Coshocton County, Ohio - Chapter 44: Wae Op the Rebellion - Concluded, 1881

Chapter 44: Wae Op the Rebellion - Concluded

Cavalry and Artillery - History of the Ninth Ohio Cavalry- Roster of Company M - Correspondence from the Front - Hi.story of the Twenty-sixth Battery - Its Organization from, the Thirty-second Infantry - Petition of Veterans, and Endorsement of Coshocton County - Military Committee for New Organization.

IN the Ninth Ohio Cavalry, Coshocton found a representation in Company M, which was recruited by Colonel James Irvine, formerly colonel of the first organization of the Sixteenth 0. V. I. Its muster roll at enlistment was as follows :

On the 3d of October, 1862, Governor Tod received instructions from the President to raise three regiments of cavalry, to be known as the Eigth, Ninth and Tenth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. A short time previous to this Captain W. D. Hamilton, -of the Thirty-second Ohio Infantry, then stationed at Winchester, Virginia, .had been ordered from the field to recruit another company for that regiment. He had enlisted fifty men for that purpose, when the regiment with a number of others was captured by Stonewall Jackson. September 15, 1862, Captain Hamilton reported for instructions to the Governor, who assigned the duty of organizing a c§,valry command, to be known as the Ninth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. The men recruited for the captured regiment formed the nucleus, and the remainder was raised in the eastern portion of Ohio. They rendezvoused at Zanesville. On the 1st December seven companies were ready for muster, but three of these companies were transferred to complete the Tenth Ohio Cavalry, then organizing at Cleveland. The four remaining companies were designated the First Battalion of the- Ninth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, and were ordered to Camp Dennison.

Here the battalion was equipped and remained under drill until April 23, when it wasordered to report for field duty at Lexington, Kentucky. It was then ordered to Clay county, to drive out a rebel force and protect the country.

The battalion, consisting of 300 efTective men moved forward, driving the enemy from the mountain regions, and established its camp at. Manchester.

The command remained in this region, having frequent skirmishes with the enemy, until the 16th of June, when an expedition was planned topenetrate into East Tennessee, to ascertain the condition of the inhabitants, and to destroy some extensive factories below Knoxville.

The whole force consisted of about 2,000 mounted men, in which were 200 of the battalion. On the night of the 16th of June, this force crossed the Cumberland river at Williamsburg, and moved toward Big Creek Gap, a rebel stronghold commanding one of the entrances into East Tennessee, between Cumberland Gap and Knoxville. The main road to this point crossed a spur of the Cumberland mountains at Pine Mountain. Gap, a strong pass which was held by the enemy. By a strategic movement, the rebels were surprised and nearly all captured, without firing a gun. Next morning the command moved toward Big Creek Gap, and when within about twelve miles - the first battalion of the Ninth Ohio, being in the advance - the enemy was encountered, and skirmishing was kept up until he was driven within his works at the Gap. The enemy evacuated, and without opposition, the command accomplished its designs.

The battalion returned to London, Kentucky, where, on the evening of July 5, an order was received to report to Stanford, Kentucky. It traveled all night and arrived at Stanford, a distance of fifty miles, at three o'clock next day. It

"was then ordered to Danville to check the progress General Morgan. He having avoided Danville, -the battalion was ordered back to Wild Cat, near Xiondon, to watch and embarrass the progress of the rebel General Scott, who, it was reported, had entered with a cavalry force, by way of Cumberland Gap, to support General Morgan. General Scott took a circuitous route to the right and a iorce hastily organized at Camp Dick Kobinson was sent in pursuit. In the running fight of ten days the battalion, part of the time, marched at the rate of fifty-seven miles in twenty-four hours - the men living chiefly on blackberries, which they gathered by the roadside while the horses were resting.

On the 1st of August the battalion proceeded irom Stanford to Glasgow, Kentucky, a distance of one hundred miles, where a cavalry brigade was organizing under orders of General Burnside, which was destined to take the advance of liis expedition into East Tennessee. On the 17th of August this brigade moved forward and crossed the Cumberland river near Burkesville, where it was met by General Burnside in command of the infantry. The cavalry took the advance across that portion of the Cumberland mountains supposed to present the fewest obstacles to the passage of an army. During this march both men and horses were, sometimes, two days without food. Knoxville was taken with but little opposition. Major Hamilton was appointed provostmarshal of the city, and the battalion was assigned to patrol and guard duty around the suburbs.

