Carroll County, Indiana - Company a at Rottenwood, 1882

COMPANY A AT ROTTENWOOD. Review of the Experiences of the Campaign of 1864 - Resume OF THE Transactions of the Period - Muldraugh's Hill - Chickamauga - Wheeler's Raid - Wilson's Raid, Etc.

"DERHAPS Company A. or a detachment from it, was never in -*- closer quarters, or more completely surprised, and taken in than at Bottenwood (or Soap Creek), three or foiu' miles south of Marietta, Ga. The enemy had vacated his works at Kenesaw Mountain and retreated to Atlanta, except scouting pai'ties, or bushwhackers, as they are more properly termed. On the 3d day of July, 1864, our company was sent out to look after such parties and prepare the way for the advance of the army. We were compelled to fight such organizations at a'great disadvantage and under trying circumstances, as they would always conceal themselves until an opportunity favored a movement forward, when they would pounce upon their victims with a relentless fury, as a wild l)east is wont to do upon its prey, to devour and destroy without mercy. Such a foe Company A had to meet and contend with at Rottenwood Creek. The enemy had concealed himself on a high blulf on the south side of the creek, in a thick grove of underbrush. Our company was in the advance, and a squad from the same company was the advance guard. Oiu- movements were not interrupted, nor the least indication given that we were about to get into trouble. All was quiet and serene as a May morning. The boys were cracking their jokes and playing their pranks, as was their custom on pleasant marches, and everything was seemingly happy. It was our custom, ordinarily, to dismoimt and advance on foot when we had any reason to believe the enemy was in force, or when his position was difficult to get at. But now our precaution was not in keeping with our custom, nor with the circmnstances of the occasion, as the sequel proved. We advanced slowly, but with great assurance and self-confidence, that we, with our Spencer rifles, could repulse and drive five times oiunimiber all over the Confederacy. We had such unbounded confidence in our prowess from the success enjoyed in all former engagements that our belief was defeat was out of the question. Prior to that date, we bad not suffered a single defeat, nor even a repulse, though we had participated in fifty engagements. Reaching the little rivulet, we halted to let oiu- horses drink. At that

I ant and uninterrupted. Sometimes, though, the storm biu-sts forth without a signal of warning, giving vent to its pent-up fiu-y in a war of elements. So in this instance. All at once a crash came as if the very hills were being rent in sunder, or a thousand muskets had been simultaneously discharged. The deadly missiles flew about us like hail, or like fiends sent from the infernal regions on their mission of death and destniction. All was confusion and disorder; for a moment we were unable to comprehend the situation. Each man looked at the other in utter bewilderment and dismay, with his horse charging and lunging about, anxious to be released from the terrible uncertainty. Like a flash of light the truth came to us and oiu- situation was taken in at a glance - we were "bush- whacked." It was the work of but a moment to wheel aliout-face and make the attempt to get out of the way, for to remain there to fight a hidden foe skulking behind the bushes and rocks would have been certain defeat and probably destruction. We had about four hundred yards to retreat over an open field in plain view and easy gunshot of the enemy. We put whip and spur to om- horses as incentives to increased speed, yet we seemed to make little progress, and it seemed as if some superhuman power was interposing to retard om- movements. A few moments seemed like an age, and, if we failed to use those precious moments to the best advantage, our" doom would soon be sealed. It was a case of life or death, and the result depended upon our next move. Nearly always, in extreme cases, a man has the nerve, energy and tact to do what in ordinai-y cases he would be wholly inadequate to perform. This was our case. Strung up to the highest pitch with the intensity of feeling, by a quick, dextrous movement, we made our escape - all except George

Staley, John Hughes and John Bernard - the latter, however, secreted himself in a small ravine in the brush, where many times he was almost within touching distance of the enemy, who were searching for the spoils. He laid there in his uncomfortable bunk until near daylight next morning, when he very expertly crept out on his hands and knees and made his way into camp.

