With Infernal Fury: The 5th Ohio is Blooded at Kernstown

    At the First Battle of Kernstown fought March 23, 1862, the 5th Ohio Volunteer Infantry gained its reputation as a fighting regiment by standing its ground while other regiments nearby quailed before the Rebel fire. But that came at a cost: the regiment lost five color bearers in succession and by the end of the battle, the national colors were perforated with 48 holes while the state colors had another 10 holes. "When the 84th Pennsylvania fell back in confusion, General Sullivan, commanding the brigade, exclaimed that the army was whipped, but on looking again, he observed the 5th Ohio still fighting and exclaimed, "No, thank God! The brave 5th Ohio is still standing its ground and holding the Rebels."

    Among the participants of the Battle of Kernstown was Private Wesley Clark Hickman of Co. I who penned the following letter to his father, the Reverend Robert Frame Hickman, a week after the battle. Wesley had enlisted in Co. I of the 5th in April 1861 and had re-enlisted with the 3 years' organization of the regiment in June 1861. Hickman's eyewitness account of Kernstown saw publication in the Perry County Weekly, a newspaper published in New Lexington, Ohio. 


"Boys, Keep the Colors up!"

Six miles south of Strasburg, Shenandoah Co., Virginia

March 30, 1862

Dear Father,

          Today I received your letters dated respectively on the 20th and 22nd instant and although I wrote you a hurried note on the 26th to inform you of my safety, at the risk of being deemed prosy, I shall devote this evening to a detail of such events of the battle of the 23rd instant as passed under my personal observation. In doing this, I may possibly repeat much of the note of the 26th, but we are so well acquainted that I don’t feel afraid it will be cause of offense to you. The conclusion and excitement of that time rendered a readable letter almost an impossibility.

          On Saturday March 22nd at 4 p.m., the long roll sounded in the camp of the 5th Ohio, and all who were well fell into line under command of Lieutenant Colonel Patrick and double quicked to the scene of the skirmish on the Strasburg road in which General Shields (as usual) was wounded. The Rebels under the command of General Jackson had opened a lively fire of shot and shell upon our troops but withdrew for the night just as we arrived. None of us supposed the affair involved anything very serious; it was thought by the men to be another instance of the Rebel Colonel Turner Ashby’s temerity, as he had been harassing the troops for several days and had evinced impudence enough for the perpetration of any act within the range of possibility. But, when we countermarched, instead of returning to camp at the Romney road, we were ordered to file left and the whole regiment was deployed as skirmishers along that road for nearly two miles and there we remained under arms during Saturday night without any occurrence worthy of note further than that the night was uncomfortably cold.

          On Sunday morning after eating breakfast, we returned to Winchester under the agreeable impression that the affair was settled, and we would be taken to camp and get a good sleep. But the cannonading commenced again, and things began to look serious though none realized the real situation. We were now marched down the Strasburg road about one and a half miles and there ordered into position in support of Daum’s battery, a duty which the 5th Ohio discharged thenceforward throughout the day. For a period of two or three hours, while both armies were engaged in maneuvering for position and in fielding to ascertain the strength and locality of the opposing force, our regiment was in comparatively safe quarters, though frequently shells and solid shot would come in dangerous proximity to our heads.

          At the end of this time, however, Colonel Daum of the artillery determined to discover precisely where the Rebel strength lay and ordered the battery bearing his name into a meadow about 500 yards eastward from Kernstown (a village three miles south of Winchester) and we went with the battery. Scarcely had it been planted (we were directly in rear of it) when the Rebels opened a terrific fire upon us from three batteries planted very nearly one-third of a mile from us. It was but a moment ere they got the range, and though our battery returned the fire in gallant style, it was at once evident that we could not stay long in that meadow. Shot and shell rushed and screamed all around us with infernal fury. It seemed impossible but that dreadful slaughter would be made in our ranks, so thickly were the horrid missiles hurled among us; but the merciful God averted the death that seemed so imminent and but one man of the regiment (H.A. Bolser of our company) was wounded there. His left arm was fractured by a piece of shell. The artillery limbered up and we left the meadow, one of the artillerymen being killed just as they retired, his head being blown completely off.

Veterans' badge belonging to Philip Nunn of Co. G, 5th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. The badge incorporates the regimental number within the star, the corps badge of the 12th and later 20th Army Corps of which the 5th Ohio was a part. (Cowan Auctions)

          On leaving the meadow, we resumed position on a hill commanding the Rebel batteries. On this hill were located three batteries- Clark’s of the regular service which was planted on the southern brow of the hill next to Daum’s battery which was planted 100 yards to the rear of Clark’s, and an Ohio battery planted about 100 yards to the right and in front of Daum’s; the space between the three batteries being shaped nearly as a triangle and in this space was the position of our regiment. Here we lay for several hours, dodging and shrinking as occasion demanded, the Rebel batteries firing at us incessantly. Soon we became somewhat accustomed to our situation and knew which way to dodge and but three or four were killed or wounded while we laid there.

