Echoes of Battle Volume 2: Fredericksburg to Fort Sanders

    Echoes of Battle: Annals of Ohio's Soldiers in the Civil War Volume 2: Fredericksburg to Fort Sanders is the latest in a three-part series compiled and edited by Dan Masters and Larry Strayer presents 109 firsthand battle accounts written by Ohioans during the Civil War covering the critical middle period of the war from December 1862 through November 1863.

    It was a war fought upon some of the bloodiest stages in American history such as Gettysburg, Chickamauga, and Antietam, and at obscure skirmishes such as Scary Creek, Snaggy Point, and Limestone Station. These Ohioans will recount the thrill of victory at Shiloh, Vicksburg and Missionary Ridge, and the sadness and demoralization of defeat at Chancellorsville, Fort Wagner, and Brice’s Crossroads. The horrors of war will come home with stark clarity from places such as Port Republic, Corinth, Stones River, and Franklin. Sailors will recount their battles with Confederate forts and ironclads upon the placid western rivers, while troopers will relay the sounds and terror of a cavalry charge.

Co-authors Dan Masters and Larry Strayer collaborated to produce Echoes of Battle Volume 2: Fredericksburg to Fort Sanders, a new title from Columbian Arsenal Press featuring more than 100 accounts covering the middle year of the war. 

    One will read what it is like to be shot, to witness the death of a brother or beloved comrade upon the battlefield, or to be captured by the enemy. One will read what it is like to be driven in panic from the field or the thrill of triumph when capturing an enemy flag or overwhelming an enemy battery. By dusting off these old and forgotten accounts of the war, it is hoped that this work will foster a deeper appreciation of the sacrifices made to restore the Union and provide future historians with valuable insights into how the common soldier experienced the war “inside and out.”

     Echoes of Battle Volume 2 is a powerful marriage of images and words covering the war’s critical middle year of December 1862 through November 1863. This volume features extensive sections covering the fighting at Stones River, Chancellorsville, Vicksburg, Gettysburg, and Chickamauga that marked the turning points of the Civil War.

    This handsome 490-page 6" x 9" Trade-sized softcover volume features 109 firsthand accounts covering December 1862-November 1863 and is richly illustrated with 79 images, many of them seeing publication for the first time. Both hardcover ($50 plus shipping) and softcover editions ($30 plus shipping) are available now through our Columbian Arsenal Press bookstore.

    

In chapter 7 of Echoes of Battle Volume 2, Medal of Honor recipient John S. Kountz, a drummer boy serving in the all-German 37th Ohio, recounts his harrowing tale of going into action at Tunnel Hill in November 1863 during the operations at Chattanooga. The Maumee, Ohio native would later serve as National Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic. 

Contents

 

Acknowledgements

Photo Credits

Introduction

 

CHAPTER ONE

Covered with Mud and Misery: The Gloomy Winter of 1862-63     17

 

Battle of Hartsville, Tennessee                    December 7, 1862

Captain Joseph Good, Co. B, 108^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

 

Battle of Dobbin’s Ferry, Tennessee             December 9, 1862

Corp. John H. Purvis, Co. B, 51^st Ohio Volunteer Infantry

 

Yazoo River Expedition, Mississippi           December 12, 1862

Lieutenant John F. Morton, U.S.S. Cairo

Lieutenant H.F. Alford, U.S.S. Marmora

 

Battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia                  December 11-13, 1862

Second Lt. Thomas F. Galwey, Co. B, 8^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Second Lt. William A. Ewing, Battery H, 1^st Ohio Light Artillery

Corp. William A. McDermott, Co. C, 4^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

 

Battle of Chickasaw Bayou, Mississippi           December 26-29, 1862

Captain Benjamin J. Eason, Co. E, 120^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Second Lt. John F. Cutter, Co. H, 54^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Pvt. John H. Thomson, Co. G, 16^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Sgt. Absalom Mattox, 17^th Ohio Battery

 

Action at Rolling Fork, Kentucky                  December 29-30, 1862

Corp. Edwin S. Herriman, Battery C, 1^st Ohio Light Artillery

 

Battle of Parker’s Crossroads, Tennessee       December 31, 1862

Corp. Edwin P. Toms, Co. B, 27^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

 

Battle of Arkansas Post, Arkansas            January 11, 1863

Orderly Sgt. Thomas B. Marshall, Co. K, 83^rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Sgt. Pembroke M. Cowles, Co. A, 42^nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Pvt. William H. Buckins, Co. K, 76^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Seaman John R. Williams, U.S.S. Romeo

 

CHAPTER TWO

Adrift in a Sea of Blood: Stones River Campaign     87

 

