss; for, outside of a disposition to criticise the +conduct of his superiors, he was a brave as well as competent officer. + +Arriving at Clarksburg, he turned over the command to Colonel Tyler; +but on arriving at Glenville, he again assumed command, which he held +until reaching Cross Lanes; in the mean time, drilling the regiment +daily when in camp. During this time it improved rapidly; in fact, it +acquired, during this short interval, most of the proficiency it +possessed. + +On the march back to Cross Lanes from Twenty-mile Creek, he was with +the advance, in command of the skirmishers. During the affair which +succeeded, at the above place, he bore himself creditably. During the +retreat, his horse fell with him: seizing the holsters, he started on +foot through the underbrush, but soon after saw his horse coming after +him at full speed. He again mounted; but in a short time his horse +again fell, when, for the second time, he abandoned him; but he was +soon joined by his faithful "Johnny," and this time the devoted horse +carried its gallant rider safely to Gauley Bridge. + +This misfortune to the regiment completely unmanned him. Meeting a +comrade on the retreat, who was not in the engagement, he burst into +tears, and, grasping his hand, in choked utterances related the story +of their encounter. + +While the regiment remained at Charleston, Creighton was in command, +and was untiring in his efforts to advance his command in both drill +and discipline; and I doubt whether any regiment in the field made more +rapid progress towards perfection. It seemed to emulate its leader, who +was ever at his post. + +When an order came for five hundred picked men from the regiment to +report to General Benham for duty, in the pursuit of Floyd, he was +chosen to command the detachment. On arriving at Benham's headquarters, +he was given the advance, and, for several days, was separated from +Floyd's camp by a range of mountains only. He was finally given a +brigade, although only a lieutenant-colonel, and ordered across a range +of mountains to the rear of the enemy; but for some reason no attack +was made, and soon after, half of the command was ordered back. + +During the pursuit of Floyd, he travelled on foot at the head of his +regiment. When the rebel army was likely to be overtaken, Benham +remarked to him, that "he depended on him to rout the enemy," and gave +him the post of honor; but when the firing became rapid, his regiment +was ordered to the front, where a part of it was engaged in +skirmishing, while the balance were smoking their pipes and engaging in +sports, almost under the guns of the enemy, Creighton enjoying the fun +as well as any in the command. + +The detachment returned, after fifteen days' absence, without the loss +of a man, save one injured by the accidental discharge of a gun. + +The regiment now went to the East, where, soon after, Tyler was given a +brigade, and Creighton again commanded the regiment. + +At the battle of Winchester, which followed soon after, his was the +first regiment in the famous charge of the Third brigade, for which it +acquired such renown. He disagreed with the commanding officer as to +the manner of making the charge, preferring to deploy before advancing, +than to charge a battery in close column. But throwing all personal +feelings and preferences aside, he dashed forward, and finally deployed +his regiment within eighty yards of the enemy's line of battle, and +under a terrible fire of both musketry and artillery. His horse being +shot from under him, he seized a musket, and engaged in the strife, +firing rapidly till near the close of the battle, when he was compelled +to cease for the purpose of executing some order. + +On the return of the command to New Market, after the pursuit of +Jackson to near Harrisonburg, the company tents were ordered to be +delivered up; whereupon Creighton was very indignant, and, in +connection with other officers, sent in his resignation. They were +ordered to report to General Shields the next morning. Accordingly, +dressed in their "best," they reported. They were received with all the +politeness that pompous general knew how to assume, with an invitation +to be seated. The general informed them that their resignations would +not be accepted; but remarked, that, "if they _desired_ it, he would +have their names stricken from the army rolls in disgrace." This +witticism rather amused Creighton than otherwise, and he returned to +camp with a much better opinion of the general than he was possessed of +before making his visit. + +He now commanded the regiment in its march to Fredericksburg, sharing +with his men the hardships attending the toilsome march; and when, a +few days after, the regiment returned to the Valley, he did much to +cheer the men in that discouraging march. + +At Front Royal he remained with his regiment during a heavy storm, to +which it was exposed without tents, disdaining to seek shelter and +comfort while his men were thus exposed. + +The men were now very destitute of clothing, especially shoes; but when +ordered, he moved to Columbia Bridge, followed by one hundred men +barefooted. He now went personally to General Shields, but was coldly +received by that general, being subjected to insulting remarks. He came +back to his regiment with that same unutterable expression of contempt +stamped upon his features, which all will remember who served with him +in the field; and getting his men in column, closed in mass, made a +speech. Said he: "I am unable to procure shoes or other comforts for +you; but I will follow these generals until there is not a man left in +the regiment. Forward, company H!" And he did follow them to Port +Republic, where his words came near proving true. + +At this battle his bravery and daring were observed by every one. He +made repeated charges with his regiment, the line being as correct as +on dress-parade. After one of these charges, the enemy's cavalry came +dashing towards his regiment, and dispositions were immediately made +for forming a square; but the enemy wisely wheeled, and charged another +regiment. The colonel of this regiment, being unable to get his men in +position, shouted in a stentorian voice: "Men of the ----th, look at +the Seventh Ohio; and d--n you, weep!" + +In this battle the regiment made five charges, under the leadership of +Creighton; and each time driving the enemy. + +After the battle was over, and the regiment on the retreat, seeing a +wounded captain lying almost within the enemy's lines, he rode up to +his company, and pointing to where he was lying, said: "Do you see your +captain over yonder? _Now, go for him!_" They did go for him, and +succeeded in bringing him from the field in safety. + +Only a few were missing from the regiment in this action, although the +list of killed and wounded was fearful. + +We next find Creighton at the battle of Cedar Mountain, where a small +division fought the whole of Jackson's army on ground of his own +choosing. Creighton handled his regiment with a dexterity that told +fearfully on the ranks of the enemy. He was finally severely wounded, +and compelled to leave the field. In doing so, he kept his face to the +foe, saying that "no rebel ever saw his back in battle; and never +would." He was taken to Washington, where the bullet was extracted from +his side, which was an exceedingly painful operation. Soon after this +he came to his home; but while still carrying his arm in a sling, he +reported to his regiment. + +While at home the battle of Antietam was fought, which was the only one +in which he failed to participate. Soon after his return, the affair at +Dumfries occurred, where, through his ingenuity and skill, Hampton's +cavalry command was defeated by a mere handful of men. For this he was +publicly thanked by Generals Slocum and Geary. + +He now took part in the battle of Chancellorsville, where he won new +laurels. It is said that being ordered by General Hooker to fall back, +he refused to do so until able to bring Knapp's Battery safely to the +rear; for which disobedience of orders he was recommended for +promotion. This battery was from his native city, and in it he had many +friends. + +Next he was at Gettysburg, where he fought with his accustomed valor. + +We now find him at Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge, in "Hooker's +battle above the clouds," where the victory was so suddenly and +unexpectedly won, that scarcely sufficient time intervened in which to +display valor. It was simply a race for the top of the mountain on the +part of our men; and a corresponding race on the part of the rebels for +the foot of the mountain on the opposite side. + +After this battle came the pursuit of Bragg. His rear-guard was +overtaken at Ringgold, Georgia, where it was securely posted on the top +of Taylor's Ridge--a naked eminence. It was madness to undertake to +drive them from this hill, without the use of artillery to cover the +assault; but in the excitement of the moment the order was given. In +this assault Creighton commanded a brigade. Forming his command, he +made a speech. "Boys," said he, "we are ordered to take that hill. I +want to see you walk right up it." After this characteristic speech, he +led his men up the hill. It soon became impossible to advance against +the terrible fire by which they were met; he, therefore, led them into +a ravine, but the rebels poured such a fire into it from all sides, +that the command was driven back. Reaching a fence, Creighton stopped, +and facing the foe, waited for his command to reach the opposite side. +While in this position he fell, pierced through the body with a rifle +bullet. His last words were: "Oh, my dear wife!" and he expired almost +immediately. The brigade now fell rapidly back, carrying the remains of +its idolized commander with it. + + +Lieutenant-Colonel Orrin J. Crane was born in Troy, New York, in the +year 1829. At three years of age his parents moved to their native +State, Vermont. Soon after, his father died, leaving but limited means +for the support and education of his children. His mother was a +Christian woman, and devoted to her children. From her he received his +first lessons of life; and a worthy teacher he had. He cherished his +mother with the utmost affection, dwelling upon her goodness with +almost child-like simplicity. It was touching to listen to the words of +love and confidence falling for her, from the lips of the sturdy +warrior, who braved the battle-fire without a tremor. + +In early youth he went to live with an uncle, and in about 1852 came +with him to Conneaut, Ohio, where he employed himself in mechanical +labor. He spent one year on the Isthmus, and after his return went to +Cleveland, where he engaged in the occupation of a ship-carpenter, +following this trade till the fall of Sumter. While in Cleveland he +associated himself with a military organization. + +He entered the service as first-lieutenant in Captain Creighton's +company; and on his promotion, was made captain. He early devoted +himself to the instruction of his company; and