          At about 3 p.m., the Rebels succeeded in gaining position on a hill nearly 900 yards west of us and planted a battery and their infantry, under cover of the artillery, attempted to turn our right flank with a view to capture the batteries named in the foregoing paragraph. They were met and checked by the gallant men who composed our right wing. Now the famous Stonewall Brigade emerged from the woods nearly a mile south of us with their banners flying and marched up to reinforce the Rebel infantry. Our signal corps signaled to our left wing to hasten to the support of our right.

          The din of artillery, the roar of musketry, and the shouts and yells of maddened men rendered the scene one of fearful excitement, and the issue of the battle was almost in doubt. Steadily the Stonewall Brigade moved forward under a destructive and galling fire from our batteries, keeping their ranks well closed up as they came. When within about 400 yards of our batteries, they filed to the left and our artilleryman shouted for “three second fuse” shells, which with grape and canister they poured with deadly effect upon the Rebels. I was standing where I could witness the havoc our guns made in their ranks. By files, nay by platoons almost, the doomed men fell, but still the survivors preserved good order in their ranks and their hated banner moved as steadily forward as though they had not been under fire. Their bravery was heroic, worthy of a better cause, and commanded the admiration and respect of all who witnessed it.

American Battlefield Trust map of the Battle of Kernstown. The 5th Ohio went into action alongside the 67th Ohio, a local regiment which ranks as one of my favorites. 

          At this time, our regiment was ordered to fall in to go over to the help of the infantry engaging the Rebels. The men formed with fixed bayonets and started at the double quick, but when we had gone about 100 yards, the artillery officers “raised a row” about withdrawing all of their infantry support and five companies (F,G,H,I, and K) were ordered to remain, and the other half of the regiment went forward under a galling fire from the Rebel battery which killed and wounded several of our brave fellows. Reaching the wood in which the Rebels were, Color Corporal T.B. Isdell of Co. I and bearer of the state flag fell dead at the first volley, shot through the head; a moment afterward Ensign Swayne, bearer of the national colors, fell shot in the face; then Captain Whitcom took the flag and gave it to one of the color guard and in a moment afterward was shot in the head and instantly killed while cheering on his men. Colonel Patrick’s horse was shot from under him.

In about half an hour (which seemed like an age to those who remained with the batteries), the companies of the 5th Ohio which had remained behind fell in and with cheers and yells ran at the top of our speed to the scene of battle. Before we reached there, the Rebels gave way, making a second stand under cover of trees and rocks. After we got up, they fired but two or three volleys and then began their retreat. Our troops pursued them for a little while when they were recalled and the cavalry charged after the flying mass, capturing many prisoners, among them one of General Jackson’s aides. A mile or so away the Rebels made large campfires and kept on their retreat. We bivouacked on the battleground.

Those so disposed (and I am glad to say there were hundreds) now went round over the field seeking the wounded of both sides and rendering to them such aid and comfort as circumstances rendered possible. The wounded men desperately needed water and thanked us so heartily when it was given that those who labored thus were repaid more than a thousand-fold. I think I never realized the value of a cup of water as I did there.

As we were returning from pursuit, I encountered a captain who relieved my anxiety by assuring me of brother’s safety and that of the whole regiment. We had a warm shaking of hands and shouted for the old flag with a will. The 62nd Ohio was not in the fight actively compared with the part which some of the other regiments rook, but they were on hand and as willing as the rest. A few shells burst near them however, I believe. Before we took up our quarters for the night, there was a shouting time there you will readily believe.

The next morning, I took a walk over the battle ground and many, many ghastly scenes presented themselves to the eye. The Rebel loss was very great in a space of perhaps half an acre lay 20 dead Rebels, at least 16 or 17 of whom had been shot in the head and lay there stark and cold; from this spot, many wounded were removed. But I will not disgust you with details.

The next day we expected a renewal of the battle, but the Rebel loss had been too severe; they still retreated, and we pressed on in pursuit till we reached this point. The papers will give you the most important features of the pursuit. All along the road, wounded Rebels had been left at houses. Our loss in the 5th Ohio is said to be 20 killed and 38 wounded. The aggregate on either side is unknown to me.

