Personal Recollections of Sherman's Campaigns in Georgia and the Carolinas

by George W Pepper

  Andrew Jackson Daugherty, of the Louisville Journal and Cincinnati Gazette, is not the least amongst the most noted names of army correspondents. He is a vigorous and powerful writer, and a polished gentleman. He is loved and respected by all who know the genial warmth of his heart, and his thorough devotion to the national cause. Whilst he was a mere boy, he obtained a situation in the office of the Ohio State Journal, where he remained for several years.

  At the breaking out of the rebellion, he had done but little in journalism, but that little indicated superior talents, and heralded a brilliant future. He was soon enrolled on the staff of reporters for the Louisville Journal, and subsequently was employed to write for the Cincinnati Gazette. During the war, offices of trust and honor were delegated to him by Commanding Generals, all of which he discharged with credit and fidelity. We do not propose to give all the details of his life, it is enough to say, that he is a charming and beautiful writer. The letters he wrote from the army for the Cincinnati Gazette, were graceful, thrilling, and sparkling. His forte is description, some of his battle pictures are fearfully distinct. The personal appearance of Mr. Daugherty, is plain, there is nothing foppish or affected about him. He has an open, generous, jolly looking face, and has a splendidly developed forehead. His manners are cordial, fresh, and affable. J. P. Doyle, author of "Sixty days in the Carolinas" was born in Canada, and received his first knowledge of journalism, in the office of the Toronto Globe. As a newspaper writer, his character stands deservedly high, second indeed, to no one. Imbued with a true patriotic and American spirit, he came to this country in the first year of the war, and was employed on the Cincinnati Commercial. He is better known in the West, by his nom de plume: "Montrose" Doyle, as a war correspondent, takes his place in the first rank of the profession. He is distinguished for great energy of character, indefatigable industry, and earnestness. His brilliant narrative of the march through Georgia, is a masterly and vivid delineation of that glorious campaign. Captain Doyle is a frequent contributor to the Magazines and Reviews, whose pages he enriches by some of his finest productions.

  It cannot be expected that in these hasty biographical outlines, we could have noticed all the clever ''knights of the quill;" we might have included the familiar and brilliant names of Miller, one of the ablest writers of the country; Turay, widely known and distinguished as a fine scholar; Westface, one of the most caustic writers of the day.

  To the readers of war correspondence, it is almost unnecessary to do more than mention the names of Shelley, Smith, Boynton, Howe, Kelly, Murphy and Hayes. These gentlemen were connected with the leading newspapers of the country, and their career merits a more extended biography, than we can give of them in this hurried sketch.

  CHAPTER XV.

  McCook’s and Sherman's Great Raids — Sherman's Anxiety to Destroy the Macen Road — McCook's Daring Movements — Surprises the Chivalry — Stoneman’s Raid— More Brilliant than Profitable — Wheeler's Demand for Dalton. —The Gallant Reply of Colonel Seelved — Hood Demands the Surrender of Resaca — Magnificent Heroism of Illinois, Iowa, and other Regiments — Pen Pictures of the Events, & c.

  Sherman was desirous of reaching the Macon road, over which came the stores and provisions which maintained the rebel army in Atlanta. McCook's force consisted of his own Division, the First Brigade containing the 4th Kentucky, 1st East Tennessee and 8th Iowa, commanded by Colonel Curtin, and the Second Brigade, containing the 1st Wisconsin, 2d Indiana and 4th Indiana, 2d Kentucky, 4th Tennessee and 5th Iowa, commanded by Lieut. Colonel Torry. The 9th Ohio, a splendid cavalry regiment, was left to guard the pontoon across the Chattahoochie. The entire column was not more than two thousand. The most of the troops were armed with the Spencer rifle. Picked men and horses were selected for this daring adventure. This raid on the part of our cavalry was characterized by honorable correctness, uprightness and the absence of outrages which had unhappily distinguished other expeditions.