it can be said that it +lost nothing of the efficiency it acquired under the leadership of +Creighton. + +After the regiment entered the field, his services were invaluable. I +doubt if the entire army contains an officer who has performed more +service, in the same length of time, than Crane. If a bridge was to be +constructed, or a road repaired, he was sent for to superintend it. If +the commissary department became reduced, he was the one to procure +supplies. No undertaking was too arduous for his iron-will to brave. +There was no fear of starvation while the sturdy Crane was present. All +relied on him with the utmost confidence, and no one was ever +disappointed in him. + +At the affair of Cross Lanes, where he first came under fire, he was +more than a hero; he seemed possessed of attributes of a higher nature. +He moved amid that sheet of flame, as if possessed of a soul in +communion with a higher power. He inspired his men with true courage. +They stood like a wall, and fell back only when ordered by their +leader, then dashed through the strong line of the enemy with a bravery +which was truly sublime. The enemy, although five to one, hesitated, +swayed backward, and finally fled, so severely punished, that for the +time they did not pursue. In that long march, over the mountains to +Gauley Bridge, he was still the proud leader. + +After his arrival at the above place, he was sent out to the front, up +New River, where he rendered valuable service. + +He was in every march and skirmish in both Western and Eastern +Virginia, until, we find the regiment at the battle of Winchester. In +this engagement he showed the same indomitable and true courage. He +held his men to the work of carnage so fearfully, that the enemy's +slain almost equalled his command. + +We now find him in every battle in which his regiment was engaged in +the East. Port Republic, Cedar Mountain (where he was slightly +wounded), Antietam, Dumfries, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. In all +of these he _led_ his command, and the dead of the enemy left on the +field before it attest how well he led it. + +At the battle of Antietam, he commanded the regiment, and during the +latter part of the engagement, a brigade. + +Before the regiment left for the West, he was made lieutenant-colonel; +a position which his ability and long, as well as faithful, service of +his country rendered him eminently qualified to fill. + +Arriving in the West, he commanded the regiment in the battles of +Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge, where he added new laurels to his +already imperishable name. At fatal Ringgold, he again commanded the +regiment. He led it up the steep ascent, where the whistling of bullets +made the air musical; and where men dropped so quietly that they were +scarcely missed, except in the thinned ranks of the command. The +regiment had not recovered from the shock produced by the announcement +of the death of Creighton, when the noble Crane, on whom all hearts +were centred in the fearful peril of that hour, fell at the feet of his +devoted comrades, pierced through the forehead by a rifle bullet. He +spoke not a word--his strong heart ceased to beat; and his soul took +its flight from its blood-red tenement, and from the confusion of +battle, to the land of patriot spirits. He fell so far in the advance, +that his men were driven back before possessing themselves of his +body,--but soon after it was recovered. + + +The sketches of Creighton and Crane now lie in the same path. + +After the bodies of the fallen braves had been laid side by side, the +remaining few of a once full regiment gathered around and mourned,--the +silence alone being broken by the tears and sobs of a band of warriors, +grieving for the loss of their chieftains. Was such a scene ever +witnessed? Those forms, now cold and bloody, had often led them on the +field of carnage, to victory and glory; under their leadership the +regiment had been made immortal; and now, in all their pride, and +glory, and chivalry, they had gone down to rise no more. No wonder, +then, that their brave followers paid their last tribute to all that +was mortal of their renowned leaders. It seemed to these mourners, in +their loss the regiment itself was blotted out--that it would no more +be known and honored--that its sun had forever set. But no, many a +brave heart, that stood in that circle, was to be made a sacrifice to +his country; many more hearts were to be left crushed and bleeding for +the loved ones fallen in battle. When the last tear had been shed, and +the last vow made over these fallen braves, the regiment moved away in +profound silence. + +While this scene was being enacted afar off among the hills of Georgia, +the peaceful valleys of Ohio were echoing with the lamentations of +friends at home. The hearts of the people of the Western Reserve were +bound by the strong ties of kin and friendship to this gallant +regiment, which had but just made its great sacrifice, and they were +all in mourning. When the news came of this great disaster, it could +not be believed; the friends of the fallen would not give them up. And +it was not until a dispatch was received that their bodies were on the +way home, that it was generally believed. At last, when the people +realized that the sad news was indeed true, meetings were called by the +representatives of all branches of trade and industry. Resolutions of +respect were passed, and preparations made to receive the dead, on +their arrival, in a becoming manner. + +When General Hooker learned of the death of Creighton and Crane, he +raised both hands, in surprise and grief, exclaiming, "My God! are they +dead? Two braver men never lived!" + +General Butterfield, chief of staff, gave orders to remove the bodies +to the rear. They were conveyed to Chattanooga by Sergeant Tisdell, +where they were met by Quartermaster Loomis, and privates Wetzel, +Shepherd, and Meigs. General Slocum testified his appreciation of their +worth, by accompanying their bodies as far as Tullahoma. When the news +reached him of their death, his grief was so profound, that the stern +veteran burst into tears. + +They were taken to Nashville to be embalmed. But little, however, could +be done for Creighton, as he had bled inwardly; his body was therefore +put into a metallic case. Crane's body was embalmed, and placed in a +plain, but neat coffin, till it should arrive in Cleveland and be +transferred to a burial case. Dr. Newbury, of the Sanitary Commission, +rendered much service in this work, after which he accompanied the +remains to Louisville. From this place they were forwarded to +Cincinnati by train, where they were met by the special escort from +Cleveland, consisting of Colonel Hayward, Lieutenant-Colonel J. T. +Sterling, Lieutenant-Colonel Frazee, Captain Baird, Captain Molyneaux, +Captain De Forest, Captain Wiseman, Surgeon Cushing, and Quartermaster +Chapin. + +On Sunday morning the train dashed into Cleveland, and stopped at the +foot of Superior-street. Two hearses were in waiting. One for Colonel +Creighton, drawn by four white horses; the other for Lieutenant-Colonel +Crane, drawn by four black horses. Each was draped by American flags +and the usual insignia of mourning. + +The remains of Colonel Creighton were now removed from the car to the +hearse, and conveyed to the residence of Mrs. Creighton, on +Bolivar-street. The remains of Lieutenant-Colonel Crane remained under +guard, till the return of the escort, when they were taken to the +residence of the widow. + +This bright Sabbath will long be remembered. But a few short Sabbaths +before, the coffined dead left the city of their homes, possessed of +life and hope: looking forward with pride and happiness to the +termination of an honorable career in the service of their country. And +often in their night vigils, over the dying embers of their +picket-fires, had they conversed on the subject, passing the long night +in dreams never to be realized. The remaining few of your followers +have, indeed, long since returned; and although the hearts and feet of +these brave warriors were heavy with the tramp of weary months, yet +your slumber was not disturbed. Long years shall roll away, in which +war's tumult and carnage shall cease; but you shall only be known among +men by your good deeds left behind, and perpetuated in the hearts of +your countrymen. + +On the 7th of December the bodies of Creighton and Crane were brought +from the residences of their families and taken to the Council Hall, +for the purpose of lying in state, to be seen by the public. The same +hearses were used as on the arrival of the bodies from the South. + +The Council Hall was elegantly and appropriately decorated. In the +centre, within the railing, a handsome canopy had been placed, with +roof of national flags, draped with mourning emblems, suspended from +the ceiling, and trailing at the corners to the ground. Wreaths, loops, +and festoons of black and white edged the canopy. On the inside, from +the centre, hung a large pendant of mourning emblems, beneath which was +the bier on which lay the bodies of the gallant dead. + +On the president's desk, at the head of the hall, were portraits of +Colonel Creighton and Lieutenant-Colonel Crane, draped in mourning; and +against the wall, behind the place of the president's seat, was a +life-size portrait of Colonel Creighton, also draped in mourning. Above +this portrait was this inscription, in black letters on white ground: + + "My God! are they dead? + Two braver men never lived!" + + --GENERAL HOOKER. + +The windows were hung with black, and the gaslights threw a dim, solemn +light over the mournful scene. + +The bodies were placed in handsome burial-cases, and the covers +removed, so that they could be seen through the glass fronts. As we +have before mentioned, the body of Colonel Creighton, from the wounds +having bled inwardly, was so much changed, previously to reaching +Nashville, that it was impossible to properly embalm it; and therefore +did not present a natural appearance. That of Lieutenant-Colonel Crane +was in good preservation, and could easily be recognized. + +The bodies were guarded by a detachment of members of the old Seventh, +who formed the guard of honor. + +The following account of the funeral services is from the Cleveland +Herald of the 9th of December. + +"The sad pageant is over. A sorrowing people have paid their tribute of +affection and regret over the remains of the dead heroes. The brave +leaders of the glorious but ill-fated Seventh sleep in their quiet +tomb. + +"Tuesday, the 8th, was a bright and beautiful day. Its clear sky and +pleasant atmosphere were strangely similar to that bright Sunday in +May, two years and a half ago, when the Seventh Regiment marched out of +Cleveland on its way to the battle-fields where it was destined to win +such renown. The unclouded sun shed a halo of glory on all that was +left of the brave men who led the old Seventh in many a fight; but who +now were to be laid away in the silent and peaceful tomb. + +"The bright