Source: Private Wesley C. Hickman, Co. I, 5th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Perry County Weekly (Ohio), April 16, 1862, pgs. 1-2

Comments

  1. KevinKraemerMarch 15, 2021 at 9:49 AM

    I do not even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was good. I don't know who you are but certainly you're going to a famous blogger if you are not already ;) Cheers! war of 1812 service files

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Most Popular Posts

Arming the Buckeyes: Longarms of the Ohio Infantry Regiments

Image
     A common question that comes up in conversation about Civil War Buckeye regiments is "What were they armed with?" We are fortunate in that the state of Ohio kept good records of how the regiments were armed when they went into service, this being especially true for those regiments which went into service in 1861 and 1862. The state adjutant general's reports for 1861 and 1862 have been heavily drawn upon to construct this article, as well as consultation with Phil Spaugy who has done extensive research on how Ohio's troops were armed during the war.      Buckeyes carried a fairly wide variety of weapons into the field, and the below article breaks this down into weapons of both domestic manufacture and imported arms. The early days of the war found the state of Ohio practically bereft of longarms; as an example, when the 1st and 2nd Ohio Volunteer Militia left the state in late April 1861, they left unarmed, being armed at Lancaster, Pennsylvania on their way to
Read more

Dressing the Rebels: How to Dye Butternut Jeans Cloth

Image
     In the early days of the Civil War,  the Southern states found themselves with an abundance of cotton but a shortage of cloth with which to make army uniforms. The trade in cloth prior to the war had largely been to send raw cotton or wool north to New England (or Great Britain) where it was converted into usable cloth; but now that trade was broken and the Southern states were thrown upon their own resources in their efforts to properly clothe the Confederate army.  This collection of Confederate enlisted men's frock coats and shell jackets gives some indication of the variety of shades of butternut worn during the war. All of them are shades of yellow brown, some heavier on the yellow and some heavier on the brown. The blue used around the collar or as rank insignia indicates that the soldier was in the infantry. Surviving Confederate uniforms are considered rather rare and command quite a healthy price in the collecting market. For an in-depth study of how Confederate jacke
Read more

Bullets for the Union: Manufacturing Small Arms Ammunition During the Civil War

Image
       Civil War bullets are perhaps the most common item collected from the era; the two armies expended bullets by the millions during the four years’ conflict and spent or deformed bullets of all shapes and sizes have made fascinating and affordable collectibles since the guns went silent in 1865.       I recently acquired a display piece featuring 35 different types of small arms ammunition used during the Civil War, including everything from a small .28 caliber ball up to a .69 caliber three-ring Minie and it triggered some questions: how did the Federal army obtain its small arms ammunition during the war? Where did the lead come from to make the bullets, and where and how was the ammunition manufactured? This post seeks to answer those questions. A typical .58 caliber 3-ring Minie bullet   “Whenever the blasts of war blow in the ears of men who trade in the implements of destruction, they are apt to experience more joy than the true warrior, for then comes the harvest of gain.
Read more

The Cannons are Now Silent: The Field of Death of Tupelo

Image
       The smoke of battle had drifted away from the battlefield at Tupelo, Mississippi on the hot afternoon of July 14, 1864, but the carnage of war lay spread across the open fields. “Scattered at intervals over the field of a few yards are dull gray blotches half shaded by grass,” an officer from the 7 th Minnesota Infantry recorded. “These are the Rebel dead. They have fought their last battle and lie generally in attitudes of rest; some of them look as if they had welcomed death. On the faces of two is imprinted a smile. One is a boy of 16 with delicate features, almost girlish in their beauty. His last gaze seems to have been directed toward his hand on the forefinger of which was a ring. A circle of purer white indicates its place; the ring was carried off as a trophy of the field.” The following account of the Battles of Tupelo and Old Town Creek was written by an unknown officer of the 7 th Minnesota Infantry, his account appearing in the August 5 th 1864 edition of the
Read more

The Vaunted Enfield Rifle Musket

Image
     The English-made Model 1853 .577 caliber Enfield Rifle Musket was widely regarded as the best infantry arm in the world at the outbreak of the Civil War in April 1861. Favorable international press describing its efficiency in the Crimean War and in suppressing the Indian rebellion led to the widespread desire of American infantrymen (both Federal and Confederate) to be armed with these accurate and well-made arms. The lock plate of this well-worn P1853 Enfield rifle musket produced in 1862 shows the typical markings of a British-made weapon that made it through the Federal blockade.  ( Army of Tennessee Relics ) Enfield-pattern weapons were imported into the states by the tens and hundreds of thousands during the war years; one estimate stated that the Federal government purchased 500,000 while the Confederates purchased another 400,000. The Confederate government dispatched Captain Caleb Huse to Europe in April 1861 to purchase weapons and Huse focused on securing all the Enfi
Read more