Sergt. Samuel Stewart's horse fell with him at the creek and precipitated him about eight feet down a bank into the water, injuring him so severely that he could neither walk nor stand; yet, he crept to a place of concealment until the fire had slackened somewhat, when, with great exertion, he crawled within o\u- lines and taken thence by ambulance to the hospital, where he was a great sufferer many weeks. Stephen Guard received a painful wound in the lower jaw.

The writer's horse was shot under him just after coming out of the creek, the ball taking effect in his under jaw. He stopped short and refused to go farther, notwithstanding the coaxing and force applied as persuaders; still he moved not. To dismount then became a necessity, and was undertaken accordingly with the chance of running the gantlet on foot, while the bullets were flying thick and fast. The undertaking seemed a hopeless one - equal, almost, to suicide. Without stopping to argue the possibilities, leg.s were given full reins and the rider came out all right. Under such circumstances the presence of relief is most satisfactory and comforting, and the little squad at Rottenwood was in good condition to appreciate such timely interposition in its behalf. Just then we were met by our company and the Seventy-second Regiment. The first to appear upon the ground was Sergt. Frank Murphy, with a heart beating in unison with his comrades and for the success of our cause; and still more, with a well -filled cartridge-box. The next was Sergt. William Stewart, with his cheerful face and gushing patriotism, and finally, those noble veterans, backed up by Company A and the Seventysecond Regiment. We stood in line of battle some time ready to receive the enemy, but he failed to put in an appearance.

There was one thing in that encounter we could not understand - why oiu' company did not move up to the scene of disaster and recover our wounded and disabled men, and if there were any dead on the field, to bring their bodies and give them decent burial. It may have been strategy to fall back, or it may have been " red-tape." The real cause will no doubt be always wrapped in mystery.

In September, 1862, Company A was sent out on detached duty to guiu-d the tunnel on the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, at Muldraugh's Hill, nine miles south of Lebanon Junction. We were encam[)ed in comfortable quarters, having but little to do and well-supplied with rations, the country, also, affording us an abundant supply of peaches. We had then about come to the conclusion that soldiering was a delightful occupation. In the meantime, rumors were coming in occasionally that Morgan was in the counti7 and liable to drop in upon us at any time. Such rumors, however, soon became stale, since he failed to make his appearance. Finally, one evening about 0 o'clock, the officer in charge received news that Morgan would really be around to make us a call about dark, being then in the inmiediate neighborhood and headed for our post We were, of coiu'se, startled by the information and were ordered to get ready to march without a moment's delay. Striking tents, gathering up skillets, cups, pans, coffee- pots, hard-tack, etc., was the work of but a few moments. About the time the to march, it began to rain - a pattering, wetting rain such as would penetrate knapsack, overcoat and all in a very short time. But this was a matter not to be taken into account when we were involved in such a quandary.

The roads were muddy and laborious to travel. Kentucky is noted for the worst roads and meanest bridges in the country. We made good time for the first five or six miles; then the novelty wore off, and our knapsacks becoming heavy and burdensome, our feet sore and oui- clothes fully satm-ated with the rain - sentimentally, our condition was unenviable. But four miles remained between us and Lebanon Junction, the nearest point of safety, which could only be reached by crossing a river with a muddy, miry bottom over which was a bridge in a condition too much demoralized to be safe for passage. The stream had to be waded and the accomplishment of the feat was at once eventful, unpleasant and ludicrous; but all had to participate, and the slipping and plunging of one was uniformly offset by a similar mishap of another. We made the journey, however, and reached the destined point about 3 o'clock the following morning. Remaining here a short time, we were put upon our good behavior, and our greatest suffering was the want of pure, wholesome water, which it was impossible to obtain. To compensate as far as possible for this want, a large well was dug near the depot, but even this God-send was drained regularly morning, noon and night, and we were compelled, to make the most of the deficiency, sometimes getting water from the swamps and dirty pools too filthy and impm'e to be used except from necessity.