Stones River Campaign           December 26, 1862-January 3, 1863

Pvt. Charles B. Dennis, Co. B, 101^st Ohio Volunteer Infantry 

Captain John H. James, Co. A, 26^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Captain Warren P. Edgarton, Battery E, 1^st Ohio Light Artillery

First Lt. Shepherd Green, Co. I, 49^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Pvt. Frank Reed, Co. H, 1^st Battalion, 15^th U.S. Infantry

Sgt. Clarence L. Riddle, Battery G, 1^st Ohio Light Artillery

Captain Martin Buck, Co. H, 1^st Ohio Volunteer Cavalry

Sgt. Tobias Ross, Co. B, 2^nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Sgt. Alfred W. Stambaugh, Co. F, 19^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Corp. John Sowash, Co. F, 65^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Pvt. James M. Kirk, Co. F, 41^st Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Lt. Colonel Joseph W. Burke, 10^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Chaplain James M. Morrow, 99^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Pvt. Samuel L. Linton, Co. I, 21^st Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Pvt. Joseph S. Brown, Co. A, 15^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Pvt. Ashbel G. Beer, Co. D, 26^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

         

CHAPTER THREE

Louder Than Thunder: Dover to Chancellorsville      145

 

Battle of Dover, Tennessee                                  February 3, 1863

          Master James Fitzpatrick, U.S.S. Lexington

 

Battle of Thompson’s Station, Tennessee                 March 5, 1863

Sgt. George C. Jeffries, Co. B, 124^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

 

Battle of Kelly’s Ford, Virginia                            March 17, 1863

Captain Norman A. Barrett, Co. D, 6^th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry

 

Battle of Vaught’s Hill, Tennessee                        March 20, 1863

Corp. John E. Watrous, Co. K, 105^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

 

Battle of Dutton Hill, Kentucky                           March 31, 1863

Colonel Israel Garrard, 7^th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry

 

Engagement at Grand Lake, Louisiana                 April 11, 1863

Seaman George H. Brooks, U.S.S. Arizona

 

Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia                        May 1-4, 1863

Captain Samuel Surbrug, Co. K, 107^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Captain Elias R. Monfort, Co. F, 75^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Corp. Sidney S. Allen, Battery I, 1^st Ohio Light Artillery

Sgt. Joseph C. Lowe, Co. C, 61^st Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Second Lt. John G. Marsh, Co. I, 29^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Lt. Colonel Eugene Powell, 66^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

 

CHAPTER FOUR

Turning Points in the West: Port Gibson to Morgan’s Raid  195

 

Battle of Port Gibson, Mississippi                        May 1, 1863

Corp. Gottlieb Sites, Co. B, 56^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

 

Battle of Raymond, Mississippi                            May 12, 1863

First Lt. Henry O. Dwight, Co. G, 20^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

 

Battle of Jackson, Mississippi                              May 14, 1863

Captain Robert M. Hanson, Co. B, 95^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

 

Battle of Champion Hill, Mississippi                    May 16, 1863

Musician Thomas M. Page, Co. C, 83^rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Surg. James S. Reeves, 78^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Corp. Pomeroy Mitchell, 16^th Ohio Battery

 

First Assault on Vicksburg, Mississippi                May 19, 1863

Pvt. William Bakhaus, Co. C, 47^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

 

Second Assault on Vicksburg, Mississippi              May 22, 1863 Corp. William Campbell, Co. I, 30^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Captain John A. Bering, Co. C, 48^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

 

Siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi                       May 23-July 4, 1863

First Lt. Jacob R. Tussing, Co. G, 57^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Private John P. Reynolds, Co. B, 96^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

 

Battle of Milliken’s Bend, Louisiana           June 7, 1863

Lt. Colonel Cyrus Sears, 11^th Louisiana Corps d’ Afrique

 

Battle of Liberty Gap, Tennessee                June 24, 1863

Captain Samuel S. Pettit, Co. D, 15^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

 

Tullahoma Campaign                               June 24-July 2, 1863

Pvt. Thomas H. Wade, Co. F, 18^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

 

Surrender of Vicksburg, Mississippi            July 4, 1863

Sgt. Henry G. Lehmann, Co. H, 32^nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry

 

Morgan’s Raid Through Ohio                    July 1863

Pvt. John W. Jackson, Co. G, 86^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

 

Battle of Buffington Island, Ohio                          July 19, 1863

Captain John E. MacGowan, Co. D, 111^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

 

CHAPTER FIVE

Turning Points in the East: Second Winchester to Ft. Wagner         263

 

Second Battle of Winchester, Virginia          June 13-15, 1863

First Lt. Henry Y. Rush, Co. E, 110^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Sgt. John M. Sawhill, Co. B, 122^nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry

 

