Cuyahoga County, Ohio - Chapter 29: One Hundred and Twenty-Fifth and One Hundred and Twenty-Bighth Infantry, 1870

Chapter 29: One Hundred and Twenty-Fifth and One Hundred and Twenty-Bighth Infantry

Formation of the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth - The Cuyahoga Representation - Off for Louisville and Franklin - Driving out the Rebels and holding the Town - The Battle of Chickamauga - The Victory of Mission Ridge - A Fight in East Tennessee, etc. - Heavy Loss at Dalton, Resaca, Lost Mountain and Kenesaw - Brilliant Success at Franklin - Gen. Thomas' Compliment - Subsequent Services - Mustered out - Members from Cuyahoga County - The One Hundred and Twenty- Eighth as Guards - The Members from Cuyahoga - The Hoffman Battalion - Services of the Regiment - Mustered out - List of Cuyahoga Men.

One Hundred And Twenty-Fifth Infantry

THIS regiment was recruited for three years, in the autumn of 1862, and on the dth of October was mustered in with eight full companies, of which Cuyahoga county furnished one hundred and eleven men, scattered in small numbers through all the companies. Col. Emerson Opdycke was it first commander. On the 8d of January, 1863, the regiment left Cleveland six hundred and fity seven strong, for Louisville, where a stay was made until January 28th, followed by a move to Franklin, Tenn. There the enemy was encountered, and after a sharp engagement dislodged from the town. 'T'wice - on the 9th of March and 10th of April - the rebels attempted to recapture Franklin, but in both instances were repulsed by the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth.

Remaining in Franklin until June 2Ist, the regiment joined its command at Murfreesboro, and on the 24th began the memorable, dreary march to Hillsboro, whence it moved by slow stages to Chattanooga, where it arrived on the 9th of September, and in the vicinity of which it was engaged in sharp skirmish work until the 18th of that month. On the latter day the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth first took part in a general engagement. In the hattle of Chickamauga, which opened on the 18th, the regiment won such conspicuous honors that General Rosecrans personally complimented it, and General Woods-enristened it '* The Tiger Regiment of Ohio." On the 25th of November, the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth entered the field of battle for the second time - on this occasion at Mission Ridge - and during that long and bloody fight, although it covered: itself with glory, it sustained a severe loss in killed and wounded,

Marching to Knoxville and thence to Dandridge, the regiment fell into an engagement with the enemy at the latter place, on the 17th of December, and for the better part of two days performed severe and continuous work, during which it lost thirteen men in killed und wounded. Directly after this affair the One Hun- dred and Twenty-fifth retreated to Knoxville. where its ranks were reinforced by the accession of Com panies and K, recruited in Ohio after the regiment had left the State. The time from December 20, 1863, to May 3, 1864, was passed in winter quarters at Loudon and Cleveland, Tennessee. Upon the latter day the regiment moved out of camp as part of the Third brigade, Second division, Fourth corps, and set out for Georgia with General Sherman, who then entered upon his Atlanta campaign. In the engagement before Dalton, on the 7th and 8th of May, the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth was in the thick of the fight and lost heavily. At Resaca and Lost Mountain the regiment distinguished itself, and at Kenesaw Mountain - when Colonel Opdycke's promotion to the command of a brigade-advanced Lieut. Col. Moore to the head of the regiment - there was more severe work and more severe regimental loss.

After the fall of Atlanta, the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth was called to Nashville, then threatened by Hood, and took part in the battle of Franklin; winning high honor and capturing eighty prisoners and two hattle-flags. Colonel Opdycke was in command of the brigade in which the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth fought, and after the battle, General Thomas said to him: 'Colonel Opdycke your brigade saved the army at Franklin, and saved Nashville." During the battle of Nashville, the regiment rendered effective service. On reaching Huntsville, Ala., January 6, 1865, it went into winter quarters, whence it emerged on the 28th of March. It moved without active service to Knoxville, and thence, by way of Nashville, to New Orleans; being mustered out of service in Texas on the 25th of September. It then returned to Ohio, and was discharged at Camp Chase on the 17th of October, 1865.

