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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/31584-h.zip b/31584-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ac16d5d --- /dev/null +++ b/31584-h.zip diff --git a/31584-h/31584-h.htm b/31584-h/31584-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ab4cc2b --- /dev/null +++ b/31584-h/31584-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2203 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of History of the Seventh Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, by R. C. Rankin. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + + p {margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .75em;} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 {text-align: center; clear: both;} + + hr {width: 33%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; clear: both;} + + body {margin-left: 12%; margin-right: 12%;} + + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; text-align: right; font-style: normal;} + + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .dropfig {float: left; clear: left; margin: 0 2px 0 0;} + + a:link {color:#0000ff; text-decoration:none} + a:visited {color:#6633cc; text-decoration:none} + + ins.correction {text-decoration:none; border-bottom: thin solid gray;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of History of the Seventh Ohio Volunteer +Cavalry, by R. C. Rankin + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: History of the Seventh Ohio Volunteer Cavalry + +Author: R. C. Rankin + +Release Date: March 10, 2010 [EBook #31584] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY--7TH OHIO VOLUNTEER CAVALRY *** + + + + +Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net. (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive/American +Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i001.jpg" alt="History of the Seventh Ohio Volunteer Cavalry by R. C. Rankin" /></div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i003.jpg" alt="History of the Seventh Ohio Volunteer Cavalry" /></div> + + +<p><span class="dropfig"><img src="images/i003a.png" alt="I" /></span>t being suggested that a History of the Seventh Ohio Volunteer Cavalry be +written, the honor was conferred upon me. Not being a historian or even a +letter writer, I feel myself entirely incompetent to do justice to the +Regiment that has done so much good service. In writing a historical +account of the <ins class="correction" title="original reads 'orginization'">organization</ins> of this Regiment, I shall have to rely almost +exclusively on memory, owing to the fact that all the Regiment’s notes and +papers have been captured, as will be seen before concluding this +narrative.</p> + +<p>The Seventh Ohio Volunteer Cavalry was recruited on an order emanating +from the War Department, that Gov. Todd, of Ohio, would raise one Regiment +of Cavalry, for “Border Service,” the Ohio River then being the boundary.</p> + +<p>The organization of this Regiment was commenced and the duty of the +organization was conferred on Major Malcolm McDowell, Paymaster U. S. A., +and I may add here, that there is no visitor more welcome at the camp of +the Seventh O. V. C., than the gallant old grandfather of the Reg’t, as he +is styled here. The counties ordered to raise Companies were as follows: +Hamilton, three; Clermont, one; Brown, one; Adams, one; Scioto, one; +Lawrence, one; Gallia, one; Meigs, one; Washington, one; Monroe, one. +Lawrence and Monroe failing to raise the companies, their places were +supplied by raising two in Gallia and one in Athens. As soon as recruiting +was fairly under way, Major McDowell was retired and resumed his orignal +duties as Paymaster.</p> + +<p>Recruiting was very lively, and the Companies were all filled by the first +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span>week in September, and the Regiment was then organized as follows:</p> + +<p>Colonel, Israel Garrard; Lieut. Colonel, George G. Minor; Majors, Wm. L. +Raney, —— Norton, and James McIntire; Adjutant, T. F. Allen; Q. M., W. +M. R. Jackson; C. S., John McColgin; Surgeon, Isaac Train; Asst. Surgeons, +---- Tullis and —— Barrett.</p> + +<p>Non-Com., Field and Staff.—S. M., B. P. Stacy; Q. M. S., Geo. M. Ross; C. +S., B. F. Powers; H. S., James Saffron; Saddler, Serg’t Albert G. Sells.</p> + +<p>Captains—Wm. A. Simpson, A. S. Brownfield, Warren, Campbell, Solomon L. +Green, Lindsey, Ashburn, Higley, Wm. Lewis, R. C. Rankin, Eels, and John +Leaper.</p> + +<p>First Lieutenants—A. Hall, Santemire, Sayers, Moore, W. D. Ketterman, +Copeland, Nichols, Tripp, Long, Shaw, Carr, McNight.</p> + +<p>Second Lieutenants—A. N. Rich, Wm. Burton, Martin Shuler, Murphy, John V. +Srofe, O. H. Eyler, Trago, Smith, Chase, Wambledorf and Johnson.</p> + +<p>The Companies rendezvoused in the counties in which they were raised and +received millitary instruction from their respective Commanders for +several weeks.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, Co. E, Capt. R. C. Rankin’s Company, quartered at Ripley, +Ohio, rendered valuable service to the city of Maysville, Ky., in +defending her against John Morgan’s command, and on the night of September +20th, 1862, crossed the Ohio River and marched to Brookville, Ky., a +distance of twenty-five miles, and participated in the attack and the +driving from the place, the rebels under Basil Duke, who was engaged in +paroling the citizens carried away by him from Augusta, which place he had +captured and burned the day previous. Capt. R. C. Rankin, with Co. E and a +squad of mounted citizens from Ripley, Ohio, made a charge on the place, +capturing one rebel as they went in, and having one man killed by the +retreating rebels. The gallant Duke did not stand upon the order of his +going, but just “went.” This may be recorded as the first blood the +Seventh saw in battle.</p> + +<p>Ripley being connected with a large portion of Kentucky by turnpike roads, +was selected as the place for the Regiment to rendezvous and receive +instructions, which duty devolved principally on Lt. Col. Minor, who +proved himself fully competent to the task. Col. Garrard’s time being +occupied in equipping the Regiment.</p> + +<p>The first Battallion reached Ripley about the 1st of October, and on the +19th of October, this Battallion and twenty-five men of Co. E, under +command of Capt. R. C. Rankin, all being under Lt. Col. Minor, crossed the +Ohio River and made a scout to Falmouth, Ky., (in obedience to orders from +Gen. Wright, Commanding Dept. of Ohio,) reaching there on the third day, +and finding it occupied by Federal troops. Passing through four counties, +they returned to camp at Ripley, bringing with them three prisoners +captured by the advance—Capt. R. C. Rankin’s twenty-five men of E Co. +being the advance.</p> + +<p>The First Battallion crossed the river about the 1st of November, and took +up the line of march for Lexington, Ky., Major Rainey commanding, and +joined Gen. Carter in December, accompanying that officer on his raid into +East Tennessee, by the way of Pound Gap, and participated in the burning<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span> +of Carter’s Station and the bridge across the Watauga River at +Zollicoffer, Tenn.; returning to Kentucky, with the loss of one man killed +and a few lost as prisoners, after an absence of three weeks.</p> + +<p>Four companies broke camp and crossed the river at Maysville, Ky., on the +21st of December, and took up their march for Danville, Ky., reaching +there on the 24th, Lt. Colonel commanding.</p> + +<p>In obedience to orders of Gen. Baird, commanding at Danville, Company E, +Capt. Rankin in command, was ordered to Harrodsburgh for the purpose of +sending scouting parties on the different roads leading from that place, +and rendered much valuable service to Gen. Baird, by keeping him posted as +to the movements of John Morgan, who had invaded the State and was +approaching that point.</p> + +<p>They also captured many prisoners, with their equipments. The number +captured during their stay, would more than equal the entire command under +Capt. Rankin.</p> + +<p>The duties became so ardorous, that Gen. Baird sent Company L, Capt. +Leaper, to assist.</p> + +<p>The border now being on the Kentucky and Salt River hills, the remainder +of the Regiment, under Col. Garrard, were brought up to join the others at +Danville, Ky., reaching there about the 4th of January, 1863. The whole +Regiment, (Co. E excepted, which was still on duty at Harrodsburg,) after +a few weeks getting together at Danville, moved to Harrodsburg, where it +remained until about the latter part of February.</p> + +<p>About this time, the rebel Col. Cluke invaded Eastern Kentucky, and the +Seventh was ordered out to assist in driving him from the State.</p> + +<p>On reaching Crab Orchard, the Regiment was divided: part under Lt. Col. +Minor moved by the way of Richmond and Ervin to Hazel Green, and had a +skirmish with the enemy at that place, capturing twenty-five prisoners. +The remainder of the Regiment, under Col. Garrard, went to Mt. Sterling, +by the way of Richmond and Winchester, charging the town and driving the +rebels from it, but not in time, however, to save a portion of it from +flames.</p> + +<p>The place had been surrendered a short time previous, by Col. Ratcleffe of +the 10th Kentucky Cavalry.</p> + +<p>The enemy being hotly pursued on the Owensville road, made a stand on +State Creek, four miles out, but after a sharp engagement were driven from +their position, with a loss of eight killed.</p> + +<p>About three weeks were occupied in traversing this mountainous country. +The rain and snow falling almost continuously, made the roads in places +impassable. The Regiment all got together at Lexington, about the first of +April.</p> + +<p>Immediately on the arrival of the regiment at Lexington, an order was +issued by Gen. Gilmore, for Capt. Rankin to report with Company E to the +Provost Marshal of the District. Upon doing so, the duty assigned him was +to make a scout through Jessamine, Mercer, Woodford and Anderson counties, +and if possible, to arrest and bring to Lexington a rebel, Col. Alexander, +who had up to this time baffled all efforts made for his capture.</p> + +<p>The scouting party returned, being successful in the capture of Col. +Alexander, together with a rebel recruiting officer, met on the highway, +who on being searched was found to have on his person a recruiting +officer’s<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> papers authorizing him to proceed from Beech Grove, Tenn., to +the counties above mentioned, to recruit for John Morgan’s command, +stationed at Beech Grove; also, taking from the cliffs, bordering on the +Kentucky river, near Shakertown, a member of John Morgan’s command +concealed there.</p> + +<p>The day after their return, this Company was sent to Cynthiana and did +duty for some weeks with the 118th Ohio, in breaking up recruiting +station, Col. Mott commanding.</p> + +<p>After having completed this service, Co. E, Capt. Rankin commanding, was +ordered first to Paris, thence to Carlisle, which place was reached about +midnight. Being aided by a small party of citizens, he continued his march +about six miles to a mill on the north-fork of Licking river where he +captured a picket-post of sixteen rebel soldiers, and then returned to +Paris on the following day.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, the regiment bore a conspicuous part in the fight with +Pegram’s force at Dutton Hill, and just as our line was beginning to +waver, a daring charge was made by the Seventh which turned the tide of +battle in our favor.</p> + +<p>In this fight we captured four hundred prisoners and four pieces of +artillery.</p> + +<p>The enemy fell back in great disorder. Among the trophies captured, the +Seventh claims three battle flags; one being captured by Lieut. Copeland, +who greatly distinguished himself on that occasion for coolness and +bravery.</p> + +<p>Major Norton also deserves mention for the gallant style in which he led +his battalion in the charge. Major McIntire deserves especial mention. On +one occasion he penetrated the confused mass of rebels, and found himself +fired on from the rear. Turning upon his horse he found he was attacked by +three. The Major drew his revolver and shot one and the other two +surrendered.</p> + +<p>Col. Garrard could be found at any point along the line where his presence +was most needed. This was the first fight the regiment was in as a body.</p> + +<p>On returning to Lexington, the regiment was paid off and their faces were +again turned southward. Reaching Stanford, they went into camp for a few +days and then continued their march to Somerset, near the Cumberland river +which had now become the border.</p> + +<p>On the evening of the 29th of April, three companies, under Captain Green, +joined two companies of the 2nd Ohio Cav., and one company of the 1st +Kentucky, all under command of Capt. Carter, of the 1st Ky., crossed the +Cumberland river at Smith’s Ford, and after crossing a mountain, they +crossed the south fork of the Cumberland, two miles from its <ins class="correction" title="original reads 'juuction'">junction</ins> with +the main stream, now known as Burnside’s Point, coming around in the rear +of the rebel pickets at Stigall’s Ferry, thereby capturing the post, one +hundred and thirty in number.</p> + +<p>After delivering the prisoners to our forces on the opposite bank at +Stigall’s, we took the main road to Monticello, and after marching about +four miles, were attacked by a portion of the enemy’s cavalry whom we soon +drove back, and then continued the march until we reached the farm known +as Capt. West’s. Beyond this farm is a gap in the mountain, called +Scott’s<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> Gap. Here the enemy made a stand and quite a sharp little fight +ensued which lasted near one hour.</p> + +<p>It now being dusk and the enemy being driven from their position, the +command went into camp for the night, Company E of the 7th, under Capt. +Rankin, being left to hold the Gap. The next morning, skirmishing between +the pickets commenced. The column was soon in motion moving on toward +Monticello, with occasional skirmishing on the advance, the enemy +gradually falling back toward the town; but a charge was made upon them +which quickly hurled them through the town and over the creek to the top +of a hill beyond, where they again made a stand.</p> + +<p>In this charge, the first credit of entering the place, all chances being +equal, is due the Seventh, Company E, under Capt. Rankin, leaping the +fences, gaining the streets and crossing the creek, and mingled in a hand +to hand fight with the flying rebels half way up the hill on the other +side. The Adjutant of the 1st Kentucky, gained the head of the column and +ordered them back to the Monticello side, where the command was formed in +line of battle.</p> + +<p>This gave the enemy time to reform, also. In this charge, the Seventh lost +one man killed and three wounded, besides several horses.</p> + +<p>That part of the command which stopped to throw down fences, now coming to +our assistance, the enemy were soon driven to a point four miles beyond, +where they got large reinforcements, as well as ourselves and a fight was +made in which the enemy used considerable artillery.</p> + +<p>In an hour our artillery came up and was put in position and a flank +movement being made on the enemy’s right, they were soon to be found on +the retreat again.</p> + +<p>In this engagement the rebels lost nine men killed, several wounded and +twelve prisoners.</p> + +<p>Night coming on, the command retreated to Monticello where it remained for +two days, and then followed the retreating rebels across the Tennessee +line.</p> + +<p>A part of the regiment under Col. Garrard, went to Frazersville, and a +detachment under Major McIntyre, went to Albany, capturing some prisoners +and returned to Somerset where they remained sometime.</p> + +<p>Nothing of interest occurred except scouting occasionally to Mett’s Spring +and across the river now and then, taking in the rebel pickets on the +opposite bank.</p> + +<p>On the 7th day of June, the regiment again crossed the Cumberland river +and marched to Monticello where it had some fighting. On the 9th, when +returning, the Seventh, O. V. C., being the rear guard, was followed by +the enemy and attacked at West’s farm, at which place a severe fight +ensued in which the Seventh lost several men in killed and wounded.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the 10th, a detachment from the Seventh of 150 picked +men and officers as follows: Capt. R. C. Rankin, commanding the +detachment, Capt. Warren, Lts. Carr, Ketterman, Rich, Shuler, and Srofe, +left Somerset and joined Col. Sanders at Mt. Vernon. A day or two was +spent in making preparations for a raid. Everything being ready, on the +morning of the 18th we took up our line of march, crossing the Cumberland<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> +river at Williamsburg, thence over Jelico mountains to Wartsburg where we +captured 105 prisoners, they being utterly surprised, having no knowledge +of our movements until we were upon them.</p> + +<p>We also captured a supply train and destroyed a large amount of ordinance, +Q. M. and C. S. stores.</p> + +<p>This being the point from which Gen. Pegram drew his supplies, he being +stationed at this time on the Cumberland river in front of Gen. Carter’s +forces.</p> + +<p>The prisoners being all paroled, their arms destroyed, we moved on toward +Kingston.</p> + +<p>Considerable skirmishing occurred with the advance, when we made a sudden +move to the left, crossed the Clinch river and moved out toward Lenoir’s +Station.</p> + +<p>When within one mile of this place, we suddenly came upon a rebel camp at +daylight capturing their guns, a battery complete. The number of prisoners +captured there and at the Station were 132. We burned the depot which was +well filled with munitions of war of every kind and description.</p> + +<p>Here I will relate an incident that took place: As the column moved by the +Station, owing to the bursting of shells and the explosion of powder in +the burning building, the command was compelled to take the fields to +avoid danger. Passing a man plowing corn with a fine mule, he said, “that +is one of your Yankee tricks, is it?” Yes, said a soldier with a worn out +horse, “and I will show you another.” So dismounting, he put his saddle on +the mule and left him his jaded horse.</p> + +<p>Being now on the Virginia and East Tennessee Railroad, we commenced the +destruction of it by tearing up the rails, burning all the culverts and +bridges.</p> + +<p>Reaching Knoxville after night, we moved around to the north side of the +city and attacked the place in the morning.</p> + +<p>In this engagement, Capt. Rankin received orders from Col. Sanders to send +50 of his men out on our right to skirmish, and to support the artillery +with the remainder of his command, which was one section of Battery D, +First Ohio.</p> + +<p>We fought until 9 o’clock, A. M., capturing 40 prisoners and killed 9 +rebels, among them a Capt. McClung.</p> + +<p>Our loss was two killed and a few wounded.</p> + +<p>Then falling back, we struck the railroad east of the place where we again +commenced tearing up the track.</p> + +<p>We were saluted with the enemy’s artillery until noon, shelling the woods +we had left.</p> + +<p>Moving on to Strawberry Plains, we destroyed everything as we went and +reaching that place late in the evening, where considerable fighting took +place, which resulted in our occupying the town, capturing six pieces of +artillery and over 100 prisoners, with slight loss to us.</p> + +<p>Here we burned the bridge that spans the Holston river, 1600 feet in +length, including trestle work, besides the depot and store houses well +filled with Q. M. and C. S. stores.</p> + +<p>After resting a few hours, we moved out on the road toward New<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> Market and +on to Mossy Creek, where we destroyed a confederate machine shop and a +large amount of grain, and burnt the bridge over Mossy Creek; in all, we +destroyed over 3000 feet of bridges and trestle work.</p> + +<p>This being done and having destroyed 60 miles of railroad, the head of our +column was turned northward, crossing the Clinch river and moving toward +Cumberland Gap.</p> + +<p>Skirmishing now commenced in our rear, the detachments of the Second and +Seventh being the rear guard.</p> + +<p>The column kept pushing on, crossing Chinch mountain into Powill’s Valley, +and on reaching the Knoxville and <ins class="correction" title="original reads 'Cumburland'">Cumberland</ins> Gap road, learned that the +enemy were in our front.</p> + +<p>Not wishing to travel any further in that direction the column was turned +toward Knoxville.</p> + +<p>After traveling a few miles in that direction, we came upon the enemy’s +wagon train, which fell into our hands, they supposing it perfectly safe +on this road; no guards had been left with it.</p> + +<p>After burning the train and paroling the prisoners, 32 in number, it now +being 12 o’clock at night, the column headed for Roger’s Gap, which was +made in the afternoon of the next day.</p> + +<p>Finding this Gap well guarded with artillery and infantry, the command +halted for a short time for consultation. The result of this was as +follows: A strong line of skirmishers were to be shown to the enemy, the +artillery to be put in position loaded with shell, spiked and wheels cut +down. The detachment of the Seventh being the rear guard was ordered to +remain in position one hour after the column moved, which movement was +made to the left and around a spur of the mountain out of sight, striking +the valley again, five miles further down at Childer’s Gap, finding one +regiment of the enemy’s cavalry, which made a hasty retreat down the +valley after receiving one volley from the First Tennessee mounted +Infantry, which accompanied our expedition.</p> + +<p>The rear guard closing up and the way in our front being clear the command +commenced the descent, crossed the valley and ascended the mountain on the +other side.