During this time very strong efforts were made in the North to' obtain recruits for the army. An order had been issued to raise two more battalions to complete the Ninth, and Major T. P. Cook, formerly of the Fiftieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was assigned by Governor Tod to take charge of the recruits at Camp Dennison. On the 6th of November, the second battalion for the regiment was organized. On the 16th of December the regiment was completed by the organization of the third battalion. The two battalions, raised to their maximum number, together with one hundred recruits for the old battalion, were at once furnished with horses, were armed and equipped with sabers and Smith carbines, and

They embarked at Cincinnatti, upon seven steamboats, and proceeded as far as Louisville, Kentucky, where, by reason of the reported presence of some guerrillas in that State, they disembarked and marched through the country to Nashville. The march was made without opposition. The regiment was then attached to the ' left wing of the Sixteenth Army Corps and ordered to report for field duty at Athens, Alabama. Here the two battalions were assigned the duty of watching the movements of the enemy along the Tennessee river.

At this time Colonel Hamilton proceeded to Knoxville with orders for the first battalion to join the regiment. The severe campaign, through which this part of the regiment had passed, rendered an entire equipment necessary. For this purpose the men were sent by rail to Nashville, where, after much trouble and delay on account of the difficulty of procuring horses this battalion took the field and joined the others at Athens, Alabama. Four companies were ordered to the shoals of the Tennessee river, twenty-five miles from Athens, to examine the islands in that portion of the river reported to have stock and provisions secreted there. This occupied- nearly a week. During this time Company G was sent to the vicinity of Florence, Alabama, twenty-five miles further down the river, to examine the country and collect stock.

On the night of the 13th of April an Alabama regiment surrounded a barn, in which the men were sleeping, shot two of the sentinels, and, after a short struggle, succeeded in capturing Captain Hetzler, Second Lieutenant Knapp, and thirty-nine men. The remainder of the company escaped and reported at headquarters near the shoals, where they arrived the next evening. The remaining three companies were pushed forward with all speed but they failed to rescue the prisoners. The non-commissioned officers and men were sent ta Andersonville prison.

Eight months after the capture, Orderly Ser- geant Kennedy reported that twenty-five of the number had died. Captain Hetzler and Lieutenant Knapp were sent to Columbia, Soutli Caro- lina. Lieutenant Knapp, after two. unsuccessful efforts to escape, in which he was retaken by the aid of bloodhounds, finally succeeded in reaching Knoxville, Tennessee, after traveling three weeks, principally at night, securing food and assistance from the negroes. At one time he heard the 'hounds on his trail, and again would have been captured-but for the generous assistance of a negro, who, after giving him something to eat, said : " Now, bress de Lord, Massa Yank, you jist trust to me, and we'll fool dem dogs. You trot along fust, den I'll come, too, steppin' in your tracks. Go 'bout halt mile, den you come to some watah ; you take to de right, fro dat, den I'll keep on t'other way. See, dem dogs is used to huntin' niggers ; dey knows de smell, and likes to follow de black man's foot." " But," said the lieutenant, surprised at this singular but devoted ofifer, " but the dogs will catch you, and probably tear you to pieces.'' "Oh, massa," said he, "let this nigger alone for dat; I'se fooled dem dogs afo' for de Yanks ; and, bress de Lord, I'll try it again. Now trot along, massa, for I hear dem dogs a comin'." Shortly after crossing the pond the lieutenant heard the hounds howling in the directibn taken by the negro, and he was no longer disturbed. He afterward joined the regiment at Savannah, Georgia, in January, 1865. Captain Hertzler remained a prisoner until near the close of the war, when he was exchanged. . Another battalion of the Ninth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry was sent out in the vicinity of Florence to patrol the river and keep watch of the movements of the enemy. In this work the regiment was engaged for about three weeks, living upon the country. The river was guarded for a distance of fifty miles, and frequent skirmishes with the enemy took place. The regiment was ordered to report at Decatur, Alabama, where it arrived on the 5th of May.