day opened on a city of mourners. People gathered on the +streets, waiting for the hour for the funeral. Business was unthought +of, even the latest news by telegraph, exciting as it was, and +calculated to stir the pulse with triumphant joy, failed to engross the +attention. Men spoke of the dead heroes, of their first departure for +the war, of their terrible battles and bloody sacrifices; and of that +last fearful struggle on the hill at Ringgold, where the gallant +leaders laid down their lives for their country, amid their dead and +wounded comrades. + +"From every flag-staff the national colors hung at half-mast, and signs +of mourning were everywhere visible. As the hour set for the +commencement of the solemn exercises drew near, business was entirely +suspended throughout the city. The stores were closed, the Federal, +State, and city offices shut their doors, and a Sabbath-like stillness +reigned over the city. Soon came the tramp of armed men, the mournful +wail of bugles, and the funeral roll of the drums, as the troops moved +up to take part in the funeral procession. + +"The bodies had remained in the Council Hall over-night, guarded by the +old comrades of the gallant dead. The families and relatives were in +the mayor's office, waiting for the hour of moving the procession. At +half past ten o'clock the bodies were removed from the Council Hall and +placed in hearses which were draped with the national colors, looped up +with mourning emblems. + +"The pall-bearers were as follows: For Colonel Creighton--Colonel +Senter, Colonel Whittlesey, Major Mygatt, Lieutenant-Colonel Asper, +Major Seymour, Captain McIlrath, Captain Ransom, Captain Stratton. For +Lieutenant-Colonel Crane--Lieutenant-Colonel Goddard, Lieutenant-Colonel +Sterling, Major Palmer, Captain Drummond, Captain Douglass, Captain +Wilson, Captain Standart, Captain Hill. + +"The burial-cases were the best that money could buy. On one was the +following inscription: + + COL. W. R. CREIGHTON, + 7th O. V. I, + In his 27th year. + Killed at the Battle of Ringgold, + Nov. 27th, 1863. + +"On the other was the inscription: + + LIEUT.-COL. O. J. CRANE, + Fell at the Battle of Ringgold, + Nov. 27th, 1863. + +"On each coffin was laid a handsome wreath of immortelles, with the +sword of the dead officer. + +"The Twenty-ninth Volunteer Militia were drawn up in line each side of +the way between the Council Hall and the Stone Church, and the mournful +_cortege_ passed through the lane so formed, Leland's Band playing +a dirge. The hearse was followed by the mourners in carriages--Governor +Brough, Surgeon McClurg, of the United States Military Hospital, the +City Council, and City and County Officers, all wearing crape badges. + +"Thousands of people lined the way, and crowded around the church with +the hope of getting in; but there was not a sound from them, as the +procession passed on to the church. And such perfect order and decorum +we never before saw in such a vast concourse. + + +IN THE CHURCH. + +"At the church--as indeed throughout the whole of the obsequies--the +most perfect arrangements had been made, and were carried out. The +reading-desk was draped with flags and crape. Directly in front was a +stand with an elegant bouquet of flowers, and below this another stand, +draped with national colors, on which rested the two coffins, side by +side. + +"The silk banner of the Seventh, presented by the city after Cross +Lanes, and bearing the names of several battles, was displayed against +the reading-desk. It was pierced and rent by showers of bullets and +shell in many a hard-fought battle. + +"The families and relatives of the deceased were placed in the seats +immediately in front of the bodies. On either side of the coffins sat +the pallbearers. Directly behind the mourners sat about a dozen or more +of the members of the old Cleveland Light Guard, the company commanded +by Colonel Creighton before the war, and of which Lieutenant-Colonel +Crane was a member. They wore crape badges, and had with them the +company flag, draped in mourning. + +"Near the reading-desk were seated Governor Brough, Surgeon McClurg, +and other invited guests, the committees, city council, city officers, +county officers, the clergy of the city and neighborhood, members of +the old Seventh, members of the old Cleveland Light Guard, soldiers +from the Military Hospital, members of the Typographical Union, +ship-carpenters, and other friends of the deceased. The body of the +church was packed tightly with citizens, of whom the greater part were +ladies, preference being given to them in the selection of seats. The +Twenty-ninth Regiment stood in the aisles. + +"During the entry of the procession to the church, the organ played a +voluntary suitable to the occasion. At half-past eleven o'clock the +funeral ceremonies in the church commenced with an invocation of the +Divine blessing by Rev. S. W. Adams, of the First Baptist Church, who +afterwards read appropriate passages of Scripture. + +"The choir then sang the Ninetieth Psalm: + + "'O God! our help in ages past, + Our help in years to come; + Our shelter from the stormy blast, + And our eternal home; + + "'Beneath the shadow of Thy throne, + Thy saints have dwelt secure; + Sufficient is Thine arm alone, + And our defence is sure. + + "'Before the hills in order stood, + Or earth received her name, + From everlasting Thou art God-- + To endless years the same. + + "'Thy word commands our flesh to dust: + Return ye sons of men! + All nations rose from earth at first, + And turn to earth again. + + "'O God! our help in ages past, + Our help for years to come: + Be Thou our guide while troubles last, + And our eternal home.' + +"Rev. Adam Crooks, of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, then made the +following address, at the request of the family of the late Colonel +Creighton: + +"'To-day we are in the solemn presence of inexorable death. We are +impressedly reminded that dust we are, and unto dust we must return; +that "death is the mighty leveller of us all;" that "the tall, the +wise, the heroic dead must lie as low as ours." Two lifeless heroes are +before us-- + + "'Their swords in rust; + Their souls with God in heaven, we trust.' + +We would do well to pray with the hero of other days: "So teach us to +number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." Before us +are two more rich offerings which the State of Ohio and Cleveland have +laid upon our country's altar! They were preceded by Wheeler, Lantry, +Pickands, Mahan, Vail, and others. We are here to mourn, to honor, and +to bury the noble dead! They were the pride of our city and of Northern +Ohio. Brave and honored representatives of a brave and honored +constituency! Of one thousand eight hundred soldiers who have filled +the ranks of the Seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, but little +over a hundred now report for duty. Many of them sleep in patriots' and +heroes' graves. Most of the remainder bear on their persons honorable +marks of their patriotism and bravery. In honoring the representative, +we honor the constituency. + +"'But _general_ remarks are not appropriate from me. At the request of +the stricken widow and relatives of Colonel Creighton, I come to utter +a few words of condolence, sympathy, and comfort, in this hour, to +_them_ and _to us all_, of deep affliction. Brother Foot will speak +in behalf of the relatives of Lieutenant-Colonel Crane. + +"'Colonel William R. Creighton was born in the City of Pittsburgh, +in the year 1836 or 1837--the records are not in this city. In early +childhood he was bereft of a father. He was baptized by the Rev. Bishop +Uphold, now bishop of Indiana, of the Protestant Episcopal Church. + +"'In his early teens, he served in the employ of Mr. A----, in an +extensive shoe establishment. Subsequently, he chose the occupation of +a printer, and spent three years in making himself master of his trade. +Eight years ago he came to this city--was four years in the office of +the Cleveland Herald. Also some six months in the City of Chicago. At +the time of enlistment, he was in the employ of Mr. Nevans of this +city. Early in life, he gave evidence that the tendencies of his nature +were strongly _military_. + +"'This was evinced by his connection with companies for drill in +Pittsburgh, Chicago, and this city. When the bloody drama of this +dreadful war was inaugurated, he was lieutenant of the 'Cleveland Light +Guard.' He was not willing that the fair and majestic superstructure, +reared by the superior skill, patient labor, and heroic suffering of +our honored fathers--resting its deep foundations in the inalienability +of the natural rights of all men, and in which the most indigent son of +toil stands before the law the equal peer of merchant princes--should +be torn down by perjured traitors and sworn enemies of mankind; not +willing that these traitors and enemies should bury beneath the +magnificent ruins of this superstructure our strength, and greatness, +and safety, and peace, and very liberties; not willing that this young, +yet powerful republic, should be so dismembered and disintegrated as to +tempt the rapacity, and be an easy prey of the weakest of adverse +powers; not willing that the principle, that '_Capital shall own +labor_,' the non-capitalled be the chattel of the rich, should rule +all over this continent--that labor should be at once unremunerative +and the badge of infamy, that thus there should be eternal antagonism +between the indigent and the affluent, developing in intestine broils +and civil feuds,--nor that the sun of liberty should go down upon an +entire hemisphere, to rise not again for many generations; not willing +that the forum, pulpit, and press should all be enslaved, and +intelligence among the masses be rendered contraband; in brief, not +willing that our _Paradise_ should be converted into a _Pandemonium_. + +"'Hence, no sooner had the news reached us of the assault upon Fort +Sumter, and the call of the President for seventy-five thousand +volunteers to rush to the defence of the life of the republic, than, +with all the ardor of his earnest nature, Colonel William R. Creighton +threw his _all_ upon his country's altar, and appealed to his +associates and compeers to do likewise. + +"'His success in securing enlistments was commensurate with his zeal +and known military skill. In a few days he was captain of a full +company--the first enlisted in this city--which afterwards became +Company A of the immortal Seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. On +the morning of the 3d of May, 1861, a beautiful Sabbath morning in the +spring, emblem of life, youth, and beauty, this regiment started for +the field of conflict, glory, and of death. And now, on a clear, serene +Sabbath of the December of 1863, the dying month of the year, the first +Sabbath of the month, and in the morning, after many hard-fought +battles, the brave colonel and lieutenant-colonel of the gallant +Seventh came back to say to us, in the mute silence of death, 'We have +done what we could.' In terms and