Revisiting Snodgrass Hill: Memories of a 21st Ohio Officer


Captain Isaac Cusac, Co. G, 21st Ohio Volunteer Infantry proudly displaying his rank as captain in an image likely dating from early 1863. One of his shoulder straps was shot off in the final stages of the 21st Ohio's fight atop Snodgrass Hill on September 20, 1863. Cusac brought it back to Chickamauga 50 years later. 

In September 1913, 83-year-old Isaac Cusac, a retired Presbyterian minister from the little town of McComb, Ohio, returned to Chattanooga to attend the national G.A.R. encampment. The former captain of the 21st Ohio returned to Snodgrass Hill on the old Chickamauga battlefield on the 50th anniversary of the battle carrying with him a precious relic of his wartime experiences. “He carried with him there an epaulet that was shot from his shoulder at the battle,” it was reported. “The bullet clipped off the epaulet and then struck him on the left hand, injuring two fingers.”

          The flood of memories as he walked the grounds must have been overwhelming. The fight atop Snodgrass Hill was the seminal event in the 21st Ohio’s experience, and one that marked the end of Cusac’s services in the field. Perhaps he thought back to the words of E.T. Dunn who spoke to the regimental reunion 10 years before, marking the 40th anniversary of Chickamauga. “My dear comrades, our footsteps are tottering and our breath is shorter than it was, but we have the same feeling in our hearts as when we were volunteers.” Captured along with most of the regiment on the evening of September 20th, Cusac spent the next 17 months in a variety of Confederate prisoner of war camps before being paroled in March 1865. Cusac never had the chance to rejoin his regiment, and mustered out of service April 13, 1865, four days after Appomattox.  

          In 1890, Cusac wrote a lengthy letter to his former commanding officer Arnold McMahan providing his memories of that fateful afternoon in September 1863.


Captain Cusac brought the captain's rank insignia (he called it an epaulet) that was shot from his shoulder during the Battle of Chickamauga to the 50th anniversary reunion in 1913. "It is one of his treasured relics of the great war," it was reported. "The bullet clipped off the epaulet and then struck him on the left hand, injuring two fingers." 

McComb, Ohio

June 7, 1890

          In compliance with your request that I should write you what I know of the position and movements of the 21st Ohio at the battle of Chickamauga on September 20, 1863, I now give you the facts as near as my memory now serves me.

          On the night of the 19th, the 21st lay on their arms about one-half mile east of certain vats that were situated on the Dyer farm; to the east and directly in front of the 21st was a field partly cleared and which reached to or near the Lafayette road. This field and road were held by the Confederates and the lines were very near each other and several times in the night fired at each other. During the night the Confederates moved to the left and there appeared to be no enemy in our front.

          It was sometime after sunrise before we had any orders, then we were ordered to move to the rear and to the left. The brigade moved to the rear until it reached the Dyer farm and there formed in close columns by companies and marched to the left or north through the farm until we reached what is known as the Snodgrass house at the east end of the ridge. The house is a small one and there were several peach trees standing nearby. A road passes through this farm on the east of the house and running in a northwest direction.

          At that time severe fighting going on between 300-400 yards to the southeast of our line [Hazen’s fight- add link] we could see the Federal troops moving to the left and we were expecting to have a fight where we were at that time. We threw down the fences on the east of us and placed the rails so as to protect us from the balls of the enemy. Soon after we had arranged the fence to suit us, we were then ordered away from our position and were detached from our brigade [Colonel William Sirwell’s] and so no more of the brigade that day.

Colonel Moses B. Walker
31st O.V.I.

          We marched by the right flank out of the lane and moved in a southwesterly direction in the woods about a quarter of a mile southwest of the Snodgrass house and there we met, as we supposed, a part of Brannan’s division retreating in great disorder. The first man I saw that I recognized was Colonel Moses Walker of the 31st Ohio who was making a great effort to stop the broken lines. As he noticed the 21st move in, he rode up and said, “Twenty-first, stand firm as adamant! This line must be stopped right here.” Colonel Walker assisted in establishing the line on the south slope of the ridge. We remained there but a short time and then moved to the south, down the slope of the ridge to a flat or low piece of ground at the foot of said ridge. It was now about 11 o’clock. We saw no Union troops on that part of the ridge at that time except a part of a battery that was placed near us on our left. I do not know where they belonged but I do know that the time they were most needed, they were not there as they had left that part of the ridge.