On the morning of the 8th, t"h.e enemy made an attack upon the place. The Ninth moved out to ascertain the strength of the enemy, upon the skirmish line, a half a mile from the works. The country was about equally divided between timber and level, open land. The rebels formed on the open ground, and, as the regiment swung around the timber, a battle took place, in which the rebels were driven back in confusion. The

Ninth had one man killed and three severely wounded. For weeks the enemy's pickets were posted within two miles of the town, and cavalry skirmishes were of daily ocqurrence.

About the 1st of June the regiment was sent to Pulaski, to re-enforce the Seventh Illinois Infantry, which had been driven from Florence. After driving the enemy back beyond Florence and remaining a few days, it returned to Decatur. When it became known that the rebels received large supplies over the Atlanta and West Point railroad, it became necessary to destroy it. Of the 2,500 men chosen to efTect this, 700 were from the Ninth Cavalry. The command started as secretly as possible, desiring to strike the road anywhere between the extreme point guarded by General Johnston's troops, and Montgomery, Alabama. It left Decatur on the 10th of July. For three days the command was unmolested, except by bushwhackers. In the evening of the third day the command reached the Coosa river, and found a force of the enemy preparing to dispute its passage. A contest ensued in which the enemy suffered severely.

On the evening of July 17, the command reached the village of Sochopolka, upon the railroad, thirty miles east of Montgomery, and about 200 miles south of Decatur. It was almost exhausted, yet it went immediately to work to destroy the road. For a few days the conimand was engaged in this work, and was attacked several times, in rear and front, by the enemy.

This expedition traveled, on an average, twenty hours per day, effectually destroyed twenty-five miles of an important railroad, 100 miles beyond the rebel lines, and sustained, comparatively, a small loss. Tflat of the Ninth cavalry amounted to twenty-six men, mostly captured while foraging. Having accomplished its purpose it started in a northeasterly direction, and reached General Sherman's lines, near Marietta, on the 22d of July.

Two days after arriving at Marietta, the regiment was ordered to report to Brigadier General McCook, who was starting upon a raid around the right and rear of Atlanta. Upon arriving at the Chattahoochie river, thirty miles below the city, the horses of the regiment were found to be too much jaded to attempt to make the raid. It remained, therefore, at the river, guarding the pon- toon bridge which had been brought to effect a crossing. Tlie enemy sent a force to destroy the bridge, but did not succeed. After defending it until the evening of the next day, the regiment hfted the bridge and returned to the national lines.

After a week's rest at Viningo Station, it was ordered to report to Colonel Garrard, commanding a cavalry division upon the extreme right of General Sherman's army in front of Atlanta. Here it remained on duty until the fall of that city, one battalion doing service at the battle of Jonesboro'. Four hundred and fifty men of the regiment, who had been dismounted while with Garrard, were ordered to Nashville to procure horses.

On the night of the 2d of September, while the train containing men was passing Big Shanty, Georgia, it was thrown from the track, and six cars were demolished. The enemy, concealed beside the track, opened fire on the wreck. The fire was returned and the cowards fled. One man was killed and three were wounded, by the accident, and two killed and five wounded, by the enemy's fire. Failing to procure horses in Nashville, the regiment proceeded to Louisville, where it obtained them, and returned to Nashville, en route to the front. About ten hours after arriving at Nashville this portion of the regiment formed a part of the force sent out to check General Forrest, who was reported about twenty miles from the city. After various encounters, during a period of ten days, the enemy was compelled to retire beyond the Tennessee river, below Florence, Alabama. This portion of the regiment then proceeded to Chattanooga, en route for Atlanta. Here a dispatch was received, that the Ninth had been designated as one the regiments comprising a new cavalry division, in the reorganization of the army under General Sherman, and that this portion of the regiment should march to Marietta, as rapidly as possible. On arriving at Marietta, the regiment found the city vacated and partly burned. Pushing on, it arrived at AtlairCa on the morning of November 17, having passed over a distance of eighty miles in thirty-six hours. The city being evacuated, the regiment proceeded to McDowell, seventeen miles southward, where it joined the other portion of the Ninth. Although the regiment had suffered some severe losses, in killed and wounded, captured and sickness, yet its strength was sustained by recruits, and it wasable to number seven hundred men present for duty.