Action at Martinsburg, Virginia                          June 14, 1863

Captain Jonathan S. McReady, Co. H, 126^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

 

Battle of Aldie, Virginia                                    June 17, 1863

Sergeant Austin G. Jacobs, Co. B, 6^th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry

 

Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania                          July 1-3, 1863

Captain Alfred E. Lee, Co. E, 82^nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry

QM Sgt. Cecil C. Reed, Battery K, 1^st Ohio Volunteer Light Artillery

Pvt. Wellington Douds, Co. F, 4^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Lt. Colonel Franklin Sawyer, 8^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Second Lt. Joseph H. Hollis, Co. F, 25^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Colonel Andrew L. Harris, 75^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

George G. Washburn, editor of Elyria Independent Democrat

 

Second Battle of Fort Wagner, South Carolina         July 18, 1863

Orderly Sgt. James C. Morrison, Co. B, 62^nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Maj. Lewis Butler, 67^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

 

CHAPTER SIX

With a Whoop and a Yell: Limestone to Chickamauga       317

 

Battle of Limestone Station, Tennessee          September 8, 1863

Pvt. Jacob Fewlass, Co. C, 100^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

 

Capture of Cumberland Gap, Tennessee       September 9, 1863

Pvt. Albert B. Houlette, Co. A, 86^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

 

Battle at Davis Crossroads, Tennessee          September 11, 1863

Sgt. Launcelot L. Scott, Co. G, 18^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

 

Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia                   September 19-20, 1863

Pvt. Isaac T. Criss, Co. C, 11^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Adjt. Joseph Newton, 14^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Captain James W. Stinchcomb, Co. B, 17^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Pvt. Abel Comstock, Co. C, 21^st Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Pvt. Samuel P. Zehring, Co. H, 35^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Second Lt. Jacob Reasoner, Co. E, 36^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Sgt. John H. Purvis, Co. B, 51^st Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Captain David M. Barrett, Co. I, 89^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Corp. George L. Camp, Co. G, 92^nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry

QM Sergeant John Blatter, 98^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

First Lt. Aquilla Toland, Co. A, 113^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Captain Aaron B. Robinson, Co. I, 121^st Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Pvt. Henry M. Davidson, Battery A, 1^st Ohio Light Artillery

Pvt. Miles P. Cook, 20^th Ohio Battery

 

CHAPTER SEVEN

Scaling the Heights: Collierville to Ft. Sanders         393

 

Battle of Collierville, Tennessee                             October 11, 1863

Captain Ethan O. Hurd, Co. B, 39^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

 

Battle of Philadelphia, Tennessee                          October 20, 1863

Sgt. Stephen D. Pond, Co. C, 45^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

 

Operation at Brown’s Ferry, Tennessee                  October 27, 1863

Corp. Ebenezer Hannaford, Co. B, 6^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

 

Battle of Wauhatchie, Tennessee                 October 28-29, 1863

Letter from unknown soldier, 73^rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry

 

Action at Charleston, South Carolina          November 16, 1863

Lt. Commander Alfred Hopkins, U.S.S. Lehigh

 

Battle of Campbell Station, Tennessee          November 16, 1863

Adjt. Wesley S. Thurstin, 111^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

 

Battles for Chattanooga, Tennessee                November 23-25, 1863

Pvt. Harry Comer, Co. I, 1^st Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Surgeon John M. Beach, 40^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Adjt. Chauncey Woodruff, 64^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Captain Alexander Mahood, Co. K, 69^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Captain George W. Lewis, Co. B, 124^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Musician John S. Kountz, Co. G, 37^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

 

Battle of Armstrong Hill, Tennessee            November 25, 1863

Captain Philip C. Hayes, Co. F, 103^rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry

 

Battle of Ringgold Gap, Georgia                 November 27, 1863

Captain Charles H. Kibler, Co. D, 76^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

 

Battle of Mine Run, Virginia                      November 27-28, 1863

Sgt. Barkley Cooper, Co. B, 126^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

 

Battle of Fort Sanders, Tennessee                November 29, 1863

Pvt. R. Baxter Fenn, Co. D, 104^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

 

The Drummer Boy of Mission Ridge by Kate Brownlee Sherwood

 

Bibliography

 

Index

 

Sample Account:

 

Captain Samuel Sheldon Pettit, Co. D, 15th Ohio Volunteer Infantry
(Robert Van Dorn Collection)

‘Our men drove them from tree to tree’

Captain Samuel S. Pettit, Co. D, 15^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Battle of Liberty Gap, Tennessee, June 24, 1863

Camp near Tullahoma, Tennessee

July 10, 1863 [1]