Company

John Simpson, enl. Nov. 4, 1862. Wounded at Dandridge Jan, 17, 1864, Promoted to Corp. same day for bravery, and to Sergt. June 1, 1864, Mustered out with the Co.

chiefly emploved in guard duty within the State of Ohio; especially at the posts of Johnson's Island and Sandusky - the latter becoming, early in 1862, a depot for rebel officers detained as prisoners of war. F Two hundred and ninety-nine men from Cuyahoga county enlisted in the regiment, which, on the 25th of December, 1863, consisted of but four companies, previously known as '' The Hoffman Battalion." This battalion had been on duty principally at Johnson's y Island since 1862, though it had furnished frequent detachments for field service - a brief campaign in pursuit of the rebels m West Virginia in 1862 being a part of thelatterwork. During its service m guarding Johnson's Island, the One Hundred and Twentyeighth was actively, and sometimes ardnuously employed, yet its discipline was kept to a high mark. aad While ever ready and eager to take the field, it never ' gained the opportunity for winning laurels im that bs direction, although some small detachments oceasion- 7 ally saw service. The discharge of prisoners having - _ followed the rebel surreader in the spring of 1565, es the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth left the island _

FIELD ASD STaFF_ Edward A. Seovill, enr. as Major Sept. 1, 1863 «Promoted to Lect (ol Aug. 9, 1864. Disch March &, 5. Junius R. Sanford, enr. as Capt. Co. E Nov_21_ 1663. Promoted te Majer

Henry F. Hastings, env. as Sergt. Dee. 19, Est, April 6, 1865, Mustered out with the Co, William W. Richardson, enr. as Sergt, Dee. 21, 1863, the Co, John H. Way, enr. as Sergt. Dee. 21, 1843, Edward Thompson, enl, Dec, 18, 1863, Mustered out with the Co, Manley. ('. Severance, enl. Dee, 15, 1803, out with the Co, Wesley Gill, enl. Dee, 19. 1863. the Co, Jared Gardner, enl, Dec, 14, 1#(3. with the Co. Jobn H., Harding, enl. Dee. 14, 1°63, with the Co, Charles H. Rockwell, enl Dec. 18, 1¢ti3. Mustered out with the Co. Franklin H, Hosford, enr. as Musician March 24, Id4. with the Co, Otto Allbright, enl. Dee. 14, 1803. Mugstered out with the Co. Charles W. Andrews, enl. Dec. 14,1863. Mustered out with the Co, Alonzo B. Akins, enl. Dec. 17, 1563, Mustered out with the Co. Henry H. Akins, enl, Dee. 17, 1863. Mustered out with the Co, Alfred Aunis, enl. Dec. 17, 1868. Mustered out with the Co, William W. Beckwith, en]. Dee. 21, 1803. Mustered out with the Co. Orville Barchard, enl. Dec. 18, 143. Mustered out with the Co, Samuel Barchard, enl. Dec. 18, 183. Mustered out with the Co, Tyler R. Curtis, enl, Dee. 19, 1853. Mustered out with the Co. Tobias Cover, enl, Dec. 19, 1463. Mustered out with the C'o. Charles Cuddeback, en]. Dec, 14, 1463. Mustered out with the Uo. William M, Carter, enl, Dec. 17, 1863. Mustered out with the Uo, Theodore Curtis, enl. Dec. 14, 1862. Mustered out with the Co, Joseph Cahoon, enl. Dec, 19, 1463, Mustered out with the Co, William D. Cline, enl. Dec. 19, 1863. Mustered out with the Co, Gardner Cady enl. Dec. 20, 1463. Mustered out with the Co. Horace A. Durkee, enl. March 7, 1864. Mustered out with the Co, Adam Filker, enl. Dec. 19, 1863. Mustered out with the Co, Henry Francis, enl, Dec. 17, 1863. Mustered out with the Co, Thomas Francis, enl. Dec. 17, 1863. Mustered out with the Co, Henry G. Greenhoe, enl, Dec. 15,1863. Mustered out with the Co. William C. Greenhoe, enl. Dec. 14, 1863. Mustered out with the Co. William Greenhoe, enl. Dec. 14, 1863. Mustered out with the Co. Michael Greenhoe, enl. Dec. 14, 1863, Mustered out with the Co, Merritt Haight, enl, Dec, 19, 1863. Mustered out with the Co. George Hahn, enl. Dec. 14, 1863. Mustered out with the Co. John Hall, enl. Dec. 14, 1863. Mustered out with the Co. George Jarrett, enl. Dec. 22, 1863. Mustered out with the Co. Franklin Kreesler, en]. March 16, 1864. Mustered out with the Co.