From this time the Ninth was identified with the cavalry division of General Sherman's army to the coast. It had almost daily encqunterswith the enemy. Its duty was to cover the march of the infantry, make false marches to deceive the enemy, and at all times prevent him from harrassing the columns. On the 20th of November, the third day of the march, skirmishing commenced and continued, more or less, until December 4, when a general engagement took place at Waynesboro, in which the regiment made the second charge and broke the rebel lines. After driving the rebels within their works around Sar vannah, and while the siege was progressing, the regiment, with part of the cavalry command, moved in a southeasterly direction on the Savannah and Gulf railroad, destroyed parts of it as far as the Alatama river, and succeeded in burning a portion of the extensive trestle-work and bridge across the swamp and river. The expedition returned to Savannah, where the army remained until the latter part of January, 1865. At this time, 150 men of the Ninth, who had been attached to General Thomas' army at the battles of Franklin and Nashville, joined their regiment. On the night of the 3d of February, the cavalry division crossed the Savannah river at Sister's Ferry, forty miles above the city, and commenced the decisive campaign of the Carolinas. Most of the night was oocupied in crossing a swamp seven miles wide. On the 6th the regiment, having the advance, encountered the rebels at a swamp near Barnwell. The men dismounted, waded the swamp, under cover of the timber, and drove them from their position. From this point, during the march, the enemy made several attempts to check the cavalry under General Kilpatrick, and harrassed the infantry.

-within five miles of Aiken, and twenty-five miles from Augusta. At Aiken the regiment was engaged and assisted in driving the rebels beyond their lines. Orders came to fall back, and the DS'inth guarded the rear and protected the ambulances and artillery. During the march through the Carolinas, the frequent scarcity of grain, as well as the number and charafcter of swamps encountered, rendered g. large number of the horses unfit for service, and as the enemy prevented the ^capture of others, many of the men were dismounted. These were organized into a "dismounted command."

On the night of the 9th of March, General Kilpatrick went into camp with the third brigade and the dismounted men, about three miles in advance of the remainder of his command. The Fourteenth Army Corps was about two miles on the right, and the rebel cavalry, under General Hampton, about the same distance on the left. On the 10th, the rebels dashed in upon the -camp and captured the wagons, artillery and many of the officers and men, before they had time to dress Ihemselves. The dismounted men rallied, returned, and opened a close and heavy fire upon the rebels, who were pillaging the camp. A rapid and irregular fight ensued, during which the artillerists recovered their cannon .and opened on the enemy. After a short contest, in which twenty-five national and seventy-five rebelsoldiers were killed, all the stores were taken by the national forces, and the rebels held at bay until the arrival of the second brigade. After this brigade arrived the rebels were driven from the ground.

In the battle of Averysboro on the 15th of March, which was fought by infantry and cavalry on both sides, the Ninth supported the right flank of the Twentieth Corps, and was hotly engaged.

At Bentonville, North Carolina, where the final was fought. General Kilpatrick's entire division occupied the left flank. After the victory the army moved forward to Goldsboro, North Carolina, where it remained until the 10th of Apnil, General Kilpatrick led the advance upon -Raleigh, skirmished a little and on the 14th of April, altered the capitol with but little opposition. On the morning of the 18th, a portion of the left wing of General Johnston's army occupied the village of Chapel Hill. It was protected by a brigade of General Wheeler's cavalry, stationed at a swamp, through which the road passed. At daylight the regiment was ordered to advance and, if possible, effect a crossing.

Upon arriving at the swamp the second battalion was dismounted and moved forward through the water, under cover of the cypress timber, until the enemy was brought within range of the Spencer carbines. A spirited conflict then ensued which resulted in the enemy's being driven from his position, leaving a captain and staff officer of General Wheeler and three men dead on the ground. Orders in the meantime had arrived from General Sherman suspending hostilities.

After the final surrender of the rebels, the command was ordered to Concord, North Carolina, where it remained on duty until the last of July.

The services of the cavalry being no longer necessary, the Ninth was ordered home. On the 2d of August, 1865, the regimental colors and property were turned over at Columbus, and the regiment was mustered out of service.