On Thursday, September 17, 1863, the Seventy-second Regiment was detailed for picket duty and posted at a bridge across the Chickamauga Creek, about one mile east of Gordon's Mills. Companies A, F and D were stationed at the bridge as an out post. Our orders were strict and positive, to be on the lookout and to be in readiness at any moment to meet the enemy, as he was hovering around near the point very suspiciously and was liable to strike a blow at any time. We stationed our sentinels, put out our fires and prepared everything for the night. The evening and night were warm and pleasant; a gentle, balmy breeze was moving through the treetops and rustling leaves, miu-- muring its quiet lullaby to soothe the excited nerves of the little party on picket duty into the sweet embrace of Morpheus. Did not these murmuring sounds, these rustlings among the leaves, the barking of dogs and the lowing of cattle, bring with them premonitions of some terrible catastrophe? - ^the severest storm usually following in the wake of a great calm, such as obtruded itself on the night in question. Our rest, however, was not molested dui'ing the night; the reliefs were changed in their turns without interruption, or the least sign given of an enemy being within a few hundred yards.

In the morning, a squad from Company A crossed the creek and sallied forth through the neighborhood to the farmhouses to obtain something in the way of a stomach supporter and a life in vigorator. In due time they returned with a good supply. Thinking, from the success of their foimor trip, that another and further like enterprise might safely be undertaken, they again went out, but soon came back on the " doiiblequick;" and, being more anxious to cross the creek than to go over the bridge, they plunged into the deep muddy waters and waded through. From this movement it became suddenly evident that a crisis was at hand, which would not be viewed in the light of child's play. Without further ceremony, we set to work preparing to defend our post. The planks on the bridge were torn up and placed in position, and all the old logs and rails that were convenient were utilized as means of defense, and everything available was brought into requisition. We had but completed oui' work when across the field in plain view could be seen the enemy coming directly toward us - steadily, but surely - in line of battle. Our only hope was to put on a bold front and make the best possible use of om- Spencer rifles. We had had experience enough in the army to lay quiet and keep cool, under such circxunstauces, until the adversary had come within sufficient distance to do the best possible execution. So in this case. We held om' fu'e until we could almost see the whites of their eyes and hear the tramp of their feet, when, all at once, we let them have it, giving them such a reception that it was impossible for human nature to stand. They faltered, halted and finally fell back, but only to reform and tiy us again. The second assault was equally disastrous, doubtless more so, for they decided to change their method of attack. At once it became evident that unless we fell back, gave up our post or received re-enforcements, we would be overpowered and captured, as the enemy was working his way quietly and steadily around om- flanks and preparing a trap to make sure of us. At the critical moment, our company commander very mysteriously disappeared. He, no doubt, saw how circimiscribed our situation had become and how slim our chances were to escape, and improved the th-st opportunity to save himself.

We were perplexed to know what to do. To give up the post without orders, we did not like; to remain and contend with an enemy so much our superior in numbers, was hazardous, foolhardy, and, we thought, entirely unnecessary. In this commotion and perplexity, there was not a man of Company A that flinched or showed the least sign of timidity, stampeding or disobeying the orders of a non-commissioned oflicer, but stood their ground like men, and would, no doubt, have remained at their post until they were shot down or captm-ed unless relieved. At this important junctiu-e, an Orderly from Col. Miller came galloping up and gave these orders: "'Get out immediately, the enemy is sui-- rounding you." This was cheering news; but to obey it and save ourselves seemed to be out of the question - an impossibility. We felt sure of one thing - and the only means left for our escape - was to dodge oiu- way out, every man for himself, as we might find opportunity. We proceeded at once to act upon this suggestion, and, in a straggling, promiscuous way, dodging around the fence corners, behind the trees and logs, until finally - fortunately or providentially - we worked our way tu a place of safety, though at the expense of losing horses, rations and equipments. We had picketed oiu- horses in the rear about 200 yards, and, during the fight, they, with one or two exceptions, had been shot, killed or disabled.

The Seventy-second had been in line of battle about a half mile in the rear, but were moved to some other point, we did not know where; so here we were scattered through the woods without a single commissioned officer and no one to direct us to the regiment or to our army. That night was spent by Company A in the forests of Georgia like a flock of sheep without a shepherd, with only the canopy of heaven as a covering.