Mustered out with the Co, Promoted to Sergt, April 6, 1805, Promoted to Corp. Mustered Promoted to Corp. Mustered out with Promoted to Corp, Mustered out Promoted to Corp. Mustered out Promoted to Corp. April 6, 165,

Hundred And Fiftieth Infantry

The One Hundred and Twenty-ninth enlists for sSix Months - Thirtyeight Men from Cuyahoga - Off for Kentucky - Capturing Cumber. land Gap - A Fight on Clinch River - Hard Service during the Winter - Mustered out in February - The One Hundred and Fiftieth Infantry - Nine Companies from Cuyahoga - Sworn in for a Hundred Days - Oft for Washingt.n - Garrisoning the Forts - Companies G and K in a Fight - Mustered out - List of Cuyahoga Members.

One Hundred And Twenty-Ninth Infantry

Tur One Hundred and Twenty-ninth was mustered in August 10, 1863, at Camp Taylor, near Cleveland, for a service of six months, and included in its ranks thirty-eight men from Cuyahoga county, all but one in Company E. On the day of organization the regiment set out for Camp Nelson, Ky., where it was attached to the Ninth army corps.

On the 20th of August the brigade moved to Cumherland Gap, and after the surrender of that place remained there until December Ist, when the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth was ordered to march in the direction of Clinch river. At the crossing of the Knoxville road over that streami t took part in an engagement with a division of (en. Longstreet's corps. From the 2nd to the last of December, the men of the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth were engaged in almost constant skirmishing along the line of Clinch river, and during that severe portion of the winter they suffered many hardships. although exempt from the heavy loss of life visited upon other regiments in that vicinity. Upon the opening of the year 1864, the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth returned to the Gap. and on the Ist of February started for Cleveland, being mustered out there in the following month,

One Hundred And Fiftieth Infantry

Of the ten companies composing the One Hundred and Fiftieth, nine were from this county and the other from Lorain. he regiment was sworn in for a hundred days of service on the 5th of May, 1864, and at once left Camp Taylor for Washington City, where it entered upon garrison duty in forts Lincoln, Saratoga, Thayer, Bunker Hill, Slocum, Totten and Stevens, which were in the line of fortifications xurrounding the national capital.

The regiment remained in the forts till the close of its term of service, during which companies G and K participated in the fight before Washington on the 10th and 11th of July; having five men killed and wounded. The One Hundred and Fiftieth was mustered out at Cleveland August 23, 1864, after a service of one hundred and eleven days.

ONE HUNDRED ANI) SINTY-SIATH IN FANTRY. COMPANY B. Charles F. Lee, en]. May 2, 1864. Mustered out with the Co, Sept. 9, 1864. Benjamin Worthington, en]. May 2, 1864. Mustered out with the Co. COMPANY F. Mustered out with the Co, Sept. 9, 1864, Mustered out with the Co. Mustered out with the Co. Mustered out with the Co. Mustered out with the Co. Mustered out with the Co.