          We had been on the ridge but a short time when the enemy made a desperate attack on us but was repulsed. Again and again did they attempt to drive us from the ridge, but we were not to be moved by lead nor demon-like yells but we lay close to the ground with our Colt’s Revolving Rifles repelled and repulsed every attack. About 1 p.m. some troops came in on our right and the 22nd Michigan (as we supposed) charged over us as we lay on the ground, but only remained in front of us a short time when they fell back over us. The enemy then followed up and made a desperate effort to break through our lines. The enemy’s loss must have been very heavy as they came very near us and we kept up a constant and terrific fire on them, compelling them to fall back. About this time, a regiment formed on our left and did some good work, but later in the day they disappeared. I have always been of the opinion that this was the 9th Ohio.

An image from the 1920s depicting the few survivors of the 21st Ohio during a reunion held in Findlay, Ohio. The Hancock County Historical Society now owns the flag shown above. 

          Some time in the afternoon, a regiment, said to be the 2nd Minnesota, came in our rear and laid down and began firing over us, their balls passing very near our men. We feared they would kill some of our men. I requested those in the rear of my company to cease firing or else to raise up and fire. It has been by some in that the 2nd Minnesota relieved the 21st Ohio that evening, but that is not correct. There was no other regiment in front of the 21st that afternoon except (or at least the left of the regiment) the 22nd Michigan and that but a very short time. But instead of being relieved, the 21st held their position amidst showers of bullets, shot and shell, until sundown when they were out of ammunition and could not get any.

          The regiment then moved to the rear a few rods into a hollow where we were then secure from the fire of the enemy. While in this position, I was standing in front of the regiment when a colonel (whom I was unable to recognize) rode up to me somewhat excited, saying to me “move those men up on the line.” I said to him, “Colonel, I have no ammunition.” His reply to me was it does not make a God damn bit of difference. Have the men fix bayonets and hold that line. The language and the manner that the command was given in stirred up my Irish blood and I said to him, go and talk with the officer in command.

Major Arnold McMahan
21st O.V.I.

          He then rode to the rear of the regiment to where Major McMahan was and gave him the same orders, though not in the same language. Then the major gave orders to fix bayonets, which was promptly obeyed, but when the order was given to “forward march” not a man moved. About that time some of the men on our right shouted “boys do not leave us” and when the second command was given every man moved forward on the double quick and were met by a most murderous fire which killed and wounded many of our brave men, myself being wounded in the left hand. [This brings us back to the beginning of the story.]

          When we reached the line on the ridge a short distance to the right of where we were at sundown, we fell to the ground and remained in that position until dark. The enemy could have undoubtedly driven us from the ridge at any time after sundown as the three regiments that held that part of the line were all out of ammunition, but they had a better thing on us by lying still in front of us while a part of their forces swung around to the rear of us, shutting us in. This they did in good shape, taking in the 22nd Michigan, 89th Ohio, and 21st Ohio, all except a few on the left of the 21st.

          The enemy that came in our rear did not quite cover our left company and when they ordered us to lay down arms, Lieutenant Lamb followed by several others ran to the left and made their escape, the enemy firing at them as they ran but without effect. Those who were taken prisoners gave up their arms and while standing in line, the enemy in our front, probably not knowing that their comrades were in front of them, fired a volley at us at short range but very badly aimed as I know of no one being hit. A Rebel officer near me shouted to them to cease firing and informed them who they were. That was the last firing I heard that night.

     To learn more about the fighting at Snodgrass Hill, check out these posts:

"Buckeye Rapid-Fire: The 21st Ohio and the Colt's Revolving Rifles."

"Captured at Chickamauga with the 21st Ohio." Private Jacob "Doc" Jones, Co. I   

"The Final Minutes on Horseshoe Ridge." Sergeant John H. Bolton, Co. F 

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

"Atop Snodgrass Hill: The Second Day of Chickamauga with the 89th Ohio." Captain David M. Barrett, Co. I


Major Cusac served as president of the 21st Ohio regimental association for many years being first elected at the 1910 reunion in Pemberville, Cusac being one of the few surviving officers. He wrote frequently of his experiences at Chickamauga including in the National Tribune, carrying on Lieutenant Colonel Arnold McMahan’s lifelong effort to preserve the memory of the regiment’s sacrifices on Snodgrass Hill. Cusac passed away from pneumonia at his daughter's home in Findlay on Washington’s Birthday, February 22, 1920 at the age of 90. He is buried at McComb Union Cemetery in McComb, Ohio.

 

Sources:

“Major Cusac’s Relic,” Bowling Green Sentinel-Tribune (Ohio), October 6, 1913, pg. 6

“Major Cusac Died at McComb Sunday,” Bowling Green Sentinel-Tribune (Ohio), February 26, 1920, pg. 1

“Gallant Veterans of the Twenty First Once More They Capture the City,” Bowling Green Sentinel-Tribune (Ohio), September 18, 1903, pg. 1

Canfield, Silas S. History of the 21st Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry in the War of the Rebellion. Toledo: 1893, pgs. 135-137


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