</p> + +<p>When the rear guard had got one-third the way up the mountain, the enemy +could be seen moving in two columns.</p> + +<p>The infantry and artillery finding that they had been foiled in their +efforts to capture our command, were coming down the valley, while their +cavalry were feeling their way up the valley.</p> + +<p>Our rear guard were placed in a position to receive them in case any +attempt should be made to attack us in the rear.</p> + +<p>As the approaching columns neared each other, it now being dark, and each +supposing the other to be the raiding “Yanks,” at once engage each other.</p> + +<p>Capt. Rankin, commanding the rear guard, not being interested in this +fight, nor <ins class="correction" title="original reads 'carring'">caring</ins> which gained the day, ordered his command forward and +followed the main column, it having continued its march and being now out +of sight.</p> + +<p>The night being very dark and no road, not even a path to follow nor<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> any +mounted guide left to guide them, they worked their way over rocks and +timber in the direction they supposed the column had moved, and became +scattered.</p> + +<p>And after climbing around over the rocks, amid the darkness of the night, +I found myself on the highest peak of the mountain, accompanied by one +man. I wandered about for some time to see if I could find any trace of +the column, and found no trace and heard no human voice save the tumult at +the foot of the mountain.</p> + +<p>Inasmuch as the author did not join his command until reaching London, +Ky., and nothing of interest occurring except the leaving of three hundred +horses in the mountains by the command, he asks the privilege of narrating +his own adventures after he became separated from the command:</p> + +<p>I struck out in what I supposed a northerly direction and after passing +over several high ridges and coming to a cliff that had to be descended, +and not thinking it safe to make the trial at night, we spread our blanket +down, tied our horses and went to sleep, being very much exhausted; and +upon waking in the morning found the sun high up and no noise to be heard +save the singing of the birds and the gnawing of my faithful horse on the +trees. I at once arose and set out to find some place to make my exit, but +finding no way to get my horse down this cliff other than southward, I was +compelled to abandon him, a thing that gave me considerable uneasiness of +mind; I hated to part with so valuable a servant that had carried me +safely through the campaign of ’61, under Gen. Fremont, through Kentucky +and Tennessee to Corinth, Miss., back to Ohio and through all the +wanderings of the 7th O. V. C., including this masterly “raid,” being yet +good in flesh and unbroken in spirit; to part with such a friend was no +light affair. But with all the horrors of Libby Prison on one hand and +life and liberty on the other, I was not long in making up my mind which +course to pursue.</p> + +<p>I stripped my horse of everything and bid him adieu. Taking a strap from +the saddle, I buckled my blankets together, ran my saber through, threw it +over my shoulder and began the descent, and upon reaching the foot found +myself in a deep dell, surrounded by high peaks of craggy rocks. The +timber being undergrown with laurel through which ran a brook of clear +water.</p> + +<p>After refreshing myself, I followed the course to the stream for about two +miles which brought me to a stream known as Clear Fork, which I followed +for a few miles, coming to a miserable old hut in which lived two old +people, who had passed their four score years, and in coming up to this +hovel I heard considerable talking.</p> + +<p>I sent my companion close to the hut to eaves drop, and finding who were +its occupants, when he returned he reported “all right.”</p> + +<p>On entering the house I found ten or twelve of our own soldiers, among +them a grand son of the occupants of the house.</p> + +<p>The old man was grinding corn on a hand mill, while the old lady was +baking bread and cakes for the hungry soldiers. I ate a few morsels, and +during the time I explained to them my situation and where my horse had +been left.</p> + +<p>The old gentleman gave me some encouragement by saying he thought<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> he +could get the horse. I told him he should have fifty dollars upon +delivering the horse to me, and he at once started in search of him, while +I went up on the side of the mountain; spread my blanket and went to +sleep.</p> + +<p>The old man returned in the evening without the horse. I procured a guide +and set by a foot-path over the mountains, traveling all night, reaching +London, Ky., twenty-four hours in advance of the command. The column +coming up, we continued our march until reaching Lancaster, on the 1st day +of July, being twenty days out.</p> + +<p>The men suffered greatly for want of sleep and from the swelling of their +limbs, caused by constant riding.</p> + +<p>In two instances where men fell asleep in the center of the column, +everything in the rear of them was halted, and they also fell asleep and +remained so an hour or two.</p> + +<p>The regiment during this time was actively engaged in picketing and +scouting the country along the Cumberland river, and on one or two +occasions went into Tennessee to divert General Pegram’s attention from +the “raiders.”</p> + +<p>About this time, John Morgan invaded the State of Kentucky, on his grand +raid through Indiana and Ohio.</p> + +<p>The regiment, under its Colonel, joined in the pursuit, following him to +the Ohio river at Brandenburg, crossing over into Indiana, and following +him in his circuitous route through the States of Indiana and Ohio, and +participating in the fight at Buffington’s Island, July 20th, 1863.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the detachment of the 7th that was on the Sander’s raid, +were at Camp Nelson refitting.</p> + +<p>Information being received that two companies of Morgan’s command which +had been recruited in the vicinity of Harrodsburg, Ky., (numbering one +hundred and ten men) had been cut off from the main command and were +scattered about over the country, staying with their friends, and owing to +Capt. Rankin’s knowledge of that part of the State, he was ordered to take +what men he could arm and equip and proceed there at once.</p> + +<p>Taking twenty-six of his own company, they in a period of ten days, +captured eighty-four of that number, including two officers.</p> + +<p>Great credit is due to the colored people for the information they gave.</p> + +<p>Another detachment of the 7th joined Col. Sweeny’s command of detachments +and took part in the fight with Scott’s Cavalry at Richmond, Ky., July +28th, 1863, and made a brilliant saber charge against the same command at +Crab Orchard, (Capt. Leaper commanding detachment,) skirmishing with them +at Stanford, and following them on their retreat to the Cumberland river, +compelling them to drop one section of artillery, said to be the same we +abandoned in the mountains on the Sander’s raid.</p> + +<p>After the capture of John Morgan, the regiment was disbanded for fifteen +days and allowed to visit their homes.</p> + +<p>At the expiration of that time, the regiment was got together at +Cincinnati and marched to Stanford, Ky., preparatory to their march to +Knoxville, Tenn., under Gen. Burnside.</p> + +<p>The regiment broke camp about the 20th day of August, moving by the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> way +of Crab Orchard and London, crossing the Cumberland river at Williamsburg, +about the 25th.</p> + +<p>Here, one batallion of the 7th, under Major McIntyre, was thrown out in +front as the advance of Gen. Burnside’s command, and held that post of +honor during the whole march, until they reached the railroad at Lenoir +Station.</p> + +<p>A considerable force of the enemy being at London, and some fighting going +on, the regiment was ordered to that point, and on reaching there found +the rebels gone and the bridge that spanned the Tennessee river, in +flames.</p> + +<p>The regiment then counter-marched, reaching Knoxville the next day. +Resting two days, we took up our line of march for Cumberland Gap, +skirmishing with the enemy at Taswell and Powell’s river, reaching the Gap +and beseiging that place three days.</p> + +<p>At the end of that time, September 9th, that stronghold surrendered its +garrison, consisting of two thousand, six hundred men, under General +Frazier.</p> + +<p>On the day previous to its surrender, a detail of officers penetrated the +rebel pickets lines, much to the chagrin of Gen. Frazier, they were taken +in headquarters, without being hoodwinked; of course they used their eyes +and saw just what they went to see, the condition of the enemy.</p> + +<p>Gen. Frazier immediately ordered them out of his lines which order was +complied with.</p> + +<p>That night they returned, not by the picket post however, and burned the +mill inside the rebel lines, thus cutting off their rations, which may +have had something to do with his sudden surrender.</p> + +<p>They came back to camp unmolested and without the honor of a rebel escort.</p> + +<p>On the next morning after the surrender, the 7th started back to +Knoxville, and on the third day reached that city and went into camp. +Remaining there only a few days they started eastward on the railroad, but +meeting with no resistance until reaching Johnson’s Station, a distance of +one hundred miles.</p> + +<p>The command moved on to Zollecoffer, and not being able to capture the +garrison there guarding the bridge across the Watauga river, they returned +to Jonesboro, remaining there one week, one batallion under Capt. +Copeland, doing the provost duty of town scouting and pressing horses.</p> + +<p>The enemy attacked the command on the 28th of September and compelled it +to retreat down the railroad as far as Bull’s Gap, where we stayed several +days.</p> + +<p>On the 10th of October, we started eastward again and had a fight at Blue +Springs, losing several men killed and wounded, among them, Captain Higly, +a most valuable officer, who was commanding a battallion and was killed in +the thickest of the fight while encouraging and leading on his men.</p> + +<p>The rebels held their ground until a detachment of the 9th army corps came +up, charging them and driving them from the field at dusk.</p> + +<p>They retreated during the night, and our command pursued them in the +morning, following closely all the next day, and had a spirited skirmish +at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> Raytown in which several were lost on both sides. Night coming on, we +went into camp, continuing our pursuit in the morning as far as Jonesboro, +and on the following day we moved toward Bluntsville, camping for the +night, a few miles from town.</p> + +<p>One battallion under Capt. Copeland, was ordered to make a scout to this +place, but meeting the rebel pickets, he returned to camp, losing one man +killed, James Barnes of Co. E.</p> + +<p>The next day, October the 14th, the column moved on toward the town +driving the rebels from the place.</p> + +<p>They continued their retreat through Zollecoffer and Bristol. We followed +and burnt the bridge at Zollecoffer, on our way and captured at Bristol +two locomotives and fifty cars, which were all destroyed, besides a +considerable amount of commissary store.</p> + +<p>The men carrying away all the sugar they could manage.</p> + +<p>The task being accomplished, the command fell back through Bluntsville and +Kingsport to Rogersville, pressing all the horses that could be found, and +remained there sometime, nothing particular occurring save the usual +scouting in an enemy’s country.</p> + +<p>About this time the regiment was deprived of its Colonel, he being placed +in command of a brigade, and Major McIntyre succeeded to the command.</p> + +<p>About the 4th of November, Gen. Shackelford, commanding the Cavalry +Division, received information that a rebel force, 4000 strong, was +approaching Rogersville by the way of Jonesville, Va.</p> + +<p>He therefore ordered Col. Garrard to send a scouting party to that place.</p> + +<p>A detail of 50 men from the Seventh being made, Capt. Rankin was ordered +to take command. Before the scouts returned, the enemy made their +appearance by the way of Kingsport.</p> + +<p>In order that you may fully understand the event which I am about to +describe, it is necessary that I should describe the country and the +locality, our camp and its approaches.</p> + +<p>The country here is alternately mountain and valley, running nearly +parallel east and west, with occasional narrow passes through the +mountains from one valley to another, these valleys losing themselves +every few miles in the main valley of the Holston river.</p> + +<p>The brigade of which the Seventh formed a part was camped in the main +Holston Valley about three miles above Rogersville.</p> + +<p>The hospital, commissary and quartermaster’s department, with a provost +guard, occupied the town.</p> + +<p>Great caution was used by Col. Garrard in guarding these approaches, and +for this purpose one company of the Tennesseeans was kept in Carter +Valley, five miles from the brigade camp. This Valley being the first one +north of the Holston, they sent scouting parties daily, over into Stanley +Valley and Hickory Cave, which are further north.</p> + +<p>On the night of the 5th of November, scouts reported the enemy advancing +in force down the Holston Valley from Kingsport.</p> + +<p>Lieut. Murphy was ordered to take two companies of the Seventh, on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> the +night of the 6th, which was very dark and the rain pouring down in +torrents, and make a scout up the Holston Valley.</p> + +<p>After marching about six miles he met the enemy’s advance and at once +engaged them, and notified the Colonel of their approach.</p> + +<p>The enemy finding their advance resisted, threw a force across the +mountain into Carter Valley, which was estimated at 2000 strong, and upon +reaching the valley they dashed upon this Tennessee company capturing and +scattering them.</p> + +<p>This Valley now being cleared, they continued down it about two miles to a +road crossing into Holston Valley, which road struck the Valley about the +center of our brigade camp.</p> + +<p>Here their force was divided, one half going across the mountain, secreted +themselves under the cover of the night in a cedar grove, near the road +leading down the main valley to Rogersville.</p> + +<p>The other part of their command continued down the valley to where it +comes into the Holston, one-half mile above Rogersville, where they again +divided their force, leaving a part here and sending the remainder around +a spur of the mountain, striking the valley one-half mile below the town.</p> + +<p>They closed in on the place, capturing and scattering everything that was +there.</p> + +<p>This part of their programme being successfully accomplished, they moved +up the valley on to the camp. In the meanwhile their main force was +passing slowly down the valley, compelling the small force in their front +to retire, and giving time for the force below to accomplish the task +assigned them, and attack the camp from that side.</p> + +<p>As they approached the camp, Col. Garrard had the train on the road, +headed toward Rogersville, and the <ins class="correction" title="original reads 'bregade'">brigade</ins> drawn up in line, artillery +placed in position on an eminence, commanding the approach from Kingsport.</p> + +<p>While in this position we were attacked in the rear by the force coming up +the valley.</p> + +<p>At this instant, the force before mentioned as being secreted in the cedar +thicket, being in close proximity to our left flank, poured a volley into +the battallion of the Seventh, being not more than fifty yards distant, +and made a simultaneous charge upon the wagon train and capturing it.</p> + +<p>They were seen in the thicket by our battallion, but were supposed to be +the Tennessee homeguards.</p> + +<p>At the same time a charge was made front and rear.</p> + +<p>Finding the command attacked on three sides, each force equaling our own +in numbers, there was no alternative but to make our way across the +Holston river at the nearest ford.</p> + +<p>This being done, the regiment was formed in line on the opposite bank of +the river, but the Seventh had already lost over 100 men, and the Second +Tennessee over 500, and both sections of the artillery being captured, the +command fell back to Morristown, a distance of 30 miles.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, the scouts who were sent out to Jonesville, returned to +within three miles of camp, and on hearing of the disaster, turned north, +passing Clinch Mountain, through Little War Gap, coming down Poor Valley<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> +until they struck the Cumberland Gap and Morristown road, and joined the +regiment at Morristown the next day.</p> + +<p>In this affair, the Seventh lost everything in the shape of books and +papers, camp and garrison equipage, all the train and everything but what +was carried away by the men on their horses.</p> + +<p>Capt. Rankin having joined his regiment, as before stated, was ordered to +take two hundred men and reconnoiter as near Rogersville as he deemed +safe.</p> + +<p>Finding nothing in his way, he entered the place, the rebels having +retreated immediately after paroling the sick and wounded, which the +Captain found in as good condition as circumstances would admit.</p> + +<p>The regiment resting at Morristown two days, then moved eastward through +Russelsville and camped near that place a few days, and leaving this camp +they went on up the railroad, through Bull’s Gap, and on toward +Greenville.</p> + +<p>About this time, Longstreet beseiged Knoxville, and the rebel forces under +Jones and Williams moved down from Virginia, compelling us to fall back.</p> + +<p>The command fell back by the way of Rogersville to Bean’s Station and +thence over Clinch Mountain to Sycamore creek, where the Seventh camped a +few days, doing picket duty on the Clinch river and all the roads leading +eastward.</p> + +<p>We lost several men on picket at Clinch river.</p> + +<p>While stationed at this place, Serg’ts. Little and Davis carried +dispatches through the rebel lines to General Burnside, in Knoxville, at +different times.</p> + +<p>From this, the Seventh went to Taswell, remained there a few days and +moved out on the Knoxville and Cumberland Gap road, crossing Clinch river +at Walker’s Ford.</p> + +<p>The siege now being raised at Knoxville, and the rebels moving up the +railroad eastward, our cavalry was engaged in annoying their flanks, up to +Beall’s Station.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the 12th of Dec., 1863, the Seventh O. V. C. and the +Ninth Michigan Cavalry, with one section of artillery, under command of +Col. Garrard, moved in the direction of Morristown, and when within one +and half miles of that town we met the enemy, and after some skirmishing, +the Seventh was dismounted and thrown forward to engage them, who were +strongly posted on a wooded hill, with artillery commanding the approach.</p> + +<p>After an engagement with them, which lasted nearly an hour, our lines +moved forward gradually through open fields until within one hundred and +fifty yards of their lines.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the Ninth Michigan Cavalry was moved down a ravine and around a +hill out of sight of the enemy, attacking them on their flank and rear, +compelling them to scatter in great confusion, leaving their dead and +wounded in our hands.</p> + +<p>Our command passed on, driving the rebels beyond the town.</p> + +<p>The enemy lost heavily in killed and wounded, and among them a Lieut. +Colonel.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span>Our loss was one man killed; Sergt. Newport, of Co. H, Seventh regiment, +with several wounded.</p> + +<p>It now being quite dark and no support near, the command fell back to +Beall’s Station.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the 14th, Col. Garrard’s brigade again advanced on +Morristown, but finding no enemy there, moved on toward Russelsville a few +miles, drove in the pickets and moved forward, and when near Russelville, +found a large force of the enemy drawn in line awaiting our approach.</p> + +<p>The Second and Seventh O. V. C. were at once ordered forward to attack +them, the Ninth Michigan being held in reserve.</p> + +<p>We fought them till near dark, and failing to accomplish anything and +losing several killed and wounded fell back to Beall’s Station.</p> + +<p>On the 16th, we fought Longstreet’s force at Bean’s Station, also on the +17th, and at Rutledge on the 18th.</p> + +<p>Our troops falling back all the time toward Knoxville, the cavalry doing +the fighting, losing several men killed, wounded and captured.</p> + +<p>We fell back to Stone Mills, camping there a few days.</p> + +<p>Here the regiment was paid by Major McDowell.</p> + +<p>Leaving this point, the command crossed the Holston river, struck the +railroad at New Market, and from there went south to <ins class="correction" title="original reads 'Dandredge'">Dandridge</ins> on the +French Broad river.</p> + +<p>On the 24th, we had a spirited engagement with the enemy and was compelled +to fall back toward New Market, losing one man killed and several +captured.</p> + +<p>On the 27th, we moved up the railroad to Mossy creek, and from this period +up to the 24th of January, had continual fighting and skirmishing, driving +the enemy a few miles toward Morristown and in turn being driven back by +them.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the 14th of January we moved again to Dandridge, and on +the 16th moved out on the Morristown road, having sharp skirmishing, +losing near 50 men out of the Brigade. Fell back again to Dandridge.</p> + +<p>On the following day a general engagement took place, which lasted from +nine o’clock a. m. until late in the night.