The One Year Infantry Regiments

When and why they were raised - Their Previous Services - One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Infantry - In Teunessee - A Fight before Murfreesboro - Charging a Battery - Services in North Carolina - Home - Its Cuyahoga Men - One Hundred and Eighty-eighth Infantry - At Murfreesboro. Tullahamo and Nashville - Discharged - The Cuyahoga Members - One Hundred and Ninety-third Infantry - In the Shenandoah Valley - Selected as Provost Guard - Disbanded - The Men from Cuyahoga - One Hundred and Ninety-fourth Infantry - In Virginia - In Garrison at Washington - Mustered out in October - The Cuyahoga List - One Hundred and Ninety-fifth Infantry - At Harper's Ferry and Winchester - On Provost Duty at Alexandria - Mustered out - Its Cuyahoga List - Men of the One Hundred and Ninety-sixth Infantry - The One Hundred and Ninety-seventh the Last Regiment in the Field - Assigned to Ninth Army Corps - On Duty at Washington, Dover and Baltimore - Mustered out - The Cuyahoga Men - The One Hundred and Ninety-eighth - Incomplete - Disbanded and -Sent Home - The Cuyahoga List.

lost by bullets, disease and other casualties of war, yet the National authorities felt sure that with persistent effort the already tottering confederacy could be overturned within a year. They therefore did what they had not before done, authorized the raising of regiments to serve for one year, to aid in giving the final blow to the slaveholder's rebellion. Twenty-six such regiments numbered from One Hundred and Seventy-three to One Hundred and Ninety-eighth inclusive, were raised in Ohio alone. Nine of these contained representatives from Cuyahoga county, whose records are given in this chapter. A large proportion of the men and almost all of the officers had served in other organizations, so that the regiments, though new, were by no means ' green," but able to play their part with credit from the very first.

One Hundred And Seventy-Seventh Infantry

The One Hundred and Seventy-seventh was organized at Cleveland in October, 1864, for one year's service, and included three hundred and fifty-one Cuyahoga-county men. On reporting to Major General Thomas at Nashville, the regiment was ordered to Tullahoma, where it did garrison duty until Hood's invasion, and then marched to Murtreesboro reaching that place on the 2nd of December. In an engagement with the Rebels before Murfreesboro on the "th of that month the One Hundred and Seventyseventh displayed the utmost readiness for the conflict, and was for a brief period sharply engaged; Milroy's command, of which it was a part, charging the rebels behind breastworks, driving them away and capturing two pieces of artillery. A few days afterwards, while on a foraging expedition the regiment charged a rebel battery and compelled it to retreat; having, itself, eleven men killed and wounded.

After Hood was driven from Tennessee, the One Hundred and Seventy-seventh was ordered to Washington, and was thence transported to Fort Fisher, N. C., where it arrived on the 7th of February, 1869. Subsequently the regiment participated in two attacks upon the enemy's works and was engaged in the flank movement which forced the rebels to evacute Fort Anderson. It also fought the enemy at 'Twin Creek and captured the entirecommand. Leaving Wilmington after the surrender of that place, it joined Sherman at Goldsboro, and after the capture of Johnston proceeded to Cleveland, where it was discharged on the 7th of July, 1865.

Daniel Matthews, enl. Sept. 23, 1864. Mustered out with the Co. June 24, 1X65. Walter J. Nelson, enl. Sept. 22, 1854. Mustered out with the Co.

One Hundred And Eighty-Eighth Infantry

previous winter, on the 4th of March, 1865, for the term of one year. It contained one hundred and ninety-two Cuyahoga county men. It reached Nashville on the 9th of March, when it was ordered to Murfreesboro, whence, after a two months' stay, it proceeded to Tullahoma. After a two months' sojourn at Tullahoma, the regiment was ordered to Nashville, where it remained until its muster out on the 21st of September. It reached Camp Chase on the 24th, and on the 28th was paid and discharged.

One Hundred And Ninety-Third Infantry

But sixty-nine men entered the One Hundred and Ninety-third from Cuyahoga county. "The regiment was organized at Camp Chase in March, 1865, for one year's service, and departed at once for the Shenandoah valley. After reaching Charlestown, near Harper's Ferry, it was organized with other regiments into a brigade and marched up the valley to Winchester, where it remained until after the surrender of the Rebel forces. General Sickles complimented the drill of the One Hundred and Ninety-third by selecting it for provost-guard duty at Winchester in which service it continued until mustered out. After that it proceeded at once to Camp Chase, where it was discharged on the 9th of August, 1865.

