Cuyahoga County, Ohio - Chapter 19: The Twenty-Third Infantry, 1870

Chapter 19: The Twenty-Third Infantry

Celebrated Officers - Number from Cuyahoga - The Regiment serves in West Virginia - Carnifex Ferry - Services in Autumn and Winter of 1861 - A Winter March - A Sharp Fight - A Forced March - Battle of South Mountain - HAayes wounded - A Brilliant Bayonet Charge - Antietam - Corporal Bull's Pistol - Back in West Virginia - The Victory of Cloyd Mountain :- New River Bridge - Hunter's Expedition to Lynchburg - Retreat - Extraordinary Hardships - In the Shenandoah Valley - The Battle of Winchester - Fighting all Summer - The Battle of Opequan - Crossing a SI ugh - A Complete Vietory - North Mountain -- Cedar Creek - Sheridan in the Field - Another Victory - Colonel Hayes made a Brigadier - Subsequent Services of the Regiment - Mustered Out.

Trs regiment has become celebrated by the number of distingnished men who have graduated from its ranks. When it was organized at Camp Chase, Ohio, in the month of June, 1861, its colonel was William S. Rosecrans, afterwards major general and commander of the army operating in middle Tennessee; its lieutenant-colonel was Stanley Matthews, late United States senator, and its major was Rutherford B. ILayes, now President of the United States. Col. Rosecrans was appointed a brigadier general within a few days afterwards, and was succeeded by E. Parker Scammon, who also, at a later day, became a brigadier. Among the subsequent colonels was James M. Comly, now minister to the Sandwich Islands.

There were in all two hundred and forty-six members of the regiment from Cuyahoga county, including the whole of Company A, the greater part of Company D, and a few men each in Companies H, F, G and I,

On the 25th of July, 1861, the regiment proceeded to Clarksburg, West Virginia, and was oceupied throughout the summer in that State, operating against guerrillas, guarding important points, ete. In the forepart of September the Twenty-Third, as apart of Gen, Rosecrans' army, marched to Carnifex Ferry, where, on the evening of the tenth of. that month, it was busily engagaged in skirmishing with the enemy. The latter abandoned his position during the night, and was pursued by the Twenty-Third and other regiments to Big Sewell Mountain. The regiment soon fell back to Camp Ewing on New river, where they remained several months, suffering severely from sickness.

During the autumn the Twenty-Third was thoroughly drilled by its officers, and soon attained great proficiency. In January and February, 1862, Companies A, B, F,and G, were stationed at Raleigh Court-House, under Major Comly, and on the tenth of the latter month that officer marched with his men twenty-eight miles through asnow storm to the mouth of Blue Stone river, driving a regiment of rebel infantry across that stream, and capturing their tents, forage, etc. The gallantry and fortitude displayed in this exploit were highly complimented by Gen. Rosecrans in general orders.

The regiment remained in winter quarters until the 22d of April, when it moved in the advance of the brigade toward Princeton, under the command of

Lieutenant Colonel Hayes. On the 8th of May nine companies of the Twenty-Third were attacked by four rebel regiments under General Heth, and after a gallant resistance, were forced to retreat. Soon after, the command proceeded to Flat Top mountain, where it remained until the middle of July.

After the month spent at Green Meadow, the regiment made aforced march of a hundred and four miles ina little over three days (claimed to be the fastest on record by a force of that size) to the Great Kanawha, whence it went by boat and car to Washington, D. C. 'Thence it proceeded under Gen. Mc- Clellan to meet Lee, and on the 14th of September, 1862, engaged in the battle of South Mountain.

This was the first severe battle in which the regiment took part, and it proved tobe one of the hardest in which it ever was engaged. Though only a comparatively small portion of the army was in this battle, yet that portion was called on. to display its utmost courage. 'The enemy was posted behind stone-walls , and poured in musketry, grape and canister on our advancing columns at short range, and with terrible effect. Abont nine o'clock the Twenty-Third, three hundred and fifty strong, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Hayes, advanced with the utmost gallantry. In a short time that officer was badly wounded, Lient. Henry G. Hood, of Cuyahoga county, met with a similar misfortune, and a hundred officers and men (nearly thirty per cent. of the whole number) were killed and wounded.