</p> + +<p>From causes unknown to the writer, (who had charge of the advance posts), +at 12 o’clock at night the 7th which was on the front line, received +orders to commence falling back in small detachments, when a retrograde +movement commenced, in which retreat our forces lost several hundred, +principally infantry, of which we had a large force which seemed to have +been there for some other purpose than fighting, as they were never +brought into action.</p> + +<p>We crossed the Holston river and continued our retreat to Knoxville, the +enemy following to within a few miles of the city.</p> + +<p>From here we crossed the river moving south-west through Seviersville, and +on up the south side of French Broad river, capturing two pieces of +artillery at Fair Garden, when we fell back through Mears and Tuchalechy +cove, to Little river, where we camped near one week, during which time a +detachment of the brigade were sent into North Carolina to capture +Thomas’<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> Legion, which was made up mostly of Indians, (Thomas being +formerly an Indian agent.)</p> + +<p>The expedition was successful, they brought back 50 prisoners, but not +without heavy loss on our own side.</p> + +<p>In the meantime one battallion of the 7th was sent back through Mears to +Tuchlechy to create a diversion and hold the Gap while the expedition was +being made.</p> + +<p>Our camp was then moved to Maryville where we remained a few days scouting +and skirmishing continually.</p> + +<p>From here we moved back to Knoxville, making scouts occasionally on the +south side of the river toward Maryville and on the north side as far as +Strawberry Plains.</p> + +<p>After remaining here about ten days the regiment moved out to Buffalo +creek a distance of forty miles.</p> + +<p>As we had to subsist exclusively off of the country for forage and +provisions for men and the horses, and the supply becoming exhausted our +horses were reduced to skeletons and were no longer able to do duty.</p> + +<p>Fifty of the strongest horses were selected from each Regiment accompanied +by Col. Garrard and moved east as far as Russelville, where they remained +two weeks scouting and skirmishing continually, having in some instances +hand to hand engagements.</p> + +<p>In the meanwhile the regiment returned to the vicinity of Knoxville and +from there went out Clinch river to Wallace’s road, remaining there a few +days it returned to Knoxville, being joined by the 50 men above mentioned.</p> + +<p>We left on the 24th of March, 1864.</p> + +<p>It is conceded by all parties that the campaign in East Tennessee, under +Gen. Burnside was the hardest campaign that has been experienced since the +commencement of this great struggle for the perpetuity of our nation.</p> + +<p>The regiment reached Paris, Ky., April the 5th, camping in that vicinity a +few days, and then moving to Nicholasville where the work of refitting was +commenced.</p> + +<p>Major Gen. Stoneman commanding the cavalry in this department.</p> + +<p>Nothing of interest occurred here except that of sending companies into +different counties to protect the Provost Marshals, while they were +enrolling the negroes.</p> + +<p>About the 10th of June it was ascertained that John Morgan was moving +toward Lexington. Gen. Stoneman having started with two brigades two weeks +previous to Georgia, Col. Garrard’s brigade was all that were left in that +immediate vicinity.</p> + +<p>On the 10th Col. Garrard moved his command to Lexington reaching there a +few hours after Morgan had left, who had entered the place in the morning, +robbed the banks and many of the stores of their valuables before he +departed.</p> + +<p>After resting a few hours we continued our march to Paris reaching there +about daylight the following morning.</p> + +<p>Here 200 men were sent out under Capt. Rankin to make a reconoisance +toward Georgetown, after moving in that direction about 16 miles, he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> met +a part of Morgan’s command, routed and drove them two miles in the +direction of Cynthiana, returned and reported the same to Gen. Burbridge.</p> + +<p>That night Gen. Burbridge moved for Cynthiana, Col. Garrard’s brigade +being in the rear.</p> + +<p>At day-light skirmishing commenced a mile or two from that place.</p> + +<p>Gen. Burbridge soon had his whole force engaging the rebels.</p> + +<p>Col. Garrard’s brigade composed of the 7th O. V. C., 9th Mich. V. C., and +one battallion of the 15th Kentucky cavalry were formed in columns of +battallions in the rear of the lines, being held in reserve.</p> + +<p>The fighting now became general, and the center of the line began to +waver, seeing this Col. Garrard ordered the 9th Mich. to move around +Burbridge’s right flank and charge the enemy, mounted. The battallion of +Kentucky cavalry was dismounted and formed on the extreme left of our +line. The 7th O. V. C. was ordered to move around our left flank and +charge the enemy, mounted.</p> + +<p>The fences were quickly thrown down and the 7th had moved scarcely 600 +yards, when they were met by Humphrey Marshal’s brigade, making a flank +movement on the left of our line and in the rear, when a gallant charge +was made by Co. H, commanded by Capt. Hall, resulting in the capture of +thirty-six rebels.</p> + +<p>A second charge was made immediately by the First battallion, under Capt. +Greene with a similar result, but was exposed to a heavy fire from behind +a stone fence. Immediately after this a third charge was made under Capt. +Rankin, which was the final rout of the enemy, driving them over a bluff +on the Licking river, to where they had left their horses. Mounting their +horses they moved down the railroad through Cynthiana, hotly pursued by +our troops, driving them through the streets and into the river, killing, +wounding and drowning many.</p> + +<p>In this affair our loss did not exceed fifty in killed and wounded. Among +the killed was Lt. McKnight, a brave and gallant officer.</p> + +<p>The enemy’s loss in killed, wounded and prisoners, was near seven hundred. +Many of their wounded bore marks of the saber. During the fight there were +many daring deeds of personal bravery, which deserves personal mention.</p> + +<p>Col. Garrard was in the thickest of the fight, often in advance of the +lines giving personal direction during the fight. Lt. Col. Minor was also +on hand doing his part nobly.</p> + +<p>Capt. Allen, of Col. Garrard’s staff, and Adj’t Mitchell, both deserve +mention for coolness and bravery.</p> + +<p>Capt. Allen, personally distinguished himself, for which he received the +rank Brevet Lt. Col. at the close of the war.</p> + +<p>Capt. Rankin deserves particular mention for entering the rebel column and +cutting off forty-seven men in the following manner:</p> + +<p>Upon reaching the bluff and seeing the rebels mounting their horses and +moving down the railroad, wheeled his horse to the right, passed through a +gate, then to the left down a lane near the railroad ordering his men to +follow; Finding himself alone he halted for a few moments to wait for his +men, and on seeing there was some impediment in the way of the rebels +caused by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> a cattle dyke, which they were compelled to pass over or swim +the Licking river, he drew his saber and entered the columns cutting it in +two, using his saber right and left as he passed up the track to the dyke, +the enemy passing on either side, and thereby he cut off and held all that +had yet to cross the dyke, which proved to be forty-seven in number +together with their horses.</p> + +<p>They did not however throw down their arms and surrender until four or +five men came to the Captain’s assistance.</p> + +<p>The above facts are verified by the affidavits of three reliable men.</p> + +<p>Arrangements being made to take them to the rear, the Captain followed on +after the flying enemy—and nearing the town, crossed the Licking bridge +and passing down about six hundred yards on the opposite side of the +river.</p> + +<p>Five rebels ran out of town, and taking refuge behind a shop which stood +on the bank of the river. On seeing them the Captain drew his revolver and +ordered them dismount and throw down their arms, which they did.</p> + +<p>He then ordered them to the water’s edge and to sit down, which they also +obeyed, where he guarded them until one of our men, who had been taking +prisoners to the rear came up when the Captain ordered him to take them to +the rear. (This making fifty-two men.) How are you “southern chivalry,” +with your “five to one.”</p> + +<p>This statement is also verified by the affidavit of James Thomas, at +present of Caldwell, Kansas, a justice of the peace.</p> + +<p>There are others who are willing to file their affidavit to the above +statements but as the mouth of two witnesses establish one point further +proof is not deemed necessary, nor would I even asked this were it not for +the fact that there are always a few officers and men just bold enough to +follow far enough in the rear to be out of harm’s way, and to gather up +trophies on the battle-field; which had been passed over by the actual +fighting men of the command, who would not stop to gather trophies so long +as they could deal a blow on the enemy.</p> + +<p>They are first to criticize the acts of those who are in the first ranks; +and raise the question, “where are your trophies?” There is not a true +soldier in our army but will bear me out in my statement.</p> + +<p>The enemy were here scattered; some going out through Owen county, while +Morgan himself took the pike toward the Ohio river through Claysville, +crossing the Maysville and Lexington pike at Mayslick, and on through Mt. +Sterling. Col Garrard’s brigade following in his trail picking up +stragglers until we lost him in the mountains of eastern Kentucky in his +retreat to Pound Gap.</p> + +<p>Thence we returned by way of Lexington to Nicholasville where we camped +for a short time recuperating our men and horses.</p> + +<p>Moving to Camp Nelson, we were paid on the 3rd of July, to June 30th 1864.</p> + +<p>On the following morning, July 4th, we set out on our long march to +Atlanta, Ga., crossing the Tennessee river at Kingston, passing through +Athens, Cleveland and all the towns between that place and Atlanta, +reaching the works around that place July 24th, and reporting to Gen. +Stoneman to whose command we then belonged.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span>We were ordered to join him on his expedition to Macon, Ga., which +expedition was to move at 9 o’clock on the following morning.</p> + +<p>Lt. Col. Minor, on his return to the regiment after dark, missed his way +and did not join us until about 12 o’clock, thereby the regiment was saved +the dishonor of being made prisoner before Macon, on Gen. Stoneman’s +surrender. Company D, however, being his escort, was surrendered with him.</p> + +<p>The regiment was immediately put on picket on the left flank of our army.</p> + +<p>On the 26th, Col. Garrard’s brigade was dismounted and put in the +trenches, the Seventh occupying the extreme left of our army, which +position they held while the terrible engagement of that day took place.</p> + +<p>This being the same ground that was so desperately fought over during the +22nd,—the day the gallant McPherson fell.</p> + +<p>The next day, we were moved to the right, the Seventh being on the extreme +right during the fierce fight of the 28th,—the rebels making seven +different bayonet charges, and were repulsed each time, by Gen. Howard’s +command.</p> + +<p>When the grand flank movement commenced on the right, which ultimately +gave us possession of Atlanta, Col. Garrard’s brigade bore a conspicuous +part, for there was scarcely a position gained that was not first gained +by Col. Garrard’s cavalry, and in many instances we fought the enemy in +front, until the infantry came up and intrenched themselves in our rear.</p> + +<p>This being done, they would send a brigade to relieve us, and we would be +placed further out on the flank.</p> + +<p>On the first of September, near Rough and Ready Station, which is south of +Atlanta, on the road leading to Macon, Capt. Rankin commanding a battalion +of the Seventh, was the first to find the works evacuated at this point.</p> + +<p>On reporting the same to Gen. Thomas, he was ordered to return and go +through the works and gain a high ridge road, about a mile and a half +beyond the intrenchments, and on gaining the road, to take the end leading +toward Atlanta and go as far as he deemed practicable.</p> + +<p>On returning to the works, he found it occupied by Gen. Cooper’s division +of infantry, with a line of skirmishers in front skirmishing with the +enemy.</p> + +<p>Upon reaching this line, the Captain dismounted his battalion, leaving +number four to hold horses, deployed as skirmishers and moved them +directly through the infantry lines, through woods to fields and fields to +woods until they gained the road above mentioned.</p> + +<p>This being done, the horses were ordered to be brought forward. The +infantry also came forward and moved along the road leading to the +Station, which was less than one mile off.</p> + +<p>Upon the arrival of the horses, the battalion mounted and moved toward +Atlanta.</p> + +<p>After proceeding a mile and a half they received a volley from the enemy, +secreted in the woods, whereupon a fight took place which lasted till +dark, resulting in our driving the enemy about a mile and a half further, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span>after which the Captain returned to his picket post which he had occupied +the night previous, at the crossings of the Atlanta, Jonesboro, Shoal +creek and McDonald roads.</p> + +<p>Atlanta was evacuated the following day, and a general engagement took +place at Jonesboro, twenty miles south of Atlanta, resulting in a heavy +loss to both sides.</p> + +<p>In the night, the enemy fell back, the cavalry followed to Lovejoy’s +Station, six miles further south, being on the left of our army, occupying +the McDonald and Fayetteville road, nine miles south-east of Jonesboro. We +remained at this point on picket one week, where we saw fighting more or +less every day.</p> + +<p>Leaving this point, we moved back and went into camp near Decatur, which +is six miles east of Atlanta on the railroad leading to Augusta.</p> + +<p>During our campaign in Georgia, we subsisted chiefly upon the country, +which was gathered in by foraging parties, detached for that purpose, and +under the command of an officer.</p> + +<p>As a general thing, some of the parties would be skirmishing with the +enemy while the remainder would be gathering forage.</p> + +<p>Skirmishing, while in Georgia, was more of an every day business than +otherwise.</p> + +<p>When General Hood set his flank machine in operation and was followed by a +portion of General Sherman’s command, the Seventh remained at Atlanta with +the 23rd corps, and was engaged in those mammoth foraging expeditions of +which you have read the newspaper accounts.</p> + +<p>We continued in this business until Gen. Sherman returned to Atlanta and +commenced his “masterly retreat” on Richmond, via Savanna, Ga., Charleston +and Columbia, S. C., when we turned over our horses and arms to complete +the mounting and arming of Gen. Kilpatrick’s cavalry, and returned to +Nashville, arriving there on the 15th of November, 1864.</p> + +<p>On the 25th, Col. Garrard was put in command of two regiments, the Seventh +O. V. C. and Tenth Tennessee.</p> + +<p>The brigade formerly commanded by Col. Garrard, the Seventh excepted, it +having been assigned to Gen. Kirkpatrick’s command prior to our leaving +Atlanta, and accompanied him on the Sherman expedition.</p> + +<p>Lt. Col. Minor was put in command of a dismounted cavalry camp near +Nashville, and Capt. Rankin in command of the regiment, by order of Gen. +Wilson, commanding cavalry corps, C. C. M. D. M.</p> + +<p>The regiment was mounted, armed and equipped, under the superintendent of +Captain Rankin, and started for Columbia, Tenn.</p> + +<p>On reaching Spring Hill, it was ordered to take the left-hand road to +Hardison’s Ford, on Duck river, to support Col. Capron, and on reaching +there, found him engaging the enemy at the ford.</p> + +<p>The Seventh was formed in columns of squadrons in the rear of two +brigades.</p> + +<p>Company A, Captain Ketterman, was sent to watch a crossing a little down +ways the river from where we were.</p> + +<p>Companies B and C were ordered to make a scout of three miles on the road +leading to Columbia, under Lieuts. Burton and Shuler.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span>Company E was ordered to make a scout up the river five miles, under +Lieut. Srofe.</p> + +<p>Soon after this, the brigade train was ordered to move out on the road +leading to Franklin, with a guard of one company.</p> + +<p>The train had not more than straightened on the road, when Companies B and +C found a strong force of the enemy in their front.</p> + +<p>Company E was cut off, the enemy having got between it and the command, +and about the same time the head of the wagon train was attacked which +created a stampede in the train.</p> + +<p>Capt. Rankin wheeled two companies into position and moved out to meet the +enemy, ordering Adj’t. Mitchell to bring out the remainder as soon as the +wagon train could be got into our rear.</p> + +<p>A volley was poured into the enemy by the two companies already in +position and a saber charge was immediately made, the remainder of the +regiment coming into position in time, thereby driving the enemy from the +road and held them in check until the train and the brigade that was +fighting at the river could be got out.</p> + +<p>This fighting continued until 9 o’clock, P. M., when Col. Garrard, who had +joined us, ordered the command to fall back.</p> + +<p>In this affair the timely action of the Seventh saved the entire brigade +and train from capture, but with the loss of near one hundred men killed, +wounded and captured, including Capt. Ketterman, and the whole of Co. A, +also our regimental colors, for which the enemy had no credit, as it was +captured in the following manner: It being quite dark and everything +having passed the road, the Colonel wished to fall back and asked some one +to go and notify Capt. Rankin, who was a short distance off, of his +movement.</p> + +<p>The Color Serg’t tendered his services and immediately started on his +mission.</p> + +<p>The fighting men at this point were not more than thirty yards apart, and +the Serg’t rode directly into the rebel lines and was captured.</p> + +<p>The Captain brought off his command and fell back, about six miles across +Flat creek, leaving our dead and wounded on the field.</p> + +<p>In this fight, much honor and credit are due to the officers and men of +the Seventh for the bold manner in which they struck the enemy. It was +this that gave us success, for we were far inferior in point of numbers.</p> + +<p>Private John Turner of Co. E, deserves especial mention in this, that he +was bearing the guidon of his company, and while running the gauntlet of +the enemy was thrown from his horse, but held fast to his colors and +joined his command, after remaining six <ins class="correction" title="original reads 'days days'">days</ins> in the enemy’s lines, +bringing his colors with him.</p> + +<p>On the following day, the most desperate engagement perhaps of the war, +all things considering, of Franklin took place.</p> + +<p>The Seventh O. V. C. occupied the left flank of the 23rd A. C., as they +faced the enemy.</p> + +<p>We continued our operations on the flank of Gen. Thomas’ army until it +reached the fortifications around Nashville.</p> + +<p>About the 1st of December, the regiment crossed the Cumberland river and +was engaged in guarding ferries below Nashville, patrolling the country +as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> far as Harpeth Shoals, and pressing in horses until the 13th, when we +moved to Edgefield opposite Nashville.</p> + +<p>Here the cavalry command was reorganized.</p> + +<p>The Seventh was assigned to the First Brigade, Sixth Division, Brig-Gen. +Johnson, commanding. Col. Garrard having been returned to his command of +the Seventh, and Col. Harrison, of Indiana, commanding the brigade.</p> + +<p>On the 14th, all the cavalry was brought from the north to the south side +of the Cumberland river, and on the following morning, the 15th, at an +early hour, everything was in motion.</p> + +<p>Our division occupied the extreme right of our army.</p> + +<p>As soon as the fog was sufficiently cleared away we marched through our +breastworks, the Seventh being placed in the reserve.</p> + +<p>Soon <ins class="correction" title="original reads 'flghting'">fighting</ins> commenced in the front along the <ins class="correction" title="original reads 'rive'">river</ins> below the city. (I +should have mentioned that the Sixth Div. had but one brigade in it +mounted and that was the First.)</p> + +<p>The rebels were soon driven from their first line of works and contested +every inch of ground with artillery and musketry, but they were steadily +driven back by the two regiments in front of the Seventh.</p> + +<p>Up to this time the Seventh had not been engaged.</p> + +<p>At two o’clock, P. M., the Seventh was ordered forward and formed on the +right of the road in a cornfield, near the river, and moved forward in +line of battle.</p> + +<p>In this field the ground was very wet and soft and there were many ditches +several feet deep, which made it impossible to preserve a correct line, +but we did the best we could under the circumstances, and by the time we +reached the woodland the enemy were in full retreat down the pike.</p> + +<p>On seeing this, Col. Garrard ordered a charge by squadrons or companies in +columns of fours, and ordered Captain Rankin’s battalion to charge down +the pike and out to the enemy’s left.</p> + +<p>A universal shout went up from the regiment and at them they went, the +woods being open and favorable for a charge.