  The first town of any importance captured by McCook was Fayetteville. Noiselessly the long column of silent horsemen pursued their way through the drenching rain, over roads that never before resounded to the footfall of a Federal soldier. Nine miles from Palmetto, Whitewater Creek was crossed at several fords, and when the column passed over, the woods were found lined with the baggage trains of the rebel army. A scene set in that defies description. With admirable management our advanced brigade kept straight on their way to Fayetteville, maintaining a profound silence, and not deigning to reply to the drowsy queries of the few teamsters. Not until every avenue of escape from Fayetteville was guarded, did our troops commence the work of destruction. Words cannot picture their astonishment and abject terror when they gradually became conscious of their situation. Some dragged ruthlessly from their slumbers, were disposed to show fight, at what they considered a very good joke. Others were altogether incredulous and nothing convinced them that they were really surprised until our men commenced destroying their trains.

  The number of wagons destroyed was seven hundred. They apparently contained all the baggage of the rebel army, and also the valuables of citizens who had left at our approach. Rebel infantry was encountered near Newnan, a station on the Atlanta and West Point Railroad. On Saturday, at ten o'clock, our advance guard had reached within a mile of the town, when it was evident that a fight was imminent. Our men charged down the streets, and after a brisk little fight our boys withdrew, because of overwhelming numbers. McCook being surrounded, he was obliged to cut his way out, with a loss of five hundred men. Major Purdy, of the 4th Indiana, rallied three hundred men, and by dint of sticking closely to the woods, and employing Negro guides, he reached the Chattahoochie. During the night, with the aid of two frail dugouts, he crossed every man and equipment’s, swimming the horses. On Sunday he traveled not less than seventy miles by obscure roads, the enemy hanging on his rear all day, and near dark, capturing four or five dismounted men, who were straggling in the rear. Sunday night the worn out detachment encamped at Sweetwater.

  Stoneman's raid, in penetrating the heart of an enemy's country, will be regarded as one of the gallant feats of the war. Stoneman started on the 27th, and pushed immediately for the vicinity of Macon, ninety miles distant, where he arrived, a guard remaining at Flat Rock to cover the command. Stoneman's force was well mounted, having abandoned all their broken down horses, and seized such fresh ones as they found on the route. They were unencumbered by artillery or baggage and admirably fitted out for a dying expedition. But, notwithstanding these facilities for traveling and escaping the rebel General Iverson was posted in Stoneman’s designs. Following up, he overtook him on the 28th, at the junction of South and Yellow rivers, sixty miles North West of Macon. A short and desperate battle ensued. Kelley's and Hume's rebel cavalry were fighting the troops that Stoneman detached for the purpose of delaying pursuit. General Armstrong's rebel cavalry, comprising the 1st and 2nd Kentucky, were now assailing Stoneman's flank, and other rebel troops were in his rear, thus surrounding him. Stoneman now learned that Iverson was above Clinton, disputing his return. He decided to fight his way through. His command numbered twenty-five hundred. Iverson opened a heavy fire upon him and after several desperate efforts, Stoneman ordered his subordinate commanders to dash through the lines and escape. Stoneman, with three hundred men, was compelled to surrender. His loss was a thousand men and three guns. Stoneman is a free and easy, dashing and courageous officer, who at once wins the confidence of all under his command. Wherever he would lead they would follow. This expedition was more brilliant than successful.

  Wheeler's raid was intended to destroy Sherman's lines of communications. He boasted that he had no fears of his ability to accomplish his object and to extricate his command, whenever necessary, from its dangerous position. Chattanooga, after the capture of Dalton, should be the next point of attack. He found a warmer reception awaited him than was expected. Dalton was only defended by four hundred men. To Wheeler's imperative demand for the surrender of the town.
Colonel Siebold, the Post Commander, responded in this chivalrous style:

  “I have been placed here to defend this post, but not to surrender it!"

  B. SIEBOLD,

  Commanding United States Forces.”

  Wheeler's men were splendidly equipped, and made a desperate effort to capture the place. The timely arrival of General Steedman, with reinforcements, soon decided the day.