The following correspondence from the -Ninth cavalry, or concerning it, is of interest, and sheds some light upon its record. It was published at various dates in the columns of the Age :

I suppose it will be of interest to some of your readers to know how the Ninth Ohio Cavalry, or, at least, how Company M, of Coshocton county, is getting on. The boys are in fine spirits and good health generally. Somp of them have the murnps and bad colds, but none are in the hospitals. We have had our horses only a month, but have neither saddles nor bridles, as is the case with the entire Third Battalion. This is admitted to be the star company of the regiment. It has never yet been censured by the commanding officer for negligence in any way, and on inspection has always been complimented for its neat and soldierlike appearance. J. Stonehockee,

The most imposing military pageanf we have witnessed since the early days of the civil war appeared in the streets of Nashville on Saturday afternoon. It was the Ninth Ohio Cavalry, on its way to the front; it was a war-like troop, com- posed of grim, stalwart soldiers, whose bronzed complexion had evidently caught its hue from the pencil of many a sun. The musicians were mounted on cream-colored horses, the first company on black horses, the second on white horses, and the third on bay horses. The martial aspect of this troop excited general admiration.

Ed. Age : As none of our boys have written you for a long time, I thought I would post you and our friends through your columns. We are patroling the Tennessee Eiver as far down as Brown's Ferry, a distance of twenty miles below Decatur. Occasionally a rebel patr61 tries to cross the river, but our patrol puts in an appearance, and back goes Mr. Eeb. A few nights ago a party of us, under the command of our kind old captain (James Irvine), took a rebel picketpost about eight miles in front of Decatur, and returned to Decatur next morning about four o'clock.

I think our company is composed of some of the best men that ever left Coshocton county - men who, when called upon to perform any duty, it makes no difference what kind, are always ready and willing to do it -without a grumble.

As a company, we are proud of the officers appointed over us. They are men that you are acquainted with, and in whom we can place confidence.

We are sorry to record so many deaths in our company since we left Ohio. The following is the complete list : Corporal Eobert E. Tavener, died March 26, at Athens, Alabama ; Samuel Borden, March 27, at Athens, Alabama; Patrick Vickers, March 23, at Nashville, Tennessee; Thomas Eichards, April 19, at Athens, Alabama ; Abraham Spur, April - , at Nashvillp, Tennessee ; John Glass, saddler, April 10, at Athens, Alabama; Lewis W. Barton, May 27, at Athens, Alabama : Daniel Senter, at Mooreville, Alabama. The rest of the boys are in good health, and are ready at any time for a shot at the rebs.

Twenty-Sixth Ohio Independent Battery

The artillery record of Coshocton county is included in the record of the Twenty-sixth Ohio Independent Battery and in an effort that was made (in combination with a petition from the veterans) on the part of the military committee of the county. The v record of the Twenty-sixth Ohio Independent Battery is compiled from the official records.

The nucleus of this organization was a detachment from the Thirty-second Ohio Infantry (in which Coshocton county had two solid companies). Its complement of men was completed by Captain B. F. Potts (afterward Colonel 'of the Thirtysecond Infantry and Brigadier-Genewal United States Volunteers) at Augusta, Carroll county, in the month of August, 1861. After completion, it was attached to the Thirty-second as Company F, and served with that regiment until July 20, 1862. At that time it was detached for artillery duty at Winchester, Virginia, fully armed and equipped as a battery of light artillery, and called "Potts' Ohio Battery."

On General Pope's retreat, in 1862, Winchester was evacuated and its garrison, including the Twerity-sixth Ohio Battery, retired to Harper's Ferry on the night of the 11th of September. On its arrival there one section was immediately ordered to Sandy Hook, an important point on the road leading to Harper's Ferry, and about five miles below that place, where for two days it skirmished with the enemy. On the l3th of September the enemy brought to bear upon this section six pieces of artillery, which it withstood for a time, and until an order was received to fall back toward the Ferry. This order was very difficult of execution, as the national forces had evacuated Maryland Heights, and the enemy Had gained a position on the flank of the section in order to prevent it from joining the main force ; but, with the aid and support of a Maryland regiment, the section fought its way to the garrison.

On the 14th a fierce artillery duel was kept up, in which the entire battery was engaged constantly from 10 A. M. until dark. It was exposed to a fierce fire from Loudon Heights, and an enfilading fire from Maryland Heights. During the same evening the position of the battery was changed to the extreme left of the national line, where the enemy was massing a force with the intention of making a vigorous attack.

