Diary of Private Richard R. Hancock: Wednesday, December 4, 1861

General Zollicoffer threw over the first small cavalry picket at Mill Springs.

Colonel J. M. Connell set out from Somerset early that morning with his regiment, Seventeenth Ohio, three pieces of artillery and a company of cavalry, with instructions to move to the river and plant his artillery so as to command the ferry at Mill Springs, in order to prevent Zollicoffer's crossing at that point. Leaving his main force some two and a half miles from the river, Colonel Connell went forward with Captain Ricketts and Lieutenant Fife, of the artillery, to make a personal reconnoissance. On meeting our cavalry before reaching the river at Mill Springs, they (our men.) opened fire and gave chase, and the Colonel very narrowly escaped capture.

I take the following from Connell's official report:

In turning a sharp angle my saddle turned, girth broke, and I was thrown within one hundred yards of them, and but for the noble conduct and cool bravery of Captain Ricketts I would have been killed or captured. He got off his horse and waited until I ran up to him and gave me his horse, while he escaped into the woods.¹

Our men got the Colonel's saddle, one pistol, and some other equipments. Connell moved his force back to a position behind Fishing Creek, some twelve miles from Mill Springs, thus leaving the way open for Zollicoffer to cross.

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¹ Rebellion Records, Vol. VII., p. 475.

SOURCE: Richard R. Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee Confederate Cavalry, p. 89-90

Brigadier-General Albin F. Schoepf to Brigadier General George H. Thomas, December 2, 1861

CAMP GOGGIN, December 2, 1861.

GENERAL: I arrived here yesterday, reconnoitered same day and today. This morning the enemy opened fire from three pieces, one rifled, and infantry on Colonel Haskins' camp subsequent to my order for the removal of the camp some distance back.

The strength of the enemy is estimated, by the best accounts we can get, of the following distant from Mill Springs 2 miles, 1,000 infantry; at Steubenville, 2 miles distant from West's, 2,000 infantry; and at Monticello, 5 miles from Steubenville, 3,000 infantry. Mill Springs is distant from this point 12 miles, at which place they can cross the Cumberland with facility, and 2 miles below that point they can also cross.

Apprehending the probability of their crossing at Mill Springs, I detailed two companies of cavalry to that place. I deem the position east of me safe, but west of me they may cross.

The river is high and not fordable, but by means of flats they can cross anywhere; the troops under my command are not sufficient to keep the river guarded as far as Mill Springs. Should they cross in the vicinity of my camp I can defend my position. The Thirty-eighth Ohio will be with me to-day. The Seventeenth will occupy a position on Fishing Creek, to defend against a flank movement should the enemy cross.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

A. SCHOEPF,    

Brigadier-General.

General GEORGE H. THOMAS,
        Commanding Eastern Division.

P. S.—The enemy have moved their artillery and opened fire again. I have hardly time to write.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 7 (Serial No. 7), p. 7

Brigadier-General Albin F. Schoepf to Brigadier-General George H. Thomas, October 28, 1861

CAMP CONNELL, NEAR LONDON,        

Laurel County, Kentucky, October 28, 1861.

[General GEORGE H. THOMAS:]

GENERAL: In compliance with your instructions I have moved my command forward, and now occupy a position about 3 miles north of London, at the junction of the Crab Orchard and Richmond roads.

I have in camp the Fourteenth and Seventeenth Ohio and Thirty-third Indiana and two batteries (Standart's and Kenny's).

I have sent Colonel Garrard's Kentucky and the First Tennessee ahead to occupy London or some convenient point adjacent. The Second Tennessee will be up to-night.

Please advise me of the location, strength, &c., of the several columns of our forces now in Kentucky. I am feeling my way somewhat in the dark, and would like to be kept posted up with reference to the movements of both friends and enemies. I reconnoitered this morning a few miles beyond London to find a better camping ground, but found no position as good as my present, I can here obtain wood, water, forage, and some provisions, which is more than I can do on the other side of London, except by hauling a long distance.

It is reported that Buckner has advanced upon Greensburg. Is it so? A Mr. Burnsides reports himself as beef contractor, but has no documents to show the fact. I understood you to say that he had contracted. Did I rightly understand you?

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

A. SCHOEPF,        

Brigadier-General.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 4 (Serial No. 4), p. 322-3

Diary of Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes: July 16, 1863

At Fayette, heard that Morgan was in Ohio at Piketon, leaving there for Gallipolis. General Scammon wisely and promptly determined to head him [off] by sending me. (This was after a sharp controversy.) [The] Seventeenth with [the] Twenty-third and Thirteenth took steamboats from Loup Creek for Gallipolis.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 420

Diary of Major Rutherford B. Hayes: August 6, 1861

Warm, beautiful weather. A busy day, settling disputes between citizens and their quarrels. I held a sort of police court. Dr. Joe also decided cases. The parties under arrest, we hear their stories and discharge or put on bread and water as the case seems to require. All local tribunals suppressed or discontinued. We also are full of courier and express duty. Colonel Withers, a Union citizen of the old-fashioned Intelligencer reading sort, called. He is a true patriot. We sent out a courier to meet Colonel Ammen with the Twenty-fourth, preparatory to greeting and escorting him. But he isn't coming yet. Colonel Scammon is policing and disciplining in a good way. The colonel improves. As soon as taps sounds he has the lights put out and all talk suppressed.

