OHIO STATEWIDE FILES OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List Issue 297 *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 00 : Issue 297 Today's Topics: #1 civil war letter/sketch part 2 pag ["Tammie and Keith" To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <025201c0316e$8d5e3960$1157f440@default> Subject: civil war letter/sketch part 2 pages 1 and 2 a little of 3 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit (One note when you get to the name Pennell its pronounced Pen-ul per my grandfather also this is all typed as I read it) PERSONAL SKETCH OF THE CIVIL WAR 1 You asked me if I remembered the battles the 15th Ohio Battery took part in. Inclosed, you will find the list of the same. Also , the answer to your letter. Possibly a short sketch of the 15th Battery Light Artillery in which your life partner, Barnett Pennell, was a very active and honored member for three years might interest you. The 15th Ohio Battery was recruited in Northern Ohio and rendezvouz at Camp Dennison, Ohio. When mustered into the service, February 2nd, 1862 by Captain A.B. Dod, 15th U.S. Inf. Reg't. Feb. 16th, 1862, we were ordered south. Arrived at Cincinnati, Ohio. Embared for Paducah, Ky. where we went into camp. Men and horses were drilled. We learned a few things about soldier life. April 19, '62, we embarked to join Gen. Grant's army at Pittsburg Landing, Tenn. Were assigned to Gen. Hurlbert's 4th Div. Camped on the battlefield of Shiloh, fought May 6th and 7th, '62. We took part in the siege of Corinth, Miss., which was evacuated May 30th. We were then ordered to march to La Grange, Tenn. Celebrated the 4th of July there. About July 8th, we started for Memphis, Tenn. Men and horses suffered from the heat, and the lack of water. Arrived at Memphis, July 20th. We lived well while there. Sept. 8th, Division 4 was ordered to Bolivar, Tenn. Arrived there, and went into camp. While there, our Brigade was ordered to recconnoiter toward Grand Junction, Tenn. While on our way, our Cavalry discovered a large force of the enemy coming on the road which crossed the road on which we were traveling. Our General ordered a retreat. We lost no time in getting to the crossing. Our Battery got "into battery", that is , we got ready to fire, which we did as soon as the enemy came within reach. 2. Then we limbered up and galloped away. We got back to Bolivar. Had the enemy reached the cross-road first, they would have captured us. They were on their way back to try to re-capture corinth, which they tried to do on Oct. 3rd, but were repulsed with heavy losses, men killed and wounded and many captured. They started on the retreat. OUr Division was ordered to meet them, which they did at the Hatchie River, Oct.5th and fought the battle of Matamora. (Barnett Pennell was there.) We then returned to Bolivar. Nov. 28th, we started with Gen. Grant's army to attempt a capture of Vicksburg, Miss. from the rear, instead of the front. We failed to do it. Why? We had marched about 18 miles below Holly springs, when all of our supplies, ammunition, etc. at Holly Springs were captured-what they couldn't take, they destroyed. It was the same army we defeated at Corinth, Miss. Also, the same one defeated at Matamora. Grant's army had to go back. We were on short rations: for nearly three days we lived on dry corn. Men and horses suffered. Added to hunger, we had six inches of snow. I was lead-driver of the caisson. To keep from freezing, I would dismount, and walk along side of my horse through the mud and snow. Got into camp, my feet were wet, the lower part of my pants were covered with mud, most of my coat was frozen stiff. We went to camp int he woods, no tents, no shelter, coffee and hard-tack. Most of us stood or sat around the fire all night. Those were the happy days we spent, but we made the most of our soldier life. We did not expect to have the best of the land, so we were not disappointed. After a lovely night's rest, we started on again and had another nice day's march. Arrived at a village called Colliersville, Tenn. Took charge of the empty stores and Post Office for quarters. Built a row of bunks, spread our blankets, our knapsacks were our pillows. A great improvement on our past experience. We had plenty to eat. Our 3. horses were also well-housed, and well fed ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #2 Date: Sun, 8 Oct 2000 16:28:19 -0500 From: "Tammie and Keith" To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <025801c0316e$b0ca85c0$1157f440@default> Subject: civil war letter/sketch pages 3 and 4 and little of 5 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit 3. We enjoyed ourselves until March 9th, '63, when we were ordered to Memphis, Tenn. Arrived there O. K. Had a nice camp near the city. Had plenty to eat, etc. Got passes to go to the city. Easter Sunday, a number of us went to church. I went to the Episcopal Church. Enjoyed the service, singing, etc. April 19th, '63, our Brigade was ordered to make a call on a small force of the enemy, not far from the city. They didn't wait to receive us, but fell back to Coldwater Creek, where they gave us a very hot