One Hundred And Ninety-Fourth Infantry

Fifty-one men from Cuyahoga county enlisted in this regiment. It was organized at Camp Chase for one year's service in the forepart of March, 1865, and immediately proceeded to Charlestown. Va., where it was assigned to Major General Egan's division. The surrender of Lee's army cut off all opportunity for the regiment to engage in field service, and. after returning to Washington it performed garrison duty there until mustered out on the 24th of October, 1865. COMPANY F.

One Hundred And Ninety-Fifth Infantry

This regiment was recruited in March, 1865, for a service of one year, and had forty-four Cuyahogacounty men in its ranks. rectly after its organization, the One Hundred and Ninety-fiftli reached Harper's Ferry on the 25th of March, and, after doing garrison duty at that point a few days, want into camp at Winchester, Va. After

Lee's surrender the regiment was ordered to Alexandria, and there did provost-guard duty until the muster-out at Washington in December, 1865.

One Hundred And Ninety-Seventh Infantry

The One Hundred and Ninety-seventh was the last regiment sent to the field from Ohio, and was reeruited to a total strength of one thousand and six men, of whom forty-nine were from Cuyahoga county. All but five of its officers, and about half of its men, had seen service.

The regiment was organized April 12, 1865, for one year, and on the 25th left Camp Chase for Washington. The war being then practically over, the One Hundred and Ninety-seventh had no chance to earn especial distinction. It was assigned to the Ninth army corps, and after spending a few days in camp near Alexandria returned to Washington. It soon left.for Dover, Del., when it Jay in camp four weeks. From that time until July 3lst - when it was mustered out at Baltimore - the regiment did guard duty along the line of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, and at the camps, forts and hospitals in and near Baltimore.

One Hundred And Ninety-Eighth Infantry

But eight companies of this proposed regiment had been recruited at Camp Chase when, the war being declared at an end, the companies were disbanded and the men departed for their homes. Of the enlistments into the One Hundred and Ninety-eighth, fifty-one were from Cuyahoga county.

Perry Prentiss, enr. as Capt. April 22, 1865. Mustered out with the Co May 8, 1865. Edgar J. Woodward, enr. as 1st Lieut. Mustered out with the Co. James D, W. Mandeville, enr. as 2nd Lieut. April 22, 1865. Mustered out with the Co. Conrad Busch, eni. March 14. 1865. Mustered out with the Co. Byron H. Bosley, enl. March 30, 1865. Mustered out with the Co. Adam Baisch, en]. March 27, 1865. Mustered out with :the Co. Edwin M. Bailey, enl. March 25, 1865. Mustered out with the Co, Robert Curphey, enl. April 6, 1865. Mustered out with the Co. John Dunn. enl. April 4, 1865. Mustered out with the Co. William R. Dyson, enl. March 29, 1865. Mustered out with the Co, John Fritz, enl. March 28, 1865. Mustered out with the Co. Frederick Hacker, en]. March 21, 1865. Mustered out with the Co. James Hawkins, enl. April 6, 1865. Mustered out with the Co. Willis M. Hepburn, enl. March 25, 1865, Mustered out with the Co. James Hamlin, en]. March 25, 1865. Mustered out with the Co. John Hellmer, enl. April 4, 1865. Mustered out with the Co. James H. Kincaide, enl. March 21, 1865. Mustered out with the Co. William D. Keller, enl. April 1, 1865. Mustered out with the Co. Martin L. Keller, enl. March 25, 1865. Mustered out with the Co. Henry Koneman, enl. April 4, 1865, Mustered out with the Co. William H. Magridge, enl. March 27. 1865. Mustered out with the Co. William Meyer, enl. March 28, 1865. Mustered out with the Co. Hart Newhall, enl. March 21, 1865. Mustered out with the Co. James P. Nichols, enl. March 24, 1865. Mustered out with the Co. James O'Connor, enl. April 4, 1865. Mustered out with the Co. William Price, en]. March 27, 1865. Mustered out with the Co. Charles Schwab. enl. March 29, 1865. Mustered out with the Co. Christian Schwartz, enl. March 28, 1865. Mustered out with the Co. Henry Schloman, enl. April 4, 1865. Mustered out with the Co. Alfred Schring, enl. March 21, 1865. Mustered out with the Co. Charles D. Towner, enl. April 8, 1865. Mustered out with the Co. Conrad Walmser, enl. March 30, 1865. Mustered out with the Co. John Wagner, enl. April 5, 1865. Mustered out with the Co. Charles Werkmeister, enl. April 4, 1865. Mustered out with the Co. John Whitworth, en}. March 27, 1865. Mustered out with the Co. James Wilson, enl. April 12, 1865. Mustered out with the Co. John Zimmerman, en]. April 4, 1865. Mustered out with the Co.