Major Comly then took command, and engaged successfully with a rebel force on the left. Col. Hayes soon came back with his wound half dressed, and insisted on fighting, against the remonstrance of his officers, until, weak from from loss of blood, he was carried from the field. The whole brigade now made a gallant charge across an open field against the enemy ensconced behind a stone-wall. Our informant, Lieut. Benjamin Killam, who was wounded in the battle, declares that the only men he saw killed with the bayonet in the numerous conflicts in which he took part, were slain in this charge. With cheers of defiance the Union men rushed forward at the top of their speed across the open space. 'The rebels remained behind the wall until their enemies were springing over it. They then attempted to escape, but many of them were slain with the bayonet before they could do so.

Two other bayonet charges were made by the brigade during the day, but the rebels broke before they could be reached. 'The regiment, in company with its division, continued the contest until near nightfall, the enemy being driven back at all points. Nearly two hundred men of the Twenty-Third, more than half the whole number engaged, had been killed or wounded. Among the former was Capt. Abraham G. Hunter, of Cuyahoga county; among the latter from that county were Joshua L. Barnes, John Dunn and Thaddeus G. Ross. The severity of the conflict was also emphasized by the condition of the colors,

At Antietam the regiment was less severely engaged, but even there it suffered seriously from a flank attack by the enemy in which the colors were shot down, although they were immediately replanted by Major Comly in a new line, where the regiment quickly established itself and succeeded in repulsing its assailants.

Among the mortally wounded at Antietam was Corporal Sheridan E. Bull, of Solon, in this county. He fell just as the regiment was compelled to give way before the sudden attack of the enemy. He carried a pistol marked with his name, ''S, E. Bull." Seeing the enemy advancing, he hastily dug a hole and concealed the weapon. One of his comrades, Private Henry, noticed the act, and made a hasty observation of the surrounding objects. Both men were captured. Bull died while a prisoner; Henry recovered and was exchanged. Sixteen and a half years after the battle, in the month of April last, Mr. Henry, then principal of the public schools at Coshocton, Ohio, revisited the field of strife, discovered the locality in question, and after alittle digging had the good fortune to find the pistol of his old comrade, badly rusted but still intact, and still bearing the name <¢S, E. Bull," cut by the fingers of the young patriot when he went forth to battle for his country. The weapon was sent to Corporal Bull's father, L. 8. Bull, Esq., now postmaster at Solon, mentioned in the history of that township asa son of the earliest settler.

In October the wenty-Third returned to West Virginia, where Col. Scammon was appointed a brigadier-general. Lieut.-Col. Hayes was commissioned as colonel, Major Comly as lieutenant-colonel, and Capt. J. P. Mellrath, of Cuyahoga county, (Captain of Company A) as major.

The regiment was on garrison and scouting duty in West Virginia, without being called on for very serious work, from this time until the last of April, 1864, when it marched with the forces under General Crook in a raid on the Virginia and Tennessee railroad. The men made a very severe march through mountains, forests and snows, and on the 9th of May found the enemy intrenched on the first crest of Cloyd Mountain.

Passing through a belt of woods, the line came to an open meadow, beyond which was a wooded hill, with rough breastworks near the top defended by infantry-and artillery. Led by its officers, the regiment charged swiftly across the meadow under a heavy fire, and then, after a brief pause, dashed up the hill and drove the rebels from their intrenchments at the point of the bayonet. Our informant, previously mentioned, describes it as ''a sharp, little fight while it lasted."

At New River Bridge, on the same expedition, (May 10, 1864,) there was a sharp and successful skirmish, after which the bridge and several miles of the Virginia and Tennessee railroad were destroyed.