strains of true eloquence you will +soon be told by Brother Peck, how bravely the colonel led the charges +at Cross Lanes, Winchester, Port Republic, Cedar Mountain (not at +Antietam, for he was at home wounded), Dumfries, Chancellorsville, +Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain, and fatal Ringgold,--and how he loved his +brave command, and how they idolized him. But I will not anticipate, +nor need I attempt encomium. His _deeds_ praise him beyond the +capacity of all human eloquence. + +"'Of his _social_ and _manly_ qualities, one who knew him well is +permitted to speak, in a letter of Christian sympathy, addressed to his +widow--for the 2d of May, 1861, three days before leaving with his +command, he was united in wedlock with Eleanor L. Quirk, of this city. +In a letter, such as described above, the Rev. Mr. Brown, former pastor +of Westminster Church, and for some months chaplain of the Seventh +Regiment, says: + + "'MRS. COLONEL CREIGHTON: My dear Friend--I have just read in the + dispatches that your brave husband and Lieutenant-Colonel Crane + were killed in the late battle at Ringgold, Georgia. Oh, how sad + this is! Sad to me who loved him; but how _terribly_ sad to you, + his beloved wife! I cannot write about it. Precious memories of + hours and days of dangers and hardships, shared together in Western + Virginia (and of one long, serious conversation about death and + eternity, as we rode together at midnight through the woods) crowd + upon me. He was warm-hearted, generous, and noble. He loved his + country unto death. He was brave, even to rashness. But he has + gone!' + +"'Yes, the warm-hearted friend, the loving brother, the affectionate +son, the devoted husband, the brave soldier, the undying patriot, the +fearless and fiery Creighton, is gone! We are here to-day to honor his +memory, recount his heroic deeds of noble daring, mourn his fall, and +convey his lifeless remains--with those of his brave comrade, +Lieutenant-Colonel Crane--to the tomb of a hero and a patriot. + +"'What words of elegiac comfort shall I speak to his numerous personal +and sorrowful friends; his brothers in the union of the same useful and +honorable handicraft; his brave comrades in arms of the noble Seventh, +and other regiments, who are here to attest their affection and sorrow; +his brother in the flesh, who is now left without a brother; his aged +and sorely bereaved mother; and his youthful, but grief-stricken, +widow? How shall _I_, who would take my place with the mourners, speak +words of comfort to you? + +"'Let us remember that although our _dear_, _dear_ friend will no +longer mingle with us in the social or domestic circle,--will not again +lead regiment or brigade of fearless braves in the thickest and hottest +of the fight, inspiring to feats of exalted heroism--his brave and +generous heart now cold and lifeless--dim and sightless those eyes +whose radiant and enlivening orbs beamed, now with kindness, and now +with fiery bravery--his intercourse with the living world, brought to a +final period,--let us remember, that although Colonel Creighton is +gone, yet he is not lost; he is not lost to his country, for it has his +noble example of true bravery and practical patriotism. + +"'He is not lost to us who knew him, for he lives, and will ever live, +templed in our brightest memories and best affections. Nor can he be +lost to history, for he has made the offering which places his name on +its brightest page. + +"'Death never comes alone, but is always attended by an escort of +sadness. Whenever the silver cord is loosed, the golden bowl broken, +the pitcher broken at the fountain, the wheel broken at the cistern, +and dust returns to the earth, as it was, mourners go about the +streets. But it is especially sad, when, as in this case, sister, +mother, and wife are denied the sorrowful pleasure of being present, +and ministering to the wants of the dying, and speaking words of +Christian hope. But even this finds an offset in the fact that it was +his honored privilege to die for country--to fall, covered with glory! +Also, in the fact that his body was not mangled--that he did not suffer +long--in the assurance furnished by the words, 'Oh, my dear wife!' +uttered in dying accents after he fell, and before he expired, that his +last thoughts were of home and kindred; and may not we hope that these +words were breathed in prayer, and that he threw his whole soul +helpless, but trustfully, upon the merits of the Saviour? Again, it is +a source of great gratification to us all, and especially to the +relatives, that he does not fill a distant and unknown grave--that he +was tenderly borne from the field, and promptly forwarded for honorable +interment. His grave is to be in our midst, marked by a marble shaft, +which will scarcely crumble beneath the tread of the coming ages. You +can go there and pay the mournful tribute which nature and affection +prompt. And may it not be believed, that from their patriotic ashes +(for Creighton and Crane fought and fell together, and they are to rest +side by side)--is it not to be believed, that from their patriotic +ashes will spring a rich harvest _in kind_ to at once avenge their +fall, and save our imperilled country? And will not fathers and mothers +conduct their children to these honored graves, and there put upon them +vows of eternal hostility to treason and to traitors, be they secret or +armed, even as Hamilcar caused his son Hannibal to swear, at the altar, +eternal hatred to Rome? And will not every one who visits their tombs, +and reads their epitaphs, whisper, "Peace and honor." And when this +cruel war is over, and the God of our fathers shall crown our labors +and sufferings with success, and bestow upon us, as a nation, an +honorable, righteous, and perpetual peace, then, amid the light, and +songs, and joy of the nation's jubilee, let their epitaphs be written +anew. And during all ages, peace to their ashes, peace to their memory, +and peace to their heroic spirits. + +"'Let us this day, around the lifeless forms of these fallen heroes, +not profanely, but solemnly and religiously, swear that the lives of +these, together with the lives of hundreds of thousands of the flower +of the nation, given for the salvation of the country, shall not be +given in vain; that we will complete well, what they have so well +begun. + +"'I need not ask of you, in behalf of the aged mother and bereaved +widow of Colonel Creighton, your warm, your practical, your continued +sympathies: these, I am sure, will not be withheld. But I now ask you +to join me in one fervent prayer to the God of the aged, the +fatherless, and the widow, our fathers' God, and the God of battles, +that He will, by His almighty arm, sustain, and, by His abundant grace, +comfort the aged mothers, and bereaved widows, and afflicted friends of +our brave soldiers, and their departed sons, husbands, and brothers; +that He will thus sustain and comfort all whose hearts have been cloven +by the battle-axe of war; that He will abundantly shield, help, bless, +and comfort our brave soldiers upon the field, in the hospitals, and +prisoners in the hands of our enemies; and that He will speedily bestow +upon our imperilled country the inestimable blessing of an honorable, +righteous, and lasting peace. Amen.' + +"Rev. C. C. Foot, at the request of the family of the late +Lieutenant-Colonel Crane, made the following address: + +"'The duties we are called to perform--the bearing of our dead brave to +their final rest--is indeed solemn and sad. That those who admired and +loved them in life, and delight to honor them when dead, should, with +sympathizing hearts and grateful hands, minister such a funeral +ovation, is due to them in view of the sacrifice they made, the toils +they endured, and their deeds of patriotism and valor. When the bugle +was first sounded in Washington, calling the North to the defence of +our institutions, these were among the first to respond; leaving their +business, their friends, and their families, for the field of strife, +they unsheathed their swords to strike for freedom's sacred cause. In +many skirmishes, and in every battle of their brigade, they struck with +such bravery and success as to have secured perpetual illustriousness; +while ever a nation exists to feel the throb of a nation's heart, while +a man lives to read the annals of America, their noble deeds shall be +known, and their illustrious names shall be honored. + +"'They passed through so many dangers almost unscarred, that they +feared no ill, and their families began to expect with confidence their +return to the enjoyments of home, ere many months more should have +flown. But when on Ringgold's hillside they raised their swords to +gleam as never before, from a volley of Confederate musketry their +death-warrant came. Their bodies sank to the ground--their spirits +ascended through the smoke-cloud of battle to the patriot's God, to +join the slain of the Seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, where the stars +forever shine in original splendor and glory. On the morrow, instead of +the ready pen reporting to loved ones at home that "all is well with +us," the telegraph was put in requisition to announce that never more +should their voices be heard by friend, companion, or offspring. Oh, +how sad such intelligence! How many families, how many tender, loving, +trembling hearts throughout the land, have been made sorrowful by like +intelligence since this war was so cruelly hurled upon us? From what +our soldier friends do and suffer from the myriad untimely deaths, +shall we not learn the magnitude of the work of the army, and our great +indebtedness to all who have gone to fight for us, our homes, and our +country? Let us render them the honor due. When men become illustrious, +it is but natural that their friends review their lives, and that +others inquire who they are, whence they came, and what circumstances +molded them for their greatness. To answer briefly and in part such +inquiries about one of these brave men--Lieutenant-Colonel O. J. +Crane--is the work to which I have been invited. Lieutenant-Colonel +Crane was born in Chautauque County, New York, in the year 1829. When +about three years old, his parents removed to their native State, +Vermont. Soon after this, his father died, and he was left to climb +life's rugged hill from his mother's arms to manhood, without the +invaluable aid of a father's counsels and assistance. He was blest with +a kind, intelligent, and prayerful mother, to whom he owed no small +amount of gratitude. + +"'Her care and labor for his health, and even his life, were constant +and great. While quite young, he once received a burn, so severe that +his life was despaired of. The attendant physician said he could not +live--or living, would always be helpless. But his mother loved him +into _life_ and _health_, little thinking that she had saved him from +one fire, only to see him exposed and becoming a victim to a more +galling one; little thinking that to him, for whose life she struggled, +she and