This was a severe blow to the little picket party. It seemed that the fates were against us; repulse and defeat had been the order with scarcely an exception from the first engagement until the final defeat and retreat from the battle-field of Chickamauga. We were provided with horses, and, from time to time, om- equipments were gathered up as best we could. And last, but not least, drew on our reserve for the necessary amount of courage and nerve, when we were prepared for duty again, or for the Wheeler raid, which followed in the wake of the battle of Chickamauga.

Mistakes, it is said, occur- in the best regulated families and in the best organized society. Army life is not an exception. There, sometimes, to break the tedious monotony of camp life, amusements, savoring of irregularity and occasionally pai-taking largely of the ludicrous, were frequently resorted to. A case in point: We had been in om- saddles from early morn imtillate in the evening without so much as a bit of hard-tack or a piece of " Johnny-cake," with which to stay the incessant gnawings of hunger. Having been on the track of Wheeler for about one week and di-iven him, with his raiding minions, across the Tennessee River west of Huntsville, Ala., we were closing up the job on the day in question. Of course, om- strength had been taxed to the utmost extent of endm-ance; and, finally, we were tired, wet and weary. When a halt had been called and quartere secluded for the night, it was necessary to have forage for om- horses and something substantial for om-selves. A squad, therefore, was soon raised and started in pm-suit of the required articles. At that time om- dependence for subsistence was entirely upon the country, being detached fi-om and out of the reach of army supplies. Those who remained in camp were reqirired to gather up and prepare a quantitj'of fuel and build the necessary camp-fires and get things in order for the night. In a brief period, the foragers had retm-ned with an abimdant supply of the requisites to make all comfortable for the next twenty-four hours. Among other things, they had secured several canteens firll of " applejack," old and very nice. This we found not very bad to take in om- dilapidated condition; it seemed to be the very elixir of life, the very thing needed to restore our exhausted vitality. It was, of com-se, passed around fi-eely and all partook without stint, as long as it lasted, the man of gi-eatest capacity storing away the largest quantity, and making himself, consequently, the hero of the occasion. The indulgence was general, and, perhaps, imder the circumstances, justifiable, not as a rule but as an exception of the kind presented. The effects can better be imagined than described. Suffice it to say, however, that after a night of dreamless sleep on a pile of clean straw, "Richard was himself again."