</p> + +<p>This chase was for one and a half miles, and to within one hundred and +fifty yards of a battery which opened on us and compelled us to fall back +near one-fourth of a mile.</p> + +<p>The regiment was soon formed and commenced skirmishing with the Johnnies.</p> + +<p>Col. Garrard not being satisfied with anything short of the battery which +had caused us such trouble, (it being the battery that had blockaded the +Cumberland river and captured our transports, among them the Prima Donna, +commanded by Capt. Joe. Scott, formerly of Ripley, and had <ins class="correction" title="original reads 'withstoou'">withstood</ins> the +combined efforts of our gun-boats and iron-clads to dislodge them,) the +order to have the regiment formed in readiness to make the charge.</p> + +<p>The order was first given to Captain Rankin to form his battalion on the +slope of a hill in front of the battery, at a distance of about six +hundred yards.</p> + +<p>Co. E, Lt. Srofe, on the right, near the pike; then Co. F, Lt. Boggs, Co. +B, Lt. Burton, Co. C, Lt. Archer, and Co. A, Lt. Derstine.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span>These companies were formed in fair musket range, and their battery was +cutting the timber all around us, yet the men stood firm and unflinching.</p> + +<p>The order of charge was by squadrons in columns of fours.</p> + +<p>This battallion was to charge the center and to move first, Capt. Eylar +was to charge down the pike with two companies, I and M, Capt. Hall was to +cross the creek at its mouth and charge on the right with three companies, +H, K and L.</p> + +<p>Everything being in readiness, the word “forward!” was given.</p> + +<p>The center battalion moved first at a walk then at a trot.</p> + +<p>By this time the storm of leaden hail from musketry and iron missiles from +the battery began to come thick and fast about us.</p> + +<p>A shout went up and off the boys went at full speed through the fences, +down steep banks and across the creek, over a narrow ridge and another +creek and up to within fifty yards of the battery, when <ins class="correction" title="original reads 'suddently'">suddenly</ins> a large +force of the rebel infantry raised from behind a barricade of rails and +poured a deadly fire into our columns.</p> + +<p>Captain Eylar was repulsed on the bridge, and Capt. Hall failed to cross +the creek at its mouth, therefore Captain Rankin was compelled to fall +back to his former position.</p> + +<p>We dismounted and went at them again on foot. Their musketry was too high, +their grape and cannister too low, creating however, considerable +mortality among the horses.</p> + +<p>Capt. Rankin was sent to signal the gunboats to come down, which they did.</p> + +<p>Our own battery, the 4th U. S., opened on them with twelve pounders and +compelled them to leave their position, the gunboats sending a few shots +up the ravine after them, added speed to their flight.</p> + +<p>They left four pieces of artillery in the woods, which we have the credit +of capturing.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the 16th, at 4 o’clock, everything was in readiness for +a forward move.</p> + +<p>We continued our pursuit on the Charlotte pike for a few miles to where +the enemy had camped. At this point the enemy had left the pike and took a +dirt road.</p> + +<p>We followed this road about seven miles, and found several wagons and one +piece of artillery stuck in the mud.</p> + +<p>Here a halt was made, and Captain Rankin was ordered with his battalion to +move across the country, through the fields or otherwise and endeavor to +reach the Harding pike. This being accomplished, the Captain sent the +following dispatch to Col. Garrard:</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Colonel</span>—I hold the Harding pike at the brick church and where the +Franklin road crosses the said pike. Gen. Chalmer’s division passed this +point, taking the Franklin road, this A. M. They left some wagons here. As +soon as the command could be brought up, our pursuit was continued, the +Fifth Iowa Cavalry being in the advance. Skirmishing soon commenced but +nothing of importance occurred on this day’s march, except taking a few +prisoners, twelve being the largest number at any one time.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span>Night coming on, we went into camp. The next morning, the 17th, our +regiment took the advance, Capt. Eylar having the right of the regiment.</p> + +<p>The pursuit was vigorously prosecuted, so much so that orderlies were sent +forward several times to request Col. Garrard not to move so fast, but all +to no purpose, for skirmishing had already commenced, and it is an utter +impossibility to hold the Colonel back when a fight is in progress.</p> + +<p>On we went, crossing the big Harpeth river below Franklin.</p> + +<p>Skirmishing became quite lively, as we neared the town, but we steadily +pressed them back until we arrived in full view of the town.</p> + +<p>Capt. Rankin was ordered to take his battalion and move to the right and +occupy some buildings in the suburbs.</p> + +<p>Here the enemy was discovered, drawn up in three lines of battle, but +manifesting no disposition to fight save by artillery which threw a few +shells at us.</p> + +<p>The enemy seeing our advance taking position in so close proximity to +them, about faced and commenced moving off.</p> + +<p>Col. Garrard on seeing this movement of the enemy ordered a charge.</p> + +<p>Capt. Rankin’s battalion was on the extreme right and Company E on the +right of the battalion.</p> + +<p>Now for the charge. The order was given to forward, and as soon as we +crossed a small stream, it was increased to full speed.</p> + +<p>Some columns passed through the principal streets, while others passed to +the right and left of the town, and on reaching the first line of works +beyond the town we captured a great many of the enemy who had taken +position there.</p> + +<p>At four hundred yards distant from their works, the enemy had planted a +battery, and as soon as the confused mass we were driving could be got +away, they opened up on us, but to no purpose, for we were now behind our +outer line of works.</p> + +<p>The works were also thrown up by our men on the retreat from Columbia, but +were not so formidable as the first near the town.</p> + +<p>In this position we fought the enemy more than one hour without receiving +aid from any quarter whatever.</p> + +<p>So rapid were the movements of the 7th and so far were they in advance of +our own brigade that our battery moved to the point first held by Captain +Rankin’s battalion and mistaking us for the enemy commenced shelling us.</p> + +<p>The shells fell in close proximity to the battallion which had been sent +out to watch and guard against any movements of the enemy to flank our +position.</p> + +<p>The firing was kept up until Captain Rankin’s battalion had to be removed, +and had scarcely been placed in position on the left of the pike, when a +battery belonging to Gen. Hatch’s division opened on us from a fort on the +opposite side of the river.</p> + +<p>At this, Col. Garrard ordered the regiment to form in close column of +squadrons in a low piece of ground to get out of their range, but the +first being on very high ground, our position was a very hazardous one.</p> + +<p>We were quickly deployed into line, took up our former position behind our +works and again engaged the enemy.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span>A fire was kept up by our battery until a courier could be sent to stop +it.</p> + +<p>Thus did the 7th stand for more than an hour, firm and unshaken, with the +enemy’s battery playing on their front at four hundred yards distant, and +two of our own playing on their rear.</p> + +<p>By this time, Gen. Hatch’s Division moved up and flanked the Johnnies on +our left and they lit out again, losing their artillery and many +prisoners.</p> + +<p>Here Col. Harrison commanding our brigade, congratulated Colonel Garrard +on the success of the 7th, and remarked, “you have done enough for one +day, I will throw the 5th Iowa in advance and you can fall in the +reserve.”</p> + +<p>We moved out two miles and went into camp on a road to the right of the +Columbia road.</p> + +<p>The 5th Iowa was sent on further with orders to go across the country to +intercept the enemy and if possible to capture their battery, while +Hatch’s Division pressed their rear.</p> + +<p>A stand was made by the enemy between 6 and 7 o’clock p. m., in which they +lost one thousand prisoners besides their killed and wounded and four +pieces of artillery. Thus ended the third day’s operation.</p> + +<p>On the 17th of December nothing of interest occurred except the usual +amount of skirmishing and gathering in of stragglers from a retreating +army until the 25th of December, (Christmas day), our brigade had the +advance and the 5th Iowa the advance of the brigade.</p> + +<p>Skirmishing commenced but we drove the rebels back, and through Pulaski.</p> + +<p>Just beyond the place is a large stream called Richland creek, spanned by +a large covered bridge.</p> + +<p>A charge was made by a portion of the 5th Iowa, but they were repulsed.</p> + +<p>The enemy ran six pieces of artillery into the creek without even spiking +them. They also run three pieces into Duck river. They fired the bridge in +several places.</p> + +<p>Capt. Rankin was ordered to move forward with his battalion and if +possible put the fire out.</p> + +<p>The battallion set out at a brisk trot until near the bridge when they +dismounted and made a rush for it, gathering from the houses along the +road tubs, buckets, pans and everything else available, for carrying and +throwing water on the flames, which had already penetrated to the roof in +several places.</p> + +<p>By the timely arrival of this battalion the bridge was saved with but +little damage except to the roof.</p> + +<p>In passing through the town we found several places where amunition had +been piled and burnt.</p> + +<p>On the railroad near the bridge were several cars laden with amunition, +and loaded muskets, all surrounded by fire, and the discharge of these +muskets was a matter of considerable annoyance to our men while working at +the bridge.</p> + +<p>Our advance soon crossed to the opposite side of the stream, even before +the flames were extinguished.</p> + +<p>Captain Rankin was left to complete the work.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span>The enemy had made a halt a short distance beyond and in plain view of the +bridge seeing that they had been foiled in their attempt to burn the +bridge, now commenced firing their amunition in heaps all along their line +and their main column began to move leaving a few skirmishers in the rear, +but not however, without receiving a few shots from the 4th regular +battery which was attached to our brigade.</p> + +<p>The fire being put out on the bridge and every thing being in readiness, +we moved on, the 5th Iowa being deployed as skirmishers.</p> + +<p>They soon struck the enemy’s rear driving them before them.</p> + +<p>A mile further we came to two abandoned wagons loaded with amunition.</p> + +<p>We passed to the right of them and when opposite the explosion took place +and thousands of blue blazes could be seen shooting heavenward. It was a +magnificent sight. A few hundred yards further on were two wagons of the +same kind and the same scene occurred.</p> + +<p>Now the country became mountainous and the valleys were reduced to narrow +passes between hills, and the enemy became more stubborn and resentful +taking possession of every available position to plant their batteries, +and impede our progress, and in short when they reached the broken country +<ins class="correction" title="original reads 'the'">they</ins> did not drive worth a cent.</p> + +<p>But by moving through the woods, thickets and underbrush and over the +hills and rocks, and tearing our clothes almost at every step we succeeded +in driving them about six miles beyond Pulaski.</p> + +<p>At this point they made a bold stand upon a high hill, and behind +barricades of logs and rails.</p> + +<p>Some time was spent in skirmishing and getting the brigade into position. +The 7th was on the right and not finding anything formidable in our front +we mounted and moved by file down a very steep hill. On the opposite side +of the valley, two-thirds of the way up met a few skirmishers.</p> + +<p>The regiment was then thrown into columns of squadrons, preparatory to +fighting on foot.</p> + +<p>Capt. Rankin’s battalion being in advance moved out by the right and at +once engaged the enemy’s <ins class="correction" title="original reads 'skimishers'">skirmishers</ins> which were not more than thirty yards +in advance of his line, and finding that the enemy’s line extended far +beyond his right, reported the same to Col. Garrard.</p> + +<p>Here the Col. ordered him to take company F in order to extend his line +further out.</p> + +<p>This company had hardly been put in position when our line gave way on the +left and center and a grand rush was made by the enemy on our right +causing us to drop back. Now the driving was all on the other side.</p> + +<p>We had found out for the first time that our line was not more than thirty +yards from their main line, and our led horses two hundred and fifty yards +from their battery which had all been concealed up to this time. This +battery opened fire cutting the timber over our horses and at the same +time a charge was made upon us.</p> + +<p>The enemy proved to be eight brigades of infantry as we learned from a +prisoner who was a little more daring than his comrades and followed a +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span>little too close on our retreating line. Upon noticing him, one of the +boys ’bout faced and took the chap in.</p> + +<p>He also said that Forrest’s cavalry had refused to fight any more and +these brigades of infantry were ordered to hold us until they could get +their trains out of our reach.</p> + +<p>We fell back about four hundred yards and reformed.</p> + +<p>In this affair, I am most happy to state we did not lose a single man. Our +losses in horses was twenty-eight.</p> + +<p>The rebels captured the 4th U. S. battery which belonged to our brigade.</p> + +<p>This battery was situated on our left about a mile and supported by the +4th U. S. cavalry.</p> + +<p>After the capture of our artillery the enemy at once commenced their +retreat, as was ascertained by throwing forward Hatch’s Division, leaving +their dead and wounded on the field.</p> + +<p>This finished Christmas day’s work, a Christmas long to be remembered by +the 7th O. V. C.</p> + +<p>This was the last sight our brigade got of the rebels, except a few +wounded ones lying along the road, and a few stragglers picked up, but a +severe fight occurred at Sugar creek on the 26th between our advance and +their rear.</p> + +<p>We followed the enemy to near Florence where they crossed the Tennessee +river.</p> + +<p>After remaining two days in camp we marched to Mooresville with the +Huntsville and Stevenson railroad sixteen miles distant, where we rested +from our labors ten days, and then marched to Gravelly Springs, Ala., +reaching there January 14th, 1865.</p> + +<p>Here the 7th was ordered to build winter quarters and stabling for their +horses. This was something new for the 7th being the first time in her +history that she went into winter quarters.</p> + +<p>Here we remained for some time. By order of Gen. Wilson we changed our +drill from the single to the double rank formation, and while this was +going on a refitting and reorganization was perfected.</p> + +<p>In this organization the 7th was placed in the 2nd <ins class="correction" title="original reads 'Brgade'">Brigade</ins> 4th Div. C. C. +M. D. M. Gen. Upton commanding Division; Gen. Alexander the Brigade.</p> + +<p>Here we remained until about the 20th of March. Capt. Rankin was placed in +command of the dismounted men of his regiment, then of his brigade, and +subsequently of the division, numbering over five hundred men, and led out +thirty six hours in advance, with the wagon train.</p> + +<p>On the morning of March 22nd, the whole column was in motion, crossed the +Tennessee river and moved southward through the Tuscumbia Valley and then +into the mountain regions of Alabama. We met with no opposition until +about the 26th, when we were met by Rhoddy’s Cavalry, which did not stay +long enough to give us a second shot, but lit out at the sound of the +first gun, leaving one dead.</p> + +<p>We met and defeated the enemy at <ins class="correction" title="original reads 'Monticelo'">Monticello</ins>, capturing one hundred +prisoners.</p> + +<p>The next day, we routed the combined forces of Forest, Buford and Rhoddy, +in their chosen position at Ebenezer church, capturing two guns,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> three +hundred prisoners, and many killed and wounded. Our loss was 44 killed and +150 wounded.</p> + +<p>We followed on, reaching Selma late in the afternoon. Around Selma was an +intrenchment reaching from the Alabama river above the city, to the river +below, with palisades of pine timber set in the ground and sharp at the +upper end. The approach to Selma was through open ground with no +protection whatever to our men.</p> + +<p>The plan of attack was as follows:</p> + +<p>The First Brigade, Fourth Division, composed of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Iowa, +was put in position on the left of the road, and what is known as the +Wilder Brigade, was placed on the right of the road. The Second Brigade, +Fourth Division, composed of the 1st and 7th O. V. C. and the 5th Iowa V. +C. were retained, mounted in columns, on the road, and when the two first +mentioned brigades got fairly engaged in a hand to hand encounter within +the enemy’s parapets, the Second Brigade charged down the road mounted and +into their works, killing and wounding over four hundred and capturing +eleven hundred prisoners, five battle flags and thirteen pieces of +artillery.</p> + +<p>The 7th followed the flying enemy several miles beyond the city and in the +darkness of the night, captured a battery, complete, including caseons, +horses and harness.</p> + +<p>Selma was taken within one hour from the time our lines were formed. In +this short space of time, one of the most important places in Confederacy +fell, it being situated in the midst of their iron regions, was of itself +a solid machine shop, where a large portion of their ordnance was made, +together with their niter works. Some of the most formidable iron works on +the continent were in this region, which also fell into our hands and were +destroyed.</p> + +<p>We remained at Selma eight days, during which time we erected scaffolding +out into the Alabama river and ran their unfinished ordnance from their +works and dumped them into the river until they lay in heaps above the +water.</p> + +<p>During our stay here, we sent a flag of truce to Forrest, to know if he +would honor or parole, and received word that he would if we could hold +them. Having faith in our ability to do so, and at the expiration of eight +days, we applied the torch to all Confederate property, and crossed the +river on pontoons, taking the prisoners with us, we marched on to +Montgomery, the capital of the State. On reaching there, they surrendered +without a fight, after they had burnt a large amount of cotton.</p> + +<p>Here the stars and bars that waved over the first rebel Congress that ever +assembled on this Continent, meekly bowed its head at the first sight of a +Federal soldier with arms in his possession, without even waiting for a +salute, and up went the “old flag of the Union,” which in its stead, waved +triumphantly over the dome of the house where Jeff. Davis called together +his first Congress, amid the shouts and songs of the brave men who so +proudly bore it there.</p> + +<p>After remaining here three <ins class="correction" title="original reads 'drys'">days</ins>, we took up our line of march for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> +Columbus, Ga. The 7th going by the way of Andersonville for the purpose of +releasing our prisoners held there. When within four miles of the place, +they were met by a flag of truce, evidently to gain time. This was not +recognized by the 7th, who charged the place, but only in time to see the +train moving out with the mass of skeletons caused by starvation. Some +eighty-four of our men which beggered all description, not being able to +be removed, were left in the prison pen.</p> + +<p>The 7th joined the command in time to participate in the fight at +Columbus, which was reached about the middle of the afternoon, when 1st O. +V. C. charged a bridge which had previously been strewed with cotton +saturated with turpentine, and on reaching the bridge the enemy applied +the torch and the whole thing was in a blaze, which caused their return, +when skirmishing and an artillery duel continued until after dark.</p> + +<p>On the west side of Columbus runs the Chatahucha river, it was spanned by +the bridges; one was destroyed, as above stated, and the others were +defended by forts, garrisoned by infantry and artillery.</p> + +<p>A portion of the First Brigade, composed of the three Iowa regiments, were +dismounted for the purpose of storming these forts.</p> + +<p>The Second Brigade was retained, mounted. At 9 o’clock, P. M., a move was +made. The Iowa men cleared the enemy’s works on their third assault, when +the Second Brigade charged, mounted, over the bridge into the city.</p> + +<p>In this, the enemy lost over three hundred killed and wounded, one +thousand and five hundred prisoners, twenty-four guns, eight battle flags +and a vast amount of munitions of war. We remained here over the next day, +and the next morning set fire to all the buildings containing army stores, +and taking up our march for Macon, Ga., amid the bursting of shell and the +explosion of amunition, causing the roofs and timbers to ascend +heavenward, and the mass of bricks and mortar to fall inward. Caused by +the vacuam from the explosion from within. The atmospheric pressure pushed +them inward.</p> + +<p>Columbus, Ga., may be set down as the last battle of the war for the +preservation of the Union.