the nation would become indebted for liberty and political +security. During his youth he lived chiefly with an uncle, and with +whom, about thirteen years ago, he located in Conneaut, Ohio. While +there, he was employed in mechanical labor. He spent one year on the +Isthmus. On his return from the Isthmus, he came to Cleveland, and +found employment as a ship-carpenter. In this city, and this business, +he remained till called to participate in our national conflict. + +"'As a mechanic, he enjoyed the confidence and esteem of his employers +and his fellows. As a man, he drew around him a pleasant circle of +friends, constant and affectionate, who deeply mourn his loss. In +disposition, he was frank, manly, kind, and ever cheerful. He leaves a +sorrowing wife, to whom he was married nine years ago, three small +children, a mother, brothers and sisters. Their bereavement is too +great, their grief too deep, for even them to express in language. Yet +not till weary weeks shall fail to bring letters from the +battle-field--not till months confirm that no husband returns--not till +years reveal the need of a father to guide the orphans, and a companion +to sustain an aching heart, shall be fully realized the magnitude of +the sacrifice made, in laying upon a nation's altar a husband and a +father. + +"'The subject of these remarks had never made a public profession of +faith in Jesus. He had respected religion. He showed great kindness and +respect to the chaplain of his regiment, and consequently had a good +chaplain. He also, after entering the service, became interested in +personal religion. He professed a readiness to die when called. Let us +pray and hope that beyond the turmoil of this life, he may receive his +dear ones to everlasting fellowship of joy. + +"'Some months ago he became a member of the Masonic fraternity. Though +so soon taken from them, yet-- + + "'By the hieroglyphic bright, + Which none but craftsmen ever saw, + Strange memory on our minds shall write + His honored name that's far awa.' + +"'Citizens of Cleveland and Ohio, as we embalm his name in our memory, +let us not fail to remember, also, the dear family he has left. Let us +give them our heartfelt sympathy--not the sympathy of _pity_, but +that of _gratitude_--for his and their debtors we are. He gave his +life; not for himself, but for us who live, for our homes, and our +posterity. Surrounding the husbandless with what comforts we can, and +supplying the fatherless with fatherly care, and aid, and sympathy, let +us, to our utmost, discharge our indebtedness. Let us work and pray +that but few more brave need fall; and that the time be speeded when +the defenders of our liberties shall be welcomed home to the enjoyment +of their triumphs, with the jubilant acclamation of many millions of +freemen.' + +"Professor H. E. Peck, at the request of the General Committee, +delivered the address on behalf of the city, as follows: + +"'On a fair Sabbath in May, only three short seasons ago, just as the +bells were calling the town to worship, a regiment passed down yonder +street. That, citizens, was a spectacle which you who saw it will never +forget. Not because the marching column was striking to the eye. There +was no pageant. There were no arms, no banners. There was not even a +uniform. The farmer, the student, and the smith, were in that line; +and the farmer marched in the garments he brought from the furrow, +and the student and the smith were attired as they had been in the +recitation-room and shop. But for all that, the display was profoundly +impressive. Here was the flower of the Reserve. Lake, Mahoning, +Trumbull, Lorain, and Erie, each had a hundred; Portage, twice a +hundred; and Cuyahoga, thrice a hundred in the line. And each hundred +was made up, not of the rabble, but of sons, whom worthy fathers and +mothers dearly loved; of men, who, if they should stay at home, would +soon be conspicuous for wealth, or learning, or skill in useful arts. +And these thousand true men, loved well at home, made of sterling +stuff, were on their way to _war_--to actual war. To serve the +imperilled country, they had quit all,--farms, shops, books, friends, +hopes, the past, the future,--all but duty and honor. They might never +return. The vow on them might take them to bloody fields, from which +there should be no passage except down through the gates of death. Oh, +kinsman, was not that an impressive scene? Did you ever see the like? +Did not tears wet your eyes as you looked on? Were not the cheers with +which you sent the heroes on their way divided, as shouts of yours had +never before been, nor have been since, between admiration and sorrow? + +"'This, friends, was the first march of our gallant Seventh. You do not +forget that in that march the column was led by a young captain, whose +high carriage and soldierly bearing were almost the only signs of real +military display. The body of that young captain lies in one of yonder +coffins. Of him, and his brave comrade who sleeps beside him, I am to +speak on this occasion. The history of the noble Seventh is _their_ +late history. With it, therefore, let me begin. + +"'The Seventh left Cleveland May 5, 1861. It went hence to Camp +Dennison, where E. B. Tyler, of Ravenna; W. R. Creighton, of Cleveland; +and John S. Casement, of Painesville, were made its first +field-officers. In the June following, while it was still at Camp +Dennison, the regiment was reorganized and sworn into the three-years' +service. I well remember seeing Captain Crane, whose remains are +yonder, on a sweet Sabbath afternoon--men, sun, air, and earth, all +were glad, and the harmonies of nature were tunefully praising +God--bringing his company to the colonel's quarters to be sworn in. I +well remember the impression which the strong voice of the sombre +captain made upon me, as, after the young soldiers, with bare heads and +uplifted hands, had taken the oath, he cried, "Company, right face; +forward, march!" The tone of the command was as if he would say, "Now, +men, there is no retreat. Only service, perhaps death, is before you." + +"'A week later, General McClellan, who had then just taken command of +the Western Department, came looking for the right material with which +to begin his Western Virginia campaign, and inspected the regiment. But +it was not at garments the shrewd leader looked. It was the _person_ he +studied. He sought the eye. He narrowly scanned the look. Down the line +and back again he slowly went. I saw the expression on his face, as at +the end, he seemed to say to himself, "_They are the right sort!_" In +the reorganization of the regiment, the staff remained as it was +before. + +"'On the 26th of June, 1861, the Seventh left Camp Dennison, to enter +on active service in Western Virginia. With many long marches it sought +the foe. It had begun to doubt whether it would ever meet him, when, at +Cross Lanes, on the 26th of August, he came, with overwhelming force. +For a brief space, the companies, separated from each other, held their +ground. Then, from bare and irresistible necessity, they gave way. +Twenty-four gallant men were left on the field, dead or wounded. One +hundred were carried away prisoners, and the remainder were scattered +like partridges which have received the sportsman's fire. At first, +tidings came to us that the Seventh was wholly destroyed. How ached our +hearts! Presently, better news came. Major Casement had brought four +hundred men through the wilderness into Charleston, and Captain Crane +had come to Gauley, bringing, not only almost his entire company, but a +flag which he had captured from the enemy. + +"'Then came to the regiment days of distraction and despondency. You, +and others of the Reserve, heard of, and agonized over its condition. +To encourage and cheer it, you sent it a stand of beautiful colors. At +the Academy of Music, as you will remember, before a throng of your +best citizens, the standards were dedicated. + +"'On a mountain-side, in Western Virginia, with Rosecrans' army lying +miles up and down, and with the smoke of the enemy's camp-fires rising +in the distance, they were presented to the regiment. I wish I could +picture the scene, the splendors of the magnificent landscape, the +exquisite beauty of the colors as they proudly glowed in the clear +sunlight, the enthusiasm of the men and the pride of the officers. Your +present helped to rouse the spirit of the regiment. The words of love +and considerate regard, which you sent with the gift, assured it that +its honor was not yet lost. How thrilling, how hopeful, was the cheer +which rolled off among the hills, as the color-guard took its trust! + +"'From the Kanawha the Seventh went, on the 17th of December, 1861, to +the Potomac. There, now led by Lieutenant Colonel Creighton--Colonel +Tyler having taken temporary command of a brigade--it met, at +Winchester, March 23, 1862, Jackson's celebrated "Stonewall Legion." +Hot was the fire, when the Northern iron met the Southern flint. The +Seventh left fifty-six dead and wounded on the field. But it won a +name in the fight. The story told of them, the land over, was, _they +fought like veterans_. Then came the long chase up the Shenandoah, +then the hard march across to Eastern Virginia, and back to the gates +of the Shenandoah. Then came Port Republic, the first square stand-up +fight which the regiment had, when, led by Creighton, in an open field, +in a line trim enough for a dress parade, and with "Cross Lanes" for +its battle-cry, the glorious Seventh charged down on Jackson's +steadfast front. Ah, how the list of the dead and wounded was again +fearfully swelled! Seventy-two names were added to it. + +"'By this time the regiment had become so reduced by the casualties of +war, that its friends on the Reserve asked that it might be sent home +to recruit. "No," promptly replied discriminating Halleck, "not so long +as there is a lame drummer left; not if you will send us a whole new +regiment in place of this handful. We know these men, they are just +such as we want." Colonel Tyler's promotion to a brigadiership brought +Lieutenant-Colonel Creighton to the head of the regiment, and this, and +other changes, presently made Captain Crane a Lieutenant-Colonel. The +regiment now had plenty of duty. It fought at Cedar Mountain, and +there, on the extreme advance, it met the brunt of danger. + +"'In one company, out of twenty-one men engaged, eighteen fell killed +or wounded. The whole regiment suffered in hardly less proportion. One +hundred and ninety-six, of the two hundred and ninety-seven heroes +engaged, fell. There, fiery Creighton, as usual, not content to be +elsewhere than on the extreme front, was so severely wounded that he +was compelled to come home to recover. + +"'Soon the regiment was at Antietam, and there it shared the toils and +honors of that honorable field. Thirty-eight fallen men, out of one +hundred engaged, was the price it paid for its opportunity. Presently +it fought and prevailed against great odds at Dumfries. Here it lost +ten more of its scant few. + +"'In the next