The Sharpshooters

The Governor's Intention - Capt. Barber's Cuyahoga Company - Other Companies - The Test of Admission - A Battalion organized - It joins Rosecrans - Two more Companies - At Chickamauga - Covering J. C. Davis' Retreat - Ordered to protect the Road - Looking over the Ground - Taking Position - The Duel across the River - The Rebels retreat - Various Scouts - On a Gunboat - A Rebel Spy - aA Dangerous Road - A Texan Ambush - The Sharpshooters driven out of Town - Shelling the Place - The Torch - A Texan Charge repulsed - Other Gunboat Service - Joining Sherman - Guarding the Ammunition - Back with Thomas - Captain Barber mustered out - The Battalion mustered out - Names of the Cuyahoga Sharpshooters.

In the autumn of 1862 Goy. Tod undertook to raise ten independent companies of sharpshooters, to serve on special duty, without field officers. Capt. Gershom M. Barber raised a company which was largely composed of residents. of Cuyahoga county, and which was denominated the Fifth Independent Company of Sharpshooters. The Sixth and Seventh companies were also recruited in this county; the captains having free access to the large camp of drafted men at Camp Cleveland. A portion of their men were actual residents of the county, though generally credited to other counties in which the captains resided. The Ninth and Tenth companies were also largely composed of Cuyahoga-county men, but, as previously stated these were mustered into the Sixteenth Infantry and served with that regiment.

On the companies being completed, the Fifth. Sixth and Seventh were organized in a battalion, and Capt. Barber, as the senior officer, was placed in command. The men were all picked with reference to their physical ability, and before being mustered each was required to make a "string" of not exceeding twentyfive inches in five shots, at one hundred yards off-hand or at two hundred yards at arest. Their uniform was the same as that of the infantry, except that the trimmings were green, and they were armed with Spencer's seven-shooting rifies,

They remained at Camp Cleveland, drilling as infantry and also practicing at the target, until March, 1863, when they joined Rosecrans' army at Murfreesboro, and were attached to the generai's headquarters for special service. The battalion was never brigaded, but remained permanently attached to the headquarters of the Army of the Cumberland throughout the war; being detailed on special duty whenever necessary. The battalion was there joined by the Fourth and Eighth Independent companies; the whole being under the command of Capt. Barber. The Fourth company, however, was detached just before the battle of Chickamauga.

At that battle two companies, of which the Fifth was one, were in charge of the department headquarters. On Sunday, the third day of the fight, while they were on their way, under orders, to join Gen.

Davis' division, there was a general break along the Union lines, and that division retreated; leaving the sharpshooters directly in front of theenemy. Unable to join Rosecrans, Capt. Barber reported to Davis, who ordered him to fall back four hundred yards and form line of battle. He did so, and Davis attempted to rally his division in the rear. It broke, however, and a similar order was again sent to Capt. Barber and obeyed. Four times the sharpshooters formed in line and engaged the enemy's adv&nce; thus covering the retreat of Davis' division, and at length following it from the field.