</p> + +<p>We continued our march towards Macon and when within twelve miles of that +place, we were met by Gen. Howel Cobb, bearing a flag of truce, requesting +us to go into camp where we were; that Lee had surrendered, Richmond was +captured, and that Sherman and Johnson had agreed upon an armistice of +ninety days. But Gen. Wilson refused to recognize it, and told Gen. Cobb +that he would march on to Macon, and that he, Cobb, could fight or +surrender.</p> + +<p>We reached Macon, April 21st, 1865, when Cobb surrendered the city and his +forces without a struggle.</p> + +<p>Here we received a telegram from Gen. Grant, to cease hostility. That Lee +had surrendered, Richmond had fallen, Johnson was surrounded, with Sherman +in his rear and Sheridan in front, and would have to surrender or be +captured.</p> + +<p>We remained at Macon a few days, when we received orders to send out +scouts in every direction to apprehend Jeff. Davis who was trying to make +his way into Texas, whereupon our brigade, under Gen. Alexander,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> moved +north to Atlanta, Ga. From this point we sent out a scouting party under +Lt. Yoman, of the 1st O. V. C., and all disguised in the rebel uniform. +This party got in company with Davis’ escort, at Greenville, South +Carolina, and while riding together on the road, the rebels suspecting all +was not right, drew their revolvers and opened fire on our scouts. None of +the 7th were injured except John Gates, of Co. E, he being shot through +the head, below the eye, from which he recovered.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, Jeff. Davis was captured by the detachment of the First +Wisconsin and the Second Michigan and brought to Atlanta, Ga. The 7th O. +V. C. took charge of him and guarded him to Augusta, Ga. From here we +marched to Chattanooga, Tenn., from thence to Nashville, and went into +camp at Edgefield, where our horses and equipments were duly turned over, +and the last company of the regiment was mustered out July the 4th, and +paid to the 7th, 1865, when we returned home by the way of Louisville, +Ky., to Cincinnati.</p> + +<p>In writing this history, I have endeavored to do exact justice to all, so +far as I knew, and if there is any errors in this narrative, it is that of +omission, having had to write exclusively from memory, and in all +probability there are omissions.</p> + +<p>While we would not deprive any regiment of her laurals, we believe the 7th +O. V. C., for the services rendered and the number of times she was under +fire, stands second to no regiment from <ins class="correction" title="original reads 'Main'">Maine</ins> to California.</p> + +<p> </p> +<h4>THE END.</h4> + + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of History of the Seventh Ohio Volunteer +Cavalry, by R. C. Rankin + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY--7TH OHIO VOLUNTEER CAVALRY *** + +***** This file should be named 31584-h.htm or 31584-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/5/8/31584/ + +Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net. 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C. Rankin + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: History of the Seventh Ohio Volunteer Cavalry + +Author: R. C. Rankin + +Release Date: March 10, 2010 [EBook #31584] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY--7TH OHIO VOLUNTEER CAVALRY *** + + + + +Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net. (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive/American +Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + + HISTORY OF THE + SEVENTH + OHIO + VOLUNTEER + CAVALRY + + Written by + CAPT. R. C. RANKIN. + + RIPLEY, OHIO: + J. C. Newcomb, Printer. + 1881. + + + + +History of the Seventh Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. + + + + +It being suggested that a History of the Seventh Ohio Volunteer Cavalry be +written, the honor was conferred upon me. Not being a historian or even a +letter writer, I feel myself entirely incompetent to do justice to the +Regiment that has done so much good service. In writing a historical +account of the organization of this Regiment, I shall have to rely almost +exclusively on memory, owing to the fact that all the Regiment's notes and +papers have been captured, as will be seen before concluding this +narrative. + +The Seventh Ohio Volunteer Cavalry was recruited on an order emanating +from the War Department, that Gov. Todd, of Ohio, would raise one Regiment +of Cavalry, for "Border Service," the Ohio River then being the boundary. + +The organization of this Regiment was commenced and the duty of the +organization was conferred on Major Malcolm McDowell, Paymaster U. S. A., +and I may add here, that there is no visitor more welcome at the camp of +the Seventh O. V. C., than the gallant old grandfather of the Reg't, as he +is styled here. The counties ordered to raise Companies were as follows: +Hamilton, three; Clermont, one; Brown, one; Adams, one; Scioto, one; +Lawrence, one; Gallia, one; Meigs, one; Washington, one; Monroe, one. +Lawrence and Monroe failing to raise the companies, their places were +supplied by raising two in Gallia and one in Athens. As soon as recruiting +was fairly under way, Major McDowell was retired and resumed his orignal +duties as Paymaster. + +Recruiting was very lively, and the Companies were all filled by the first +week in September, and the Regiment was then organized as follows: + +Colonel, Israel Garrard; Lieut. Colonel, George G. Minor; Majors, Wm. L. +Raney, ---- Norton, and James McIntire; Adjutant, T. F. Allen; Q. M., W. +M. R. Jackson; C. S., John McColgin; Surgeon, Isaac Train; Asst. Surgeons, +---- Tullis and ---- Barrett. + +Non-Com., Field and Staff.--S. M., B. P. Stacy; Q. M. S., Geo. M. Ross; C. +S., B. F. Powers; H. S., James Saffron; Saddler, Serg't Albert G. Sells. + +Captains--Wm. A. Simpson, A. S. Brownfield, Warren, Campbell, Solomon L. +Green, Lindsey, Ashburn, Higley, Wm. Lewis, R. C. Rankin, Eels, and John +Leaper. + +First Lieutenants--A. Hall, Santemire, Sayers, Moore, W. D. Ketterman, +Copeland, Nichols, Tripp, Long, Shaw, Carr, McNight. + +Second Lieutenants--A. N. Rich, Wm. Burton, Martin Shuler, Murphy, John V. +Srofe, O. H. Eyler, Trago, Smith, Chase, Wambledorf and Johnson. + +The Companies rendezvoused in the counties in which they were raised and +received millitary instruction from their respective Commanders for +several weeks. + +In the meantime, Co. E, Capt. R. C. Rankin's Company, quartered at Ripley, +Ohio, rendered valuable service to the city of Maysville, Ky., in +defending her against John Morgan's command, and on the night of September +20th, 1862, crossed the Ohio River and marched to Brookville, Ky., a +distance of twenty-five miles, and participated in the attack and the +driving from the place, the rebels under Basil Duke, who was engaged in +paroling the citizens carried away by him from Augusta, which place he had +captured and burned the day previous. Capt. R. C. Rankin, with Co. E and a +squad of mounted citizens from Ripley, Ohio, made a charge on the place, +capturing one rebel as they went in, and having one man killed by the +retreating rebels. The gallant Duke did not stand upon the order of his +going, but just "went." This may be recorded as the first blood the +Seventh saw in battle. + +Ripley being connected with a large portion of Kentucky by turnpike roads, +was selected as the place for the Regiment to rendezvous and receive +instructions, which duty devolved principally on Lt. Col. Minor, who +proved himself fully competent to the task. Col. Garrard's time being +occupied in equipping the Regiment. + +The first Battallion reached Ripley about the 1st of October, and on the +19th of October, this Battallion and twenty-five men of Co. E, under +command of Capt. R. C. Rankin, all being under Lt. Col. Minor, crossed the +Ohio River and made a scout to Falmouth, Ky., (in obedience to orders from +Gen. Wright, Commanding Dept. of Ohio,) reaching there on the third day, +and finding it occupied by Federal troops. Passing through four counties, +they returned to camp at Ripley, bringing with them three prisoners +captured by the advance--Capt. R. C. Rankin's twenty-five men of E Co. +being the advance. + +The First Battallion crossed the river about the 1st of November, and took +up the line of march for Lexington, Ky., Major Rainey commanding, and +joined Gen. Carter in December, accompanying that officer on his raid into +East Tennessee, by the way of Pound Gap, and participated in the burning +of Carter's Station and the bridge across the Watauga River at +Zollicoffer, Tenn.; returning to Kentucky, with the loss of one man killed +and a few lost as prisoners, after an absence of three weeks. + +Four companies broke camp and crossed the river at Maysville, Ky., on the +21st of December, and took up their march for Danville, Ky., reaching +there on the 24th, Lt. Colonel commanding. + +In obedience to orders of Gen. Baird, commanding at Danville, Company E, +Capt. Rankin in command, was ordered to Harrodsburgh for the purpose of +sending scouting parties on the different roads leading from that place, +and rendered much valuable service to Gen. Baird, by keeping him posted as +to the movements of John Morgan, who had invaded the State and was +approaching that point. + +They also captured many prisoners, with their equipments. The number +captured during their stay, would more than equal the entire command under +Capt. Rankin. + +The duties became so ardorous, that Gen. Baird sent Company L, Capt. +Leaper, to assist. + +The border now being on the Kentucky and Salt River hills, the remainder +of the Regiment, under Col. Garrard, were brought up to join the others at +Danville, Ky., reaching there about the 4th of January, 1863. The whole +Regiment, (Co. E excepted, which was still on duty at Harrodsburg,) after +a few weeks getting together at Danville, moved to Harrodsburg, where it +remained until about the latter part of February. + +About this time, the rebel Col. Cluke invaded Eastern Kentucky, and the +Seventh was ordered out to assist in driving him from the State. + +On reaching Crab Orchard, the Regiment was divided: part under Lt. Col. +Minor moved by the way of Richmond and Ervin to Hazel Green, and had a +skirmish with the enemy at that place, capturing twenty-five prisoners. +The remainder of the Regiment, under Col. Garrard, went to Mt. Sterling, +by the way of Richmond and Winchester, charging the town and driving the +rebels from it, but not in time, however, to save a portion of it from +flames. + +The place had been surrendered a short time previous, by Col. Ratcleffe of +the 10th Kentucky Cavalry. + +The enemy being hotly pursued on the Owensville road, made a stand on +State Creek, four miles out, but after a sharp engagement were driven from +their position, with a loss of eight killed. + +About three weeks were occupied in traversing this mountainous country. +The rain and snow falling almost continuously, made the roads in places +impassable. The Regiment all got together at Lexington, about the first of +April. + +Immediately on the arrival of the regiment at Lexington, an order was +issued by Gen. Gilmore, for Capt. Rankin to report with Company E to the +Provost Marshal of the District. Upon doing so, the duty assigned him was +to make a scout through Jessamine, Mercer, Woodford and Anderson counties, +and if possible, to arrest and bring to Lexington a rebel, Col. Alexander, +who had up to this time baffled all efforts made for his capture. + +The scouting party returned, being successful in the capture of Col. +Alexander, together with a rebel recruiting officer, met on the highway, +who on being searched was found to have on his person a recruiting +officer's papers authorizing him to proceed from Beech Grove, Tenn., to +the counties above mentioned, to recruit for John Morgan's command, +stationed at Beech Grove; also, taking from the cliffs, bordering on the +Kentucky river, near Shakertown, a member of John Morgan's command +concealed there. + +The day after their return, this Company was sent to Cynthiana and did +duty for some weeks with the 118th Ohio, in breaking up recruiting +station, Col. Mott commanding. + +After having completed this service, Co. E, Capt. Rankin commanding, was +ordered first to Paris, thence to Carlisle, which place was reached about +midnight. Being aided by a small party of citizens, he continued his march +about six miles to a mill on the north-fork of Licking river where he +captured a picket-post of sixteen rebel soldiers, and then returned to +Paris on the following day. + +In the meantime, the regiment bore a conspicuous part in the fight with +Pegram's force at Dutton Hill, and just as our line was beginning to +waver, a daring charge was made by the Seventh which turned the tide of +battle in our favor. + +In this fight we captured four hundred prisoners and four pieces of +artillery. + +The enemy fell back in great disorder. Among the trophies captured, the +Seventh claims three battle flags; one being captured by Lieut. Copeland, +who greatly distinguished himself on that occasion for coolness and +bravery. + +Major Norton also deserves mention for the gallant style in which he led +his battalion in the charge. Major McIntire deserves especial mention. On +one occasion he penetrated the confused mass of rebels, and found himself +fired on from the rear. Turning upon his horse he found he was attacked by +three. The Major drew his revolver and shot one and the other two +surrendered. + +Col. Garrard could be found at any point along the line where his presence +was most needed. This was the first fight the regiment was in as a body. + +On returning to Lexington, the regiment was paid off and their faces were +again turned southward. Reaching Stanford, they went into camp for a few +days and then continued their march to Somerset, near the Cumberland river +which had now become the border. + +On the evening of the 29th of April, three companies, under Captain Green, +joined two companies of the 2nd Ohio Cav., and one company of the 1st +Kentucky, all under command of Capt. Carter, of the 1st Ky., crossed the +Cumberland river at Smith's Ford, and after crossing a mountain, they +crossed the south fork of the Cumberland, two miles from its junction with +the main stream, now known as Burnside's Point, coming around in the rear +of the rebel pickets at Stigall's Ferry, thereby capturing the post, one +hundred and thirty in number. + +After delivering the prisoners to our forces on the opposite bank at +Stigall's, we took the main road to Monticello, and after marching about +four miles, were attacked by a portion of the enemy's cavalry whom we soon +drove back, and then continued the march until we reached the farm known +as Capt. West's. Beyond this farm is a gap in the mountain, called +Scott's Gap. Here the enemy made a stand and quite a sharp little fight +ensued which lasted near one hour. + +It now being dusk and the enemy being driven from their position, the +command went into camp for the night, Company E of the 7th, under Capt. +Rankin, being left to hold the Gap. The next morning, skirmishing between +the pickets commenced. The column was soon in motion moving on toward +Monticello, with occasional skirmishing on the advance, the enemy +gradually falling back toward the town; but a charge was made upon them +which quickly hurled them through the town and over the creek to the top +of a hill beyond, where they again made a stand. + +In this charge, the first credit of entering the place, all chances being +equal, is due the Seventh, Company E, under Capt. Rankin, leaping the +fences, gaining the streets and crossing the creek, and mingled in a hand +to hand fight with the flying rebels half way up the hill on the other +side. The Adjutant of the 1st Kentucky, gained the head of the column and +ordered them back to the Monticello side, where the command was formed in +line of battle. + +This gave the enemy time to reform, also. In this charge, the Seventh lost +one man killed and three wounded, besides several horses. + +That part of the command which stopped to throw down fences, now coming to +our assistance, the enemy were soon driven to a point four miles beyond, +where they got large reinforcements, as well as ourselves and a fight was +made in which the enemy used considerable artillery. + +In an hour our artillery came up and was put in position and a flank +movement being made on the enemy's right, they were soon to be found on +the retreat again. + +In this engagement the rebels lost nine men killed, several wounded and +twelve prisoners. + +Night coming on, the command retreated to Monticello where it remained for +two days, and then followed the retreating rebels across the Tennessee +line. + +A part of the regiment under Col. Garrard, went to Frazersville, and a +detachment under Major McIntyre, went to Albany, capturing some prisoners +and returned to Somerset where they remained sometime. + +Nothing of interest occurred except scouting occasionally to Mett's Spring +and across the river now and then, taking in the rebel pickets on the +opposite bank. + +On the 7th day of June, the regiment again crossed the Cumberland river +and marched to Monticello where it had some fighting. On the 9th, when +returning, the Seventh, O. V. C., being the rear guard, was followed by +the enemy and attacked at West's farm, at which place a severe fight +ensued in which the Seventh lost several men in killed and wounded. + +On the morning of the 10th, a detachment from the Seventh of 150 picked +men and officers as follows: Capt. R. C. Rankin, commanding the +detachment, Capt. Warren, Lts. Carr, Ketterman, Rich, Shuler, and Srofe, +left Somerset and joined Col. Sanders at Mt. Vernon. A day or two was +spent in making preparations for a raid. Everything being ready, on the +morning of the 18th we took up our line of march, crossing the Cumberland +river at Williamsburg, thence over Jelico mountains to Wartsburg where we +captured 105 prisoners, they being utterly surprised, having no knowledge +of our movements until we were upon them. + +We also captured a supply train and destroyed a large amount of ordinance, +Q. M. and C. S. stores. + +This being the point from which Gen. Pegram drew his supplies, he being +stationed at this time on the Cumberland river in front of Gen. Carter's +forces. + +The prisoners being all paroled, their arms destroyed, we moved on toward +Kingston. + +Considerable skirmishing occurred with the advance, when we made a sudden +move to the left, crossed the Clinch river and moved out toward Lenoir's +Station. + +When within one mile of this place, we suddenly came upon a rebel camp at +daylight capturing their guns, a battery complete. The number of prisoners +captured there and at the Station were 132. We burned the depot which was +well filled with munitions of war of every kind and description. + +Here I will relate an incident that took place: As the column moved by the +Station, owing to the bursting of shells and the explosion of powder in +the burning building, the command was compelled to take the fields to +avoid danger. Passing a man plowing corn with a fine mule, he said, "that +is one of your Yankee tricks, is it?" Yes, said a soldier with a worn out +horse, "and I will show you another." So dismounting, he put his saddle on +the mule and left him his jaded horse. + +Being now on the Virginia and East Tennessee Railroad, we commenced the +destruction of it by tearing up the rails, burning all the culverts and +bridges. + +Reaching Knoxville after night, we moved around to the north side of the +city and attacked the place in the morning. + +In this engagement, Capt. Rankin received orders from Col. Sanders to send +50 of his men out on our right to skirmish, and to support the artillery +with the remainder of his command, which was one section of Battery D, +First Ohio. + +We fought until 9 o'clock, A. M., capturing 40 prisoners and killed 9 +rebels, among them a Capt. McClung. + +Our loss was two killed and a few wounded. + +Then falling back, we struck the railroad east of the place where we again +commenced tearing up the track. + +We were saluted with the enemy's artillery until noon, shelling the woods +we had left. + +Moving on to Strawberry Plains, we destroyed everything as we went and +reaching that place late in the evening, where considerable fighting took +place, which resulted in our occupying the town, capturing six pieces of +artillery and over 100 prisoners, with slight loss to us. + +Here we burned the bridge that spans the Holston river, 1600 feet in +length, including trestle work, besides the depot and store houses well +filled with Q. M. and C. S. stores. + +After resting a few hours, we moved out on the road toward New Market and +on to Mossy Creek, where we destroyed a confederate machine shop and a +large amount of grain, and burnt the bridge over Mossy Creek; in all, we +destroyed over 3000 feet of bridges and trestle work. + +This being done and having destroyed 60 miles of railroad, the head of our +column was turned northward, crossing the Clinch river and moving toward +Cumberland Gap. + +Skirmishing now commenced in our rear, the detachments of the Second and +Seventh being the rear guard. + +The column kept pushing on, crossing Chinch mountain into Powill's Valley, +and on reaching the Knoxville and Cumberland Gap road, learned that the +enemy were in our front. + +Not wishing to travel any further in that direction the column was turned +toward Knoxville. + +After traveling a few miles in that direction, we came upon the enemy's +wagon train, which fell into our hands, they supposing it perfectly safe +on this road; no guards had been left with it. + +After burning the train and paroling the prisoners, 32 in number, it now +being 12 o'clock at night, the column headed for Roger's Gap, which was +made in the afternoon of the next day. + +Finding this Gap well guarded with artillery and infantry, the command +halted for a short time for consultation. The result of this was as +follows: A strong line of skirmishers were to be shown to the enemy, the +artillery to be put in