year's campaign, after lying in camp and being +considerably recruited, the regiment was at Chancellorsville. There it +did good service, by catching and holding on its steady line droves of +fugitives, who were ingloriously seeking the rear, and by covering the +retreat of its corps. It lost, at Chancellorsville, ninety-nine men. +Next the regiment was at Gettysburg. There, for the first time in its +history, it fought behind defences; nor could Ewell, surging with fiery +valor up against the rocky rampart, break the line which it, and its +compeers of the Twelfth Corps, held. The Seventh lost at Gettysburg +nineteen men; and, as from every field before, so from this, it brought +honor and a new name. From the Potomac the regiment went, in September +last, to the Tennessee. There, on the 24th of last month, it shared in +that brilliant "battle above the clouds," by which Hooker cleared +Lookout Mountain. Decisive as the result of its courage here was, it +seems to have left behind but one wounded man as its share of the +sacrifice which the victory cost. Then came the pursuit of Bragg, and +the overtaking of his rear-guard at Ringgold; then the climbing, by the +Twelfth Corps, of that bare hill, on the top of which the enemy was +securely posted. Staunch Creighton was in command of a brigade, and +Crane led the Seventh. The charge was a desperate one, but Creighton +did not falter. Kindling to that ardor of which he was so susceptible, +he urged his command on. "Boys," he said, "we are ordered to take that +hill. I want to see you walk right up it." Then putting himself, not in +the rear, as being temporarily a brigadier he might have done, but far +in the advance, he led the way. And Crane, close behind, stoutly held +the Seventh to its bloody work. The men were ready for the task. The +zeal of Cross Lanes, of Winchester, of Port Republic, burned to a white +heat. The gallant Seventh, leading the column, flung itself into the +billows of fire, as if it were rescuing home from robber hands. But, +ah! chivalric Creighton fell, and, alas! sturdy Crane, too; and of the +commissioned officers of the Seventh, but one remained unhurt. Is it +wonderful that the grand old regiment, losing the inspiring command of +the brave soldiers whose voices had so often aroused its purposes, fell +back? Oh, Creighton and Crane, had you lived, the Seventh would, +perhaps, without help, have carried the dear old colors, tattered by so +many leaden storms, into the enemy's defiant works! Sad tale that I +must tell, of the two hundred and ten sons and brothers of ours who +went into the fight, ninety fell; of the fourteen commissioned officers +on the field, thirteen were killed or wounded. + +"'My story of the Seventh is done. Yes, the Sabbath comes; sweet, clear +day, as bright as that holy morn on which the Seventh first went its +way. A sad cortege passes up the same street yonder. Music wails at its +head. A downcast guard of honor marches, with mourning colors, behind +hearses trimmed with the badges of woe. Look you, kindred, the band +which follows the dead is made up of the men who marched in that May +Sabbath line two years ago. But the farmer, the student, the smith, +are not there. These are soldiers all. They are scarred with the marks +of Cross Lanes, of Winchester--nay, let me not stop to recite the long +list of battles through which they have passed. Yes, here is part of +the scant few left out of the eighteen hundred staunch men who have +stood under the flag of the Seventh; and here, hearse-borne, are the +bodies of the good leaders who shall head the regiment no more. Pause +now, citizens, while I tell you about these noble men. Colonel +Creighton was born in Pittsburgh. He was but twenty-six years of age +when he fell. For several years he followed the trade of a printer in +this city. But he was born to be a soldier, and years ago he learned, +in civic schools, a soldier's trade. So, when the war broke out, he was +fit to take command. He raised a company in this city. At once his +military talent was revealed. He had not a peer in the camp as a +drill-master, and there was something about his ardent nature which +made men feel that he was fit to command. Thus superior office came to +him--he did not seek it. But getting it, he discharged his duties well. +He was affectionate to his men, erring only in being, perhaps, too free +with them. And when battle came, he was a master-spirit in the dreadful +storm. Burning with enthusiasm, almost rash with courage, he could +inspire his "gamecocks"--as he familiarly called his men--with such +qualities as are most needed in the charge and in the deadly breach. I +have often asked sound thinking members of the Seventh, "What of +Creighton?" The answer has always been, "_He is a soldier, every +inch._" + +"'Lieutenant-Colonel Crane was born in Troy, New York, in the year +1828. He, too, has been a mechanic here for many years. Like his chief, +he, too, had learned the use of arms before the war commenced. He was, +therefore, amply qualified to take command of his company when Captain +Creighton was promoted. And no ordinary disciplinarian was Captain +Crane. He had a difficult company, but it was with a strong hand that +he laid hold of his work. Headstrong men had a master in him. Withal, +he was the soul of kindness to those he commanded. His rugged nature, +despising military finery, and the pomps and forms of military life, +came down at once to plain, blunt, frank, but sincere and hearty +intercourse with the men under him. If you wished to find Captain +Crane, you must look for him where his boys were; and if his boys had +had a trying or toilsome work, you might be sure he was lightening the +load by his own example of brave and sturdy patience. He did not have +an impulsive nature. He was not a thunderbolt on the field. He was +rock, rather. Fiery floods might break against him, and yet he was +always the same; always imperturbable, honest, strong. + +"'I should have said before, that Colonel Creighton was in every battle +which the Seventh ever fought, except Antietam. It is in place for me +to say here, that Lieutenant-Colonel Crane took part in every battle in +which his regiment shared. I doubt if another instance of the kind is +on record. Would that the Hand which had so often averted danger, could +have turned the fatal bullets aside at Ringgold! + +"'And now, friends, I am, at the invitation of the joint-committee of +the city council, the military, the Typographical Union, the +ship-carpenters, and yourselves, and as the representative of other +towns, who helped raise the Seventh, to bring a tribute of gratitude +and praise to the memory of the gallant dead. In my poor way, I here +certify to the noble qualities, to the brave deeds of the soldiers +coffined yonder. I come to say, that the honor done them by the city, +by the military, by yourselves, by good men who, in other towns, mourn +their loss, is well bestowed. The heroes have earned their honors. They +have bought them with such high conduct, with such self-sacrifices, as +the brightest laurels poorly reward. I know not how those souls, which +lately inhabited yonder clay, stand in the other world (would that your +prayers and mine could reach them), but I do know, that their names +shall live in this world forever. The marble you shall put up over +their dust will itself have gone to dust before their renown shall have +passed from the hearts and lips of men. + +"'Would, friends, that you and I, by any ministry of love, could +staunch these widows' and half-orphans' tears. Oh! sisters bereaved, +and dear little children, now fatherless, may God in His mercy keep +you! May He be help and hope to you! Remember, I pray you, that the +spilled blood which was so dear to you, was precious also to God; that +it is from such seed that He makes freedom, peace, social order, and +prosperity to grow. + +"'And, citizens, what shall I say of the Seventh, which mourns its +noble dead? Shall I summon here the spirits of those who have fallen on +the half-score fields, where the staunch old regiment has left its +dead? Shall I call from the shadowy world those who have died in +festering prisons? Shall I order the rally for those who, broken in +body, shall engage in active pursuits no more? Shall I bring from the +field the little remnant--headed by the one unhurt commissioned +officer, and under this dear, chafed, and rent old flag, which no +longer shines with the glory of color and figure which it displayed +when first unfurled in your Academy of Music, but which is lustrous +with the light with which brave deeds have invested it--shall I tell +them of your love for, and your gratitude to them? Nay, this I cannot +do. But I can say to these representatives of the regiment who are with +us, and through them to that little handful of bronzed veterans who, +huddling around a single camp-fire at Chattanooga, are the last remnant +of the Seventh--to you, honored men, we owe a debt we can never +discharge. You sprang to arms, when others hesitated. You entered the +flinty paths of war with feet shod only for the gentle ways of peace. +Often have you been tried, never have you failed; and the honor of the +Reserve, which we committed to you, has been proudly kept on every +field. And in this hour of weighty bereavement, our feelings towards +you and your comrades, living and dead, is like that of the pious +Scotch woman who, when grim Claverhouse having first shot her husband, +laughing, asked, "Well, woman, what thinkest thou of thy good man now?" +quietly replied, as she drew the pierced head to her bosom, and wiped +the death-damp from his brow: "I aye thought much of him, but now more +than ever." + +"'Now, bearers, take out your dead. Put the cherished remains in an +honored place. Tell art to lift above them worthy marble. Write upon +the stone the names of the battles in which our heroes have fought. +Write also the virtues of the dead. Write, too, that gratitude has +lifted the monument, partly to do honor to them, worthy of it, whom +human praise can never reach; and to teach the living that it is well +to make even life a sacrifice to duty. And when our war has been ended, +when peace and freedom shall be in all our borders, thronging feet +shall, through all the generations, come up to your memorial, and learn +lessons of heroism and self-sacrifice.' + +"Rev. William Goodrich, of the First Presbyterian Church, made the +closing prayer; after which the choir chanted impressively the +following hymn: + + "'With tearful eyes I look around, + Life seems a dark and gloomy sea; + Yet midst the gloom I hear a sound, + A heavenly whisper, 'Come to Me.' + + "'It tells me of a place of rest-- + It tells me where my soul may flee; + Oh! to the weary, faint, oppressed, + How sweet the bidding, 'Come to Me!' + + "'When nature shudders, loth to part + From all I love, enjoy, and see, + When a faint chill steals o'er thy heart, + A sweet voice utters, 'Come to Me.' + + "'Come, for all else must fade and die, + Earth is no resting place for thee; + Heavenward direct thy weeping eye, + I