  Colonel Siebold displayed great daring in the skirmish with Wheeler. His fearless answer to the rebel leader, whose forces outnumbered him five to one, is worthy of the man. Colonel Siebold is a gallant soldier, brave, cool and determined, at least Wheeler thinks so, after leaving one hundred and seventy-two of his killed and wounded on the field Siebold's force when attacked, was three hundred and forty-five effective men, and Wheeler had two thousand three hundred. Colonel Morgan's colored troops behaved nobly on this occasion. They went in with a yell that struck terror into the hearts of the chivalry. This regiment, the 14th U. S. C, is a well drilled and splendid regiment. How cheap and crest-fallen these Southern bloods must feel when they have to give way and skedaddle before their own chattels. Dalton, before Wheeler's raid, was doing a flourishing sutler business. These sutlers were the bravest and most self-sacrificing men on earth— they would charge a soldier ten cents for a sheet of common letter paper, and everything else in proportion. But when the news of Wheeler's arrival had reached them, all their bravery forsook them, they cried to the hills and mountains to come and hide them. They ran up and down the streets calling upon the soldiers to take what they pleased. Three of these shining patriots, who never knew what danger was, until they were completely surrounded, donned each a suit of lady's garments, and wore an old, worn out, dilapidated sun-bonnet, to cover their heads and feces, In this plight they advanced cautiously on Siebold's head-quarters, and when within about a hundred yards of the place they were hailed by soldiers, who would not permit them to move an inch further. They cried out: "We are three sutlers, and have come to claim protection, and you take us in we will give you half of the stores." The guard was inexorable, yes, case-hardened! And, unluckily for them, he knew them too well. His only answer was, to their piteous whining: "Go to the d — I, you charged me a dollar for a wood pipe this morning, and now you have the impudence to come and ask me to protect your miserable avaricious carcasses!" At this moment a shell came booming along and burst over their heads. The trio, as if by electricity, fell flat on their faces, and did not move for two hours. After the firing had ceased, some of the boys went out to where they were lying, thinking from their stillness, that life was surely gone. One of the colored troops laid his hand gently on the head of one; no sooner did he do so, than he exclaimed in a paroxysm of despair: "O! General Wheeler, for God's sake don't kill me, for I am only a sutler and a Peace Democrat; you may have all the money I have got!"

  HOOD’S DEMAND FOR THE SURRENDER OF RESACA

  The first symptom of the enemy's approach, was the appearance of rebel cavalry, driving in our pickets. Their advance was stubbornly resisted by pickets, belonging to the Eightieth Ohio, Fifty-Sixth Illinois, and Seventh Kentucky. There was skirmishing for about an hour, but nothing to signify the strength of the enemy, till about three o'clock, when the Confederates, numbering from twelve to fifteen thousand, appeared in sight of town, and were making demonstrations. Instead of a few, as at first supposed, the woods soon became dense with butternuts planting their batteries in conspicuous positions. The rebel sharp-shooters fired with murderous aim into our very tents and forts.

  POSITION OF THE CONFEDERATES.

  Immediately west of Resaca, the hills are bold, and rather bare of trees, but as the hills recede in their westward course from the Oostanaula River, they become lower, and are densely wooded, while low spurs, covered with copse wood, run down at right angles to the range of hills into the plain, behind and between which spurs, the rebel army was posted, stretching from west to south, and from west to east, for a distance of several miles. These positions possessed many advantages, and every Confederate, from the commander-in chief, down to the drummer boy, appreciated the strength of the ground, and contemplated the coming shock of battle with confidence and composure. The enemy's forces were divided into three divisions, under Lee, Stewart, and Cleburne, all Major-Generals, and fiery soldiers. The corps de armee, was under the personal management of Lieutenant-General John B. Hood.

  THE STRENGTH AND LOCATION OF THE UNION TROOPS.