When we came to Weston, Colonel Lytle was here with four companies. The Seventeenth returning home (three-months men) passed through here about the second or third. The Nineteenth about the first. Colonel E. B. Tyler with the Seventh is beyond Sutton. Colonel Bosley with the Sixth is at Beverly.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 57

17th Ohio Infantry – 3 Months

Organized at Lancaster, Ohio, April 20, 1861. Moved to Benwood, Ohio, thence to Parkersburg, W. Va., April 20-23. Attached to Rosecrans' Brigade, W. Va., to July, 1861. 2nd Brigade, Army of Occupation, West Virginia, to August, 1861.

SERVICE. – Railroad guard duty and operating against guerrillas in Jackson County till July. (2 Companies garrison Ravenswood till July 10.) Skirmish at Glenville July 7. West Virginia Campaign July 7-17. Regiment concentrated at Buckhannon. Expedition to Button July 15-20. Duty at Button till August 3. Left front for Zanesville, Ohio, August 3. Mustered out August 15, 1861.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Part 3, p. 1504

17th Ohio Infantry – 3 Years

Organized at Camp Dennison, Ohio, August 30, 1861. Ordered to Camp Dick Robinson, Ky., September 30, and duty there till October 19. March to Wild Cat October 19-21. Action at Camp Wild Cat, Rockcastle Hills, October 21. Attached to 1st Brigade, Army of the Ohio, November to December, 1861. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Army of the Ohio, to September, 1862. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 3rd Army Corps, Army of the Ohio, to November, 1862. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, Center 14th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to January, 1863. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 14th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland and Army of Georgia, to July, 1865.

SERVICE. – Operations about Mill Springs and Somerset, Ky., December 1-13, 1861. Advance on Camp Hamilton January 1-17, 1862. Battle of Mill Springs January 19-20. Moved from Mill Springs to Louisville, Ky., February 10-16, thence to Nashville, Tenn., February 18-March 2, and duty there till March 20. March to Savannah, Tenn., March 20-April 8. Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. Pursuit to Booneville May 31-June 6. Buell's Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee June to August. Duty at Iuka, Miss., and Tuscumbia, Ala. March to Louisville, Ky., in pursuit of Bragg August 20-September 26. Pursuit of Bragg into Kentucky October 1-15. Battle of Perryville, Ky., October 8. March to Nashville, Tenn., October 16-November 7, and duty there till December 26. Advance on Murfreesboro December 26-30. Battle of Stone's River December 30-31, 1862, and January 1-3, 1863. Duty at Murfreesboro till June. Expedition toward Columbia March 4-14. Middle Tennessee or Tullahoma Campaign June 23-July 7. Hoover's Gap June 24-26. Occupation of Middle Tennessee till August 16. Passage of Cumberland Mountains and Tennessee River and Chickamauga (Ga.) Campaign August 16-September 22. Battle of Chickamauga September 19-21. Siege of Chattanooga, Tenn., September 24-November 23. Near Chattanooga October 8. Reopening Tennessee River October 25-29. Brown's Ferry October 27. Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign November 23-27. Orchard Knob November 23-24. Mission Ridge November 25. Regiment reenlisted January 1, 1864. Veterans on furlough January 22, to March 7, 1864. Reconnoissance to Dalton, Ga., February 22-27, 1864. Tunnel Hill, Buzzard's Roost Gap and Rocky Faced Ridge February 23-25. Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign May 1 to September 8. Demonstrations on Rocky Faced Ridge May 8-11. Battle of Resaca May 14-15. Advance on Dallas May 18-25. Operations on line of Pumpkin Vine Creek and battles about Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills May 25-June 5. Operations about Marietta and against Kenesaw Mountain June 10-July 2. Pine Mountain June 11-14. Lost Mountain June 15-17. Assault on Kenesaw June 27. Ruff's Station, Smyrna Camp Ground, July 4. Chattahoochie River July 5-17. Peach Tree Creek July 19-20. Siege of Atlanta July 22-August 25. Utoy Creek August 5-7. Flank movement on Jonesboro August 25-30. Battle of Jonesboro August 31-September 1. Operations against Hood in North Georgia and North Alabama September 29-November 3. March to the sea November 15-December 10. Siege of Savannah December 10-21. Campaign of the Carolinas January to April, 1865. Fayetteville, N. C., March 11. Battle of Bentonville March 19-21. Occupation of Goldsboro March 24. Advance on Raleigh April 10-14. Occupation of Raleigh April 14. Bennett's House April 26. Surrender of Johnston and his army. March to Washington, D. C, via Richmond, Va., April 29-May 20. Grand Review May 24. Moved to Louisville, Ky., June, and duty there till July. Mustered out July 16, 1865.

Regiment lost during service 6 Officers and 71 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 154 Enlisted men by disease. Total 232.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Part 3, p. 1504