After having been engaged all day in a running fight with the enemy. Company A, commanded by Capt. Lewis Gros, with the Seventy-second Regiment, on the ensuing of the 1st day of April, 1865, encamped about sixteen miles south of Randolph, Ala. At that time the company was at the head of the coliunn, and a squad of the men was put in charge of the wi-iter and ordered to take the advance. And we would say that Company A, or, at least, the party in advance, was never, in all its experience as soldiers, put through a more severe day's work, one that was trying to the nerves, than that they performed on that 1st day of April. We were imder a severe fire fi-om early in the morning imtil late in the evening, the enemy being very stubborn, and our column moving so rapidly that it was necessary for us to chai-ge them two or three times during the day, in order to clear the way. The cry was, "On to Selma," and not give the enemy any rest or time to rally his forces until the city was reached. That day's work was ended with the famous charge of the Seventeenth Indiana, which resulted so disastrously. It was a sad sight to look upon when the column moved up, to see seventeen men lying weltering in their own gore, some dead and others in the last agonies of death. These men had been, or the most of them, shot down - murdered in cold blood - after they had siu-rendered. On the morning of the 2d. a detail of eleven men was made fi'om Company A to go to the rear and look up the medical wagons. "We had moved so rapidly that they had been left behind, perhaps forty miles, and there was gi-eat danger of their falling into the hands of the enemy. This detail consisted of the following men: Sergt. Frank Miu'phy, Corp. William Dimmitt, John Nyce, Ira Cress, John Montgomery, Samuel Foughty, Daniel Sinks, George Foust, John Foust, Samuel Foust, Daniel Rader and the Hospital Stewai'd, Samuel Pilling. The squad was in charge of Sergt. Murphy, a brave, fearless and thoroughly compentent officer. He moved his men cautiously but very rapidly in the direction of Randolph, which was about sixteen miles from the command. On their route, they captinred four rebels, of whom they took charge until they had reached the village, where it was decided to release them, not suspecting any trouble to result from it, and by so doing be less burdened and more able to move rapidly on their mission. It was about 2 o'clock when they reached Randolph. There they called a halt, tied their horses to a fence just on the outskirts of the little town, and fed them, proceeding then to get some refreshments for themselves. Two of the party got permission to go a little way up the road to secure something to eat. Before they returned, the party had got ready to move forward, but, being uneasy about the absent men, Samuel Pilling rode out to hurry them up. The boys were in the act of bridling their horses, when, before they had mounted, a company of rebels, sixty-five in number, came charging down the road on the full run and got in easy gunshot before they were discovered. Sergt. Murphy called to his men to rally and stand by him, and give them the best they had. The rebels came so near that John Nye had a pistol snapped at him and was ordered to surrender; but, in return, he pulled up and shot his adversary dead. The Spencer rifles proved to be a little more than they could stand, especially on horseback, when they halted and began to dismoimt, and were about attempting to surround the little party. Murphy, with a quick eye, discovered the trap his men were about to fall into, when he ordered them to take refuge in a house close by. They did so and made port-holes of the windows. Murphy, on entering the house, received a flesh wound in the leg, a painful hurt^ which bled profusely, though he stood at his post and encouraged his men to hold on, that they would come out all right, and there is no doubt they would have done so had they been supplied with a suificient quantity of ammunition. A council of war was held, and a number of the men were in favor of getting out of there and making their escape. While they were parleying, Samuel Pilling returned minus one boot and almost covered with blood. He had been captured by a Lieutenant, and, being unarmed, he concltided he would try and disarm his captor. He watched his opportunity, and, grappling with him, tried to wrench his pistol from his hand. In the tussle, they both fell from their horses, Pilling leaving his boot fast in the stirrup and receiving two slight wounds. He succeeded in releasing himself and retm'ned to his party at the house, where he was helped on a horse and made his escape. The flght was kept up for some time, when their cartridge-boxes were about emptied and it seemed useless to remain there and try to defend themselves longer; then they decided to make an eflbrt to escape, as the better part of valor, by slipping out one at a time. The tirst to make the effort was Corp.

Dimmitt, then George Foust and John Nye, and, last of all, Sergt. Murphy. They had gone but a short distance when Foust, Cress and Montgomery were captured. Cress was shot at twice, one ball lodging in the pommel of his saddle and the other cutting a lock of hair fi-om his head, John Montgomery was shot in the back after he had suiTendered and was left in the road for dead. Soon after he was taken in by the citizens and cared for until the First Division came up and took him to Solma, where he lay a great sufferer for weeks, but finally recovered and is now a bad cripple. Daniel Rader, John Foust, George Foust, Ira Cress, Samuel Foughty and Sergt. Frank Murphy were captured and taken across the country to Atlanta, where they were kept in jail two days; then marched to Macon, where they were kept four days, and then put on board a train and sent to Jacksonville, Fla., where they were set at liberty; but they were subjected to some very severe treatment on the way through. They had been deprived of their boots and were forced to march forty-tive miles a day and with about one- fourth rations.

On the - day of April, 1865, the Seventy-second Regiment entered Macon, Ga., Wilson's raid having terminated, and this the completion of a continuous and severe march of nearly a month's duration made up of almost continuous skirmishing and fighting. At this point we went into camp, looking forward to the coming season of peace and quiet. The war had about subsided, and the so-called " Southern Confederacy " having collapsed, was being numbered among the things that were. Picket and camp-guard duties were dispensed with, pati-ol and other like duties were no longer necessai-y. The musket and the cannon had done their work and were locked up as reminders of the past, as the instruments for securing protection in the future. The enemy were yet in arms, yet coming in and going out of our camps at will. Not having formally surrendered, but given up their cause as lost, they showed little, if any, disposition to contest their claims further. Om- work, however, was not wholly completed, since there was much property in the way of commissary stores and forage that had been left through the country by the precipitate retreat of the enemy upon our sudden appearance in their midst.