reception. We fired double canister, but they held their ground. Capt. Spear saw that we couldn't win, so in order not to lose any more men and horses (George Gesner had been killed, John Madox mortally wounded) others slightly wounded, he ordered us to limber up and get out while we could, which we did without losing any more men or horses. John Madox, who was shot through the leg up close to the body, had a hard time of it. The doctors said the only hope of saving his life would be to cut off his leg. He begged Lieut. Reeves to save his leg, he did, the doctors said it would be death, either way. They didn't cut it off. He was in the hospital a while, then sent up North. The leg would sort of heal up, then break out again. It did so several times. He saw there was no chance. He got discouraged, and cut his throat to end his suffering. May 11th, our Division embarked for Vicksburg, Miss. We had a nice ride down the Mississippi River. Landed at Miliken's Bend, in the sight of Vicksburg. Marched to "Hard Times" Landing below Vicksburg, crossed the river to Grand Gulf, Miss. Stayed there a few days, then took boats for Vicksburg. Landed at Warrington near there, didn't go into the city as we hadn't been invited. We were assigned to a position on the Hall's Ferry Road. A fort was built for our 4.6 lb brass cannon (within 300 yards of the enemies' fort.) 4. During the night, our cannon were moved into the fort. Corporal Pennell had charge of one of them. During the siege, our battery fired 2301 rounds of ammunition. July 3rd, the white flags appeared: Gen. Pemberton, who was in command at Vicksburg, surrendered with 30,000 prisoners, 150 cannon, and 60,000 stands of small arms. A great victory for the North. Never did braver men surrender. There was no cheering on our side. They were almost starved, no hoppes for them. They were supplied with food at once: coffee, crackers, bacon, etc. How they did enjoy themselves. Our boys helped them in every way. Gen. Joseph E. Johnson, in command of the Confederate Army, tried to raise the siege of Vicksburg, but Gen. W.T. Sherman was on the Big Black River to take care of them. July 5th, our Division was assigned to Gen. Sherman's troops. We started after Gen. Johnson, he retired to Jackson, which was strongly fortified. July 12th, our Brigade was ordered to make a charge. Our battery got into action in an open field. We fired a few rounds, then ceased. Four regiments charged, but were repulsed with a very heavy loss. The 53rd Illinois Regiment came back with 66 men. Every commisioned officer was either killed or wounded. Col. Earl of the 53rd, was killed near the rebel works. 7 color guards were shot down. The color Guard had been shot through the leg, he tore the flag from the staff to save it from being captured, another ball got him through the head. He fell, they got him and the flag. In the evening I attended the roll-call of the 3rd Iowa Reg't, Inf., 150 men responded. July 16th, Gen. Johnson evacuated; we marched into Jackson, then returned to Vicksburg. Aug.15th, we embarked for Natchez, Miss., a very nice town. While camped there, our Brigade was ordered to cross the river to La. and 5. capture a fort about 40 miles beyond. We accomplished this in fine order and returned to Natchez. ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #3 Date: Sun, 8 Oct 2000 16:29:15 -0500 From: "Tammie and Keith" To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <025a01c0316e$d0526c00$1157f440@default> Subject: civil war letter pages 5 and 6 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit 5. Had a good time there until Dec. 1st, when we embarked for Vicksburg. Arrived there, went into camp about 8 miles out of town. Remained there until Feb. 2nd, '64; when we started with Gen. W. T. Sherman on his raid to Meridian, Miss., about 150 miles from Vicksburg. We destroyed railroads, and returned to Vicksburg, having marched 350 miles without a day's rest. We had fight going and coming, but not much. We got back March 2nd, '64. The government thought it would be a good move to keep as many of us experienced and hardened soldiers as possible. The three years of many of the regiments would be up in a few months. They offered the soldiers who had served more than two years: $200. and thirty days' furlough in our own states; not counting the time going and coming, if we would enlist for three years more, or until the end of the war. We were getting $13. a month, not much-but we didn't enlist for money-we enlisted to serve and help save "Our Own United States". We did it ably, backed by the loyal men, women, and children. The $200. would be a great help to the home-folks. Also the thirty days' furlough with father, mother, sister, brother, wife, and children (and for some of us, other fellows' sisters.) 