Showing posts with label 6th OH INF. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 6th OH INF. Show all posts

Sunday, September 20, 2020

Diary of Colonel Jacob Ammen, April 7, 1862

3 a.m.—Less rain. General Nelson, that energetic and wide-awake officer, is at my headquarters, near a large tree, and issues his orders to me verbally: “Colonel Ammen, you will put the Tenth Brigade in motion, as soon as you can see to move, at dawn; find the enemy and whip him.” He went towards the Nineteenth Brigade. The Tenth Brigade is in line, ready to meet an attack, and preparing the best possible breakfast that their haversacks, culinary advantages, &c., will afford; the skirmish line strengthened and advanced several hundred yards beyond the bayou in our front, and the brigade commences the march through the undergrowth, crosses the bayou, ascends the steep, high bank; first line advances far enough to let the second cross, halts, adjusts alignment, &c., the skirmishers advancing slowly and cautiously in the mean time. Our left is to rest on the marsh or Tennessee River, and our line of march is to be up the river. It is now light, and we are again in motion through the wet undergrowth and forest. Rain has ceased. An occasional shot is fired by our skirmishers, and now we are at a clearing, and some cabins and tents are standing, from which our troops were driven yesterday. We cross the open space and halt in the forest. The battle has commenced miles to the right. The fire is extending along the line, and has been coming nearer and nearer, and now we hear the shouts of the distant combatants. The Tenth is again in motion. Our skirmish line has some work, but the enemy falls back; does not advance on our front in force. The advance is slow and cautious; the position of our left flank is examined carefully and is near a swamp; cannot be easily turned. The undergrowth, the forest, and the clearing a short distance in front are favorable to us. About a mile from our position this morning; our advance has not been interrupted. The confidence of the men increased, if I may judge from their cheerful salutes and happy countenances as I pass along the Nines. The roar of artillery and small-arms is extending to our left rapidly. The brigade on our right is engaged furiously. A battery is brought to the support of the Nineteenth, and the Sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry is taken from my front line to support the battery. The Twenty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry takes position in the front line.

No sooner is our line formed than the enemy assault fiercely, but the brave men and officers of the Tenth Brigade stand cool and firm, and hurl the foe back again and again, as often as he reaches the crest of the small rise immediately in our front. The attacks of the enemy are frequent and desperate, but our new troops have the coolness of veterans. Captain Mendenhall's battery, Fourth U.S. Artillery, comes to our support when we need assistance. Right good service did Captain Mendenhall and his well-drilled and efficient battery perform. The troops on our right are hard up to hold their position, and are not able to dislodge the enemy in their front. We of the Tenth have our hands full. The enemy is massing in our front, apparently determined to carry our left flank. The Tenth is placed on the best ground for defense, concealed as far as practicable, and ready to receive the attack of superior numbers. On the rebels come with loud shouts, and when they are at the proper place the men of the Tenth rise, the front rank fires, loads; the rear rank fires, &c. The rebels find the aim too accurate and the balls to numerous to continue the advance; they fall back, renew the attack repeatedly, but are each time repulsed by the brave men and officers under my command. Generals Buell and Nelson come along; call my attention to the great force in my front, which we had seen and been fighting some time. They were uneasy for the safety of the left, but when they witnessed the fierce assault of the rebels and the cool and determined courage of the men and officers of the Tenth and the decided repulse of the rebels, their expressed their admiration and promised me re-enforcements. Captain Mendenhall's battery was taken to another part of the line of battle which was sorely pressed. The battle rages with us; no cessation; no diminution of numbers in our front; no appearance of retreat, but evident signs of another attack. They come, but cannot move our line; another effort without success; our left baffles all their courage and skill. We have fought long against superior numbers; the men are weary; ammunition is nearly exhausted. Our brave and noble Generals (Buell and Nelson) have taken good care of their troops. Ammunition is close to our line; the boxes are taken to the line; the cartridge boxes are filled and each man has 20 more cartridges on his person. The gallant Captain Terrill, with his battery, Fifth U.S. Artillery, dashes in and takes position at the right of our line; opens fire on the enemy just at the decisive moment; dismounts several pieces of one of their batteries in our front. The fire of the infantry is also constant and protracted. The line of battle was more than 4 miles long; a partial cessation; distant firing suddenly all along the line; an incessant roar of fire-arms; shouts of men, &c. The left of our line and the right of the rebels are as busy, as determined, and as anxious as at any other part of the line of battle. The fire is terrible on both sides. The Tenth Brigade advances slowly, but is gaining ground. The rebels fall back slowly, stubbornly, but they are losing ground. Terrill's battery helps us greatly. We advance more rapidly; push the rebels across the field; pass the tents deserted by our troops early Sunday. The rebels take ammunition from the boxes as they tarry among the tents, where they made a stand for some minutes. Our troops rout the rebels, and also replenish their cartridge boxes from the ammunition at this camp. We pursue a short distance; the rebels are re-enforced; are too strong for us, and we in turn fall back slowly in good order to the forest we left an hour or more before. The fight continues, but our position is strong; we could not be driven from it. Re-enforcements were sent to me by the generals; the left advanced; the rebels fell back. The troops under my command made a charge; the rebels retreated in haste; disappeared in the forest, and the battle was at an end for that day about 3.30 p.m. Parties were sent in pursuit, but there was no fighting except slight skirmishing. The troops bivouacked about 2 miles in advance of our starting point this morning. General Nelson goes to the gunboats and leaves the division under my command. General Buell comes to prepare for to-morrow's fight; I accompany him; he selects line of battle; orders me where and how to form division; accompany him to Crittenden's division, &c.; get back about midnight. General Buell is indefatigable, careful of his men, cool in battle, labors hard to get the best positions, and sees and examines for himself. Rains hard. General Thomas division arrived on boats at 11 a.m.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 10, Part 1 (Serial No. 10), p. 335-6