position loaded with shell, spiked and wheels cut +down. The detachment of the Seventh being the rear guard was ordered to +remain in position one hour after the column moved, which movement was +made to the left and around a spur of the mountain out of sight, striking +the valley again, five miles further down at Childer's Gap, finding one +regiment of the enemy's cavalry, which made a hasty retreat down the +valley after receiving one volley from the First Tennessee mounted +Infantry, which accompanied our expedition. + +The rear guard closing up and the way in our front being clear the command +commenced the descent, crossed the valley and ascended the mountain on the +other side. + +When the rear guard had got one-third the way up the mountain, the enemy +could be seen moving in two columns. + +The infantry and artillery finding that they had been foiled in their +efforts to capture our command, were coming down the valley, while their +cavalry were feeling their way up the valley. + +Our rear guard were placed in a position to receive them in case any +attempt should be made to attack us in the rear. + +As the approaching columns neared each other, it now being dark, and each +supposing the other to be the raiding "Yanks," at once engage each other. + +Capt. Rankin, commanding the rear guard, not being interested in this +fight, nor caring which gained the day, ordered his command forward and +followed the main column, it having continued its march and being now out +of sight. + +The night being very dark and no road, not even a path to follow nor any +mounted guide left to guide them, they worked their way over rocks and +timber in the direction they supposed the column had moved, and became +scattered. + +And after climbing around over the rocks, amid the darkness of the night, +I found myself on the highest peak of the mountain, accompanied by one +man. I wandered about for some time to see if I could find any trace of +the column, and found no trace and heard no human voice save the tumult at +the foot of the mountain. + +Inasmuch as the author did not join his command until reaching London, +Ky., and nothing of interest occurring except the leaving of three hundred +horses in the mountains by the command, he asks the privilege of narrating +his own adventures after he became separated from the command: + +I struck out in what I supposed a northerly direction and after passing +over several high ridges and coming to a cliff that had to be descended, +and not thinking it safe to make the trial at night, we spread our blanket +down, tied our horses and went to sleep, being very much exhausted; and +upon waking in the morning found the sun high up and no noise to be heard +save the singing of the birds and the gnawing of my faithful horse on the +trees. I at once arose and set out to find some place to make my exit, but +finding no way to get my horse down this cliff other than southward, I was +compelled to abandon him, a thing that gave me considerable uneasiness of +mind; I hated to part with so valuable a servant that had carried me +safely through the campaign of '61, under Gen. Fremont, through Kentucky +and Tennessee to Corinth, Miss., back to Ohio and through all the +wanderings of the 7th O. V. C., including this masterly "raid," being yet +good in flesh and unbroken in spirit; to part with such a friend was no +light affair. But with all the horrors of Libby Prison on one hand and +life and liberty on the other, I was not long in making up my mind which +course to pursue. + +I stripped my horse of everything and bid him adieu. Taking a strap from +the saddle, I buckled my blankets together, ran my saber through, threw it +over my shoulder and began the descent, and upon reaching the foot found +myself in a deep dell, surrounded by high peaks of craggy rocks. The +timber being undergrown with laurel through which ran a brook of clear +water. + +After refreshing myself, I followed the course to the stream for about two +miles which brought me to a stream known as Clear Fork, which I followed +for a few miles, coming to a miserable old hut in which lived two old +people, who had passed their four score years, and in coming up to this +hovel I heard considerable talking. + +I sent my companion close to the hut to eaves drop, and finding who were +its occupants, when he returned he reported "all right." + +On entering the house I found ten or twelve of our own soldiers, among +them a grand son of the occupants of the house. + +The old man was grinding corn on a hand mill, while the old lady was +baking bread and cakes for the hungry soldiers. I ate a few morsels, and +during the time I explained to them my situation and where my horse had +been left. + +The old gentleman gave me some encouragement by saying he thought he +could get the horse. I told him he should have fifty dollars upon +delivering the horse to me, and he at once started in search of him, while +I went up on the side of the mountain; spread my blanket and went to +sleep. + +The old man returned in the evening without the horse. I procured a guide +and set by a foot-path over the mountains, traveling all night, reaching +London, Ky., twenty-four hours in advance of the command. The column +coming up, we continued our march until reaching Lancaster, on the 1st day +of July, being twenty days out. + +The men suffered greatly for want of sleep and from the swelling of their +limbs, caused by constant riding. + +In two instances where men fell asleep in the center of the column, +everything in the rear of them was halted, and they also fell asleep and +remained so an hour or two. + +The regiment during this time was actively engaged in picketing and +scouting the country along the Cumberland river, and on one or two +occasions went into Tennessee to divert General Pegram's attention from +the "raiders." + +About this time, John Morgan invaded the State of Kentucky, on his grand +raid through Indiana and Ohio. + +The regiment, under its Colonel, joined in the pursuit, following him to +the Ohio river at Brandenburg, crossing over into Indiana, and following +him in his circuitous route through the States of Indiana and Ohio, and +participating in the fight at Buffington's Island, July 20th, 1863. + +In the meantime the detachment of the 7th that was on the Sander's raid, +were at Camp Nelson refitting. + +Information being received that two companies of Morgan's command which +had been recruited in the vicinity of Harrodsburg, Ky., (numbering one +hundred and ten men) had been cut off from the main command and were +scattered about over the country, staying with their friends, and owing to +Capt. Rankin's knowledge of that part of the State, he was ordered to take +what men he could arm and equip and proceed there at once. + +Taking twenty-six of his own company, they in a period of ten days, +captured eighty-four of that number, including two officers. + +Great credit is due to the colored people for the information they gave. + +Another detachment of the 7th joined Col. Sweeny's command of detachments +and took part in the fight with Scott's Cavalry at Richmond, Ky., July +28th, 1863, and made a brilliant saber charge against the same command at +Crab Orchard, (Capt. Leaper commanding detachment,) skirmishing with them +at Stanford, and following them on their retreat to the Cumberland river, +compelling them to drop one section of artillery, said to be the same we +abandoned in the mountains on the Sander's raid. + +After the capture of John Morgan, the regiment was disbanded for fifteen +days and allowed to visit their homes. + +At the expiration of that time, the regiment was got together at +Cincinnati and marched to Stanford, Ky., preparatory to their march to +Knoxville, Tenn., under Gen. Burnside. + +The regiment broke camp about the 20th day of August, moving by the way +of Crab Orchard and London, crossing the Cumberland river at Williamsburg, +about the 25th. + +Here, one batallion of the 7th, under Major McIntyre, was thrown out in +front as the advance of Gen. Burnside's command, and held that post of +honor during the whole march, until they reached the railroad at Lenoir +Station. + +A considerable force of the enemy being at London, and some fighting going +on, the regiment was ordered to that point, and on reaching there found +the rebels gone and the bridge that spanned the Tennessee river, in +flames. + +The regiment then counter-marched, reaching Knoxville the next day. +Resting two days, we took up our line of march for Cumberland Gap, +skirmishing with the enemy at Taswell and Powell's river, reaching the Gap +and beseiging that place three days. + +At the end of that time, September 9th, that stronghold surrendered its +garrison, consisting of two thousand, six hundred men, under General +Frazier. + +On the day previous to its surrender, a detail of officers penetrated the +rebel pickets lines, much to the chagrin of Gen. Frazier, they were taken +in headquarters, without being hoodwinked; of course they used their eyes +and saw just what they went to see, the condition of the enemy. + +Gen. Frazier immediately ordered them out of his lines which order was +complied with. + +That night they returned, not by the picket post however, and burned the +mill inside the rebel lines, thus cutting off their rations, which may +have had something to do with his sudden surrender. + +They came back to camp unmolested and without the honor of a rebel escort. + +On the next morning after the surrender, the 7th started back to +Knoxville, and on the third day reached that city and went into camp. +Remaining there only a few days they started eastward on the railroad, but +meeting with no resistance until reaching Johnson's Station, a distance of +one hundred miles. + +The command moved on to Zollecoffer, and not being able to capture the +garrison there guarding the bridge across the Watauga river, they returned +to Jonesboro, remaining there one week, one batallion under Capt. +Copeland, doing the provost duty of town scouting and pressing horses. + +The enemy attacked the command on the 28th of September and compelled it +to retreat down the railroad as far as Bull's Gap, where we stayed several +days. + +On the 10th of October, we started eastward again and had a fight at Blue +Springs, losing several men killed and wounded, among them, Captain Higly, +a most valuable officer, who was commanding a battallion and was killed in +the thickest of the fight while encouraging and leading on his men. + +The rebels held their ground until a detachment of the 9th army corps came +up, charging them and driving them from the field at dusk. + +They retreated during the night, and our command pursued them in the +morning, following closely all the next day, and had a spirited skirmish +at Raytown in which several were lost on both sides. Night coming on, we +went into camp, continuing our pursuit in the morning as far as Jonesboro, +and on the following day we moved toward Bluntsville, camping for the +night, a few miles from town. + +One battallion under Capt. Copeland, was ordered to make a scout to this +place, but meeting the rebel pickets, he returned to camp, losing one man +killed, James Barnes of Co. E. + +The next day, October the 14th, the column moved on toward the town +driving the rebels from the place. + +They continued their retreat through Zollecoffer and Bristol. We followed +and burnt the bridge at Zollecoffer, on our way and captured at Bristol +two locomotives and fifty cars, which were all destroyed, besides a +considerable amount of commissary store. + +The men carrying away all the sugar they could manage. + +The task being accomplished, the command fell back through Bluntsville and +Kingsport to Rogersville, pressing all the horses that could be found, and +remained there sometime, nothing particular occurring save the usual +scouting in an enemy's country. + +About this time the regiment was deprived of its Colonel, he being placed +in command of a brigade, and Major McIntyre succeeded to the command. + +About the 4th of November, Gen. Shackelford, commanding the Cavalry +Division, received information that a rebel force, 4000 strong, was +approaching Rogersville by the way of Jonesville, Va. + +He therefore ordered Col. Garrard to send a scouting party to that place. + +A detail of 50 men from the Seventh being made, Capt. Rankin was ordered +to take command. Before the scouts returned, the enemy made their +appearance by the way of Kingsport. + +In order that you may fully understand the event which I am about to +describe, it is necessary that I should describe the country and the +locality, our camp and its approaches. + +The country here is alternately mountain and valley, running nearly +parallel east and west, with occasional narrow passes through the +mountains from one valley to another, these valleys losing themselves +every few miles in the main valley of the Holston river. + +The brigade of which the Seventh formed a part was camped in the main +Holston Valley about three miles above Rogersville. + +The hospital, commissary and quartermaster's department, with a provost +guard, occupied the town. + +Great caution was used by Col. Garrard in guarding these approaches, and +for this purpose one company of the Tennesseeans was kept in Carter +Valley, five miles from the brigade camp. This Valley being the first one +north of the Holston, they sent scouting parties daily, over into Stanley +Valley and Hickory Cave, which are further north. + +On the night of the 5th of November, scouts reported the enemy advancing +in force down the Holston Valley from Kingsport. + +Lieut. Murphy was ordered to take two companies of the Seventh, on the +night of the 6th, which was very dark and the rain pouring down in +torrents, and make a scout up the Holston Valley. + +After marching about six miles he met the enemy's advance and at once +engaged them, and notified the Colonel of their approach. + +The enemy finding their advance resisted, threw a force across the +mountain into Carter Valley, which was estimated at 2000 strong, and upon +reaching the valley they dashed upon this Tennessee company capturing and +scattering them. + +This Valley now being cleared, they continued down it about two miles to a +road crossing into Holston Valley, which road struck the Valley about the +center of our brigade camp. + +Here their force was divided, one half going across the mountain, secreted +themselves under the cover of the night in a cedar grove, near the road +leading down the main valley to Rogersville. + +The other part of their command continued down the valley to where it +comes into the Holston, one-half mile above Rogersville, where they again +divided their force, leaving a part here and sending the remainder around +a spur of the mountain, striking the valley one-half mile below the town. + +They closed in on the place, capturing and scattering everything that was +there. + +This part of their programme being successfully accomplished, they moved +up the valley on to the camp. In the meanwhile their main force was +passing slowly down the valley, compelling the small force in their front +to retire, and giving time for the force below to accomplish the task +assigned them, and attack the camp from that side. + +As they approached the camp, Col. Garrard had the train on the road, +headed toward Rogersville, and the brigade drawn up in line, artillery +placed in position on an eminence, commanding the approach from Kingsport. + +While in this position we were attacked in the rear by the force coming up +the valley. + +At this instant, the force before mentioned as being secreted in the cedar +thicket, being in close proximity to our left flank, poured a volley into +the battallion of the Seventh, being not more than fifty yards distant, +and made a simultaneous charge upon the wagon train and capturing it. + +They were seen in the thicket by our battallion, but were supposed to be +the Tennessee homeguards. + +At the same time a charge was made front and rear. + +Finding the command attacked on three sides, each force equaling our own +in numbers, there was no alternative but to make our way across the +Holston river at the nearest ford. + +This being done, the regiment was formed in line on the opposite bank of +the river, but the Seventh had already lost over 100 men, and the Second +Tennessee over 500, and both sections of the artillery being captured, the +command fell back to Morristown, a distance of 30 miles. + +In the meantime, the scouts who were sent out to Jonesville, returned to +within three miles of camp, and on hearing of the disaster, turned north, +passing Clinch Mountain, through Little War Gap, coming down Poor Valley +until they struck the Cumberland Gap and Morristown road, and joined the +regiment at Morristown the next day. + +In this affair, the Seventh lost everything in the shape of books and +papers, camp and garrison equipage, all the train and everything but what +was carried away by the men on their horses. + +Capt. Rankin having joined his regiment, as before stated, was ordered to +take two hundred men and reconnoiter as near Rogersville as he deemed +safe. + +Finding nothing in his way, he entered the place, the rebels having +retreated immediately after paroling the sick and wounded, which the +Captain found in as good condition as circumstances would admit. + +The regiment resting at Morristown two days, then moved eastward through +Russelsville and camped near that place a few days, and leaving this camp +they went on up the railroad, through Bull's Gap, and on toward +Greenville. + +About this time, Longstreet beseiged Knoxville, and the rebel forces under +Jones and Williams moved down from Virginia, compelling us to fall back. + +The command fell back by the way of Rogersville to Bean's Station and +thence over Clinch Mountain to Sycamore creek, where the Seventh camped a +few days, doing picket duty on the Clinch river and all the roads leading +eastward. + +We lost several men on picket at Clinch river. + +While stationed at this place, Serg'ts. Little and Davis carried +dispatches through the rebel lines to General Burnside, in Knoxville, at +different times. + +From this, the Seventh went to Taswell, remained there a few days and +moved out on the Knoxville and Cumberland Gap road, crossing Clinch river +at Walker's Ford. + +The siege now being raised at Knoxville, and the rebels moving up the +railroad eastward, our cavalry was engaged in annoying their flanks, up to +Beall's Station. + +On the morning of the 12th of Dec., 1863, the Seventh O. V. C. and the +Ninth Michigan Cavalry, with one section of artillery, under command of +Col. Garrard, moved in the direction of Morristown, and when within one +and half miles of that town we met the enemy, and after some skirmishing, +the Seventh was dismounted and thrown forward to engage them, who were +strongly posted on a wooded hill, with artillery commanding the approach. + +After an engagement with them, which lasted nearly an hour, our lines +moved forward gradually through open fields until within one hundred and +fifty yards of their lines. + +Meanwhile, the Ninth Michigan Cavalry was moved down a ravine and around a +hill out of sight of the enemy, attacking them on their flank and rear, +compelling them to scatter in great confusion, leaving their dead and +wounded in our hands. + +Our command passed on, driving the rebels beyond the town. + +The enemy lost heavily in killed and wounded, and among them a Lieut. +Colonel. + +Our loss was one man killed; Sergt. Newport, of Co. H, Seventh regiment, +with several wounded. + +It now being quite dark and no support near, the command fell back to +Beall's Station. + +On the morning of the 14th, Col. Garrard's brigade again advanced on +Morristown, but finding no enemy there, moved on toward Russelsville a few +miles, drove in the pickets and moved forward, and when near Russelville, +found a large force of the enemy drawn in line awaiting our approach. + +The Second and Seventh O. V. C. were at once ordered forward to attack +them, the Ninth Michigan being held in reserve. + +We fought them till near dark, and failing to accomplish anything and +losing several killed and wounded fell back to Beall's Station. + +On the 16th, we fought Longstreet's force at Bean's Station, also on the +17th, and at Rutledge on the 18th. + +Our troops falling back all the time toward Knoxville, the cavalry doing +the fighting, losing several men killed, wounded and captured. + +We fell back to Stone Mills, camping there a few days. + +Here the regiment was paid by Major McDowell. + +Leaving this point, the command crossed the Holston river, struck the +railroad at New Market, and from there went south to Dandridge on the +French Broad river. + +On the 24th, we had a spirited engagement with the enemy and was compelled +to fall back toward New Market, losing one man killed and several +captured. + +On the 27th, we moved up the railroad to Mossy creek, and from this period +up to the 24th of January, had continual fighting and skirmishing, driving +the enemy a few miles toward Morristown and in turn being driven back by +them. + +On the morning of the 14th of January we moved again to Dandridge, and on +the 16th moved out on the Morristown road, having sharp skirmishing, +losing near 50 men out of the Brigade. Fell back again to Dandridge. + +On the following day a general engagement took place, which lasted from +nine o'clock a. m. until late in the night. + +From causes unknown to the writer, (who had charge of the advance posts), +at 12 o'clock at night the 7th which was on the front line, received +orders to commence falling back in small detachments, when a retrograde +movement commenced, in which retreat our forces lost several hundred, +principally infantry, of which we had a large force which seemed to have +been there for some other purpose than fighting, as they were never +brought into action. + +We crossed the Holston river and continued our retreat to Knoxville, the +enemy following to within a few miles of the city. + +From here we crossed the river moving south-west through Seviersville, and +on up the south side of French Broad river, capturing two pieces of +artillery at Fair Garden, when we fell