After another month of hard marching and occasional skirmishing over the mountains of West Virginia, the command joined General Hunter's forces at Staunton, in the Shenandoah valley, on the 8h of June. The whole command then proceeded up the valley and across toward Lynchburg. They defeated the enemy in a sharp fight two miles from that city, but as no attack was made that night, heavy re-enforcements were brought up from Richmond, and its capture became impracticable.

The army then retreated to West Virginia. The whole expedition was one of extraordinary severity, on account of the hard marching through the mountains, accompanied by a great lack of food. During nine days of continnous marching and fighting-the men had less than quarter rations, and when they at length met a supply-train they are described by an officer present as camping and 'eating all night."

In the following month Crook's command, including the Twenty-Third, was ordered to the Shenandoah valley to mect Karly. On the 24th of that month the regiment took part in one of the numerous battles of Winchester. 'This was one in which the United States forces were defeated; the Twenty-Third having ten officers and a hundred and forty-three officers and men killed and wounded.

It were idle to attempt to recount the unnumbered marches, countermarches and minor confliets which occurred during the remainder of the summer. 'They may be summed up in the words of the gentleman before quoted. ''we were fighting all the time," said he; '' We fought more that summer than we did during all the rest of our service." During the summer the Twenty-Third was consolidated with the Twelfth the new regiment comprising seven companies of the former and three of the latter, and retaining the name of the T'wenty-Third.

At the battle of Opequan, on the 19th of September, Hayes' brigade, including the Twenty-Third, was in advance on the extreme right of the infantry. After driving back the enemy's cavalry and coming under fire from his infantry, the brigade reached a slough, some fifty yards wide, in which the water was nearly waist deep, while beneath it was a bed of soft mud, of varying depth and treacherous consistency.

The whole line halted at this formidable obstacle, but Colonel Hayes, the brigade commander, plunged in, and, although his horse several times fell in the mud, urged him on and reached the farther shore, the first one across. The brigade followed, many men being drowned in the treacherous morass, but most of them reached the farther shore, formed their lines, dashed upon the enemy and droye them back. This was repeated several times; the cavalry charging every time, and capturing a large number of prison- ers. 'The division commander was wounded and carried from the field; leaving Colonel Hayes in command, who led the division during the remainder of the battle with the most reckless gallantry - half of the time being in advance of the line of infantry.

The result of the whole battle was a complete victory for the Union arms, eight battle flags and several thousand prisoners being captured, of which the Twenty-Third took two hundred.

At the battle of North Mountain, Hayes' brigade charged with such fury that the rebels made almost no resistance and were driven in utter rout from their intrenchments, while the Unionists suffered very little loss.

On the 19th of October the Twenty-Third took part in the battle of Cedar Creek; the conflict which has become celebrated throughout the country by the meteor-like appearance of Sheridan on his coal-black steed to retrieve the fortunes of the day. The enemy having stolen across an unguarded ford, Crook's command and the Nineteenth corps were driven back with heavy loss. At length, however, they established themselves on a new line, and were awaiting developments when Sheridan dashed up from Winchester. A roar of cheers greeted him, and, after making the necessary arrangements, he ordered the advance of the line. Another great victory was the result; the infantry driving back the enemy again and again, and the cavalry, as before, charging each time and capturing prisoners by the thousand.

Colonel Hayes was promoted to brigadier general and Lieutenant-Colonel Comly to colonel for their part in the battle of Cedar Creek; their commissions both dating from that day.

The regiment remained in the valley and in West Virginia during the remainder of the war, but was not called on to take part in any important conflicts. It was mustered out on the 25th of July, 1865, and then proceeded to Camp Taylor, Cleveland, where the men were paid off and discharged.

Field And Staff

Russell Hastings, enr. as Second Lieutenant Company I, May 22, 1861; promoted to First Lieutenant March 23, 1862; to Captain Company K August 8. 1863; and to Lieutenant Colonel March 8, 1865. Mustered out with the regiment.

Harry Thompson, enr. as First Sergeant May 18, 1861; promoted to Second Lieutenant July 24. 1861; to First Lieutenant September 24, 1862: to Captain June 14, 1864; and to Major March 8, 1865. Mustered out with regiment.