Sunday, August 24, 2014

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

Sunday, May 18, 2014

Colonel Thomas Kilby Smith to Helen Smith, September 15, 1862, 2 a.m.


CAMP ON HERNANDO ROAD, NEAR MEMPHIS,
2 O'CLOCK A.M., Sept. 15, 1862.
MY DEAR SISTER:

At eleven o'clock last night as I was about to “turn in” an orderly came dashing up through the rain with despatches advising me that the Brigadier-General commanding had reliable information that our pickets were to be attacked this night or morning, rather, by the enemy's cavalry, and ordering me to double my picket guard. Being some distance from our main army and my outside pickets being three miles distant from me, and having a six-gun battery under my command attached to my regiment, after giving my orders and disposing of my forces, I feel indisposed for sleep and know not how I can better put in the residue of the night than by writing to my dear sister Helen, whose affectionate letter of the 8th inst. with inclosure is now before me, being this day received.

I send you a picture of General Sherman and staff, numbered thus —

1. Lieutenant Taylor, 5th Ohio Cavalry, Aide-de-Camp.
2. Major J. H. Hammond, Assistant Adjutant-General.
3. Captain Dayton, 6th Ohio Infantry, Aide-de-Camp.
4. Major Taylor, of Taylor's Battery, Chief of Artillery.
5. Capt. J. Condict Smith, Division Quartermaster.
6. General Sherman.
7. Col. Thos. Kilby Smith, of 54th Ohio Inf. Zouaves.
8. Captain Shirk, U.S.N., Commander of gunboat Lexington, which threw the shells at Shiloh.
9. Major Hartshorne, Division Surgeon.
10. Col. W. H. H. Taylor, 5th Ohio Cavalry.
11. Capt. James McCoy, 54th Ohio Inf. Zouaves, Aidede-Camp.
12. Major Sanger, 55th Illinois Inf., Aide-de-Camp.

These, with two exceptions, were together and did service at the battle of Shiloh; the names of some of them will adorn the pages of history. The Quartermaster looms up among them like Saul among the prophets, a head and shoulder above the rest. He stands six feet four and a half inches high in his stocking feet, and I have a private in the ranks in my regiment who is three inches taller than he.

Tell mother she need not be alarmed about Sherman's sanity; his mind is sound, his intellect vigorous. He is a man for the times. His enemies are seeking to destroy him. The whole article she sends is replete with falsehood. No city in the Union has a better police, is more accurately governed than Memphis. It is sufficient for me to say to mother that the whole article is false from beginning to end. Tell dear mother I will write her shortly; that meanwhile, to be of good cheer. The game of war is fluctuating — their turn now, ours perhaps to-morrow.

And all night long I have waited and watched; the gray dawn is now streaking the eastern sky. No warning shot from the picket guard, all is still, all quiet, as though smiling peace still blessed the land. I have written and paced the sentry's beat at intervals; now sounds the reveille\ The stirring fife and prompt sharp sound of the drum break upon the morning air. The camp is all aroused. My labor for the night is done. Its result a copy of verses and not very interesting letter. It will bring proof, however, that I have thought of you, that for the whole night at least you have been in my thoughts till dawn.