Straw Already Threshed: Sherman on Shiloh

Image
  W illiam Tecumseh Sherman was enjoying retired life in New York City when just before Christmas in 1889 he was presented with an article written by John Cockerill, a former drummer boy in the 24 th Ohio who was visiting his father Colonel Joseph Cockerill of the 70 th Ohio of Sherman’s division when the Battle of Shiloh began. Cockerill’s article, originally published in the New York Journalist and later featured in the January 1893 issue of Blue & Gray Magazine, Sherman later pronounced as “the best war story ever written” and the truest account of Shiloh.           On New Year’s Day 1890, General Sherman composed the following letter to his friend Marshall P. Wilder thanking him for sending along Cockerill’s article and giving his own explanation of Shiloh. “This to me is straw already threshed for we have fought this battle on paper several times, a much more agreeable task than to fight with bullets,” he concluded. “When in England some years ago I was gratified to liste
Read more

Federal Arms in the Stones River Campaign

Image
  T he following list, constructed after many years of research, lists unit by unit which type of weapons were carried by the Army of the Cumberland during the Stones River campaign. A number of sources were consulted including state ordnance reports, Federal quarterly ordnance reports (thank you Research Arsenal ), Ken Baumann’s Arming the Suckers, regimental histories and memoirs, captured ordnance reports, and consultation with knowledgeable experts in the field of firearms. Some of this information has been shared on the blog before in “ Rosy’s Heavy Metal: Artillery of the Army of the Cumberland ” or “ Shoulder Arms: How Sheridan’s and Davis’s Divisions Were Armed at Stones River ” but this is the first time the army as a whole has been presented. The overall conclusion I drew from looking at this data is that the Army of the Cumberland in December 1862 was an organization in the midst of transformation as far as arms. Many of the regiments still retained their original issue
Read more

Escape of Captain Henry H. Alban of the 21st Ohio Infantry

Image
Captain Henry H. Alban was among the dozen officers of the 21 st Ohio Volunteer Infantry who were captured on September 20, 1863 at the Battle of Chickamauga. The regiment had held its position atop Snodgrass Hill against repeated Confederate assaults and now battered and without ammunition, with the darkness of evening enveloping the hill, the remainder of that gallant band found themselves at the mercy of the 54 th Virginia. A total of 12 officers and 121 enlisted men surrendered; the regiment’s colors were taken, and the men marched off the field into captivity. Captain Henry Harvey Alban, Co. F, 21st O.V.I. Captain Alban along with the rest went through a series of Confederate prison camps before arriving at Columbia, South Carolina in October 1864. Determined to make an escape, he watched for his chance and one night made his leap for freedom, successfully eluding the local camp guard and setting out along the railroad to head for the mountains of eastern Tennessee and
Read more

Knapsack Compression: Wilbur Hinman recalls the first step of becoming a veteran

Image
L ooking back on his experiences during the war, Captain Wilbur Hinman of the 65 th Ohio (perhaps best known as the author of Si Klegg and His Pard ) recalled that the first road along which his regiment marched was strewn “with debris. A pair of six-mule wagonloads might have been gathered of notions that had been flung aside by a thousand suffering “tenderfeet.” “The average young patriot started for the war with a wheelbarrow load of clothing, a bed quilt or two, books, photograph albums, toilet articles, and gimcracks of every sort,” he wrote. “Neither he nor the good homefolks had the slightest conception of the capacity of a knapsack, nor did they for a moment imagine that before the close of his first day upon the road every pound he carried would seem a hundred.” To the true mark of a veteran soldier was one who “learned to dispense with every unnecessary ounce of weight, and just in the ratio that he did this he increased his efficiency as a soldier. It was of the highest
Read more

Federal Arms in the Chickamauga Campaign

Image
T he ordnance returns of the Army of the Cumberland at the end of September 1863 show the results of a transformational year in weaponry. Since taking command of the army at the end of October 1862, General William S. Rosecrans had repeatedly pestered the War Department to supply his regiments with better firearms both to improve the command’s efficiency as well as expand its striking power. The results speak for themselves: for the infantrymen at the end of September 1863, 90% of them now carried Class I long arms (36,058 out of 39,959), 8.3% carried Class II arms, and a mere 1.5% carried Class III weapons. Most of the foreign-made weapons (except Enfields) were gone, and by and large the army had settled on a single common .58 caliber ammunition, although a few .54 caliber and .69 caliber weapons remained within the ranks. The English-made Enfield rifle musket was by far the most common arm, carried by 56% of the men while the second-most common arm was the .58 caliber M1861 Spring
Read more