  There were only two complete infantry regiments, the Fifty-Sixth Illinois and the Eightieth Ohio, in Resaca, when the rebels made their presence known.

  Couriers were immediately sent out, and General Sherman ordered re-inforcements. Our only available force was eight hundred, including the artillerists. Think of the numbers, eight hundred against fifteen thousand! As regards the disposition of our troops, they occupied the forts, while a strong line was thrown out in front. The works were very strong, being protected by abatis, chevaux de frise, and batteries. For three nights the Eightieth Ohio, strengthened and increased the defenses.

  If the rebel foe had assaulted these works, he would have been repulsed with terrible slaughter. Every ridge, hill, bluff, peak, was crowned with iron diadems and improvised palisades. Lieutenant Winsor had charge of the artillery, and finely managed this branch of the service. He was ably assisted by Corporal Thomas Dobson, who astonished all, by the precision with which he fired his shots into the enemy's ranks.

  THE DEMAND FOR THE SURRENDER OF RESACA.

  About four o'clock on the 12th, a flag of truce wag sent into head-quarters, in the name of General Hood, demanding an immediate and unconditional surrender, accompanied with a threat, that in non-compliance, no prisoners would be taken. Colonel Neaver, of the 17th Iowa, commanding the post, an officer as modest as he is brave, returned the significant and gallant reply:

  "I can hold this post; if you want it, come and take it."

  In about twenty minutes, the rebels made an advance in all directions. By the way, during the flag of truce, the chivalry (!) had recourse to their usual arts of villainy. They took advantage of this usage to move and advance their lines.

  THE OPENING OF THE FIGHT.

  Active skirmishing was kept up by the pickets on both sides, and with a view of feeling the enemy's position, one of our Napoleons thundered across the intervening space, and was immediately answered by shells whistling over our heads, dropping among the teamsters, and producing some confusion. The skirmishers advanced a short distance, when the enemy made a desperate effort to dislodge them. It was in vain, for the gallant patriots rushed on them with a yell, capturing some, and killing not a few. Too much praise cannot be awarded to General Watkins and his gallant cavalry for their efficiency, splendid heroism, and persistent zeal. Next morning, volleys of musketry awoke our wearied boys, and summoned them once more to the sweet task of vindicating the time-honored banner of beauty and glory. The rebels commenced now in terrible earnest to throw shells. They were answered pretty effectually by ours. The cannonading now became general along the whole line.

  Such a scene is at once terrific and sublime. The thundering, bellowing roar of several pieces of artillery, the bright jets of issuing flame, the screaming, whistling, hissing, shrieking projectiles, the wreaths of smoke, as shell after shell burst into the still air, the savage crash of round shot that fell among the trees! Volley replied to volley, crash succeeded crash, and cheer answered cheer. A small squad oi brave Pennsylvanians advanced boldly under a raking fire, and drove the audacious foe from a well selected position.

  THE GALLANT DEFENSE OF TILTON.

  The Seventeenth Iowa, a portion of our brigade, was placed here, and ordered to hold the place at all hazards. It only numbered two hundred and eighty men. On the morning of the 13th, General A. P. Stewart, with a force of fourteen thousand, advanced on the place, and sent in the following order:

  "Head Quarters, Stewart's Corps,

  Near Tilton, October 13.

  To the O
fficer commanding United States Forces:

  SIR: — I have ample force to take the garrison at Tilton. I demand its immediate and unconditional surrender. If this demand is complied with, all officers and white soldiers will be paroled. If refused, no prisoners will be taken."

  To this imperative order, Lieutenant-Colonel Archer replied that he would not surrender. The signal was given, and the rebel batteries opened a destructive fire, the roar of the artillery was thunderous. The shells descended and burst over the block-house, shattering and tearing it to pieces.

  The gallant Iowans poured into the ranks of the enemy, a destructive fire. Every son of Iowa was determined to hold the place, and the prospect of savage butchery, if they yielded, inspired the men with superhuman courage. The frequent discharges of their rifles thinned the columns of the proud and vaunting foe.