When, after that battle, the rebels cut off the supphes from the army at Chattanooga, Gen. Rosecrans had a road built westward along the north side of the Tennessee. But the rebel sharpshooters from across the river, at the point where it passes through the Cumberland mountains, broke up the first supply train; killing many of the men and horses. A regiment of Kentucky infantry and a battery of artillery both proved unable to protect the exposed point. Capt. Barber was then ordered to detail fifty men for that purpose. He obtained permission to go in command himself.

Taking his detail to the locality on the rainy afternoon of the 13th of October, 1863, he went over the exposed road, attended only by a guide, to lay out his plans. Nearly a hundred shots were fired across the river at the two men, but by keeping on the move they escaped injury. Having thus ascertained just where the enemy was posted, the captain at three o'clock the next morning led his men on to the ground, and stationed them in squads opposite the positions occupied by the rebels.

At dawn both parties began firing across the river. A series of lively duels was kept up until ten o'clock, at which time the rebels withdrew up the mountain, leaving Capt. Barber and his men complete masters of the position. Only one man was wounded and he but slightly. They afterward learned from spies and prisoners that the rebels suffered very severely in killed and wounded before they abandoned the position. The detachment was joined by the rest of the battalion, and held the ground in question until Hooker's two corps arrived and communications were entirely restored.

At Mission Ridge the sharpshooters were held in reserve.. After that, they were at headquarters most of the time till the first of May, 1864, though they were engaged in a protracted scout between the hostile lies in February, and the Fifth and Highth companies were located forty miles up the Tennessee, to protect Union citizens, during part of March and April.

From about the first of May until the first of July the battalion manned a gunboat in the Tennessee, to keep the banks and vicinity clear of rebel guerrillas and raiding parties.

On the 12th of May about sixty-five men came near being massacred through the management of the pilot of the gunboat, who turned out to be a rebel spy. The negro huts and storehouses of a plantation on the south side of the Tennessee had been made the headquarters of a body of Texas Rangers, who were accustomed to cross the river, do what injury they could to the Union forces and return thither. Captain Barber determined to clear them out. The pilot suggested, and the captain agreed, that the boat should lie near the town, as it was called, through the night, then land below it and march up the river road, under the protection of the boat, to attack it.

In the night the pilot got ashore, and warned the rebels what they might expect. On landing, the captain found the river road so favorable to ambush, and so little protected by the gunboat, that he struck across to another. On the sharpshooters nearing the forks of the two roads, near a hundred Texans sprang up out of the ambush in which they had placed themselves on the river road. Thirty or forty shots were fired on a side, when the rebels fled. The sharpshooiers advanced into the so-called town, and attacked a store-house filled with plunder from the other side of the river. Immediately the rebels, concealed in other houses and in masked works on the hillside, opened a heavy fire, driving the Unionists to the shelter of the gunboat, with a loss of three killed and wounded. The negroes were then warned to leave, and the gunboat shelled the town from end to end, soon driving out the rebels. Afterwards a detachmént was sent ashore to burn it, as was done to all houses from which the Union troops were fired on. The rest of the sharpshooters landed to repel attacks. The Texans, not knowing of the covering party, charged across an open space to destroy the burners. The sharpshooters met them with a terrific fire from. behind cover, with their Spencer rifles, and more than half the assailants were killed or wounded. These operations entirely broke up the nest of marauders which had previously lurked in the vicinity. The negroves were taken on the gunboat and sent to the contraband camp at Nashville, which was where they were anxious to go.

The sharpshooters, while patrolling the river, passed through several other interesting experiences, which 'we have not space to relate here. After their gunboat service was over, they joined Sherman's army at Big Shanty. The Seventh company became that general's headquarter guard, and the others were in charge of the amunition train of the army of the Cumberland, from that point to Atlanta. Afterward the battalion of three companies returned to Tennessee and was made Gen. Thomas' headquarter guard, which position it held till the close of the war. In April, 1865, Capt. Barber was mustered out to accept the lieutenant-coloneley of the One Hundred and Ninety-seventh Infantry, and the battalion was mustered out on the 19th of July following.