am thy portion, 'Come to Me.' + + "'Oh, voice of mercy! voice of love! + In conflict, grief, and agony; + Support me, cheer me from above! + And gently whisper, Come to Me.' + +"This closed the exercises at the church. + + +THE FUNERAL PROCESSION. + +"As soon as the exercises in the church closed, the Brooklyn Light +Artillery commenced firing minute-guns from the field-piece planted on +the square in front of the church. At the same time, the chimes of +Trinity rang a muffled peal, and the bells in all the other churches +commenced tolling. The square and the streets leading to it were packed +with people from the city and surrounding country, the latter having +been pouring in all the morning. It seemed almost impossible to keep an +open space in so great a crowd, but the admirable management of the +marshals of the day and the city police, aided by the spirit of order +and decorum in the crowd, succeeded in preventing any trouble or +confusion. + +"The procession was formed in nearly the order as at first arranged. +First came Leland's band, playing the "Dead March." Then the +Twenty-ninth Regiment, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Frazee, with +arms reversed and bound with crape. Next the discharged officers and +soldiers of the Seventh, headed by their old band. These old members of +the regiment numbered sixty, and were formed into a company, under +Captain Molyneaux. They were followed by the clergymen of the city, +after which came the bodies. + +"Colonel Creighton's body was in a hearse drawn by four white horses, +from undertaker Duty; and the body of Lieutenant-Colonel Crane, in a +hearse drawn by four black horses, from undertaker Howland. Behind the +hearses were led two horses fully caparisoned. The pall-bearers, whose +names have been previously given, walked beside the hearses. Eleven +carriages, containing the mourners, came next, followed by a carriage +containing Lieutenant Loomis, Sergeant-Major Tisdel, Bugler Welzel, and +privates Shepherd and Meigs, forming the escort from the Seventh. Next +were the members of the old Cleveland Light Guard, with their badges +and flags; Governor Brough and other invited guests, committee of +arrangements, city council, city officers, county military committee, +two hundred sick and wounded soldiers from the United States Military +Hospital, soldiers from the Twelfth Cavalry, Brooklyn Light Artillery, +Captain Pelton; other military and officers of the United States +regular and volunteer services; United States Court officers, +Typographical Union, ship-carpenters, old Light Guard, under Captain J. +Robinson, students from Commercial College, County Court officers, +citizens on foot, citizens in carriages. + +"The procession was of great length, and passed through a dense crowd +of thousands of people during the whole way. It was well managed by +Colonel William H. Hayward, chief marshal of the day, and his +assistants, H. M. Chapin, William Edwards, John M. Sterling, junior, +and C. Busch. The police were again of incalculable value in clearing +the way and keeping perfect order. + + +AT THE TOMB. + +"The lot in the Woodland Cemetery, intended as the final resting-place +of the heroic dead, not having yet been selected, the bodies were taken +to the City Cemetery, and deposited temporarily in the Bradburn Vault, +the use of which had been generously tendered. The police again, ever +vigilant and effective, had kept the cemetery and its approaches free +from the vast crowd until the procession had entered, and then secured +ample room, so that there was no crowding or confusion. + +"The Twenty-ninth Regiment was drawn up in line, with colors +immediately opposite the tomb. The company of the old members of the +Seventh, with reversed arms, stood at the right of the tomb. + +"As the procession moved up to the tomb the band played a dirge. The +Rev. W. A. Fiske, rector of Grace Church, read the beautiful and +impressive burial-service of the Episcopal Church, the bodies were +placed in the vault, the final prayer said, and then the door of the +tomb was closed. The old members of the Seventh fired three volleys +over the tomb, and all was over. The heroic dead sleep undisturbed. + +"So ended the grandest and the most mournful pageant that has passed +through the streets of Cleveland for many a year." + + +LIEUT.-COL. MERVIN CLARK. + +On a gloomy night in May, 1861, when the wind was howling in fitful +gusts, and the rain pouring down in merciless rapidity, the writer was +awakened by the stentorian voice of the adjutant in front of the tent, +followed by an order that Lieutenant ---- would report for guard-duty. +After wading half-knee deep in mud and water, narrowly escaping a cold +bath in an over-friendly ditch, I arrived at the headquarters of the +guard. Soon after my arrival, a boy reported to me for duty, as +sergeant of the guard; a position no less responsible than my own. At +first I felt that, on such a fearful night, I needed more than a boy to +assist me in the performance of my task. His form was fragile; his face +was smooth as that of a girl, and in the dim, shadowy light of a +camp-fire, struggling against the heavy rain, I took him to be about +fifteen years of age. We immediately entered into conversation, and +between admiration and surprise, the rain was forgotten, and the +moments sped so rapidly, that it was nearing the time to change the +guard. But my boy companion had forgotten nothing, and as the moment +arrived, he called in the relief. As he moved among those sturdy +warriors, it occurred to me that I had never before met a boy, who was +at the same time a man--a brave, prudent, reliable man. All night he +did his duty, and when we parted in the morning, I both loved and +admired him. This was my first meeting with Colonel Clark. + +Mervin Clark was a native of Ohio, having been born in the city of +Cleveland, in 1843. When but three years of age his mother died, and at +the age of nine his surviving parent, leaving him an orphan. He was now +taken, into the family of Henry W. Clark, an uncle, where he found a +home, and kind friends, during the remainder of his life. + +The flash of the last gun at Sumter had hardly died away, when he +enrolled himself as a private in Captain De Villiers' company, at the +same time declaring that he would, by no act of his, leave the service +of his country, until rebels in arms were met and subdued. How well he +kept that pledge, it is the office of this brief sketch to show. + +He left Camp Dennison as an orderly-sergeant, and during the trying +marches and skirmishes in Western Virginia, won a commission. Arriving +in the East, he was made a first-lieutenant. At the battle of +Winchester, he surprised and delighted every one who saw him. When the +bullets flew thickest, he stepped on to the brink of the hill, over +which our men were firing, and, with revolver in hand, took part in the +strife. His captain, seeing his danger, directed him to get behind a +tree which stood close by. He obeyed orders, but with his back to the +tree, and his face to the foe. At the battle of Cedar Mountain, he +commanded a company, and during that fearful day, led his men with +great bravery. At last, when the order was given to retreat, he mistook +it for an order to charge, and, with a dozen men, dashed at the double +line of a whole brigade of rebels. It was not until an officer of +authority conveyed the true order to him, that he would withdraw. He +now took part in all the battles in which his regiment was engaged in +the East, except Antietam. When the regiment left for the West, he +accompanied it, and soon after took part in the battles of Lookout +Mountain, Mission Ridge, Taylor's Ridge, and the series of engagements +taking place while with Sherman. Before his term of service expired, he +was made a captain, and commanded his company on its homeward march. He +was soon after mustered out with his company. He now sought quiet and +rest at his home, giving no evidence of an intention to again enter the +service. But before he had been at home many weeks, he surprised and +disappointed his friends by enlisting as a private in the regular army. +His fame, however, was too wide-spread in Ohio to suffer him to +re-enter the service as a private. Governor Brough had already selected +him for promotion, and when learning of his enlistment in the regular +service, procured an order for his discharge, and immediately appointed +him lieutenant-colonel of the One Hundred and Eighty-third Regiment, +then about to enter the field. He had now come of age, November 5th, +and on the 8th of November cast his first vote; on the 12th, he +received his commission; and on the 15th, he left for the front. His +regiment joined the army of General Thomas, on its retreat before the +rebel forces under Hood. On the 30th of November, the regiment was +engaged in the terrible battle of Franklin. During the engagement, the +regiment was ordered to charge the enemy's works. The color bearer was +soon shot down, when Clark seized the colors, and calling to his men, +"Who will follow me to retake these works?" mounted the rebel works, +and immediately fell, a minie ball having passed through his head. +Every effort was made to take his body from the field, but to no +purpose, and the "boy officer" was wrapped in his blanket, and buried +on the field of his fame, to be finally removed by careful hands, when +the earth had covered every vestige of the strife in its friendly +bosom. + + +LIEUTENANT HENRY ROBINSON. + +Henry Robinson was a native of Ohio, and entered the service as +first-lieutenant of Company G. He was always attentive to his duties, +and soon took a position among the first of his rank. He was constantly +with his command during its early service. He was in the skirmish at +Cross Lanes, where he won the respect and confidence of the entire +command by his gallant conduct. In this affair, he commanded Company G. +Arriving at Charleston, he was sent to Gauley Bridge, and soon after +was taken violently sick with a fever. He soon after died. + +In the death of Lieutenant Robinson, the regiment made one of its +greatest sacrifices. He was esteemed by every one for his kind and +courteous manners, as well as for his ability as a soldier. He had many +friends in the army, and at home, and I doubt very much if he had an +enemy in the world. His military career was short, but of such a +character that his friends can refer to it with pride. + + +LIEUTENANT E. S. QUAY. + +E. S. Quay entered the service as second-lieutenant of Company G. He +was with the regiment at Cross Lanes, where he gave promise of much +future usefulness as a soldier. He accompanied the regiment to Eastern +Virginia, where he was acting assistant adjutant-general to Colonel +Tyler. He took part in the battle of Winchester, where he did splendid +service. After Tyler's promotion to a general, he was made +adjutant-general, and assigned to his staff. In this capacity, he +served in the battle of Port Republic, where he gained new laurels. He +finally went to his home on account of ill-health, and after