          As I have nothing to do today, I thought I would write a short letter, so that all who have friends in the 15^th Ohio may hear from them, I have concluded to address you. You will see by the heading of this that we have moved since I last wrote to you. We received orders on the evening of June 23^rd, to be ready to march at daybreak the next morning. Daylight the next morning found our tents struck and everything in readiness for a move, everybody was anxious to know or learn what it meant, but all were alike in the dark; our curiosity was gratified when we had marched about 12 miles through the rain and mud in the direction of Wartrace. By this time we concluded it must be a forward movement and so it proved. Thus, it is that General Rosecrans moves, he keeps his own counsels, and but few of his most intimate friends know anything of his plans. About 1 o’clock we came upon the enemy’s pickets near what is called Liberty Gap, 12 miles from Murfreesboro. The 15^th and 49^th Ohio, having the advance of our column, was thrown out on each side of the road and deployed as skirmishers.

Our progress was slow and cautious, owing to the timber and thick underbrush. We had not advanced very far when we received a volley from the enemy’s sharpshooters and sent them one in reply. They could not see our column and not knowing what force we had, they gave way slowly, contesting every foot of ground, until they reached the hills which form the Gap. Here they made a desperate effort to check our advance. They had one piece of artillery on the point of the hill, at the right of the road. They fired two or three shots doing no damage, when as many shots from Captain Goodspeed’s battery, sent it to the rear.

The country, for a space of one quarter of a mile between us and the hills, was cleared and crops of corn and wheat growing there, we had to move under a galling fire from the enemy’s sharpshooters, concealed in the timber on the hill in our front. We pushed forward until within 300 yards of the enemy, sheltering ourselves as much as possible behind fences and trees. We finally got a position behind a fence, with but one narrow field between us and the enemy. We remained in this position for near two hours, doing good execution; the enemy shooting over us most of the time. At last, our lines swung around in the rear of the enemy and about this time an order came from General August Willich, to charge across the fields to the front of the hill. It was a hazardous undertaking, but was promptly done, Companies A and B suffering the most. Just before leaving the fence, one of my men was pierced through the head and died without a struggle. His name was James Fowler. He was a brave soldier and lost his life in the defense of his country. We buried him near where he fell, his winding sheet was his blanket, and the cold clay sides of his grave were his coffin. Peace to his soul, and rest to his ashes.

    The enemy gave way as we advanced to the hill. We followed them about a mile when we were relieved by the Third Brigade. Our brigade had been under fire for three hours and was very tired from climbing over hills, through brush, wading streams, and the deep mud. We fell back for a short distance and camped for the night. It continued to rain hard all night. The Third Brigade drove the Rebels some two miles further and then went into camp for the night. The Rebels must have lost very heavy as we found a number killed which they had not found.

Next morning the 32^nd Indiana regiment was sent out to the front on picket, with the 15^th Ohio sent as their support. The 89^th Illinois was also on picket with the 49^th Ohio as support. About 2 o’clock the enemy advanced in force. The 15^th Ohio was immediately thrown forward as skirmishers with the 32^nd Indiana. While going down a hill at the double quick, one of my men fell and accidentally shot himself through the neck, though not dangerously. His name is Butler Reamey. The 15^th Ohio was thrown on the hills to the right of the road, but the enemy was very stubborn but we drove them from the hill. The skirmishers being within 50 yards of each other at times, our men drove them from tree to tree, till they broke and fled across the ravine to the next range of hills, out of reach of our sharpshooters. It was now nearly night and we did not follow them. Our regiment lost in two days fighting, 83 killed and wounded, the 49^th Ohio about the same number. [2]     

 

 

Gunners of Battery H, 1st Ohio Volunteer Light Artillery pictured in April 1863 just prior to the Chancellorsville Campaign. 

 

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[1] Wyandot Pioneer, July 24, 1863, pg. 2

[2] Samuel Sheldon Pettit was born April 23, 1833, in Sussex Co., New Jersey, and at age of 16 took up the trade of harness making. In 1851, he moved to Knoxville, Illinois where he met and married his wife, Laura McKenzie. They traveled west to California in 1854, living there three years before returning to New Jersey. In 1858, the Pettits moved to Wyandot Co., Ohio. He enlisted as the orderly sergeant of Co. D, 15^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry on September 11, 1861, and built a solid war record. Following his heroism at Shiloh, he was commissioned second lieutenant on April 30, 1862. He was promoted to first lieutenant the following March and to captain a month later. After Chickamauga, Captain Pettit spent months in the hospital suffering from chronic rheumatism leading to his discharge on April 29, 1864. He returned to Wyandot County and lived there for 20 years before moving to Oakland, California in 1885, then to Lodi. California in 1897. Captain Pettit suffered a series of strokes in 1908 and died April 13, 1910, and is buried at Lodi Memorial Park and Cemetery.