back through Mears and Tuchalechy +cove, to Little river, where we camped near one week, during which time a +detachment of the brigade were sent into North Carolina to capture +Thomas' Legion, which was made up mostly of Indians, (Thomas being +formerly an Indian agent.) + +The expedition was successful, they brought back 50 prisoners, but not +without heavy loss on our own side. + +In the meantime one battallion of the 7th was sent back through Mears to +Tuchlechy to create a diversion and hold the Gap while the expedition was +being made. + +Our camp was then moved to Maryville where we remained a few days scouting +and skirmishing continually. + +From here we moved back to Knoxville, making scouts occasionally on the +south side of the river toward Maryville and on the north side as far as +Strawberry Plains. + +After remaining here about ten days the regiment moved out to Buffalo +creek a distance of forty miles. + +As we had to subsist exclusively off of the country for forage and +provisions for men and the horses, and the supply becoming exhausted our +horses were reduced to skeletons and were no longer able to do duty. + +Fifty of the strongest horses were selected from each Regiment accompanied +by Col. Garrard and moved east as far as Russelville, where they remained +two weeks scouting and skirmishing continually, having in some instances +hand to hand engagements. + +In the meanwhile the regiment returned to the vicinity of Knoxville and +from there went out Clinch river to Wallace's road, remaining there a few +days it returned to Knoxville, being joined by the 50 men above mentioned. + +We left on the 24th of March, 1864. + +It is conceded by all parties that the campaign in East Tennessee, under +Gen. Burnside was the hardest campaign that has been experienced since the +commencement of this great struggle for the perpetuity of our nation. + +The regiment reached Paris, Ky., April the 5th, camping in that vicinity a +few days, and then moving to Nicholasville where the work of refitting was +commenced. + +Major Gen. Stoneman commanding the cavalry in this department. + +Nothing of interest occurred here except that of sending companies into +different counties to protect the Provost Marshals, while they were +enrolling the negroes. + +About the 10th of June it was ascertained that John Morgan was moving +toward Lexington. Gen. Stoneman having started with two brigades two weeks +previous to Georgia, Col. Garrard's brigade was all that were left in that +immediate vicinity. + +On the 10th Col. Garrard moved his command to Lexington reaching there a +few hours after Morgan had left, who had entered the place in the morning, +robbed the banks and many of the stores of their valuables before he +departed. + +After resting a few hours we continued our march to Paris reaching there +about daylight the following morning. + +Here 200 men were sent out under Capt. Rankin to make a reconoisance +toward Georgetown, after moving in that direction about 16 miles, he met +a part of Morgan's command, routed and drove them two miles in the +direction of Cynthiana, returned and reported the same to Gen. Burbridge. + +That night Gen. Burbridge moved for Cynthiana, Col. Garrard's brigade +being in the rear. + +At day-light skirmishing commenced a mile or two from that place. + +Gen. Burbridge soon had his whole force engaging the rebels. + +Col. Garrard's brigade composed of the 7th O. V. C., 9th Mich. V. C., and +one battallion of the 15th Kentucky cavalry were formed in columns of +battallions in the rear of the lines, being held in reserve. + +The fighting now became general, and the center of the line began to +waver, seeing this Col. Garrard ordered the 9th Mich. to move around +Burbridge's right flank and charge the enemy, mounted. The battallion of +Kentucky cavalry was dismounted and formed on the extreme left of our +line. The 7th O. V. C. was ordered to move around our left flank and +charge the enemy, mounted. + +The fences were quickly thrown down and the 7th had moved scarcely 600 +yards, when they were met by Humphrey Marshal's brigade, making a flank +movement on the left of our line and in the rear, when a gallant charge +was made by Co. H, commanded by Capt. Hall, resulting in the capture of +thirty-six rebels. + +A second charge was made immediately by the First battallion, under Capt. +Greene with a similar result, but was exposed to a heavy fire from behind +a stone fence. Immediately after this a third charge was made under Capt. +Rankin, which was the final rout of the enemy, driving them over a bluff +on the Licking river, to where they had left their horses. Mounting their +horses they moved down the railroad through Cynthiana, hotly pursued by +our troops, driving them through the streets and into the river, killing, +wounding and drowning many. + +In this affair our loss did not exceed fifty in killed and wounded. Among +the killed was Lt. McKnight, a brave and gallant officer. + +The enemy's loss in killed, wounded and prisoners, was near seven hundred. +Many of their wounded bore marks of the saber. During the fight there were +many daring deeds of personal bravery, which deserves personal mention. + +Col. Garrard was in the thickest of the fight, often in advance of the +lines giving personal direction during the fight. Lt. Col. Minor was also +on hand doing his part nobly. + +Capt. Allen, of Col. Garrard's staff, and Adj't Mitchell, both deserve +mention for coolness and bravery. + +Capt. Allen, personally distinguished himself, for which he received the +rank Brevet Lt. Col. at the close of the war. + +Capt. Rankin deserves particular mention for entering the rebel column and +cutting off forty-seven men in the following manner: + +Upon reaching the bluff and seeing the rebels mounting their horses and +moving down the railroad, wheeled his horse to the right, passed through a +gate, then to the left down a lane near the railroad ordering his men to +follow; Finding himself alone he halted for a few moments to wait for his +men, and on seeing there was some impediment in the way of the rebels +caused by a cattle dyke, which they were compelled to pass over or swim +the Licking river, he drew his saber and entered the columns cutting it in +two, using his saber right and left as he passed up the track to the dyke, +the enemy passing on either side, and thereby he cut off and held all that +had yet to cross the dyke, which proved to be forty-seven in number +together with their horses. + +They did not however throw down their arms and surrender until four or +five men came to the Captain's assistance. + +The above facts are verified by the affidavits of three reliable men. + +Arrangements being made to take them to the rear, the Captain followed on +after the flying enemy--and nearing the town, crossed the Licking bridge +and passing down about six hundred yards on the opposite side of the +river. + +Five rebels ran out of town, and taking refuge behind a shop which stood +on the bank of the river. On seeing them the Captain drew his revolver and +ordered them dismount and throw down their arms, which they did. + +He then ordered them to the water's edge and to sit down, which they also +obeyed, where he guarded them until one of our men, who had been taking +prisoners to the rear came up when the Captain ordered him to take them to +the rear. (This making fifty-two men.) How are you "southern chivalry," +with your "five to one." + +This statement is also verified by the affidavit of James Thomas, at +present of Caldwell, Kansas, a justice of the peace. + +There are others who are willing to file their affidavit to the above +statements but as the mouth of two witnesses establish one point further +proof is not deemed necessary, nor would I even asked this were it not for +the fact that there are always a few officers and men just bold enough to +follow far enough in the rear to be out of harm's way, and to gather up +trophies on the battle-field; which had been passed over by the actual +fighting men of the command, who would not stop to gather trophies so long +as they could deal a blow on the enemy. + +They are first to criticize the acts of those who are in the first ranks; +and raise the question, "where are your trophies?" There is not a true +soldier in our army but will bear me out in my statement. + +The enemy were here scattered; some going out through Owen county, while +Morgan himself took the pike toward the Ohio river through Claysville, +crossing the Maysville and Lexington pike at Mayslick, and on through Mt. +Sterling. Col Garrard's brigade following in his trail picking up +stragglers until we lost him in the mountains of eastern Kentucky in his +retreat to Pound Gap. + +Thence we returned by way of Lexington to Nicholasville where we camped +for a short time recuperating our men and horses. + +Moving to Camp Nelson, we were paid on the 3rd of July, to June 30th 1864. + +On the following morning, July 4th, we set out on our long march to +Atlanta, Ga., crossing the Tennessee river at Kingston, passing through +Athens, Cleveland and all the towns between that place and Atlanta, +reaching the works around that place July 24th, and reporting to Gen. +Stoneman to whose command we then belonged. + +We were ordered to join him on his expedition to Macon, Ga., which +expedition was to move at 9 o'clock on the following morning. + +Lt. Col. Minor, on his return to the regiment after dark, missed his way +and did not join us until about 12 o'clock, thereby the regiment was saved +the dishonor of being made prisoner before Macon, on Gen. Stoneman's +surrender. Company D, however, being his escort, was surrendered with him. + +The regiment was immediately put on picket on the left flank of our army. + +On the 26th, Col. Garrard's brigade was dismounted and put in the +trenches, the Seventh occupying the extreme left of our army, which +position they held while the terrible engagement of that day took place. + +This being the same ground that was so desperately fought over during the +22nd,--the day the gallant McPherson fell. + +The next day, we were moved to the right, the Seventh being on the extreme +right during the fierce fight of the 28th,--the rebels making seven +different bayonet charges, and were repulsed each time, by Gen. Howard's +command. + +When the grand flank movement commenced on the right, which ultimately +gave us possession of Atlanta, Col. Garrard's brigade bore a conspicuous +part, for there was scarcely a position gained that was not first gained +by Col. Garrard's cavalry, and in many instances we fought the enemy in +front, until the infantry came up and intrenched themselves in our rear. + +This being done, they would send a brigade to relieve us, and we would be +placed further out on the flank. + +On the first of September, near Rough and Ready Station, which is south of +Atlanta, on the road leading to Macon, Capt. Rankin commanding a battalion +of the Seventh, was the first to find the works evacuated at this point. + +On reporting the same to Gen. Thomas, he was ordered to return and go +through the works and gain a high ridge road, about a mile and a half +beyond the intrenchments, and on gaining the road, to take the end leading +toward Atlanta and go as far as he deemed practicable. + +On returning to the works, he found it occupied by Gen. Cooper's division +of infantry, with a line of skirmishers in front skirmishing with the +enemy. + +Upon reaching this line, the Captain dismounted his battalion, leaving +number four to hold horses, deployed as skirmishers and moved them +directly through the infantry lines, through woods to fields and fields to +woods until they gained the road above mentioned. + +This being done, the horses were ordered to be brought forward. The +infantry also came forward and moved along the road leading to the +Station, which was less than one mile off. + +Upon the arrival of the horses, the battalion mounted and moved toward +Atlanta. + +After proceeding a mile and a half they received a volley from the enemy, +secreted in the woods, whereupon a fight took place which lasted till +dark, resulting in our driving the enemy about a mile and a half further, +after which the Captain returned to his picket post which he had occupied +the night previous, at the crossings of the Atlanta, Jonesboro, Shoal +creek and McDonald roads. + +Atlanta was evacuated the following day, and a general engagement took +place at Jonesboro, twenty miles south of Atlanta, resulting in a heavy +loss to both sides. + +In the night, the enemy fell back, the cavalry followed to Lovejoy's +Station, six miles further south, being on the left of our army, occupying +the McDonald and Fayetteville road, nine miles south-east of Jonesboro. We +remained at this point on picket one week, where we saw fighting more or +less every day. + +Leaving this point, we moved back and went into camp near Decatur, which +is six miles east of Atlanta on the railroad leading to Augusta. + +During our campaign in Georgia, we subsisted chiefly upon the country, +which was gathered in by foraging parties, detached for that purpose, and +under the command of an officer. + +As a general thing, some of the parties would be skirmishing with the +enemy while the remainder would be gathering forage. + +Skirmishing, while in Georgia, was more of an every day business than +otherwise. + +When General Hood set his flank machine in operation and was followed by a +portion of General Sherman's command, the Seventh remained at Atlanta with +the 23rd corps, and was engaged in those mammoth foraging expeditions of +which you have read the newspaper accounts. + +We continued in this business until Gen. Sherman returned to Atlanta and +commenced his "masterly retreat" on Richmond, via Savanna, Ga., Charleston +and Columbia, S. C., when we turned over our horses and arms to complete +the mounting and arming of Gen. Kilpatrick's cavalry, and returned to +Nashville, arriving there on the 15th of November, 1864. + +On the 25th, Col. Garrard was put in command of two regiments, the Seventh +O. V. C. and Tenth Tennessee. + +The brigade formerly commanded by Col. Garrard, the Seventh excepted, it +having been assigned to Gen. Kirkpatrick's command prior to our leaving +Atlanta, and accompanied him on the Sherman expedition. + +Lt. Col. Minor was put in command of a dismounted cavalry camp near +Nashville, and Capt. Rankin in command of the regiment, by order of Gen. +Wilson, commanding cavalry corps, C. C. M. D. M. + +The regiment was mounted, armed and equipped, under the superintendent of +Captain Rankin, and started for Columbia, Tenn. + +On reaching Spring Hill, it was ordered to take the left-hand road to +Hardison's Ford, on Duck river, to support Col. Capron, and on reaching +there, found him engaging the enemy at the ford. + +The Seventh was formed in columns of squadrons in the rear of two +brigades. + +Company A, Captain Ketterman, was sent to watch a crossing a little down +ways the river from where we were. + +Companies B and C were ordered to make a scout of three miles on the road +leading to Columbia, under Lieuts. Burton and Shuler. + +Company E was ordered to make a scout up the river five miles, under +Lieut. Srofe. + +Soon after this, the brigade train was ordered to move out on the road +leading to Franklin, with a guard of one company. + +The train had not more than straightened on the road, when Companies B and +C found a strong force of the enemy in their front. + +Company E was cut off, the enemy having got between it and the command, +and about the same time the head of the wagon train was attacked which +created a stampede in the train. + +Capt. Rankin wheeled two companies into position and moved out to meet the +enemy, ordering Adj't. Mitchell to bring out the remainder as soon as the +wagon train could be got into our rear. + +A volley was poured into the enemy by the two companies already in +position and a saber charge was immediately made, the remainder of the +regiment coming into position in time, thereby driving the enemy from the +road and held them in check until the train and the brigade that was +fighting at the river could be got out. + +This fighting continued until 9 o'clock, P. M., when Col. Garrard, who had +joined us, ordered the command to fall back. + +In this affair the timely action of the Seventh saved the entire brigade +and train from capture, but with the loss of near one hundred men killed, +wounded and captured, including Capt. Ketterman, and the whole of Co. A, +also our regimental colors, for which the enemy had no credit, as it was +captured in the following manner: It being quite dark and everything +having passed the road, the Colonel wished to fall back and asked some one +to go and notify Capt. Rankin, who was a short distance off, of his +movement. + +The Color Serg't tendered his services and immediately started on his +mission. + +The fighting men at this point were not more than thirty yards apart, and +the Serg't rode directly into the rebel lines and was captured. + +The Captain brought off his command and fell back, about six miles across +Flat creek, leaving our dead and wounded on the field. + +In this fight, much honor and credit are due to the officers and men of +the Seventh for the bold manner in which they struck the enemy. It was +this that gave us success, for we were far inferior in point of numbers. + +Private John Turner of Co. E, deserves especial mention in this, that he +was bearing the guidon of his company, and while running the gauntlet of +the enemy was thrown from his horse, but held fast to his colors and +joined his command, after remaining six days in the enemy's lines, +bringing his colors with him. + +On the following day, the most desperate engagement perhaps of the war, +all things considering, of Franklin took place. + +The Seventh O. V. C. occupied the left flank of the 23rd A. C., as they +faced the enemy. + +We continued our operations on the flank of Gen. Thomas' army until it +reached the fortifications around Nashville. + +About the 1st of December, the regiment crossed the Cumberland river and +was engaged in guarding ferries below Nashville, patrolling the country +as far as Harpeth Shoals, and pressing in horses until the 13th, when we +moved to Edgefield opposite Nashville. + +Here the cavalry command was reorganized. + +The Seventh was assigned to the First Brigade, Sixth Division, Brig-Gen. +Johnson, commanding. Col. Garrard having been returned to his command of +the Seventh, and Col. Harrison, of Indiana, commanding the brigade. + +On the 14th, all the cavalry was brought from the north to the south side +of the Cumberland river, and on the following morning, the 15th, at an +early hour, everything was in motion. + +Our division occupied the extreme right of our army. + +As soon as the fog was sufficiently cleared away we marched through our +breastworks, the Seventh being placed in the reserve. + +Soon fighting commenced in the front along the river below the city. (I +should have mentioned that the Sixth Div. had but one brigade in it +mounted and that was the First.) + +The rebels were soon driven from their first line of works and contested +every inch of ground with artillery and musketry, but they were steadily +driven back by the two regiments in front of the Seventh. + +Up to this time the Seventh had not been engaged. + +At two o'clock, P. M., the Seventh was ordered forward and formed on the +right of the road in a cornfield, near the river, and moved forward in +line of battle. + +In this field the ground was very wet and soft and there were many ditches +several feet deep, which made it impossible to preserve a correct line, +but we did the best we could under the circumstances, and by the time we +reached the woodland the enemy were in full retreat down the pike. + +On seeing this, Col. Garrard ordered a charge by squadrons or companies in +columns of fours, and ordered Captain Rankin's battalion to charge down +the pike and out to the enemy's left. + +A universal shout went up from the regiment and at them they went, the +woods being open and favorable for a charge. + +This chase was for one and a half miles, and to within one hundred and +fifty yards of a battery which opened on us and compelled us to fall back +near one-fourth of a mile. + +The regiment was soon formed and commenced skirmishing with the Johnnies. + +Col. Garrard not being satisfied with anything short of the battery which +had caused us such trouble, (it being the battery that had blockaded the +Cumberland river and captured our transports, among them the Prima Donna, +commanded by Capt. Joe. Scott, formerly of Ripley, and had withstood the +combined efforts of our gun-boats and iron-clads to dislodge them,) the +order to have the regiment formed in readiness to make the charge. + +The order was first given to Captain Rankin to form his battalion on the +slope of a hill in front of the battery, at a distance of about six +hundred yards. + +Co. E, Lt. Srofe, on the right, near the pike; then Co. F, Lt. Boggs, Co. +B, Lt. Burton, Co. C, Lt. Archer, and Co. A, Lt. Derstine. + +These companies were formed in fair musket range, and their battery was +cutting the timber all around us, yet the men stood firm and unflinching. + +The order of charge was by squadrons in columns of fours. + +This battallion was to charge the center and to move first, Capt. Eylar +was to charge down the pike with two companies, I and M, Capt. Hall was to +cross the creek at its mouth and charge on the right with three companies, +H, K and L. + +Everything being in readiness, the word "forward!" was given. + +The center battalion moved first at a walk then at a trot. + +By this time the storm of leaden hail from musketry and iron missiles from +the battery began to come thick and fast about us. + +A shout went up and off the boys went at full speed through the fences, +down steep banks and across the creek, over a narrow ridge and another +creek and up to within fifty yards of the battery, when suddenly a large +force of the rebel infantry raised from behind a barricade of rails and +poured a deadly fire into our columns. + +Captain Eylar was repulsed on the bridge, and Capt. Hall failed to cross +the creek at its mouth, therefore Captain Rankin