The writer was fiu'nished a squad of men from Company A and sent down the Macon & Mobile Railroad to look after and guaj'd all such property as might be forwarded. We were ordered first to Oglethorpe, alwut sixty miles south frcjm Macon, which had once been a thriving, prosperous city, but, after the extension of the railroad through to the coast, it had become a dilapidated, cnimbling mass of ruins. We found here a large quantity of bacon stores that were either shipped to Macon or distributed among the citizens of the place, who were almost in a starving condition and clamorous for anj^thing and all they could possibly get in the way of food. Next, we were ordered to Americus, some seventy-five miles south of Macon, and. on our way to this point, we passed through the noted, or rather, notorious Andersonville Prison site. It is only a way station or a flag stopping-place in the thick pine forests, and, to all appearance, a frontier wood station, where the railroad had just been completed, and where the sparsely settled community had not become accustomed to the rumbling noise of the cars or the shrill of the locomotive. This is an old coimtry, however, having been settled for nearly two centuries, but the antique appearance of the people and their method of doing things, the primitive, antedeluvian appliances used to further their prosperity and develop the resources of the country - would naturally induce the belief that they belonged to the ages of antiquity rather than the enlightened period of the nineteenth centuiy. Andersouville has nothing to attract the sight-seer nor entice the lover of the romantic or the beautiful; but, on the contrary, evei'ything that is repulsive, obnoxious and odious, especially to the Northern man. The stockade was here bearing the marks and carrying one back to the dreadful scenes of suffering and excniciating pain endured by the many thousands of nolile fellows who had been starved and driven to death's door by the hell-begotten vandals who had been permitted to iiile over them. Om' cm-iosity having been satisfied, we proceeded on our way to Americus, a little city situated ujion a beautiful plat of gi'ound, built up in a very substantial manner and a good measui-e of artistic skill and taste. A number of the nobility of the South were residents here, whence it acquired the demeanor and pomp characteristic of a cultured and refined class of people.

It was evident, now. that these were, or would be, the last duties we should be called upon to perform, and, while we were waiting with almost breathless anxiety for orders to strike tents preparatory to our final discharge fi-om service, we were startled by the news of the capture of the defunct President of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis, only a short distance from om' post. This, of coiu-se, had a tendency to make us rejoice and be glad, and it tended, too, to make us decidedly nervous, and put into our cup of joy a mixture of misfortune and disappointment, not only because we had not been the captiu-ers of the noted fimctionary, but because we had not been the lucky party to the tune of $100,0U0. But, to dispel these thoughts from om- minds and to fill the cup to the brim - to cap the climax of all previous orders - was the following: " Report your squad to its command at once." This we imderstood to be a foretaste of the end of these three years of toil and privation, exposed to the atmosphere of changing climates and to the deadly missiles of a vicious and relentless enemy; in perils of the many, many exigencies of a bitter war - to have it culminate at this supreme moment was indeed hailed with joy. The first train that passed was boarded, and we commenced the delightful, long-looked-for jomniey homeward. When we ai'rived at Macon, the Seventy-second Regiment had become anxious and had gone, but we overtook it at Atlanta, whence we continued om' journey until finally we an'ived at Indianapolis, om' original place of rendezvous, and where we expected to receive om' final discharge and part, never more to meet again in that capacity. How sad the thought, how painful the task, to bid a final adieu to those who had stood shoulder to shoulder with us, and had been identified with each others' interest and common welfare for thi'ee long years ! Were we to express a wish for these noble fellows, it would be that they might be able to claim satisfaction for deeds done, and receive the reward for the faithful performance of all the duties imposed upon them, and give expression as did the patriarch of old - " I have fought the good fight, I have finished my work and have kept the faith, and there is now laid up for me in the heavens above a crown of glorj' which is imperishable, undefiled, and that fadeth not away." This would be the parting salutation fi'om one whose heart even now beats warmly and in sympathy with his late companions in arms.