a time, +died of consumption. He was a good soldier. + + +LIEUTENANT JAMES P. BRISBINE. + +James P. Brisbine was a native of Trumbull County, Ohio. He was born in +1836. His parents dying while he was quite young, he went to live with +an uncle by the name of Applegate. He received a fair education, and +during the time, in part, maintaining himself by teaching school in +winter. In the spring of 1860, he commenced reading law in Warren, +Ohio, which he continued until the breaking out of the rebellion. +During his course of study, he gave promise of an able and useful +lawyer. When it became evident that the rebellion could not be +suppressed but by the force of arms, he deemed it his duty to leave the +study of the profession of his choice, and enroll himself among the +defenders of his country. This step he considered as a decided +sacrifice to him; for, by nature, he was in no way inclined to the life +of a soldier; he preferred the quiet life of a citizen, which is alone +to be found at home. It was with many misgivings that he finally placed +his name on the roll. In doing this, he was alone influenced by +patriotic motives. When urged to be a candidate for the position of +sergeant, he declined to have any thing to do with the matter; but was +elected, notwithstanding his indifference. + +At Camp Dennison, he was made orderly-sergeant. He took part in the +skirmish at Cross Lanes, where he made a good record as a soldier. Soon +after entering the field, his health failed him. The long marches often +taxed him beyond his strength; but he seldom complained. He was not in +the battle of Winchester on account of sickness, being disabled from +the effects of the severe march from Strasburg, which took place a +short time before. He expressed many regrets on account of his absence. +But he very soon had an opportunity to test his courage on the +battle-field. The engagement of Port Republic occurred shortly after. +He was in no respect second in gallantry to those who were in the +previous battle. He was ever at his post, doing his duty. During the +latter part of the battle, a captain, an intimate friend, fell, +severely wounded. He caught him in his arms, and laid him gently on the +ground, pillowing his head in his lap. The regiment moved off, and the +rebels advanced; but he refused to leave his friend. And he did not +leave until the captain was borne away by his comrades. He passed +through this battle without a scratch. He accompanied the regiment to +Alexandria, and from there to the front of Pope's army. He now took +part in the battle of Cedar Mountain. While cheering his men forward, +he was wounded. Two men took him in their arms, and started in search +of the hospital; but before they were off the field a bullet struck him +in the groin, severing the femoral artery. Said he, "Remember, boys, I +die for my country," and expired in their arms. Thus, a true and +devoted friend of his country died to preserve it from the attacks of +those who had been educated and supported by it from boyhood. + +As an officer, Lieutenant Brisbine was much esteemed; as a companion, +he was admired by every one. I doubt if he had an enemy in the army or +at home. He won his promotion in the field; and it was, therefore, a +much greater prize than a higher rank conferred by favor. He was +commissioned early in 1862. + + +LIEUTENANT CHARLES A. BROOKS. + +The subject of this sketch was born in Bristol, Trumbull County, in the +year 1843. He early developed those good qualities of head and heart +for which he was afterwards so distinguished. Being a good student, +attentive to his books, as he was to every other good purpose, he +acquired a good education, which would have enabled him to engage in +any occupation with credit to himself and profit to the community. + +He was desirous of entering the service when the war first began, but +was held back by domestic ties which bound him strongly to home. But on +the second call for troops, he could no longer remain out of the army; +and, hastening to a recruiting station, he enlisted in Company H, of +the Seventh Regiment. He arrived at Camp Dennison on the 30th of May, +and, with others, was mustered into the service. His tall, commanding +figure, connected with his sterling qualities of mind, pointed him out +as a proper person for promotion. He was, therefore made a corporal, +and, as soon as a vacancy occurred, a sergeant. His officers soon put +unlimited confidence in him. If a hazardous enterprise was to be +performed, he was deemed fitting to undertake it. While still a +sergeant, Creighton would often point him out as his future adjutant. +Finally, when Adjutant Shepherd was compelled to resign, on account of +growing ill health, Creighton procured his appointment as +first-lieutenant, and at once detailed him as his adjutant. He came to +this position entirely qualified; for, from the time he had been made +orderly of Company H, he transacted all of the business of the company. +He was in the affair at Cross Lanes, and all other skirmishes in which +the regiment was engaged, as well as the following battles: Port +Republic, Cedar Mountain, Dumfries, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. + +Near the close of the battle of Port Republic, he saw one of his old +officers lying, seriously wounded, so near the enemy's lines as to be +in danger of capture. Throwing down his gun, in company with Charles +Garrard, he braved the battle-fire, and brought his old comrade safely +from the field; thus, probably, saving his life. + +At the battle of Cedar Mountain he was slightly wounded, losing a +finger. + +In July he was sent to Ohio to bring forward the drafted men assigned +to the Seventh. While on his way from Columbus to his home in Bristol, +he met with a frightful accident resulting in death. While seated in an +omnibus, it was driven on to the railroad track, directly in front of a +train. In jumping out, he was knocked down by the cars and run over, +mangling both legs frightfully. He was taken to the New England House, +but nothing could be done for him, and he expired early the following +morning. The following is from the pen of one who knew him and prized +him:[6] + + [6] Colonel J. F. Asper. + +"The career of this young man has been short but brilliant. He has been +a soldier and a man; pure, noble-hearted, sympathetic, and always ready +for any duty. He has been brave, courageous, and trustworthy. He has +gone from us with no stain upon his honor, no spots upon his +escutcheon, but with his armor begrimed with the dust of many battles. +Although young in years, he had lived long, if you count the hardships +he had endured, the stirring and momentous events through which he had +passed, and in the transpiring of which he had been an actor, the +service he rendered his country, and humanity at large, and the good he +had done; if gauged by this standard, he had become more mature than +many men who have attained their threescore and ten years. So bright +an example cannot fail to have a good influence upon the young men of +the country. His violent death will bring his virtues prominently +before their minds, and cannot fail to make an impression. Let all be +exhorted to emulate his patriotism, his gallantry, his valor, his +promptness in the discharge of duty, his kindness of heart, suavity of +manner, his manly and soldier-like qualities; and if in civil life, +they will become manlier men--if in military life, they cannot fail to +become better and braver soldiers." + +He was buried near where he was born, on the banks of a rippling brook, +under the shade of beautiful trees, through the boughs of which will +sing an everlasting requiem fitting so brave and active a spirit. The +citizens of the vicinity turned out in mass to honor his memory with +their presence, and tearful eyes and expressive looks showed their +heartfelt sympathy for the afflicted mother, sister, brother, and +relatives; while a military organization from Warren gave him the +fitting escort, and fired three volleys over his grave. + +A grateful public will not forget this heroic and noble sacrifice. Let +an enduring monument be erected. Not of marble, which may crumble; but +let his manly deeds be engraved upon the tablets of their memory, and +let his virtues and sacrifices be interwoven with the affections, the +sympathies, and the lives of the people, so that while time lasts, and +all that is noble in human action, good in thought, and true in +conception and motive, shall be treasured as sacred memories, this hero +will not be forgotten, because kept fresh with the watering of many +tears. + + +LIEUTENANT JOSEPH H. ROSS. + +Joseph H. Ross entered the service as a private in Captain W. R. +Sterling's company. Soon after arriving in camp he was made a sergeant, +and finally orderly. He was engaged in all the marches and skirmishes +in Western Virginia, and at Cross Lanes fought like a veteran. He was +in the battle of Winchester, where he displayed such reckless bravery +as to attract the attention of the entire command. While the regiment +was partially concealed behind a ridge, within eighty yards of the +enemy, Ross was not content with remaining at such a distance, but +creeping over the hill, crawled forward on his hands and knees till he +was midway between the lines, and taking a position behind a rock, +swung his hat to those behind. None but Sergeant Whiting, of Company D, +had the courage to follow him. From behind this rock, the two heroes +kept up a constant fire on the enemy, hitting their man at every shot. + +Ross was now made a lieutenant, and assigned to Company C. He was in +the battle of Port Republic, where he fought with his usual bravery. At +the battle of Cedar Mountain he commanded Company C. During the entire +day he led his men with such certainty, that they slaughtered the enemy +fearfully. Night came, and he had not received a scratch, while the +thinned ranks testified how many had fallen around him. Soon after +dark, as if the regiment had not already suffered sufficiently, it was +ordered on picket. When about a mile out, it was fired upon from all +quarters, and Lieutenant Ross fell, mortally wounded. He died soon +after. His loss was deeply felt, both in the army and at home; for he +was a true soldier and friend. + + +LIEUTENANT FRANK JOHNSON. + +At this same bloody battle of Cedar Mountain, another youthful hero +fell, Frank Johnson, Company F. He had entered the service as a private +in John Man's company, and had risen through the different grades +of corporal and sergeant to be a lieutenant. He had toiled along +through the hard marches of the Seventh, struggling against a weak +constitution, which was every day being impaired by hardships and +exposure. He had fought nobly in the battles of Winchester and Port +Republic,--recognized by the authorities by giving him a commission; +and now, in the morning of his new life as a _leader_, he fell at the +head of his company. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Seventh Regiment, by George L. 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