At sunrise on the 15th the rebels opened upon the battery, front, right and left, with twenty-four guns, and for upward of an hour this unequal contest was continued, and for some time after the white flag had been raised by the national forces.

After the surrender, the battery, with other troops composing the garrison, were paroled, and sent to Chicago, where the company was rejoined to the Thirty-second Ohio Infantry, which had also been surrendered at Harper's Ferry.

On the 21st of January, 1863, being exchanged, the battery company again left for the field, in company with the Thirty-second, and served with it through General Grant's Mississippi campaign, until May 16, 1864.

At the battle of Champion Hills, the brigade to which the Thirty-second was attached charged and turned the enemy's left, capturing a battery of six guns. General John A. Logan, having been informed of the proficiency of Company F in artillery practice, issued an order that these guns should be placed in their charge, and to hav6 them in readiness for action next morning, Notwithstanding, more than one-half the horses had been killed,* the harness cut and torn throughout, and numerous damages to repair, yet, by the industry and perseverence of the officers arid men, the battery entered the column next morning at .daylight, ready for action. The company was now called "Yost's Captured Battery," and during the entire siege of Vickburg was actively engaged.

Its position was on the left of Logan's division, but it was afterwards transferred to the right of the same division, and in front of rebel Fort Hill, an extremely exposed position, within three hundred yards. of the enemy's works.

Although destitute of the facilities of a regularly organized battery, this company endured the dangers and hardships of the entire siege, and received high compliments from Generals McPherson and Logan.

On the 3d of August, 1863, the company was again remanded to the Thirty-second Infantry, but was soon after again temporarily detached - one half with Battery D, First Regiment Illinois Light Artillery, and the other half with the Third Ohio Battery, and was associated with them in the expedition from Vioksburg to Canton, in October, 1863, the first named battery, commanded by S. D. Yost and Lieutenat O. S. Lee, of the Third Ohio Battery. In the expedition both batteries were engaged in several skirmishes.

On the recommendation of General James B.. McPherson, the War Department gave authority to Governor 'Tod to transfer the company from the Thirty-second Ohio, and on the 22d of December, 1863, it -was made into a distinct organization, and designated as the Twenty-sixth Ohio Battery.

The Tweniy-sixth Ohio Battery, becoming entitled to veteran furlough, it was, on the 1st of January, 1864, ordered home to Ohio, where it. remained the customary thirty days.

The battery was a participant in a number of expeditions from Vicksburg and Natchez, resulting in skirmishes. The first raid (in July,. 1864,) made by the battery and other troops, was led by General Slocum. The second was a cavalry raid from Vicksburg to Natchez, in October,. 1864, commanded by Colonel Osband. It was a very rapid and fatiguing march, accompanied by daily skiirmishing.

On the 8th of November, 1864, the battery was ordered to report at Natchez, Mississippi, for garrison duty. This was the last of its active service, excepting an occasional brush with guerrillas in the vicinity of Natchez, and across the Mississippi river. After the close of the war it was attached to the Texas expedition, and served on the Rio Grande until August, 1865, when it was ordered to Ohio, and on the 2d day of September, 1865, it was mustered out of the service at Tod barricks, Ohio.

John Q. Winklepleck, Orderly Sergeant, Company C, Fifty-first 0. V. I., died at Nashville from the eftects of wounds received at Stone River, January, 1863. Both of Chili, Coshocton county, Ohio.

We, in Roscoe, have erected in our cemetery a beautiful wooden monument, painted white, in honor of our fallen comrades that are buried in the South, and a beautiful wreath adorns that monument every Decoration Day in honor of those dear comrades of ours who fell defending the glorious old flag and our country's honor.

One other boy, whose false friends at home were the true cause of his death. He went home on leave of absence from Camp Dennison, 0., and through the influence of enemies of our noble cause, did not return on the expiration of leave of absence. He was, after several attempts, arrested by the proper authorities, and taken from one camp to another until he finally reached the company at Vining Station, Georgia, sick, downhearted and discouraged, and was taken to the hospital, where he died September 23, 1864. He told me that he was sorry that he did not report to the company at the proper time, and denounced those who caused him to remain away. That soldier's name was Franklin Felton.