23 of our battery re-enlisted. March 29, '64, we veterans started for home and what a lot of happy boys we were. While we were at home, the 17th Army Corps at Vicksburg embarked for Cairo, Ill. Arrived there and had a good time for a few days. The 15t Ohio Battery was there, Corporal Pennell, also. The Corps embarked for Clifton, Tenn.; landed there, then marched to Huntsville, Ala., 300 mi. where we veterans joined our battery and corp once more. We then began the trip to join Gen. Sherman's army at Big Shanty, Ga., near Kenesaw Mt. 6. Then we got busy. We now had 4- -12 lb brass guns and 20 lb Parrot guns. Corp. Pennell handled one of the Parrott guns; and he could generally hit the mark. June 14th, we were in a sort of fort: not much doing; We were facing Kenesaw Mt. Up rode our Division Commander, Gen. W. Q. Gresham, who said to Lieut. James Burdick (in command of our battery: Capt. Spear was acting as Chief of Artillery of the 4th Div.)- "Lieutenant, do you see that goup of rebel officers over there? Load every gun and fire all at once." I saw the group scatter, one stayed ther. We fired, the dirt flew around him, in about ten minutes-our signal officer read their signal on top of Kenesaw Mt., "Lieut. Gen. Bishop Polk killed by a cannon ball." Several ex-confederate Generals (one of them was Gen. J. E. Johnson, who had command of the confederate army fighting Gen. Sherman at Kenesaw Mt.) came to New York to attend the funeral of Gen. U.S. Grant, in July 1885. I thought I would find out about the death of Gen. Polk. Gen. Johnson was stopping at the 5th Ave. Hotel. When I called, he was sitting on the sofa in the parlor. I walked up, saluted, and said, "Gen. Johnson, I'm one of Gen. Sherman's boys." He replied, " I am glad to see you, my boy." "General, will you kindly tell me about the death of Gen. Polk?" I asked. He answered, " We were recconnoitering your works, when I saw one of your batteries getting ready to fire at us. I said: Gentlemen, there's a Yankee Battery over there getting ready to fire at us; let us get one one side. All of us moved except. Gen. Polk, and he was killed by a cannon ball." I thanked him, saluted, and withdrew. ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #4 Date: Sun, 8 Oct 2000 16:30:02 -0500 From: "Tammie and Keith" To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <025e01c0316e$ef5bac60$1157f440@default> Subject: civil war letter pages 7 and 8 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit 7. We were within reach of the enemy both day and night, until the night of July 2nd, when about eleven o'clock, we withdrew as quietly as possible, and moved to the right. July 3rd, we began to get busy. Had some hot work; especially near Nickajack Creek. They had strong breastworks, which they left, without asking us. Kenesaw Mt. was evacuated. We then moved to our left, crossed the Chattahoochie River at Rosswell Ferry, and marched to Decatur, Ga. July 20th, we took an active part in the battle of July 20th, '64 nearAtlanta, Ga. Our Division Commander, Gen. W. Q. Gresham, was badly wounded. Leggart's Hill was won. July 21st, not much doing. During the night, Rebel Gen. Hood sent two of his corps to our left in hopes of surprising us and, possibly gain a great victory, which they needed badly. About 12:30 a. m., July 22nd, the battle of Atlanta was begun. Such fighting. They charged our lines three times and were repulsed each time with a great loss of men. Our loss was also great. While the battle was going on, Maj. Gen. McPherson (James B.) rose near our battery. We cheered him because he was a great general, and we loved him dearly. He commanded the army of the Tenn., three corps, 15th, 16th, and 17th. Had Gen. Sherman been disabled, Gen. McPherson would have taken command. He rode to Gen. Dodge, who had command of the 16th Corps which was hotly engaged, and saw that our line was safe. He then rode to the right of our line of battle,: There was a gap He had ordered a brigade to fill, but it hadn't been done. Thinking that it had, he rode right up to the enemy. He saw them, and they saw him. He turned his horse to the right, but it was too late. They shot him. His horse carried him near our line-he fell from the horse dead, and the animal came on into the line. Troops charged and got his body. A fearful loss to the union, and how we missed him. He was not above speaking to a private, and that meant (and means) a great deal. I lived in Chattanooga,,, Tenn. from '72 to '78. While there, I had some 8. business in Atlanta, Ga. I thought I'd visit the old battlefield of July 2nd, '64. I got to the very spot where our battery stood during the battle. I was alone. July 22nd, I wasn't alone. A lonely feeling came over me as I thought of many things. The uppermost thought was: our battery boys: How many are alive, where are they? Etc. While I was standing there, a colored man came up. "How are you, unlce?" I asked. "How is yo', sah?" he replied. "Were you here during the battle of July 22nd?" "Yessah," he answered, "Do yo' see dat little house dar? Ah was livin' dar an' de way dem bullets come sayin' wheah is yo', niggah? ah lay me flat on de groun'. Ah thought sure dey was agwon to git me." "I was here, and our battery was right here, and Gen. McPhereson got killed right there." I said. "Fo' lan's sake, you was here den? Yessah, Gineral McPherson was killed right in dar. Yo' go down dar, Yo' will fin' a lane dat will lead y o' right to de monument." I got to it. It was a siege gun on end, the fence was made of musket barrels. I stood and thought of the many good lives that were lost to save our union. July 28th, we took an active part in the battle of Ezra Church, gained a victory and took lost of prisoners. Then we moved farther to the right. August 10th, our 2- -20lb Parott guns were firing toward Atlanta. (Corp. Pennell sighted one of them). They seemed to annoy the enemy "right smart." When they opened on us with siege guns and sent a lot of big shells one of them shot off the two front legs of one of my horses (I was lead driver of one of the caissons). Tom Howlett killed the horse at once to end his suffering. ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #5 Date: Sun, 8 Oct 2000 16:30:48 -0500 From: "Tammie and Keith" To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <026201c0316f$085e42e0$1157f440@default> Subject: civil war letter pages 9 and 10 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit 9. We had business most every day. Sept. 2nd, our battery took part in the battles of Jonesboro and Love-Joy Station. Defeated the enemy, then returned to Atlanta. Gen. Hood, with his confederate army, moved to our right, and then to our rear. A great mistake for Hood and his army. Sherman and his army followed after him as far as Snake-Creek Gap, and Galesville, Ala. Then Gen. Sherman allowed Gen. (Pop) Geo. H. Thomas to take care of him, and in Dec. destroyed Hood's army. Sherman's army returned to Atlanta. We were satisified with our trip. While camped near Atlanta, the boys (I was too young to vote) helped to re-elect President Abraham Lincoln. Hom most of us loved Father Abraham Lincoln! The army was getting ready to make some great move, all unnecessary articles were sent North. (knapsacks, etc.) We were ready to make a rapid move, fight, or do anything necessary. November 15th, '64, General Sherman started with 60, 000 fighting soldiers all of us had been tried and had not been found wanting. We didn't know where we were going, but we knew we were going somewhere. We had full confidence in our officers, and they knew their men. Railroads and every thing that would assist the enemy were destroyed. Some of the homes were destroyed; but not by true men, -as an exconfederate soldier said to me, "Many of the bad things done on that march, credited to your army, were done by our own men." We were not fighting women and children. We didn't have much fighting until we hit Savannah, Ga. Dec. 10th, we had a hot time. Lieut. Charles N. Moore, of our battery, lost a leg that day. From then on, 'til the night of the 20th, fighting most every day. Dec. 19th, they shelled us right hotly. Jesse Day had his right arm shot off close to the shoulder, he lived four days. Dec. 20th, 22 of our battery whose three years were up, were mustered out and started for home. During the night of the 20th, Gen. Hardee and his army evacuated Savannah. The next day, Sherman's army marched in. 10. Did not have a very merry Christmas. Dec. 21st, we ended our march from "Atlanta to the sea." 300 miles. Jan. 8th, '65, our corps embarked at Thunderbolt, Ga. for Beauforte, S.C. While on the boat, we had little to eat. Paid 25c. for 2 buiscuits. Arrived to Beauforte o. k. Got plenty to eat. Onn our way to Pocotaligo, S.C. the rebels made a little trouble. Corp. Pennell had his last chance to sight and fire his gun to good effect. Jan. 12th, his 3 years were up. He was mustered out on the 14th, when he came to say goodby. We wished him a safe trip and long life. He was a good soldier, a manly man, and a good comrade. We missed Corp. Pennell greatly. Feb. 2nd, the army started on the march through South Carolina. Had some fighting at Salkahatchie River, Orangeburg, and Columbia, S.C. (the hotbed of Seccession). We crossed the Congaree River, marched through part of the city, saw some fires. Marched to Cheraw, S.C., crossed the great Pedee River, and started for North Carolina. Had some fighting at Fayetteville, arrived at Goldsboro, N.C. Mar. 24 1865. To give you an idea of the condition of some of the troops, upon arrival at Goldsboro, take the 68th Ohio: ragged, barefooted, and bare headed. Blackened and begrimed with the smoke of pine knots. On the morning after it arrived, the adjutant's report showed 42 men barefooted, 38 bareheaded, and 260 wearing some article of citizen's clothing. After a few days, we started after Gen. Johnson and his army near Raleigh N.C. On our way, we received the very happy news of the surrender of Lee and his army, April 9th. We knew that meant "Home, Sweet Home." A few days after, the news of the death of President Lincoln. How bad we felt! April 26th, Gen. Johnson surrendered to Gen. Sherman. The 29th, we started on our march through Virginia. That certainly was a happy trip. Arrived at Richmond. I saw many interesting things in and near Richmond: Libby Prison, I rode around the prison and saw the end of the tunnel thru' which 105 of our men crawled and came out in the yard next to the prison. 55of them were re-captured. -------------------------------- End of OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest V00 Issue #297 *******************************************