Non-Commissioned Staff

Jehial L. Chamberlain, enr. as Corporal Company A May 18, 1861; promoted to Sergeant November 30, 1863, and transferred to Non-Commissioned Staff, with rank of Commissary Sergeant January 12, 1865, Mustered out with the regiment July 26, 1865.

Edward V. Spring, enr. May 18, 1861; transferred to Non-Commissioned Staff as Chief Musician July 1, 1864. Mustered out July 26, 1865. James Thompson, enl. May 18, 1861: transferred to Non-Commissioned Staff as Commissary Sergeant July 1, 1864: promoted to Quarter-

Company

Benjamin Killam, enr. as Corporal May 18, 1861; promoted to Sergeant November 30, 1863; to Second Lieutenant January 14. 1864; and to First Lieutenant July 1 1564. Mustered out with the regiment.

George W. Hicks, enr. as Sergeant May 18, 1661; promoted to Second Lieutenant February 8, 1562, and to First Lieutenant November 20, 1862. Resigned June 11, 1864.

William P. Chamberlain, enr. as Corporal May 18, 1861; promoted to Sergeant: to Second Lieutenant November 3, 1t62; and to First Lieutenant August 8,1863. Mustered out at end of term, June 11, 1864.

Frederick Thompson, enr. as Corporal May 18, 1861; promoted to Ser" geant November 30, 1863; to Second Lieutenant Octuber 11, 1864; and to First Lieutenant April 20, 1865. Mustered out with the regiment.

Orville W. Richards, enr. as \ orporal May 18, 1861; promoted to Sergeant: to Second Lieutenant August 18, 1863. Mustered out withthe regiment.

Charles A. Willard, enr. May 18, 1861; promoted to Sergeant November 30, 1863: and to Second Lieutenant April 30, 1865. Mustered out with the regiment.

Leander H. Lane, enr. as Corporal Company D May 20, 1861; promoted to Sergeant November 27, 1863; to Second Lieutenant of Company A July 24, 1864; to First Lieutenant Company G July 21, 1864.

Henry M. Haven, enr. as Sergeant, May 18, 1861. Promoted to Captain of Company G, December 10, 1861, Alfred A. Jerome, enl!, May 18, 1861. Promoted to Corporal and to Sergeant November 30, 1863. Discharged for disability June 5, 1865. James E. Doughty, enr. as Corporal May 18, 1861. Pomoted to Sergeant, February 14, 1862.

Edwin B. Campbell, cnl. May 18, 1361; promoted to Sergeant October 1, 1862. Was discharged and re-enlisted in the Tentu Cavalry, Company M, as second Lieutenant, July 25, 1803.

Charles H. Morgan, eul. May 18, 1861, Company A; promoted to Sergeant; and to Second Lieutenant August 18, 1863. Transferred to Company D, and promoted to First Lieutenant May 1, 1885; and to Captain Company B May 29, 1865. Mustered out with regiment.

Henry Richardson, enr. Second Lieutenant Company D May 20, 1861; promoted to First Lieutenant Company B July 24, 1861; to Captain Company H, Fifth-Fourth Infantry, February 1, 1862.

Charles H. Morgan, enlisted in Company A May 18, 1861; transferred to Company D and made Ist Lieutenant May 1, 1865. Transferred to Company B May 29, 1865.

John T. Ogden, enr. as Corporal May 20, 1861; promoted to Sergeant, to 2d Lieutenant April 20, 1864, and to 1st Lieutenant May 30, 1865, Mustered out with the Regiment July 26, 1865.

Henry L. Hood, enl. Company G as Ist Lieutenant, June 7, 1861; transferred to Company D March 31, 1862, and September 4th returned to Company G.

Edward Cameron, enl. May 20, 1861; promoted to Sergeant and to 1st Sergeant March 4, i465. Mustered out with the Reg. July 26, 1869. John Gorman, enl. May 20, 1861; "promoted to Sergeant. Mustered out