I don't think that Cincinnati is in immediate danger from Smith; he will probably retire. His mission was to watch Morgan at the Cumberland Gap. It was so easy a thing to do, that he made his advance farther than was intended. Bragg is the general to watch. He and Buell will, I think, it is likely, have a big battle. If he is victorious, good-by, Cincinnati. Anyhow I must think she is a doomed city.

SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 242-4

Friday, April 4, 2014

6th Ohio Infantry – 3 Months: "Guthrie Grays"

Organized at Camp Harrison, near Cincinnati, and mustered in April 27, 1861. Duty at Camp Harrison till May 17. Moved to Camp Dennison, Ohio, May 17, and duty there till June 18. Reorganized for three years' service June 18, 1861. Three-months men mustered out July 24, 1861.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Part 3, p. 1498

6th Ohio Regiment Infantry – 3 Years

Organized at Camp Dennison, Ohio, June 18, 1861. Moved to Fetterman, W. Va., June 29-July 2. Attached to 1st Brigade, Army of Occupation, West Virginia, to September, 1861. Reynolds' Command, Cheat Mountain, W. Va., to November, 1861. 10th Brigade, Army Ohio, to December, 1861. 10th Brigade, 4th Division, Army Ohio, to September, 1862. 10th Brigade, 4th Division, 2nd Corps, Army Ohio, to November, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, Left Wing 14th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to January, 1863. 3rd, Brigade, 2nd Division, 21st Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to October, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 4th Army Corps, to June, 1864.

SERVICE. – At Grafton, W. Va., July 2, 1861. March to Philippi July 4. West Virginia Campaign July 6-21. Laurel Hill July 8. Carrick's Ford July 13. Pursuit of Garnett's forces July 15-16. Duty at Beverly till August 6. Camp at Elkwater, foot of Cheat Mountain, August 6-November 19. Operations on Cheat Mountain against Lee September 11-17. Cheat Mountain Pass September 12. Reconnoissance up Tygart Valley September 26-29. Moved to Louisville November 19-30. Duty at Camp Buell till December 9, and at Camp Wickliffe, Ky., till February 14, 1862. Expedition down Ohio River to reinforce Gen. Grant at Fort Donelson, thence to Nashville, Tenn., February 14-25. Occupation of Nashville February 25, the first Regiment to enter city. Camp on Murfreesboro Pike till March 17. March to Savannah, Tenn., March 17-April 6. Battle of Shiloh, Tenn., April 6-7. Duty at Pittsburg Landing till May 24. Siege of Corinth, Miss., May 24-30. Occupation of Corinth May 30. Pursuit to Booneville May 30-July 12. Moved to Athens, Ala., and duty there till July 17. Ordered to Murfreesboro July 17, thence to McMinnville and duty there till August 17. March to Louisville, Ky., in pursuit of Bragg August 17-September 26. Pursuit of Bragg into Kentucky October 1-22. Battle of Perryville October 8. March to Nashville, Tenn., October 22-November 7, and duty there till December 26. Advance on Murfreesboro, Tenn., December 26-30. Battle of Stone's River December 30-31, 1862, and January 1-3, 1863. Duty at and near Murfreesboro till June. Actions at Woodbury, Tenn., January 24 and April 4. Middle Tennessee or Tullahoma Campaign June 23-July 7. At Manchester till August 16. Passage of Cumberland Mountains and Tennessee River, and Chickamauga (Ga.) Campaign August 16-September 22. Battle of Chickamauga September 19-20. Siege of Chattanooga,Tenn., September 24-November 23. Reopening Tennessee River October 26-29. Brown's Ferry October 27. Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign November 23-27. Orchard Knob November 23-24. Mission Ridge November 25. March to relief of Knoxville, Tenn., November 28-December 8. Operations in East Tennessee till April, 1864. About Dandridge January 16-17. Garrison at Cleveland, Tenn., April 12-May 17, and at Resaca, Ga., guarding railroad bridge over the Oostenaula River, till June 6. Ordered to the rear for muster out June 6. Mustered out at Camp Dennison, Ohio, June 23, 1864, expiration of term.

Regiment lost during service 4 Officers and 82 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 56 Enlisted men by disease. Total 144.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Part 3, p. 1498