was compelled to fall +back to his former position. + +We dismounted and went at them again on foot. Their musketry was too high, +their grape and cannister too low, creating however, considerable +mortality among the horses. + +Capt. Rankin was sent to signal the gunboats to come down, which they did. + +Our own battery, the 4th U. S., opened on them with twelve pounders and +compelled them to leave their position, the gunboats sending a few shots +up the ravine after them, added speed to their flight. + +They left four pieces of artillery in the woods, which we have the credit +of capturing. + +On the morning of the 16th, at 4 o'clock, everything was in readiness for +a forward move. + +We continued our pursuit on the Charlotte pike for a few miles to where +the enemy had camped. At this point the enemy had left the pike and took a +dirt road. + +We followed this road about seven miles, and found several wagons and one +piece of artillery stuck in the mud. + +Here a halt was made, and Captain Rankin was ordered with his battalion to +move across the country, through the fields or otherwise and endeavor to +reach the Harding pike. This being accomplished, the Captain sent the +following dispatch to Col. Garrard: + +"COLONEL--I hold the Harding pike at the brick church and where the +Franklin road crosses the said pike. Gen. Chalmer's division passed this +point, taking the Franklin road, this A. M. They left some wagons here. As +soon as the command could be brought up, our pursuit was continued, the +Fifth Iowa Cavalry being in the advance. Skirmishing soon commenced but +nothing of importance occurred on this day's march, except taking a few +prisoners, twelve being the largest number at any one time." + +Night coming on, we went into camp. The next morning, the 17th, our +regiment took the advance, Capt. Eylar having the right of the regiment. + +The pursuit was vigorously prosecuted, so much so that orderlies were sent +forward several times to request Col. Garrard not to move so fast, but all +to no purpose, for skirmishing had already commenced, and it is an utter +impossibility to hold the Colonel back when a fight is in progress. + +On we went, crossing the big Harpeth river below Franklin. + +Skirmishing became quite lively, as we neared the town, but we steadily +pressed them back until we arrived in full view of the town. + +Capt. Rankin was ordered to take his battalion and move to the right and +occupy some buildings in the suburbs. + +Here the enemy was discovered, drawn up in three lines of battle, but +manifesting no disposition to fight save by artillery which threw a few +shells at us. + +The enemy seeing our advance taking position in so close proximity to +them, about faced and commenced moving off. + +Col. Garrard on seeing this movement of the enemy ordered a charge. + +Capt. Rankin's battalion was on the extreme right and Company E on the +right of the battalion. + +Now for the charge. The order was given to forward, and as soon as we +crossed a small stream, it was increased to full speed. + +Some columns passed through the principal streets, while others passed to +the right and left of the town, and on reaching the first line of works +beyond the town we captured a great many of the enemy who had taken +position there. + +At four hundred yards distant from their works, the enemy had planted a +battery, and as soon as the confused mass we were driving could be got +away, they opened up on us, but to no purpose, for we were now behind our +outer line of works. + +The works were also thrown up by our men on the retreat from Columbia, but +were not so formidable as the first near the town. + +In this position we fought the enemy more than one hour without receiving +aid from any quarter whatever. + +So rapid were the movements of the 7th and so far were they in advance of +our own brigade that our battery moved to the point first held by Captain +Rankin's battalion and mistaking us for the enemy commenced shelling us. + +The shells fell in close proximity to the battallion which had been sent +out to watch and guard against any movements of the enemy to flank our +position. + +The firing was kept up until Captain Rankin's battalion had to be removed, +and had scarcely been placed in position on the left of the pike, when a +battery belonging to Gen. Hatch's division opened on us from a fort on the +opposite side of the river. + +At this, Col. Garrard ordered the regiment to form in close column of +squadrons in a low piece of ground to get out of their range, but the +first being on very high ground, our position was a very hazardous one. + +We were quickly deployed into line, took up our former position behind our +works and again engaged the enemy. + +A fire was kept up by our battery until a courier could be sent to stop +it. + +Thus did the 7th stand for more than an hour, firm and unshaken, with the +enemy's battery playing on their front at four hundred yards distant, and +two of our own playing on their rear. + +By this time, Gen. Hatch's Division moved up and flanked the Johnnies on +our left and they lit out again, losing their artillery and many +prisoners. + +Here Col. Harrison commanding our brigade, congratulated Colonel Garrard +on the success of the 7th, and remarked, "you have done enough for one +day, I will throw the 5th Iowa in advance and you can fall in the +reserve." + +We moved out two miles and went into camp on a road to the right of the +Columbia road. + +The 5th Iowa was sent on further with orders to go across the country to +intercept the enemy and if possible to capture their battery, while +Hatch's Division pressed their rear. + +A stand was made by the enemy between 6 and 7 o'clock p. m., in which they +lost one thousand prisoners besides their killed and wounded and four +pieces of artillery. Thus ended the third day's operation. + +On the 17th of December nothing of interest occurred except the usual +amount of skirmishing and gathering in of stragglers from a retreating +army until the 25th of December, (Christmas day), our brigade had the +advance and the 5th Iowa the advance of the brigade. + +Skirmishing commenced but we drove the rebels back, and through Pulaski. + +Just beyond the place is a large stream called Richland creek, spanned by +a large covered bridge. + +A charge was made by a portion of the 5th Iowa, but they were repulsed. + +The enemy ran six pieces of artillery into the creek without even spiking +them. They also run three pieces into Duck river. They fired the bridge in +several places. + +Capt. Rankin was ordered to move forward with his battalion and if +possible put the fire out. + +The battallion set out at a brisk trot until near the bridge when they +dismounted and made a rush for it, gathering from the houses along the +road tubs, buckets, pans and everything else available, for carrying and +throwing water on the flames, which had already penetrated to the roof in +several places. + +By the timely arrival of this battalion the bridge was saved with but +little damage except to the roof. + +In passing through the town we found several places where amunition had +been piled and burnt. + +On the railroad near the bridge were several cars laden with amunition, +and loaded muskets, all surrounded by fire, and the discharge of these +muskets was a matter of considerable annoyance to our men while working at +the bridge. + +Our advance soon crossed to the opposite side of the stream, even before +the flames were extinguished. + +Captain Rankin was left to complete the work. + +The enemy had made a halt a short distance beyond and in plain view of the +bridge seeing that they had been foiled in their attempt to burn the +bridge, now commenced firing their amunition in heaps all along their line +and their main column began to move leaving a few skirmishers in the rear, +but not however, without receiving a few shots from the 4th regular +battery which was attached to our brigade. + +The fire being put out on the bridge and every thing being in readiness, +we moved on, the 5th Iowa being deployed as skirmishers. + +They soon struck the enemy's rear driving them before them. + +A mile further we came to two abandoned wagons loaded with amunition. + +We passed to the right of them and when opposite the explosion took place +and thousands of blue blazes could be seen shooting heavenward. It was a +magnificent sight. A few hundred yards further on were two wagons of the +same kind and the same scene occurred. + +Now the country became mountainous and the valleys were reduced to narrow +passes between hills, and the enemy became more stubborn and resentful +taking possession of every available position to plant their batteries, +and impede our progress, and in short when they reached the broken country +they did not drive worth a cent. + +But by moving through the woods, thickets and underbrush and over the +hills and rocks, and tearing our clothes almost at every step we succeeded +in driving them about six miles beyond Pulaski. + +At this point they made a bold stand upon a high hill, and behind +barricades of logs and rails. + +Some time was spent in skirmishing and getting the brigade into position. +The 7th was on the right and not finding anything formidable in our front +we mounted and moved by file down a very steep hill. On the opposite side +of the valley, two-thirds of the way up met a few skirmishers. + +The regiment was then thrown into columns of squadrons, preparatory to +fighting on foot. + +Capt. Rankin's battalion being in advance moved out by the right and at +once engaged the enemy's skirmishers which were not more than thirty yards +in advance of his line, and finding that the enemy's line extended far +beyond his right, reported the same to Col. Garrard. + +Here the Col. ordered him to take company F in order to extend his line +further out. + +This company had hardly been put in position when our line gave way on the +left and center and a grand rush was made by the enemy on our right +causing us to drop back. Now the driving was all on the other side. + +We had found out for the first time that our line was not more than thirty +yards from their main line, and our led horses two hundred and fifty yards +from their battery which had all been concealed up to this time. This +battery opened fire cutting the timber over our horses and at the same +time a charge was made upon us. + +The enemy proved to be eight brigades of infantry as we learned from a +prisoner who was a little more daring than his comrades and followed a +little too close on our retreating line. Upon noticing him, one of the +boys 'bout faced and took the chap in. + +He also said that Forrest's cavalry had refused to fight any more and +these brigades of infantry were ordered to hold us until they could get +their trains out of our reach. + +We fell back about four hundred yards and reformed. + +In this affair, I am most happy to state we did not lose a single man. Our +losses in horses was twenty-eight. + +The rebels captured the 4th U. S. battery which belonged to our brigade. + +This battery was situated on our left about a mile and supported by the +4th U. S. cavalry. + +After the capture of our artillery the enemy at once commenced their +retreat, as was ascertained by throwing forward Hatch's Division, leaving +their dead and wounded on the field. + +This finished Christmas day's work, a Christmas long to be remembered by +the 7th O. V. C. + +This was the last sight our brigade got of the rebels, except a few +wounded ones lying along the road, and a few stragglers picked up, but a +severe fight occurred at Sugar creek on the 26th between our advance and +their rear. + +We followed the enemy to near Florence where they crossed the Tennessee +river. + +After remaining two days in camp we marched to Mooresville with the +Huntsville and Stevenson railroad sixteen miles distant, where we rested +from our labors ten days, and then marched to Gravelly Springs, Ala., +reaching there January 14th, 1865. + +Here the 7th was ordered to build winter quarters and stabling for their +horses. This was something new for the 7th being the first time in her +history that she went into winter quarters. + +Here we remained for some time. By order of Gen. Wilson we changed our +drill from the single to the double rank formation, and while this was +going on a refitting and reorganization was perfected. + +In this organization the 7th was placed in the 2nd Brigade 4th Div. C. C. +M. D. M. Gen. Upton commanding Division; Gen. Alexander the Brigade. + +Here we remained until about the 20th of March. Capt. Rankin was placed in +command of the dismounted men of his regiment, then of his brigade, and +subsequently of the division, numbering over five hundred men, and led out +thirty six hours in advance, with the wagon train. + +On the morning of March 22nd, the whole column was in motion, crossed the +Tennessee river and moved southward through the Tuscumbia Valley and then +into the mountain regions of Alabama. We met with no opposition until +about the 26th, when we were met by Rhoddy's Cavalry, which did not stay +long enough to give us a second shot, but lit out at the sound of the +first gun, leaving one dead. + +We met and defeated the enemy at Monticello, capturing one hundred +prisoners. + +The next day, we routed the combined forces of Forest, Buford and Rhoddy, +in their chosen position at Ebenezer church, capturing two guns, three +hundred prisoners, and many killed and wounded. Our loss was 44 killed and +150 wounded. + +We followed on, reaching Selma late in the afternoon. Around Selma was an +intrenchment reaching from the Alabama river above the city, to the river +below, with palisades of pine timber set in the ground and sharp at the +upper end. The approach to Selma was through open ground with no +protection whatever to our men. + +The plan of attack was as follows: + +The First Brigade, Fourth Division, composed of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Iowa, +was put in position on the left of the road, and what is known as the +Wilder Brigade, was placed on the right of the road. The Second Brigade, +Fourth Division, composed of the 1st and 7th O. V. C. and the 5th Iowa V. +C. were retained, mounted in columns, on the road, and when the two first +mentioned brigades got fairly engaged in a hand to hand encounter within +the enemy's parapets, the Second Brigade charged down the road mounted and +into their works, killing and wounding over four hundred and capturing +eleven hundred prisoners, five battle flags and thirteen pieces of +artillery. + +The 7th followed the flying enemy several miles beyond the city and in the +darkness of the night, captured a battery, complete, including caseons, +horses and harness. + +Selma was taken within one hour from the time our lines were formed. In +this short space of time, one of the most important places in Confederacy +fell, it being situated in the midst of their iron regions, was of itself +a solid machine shop, where a large portion of their ordnance was made, +together with their niter works. Some of the most formidable iron works on +the continent were in this region, which also fell into our hands and were +destroyed. + +We remained at Selma eight days, during which time we erected scaffolding +out into the Alabama river and ran their unfinished ordnance from their +works and dumped them into the river until they lay in heaps above the +water. + +During our stay here, we sent a flag of truce to Forrest, to know if he +would honor or parole, and received word that he would if we could hold +them. Having faith in our ability to do so, and at the expiration of eight +days, we applied the torch to all Confederate property, and crossed the +river on pontoons, taking the prisoners with us, we marched on to +Montgomery, the capital of the State. On reaching there, they surrendered +without a fight, after they had burnt a large amount of cotton. + +Here the stars and bars that waved over the first rebel Congress that ever +assembled on this Continent, meekly bowed its head at the first sight of a +Federal soldier with arms in his possession, without even waiting for a +salute, and up went the "old flag of the Union," which in its stead, waved +triumphantly over the dome of the house where Jeff. Davis called together +his first Congress, amid the shouts and songs of the brave men who so +proudly bore it there. + +After remaining here three days, we took up our line of march for +Columbus, Ga. The 7th going by the way of Andersonville for the purpose of +releasing our prisoners held there. When within four miles of the place, +they were met by a flag of truce, evidently to gain time. This was not +recognized by the 7th, who charged the place, but only in time to see the +train moving out with the mass of skeletons caused by starvation. Some +eighty-four of our men which beggered all description, not being able to +be removed, were left in the prison pen. + +The 7th joined the command in time to participate in the fight at +Columbus, which was reached about the middle of the afternoon, when 1st O. +V. C. charged a bridge which had previously been strewed with cotton +saturated with turpentine, and on reaching the bridge the enemy applied +the torch and the whole thing was in a blaze, which caused their return, +when skirmishing and an artillery duel continued until after dark. + +On the west side of Columbus runs the Chatahucha river, it was spanned by +the bridges; one was destroyed, as above stated, and the others were +defended by forts, garrisoned by infantry and artillery. + +A portion of the First Brigade, composed of the three Iowa regiments, were +dismounted for the purpose of storming these forts. + +The Second Brigade was retained, mounted. At 9 o'clock, P. M., a move was +made. The Iowa men cleared the enemy's works on their third assault, when +the Second Brigade charged, mounted, over the bridge into the city. + +In this, the enemy lost over three hundred killed and wounded, one +thousand and five hundred prisoners, twenty-four guns, eight battle flags +and a vast amount of munitions of war. We remained here over the next day, +and the next morning set fire to all the buildings containing army stores, +and taking up our march for Macon, Ga., amid the bursting of shell and the +explosion of amunition, causing the roofs and timbers to ascend +heavenward, and the mass of bricks and mortar to fall inward. Caused by +the vacuam from the explosion from within. The atmospheric pressure pushed +them inward. + +Columbus, Ga., may be set down as the last battle of the war for the +preservation of the Union. + +We continued our march towards Macon and when within twelve miles of that +place, we were met by Gen. Howel Cobb, bearing a flag of truce, requesting +us to go into camp where we were; that Lee had surrendered, Richmond was +captured, and that Sherman and Johnson had agreed upon an armistice of +ninety days. But Gen. Wilson refused to recognize it, and told Gen. Cobb +that he would march on to Macon, and that he, Cobb, could fight or +surrender. + +We reached Macon, April 21st, 1865, when Cobb surrendered the city and his +forces without a struggle. + +Here we received a telegram from Gen. Grant, to cease hostility. That Lee +had surrendered, Richmond had fallen, Johnson was surrounded, with Sherman +in his rear and Sheridan in front, and would have to surrender or be +captured. + +We remained at Macon a few days, when we received orders to send out +scouts in every direction to apprehend Jeff. Davis who was trying to make +his way into Texas, whereupon our brigade, under Gen. Alexander, moved +north to Atlanta, Ga. From this point we sent out a scouting party under +Lt. Yoman, of the 1st O. V. C., and all disguised in the rebel uniform. +This party got in company with Davis' escort, at Greenville, South +Carolina, and while riding together on the road, the rebels suspecting all +was not right, drew their revolvers and opened fire on our scouts. None of +the 7th were injured except John Gates, of Co. E, he being shot through +the head, below the eye, from which he recovered. + +In the meantime, Jeff. Davis was captured by the detachment of the First +Wisconsin and the Second Michigan and brought to Atlanta, Ga. The 7th O. +V. C. took charge of him and guarded him to Augusta, Ga. From here we +marched to Chattanooga, Tenn., from thence to Nashville, and went into +camp at Edgefield, where our horses and equipments were duly turned over, +and the last company of the regiment was mustered out July the 4th, and +paid to the 7th, 1865, when we returned home by the way of Louisville, +Ky., to Cincinnati. + +In writing this history, I have endeavored to do exact justice to all, so +far as I knew, and if there is any errors in this narrative, it is that of +omission, having had to write exclusively from memory, and in all +probability there are omissions. + +While we would not deprive any regiment of her laurals, we believe the 7th +O. V. C., for the services rendered and the number of times she was under +fire, stands second to no regiment from Maine to California. + + +THE END. + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + +The following misprints have been corrected: + "orginization" corrected to "organization" (page 1) + "juuction" corrected to "junction" (page 4) + "Cumburland" corrected to "Cumberland" (page 7) + "carring" corrected to "caring" (page 7) + "bregade" corrected to "brigade" (page 12) + "Dandredge" corrected to "Dandridge" (page 14) + "days days" corrected to "days" (page 20) + "flghting" corrected to "fighting" (page 21) + "rive" corrected to "river" (page 21) + "withstoou" corrected to "withstood" (page 21) + "suddently" corrected to "suddenly" (page 22) + "the" corrected to "they" (page 25) + "skimishers" corrected to "skirmishers" (page 25) + "Brgade" corrected to "Brigade" (page 26) + "Monticelo" corrected to "Monticello" (page 26) + "drys" corrected to "days" (page 27) + "Main" corrected to "Maine" (page 31) + +Other than the corrections listed above, inconsistencies in spelling and +hyphenation usage have been retained. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of History of the Seventh Ohio Volunteer +Cavalry, by R. 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